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Last Thurs. evening, while we had no police coverage in the city due to the mayor's decree, the pharmacy had a shoplifter. 911 was called, Mgr. Paul Doty chased the guy down after running all over the city. The police, finally getting authorization, dispatched an officer over a half hour later to respond. Turns out the guy was wanted on a parole/probation violation from a murder charge.
Is this what we're paying for?
Anonymous
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Police Response to Pharmacy Shoplifter
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21 comments:
What!?!? There are 3000 people plus those right around the city limits that are dependent on these guys in an emergency. Why is the city doing this to us? They certainly had enough money to budget the police dept., why is our safety being sacrificed now? We need to demand answers from the mayor! Business owners chasing criminals? What a bunch of bs!
Does this have anything to do with the plan to make a public safety direcotr job for the cheif who was fired? making room in the budget for the job and we don't have protection?
Congratulation Mr. Doty! Mayor Poucher's decision to suspend 24/7 police coverage during certain hours is unconscionable. We can certainly live with a pothole or two if the budget is truly a question, but to reduce emergency services in any way is unacceptable.
If this reduction in service is related in any way to the Cortese case, then I hope the council votes it down.
We pay for these services and expect the city to have coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week. What a shame that business owners are forced to take the law into their own hands! What if this guy had had a gun?
The city needs to be accountable for this. Isn't that what this new administration promised?
I hsve a couple of question, can anyone tell me why so many of our police officers quit the force as soon as Chief Brending took over? 2 quit in the first couple of months, another one later and now another is leaving. isn't the chief the one who sets the hours for the officers to work? just wondering.
I think turn over has traditionally been high with our police force since they give people an entry into law enforcement and then once they gain experience they move onto the Sheriff's Department or the WSP since it pays so much more, better opportunities for advancement and better benefits.
Anon. 2:48 Your information is incorrect and inaccurate. Since Brending has been chief (summer 2007), one officer is in the process of leaving. He is headed to Goldendale because his wife works for the Sheriff's Dept. there.
Between former chief Cortese's term and Brending's, two officers left - one because of a divorce that took him to Portland and the other to work in Skamania Co. where he lives.
Anon. 6:30 Traditionally, turnover is high in all police departments. Auburn, a good size King Co. dept., has a 27% rate. The national average is 14.2%.
Last summer city council approved salary increases to match, or in the case of the KCSO, exceed neighboring agencies. Opportunities for advancement increase depending on size; one more reason that the city should be completely staffed.
It's also worth noting that the city human resources committee is discussing major cuts to the benefit package which could result in more officer's leaving.
Well if you look at this from a historical perspective you might see that when they hire young officers, they eventually move on since there is no room for advancement and the pay is modest.
The City of White Salmon will take a rookie off the street and train them......this is a fact.
I am not saying that this is a rampant issue, but even Rich Cortese started out here fresh out of the academy and ultimately moved on to greener pastures.
I am simply stating that the turnover that occurs has usually been due to younger officers taking a higher paying position somewhere else.
The previous post made it sound like Chief Brending was doing something wrong to cause officers to leave.
I was trying to dispell that inferrance by stating a historical and economical reality.
The way I think of the qualifications of a police chief:
Would I want that person to be the one responding if I were in an accident?
Do I think that person could quickly take control in a calm and reliable way in a big emergency?
Does that this person run the department in a creative and cost effective way?
The answer is yes for all of these with Bruce. No offense to anyone else intended.
Being a Paramedic (emt?)is a huge bonus to have in a police officer and especially in a chief.
I have seen bruce in stressfull and complicated situations and I think he has what it takes.
If I am not mistaken the police department has been effectively and efficiently run under him.
I hope the council will do what it takes to keep him. He is dedicated to White Salmon and I think the town should reciprocate.
One persons humble opinion...
shouldnt be forgotten that this mess--the lawsuit and its possible solution--should be laid at the feet of our late and unlamented mayor.
No one forced anyone to file a lawsuit. Get over it and look forward.
I agree with the last post, the firing of the chief looked like a straightforward deal. Most police chief serve at the pleasure of the mayor. In this case it was a legal call that was tricky because the contractual status of the chief was not obvious, he was not covered by the union and he wasnt an "at will" employee. That was unfortunate legal advice. I wont say it was wrong legal advice because I think it was murky enough to be a matter of opinion.
I think that the former mayors arrogance was his downfall, not any specific decision he made. Anyone with 10,000 dollars can get a local official in a recall vote. Its a matter of hiring a good lawyer. A judge would be crazy to deny a recall consideration. Its just what most judges do- err on the side of the voters.
I hope the council will be smart enough to see that cortese has no interest in this town. He is still around because he can make bank in this lawsuit.
Have any of you ever talked to Mayor Holen to find out what went into the decisions he made? The facts are that he made decisions with the advice and consent of the city council, the city attorney, the mayor of Bingen and with the utmost desire that it was best for the city in the long run. Nothing he did was out of arrogance. Where the hell does the notion of arrogance come from?
I agree,
I am sure Mr. Holen didn't just wake up one day and decide to fire Rich Cortese and then proceed to do it. There had to be a lot of discussions and opinion seeking from others.
The truth is that certain people in this community never liked Roger Holen and they simplyfy this issue because it suits their cause.
Has anyone aver really delved into what Rich Cortese did or didn't do that might caused the former mayor to lose confidence?
Has anyone ever questioned why Deborah Phillips advised that the mayor was taking the right course?
Let's do the 20 months and pay him off and say goodbye. Then the Mayor and Council can reallocate those funds back to the fire department and law enforcement budgets where it belongs.
It is important that Mayor Poucher and the council hear from the citizens that Cortese's contract NOT be extended beyond the 20 months!
It's not just "20 months". Paying Cortese over $300,000 will require a loan from one of the other departments and have to be paid back, with interest, effecting police and fire budgets for many years to come.
Understood....I am just saying do the 20 months and cut our losses.
but why do people dislike Roger Holen and why did he dislike Cortese? All very bizarre. True, Holen's arrogant, but is that the only reason?
KATU had a segment on the robbery last night with interviews in WS. I thought they made a big issue about the periods of time each day where there was no police coverage.
Well, my recent personal experience was when my cat hit the 911 button on the phone. I quickly hung up and then called back to let them know it was just an accident caused by my kitty. Within five minutes two police officers were at my door and I needed to let them in to prove that everything was ok.
Thanks WS police!
Well, I am certainly dissapointed with the lack of 24 hr. police coverage. There has been a rash of theft lately of VERY expensive items like cars, snowmobiles and 4 wheelers. Now when I wake up in the middle of the night I am peering out the window hoping there is not anyone out there damaging my propety or stealing it.
Perhaps it would help if the communtiy was officially notified with a reminder in the newspaper from law enforcement to lock up and secure their items that they don't want taken. I have not seen anything in the newspaper to alert residents (except of the shoplifting), so unless you hear about this rash of theft by word-of-mouth you have no clue! So my advice to all, is lock up tight!
Disappointed? We should be outraged! People should be demanding that the city provide the coverage we're paying for!
maybe Rich Cortese should walk a beat!
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