Wednesday, July 12, 2006 | Re: Police Plan Postponed. Is there one item in this proposal that improves the life of today’s SD police officer? It’s just vague promises that say “hang in there, at some point, when we come out of this budget crisis, we may be able to give you a raise – don’t know when though, but keep the faith.”
And just what we need, another consultant on the payroll to tell us how to recruit. What we really need more than anything is to retain the cops we now have – more recruits are not now, nor in the near future, going to keep our city safe. Also why in heaven’s name do they need a pay and benefit study of the nearby municipalities. The mayor, the chief and everyone else knows what those figures are. If they don’t, they just have to look on the internet. The mayor already has said that SDPD receives the 10th lowest pay of 12 local departments. Why does he need a commission that will take five months and untold amounts of money?
The police officers are not being fooled by this farce by the mayor and chief. They know that nobody, including the citizens of San Diego really care. But keep on trying to hire those recruits! When they graduate from the academy they’ll be in the same situation as today’s officers – unappreciated, poorly compensated and dying to get out!