CitizenX
02-06-2005, 11:22 PM
Maybe someone can shed some light on this whole "closing down cars" fiasco.
From my point of view, I see the commissioner and CE stating that this isn't a money saving move. They have stated multiple times that they are shifting resources from the "dead" night shift, to the "active" evening shift. The Commissioner even likened it to operating a "Deli" (I would have hoped that the commissioner would take his job of running a very large and expensive police department a bit more seriously than that of a tuna-salad maker, but so be it). Running a government agency like a business sounds like a good move to me...
The Cops say that by closing down cars during this slow period exposes the public and officers to greater risk. They further state that this is simply a money saver by the county, as no additional staffing is done during busier times.
My Qustions:
1) Are more cars or cops being sent out during whatever the busier times are? I can see shifting resources, if we are getting "flooded" during busy times. If my community is simply losing coverage with no replacement (as some cops have alluded to), that's a different story.
2) How are the public/cops at additional risk during midnights with the shutting down of 2 cars? At 3 in the morning, there isn't any traffic...can't you go from point a to point b faster? Also, if it's busy in, say Huntington but slow in Port Jefferson, can't cars be taken from there for the night?
3) I don't know what the actual numbers are (and I don't know if you want to post them on a public board), but can any cops give me a percentage of what cars are around overnight (with the shut down) compared to those during the day? Two cars doesn't sound like alot...is that 5% less, 2% or 50%? Your PBA president also told News12 that other (specialized) cars are around during the day...do they also respond to 9-1-1 calls?
4) If this is an attempt by the county to save money, and no extra cars are being sent out during busy times, how is the county actually saving money? The cops that used to drive these cars weren't fired, were they? I don't see what they are doing now. Were they given another assignment? Not sure how this works.
Sorry to post what may be considered a very basic question, but I'm sure that i'm not the only civilian out here who doesn't quite grasp the situation. I don't think that i'd liken our highly trained and well paid police department as a "quiznos sandwich shop" or "Pizza Hut", but I can't argue with trying to run government like a business
From my point of view, I see the commissioner and CE stating that this isn't a money saving move. They have stated multiple times that they are shifting resources from the "dead" night shift, to the "active" evening shift. The Commissioner even likened it to operating a "Deli" (I would have hoped that the commissioner would take his job of running a very large and expensive police department a bit more seriously than that of a tuna-salad maker, but so be it). Running a government agency like a business sounds like a good move to me...
The Cops say that by closing down cars during this slow period exposes the public and officers to greater risk. They further state that this is simply a money saver by the county, as no additional staffing is done during busier times.
My Qustions:
1) Are more cars or cops being sent out during whatever the busier times are? I can see shifting resources, if we are getting "flooded" during busy times. If my community is simply losing coverage with no replacement (as some cops have alluded to), that's a different story.
2) How are the public/cops at additional risk during midnights with the shutting down of 2 cars? At 3 in the morning, there isn't any traffic...can't you go from point a to point b faster? Also, if it's busy in, say Huntington but slow in Port Jefferson, can't cars be taken from there for the night?
3) I don't know what the actual numbers are (and I don't know if you want to post them on a public board), but can any cops give me a percentage of what cars are around overnight (with the shut down) compared to those during the day? Two cars doesn't sound like alot...is that 5% less, 2% or 50%? Your PBA president also told News12 that other (specialized) cars are around during the day...do they also respond to 9-1-1 calls?
4) If this is an attempt by the county to save money, and no extra cars are being sent out during busy times, how is the county actually saving money? The cops that used to drive these cars weren't fired, were they? I don't see what they are doing now. Were they given another assignment? Not sure how this works.
Sorry to post what may be considered a very basic question, but I'm sure that i'm not the only civilian out here who doesn't quite grasp the situation. I don't think that i'd liken our highly trained and well paid police department as a "quiznos sandwich shop" or "Pizza Hut", but I can't argue with trying to run government like a business