your partially right but...
I am sorry, however I do not feel as though you are as well versed in policy and proceedure as you may be stating...
Please allow me to seperate your comments inorder to attempt to provide as much clarification as possible.
''why do we need to have a duty officer make 15 runs per week, in a squad car, with full dispatch, gps, and all the chargable time and costs considered for a few lunch bags for misdemenor detainees about to be released anyway from the wpd holding tank?''
#1) just to make sure it is understood, McDonalds is no longer utilized as the supplier of meals for WDPD prisoners. As a means to reduce costs (from my understanding) pre-packaged meals are now stored at the department and are provided to inmates who are lodged during meal times.
#2) When McDonalds (or years ago Watkins) was the method of serving inmates, what other method would have been more appropriate or acceptable to use to serve the prisoners? In one way or another, someone has to serve the inmates, and civilian personel are not allowed in our cell block or to have contact with inmates (for obvious security reasons)so that would rule out anyone other than an Officer form performing this task.
#3) 15 runs per week..this is not an accurate nor reliable figure...if there are no prisoners, there are no meals to be served therefor no ''runs'' to McDonalds. Also you will have to factor in that the jail is open 7days, not 5. This number could vary considerably one way or another.
#4) In a squad car, with full dispatch & gps? I am sorry..but you have me somewhat confused here...Officers drive squad cars...we are assigned them at the begining of each shift and they are our ''office'' if you will for the entire 12 hours we are on the road...what other manner would the meals be transported to the department?
Certainly you are not suggesting that a vehcile is changed simply for the meal run...I am sure that you would agree that this would be a considerable waste of time and monetary rescources.
As for the full dispatch and GPS, Dispatch comes with each and evey car, it is called our radio and is run by the person behind the radio at the police department...as for GPS...I am sorry, our agency has not graduated this far in technology as to have installed GPS in our vehicles, as well as several other items we would like to have to graduate into the 21st century...sorry to say.
#5) Should you approve or not, when we are detaining someone we are responsible for their care while they are in our custody. Their personal liberties are no longer existent as they are restricted from doing things you and I take for granted and we must provide certain basic care for them, of which one is meals...
Why things are (or were) done this way is not for me to question...I do not make policy or proceedure...I am told how it is to be done and until told other wise, that is how it is.
I understand and have read your opinions regarding ''the candidate'' however again feel that this thread has nothing to do whith that topic, as much as you would like it to.
I am curious as to how you have so much ''accurate'' information regarding this person while he is on the job within our department (since most that come and go are known or restricted access).
I do not monitor his activities while he works, it is none of my business what he does as long as he performs his duties...he has a commanding officer who is an excellent and fair supervisior, I am sure that if things were as you say the matter whould have been dealt with accordingly.