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Ryan Eashoo
F L I N T O I D
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FLINT (WJRT) -- (05/20/10) -- Foot patrols were pitched as a way to save Flint police jobs, a way to put officers back on the street to build relationships with residents in every ward in the city.
More than two months later, even Mayor Dayne Walling admits the department's foot patrol program is struggling to get off the ground.
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation gave the city $1.1 million to fund nine positions.
The money was in place starting March 1.
A spokeswoman there says there's no concern on their end, but at least one city councilman is concerned, and so are residents.
"I hate to say this but I actually watch now," said resident Marianne Cicaolo.
Her favorite spot? Her front porch swing.
"I feel nosy. It's better to be nosy than to play dumb," she said.
Cicaolo says her south side home was broken into before Christmas, so she watches.
She says she hasn't seen any officers on foot.
Neither has her neighbor Charles McKamie. "I haven't seen nobody."
Flint Mayor Dayne Walling announced more than two months ago that foot patrols were back.
"I didn't think it would work because I didn't think we would have enough people to staff patrol," said Flint Police Officers Association President Keith Speer.
Forty-six police officers were laid off in late March, and it's not working, said Speer. "After roll call, they're checking into their cars and their just answering 911 calls because we have so many. We don't have time for them to walk their neighborhood."
"I think probably the administration has to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to make it work," City Council President Dale Weighill said.
"In the past, the city has accepted grant money and we've not spent it properly. If foot patrol is what the grant is supposed to be about and there is no foot patrol, my concern is we might have to pay the money back; either all of it or part of it at the end of the 12-month period."
http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=7452326
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Flint Michigan Resident, Tax Payer, Flint Nutt - Local REALTOR - Activist. www.FlintTown.com |
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Thu May 20, 2010 11:43 pm |
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Dave Starr
F L I N T O I D
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Good to see you back on here, Ryan.
As far as the grants go, what else is new? The inhabitants of city hall treat grant money like there are no strings attached & they can do what they want with it.
Speaking of promises, where are all the ministations? Where's all the "technology" that Walling promised would lower crime? Do the cameras put up in a certain north end neighborhood have power run to them yet so they'll work? |
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I used to care, but I take a pill for that now.
Pushing buttons sure can be fun.
When a lion wants to go somewhere, he doesn’t worry about how many hyenas are in the way.
Paddle faster, I hear banjos. |
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Fri May 21, 2010 7:36 am |
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