Monday, July 4, 2011
Open Comments
Things are a little quiet after the county put it to us. I guess the commissioners collectively reached over to the night stand for a cigarette, enjoying the euphoria.
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30 comments:
Several of us have quietly put our heads together - we need to get the word out to all officers. We want to band together, get a fund going and hire a lawyer to sue the county over the proposed retirement changes. Get the word out. If we sit on our butts the county will be reaching for another cigarette on the nightstand and congratulating themselves. The damage may already be getting past the point of no return. I have talked with several officers who, instead of bitching and threatening to leave, are actively applying to other agencies locally or out of state. We no longer have ANYTHING to attract quality applicants. We’re pretty much just a joke as law enforcement agencies go.
Read Steen Miles article on Page 4 of the Champion Newspaper.(july 1) Excellent call on the Southside Commissioners..Basically tired of the "dog and pony shows".Sorry you guys had to be part of this
nonsense. If they would get some
good code enforcement ordinances,properties would look better and the criminals would
move on.
"Things are a little quiet after the county put it to us. I guess the commissioners collectively reached over to the night stand for a cigarette, enjoying the euphoria."
Aha! I was wondering why my ass hurt when I woke up this morning!
Another question that Burrell and BOC needs to answer - who gave Recorder's Court permission to close at 2:30 yesterday afternoon, just on the spur of the moment, and leave people standing trying to pay fines, etc.?
To be completely honest I feel like I am Just burned out. Mainly, I think it is because of the low man power on the streets. In south, for example, we generally have 13 to 15 units to work an area that a year ago was worked by 29 or so units. Not to include the impact special team that has to be manned every day.
I like my job. I like the area I work. I just feel burned out.
It is my understanding that Commossioner Rader would take more vacation and sick time away from us if he could. Because the Department has so few officers and we are not able to use all of the vacation time now, he thinks that, instead of getting more officers to make the county and our work environment safer, we should not have so many vacation days.
Yowza Boss, we'll sho work harder fo ya!!!
TICKET STRIKE TIME AGAIN!!!
ok if we have to use are vacation or loose it. how does that work when manpower is short and we are denied off days..
with every complaint there is a solution.
mandatory off time every quarter officers need to take off no matter what.
Anon 7:37,
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
You may want to remind you buddy Steen Miles and the rest of her preacher friends of this.
And she wonders why she can never get elected.
So an East M/W sergeant tells us in roll call that the next time we have to put down an injured deer, to cut the deer's throat with a knife instead of shooting it. This way he doesn't have to do the Use of Force paperwork. This is a supervisor in this department telling officers this, and no one holds him accountable! He should be demoted for making such an asinine comment!
Stop it! I know we don't have a sergeant working here who is that ignorant!
"So an East M/W sergeant tells us in roll call that the next time we have to put down an injured deer, to cut the deer's throat with a knife instead of shooting it"
Haha! Just make sure it's a three inch knife so you're within county policy or you may get written up!
Here we go again. Officers using the blog to grind a beef they have with a Sgt. Officers bashing each other. This is why the BOC gets away with everything they want. Nothing but a bunch of spineless whiny babies.
Anon 1:57
I was there too. Apparently you misheard him, or maybe you are the sgt trying to do damage control. He said the next time we have to put a deer down, slit his throat with a knife so no use of force report is needed.
Sounds like it is the dept. that is ass nine... Why is putting a deer down a UOF?????
Putting a deer down is a use of force because it more often than not involves a round being discharged...you know same as if you have to shoot a dog or a perp...
Sergeant Cutter For President!!!
Pension......
I'm just waiting to see what they do with the pension. I'll have ten years before they make a decision or announce their decision.
If they do away with the pension, it's off to the private sector where I can make the higher salary that I have been sacrificing for the promise of a pension in my later tears.
God help this department if they chase another large group of veterans out the door.
Don't worry too much about car video cameras so much since there are current lobbyist efforts to make it mandatory for ALL Police Officers to wear a garment worn camera. Should make for some interesting restroom visits. Why ANYONE would want this job anymore is beyond me.
I am a experienced police officer and really wanted to lateral to DeKalb but man, what you guys are going through makes me thankful for the agency I am with
Anonymous of July 2nd at 1:33AM has the right idea because that idea does work. Take it from a someone who worked in Fulton County Government where the multiple lawsuits has prevailed over the years.
Just remember one thing, Y'all have to get the right type of lawyer who specializes in labor law, instead of some ambulance chaser. Stay away from the DTRONG ARM OF THE LAW or ONE CALL THATS ALL.
