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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Tight budgets lead to more civilians used for policing
By Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY
Police agencies across the country are recruiting thousands of civilians for a growing number of duties previously performed by uniformed cops, in an unusual concession to local budget cuts.
The positions — some paid and others volunteer — are transforming every-day citizens into crime-scene investigators, evidence gatherers and photographers in what some analysts suggest is a striking new trend in American policing.
"It's all being driven by the economy and we should expect to see more of it," says University of Pittsburgh law professor David Harris, who analyzes law enforcement practices. "As budgets are squeezed, an increasing number of duties are going to be moved off officers' plates."
The chief opponents of the movement are police union leaders who believe cash-strapped agencies are lowering standards and undermining professionalism in the ranks. In some cases, the civilian positions circumvent pay and benefit obligations outlined in hard-fought labor contracts, says Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO).
"The economy ought not to be pushing this," Johnson says. "You want the real deal when you call 911."
Among the agencies expanding civilians' roles:
• San Francisco. Police officials plan to hire 16 civilians to investigate burglaries and other property crimes. The $1 million pilot program and others like it are being designed to allow dwindling numbers of uniform officers to focus on more serious violent crime.
San Francisco Assistant Chief Thomas Shawyer says the civilians will save up to $40,000 per person in training, equipment and benefit costs required to hire an officer.
• Mesa, Ariz. Eight civilian investigators hit the streets in June 2009 when the department could not afford to hire uniformed police. The unit's members— some drawn from the customer service ranks of Southwest Airlines, Costco and Barnes & Noble, where they are accustomed to dealing with the public — respond to property-related offenses, including burglary, fraud and vehicle theft.
All eight, says Sgt. Stephanie Derivan, have been trained to lift fingerprints, photograph crime scenes, interview witnesses and victims. They do not carry guns.
Derivan says the department is saving an estimated $15,000 per investigator in salary.
"It's an efficient way to do business," Derivan says.
• Durham, N.C.: Teams of civilian volunteers help police canvass neighborhoods immediately after murders and other violent crimes to aid responding units and put potential witnesses at ease.
Durham Chief Jose Lopez says other volunteers in city-issued cars patrol shopping centers during the busy holiday seasons and conduct property checks for residents who are away from home.
"They are additional eyes and ears for us," Lopez says. "It effectively puts more people on the street."
Not everyone is so enthusiastic.
"For most people, the only contact they have with local government is the police department," says NAPO's Johnson. "At that point of contact, we want a full-fledged police officer dealing with the public." |
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Wed Oct 13, 2010 5:52 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Cutbacks force police to curtail calls for some crimes
By Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY
Budget cuts are forcing police around the country to stop responding to fraud, burglary and theft calls as officers focus limited resources on violent crime.
Cutbacks in such places as Oakland, Tulsa and Norton, Mass. have forced police to tell residents to file their own reports — online or in writing — for break-ins and other lesser crimes.
"If you come home to find your house burglarized and you call, we're not coming," said Oakland Police spokeswoman Holly Joshi. The city laid off 80 officers from its force of 687 last month and the department can't respond to burglary, vandalism, and identity theft. "It's amazing. It's a big change for us."
MORE: State police forces shrink
BUDGET CUTS: Mounted police fading in sunset?
Jim Pasco, executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police, the nation's largest police union, said cutbacks are preventing many police agencies from responding to property crimes.
"The chiefs are putting the best face on this they can," Pasco said. "But think of this: that next property crime could involve a junkie who killed someone the night before."
In Tulsa, which lost 110 officers to layoffs and retirements, the 739-officer department isn't sending cops to the scene of larceny, fraud and car theft.
Tulsa police spokesman Jason Willingham says some residents have said they won't bother to report those crimes any more. "They think nothing is going to be done, so why mess with it," he said.
In the Boston suburb of Norton, police told residents there may be delays or no response at all to some calls, including vandalism. The department posted the new policy on its website.
"We wanted to let people know about this," Norton Police Chief Brian Clark said. "We didn't want people to be surprised."
Bernard Melekian, director of the Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, said the actions reflect are a reflection of the hard economic times across the country. |
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Wed Oct 13, 2010 5:55 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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CNN was discussing this issue and raised some questions.
what happens when a civilian is investigating a crime and another crime occurs nearby?
Some crimes occur in very bad neighborhoods. Will the civilian police be safe inestigating crimes in all areas?
Will the evidence gathered by the civilian survive challenges in court?
What will the public response be? |
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Wed Oct 13, 2010 6:02 pm |
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Dave Starr
F L I N T O I D
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quote:
untanglingwebs schreef:
CNN was discussing this issue and raised some questions.
what happens when a civilian is investigating a crime and another crime occurs nearby?
Let a sworn officer handle it.
quote:
Some crimes occur in very bad neighborhoods. Will the civilian police be safe inestigating crimes in all areas?
NO
quote:
Will the evidence gathered by the civilian survive challenges in court?
If the evidence chain is properly observed, why not? The civilian can collect it and identify it in keeping with established procedures. Then turn it over to the police.
quote:
What will the public response be?
Probably vary between acceptance and rejection. |
_________________
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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Wed Oct 13, 2010 6:32 pm |
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