Is Metro Louisville Safe?

The smoke and mirrors game of changing the Districts, losing two of the said Districts and calling them Divisions to make the public think there are more officers in each area is a slap in the face to every single person who lives in the Louisville Metro Area, Officer and citizen alike. I wonder if the Mayor and RCW think the public is really that stupid. I am so glad the FOP has this website so the public can be informed as to what is really going on. I bet you won't see a story like this on the five o'clock news.You can bet your lunch I'll be writing a letter to the Metro Council regarding this and to anyone else who can do something about it.

NO CONFIDENCE IN ANYTHING THIS ADMINISTRATION DOES. THIS CHIEF DOES NOT CARE ABOUT US AS POLICE OFFICERS OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE. WHO CARES IF THE POLICE DONT LIKE THEIR CHIEF? EVERYONE SHOULD CARE. THESE ARE NOT THE WORDS OF A FEW DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES, THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT LIKE THIS MAN AND HIS IDEAS ARE RUINING OUR DEPARTMENT.

I am sick to death of hearing that we need to be patient with merger. Merger didn't create the problems we have with our radio system and cause it to go out last night during the storm. Those problems have existed for years and for several administrations. This isn't the first time it has happened and I'd bet my next paycheck it won't be the last. It was only by the grace of God that someone was seriously hurt or killed last night during that fiasco. This department has been warned time and time again that our radio system is on it's last leg and it puts officers and citizens in danger. Do they care? Evidently not. The citizens of this community need to realize that last night, their calls for help went unanswered for an extended period of time because this city's administration has consistently refused to upgrade the most basic equipment needed for everyday services. The bottom line is that until they get new radios, this will continue and eventually, someone is going to get hurt or killed. This is unacceptable. As a dispatcher I commend my colleagues in the comm center and on the street for their professionalism during a very trying and difficult evening last night.

Dear Mr. Mayor, RCW and Metro Council, I know you all read this site so I am addressing my comments to you directly. Can you please enlighten me as to why it was so important to get the former city and county officers new badges, patches, markings on cars, et al instead of getting communication to work between the former departments and dispatch on one system? Is esthetics really that important to you where officer and citizen safety is last? Perhaps this was the beginning of the smoke and mirrors. I suppose you came up with the idea if the city and county police departments look merged then they are merged. Funny that both city and county governments were in the positive when it came to finances and both had well functioning police departments before this so called merger.Now you have cut two Districts and turned the remaining 8 into Divisions. I donâ??t want to hear rhetoric about having more Officers at the Divisions than you did at the 10 Districts. So what.THEY ARE COVERING LARGER AREAS.Letâ??s look at the Fourth Division, since Iâ??ve spent most of my time in Louisville living in this area. Hypothetically speaking I decide to walk my dog in Iroquois Park. I get stabbed or (insert other heinous crime here) and the only Officers available to come to my aid are at Second and St. Catherine. Other Officers in the area are attending to crimes just as bad as what is happening to me or wouldn't know about it depending which radio system they had. I would be dead and the person that did it would be long gone. Donâ??t say this isnâ??t likely. Have you looked at the number of homicides for 2004? I bet you donâ??t want too. The public tends to get upset at city government when they feel they are not being protected as they should. When people donâ??t feel protected, you think they are going make their way to your Mecca known around these parts as Fourth Street Live? No. Itâ??ll see cobwebs and dust bunnies just like the Galleria.You canâ??t blame the Officers. My understanding is that there are 130 police officer slots not filled. Donâ??t try to count the 40 or so that are currently in the academy to the active police force, they havenâ??t even made it to the halfway mark of their training. Add the alarming rate of retirements and a hiring process that is disorganized, (sending a letter to a candidate stating they are no longer eligible in the current process then sending a letter stating they are eligible until October 2005 two days later) you have a catastrophe on your hands.The Officers that protect and serve our community are tired and overworked.Give them the tools, resources and backing they need and deserve.

"I guess the media did not give a **** that the system was down a couple of hours during the storms the other night...no telling how many crimes were committed, how many people's calls for help went unanswered, and luckily, no Officers were hurt or killed!!"My thoughts exactly. I guess because the Officers and Radio Room did such an excellent job during the down time there was no story to be had, (in the eyes of the media) .