First off I have worked as a police officer for Dekalb for over ten years less than thirteen. Like others on this blog I can not use my name for reasons we all understand (retribution). This is my first blog entry as I have been reading comments for years. First thing first, the command staff is hampered, since they were removed from merit protection. So bashing them is useless. Anyone who disagrees ask all the chiefs who came after Burgess, including our current one. Secondly, Sgts and Lts, be weary of the environment you are creating. Placing new officers on special because they are go getters is cool. Keeping them on special is hazardous. Handling calls is more important than tickets. Knowing how to handle people and communicate to them will keep your phone from being called. Because one day that officer on special, may get moved to a shift where they have to deal with calls. That’s where the problems come up. Frustration will set in on both sides, sgts and officers. Also when did doing traffic stops while enroute to a call become acceptable? But I digress… Rotate newer officers out of day watch to handle some calls on evening watch, the learning watch. Maybe even morning watch, were everything is multiplied, like sleepiness, away from family at night, court time, bad food and so on. Let me hit on this quickly, with that home cars come great responsibility. First only officers get take home, let me be clear road officers, including CID, not admin. Secondly I use to envy take home cars, until ICP was called out one year during a holiday to check business licenses. I thought screw that, I enjoy my home time. I will spend the extra dollars in gas to know, when im home im home. Also with take home there is the added bonus of being told adjusted hours, hmm. I knew that early in my career and decided, I will skip that one.
Anon One, I think your idea about legally fighting the pension increase has merit, you will never win a legal challenge over the new pension plans, but I do think you have a good case if the BOC reverses the pension contributions for the pre-2005 pension at the percentages proposed by the ERSC committee. If the proposal passes, I will be glad to contribute 250 dollars for consultation with a good, reputable labor/pension lawyer.
If a valid legal argument can be found for pressing forward with a legal suit against the county on the pension contribution, then I will contribute a further 250 dollars to the cause.
My email is kencnet@hotmail.com if you would care to pursue this matter.
Best of luck, mates!
KenC
I have been an officer with this county for many years and have seen it deteriorate to a very sad state. I liken the state of this county to the movie Runaway Train. You Tube that movie and watch the final clip. What you will see is the same fate Dekalb County is suffering.
Like so many other officers, I bitch and moan about the blatant disregard for critical public servants by the BOC. The critical manpower shortages we endure, the outdated equipment we utilize, and lets not even begin to talk about the crap that we have to drive each day. It's bad enough we havent received a raise in years and the economy could care less. Mr. Economy sure isnt going to remain idle until we start getting raises again. He is pressing on. No raises, health insurance that is a joke, increased payment into the pension, furloughs, and now dipping into our sick and annual leave. With all the aforementioned, is it too much to ask for quality working conditions? Working computers, better tech support, supplies, and cars that arent over 150,000 miles. One car was sent from one precinct to the next with 184,000 miles on it. Im sure the bottom will fall out of it soon and we will still keep it in inventory. Some poor 3000 badge number will be driving that unit or should I say, Flintstonin'(Bedrock)that unit.
Yes, I have just detailed numerous complaints and gripes, the same as the majority of officers out there. Question is, what am I doing about it? Sitting on my ass and griping isnt affecting change. Not getting involved, not attending BOC meetings, not being a part of a solution is as much a part of the problem as the BOC are. So I challenge all public safety servants reading this that are not actively involved with affecting change to get off your behinds and do something. Let your voices be heard. Enough is enough with the blatant garbage that is being tossed at us by the BOC.
As I close out this post, I would like to leave a few famous quotes to ponder over.
"No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity,"
"But I know none, and therefore am no beast." William Shakespeare
"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke
"Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt."
"Lawless are they that make their wills their law."
Years ago in East there was a group of us who would slit the deers throat, put it in the trunk of a unit and drive it back to the precinct and drag it down to the PT Field where we'd gut it and then take it home and butcher it. Our Sergeants didnt care.....and we'd do anything for the Sergeants.
Yes rookies will continue to be on special everyday. They are very easy to be influenced. They write the most bullshit tickets then turn them in and they are praised by the sergeants and lieutenants. Most veterans arent willing to lower our morals and our ethics to this standard. Just cause you are an MPO does not mean you are a veteran, especially since all you have done in three years is write tickets.
"Years ago in East there was a group of us who would slit the deers throat, put it in the trunk of a unit and drive it back to the precinct and drag it down to the PT Field where we'd gut it and then take it home and butcher it. Our Sergeants didnt care.....and we'd do anything for the Sergeants."
The road kill days were great weren't they... I fed my family (at home and at work) many deer like that. We were so poor we didnt have a choice. Some of you may remember Sgt Friendly's road kill chili from a Hwy 78 deer from about 10 years ago....if your fortunate enough.
Is it true? Good ole Buck West is gone?
The officer injured in the 41 on Covington and Scarborough today..... is he or she okay?
He has probably left to go work for the Sherrif as everyone knows hes running for CEO next go round. Good ole Buck, lol.
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