Loading ...With All Due Respect Mr. Mayor, I’m Calling Bull**** on This One
I’ve just reviewed some comments by “Hizzoner” Mayor Bart Peterson about the shortage of police officers facing Indianapolis and Marion County. While most of us argue the department is at least 120 officers short, the Mayor told WISH-TV the number was closer to nine, because us media folks aren’t including the officers on probation and in the current recruit class which amounts to 134 potential officers. Confused, let me explain.
The city says its number of actual sworn officers is 1,633 and it’s authorized number is 1,642. That number includes the chief, his staff and a bunch of other people who aren’t out on the street. That notwithstanding, they also include the 134 potential officers in the new recruit class and current ones on their probationary period who will be fully sworn when they complete probation.
Here’s where I get to call bull****.
IMPD’s full actual strength is 1,929 personnel according to their own staffing table as of May 20, 2007. Their allocated number is 2,106 for a difference of 177 vacancies. How do they get to the 1,929 figure. Let me break it down.
Allocated Positions — 2,106
Chief — 1
Assistant Chief — 2
Deputy Chief — 5
Major — 9
Captain — 21
Lieutenants — 107
Sergeants — 247
Patrol Officer — 1109
Probationary Officers - 79
Recruits — 53
Civilians — 296
Total — 1,929
Difference — 177 personnel.
The city is ALREADY counting its probationary officers and new recruit class as part of its staff. That’s how they get to the 1,929 number. Even though they can’t legally function as police officers. If they didn’t exist we’d have 311 vacancies. To say the 134 recruits and probationary officers will fill the gap would mean the city would have to count them TWICE at the least. And the city is also assuming no one will violate probation or drop out of the academy. And just for the record, there are only 30 probationary officers are assigned to districts according to the staff report.
This city is not nine officers short, it looks a lot like 120, and with all due respect Mr. Mayor, smells a lot like Bull****!
May 30th, 2007 at 3:55 am
I find t hard to believe that OUR BELOVED MAYOR would tell a lie! Especially during an election year!
May 30th, 2007 at 4:49 am
That new stadium’s not gonna pay for itself. High crime is the price we pay for having an NFL franchise.
May 30th, 2007 at 5:30 am
The mayor may count those probationary and cadet officers as filling those open spots - but none of them have ANY Policing powers. They can not pull anyone over. They can not arrest anyone. They can not go on a run to take a report which would free up another officer to handle other problems. He may say there are just 9 open spots - but reality dictates there are over 100 right now as we speak.
Plus he never mentioned those already planning on retiring this year and next year. There have already been 20 “Seperations” as they call in in the first 3 months of the year. That is equal to 80 for the year.
May 30th, 2007 at 5:44 am
Is anyone surprised? If you are, you’ve had your head in the sand for some time now.
Maybe surprised at the Blatant Bull****, but surprised that he would try and pull this over on the citizens of Indianapolis? No.
Lastly, if the Republicans can not beat this Mayor this year, then they should be embarrassed. Bart has given the Republicans more than enough fodder to pick over. Now, we will have to see if they will take advantage.
May 30th, 2007 at 6:50 am
Where is Greg Ballard? Greg, get in front of the camera. I want you in and this mayor out, but the people of Indianapolis do not know you. Who is running your campaign? Get off your couch and get out in the public. The next time an elderly woman is beaten, be there. The next time a girl is raped be there. Pound crime into the citizens minds.
May 30th, 2007 at 7:22 am
It’s now clear to me, that you and the IndyU nutballs want to skewer the figures one wy, the mayor wants to skewer them another.
It serves their purpose to whine. It serves your purpose to stir the pot. I understand and accept that.
I have a cousin who’s a probationary officer until September. He can go nowhere alone. He has a sworn officer with him, his Training Officer, at all times. Therefore, it’s fair to say, he is a fulltime officer. If an arrest is required, he has his Training Officer or another officer beside him to fulfill that function. But in every other respect, he can drive a police car, chase a suspect, ask questions at a crime or accident scene…
Indianapolis, I’m told, requires more training time than most neighboring major cities. I find that refreshing. Police power is awesome, and proper initial training is critical.
Whatever numbers are used, it is clear this is a police force in transition. To a younger, healthier, more efficient force. Hooray for that. An unfortunate num ber of the odler officers I’ve seen lately souldn’t run around their car without calling for backup.
So, in addition to the number, there’s a quality issue. A 30-year sworn officer on duty, who’s 60 pounds overweight, isn’t much good unless he never has to get out of his car.
The police force is transitioning and it will take time. I’m comfortable with the city’s plan to transition.
But they need watched–like a hawk.
May 30th, 2007 at 8:14 am
It’s been a good fight to make the Mayor accountable for the condition of this city but all is in vain.
The Mayor has a machine now. He has over $3 million in his campaign war chest. He has NO real opposition to contend with for re-election. He obviously has the support of the voters or they wouldn’t keep electing him. He has the support of the media,especially the Indy Star.
No amount of bitching and moaning will move Peterson out of the Mayor’s office.
He can do as he pleases and he can what he pleases. He answers to no one.
The voters in Indianapolis gave him tons of cash and they have supported him with overwhelming numbers each and every time he has ran. The voters have themselves to blame for the crime and everything else that’s screwed up with this town.
Time to face reality folks, outside of a criminal investigation that implicates Mayor Peterson, we have what what we have and we’ll have to live with it.
May 30th, 2007 at 8:17 am
Mayor has no power over the police department.
Blame the sheriff.
Talk to the sheriff.
May 30th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Think again, THINK AGAIN. You said,”it is clear this is a police force in transition. To a younger, healthier, more efficient force. Hooray for that.”
Your comments set the stage for discrimination. Is younger really better than older? Stronger then weaker? Male than female? White than black, hispanic, oriental, etc? Clearly, a minimum standard of fitness and mental ability should be in place for public safety officials to match the job they are to perform. Don’t forget that older sometimes have wisdom not yet learned from life’s expereiences which does make the wise more valuable than the fittest younger person.
May 30th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
The older guys especially the ones from IPD are the biggest loads on the departement. They don’t take a run even if it’s been pending for 20 minutes until a dispatcher sends it to them. Look at the gas station at Kentucky and Raymond, you have several officers that sit in there all day and only leave when they are dispatched to a run. The king of all old timers is R.J. Kenny. If you remember R.J. he was the one who bad mouthed Reserve officers, calling them amateurs. What R.J. wouldn’t want you to know about was the day he left his department firearm in a resturant booth on the NE side where a child found it. A reserve officer not only recovered the weapon but kept it quiet so R.J. wouldn’t get in trouble or embarassed…..Older IPD Officers = Loads….
May 30th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Abdul, however hard I find it I feel I must apologize for the posting of 2:06. I’m sorry that he brought this immature rant to your blog. I’m saddened that he’ll never realize that he just embarrassed himself, his department, and his badge (if he is LEO). For reasons unknown to me his type is alive and well today with no respect for himself or others. Usually he’s never been there or done that although he’ll be the first to thump his chest as if he had compared to those who have for years.
2:06 somewhere down the line you missed out on or refused to learn some valuable lessons. You may wish to grow up a bit.