Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Are We Ready For A Catastrophe?

The National Weather Service is predicting the impending ice storm will be a catastrophe. The police department is taking it so serious, they have devised a plan to make sure we, the officers, will be well taken care of.  NOT!

Here is the brilliant plan; we are being told to bring toiletries and a change of clothing with us, because who knows when we will be able to get home.

We are being told, if we can't get home, and are forced to get a hotel room, the county will reimburse us. The county has failed to contract with any hotel to block off sufficient number of rooms or make arrangements for a discount government price.

If the weather is going to be of catastrophic proportions, what about food? All the restaurants will be closed. What are we suppose to eat, crackers from some vending machine?

Why hasn't Cedric not planned on taking care of the officers? This storm is no secret. Could he not have make arrangements with the National Guard for a shelter in place for us? Could he not have contacted the Red Cross to make sure we are fed?

And while we will be tired, hungry and miserable, what about our families?

Surely a man who received an $8000.00 per year raise in salary would have the smarts to preplan.

Welcome to amateur hour.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Its just a police officer not the one of the chiefs or the CEO needing a place to rest and shower to continue on his shift. Then his family can just function without him because it the will of the county.
We received so many benefits for the work that we do every day.
The new year brings increase mandatory ticket revenue so that the general fund can be increase for more crazy spending.

Anonymous said...

What about the commissioner who had the domestic incident on South Precinct. Did someone need to go to jail?

Anonymous said...

They showed you what they think of you in Dekalb County: "Bring your OWN toiletries." UNBELIEVABLE...

Anonymous said...

Really? REALLY? Out here in the "real world" outside of the coddling government workplace, those of us in the private sector have to assume responsibility for ourselves. If we get stuck at work and can't get home, WE get our own damn hotel room. Food? FOOD? Pack yourself enough food to last you a day or two! Good grief, as I read that posting I thought it was my teenage daughter moaning and groaning. Grow up! No wonder this ain't the police department of Bobby Burgess and Dick Hand. Good God!

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, food for thought. Let me think out loud for a moment. I am REQUIRED to report for duty while everyone else in city is told to stay home. I will be working 12 hr. shift leaving my family to take care of themselves. I am required to drive my own vehicle into work at the risk of a wreck. Which means I will be required to pay for damages and be without a vehicle until it is fixed. God help me if I get injiuried or killed.
I do all of this for what? To serve the citizens of Dekalb, who love me and need me soooooo much they have allowed the politicians to NOT give me a raise in 8 years, NOT authorize take home cars like all the other agencies in the area. Even though they have 35 vehicles sitting around NOT be used now for over 6 months. RAISED my pension contributions so high I could pay a car note with it. Have allowed good officers to leave until we can no longer SAFELY cover a shift with officers.
My dilemma is this, do I drive my privately owned vehicle into work. At the risk of wrecking and taking on a financial hardship I can't afford. Or do I call in and say I can't make it to work. Send someone out in a county vehicle to pick me up. Hmmmmmm?

Anonymous said...

Someone will be doing it in your place in 20 yrs so toughen up for now.

Anonymous said...

To anonymous at 2:19... There is a diference here... As you say, out in the real world if you get stuck at work you get your own hotel room... Fair enough, but then again, you had the option to leave work and go home before it got bad and stayed till you were stuck. Officers do not have that option and that is the point being made here. It does seem fair that the county should make SOME accomodations for employees that they require to report. That is why they will pick them up and take them home if they can't get in. They should also ensure they can get some rest after a shift even if someone at the county needs to coordinate with a motel to pay for a room. Heck even DOT and the power companies made arrangements for their people at the Mall of GA! It is not glamorous but it is something to be sure they are fed and showered and able to get some rest between shifts!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Good gawd....grow a pair and tell them you cant make it!!!!!!!!!!!!

THats the problem with DKPD........bunch of YES MEN AND WOMAN......who ALWAYS......do as they are told.

Its why some of you are still there after 8 years without a raise.................LOSERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the meantime the rest of us who left...have moved on and prospered. Pathetic. Losers!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Surely you didnt expect this bunch of "born again idiots",to devise any type of plan for something predictable ! I mean ,hell, this is not like an uncontrolable crime spree that we are already used to dealing with. This is the weather,with everybody in the world telling them what to do. You can bet your ass that they are all at home,warm and toasty. What about this Gen.Brian Harris of the Nat.Guard fame,some of you are so high on. HE SHOULD KNOW ALL ABOUT EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY PLANS. Maybe he's really like everybody else down here. "Those that keep things from happening,those that make things happen,and of course,those that wonder what in the hell happened ! Put down that shovel and sandbag,and take care of your people!

Anonymous said...

To 2:19am
In the real world many people can't handle their own problems; therefore,they call 911 for us the (police officers) to come solve their problems. I'm sorry if you fail to realize the work we do that goes unnoticed. Perhaps the grim reminder of you seeing a flag a half staff makes you realize that there are many officers who never made it home. If you really have this much time to invest into a blog that has nothing to do with you or private sector jobs maybe, you should replace that with spending some time with your teenage daughter.

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:19
Out in the "real world" you would not be required to come in during a state of emergency. You would not be required to put in 12 hour days knowing that your employer would not be paying you for the overtime. You would not be required to go out into dangerous situations and put yourself in harms way. You would be the one putting me in harms way because you did not listen and stay home.
I do prepare for myself because I know this county would not and couldn't care less. I prepare my family knowing I will not be home if they need me and the power goes out. I will be here trying to get a few hours of sleep before I'm out again while you're at home in your bed taking care of your family.
Walk a mile before you comment. I was here when the PD was a great place to be and I'm here now. Still protecting and doing my job while you sit in your comfortable, warm home complaining about us.

