When will the killings end?

Lord almighty, you must be reading my mind! I know the training these folks got, and it is next to nothing! (Nice folks, nothing against them at all, by the way.) There is a place for a telephone reporting unit, but they need clear direction and guidance on the proper questions - sort of like "emergency medical dispatch" for EMS. The general public doesn't know the different between a theft, a burglary and a robbery!

It is insane that the divisions aren't open 24 hours a day. How many are tagged as "safe places" - by the way? I was also told to "go to a police station " if you need help - but in Louisville, you wouldn't even be able to summon help from inside! A friend of mine was amazed that the divisions in a "first class city" - as we are told we are - not to mention HQ, doesn't have a 24 hour a day desk presence.

The time we most need the relief from BS reports is during the overnight hours, but those are the times the unit is off - how goofy is that! Stolen cars need to get into the system immediately.

Another thought I had is that LMPD (and all police agencies for that matter including mine) should have a "task force" of some type with several other Metro agencies. Included should be:

Animal Control, building inspectors, code enforcement, health department, fire marshals, zoning and planning and anyone else with investigative or enforcement powers to work some of these high crime areas.

If you clean up a neighborhood on all levels are and take care of the little problems many of the bigger problems can in turn be corrected or even prevented. I am a firm believer in the "fixing broken windows theory" and this is what I think true community oriented policing should be. People that commit more serious crimes sure don't give a damn about minor laws, but often this may give you the probable cause to investigate futher. If anything it gives the department intelligence for their databases that can be used in the future if needed. Although not a direct parallel, you should remember Al Capone was arrested on tax evasion, Timothy McVeigh was arrested on a traffic violation, David Burkowitz was picked up due to a parking ticket and Eric Rudolph was picked up by a rookie officer checking out a simple suspicious subject call.

From an Urban Dispatcher - At no time when the Tele Reporting unit is closed would I transfer a caller to them or tell them to call back Monday. People have a fundamental right to see an officer if they want to, nor should they have to wait 36-48 hours to report that they have been robbed or had their car stolen.

In reality though, reporting a car stolen over the phone is just as effective as an officer taking it (assuming it didnt occur and they don't know any suspect info). They (TRU) get the car info, enter in NCIC, and then one of the many fine officers in the Urban area "rollin stolen's" the hell out of us on Ch1 or Ch2 til they find the cars they're looking for. But again, if TRU is closed, send 'em out. And if you ever have trouble with the Suburban side demand to see an officer, if the dispatcher refuses, ask for their boss. We all get in trouble for that kind of complaint because our bosses are all the same people. Keep up the good work guys!