I agree with everything you said except, the Metro government has approx. 130 million in surplus money. If you ever watch Metro TV the Council has mentioned that figure several times, especiallly during the meetings when it came to the bond rating and trying to get the 30 million dollar bond passed. Metro government has 1/2 of the 65 million dollars for METRO SAFE, they need to take the other 32 million from the 130 million dollar surplus and GET IT DONE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Except for the fact that I don't work for Metro Government but I am a citizen of this community,, so I feel that if I need a Police Officer NOW, I don't want to have to wait or for him to drive over half the county to get here. I also feel that the community deserves better from this Mayor than we are getting. How much of my tax dollars were spent on his all expense paid trip to China two weeks ago so he could start a Sister Cities Program? Did this help our community by bringing in any jobs? HELL NO! Jerry just took a once in a lifetime vacation at our expense. He has been absolutely horrible. Jerry should make the safety of the citizens the number one priority. He should be out trying to get businesses to relocate to our community by offering them tax incentives. He should be doing his best to make sure basic services go to all members of the community.He was here 13 years before and accomplished very little. He is back and doing the same crap he did before. I just hope that some strong candidate runs against him next time.Remember he barely beat Tom Owen 51% to 49% in the last primary. Apparently a lot of us Democratic voters thought the same about his last term. I hope more of us are around to make sure he doesn't get the Democrat vote next election.

Very helpful comment. I can see it's not someone you love on the street with no way to call for help. It's not your husband,wife, son, or daughter who rides around in a car that is too old to be safely used for police work, working in districts that are toxic because they are filled with toxic mold or asbestos, or trying to call for help on a radio that is over 35 years old, and still has tubes in it. It's sad that you have nothing better to do with your time, besides make ignorant, totally useless comments.

Well, it looks like either the Mayor or the Cheif has finally responded. "Why don't they just quit if they don't like their job?" What a mature way to deal with a bad situation.

Most of the officers my husband works with used to enjoy their jobs. It was a proud thing to be a "Jefferson County" or "Louisville" police officer. Now, they are beaten down, benefits dwindling, respect gone, and they are still out there every day, protecting the public. They go to their jobs not just because they have to, but they feel they need to. And they do need to .

There is a thin blue line between order and chaos. If they were to just quit, then let's see how you feel about the riots and looting that would occur, especially once it affected you and your family.

I am proud to be married to a Louisville Metro Police officer, even with the worry and strife they are experiencing now. I worry about him, but I know he is serving the community, trying to make it a better place for our children to live.

It's not a mayor or cheif that can make us a world class city, it is the quality of our law enforcement community, and the quality of our fire and ems communities as well. Support your police, you're going to need them long after the "mayor-for-life" is gone.

Don't take this as being smart, but something to think about and ponder. All this energy into posting comments on a website, why play arm-chair quarterback and get off your butts and make a difference and become one united front. This all starts with leadership, and right now, Rick Mccubbins is gone, David is gone and then there is, ooo yeah Audubon Park.A person or a group of persons needs to make a difference, how I don't know. But hey, we have alot of people out there who don't want to make waves, ooooo no, my career. Its time to STAND UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But that doesn't exist in this day and time, DOES IT?

I condem any politician that puts pet projects, perks and foolish spending over the concerns of the public. It seems out mayor and his plethora of assistants (who all drive the great big SUVs and make $125,000.00 a year) have once again given him bad advice. This is begining to be a pattern. They said "Mr. Mayor, we don't have to spend money on those mean old police, we can spend it on your dream and vision of expanding waterfront park so the homless will have a place to sleep, fountains to bathe in etc... Then we can throw a bunch of free concerts for the ignorant masses so they will love us (we won't tell anyone and can be sure the our friends in the news media won't report the cost of all of these events, besides we'll get backstage passes and act like bigshots) Now that we have our fun and games planned ,we'll I guess one day we'll have to get around to putting in a new radio system so we can tell our adoring puiblic what a great job we did for them... won't it be a great coincidence that it will take place in the election year too!) OOOOH! OOOOH! I just had another great idea. Lets expand the Sister Cities Program. Remember the public fell for that facade the last time you were here and we got to take some really great trips all over the world that the taxpayers paid for so we could tell them we were spreading good will and looking for corporations from thos countries that would relocate to our fair town. (We won't bother to tell them that we don't really do anything like that and nobody has ever moved any businesses here)This is the most arrogant and evil administration that I have ever seen. I have been around long enough to see some corrupt politicians, but Jerry and Company really take the cake! The worst part about it is while they are picking your pocket they are smiling all the way because they give the poor masses some cake once in awhile and they think he is great.Jerry just returned from China. How much did that cost the taxpayers?We hear rumors and the Council has mentioned the figure 130 million several times, why don't we spend it? If it is a rainy day fund, HELLO we're in the middle of a hurricane! This isn't about a raise or insurance for the police, this is a radio system that works so when crime happens, we can get police to respond. When people need help they need it now, not later.