Anonymous said...

For, "In the real world many people can't handle their own problems; therefore,they call 911 for us the (police officers) to come solve their problems." Someone needs to inform those folks that when minutes count, police are minutes away. Just saying

Anonymous said...

You cannot be forced to take comp time. If you were forced to work overtime, make sure you get paid for it!

Anonymous said...

Instantly solve all your problems. Vernon for Sheriff!

Anonymous said...

February 12, 2014 at 2:19 AM

You know, in some ways I pity your ignorant condescending attitude more than I loathe it. The "private sector" ISN'T the real world, because people in the "private sector" don't have to please anyone, their leaders aren't elected, and when a state of emergency is called, it's a free pass for them to get the hell out of dodge and go home. Us officers responding to people still in medical need, or people stuck in the snow because they refused to listen, or even checking every nook and crany for transients and making sure they get to a warm shelter, THAT is the real world. And when you work your ass through a long shift of handling that job while 98 percent of the population, to include your own family is warm at home watching what you're going through through the safety of the television, THEN having to scrimp and safe to prepare your family, even though you havent seen a raise in years and a worth-nothing bonus after a 8 year drought while all the high-and mighty people in the "private sector" enjoy almost yearly raises, quarterly bonuses, take-home company vehicles and paid overtime. *phew*. THAT is when you can fucking talk down to me or my partners for expecting a goddamn warm meal and a place to lay my head down for a few hours before going out and doing it all over again and having a serviceman fucking attitude about it. You assholes DONT get stuck at work, because when a state of emergency gets called, you can go home ahead of it, so get off your fucking horse and shut the fuck up because unless you're saying "Thank you officer, for what you do." or "Hopefully the county will appreciate your hard work in spite of the constant shit being shoveled into your face." Then you can shove it because I really don't want to hear it chief.

To my brothers and sisters, Command may not have been ready for this, but we sure fucking are because no matter the circumstances, we still believe that our oath meant something. Stay Safe, Stay Warm, and fuck the haters!

-OfficerZero

Anonymous said...

Officer Zero is my hero!

Anonymous said...

To the person who wrote on 2/12/14 @ 8:03 am, you knew what you were getting involved with when you signed up for the job. You knew that you were going to work on any shift, driving to work in your personal vehicle, and all of the other stuff associated with the job.

So why all of sudden you are bitching/ Sounds to me, that you are a freeloader, who spends a shift thinking how to get out of work, or in your case.......doing nothing except sitting on your butt collecting dust.

Hey man.....Grow up or take a job elsewhere that suits the tone of your thinking....You are just plain lazy...period.

Anonymous said...

It's a big old world out there with many other ways to make a living if you're that miserable.

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:18 do you work for Dekalb? You can be forced to take comp time and we are. Who are you going to take it to? Think the media cares that officers aren't paid overtime and are made to take comp time---nope. Noone cares and it does happen. Go ahead and tell comman staff that you're not taking comp time for the 12+ hours of overtime you've worked this week. Let me know what they say.

Anonymous said...

MUCH RESPECT FOR OFFICER ZERO!!! I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERYONE YOU WHO WORKED THIS STORM!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

Anonymous said...

Another storm is brewing so get ready to do it all over again.

Anonymous said...

At least the media didn't come looking for comments from our ignorant sounding leaders. How do we get people that can't even speak correctly to represent us on t.v. That e-mail about the county closing was as poorly written as they get. What is he a doctor of? That idiot PIO that the fire department uses, that murders the English language and embarrasses the county every time flames erupt could have written a better e-mail! Maybe if we had offered Dr. Phil 180 grand a year he would be our official doctor leader!

Anonymous said...

How about some fucking take home cars for ALL OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS!!!

Anonymous said...

I understand my job.....keep my mouth shut and keep plugging away on a daily basis.....DeKalb used to be the place ...I'm not fooling myself or trying to get anyone else to drink the cool-aid....I understand state of emergency...and everything that falls with it.....

The county will make a ton of money off this.....

My one major complaint is....90% of this county calls us assholes or other such names when we patrol the neighborhoods and call us "sirs" when they need us....granted...there are some that are pro-police......

As stated I'm told to pack clothes for multiple days and be prepared to stay......the county has no foresight in any attempt to take care of the troops at all.....

Before you blow me out of the water...East Prec. Command took care of their troops by buying food for them.....the one organization footed the bill for a few hotel rooms.....the other officers had to buy rooms out of their own pocket......

Which leads me to the most important fact of all......my family.....I know I can't leave my post.....but for 4-5 days???....whose going to take care of them????.....I'm one that stocks up on supplies anyway.....but what about these young officers and their families??

You think the Dr. "great alexander" even thought once about them???....I saw Jim Conroy at least sent out a thank you letter.

I've been here more than a day or two.....and I've stood by and watched chiefs come and go.....until we start at the core and foundation and start taking care of our own and each other.....this place will continue to crumble.

Until some sort of education/information is given to the citizens of this county on the real truth about Decatur...nothing will ever change there either.

Love my job.....I still think things can change....and hopefully will turn in another direction before I turn my equipment in before the long walk out the door. Until that time......lets try to start taking care of each other and our families.

God speed!

Anonymous said...

Another metro county PD has MRE's, cots, tents, etc in all their precincts. Some agencies actually have a plan for disasters!

Anonymous said...

Take home cars are a good idea, but only for officers who live inside the county and who have been with the department for at least 2 years.

Or do like Gwinnett and give take home cars to officers while they are still in the academy!