Dear Editor,
It seems parolees in this city outnumber the police patrol
officers by over seven to one. Frightening! Let’s remember that
criminal activity is not restricted to parolees, either.
Dear Editor,
It seems parolees in this city outnumber the police patrol officers by over seven to one. Frightening! Let’s remember that criminal activity is not restricted to parolees, either.
The “thin blue line” is progressively getting thinner!
We have a city of nearly 50,000 residents. This doesn’t count the people who come to town to go to school or buy groceries. Nor does it count the many thousands who come to the big box stores or the outlets from as far away as Bakersfield (sign on the bus). All of these people add to the policing challenge.
It takes more than five officers to man a patrol unit 24/7. This is because of days off, sick leave, disability, vacation, etc. When we subtract from the total sworn officers those assigned to administration, detectives, crime prevention, school resource, Gang Task Force and prisoner transportation, there is not a great multitude left for street patrol, the backbone of the department for suppression and apprehension. All other functions are for support of patrol.
If we think there are seven or eight units available for patrol, we haven’t subtracted for court appearances or training. When two or three are on “back up” for an accident they are not available to patrol.
Gilroy encompasses over 16 square miles (10,375 acres). This spreads the very few units over a vast area filled with homes, businesses and people. It is a small wonder it sometimes takes units a long time to respond to a call.
It is time the “thin blue line” got a little fattening.
Jim Laizure, Gilroy