Well isn't that nice. Must be someone from Frankfort that posted this. Why you ask? Well, a little birdie told me that everything the so called Mayor is doing to our city to make him look oh so pretty is because he has bigger plans. He doesn't give a rat's ***** about the citizens of Louisville. He's thinking of running for Governor or worse yet the Senate. Think all ya want Jerry. You won't get elected.

Why is it that the obvious things are always overlooked? Basic radio communications are essential for the succesful daily operation of this police department, yet they continue to fritter away the money on non-essentials. I heard that they even wnated to put GPS locators in every car at the cost of $200 or more apiece. Now I know it was because when your radio fails they will be able to locate your dead body. It is so sad that they cannot see the forrest for the trees. Mayor Jerry, get off the kick that the Police and Firefighters are just like the garbage men. They perform a much higher service. They truly put their lives on the line for their fellow man. Do the right thing for once!

For the comment that we should just quit. Becoming a police officer is not just getting a job. A lot of people do not know how or why this is because being a police officer is unique. How much do you think that it is worth to go to a location knowing that you may get killed? How much is it worth to help someone that is a danger to themselves only by putting yourself in danger? When you respond to a man with a gun type run, should the officer just say, "Oh this is just a job, maybe I'll take a break now." This is not a job that just anyone can take. Ask the many applicants, recruits, and officers that no longer work in law enforcement. Many people are not willing to take the chances and risks that are involved with this career. A few do. A few try to keep semi-normal lives. There are the divorces, the drinking, and all of the other vices that you can think of. Those are some of the risks that we take, because of this career. Think about your friends. I hope that you have many. I hope that they will always treat you the same as the first day that you met them. I have many stories of how I have been treated differently because of being an officer. Friends that change because they look at you with different eyes. I'm not complaining. This is the career that I chose. But it is not a job just to quit, and the mayor knows that. To be a good officer, you have to be invested in the career, the community, the people, your family, and yourself last. An officer has to have pride in themselves, their leaders, and the department. If you don't have pride, then it starts becoming a job. Then you do like most people who have just a job. Punch a clock. Can't wait to get off. Forget what may have brought you to the career in the first place. I didn't want to work at a job. I wanted a career that I could make a little dent in the world. Lots of people are driven by money. When I applied to be an officer I didn't even think about what I would be making a year down the road or even five years. I just wanted to do something that might help. You may think that police officers are just complaining for no good reason, but I ask you to do this. When one person complains, that may just be a disgruntled person. A drop in the bucket. But when the majority complains, then something may be wrong, and the community needs to listen. No one cares until it is too late. Do you really want the officers to quit? If you are a criminal, I'm sure you would. Please take the time to look at what the mayor has done and wants to do. Become involved and don't be swayed by the smoke and mirrors. The Louisville Police Department lost one District under the mayor back years ago. Mayor Armstrong put it back. Now we have lost two districts. The department is short about 130 officers. This is not an accident. They could hire the officers if they wanted to. Multiple classes could be running to get recruits through the training. But there are vancancies, and the money that was budgeted to pay for those salaries can be used for other things. Buying or building a new police station. Putting new stripes on cars to make them look the same. You see, the mayor knows that the public can be misled. When they see pretty cars and officers dressed the same, the public may think the department is one. The public does not use the radio system or drive the cars with 150,000 miles on them. While some of the public may have personal cars with that mileage (I have a personal car with 130,000 miles), they are not driven as hard as the police cars are. Police cars are constantly being stressed with the number of runs that we make or just constant idling at scenes. Cars with this high of mileage become unsafe. Don't think about the things that can happen driving down the road normally. Think about responding to a bad accident, trying to get there as fast as you can, and then something goes out on the car. That is a risk that we take. There is not a price that you can put on what we do. We ask to be treated fairly. We ask to be paid reasonably. We ask that are families are taken care of, because if I don't come home tonight, how will my three children grow up.

This is not about the article. It is for the police officers on the department. I am thinking of applying as a lateral entry. Unfortunately, many of the problems that plague your department plague mine. I am not going to say where I work, for fear of retribution from both sides. However, I'm just wondering if it would be worth my time to apply. Please let me know your feelings, both good and bad.

Freedom of speech goes along way... Whos to say the local media outlets are the only outlets to showing the community what RW has done to this department and its officers. Isnt that what the FOP is for? To make a loud voice for those who need its representation. Isnt the FOP a national org. with alot of political pull?? If KJ and RW want to play politics why cant the FOP and it's members?? In WWII one man destoyed what it took mankind ages to build and it took a years to rebuild some of which is still not together, the point is how long will it take and how much destruction will happen before this city is as safe as it once was?

how do you get off saying something like "just quit" the city and police officers are upset that it takes way to long to get to another side of their huge beat, all to protect YOU. so one day when some one deicides to come and stab you or something and it takes the police 10 mins to get there. then you will know why becuase you told them all to quit,

As a life-long resident of Louisville I certainly understand the frustration expressed by officers on this site. Mayor Abramson spends most of his time making sure he appears on the TV news every evening than he does trying to improve the quality of life of Louisville's citizens and certainly does not support the police department. Chief White's "Community Policing" policy is a farce. I haven't seen any evidence that officers have time to increase their visibility in the neighborhoods when they have to race from call to call.

