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Post by bobbbiez on Jan 22, 2010 22:22:01 GMT -5
 Anyone interested in speaking pro or con on the COPS Grant being decided, there will be a special common council meeting on Monday, Jan 25, at 6:00pm for all to voice their opinions and concerns. 
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Post by corner on Jan 23, 2010 7:31:24 GMT -5
we cant afford it it forces us to raise the pd complement and then take on the payroll and benefit burden when the grant expires...better to take those off of desk duty and assign them to patrol...the captains and leutenants(sp) can be put into cars and patrol as well...this is the model many larger southern cities use that have bigger crime problems than we do..
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Post by bobbbiez on Jan 23, 2010 12:01:46 GMT -5
Gonna go to the meeting to hear all the provisions of this grant before I decide if it's feasible for Utica. Would also like to know how many other municipalities are accepting the COPS Grant offered to them. 
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Post by Swimmy on Jan 23, 2010 13:01:17 GMT -5
New Hartford announced in the paper a few weeks ago when this grant was first mentioned that it would be accepting the grant. www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=65www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=2208Links I googled so you don't have to wait until the meeting to see the terms for the first time. Gotta love how the council expects people to provide opinions or concerns without giving them access to the information their expected to comment on, typical backdoor politics. |
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Post by stoney on Jan 23, 2010 13:27:43 GMT -5
Corner, is Toni K. still writing grants for the UPD, or is she "retired"? I haven't heard from her in awhile...  |
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Post by bobbbiez on Jan 23, 2010 14:06:54 GMT -5
Swimmy, it's been no big dark secret since it has been in the newpaper and our council people have commented on it. I have received information from my councilman but still would like to hear other opinions on the issue pertaining to Utica. The question I would like to ask is if Utica plans on hiring four more officers in the next four years anyways then how could we not benefit from the grant. I'm sure others have many more questions of their own they want answered also.
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Post by Clipper on Jan 23, 2010 16:00:46 GMT -5
Isn't the biggest concern the fact that if they accept the grant it may prevent some future downsizing or elimination of positions because of the way the grant is worded? Don't they have to keep the force at that strength for a certain time period if they accept the money?
I have to think that ANY assistance that will add cops to the roster and increase law enforcement efforts is a good thing. The writing is on the wall. Crime is NOT going to go down anytime in the near future, and if we want to even hold our own, we need more cops on the streets. Services cost money. Necessary services must be funded whether we like it or not. There is waste everywhere else that can be cut without cutting public safety.
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Post by Swimmy on Jan 23, 2010 16:23:38 GMT -5
Well, from the commentary I recall, they will be hiring more cops through natural attrition (e.g. retirements). This grant requires expanding the complement, so no, the grant would not benefit anyone after 4 years.
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Post by Clipper on Jan 23, 2010 16:29:53 GMT -5
Exactly swimmy. I thought I remembered something along those lines, but even so, REPLACING cops through natural attrition and ADDING cops through the grant are two different things. If I lived in Utica right now, I would be wanting them to hire all the cops that they could find the money to hire. I would be willing to bet that even if the grant held them to keeping the positions for 4 years or so, that Utica will NEED that many more cops in four years anyhow, and might possibly be having to hire them without any grant money at that time.
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Post by Swimmy on Jan 23, 2010 16:35:20 GMT -5
Exactly swimmy. I thought I remembered something along those lines, but even so, REPLACING cops through natural attrition and ADDING cops through the grant are two different things. If I lived in Utica right now, I would be wanting them to hire all the cops that they could find the money to hire. I would be willing to bet that even if the grant held them to keeping the positions for 4 years or so, that Utica will NEED that many more cops in four years anyhow, and might possibly be having to hire them without any grant money at that time. The problem with the grant is that after 4 years, the money stops. So, how, especially in today's economic tough times, is the city supposed to afford those 4 extra cops at the risk of refunding the entire grant fund if they cut the complement after the grant money runs out? |
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Post by Clipper on Jan 23, 2010 16:45:17 GMT -5
What I am saying Swimmy is that in four years, the cops are going to be needed at any rate, and we will have to find a way to pay for them anyhow. Don't be so naive as to believe that the city of Utica will be able to ever cut the number of cops on the street at the rate crime is taking over the inner city neighborhoods.
Unless some miracle were to occur and CONSOLIDATION were to take place, the compliment of officers is going to only get larger. At least if taxes go up to pay for cops, it is better spent than for a tax increase to support some of the other mismanaged crap that the city gets into.
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Post by corner on Jan 23, 2010 19:07:50 GMT -5
Corner, is Toni K. still writing grants for the UPD, or is she "retired"? I haven't heard from her in awhile... dont know thought one of the deputy shiefs took it over but not sure besides i worked for the state and our agency leaders were too arrogant to take advantage of the grants after 911 |
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Post by stoney on Jan 23, 2010 19:10:35 GMT -5
Ah, I see. I know she was very sick & haven't heard from her in almost a year.
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Post by lefty on Jan 23, 2010 19:47:40 GMT -5
Exactly swimmy. I thought I remembered something along those lines, but even so, REPLACING cops through natural attrition and ADDING cops through the grant are two different things. If I lived in Utica right now, I would be wanting them to hire all the cops that they could find the money to hire. I would be willing to bet that even if the grant held them to keeping the positions for 4 years or so, that Utica will NEED that many more cops in four years anyhow, and might possibly be having to hire them without any grant money at that time. The problem with the grant is that after 4 years, the money stops. So, how, especially in today's economic tough times, is the city supposed to afford those 4 extra cops at the risk of refunding the entire grant fund if they cut the complement after the grant money runs out? |
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Post by lefty on Jan 23, 2010 19:49:50 GMT -5
In fours years its very possible that there will be four retirements and then the Administration can decide whether to fill or not. Right now it will be four more on the street when they get trained!
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Anyone interested in speaking pro or con on the COPS Grant being decided, there will be a special common council meeting on Monday, Jan 25, at 6:00pm for all to voice their opinions and concerns. 
