Posted on 07/02/2009 8:42:37 PM PDT by Steelfish
Police seeking record aid to avoid layoffs
Departments say nearly 40,000 cops could lose jobs without federal help
July 2, 2009
WASHINGTON - The nation's police departments are clamoring for an unprecedented amount of federal aid to forestall big local tax hikes or the possible layoff of nearly 40,000 police officers — enough to staff the entire New York City Police Department.
When President Barack Obama signed the huge economic stimulus bill earlier this year, $1 billion was set aside to help local and state police avoid layoffs or keep their police academy classes intact.
The response has been staggering: Departments applied for more than $8.3 billion in aid, meaning only a fraction of the demand can actually be met.
July will be a nervous month for mayors and police commanders as they await official word on how much aid they will get from the grant program known as COPS. The first award announcements are expected this month.
"You've got to cross your fingers and remain optimistic," said Mayor Ron Dellums of Oakland, Calif.
Dellums said without federal aid, his city could lose 140 police positions, and California law gives few options for raising taxes to keep those officers.
Even before a single COPS grant check has been mailed, Dellums said the huge demand for help shows that without more aid, Oakland and other cities "are going to be confronted with the stark reality that we have to cut back."
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
THAT'S where all the money is going.
They are out for more tickets rather than preventing rapes, robberies, murder,etc....
I’ve noticed here in the Hollywood area, the LAPD have been stopping cars left and right. I guess they know where the money’s coming from.
The Police in the city of Cleveland refused to change any of their work rules or give anything back in order to save there brother officers about 6 years ago when the city had money problems. More than 200 were laid off.
The Police Unions have made the safety forces the most expensive and inefficient insurance policy in the history of the World.
Most police departments are over staffed, loaded with administrative fat. The cops go out and write tickets to try to support their salaries. Any time the see a car with a flat tire four cars (with one cop each) come around, not to assist the motorist but to try to badger them into consent to search the car. Real law enforcement died about a generation ago. All these departments could cut 15% and not reduce the real work they do.
Not only that, 75 Toledo police officers were layoff in almost 2 months ago. Fearing that it will happened to them.
I am now seeing clearly why people were stocking up on ammo.
Why is it when ever there is a money shortage, its always police, fire, and schools that will be cut?
You mean to tell me states and cities pay for nothing else except those 3 things?
Its all a tactic-nothing more.
I came to this conclusion while talking to a contractor for the state of Maryland that was being paid by the hour to dip a rag in an acid mix and wipe it on small “fake stone” in a concrete wall. The concrete wall/road divider was stamped concrete made to look like a stone wall. They paid these guys to individually stain each fake stone a different shade to make it look like real stones in the wall.
They did this for weeks.
Try more than that...The City of Cleveland has over 1,800 police officers. only 1,200 are assigned to outside, street duty. The rest are dispatchers, desk jockeys, and administration. All types of duties that could be farmed out to Kelly Services.
In the meantime the police receive the most incredible benefits package known to man. They receive top notch medical with the cost of $30 . premium per month per family policy. They pay $5. co-payments for Dr. visits and prescription drugs and many complain about that.
They receive Paternity leave, THAT'S RIGHT PATERNITY, of 12 weeks. This does not effect their up to six weeks of paid vacation time.
Their pension plan costs the city $.26 per $1 paid in benefits and they can retire in 20 years with a lifetime pension and medical benefits for life. If they work 35 years they retire with 98% of their highest three years average pay.
They receive a uniform allowance of over $1,000. per year.
And the benefits go on and on.
The pay is unsustainable in good times and crippling in bad, yet when you call the police about a stolen car, or burglary you are lucky if they take a report over the phone. You can forget about them making a house call.
those kinds of bennies make my blood boil!
plus the retirements on full pay at age 55!
I hate the attitude of many of the police. They are contemptible in most instances, lazy in virtually all, and are upset if you don't genuflect in their presence.
Obviously all police are not like this, but in this city the attitude is pervasive.
Pennies for the overlords first and safety of the serfs a very distant second.
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