I certainly would welcome more of a police presence in my neighborhood - young punks speed thru the area at all hours blasting boom car stereos and with loud mufflers, squealing tires and generally being obnoxious. They show no respect for anyone and they thumb their nose at authority. This kind of behavior would certainly not have been tolerated when I was growing up during the sixties!

Most citizens of Louiville realize how vital the police department is but are frustrated by problems brought on by being understaffed and lack of support from the administration.

Sadly, the Mayor doesn't care anymore. He got his merger, 4th Street Live, and various other pet projects at the cost of every single person that resides in this city.Mayor of Louisville is a stepping stone for him. When it comes time for him to move on, Louisville will be beyond broke and we'll be left to clean up the mess.It will take citizens who are fed up with the way things are being handled to voice their opinions to their metro council reps. Flood the Mayor's office with letters. Anyone I speak to I tell them to write, write, write. We can all sit back and say what needs to be done or how we don't like this or that... NOW IT'S TIME TO ACT!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately the only thing that will get their attention is publicity and money. The FOP really needs to start a real information campaign, like the Sheriff's FOP did. They also need to encourage the officers to file grievances on the unsafe working conditions. They need to call in the OSHA reps on all of the unsafe buildings and equipment we use. They need to assist the officers in filing suits for negligent equipment every time an officer gets hurt due to the tight purse strings approach the city has taken. Then, and only then, will we get any attention.

The city wants us to be the consummate professionals. The want us to be college educated. They want us to masters of every field from law to first aid. The want us to be able to passively disarm every felon who tries to get our guns, without using more than our voice. They want us to take pay cuts while we watch the big wigs parading around with unconscionably high salaries. They want us to accept inferior equipment while we watch needless improvements made to structures and parks that are just fine. They want us to use out dated and contaminated buildings while the mayor gets a nifty office renovation. They want the right to fire us because it is politically expedient and not because we have done anything wrong. They want to disregard the due process hearing rights of the officer. They want to disregard the decisions of the Merit Board. They want us to do all of that and pay us like third rate janitors.

I saw on the news last night a reference to this story on your website. I think your site is excellent. I thought your President did a good job and I thought the Mayor was horrible. I can't think of any "more important community projects" as he put it than public safety. I think if he has the money in some fund somewhere we should spend it on a good radio system. I can't believe he thinks that we need street sweeping and he is going to spend milions of dollars to send a big street sweeper out in some rural county road and that that is more important than being able to dispatch policemen when needed.He is more worried about his public image than he is about the public.

6 years in what, obviously not beat work,maybe in the cheifs office.

Croney, sounds more like a advertisement than the truth.

One of Jerry's kids I guess.

I am not in any way trying to discourage the merging of the comm centers in any way, but I do have a few concerns. Please do not thrash back at me, these are legitimte questions, and maybe you can help me answer them. Do not look at this message and think that I am a dispatcher. I happen to know many workers from all agencies (dispatch, police, fire and EMS) and none of them told me what to write.

1) Where is the new Police Communications center going to be located? Is it to be a neutral place or combined in one of the existing buildings?

2) For the County (suburan) dispatchers, how will it be decided who will go strictly police?

3) Should all communications be centralized in one location for convenience in communication between eachother. It seems a heck of a lot easier and faster for the 'suburban' dispatchers to know what is happening between police, fire and ems. To be able to immediately look over a cubicle wall and tell EMS that an engine is off track due to a fire or detail, or let police know that they need to head towards such area for traffic control for fire is much faster than calling via telephone.

4) What happens to those trained in all aspects of dispatch (police, fire and ems) if they are split up. It seems that the dispatchers would not get burned out if they rotated such as the suburban dispatchers. Turnover rates might be dramatically lower.

I do not know if any of this is truly going to happen, how the center(s) are going to be laid out, nothing. I just want to see that when the merging of the comm employees happens, that it will benefit the citizens and be a smooth transition. The new 'suburban' CAD system that was put in place has delayed EMS runs being dispatched, lost fire department box numbers, etc. That is a small fraction of the problems we are going to have when the agencies merge. We can not afford to lose anything when it comes to emergencies.