Has police force been cut back in your neck of the woods?

[lonestarnot]

Just heard a guy on CNN (I think they said he was retired FBI) say that the local police force of Atlanta had been cut 20%. (I think he said Atlanta :P )

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Yes

Clinton poured money into law enforcement. Bush cut the funding.

[NightWatcher]

2. not here (Sav'h) they are just writing more tickets to justify their existence

and becoming bigger pains in the ass than normal

[lonestarnot]

3. Wonder what the bigger part of income for departments is these days?

Sales from seized property under the RICO Act "Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1961-1968.," or writing tickets?

[NightWatcher]

5. tickets from BS charges like "Excessive window tint"

I've got that ticket 3x's now

[lonestarnot]

9. Damn. Maybe you better do something about it. Can you give it a bleach job?

[Name removed]

44. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

46. What's really messed up around here the local cops have a couple of cars

tinted with Limo black tint ... the public is only allowed to tent #25.

[Historic NY]

19. Income? That would not even buy a dozen cars. Police Depts. are funded by

public safety budgets. Your living in the wild west if you think they generate enough operating income from crime or enforcement.

[conscious evolution]

33. I'm impressed.i think.

It takes a lot for SPD to become bigger assholes then they already are.

If you ever run into a cop named M Sutton ask him if he still drops LSD and smokes pot with Danny,Lori,George,Dave, and/or Ronnie.Then step back and watch his head explode.

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. Not here!

We ALWAYS have a total of four officers on duty at any one time :rofl:

(little ag town in middle of San Joaquin Valley)

[lonestarnot]

6. Woohoo.

:wow: four! :D

[Broken_Hero]

7. Yep, SW Missouri here,

I believe the police force is cutting back a few positions, big article in the last paper about it...I believe they are trying to cut back 25% of expenses, which ultimately means, less officers/cops.

[lonestarnot]

12. AZ

"The budget cuts aimed at the departments are expected to total $54.4 million, or around 7.5 percent. The cuts could delay filling 250 vacant police-officer positions, eliminate dozens of civilian public-safety employees and reduce some emergency resources." Fire dept. too. :scared:

http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/276640.php

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Some what, but I am so far out in the county, there might as well not be any

I like living out here, but its its pretty much a solitary location. I generally carry when outside for snakes and critters, though I dispatch a intruder if needed.

Only real problem I have had is OHVs. They really piss me off since I also ride, but do it respectful of others property. Solved it innovatively a few times. Made a few infrastructure changes and its no longer and issue

[lonestarnot]

10. What type of infrastructure changes? A toll bridge?

:D

[ProgressiveProfessor]

20. Fence at a natural choke point they can not get around with a solar powered gate

I had really wanted to avoid such things and leave things as undisturbed as possible. Prior to that and some other measures, I would come home to find trucks and trailers in my driveway or front yard.

[NNN0LHI]

30. You carry a gun for snakes?

Worried they are going to chase you down and bite ya?

Your joking right?

Wouldn't it be easier to just walk away from them?

Don

[ProgressiveProfessor]

38. One tries to, but its not always possible

Depends where they are and I am. Worst time is in the spring when they are first getting active. SA revolver with snake shot and a couple of ball rounds. I used to wear snake chaps when I first got here. The outbuildings were full snakes. Its not like they are Mojave Greens which are collected for anti venom purposes so its my problem to resolve.

[coalition_unwilling]

11. Funny you should ask -- last night on

ABC7 local news (Los Angeles), they showed a swearing-in ceremony for 140 new CHP officers.

My jaw almost hit the floor! Given that CA is all but insolvent and all.

Guess they need more "peace" officers to protect the interests of the elite . . .

[lonestarnot]

14. Class war rages on.

You know after reading link, I think it was Miami, not Atlanta that I heard the guy on CNN talking about this.

[conscious evolution]

34. It was ATL.

[rvablue]

41. Or ticket writers to increase state revenues. n/t

[OhioChick]

13. Cleveland?

That should answer your question.

[lonestarnot]

15. Yes does.

:pals:

[merh]

16. That was one of the things the GWB admin did - it cut the

community policing grants so that local law enforcement couldn't afford new hires. It replaced the community policing grants with terrorism grants so that LEO could buy weapons (e.g. tasers), equipment and have anti-terrorism training and those monies went to private corps that supplied and/or trained the LEO in anti-terrorism tactics.

Oh, the tax cuts meant less money to the state and local governments and that resulted in higher local/state taxes and cuts to schools and LEO, if folks retired or left for other jobs they slots were not always filled due to lack of adequate funding.

And of course there is a percentage of the LEO force that were weekend guardsmen that became active duty warriors thanks to GWB's wars.

[rwheeler31]

17. yes

Crime is down, but lots of domestic ignored.

[Historic NY]

18. Lots of problems if they don't bring back the COPs program...

academy classes are down to certifying some that need additional training if they can find jobs later. Local colleges are sponsoring academy students at the students cost. They will need firearms, defensive tactics and other specialized training. Many dept's are not hiring replacements for retirees. There could be a trend in higher crime rates if something isn't done soon. No matter what you think about cops , who do you call if you need help "Joe the Plumber". My local police chief sponsored academy is down to about 15 students this cycle. The next county academy only has 10 students. Perhaps only 20 will finish out of hundreds who actually apply and pass the test. That not even keeping up with retirees or those that become disabled. Many municipalities are trying to keep taxes down against rising costs so they have not been replacing police officers the same with fire depts. Many open positions with no money to fill them will lead to more crime as the resources to control it dwindle.

