Community Relations

I just came in on this topic. I have to agree that the language and attitude of the 2nd comment were harsh, BUT, the person that replied to it needs to realize that most specialty units, SWAT, SCUBA, SRT, HNT etc.. are volunteer units where the Officers and detectives only respoond when an emergency arises. They are Beat Cops and Detectives during their normal duties. They do not get an extra dime to risk their lives in these situations. Their dedication serves this City because they are willing to come in any hour of the day when a situation arises. What would happen if they decided not to volunteer? Every company, every corporation has its share of people that take on the extra responsibilty and shoulder the extra burden. There are also those that just do the work assigned to them. The Police Department is no different.

You must also understand that the Narcotics unit and other full time units are there because a job must be performed that a Beat Cop cannot. They need special resources and intelligence.

Having said that, I choose to send my kids to parochial schools, because they are taught religion and the discipline is greater and I feel they are safer. It is a shame that our fine public school system has to have policies and guidlines that ban weapons, assaults etc... It is a shame that we have to have Police Officers in our schools, but it is also a reality. In an inarticulate manner, one of the previous writers described that it is because children are not being taught proper values at home that they act this way. This is certainly true and we cannot be the parents for these kids, but maybe we can make a difference so that they don't turn out like their parents. Something has to be done! We cannot sit back and watch as society decays while we do nothing about it.

The bottom line is we need School resource Officers. We need more of them and we most certainly need more officers patrolling our neighborhoods. We don't need ot argue with each other about this, we all need to be calling the Mayor's office and askig him why he has let things slip so badly. I don't believe him for an instant when one of his mouthpieces Chad Carlton said of the increased ammounts of retirements" It is just a blip".

Ask the mother of a murder or assault victim if her child is just a blip. Ask her why the thug on the street corner that killed her child or the drunk that hit the family car if they were just blips. Becasue of the attitude and mismanagement of Jerry Abramson's Administration and Staff, people are dying all over this city. They are responsible for not having enough Officers o the beats, in narcotics, in traffic and in the Schools. They have let these levels slip to intolerable and unsafe levels. The incompetence shown by this administration in trying to "Out-Lawyer" everyone is incredible. So much time and energy is being wasted by the mayor fighting the worng battles.

Give the Police a raise and let them keep good bennefits and they won't seek greener pastures elswhere. With that will come more and more motivated and highly qualified people wanting to become Police and to protect our community and our children rather than what you have tried to accomplish Mr. Mayor.

You say the Police are no better than any other city employee. As people you are right, but when was the last time you asked a garbage man to protect and teach your children? When was the last time you had an accountant face down an armed suspect? Their job is important enough to make a distinction in pay and bennefits. Our community deserves the finest police that OUR tax dollars can be spent on. Quit trying to compare apples to oranges. The lives of our children depend on it.

I take offense to you saying that the problems have been brought on by your own. I am out on the street everyday. I am one of the many who give his own time to be on a "specialty unit" outside of my normal job. If we need the police in the schools so much, let JCPD hire them out of their budget and let us get back to making sure the children can get to school. If that is not good enough for you, then let the admin hire back some of the retired sworn officers to work with the kids in the school. These are veteran officers who have delt with these problems and know how to deal with them. They can be hired back as civilians and the sworn officers can handle the street.

Remember, every Police Officer works to better his / her community. Every Police Officer also pays the same taxes you do for this protection. When was the last time you gave your company money out of your pocket to pay your check. When was the last time you were told to go to the area where people are shooting at one another and responded there while citizens are leaving. Don't tell me to act as a public servent. That is not what I am. I am a Law Enforcement profesional and take my job very serious. If you want a servant, hire one to do your bidding, as for me I will continue to enforce the laws of this Country, Commonwealth, County and City.