Your Safety & the Police
By Abe Low
The following are excerpts from a statement given by Victor Sanchez, our
neighbor and president of the Sacramento Police Officers Association to the
local news media on January 12, 2001. He brings up some very interesting
facts and questions for us all to ponder.
''As of today, approximately 78 officers (Sacramento Police Officers) are
involved in the hiring process with (other) area law enforcement agencies.
?…Why are these men and women whom we train, at a cost of 30 - 40 thousand
dollars each, not wanting to stay with OUR department? ?….why the city gives
managers, confidential secretaries and administrative personnel $600+ to
help pay for medical coverage and they (Police Officers) only receive $298
to cover the same costs. ?…. When a police officer receives $16 and hour to
potentially put their lives on the line, they wonder why that is. When 67%
of the officers on patrol have less than 5 years on the department, you
have to ask WHY? When every city employee's retirement age is decreased by
5 years, except public safety, you have to wonder why?''
-----------------------------------
There is a very high correlation between lack of experience and the use of
force by officers. Most of the accidents involving police cars over the
past few years happened when less experienced officers were at the wheel.
The department recognized this and restricted the fastest, newer cars to
the officers with experience. There is no substitute for experience. It is
the experienced officers that are leaving in a disproportionate number. I
don't know how this fact makes you feel but it makes me feel like something
is wrong. Why?
By Abe Low
The following are excerpts from a statement given by Victor Sanchez, our
neighbor and president of the Sacramento Police Officers Association to the
local news media on January 12, 2001. He brings up some very interesting
facts and questions for us all to ponder.
''As of today, approximately 78 officers (Sacramento Police Officers) are
involved in the hiring process with (other) area law enforcement agencies.
?…Why are these men and women whom we train, at a cost of 30 - 40 thousand
dollars each, not wanting to stay with OUR department? ?….why the city gives
managers, confidential secretaries and administrative personnel $600+ to
help pay for medical coverage and they (Police Officers) only receive $298
to cover the same costs. ?…. When a police officer receives $16 and hour to
potentially put their lives on the line, they wonder why that is. When 67%
of the officers on patrol have less than 5 years on the department, you
have to ask WHY? When every city employee's retirement age is decreased by
5 years, except public safety, you have to wonder why?''
-----------------------------------
There is a very high correlation between lack of experience and the use of
force by officers. Most of the accidents involving police cars over the
past few years happened when less experienced officers were at the wheel.
The department recognized this and restricted the fastest, newer cars to
the officers with experience. There is no substitute for experience. It is
the experienced officers that are leaving in a disproportionate number. I
don't know how this fact makes you feel but it makes me feel like something
is wrong. Why?