[Greyhound]

21. If you need help you better not rely on the police, helping people in trouble

is not in their job description. If you live in the city they will make sure not to show up until it is safe and if you live in the country there are not enough on duty to handle more than the normal drunk driver extortion duty.

At least when you pay the mob for protection, nobody fucks with you. If you don't have at least a councilman on speed dial that will pick up, you're on your own.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

39. When you need the cops in seconds, they will be there in minutes

I've lived in cities, suburbs and rural. Right now I am out in the twigs. Its self help or no help at all. Never had a real problem except for OHV types. I have voice and data comms and power, but that is about it. If something really bad happened, it would be a while before anyone got here.

[Shiver]

31. Funny you should mention the COPS program...

The new stimulus bill includes funds for the COPS program. From the Appropriations Committee In-House summary:

State and Local Law Enforcement: $4 billion to support state and local law enforcement including $3 billion for the Byrne Justice Assistance formula grants to support local law enforcement efforts with equipment and operating costs, and $1 billion for the COPS hiring grant program, to hire about 13,000 new police officers for three years. The grantee is responsible for at least 25% in matching funds and must commit to use their own funds to keep the officer on board in the fourth year.

Also from the bill, in regards to law enforcement:

Save Public Sector Jobs and Protect Vital Services: We will provide relief to states, so they can continue to employ teachers, firefighters and police officers and provide vital services without having to unnecessarily raise middle class taxes.

· $87 billion for a temporary increase in the Medicaid matching rate.

· $4 billion for state and local law enforcement funding.

The full text of the stimulus bill can be found at the link in his handy lil' thread. The HuffPo site linked also has a downloadable PDF of the bill, located in the second paragraph.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

40. IIRC, COPS was a one time thing with the locals having to pick up the long term costs

And they could not.

The other question is do we want Feds directly funding the local LEO agencies.

[defendandprotect]

22. Well, yes and no . . .

I live in a town of about 31,000 down from a high of 42,000 over decades.

For quite some time they've been denying the local police a new contract --

have been using lawyers to fight their union and been working to cut benefits.

They also had traffic areas which mandated a police officer controlling it most of the day.

They added traffic lights in these areas but created a mess and they've had to put at

least one officer back out there, so far. We pay our officers 10% less -- at least --

than the surrounding towns!

Meanwhile, a couple of other areas -- PRIVATE AREAS -- large supermarkets, temple

usage -- both new need police officers to handle traffic. The large Catholic Church also

gets an officer directing traffic which has been going on a long time.

Our department store occasionally needs an officer -- more often the store is running "events."

But there are serious traffic problems in the area.

MEANWHILE .... the county has moved in on us also with county police!

Large new building -- fencing -- lots of personnel and higher ups in county government.

Lots of friction.

While our officers are seen less, when they are visible they still look like officers.

Lots of attention here now on parking fines which is infuriating residents!

But, amused when I see on the sides of the cars "public servants" --- !!!!

[B Calm]

23. Indiana yes! DOT weigh stations across the state have been closed

down now going on two years. As a truck driver, it's nice not having to worry about being overweight, etc etc. . but at the same time, they're existence ARE FOR OUR PROTECTION!

[rug]

24. I'm hoping.

[TWiley]

25. I hope so ..... they are TOO big, and run as a business.

The business of creating crime so they can pay their enormous overhead. More Jails, Bigger Courthouses, More Cops equal more bills, and more arrests for messy hair, and greater manpower to infiltrate anti-war groups.

[Le Taz Hot]

26. Goddess no.

We just got rid of Mayor Bubba (Alan Autry) and replaced him with Mayor Buba-in-a-skirt. Right-leaning, bible-thumping, anti-gay and law-and-order kinda gal. You betcha! :puke:

[TWiley]

27. There is something about a Uniformed Woman with a whip .........

I just cannot put my finger on it.

[Le Taz Hot]

29. Only if she's the one

holding the whip. It doesn't quite have the same effect when it's by proxy. ;-)

[TWiley]

32. agreed ...... HOLDING a whip

[Hubert Flottz]

28. No, they are adding more...

It takes lots of cops to spy on EVERYBODY!

[Belial]

35. They did it to themselves.. they keep electing the same

morons.. the city of ATL has a very unique opportunity with the airport, instead of using it for income.. its a political favor machine..

Sorry.. dont mean that the police did it to themselves.. the people of ATL do it to themselves..

[G_j]

36. I hope so. nt

[lib2DaBone]

37. Not Police..but they are talking about privatizing Fire and EMS...

..Bring in Wackenhut (now called GEO Inc) Cut the wages and benefits in half.. tell the workers they can keep their jobs but at the new Wakenhut rate.

Meanwhile.. the county COmmissioners have voted themselves a nice raise and are having their monthly planning session at the Ritz-Carlton. (All paid for with County money...of course)

[rvablue]

42. I certainly hope your local paper and TV station know about that RC shindig

you should make sure they do.

Also, I have never heard in my life of the fire department being "privatized." Unbelievable...

[nadinbrzezinski]

43. If they cut ours any more...

...

It will be unsafe for cops who are still on the force

[pipi_k]

45. My town is so small that

we only have like one full-time (town) police officer, so there's very little room for cuts.

The rest of the time it's the State Police who respond to calls out here

[Zhade]

47. I wish. Then maybe I wouldn't have been pulled over for "running" a red light that was YELLOW.

Assholes.