For you law enforcement supporters

[uptown]

Cops deserve all the money they can get. They have a tough job and my respect. I know I wouldn't do what they do for that kind of money.

[lazs2]

I have no doubt that some cops in small towns do not get paid enough.   My guess is that no one in that town gets paid enough tho if they work for the people.

I am not "talking" to cops when I say that in kalifornia at least.. the cops and fire eat up about 50-80% of their cities general fund.   I don't know what it is in other areas.. you guys who think your cops and firemen are not getting enough need to find out for yourselves.   it is simple enough.. just look at your cities budget and then come back and tell me we aren't paying enough for police and fire.

rich.. I don't have a "love hate" relationship with cops.. I am not as sensitive and emotional as you seem to be..  I have more of a strong like/mild dislike relationship with em for the most part.  I don't try to make them out to be more... or less..  than they are.   I understand more than you think about em.. I do understand the action junkie part and I do understand just wanting to make a living part.  I don't understand the quasi military part.    I understand that seeing the worst of people thing.  I can imagine the toll that would take and want no part of it.   

I don't really need em tho.   Not really..  I do need em to do the report so that I can take care of the problem.   I think it is nice that they are driving around and that they catch someone red handed from time to time.. I believe that they are a deterent. 

For the most part.. I believe that the stupid laws we keep passing make it so that cops are a negative in most peoples lives.   seatbelt tickets.. cell phone tickets.. helmet tickets.. smoking tickets.. all kinds of laws that are simply a negative to most.   Most of us never see a cop do us any good.. only come to take reports and tell us nothing can be done.. yet.. they are right there to give us a ticket for some minor traffic infraction that causes no harm except to cost us hundreds or thousands (including insurance).

lazs

[Slash27]

I am not "talking" to cops when I say that in kalifornia at least.. the cops and fire eat up about 50-80% of their cities general fund.   I don't know what it is in other areas.. you guys who think your cops and firemen are not getting enough need to find out for yourselves.   it is simple enough.. just look at your cities budget and then come back and tell me we aren't paying enough for police and fire.

lazs

I have not found anywhere around here where public saftey is using 50% of a citys budget. I dont go hungry by any means but when you look at the services we provide with the amount of resources we have. The city I work for is getting alot of bang for its buck. Every where is different though.

[lazs2]

slash.. I have no idea what portion police and fire eat up in your area.. I am sure you can find out and tell me.

I do know that in the area I live in.. that salary surveys of which I have been a part show 50-80% or more of the general fund going to safety.. fire and police.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/10/MNFKVEV4L.DTL

This is fairly common and is partly due to the citizens asking for more and more services from fire and police.  and..  because of mandated services.   Just as it is true in all of the public sector including my job.. what took one man now takes 5 because of regulation.   extra certification requires extra pay to attract the people.. that sort of thing.

I am not saying that the individual public servant is to blame.

lazs

[Slash27]

 

[Rich46yo]

You seem to be kind of obsessed with it all Laz.

You should have just come on the job yourself. Then you'd have realized 3/4 of what you say it hogwash.

[alskahawk]

This is pretty sad at it's best point.

http://streator.mediacomtoday.com/community/news/story/index.php?source=National&id=D91HKLO00&pd=20080626

10.50 an hour to risk, and lose your life?! That's pathetic. Hope that bill gets passed and maybe these men and women protecting us will get the pay they deserve.

 10.50 and hour. You can go work at a factory for 11.00 an hour. And get regular pay raises. Nothing more than a high school education and you can get paid more than a rural deputy/police officer. I wonder how much the local mayor, county commisioners get paid. I'll bet they took care of themselves.

[FrodeMk3]

10.50 and hour. You can go work at a factory for 11.00 an hour. And get regular pay raises. Nothing more than a high school education and you can get paid more than a rural deputy/police officer. I wonder how much the local mayor, county commisioners get paid. I'll bet they took care of themselves.

With municipal/County administration, It's not just their pay. They set themselves' up some great bennies, as well. New cars every year, Free cell phones, junkets, etc, etc....And a lot of that crap doesn't show as going to the admin., they can hide it in things' like General funds...

[lazs2]

rich.. I have rode with cops but felt a little unarmed..   I would be glad to ride with you on any nite you say so long as I can have the same equipment you have.   

One night years ago I rode with the locals on a raid because it was city property that was stolen and they had a lead and wanted me there to identify any equipment that I could..  we raided a lot of crankster houses and one out in the boonies.

I just talked to the cop again about that and we were laughing about it.. I was standing behind a tree when they pounded on the door at one place.. he asked me why I was hiding and I told him that it was a pretty bad spot to not have a gun or vest and he laughed..  I said.. "laugh it up chuckles but as you are going down please toss me your gun"   

I get along fine with most cops and we kid about the things I am saying here.... slash and most of the cops here I would probly get along fine with... probly not you tho..  you seem pretty sensitive and humorless..

Or maybe.. possibly.. it is the medium.. we never come off the same in print.   

Those here that have met me... and there are plenty.. will say, I think, that I am pretty much the same here as in person..  I guess it just comes out better in person.   

Sorry if I have offended you and I would be glad to ride with you any night in any situation but... sorry if I don't trust you to defend me.. I would need the ability to defend myself (or you) if it went bad.   

lazs

[slipknot]

I get along fine with most cops and we kid about the things I am saying here.... slash and most of the cops here I would probly get along fine with... probly not you tho..  you seem pretty sensitive and humorless..

Or maybe.. possibly.. it is the medium.. we never come off the same in print.   

Lazs2--King of the non-rebuttable statements.

[Rich46yo]

Yaknow Laz I woke up this morning and found a note my wife left me. I checked the news and found it to be true. A personal friend of mine was killed LOD last night. He was probably the 9'th or 10'th guy Ive personaly known who was killed LOD, I'd have to check how many actually. And he was probably the last guy I would say could get his gun taken away and then be killed with it. He spent many years as a tactical Officer in some of the same projects I worked.

The 9'th or 10'th at least. And hundreds busted up, shot up, ran over, knifed, beat on.........

I dont know why Im telling you this, why Im even bothering. But I just woke up and found out my friend is dead. His name was Rick Francis and he was a better man then all of us put together.

[ink]

Yaknow Laz I woke up this morning and found a note my wife left me. I checked the news and found it to be true. A personal friend of mine was killed LOD last night. He was probably the 9'th or 10'th guy Ive personaly known who was killed LOD, I'd have to check how many actually. And he was probably the last guy I would say could get his gun taken away and then be killed with it. He spent many years as a tactical Officer in some of the same projects I worked.

The 9'th or 10'th at least. And hundreds busted up, shot up, ran over, knifed, beat on.........

I dont know why Im telling you this, why Im even bothering. But I just woke up and found out my friend is dead. His name was Rick Francis and he was a better man then all of us put together.

sorry for your lose Rich, words cant help.

all i can say is stay strong.

[texasmom]

Sorry for the loss of your friend.

[Obie303]

Damn.  Real sorry to hear about that Rich. 

Hang tough.
Obie

[lazs2]

sorry for your loss.. I think it is fortunate that so few cops are killed on the job these days and we can at least be thankful for that.

lazs