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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowMayor Ballard should veto or delay implementation of the proposed 0.05 percent tax to hire 150 police officers until more supporting details are offered:
1. What would these officers do each day? Would they travel our streets in cars, walk new beats or engage in “community policing”? If the latter, would they speak at events, organize new preventative programs, engage gang leaders, manage the homeless, develop educational programs for drivers, or other specific tasks?
2. Is our police department “in crisis,” as stated by a councilman? If so, what is the crisis? Is the local response time slow compared to other cities? Do we face frequent circumstances in which multiple simultaneous events cannot be covered? In other words, what are the specific and measurable deficiencies that will be resolved by more personnel?
3. Will training and morale of the department improve?
4. What evidence exists that more officers will reduce crime? What do statistics tell us?
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John Guy
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