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Post by str8up50 on Aug 13, 2006 3:57:24 GMT -6
I would caution those wishing for the LPD and Sheriff to consolidate...just take a look at New Iberia. 500 deputies, sounds like a large number considering that everyone employed at the Sheriff Office is a deputy. Cook deputy, clerk deputy, etc...
Talk real numbers i.e. how many officers are on the street keeping me safe. Compare the numbers of LPD to Sheriff and I guarantee the amount of officers on the road exceeds the number the Sheriff has. After all, the Sheriff gets assitance for call load from other agencies such as Broussard PD, Carencro PD, etc..
Sure the budgets of both agencies are comparable, however the Sheriff has more programs, other than actual law enforcement.
I believe that the LCG Council and public were duped by Hundley stating that COMSTAT would place 50 more officers on the beat. Where did those 50 officers come from, because Craft just said LPD is short some 20 vacancies. All they did was lump detectives, narcotics, traffic, patrol officers into 3 districts and presented the numbers...Hey look we have 9 officers in District 3 today, when actually they only had 4 working the actual road, 5 detectives all on a rotation.
Then when Hundley presents to the council that this program is working, he states that narcotics arrests are down. Heck when you only have 4 officers working a certain district and you dis-ban your narcotics team....I guess so the narcotics arrest were down.
With that in mind, if officers were to refuse to write citations and work accidents, then Hundley could say that our streets are safe with courteous and polite drivers because traffic crashes and tickets are down.
Lenwood Broussard was right...I told you so...
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Post by zoe10850 on Aug 13, 2006 10:49:39 GMT -6
I do not see a problem in New Iberia, other than the fact that a bunch of people lost civil service protection and actually have to bepolite to the people who employ them.
Craft says 20, Durel says 35. Morale cannot be good within LPD due to the bad press and more than a couple of bad apples.
Sheriff has I believe 40 or 44 patrol deputies. LPD has I believe 48 - 60, depending on who you believe (12-15 per shift).
I still refer to other areas in the state; Jefferson Parish is over 90 miles from Metairie to Grand Isle, has population of approx 600,000, and the Sheriff there (Harry Lee) maintains a very high profile, competent law enforcement agency. People there seem more than satisfied with the sheriff (and he has not seen fit to get an accredited department like our own Dr Neustrom). He has approx 1500 deputies and of course some are cooks or mechanics.
If the budgets are comparable, but "the sheriff has more programs other than law enforcement" that clearly demonstrates that there is waste in the municipal budget, which was my point. And if the city has 60 patrol officers, what do the other 160 do ? The sheriff serves civil process (city marshall function in city govt - a waste of money as is city court), collects property taxes (way more than city) runs a jail with 700 inmates (200 jailors employed)has approx 25 detectives and juvenile officers, serves criminal warrants for district court (ditto for marshall - bad checks and shoplifters) and the aforementioned other programs as well.
My point is there is always waste in a bureaucracy. Surely no one believes city govt is efficient. There is no way to force improvement because there is no election process. I am certainly no fan of our present sheriff; I think he is an educator and does not function in a real world environment; however, we at least get to vote every 4 years on the job he is doing, and he has been in a runoff both times he was elected, indicating far less than majority approval, but at least we are afforded that opportunity as are the voters of New Iberia.
Fact is, when you call for a police officer, you only care that he arrives quickly, is competent, is courteous, and resolves your problem. Does not matter what uniform he wears.
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Post by TBEAR on Nov 5, 2006 9:28:02 GMT -6
How you like this article: www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061105/NEWS01/611050340/1002Stanley said that assuming all things other than pay were equal, such as health insurance and benefits, there are other issues taken into consideration such as quality of life, housing costs and other intangibles that are factored in before a family chooses to move. "I don't think it's any secret that Lafayette is the place to live in Louisiana," Stanley said. "That does not mean that we should take policemen and women for granted and try to get by with paying them less money," he said. I'd like to see that monkey work for $27,000.00 a year putting his life on the line everytime he went to work. He would be the first one crying for police if someone carjacks him or burglarizes his house. I'd also like to see him support a family on that. Blue would have to sell all her dogs cause she couldnt afford the food. The median income for Lafayette per person is $37,229.00 An average new home is about $200,000.00. The cost of living in Lafayette is getting ridiculous Insurance rates are going up electricity bills are outrageous
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Cajunguy
New Member
Duhhh, who's got the boudin?
Posts: 42
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Post by Cajunguy on Nov 5, 2006 10:01:06 GMT -6
TBear,
You left out that "they" want to raise our taxes, too - AGAIN!!
.
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Post by TBEAR on Nov 5, 2006 10:03:51 GMT -6
sorry I knew there was something I was forgetting
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Cajunguy
New Member
Duhhh, who's got the boudin?
Posts: 42
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Post by Cajunguy on Nov 5, 2006 10:36:50 GMT -6
That's OK, I've got your back. .
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Post by TBEAR on Nov 5, 2006 10:37:24 GMT -6
thanks
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Post by ronnief on Nov 6, 2006 19:01:56 GMT -6
Most every police officer that I know , whether Deputy Sheriff, LSP, or LPD, must work details to get by. The LSP has a generous pay scale, LPSO is the lowest, LPD in the middle. I think the LPSO and LPD should be the higher paid, their jobs are far riskier.
I see we are eliminating many of the contenders for the Chief job because of the college education qualification. Who cares ? Dr Copes had tons of education and where did it get him ? In a limo with a stripper.
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Post by GUEST50 on Dec 7, 2006 21:57:32 GMT -6
With everything that has been going on with the Lafayette Police Department this past year, the department is in true need of a leader that will address the problems not only within the department but also the increase in crime.
So 5 candidates were approved, based on the requirments set forth by Civil Service. Today, KLFY is reporting that Civil Service received a letter stating that Joey Sturm may not qualify for the position.
Out of the 5 candidates, who do you all think the best candidate is?
I personally do not know much of the candidates, but I have had dealings with Knowles "les" Jones. He is definitely a driven individual, a true straight shooter.
Tell me what you all think
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Post by dOROTHY on Dec 8, 2006 18:06:16 GMT -6
I do not see that any of the candidates stand out . I think the problem is the "qualifications" prohibit many qualified police officers from other areas of law enforcement from participating in the process. What does the college degree do for a police officer, especially if it is not in a related field ? Does the mayor have a degree because he certainly does not act like an educated man. Does Mr Stanley have an education beyond arrogance?
I am especially not satisfied with Mr Jim Craft and the way he has handled the job so far. He appears to be a zero. I do not know Mr Jones, but why hire a retiree to come back to the force ? More of the Hundley type payback ? I would consider hiring the Sheriff's Office to maintain patrol and detective personnel and getting the whole problem out of the city's hands. I do not think the quality of police service would decline.
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Post by ronnief on Dec 11, 2006 19:11:50 GMT -6
I do not see how Mr Craft is satisfied with Mr Craft. He contradicts himself on television, and then says he stands by both statements, however contradictory they may be. Is this "Catch-22" or what. After a month he cannot determine the cause of a wreck ? If those kids are innocent, let them get on with life. If reasonably guilty, then charge them, but do something.
I think someone who has never worked in the LPD would make the better candidate, but I would like to see more qualify. I think Nicky Picard, as old as he is, would make a huge difference in LPD for a year or two. I think he would retire a large number of the entrenched officers who now run things, and clearly badly and replace with a new group, with new ideas etc.
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