You know, I appreciate that the Police are bent out of shape because they are facing cuts. I agree, crime is bad and we need an active, engaged and able bodied Police force to fight it. However, for Troy Skaggs to make the comment above makes be feel like "wow, did he just threaten the taxpayers? Really?" I know an officer would never "threaten the public" per se, but dang...
It would have been nice if the officer could have tried to ease a citizen's mind and said something like, "We will continue to keep our streets as safe as they currently are, we will do anything in our power to keep it from getting any worse."
I know, the police will have to work harder and smarter. However, this is Peoria, not Detroit, Chicago, or New Jersey. You can make it anywhere in this town in 20 minutes or under and even faster with a siren on. Additionally, considering how bad crime is now - makes one wonder how many officers they currently have patrolling the streets?
I see a market for private security firms. (hat tip to Frustrated). How would City Hall feel about seeing an upsurge in neighborhood patrols? Get Jim Stowell on the phone - tell him I am interested in ADT.
7 comments:
Have you seen how much overtime these guys are pulling at current levels? There is only so much harder and smarter one can do in a 24/7 week. Seriously, I really don't like the idea of cops working more than 50 hrs a week. They need their downtime so that they can make the prudent decisions that need made when on the job.
Neighborhood patrols was suggested to the city back about five years ago when Allen Pennington was the Assitant City manager. He had found out some info on it and had said there was money(grants)to get it done. Next thing we knew he left the city.
Sadly... ADT is privately held.
... the Tyco division.
http://www.tyco.com/wps/wcm/connect/tyco+home/Home/
... not toys.
Being a cop is not an easy job (when done well) and it is certainly a very important job, but why should police officers be immune to the reality the economy? Many people in productive businesses have had their pay frozen, cut or eliminated entirely.
Does the city prefer to pay overtime to fewer policemen instead of paying benefits for additional officers? Yes, Mahkno is right--police officers, like doctors, need to be alert; they don't need to be working 50 hours a week. If a Wal-mart or Kroger employee is let go, we all just wait in longer lines. The loss of positions othe police force may do more than inconvenience us--maybe that's why they felt they could hold out; and the city may be sorry they made this cut. Bit by bit I begin to realize that the average citizen wants all government "servants" to be just that.
The City Council would have to be out of their minds to cut the Police Department if there was ANY chance of there being a threat to citizens. They must know something we don't about how the Police department is currently staffed. Perhaps there is gross mismanagement there. We all know crime is rampant, but police are raking in overtime.
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