For reasons unclear to me, I took a rather brutal (and somewhat personal) beating in a handful of blog posts on the Journal-Star's website related to yesterday's article about Kyle Heidtbrink's internship project. I wasn't expecting that.
It appears the theme is that I am responsible for lax law enforcement, poor records of conviction and sentencing, and an old way of thinking that causes criminals and sex offenders to view Lincoln as a haven. Geez, I've got plenty of shortcomings, but I didn't think I was that big of a boat anchor. Maybe it's the same person using three screen names. Here's a failing that comes across rather obviously in blog posts to Lincoln crime stories day in and day out , though: I seem to be utterly ineffective on making it clear to some people that the police neither plea bargain, set bond, nor determine sentences.
You have to be pretty thick-skinned to do my job, so don't worry much about me. Yesterday's morning's birth of a new grandson made it pretty hard for an anonymous goofball to darken my day!
By the way: that soft on crime stuff is totally bogus. Last year, LPD's 316 officers accounted for 28,523 arrest charges. I'll put that number up against any police department anywhere, anytime. Go ahead, it's mostly available online at agency websites. I challenge anyone to find a municipal police department that produces that many arrests per officer.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
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9 comments:
I see one poster says you are a genius....now how could a goofball say such a nice thing?
In my opinion, it seems that the people who posted those comments yesterday dont really have a brain in their head. If they thought the whole process through, they would know that there is only so much LPD can do. Here's a thought, have them go on a ride along sometime and then lets ask them what their opinion of LPD is. Maybe if LPD wasnt so busy trying to track down those "loud stereo blasters", or transferring the chronic alcoholics to detox and im sure next week telling all those people to stop the firewors, etc... that there would be more time to do what they think LPD isnt doing? Just a thought. Ive seen LPD in action and I think they do a great job.
Don't worry about the blogs chief! After a quick 3 month study - I've used multiple aliases on the Journal Star boards and they are 3 times as likely to post negative comments about the police department. They hardly ever posted my positive comments. So take what they say with a grain of salt.
Congratulations on your new grandson!
I also have tried posting on LJS, and hsd the same results with positive comments. All of the crap gets printed, and anything that makes a decent argument seems to get cut. You can always expect the first few comments to be really biased and stupid. Probably by the same indiviuals just waiting for any article about the police.
Want more officers? Perhaps you should post how many calls the dispatch gets on DWI...then compare to how many you catch as a result of those calls..I bet you and the public would be shocked to find out. Some nights it takes five mins or longer to get the call read over the radio..One night I call the police and report a theft in progress...gave descriptions and all....20 yes TWENTY min later the police show and the trailer that we called about has a water heater missing from it. Gee, sounds like it might be a good time for criminals to come out of retirement..
Anon 1:48-
If you really think getting proper staffing for the police department is that simple, the public hearing on the budget at the City Council is on August 6.
Isn't the budget hearing on July 17th?
Nope, it's on Monday August 6 beginning at 2:30 PM in the City Council Chambers.
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