We live in an "unincorporated area" which means we aren't within the boundaries of a town, and rely on the county sheriff's department for law enforcement. One of our neighbors saw a "suspicious person" walking down our road and called the sheriff's department. The dispatcher told him that, due to budget cutbacks, there was no one on duty from 5 to 8 pm. and the dispatcher couldn't send a deputy. Now, that is strange enough, but I'm shaking my head in disbelief that the dispatcher felt free to share this information with a caller. We are all having a good laugh at this, and planning our nefarious activities for between 5 and 8 pm!
Many of the budget cuts start at a federal level and trickle down to the states. "To serve and to protect" is a lot of hooey today. Law enforcement in this country is geared toward reacting to a crime committed. dr
Wow... that's so hard to believe that there's not even ONE single officer on duty for those hours? Just imagine if that the suspicious person robbed, raped, or murdered someone. How many man hours is that going to take to investigate, hunt, take to trial, hang, etc. I'm shaking my head too! And I live in a town of 500 or so. We may only have one Constable (who covers 2 other little towns)... but you can call for him anytime.
Not only in the USA does this happen. Our local town has no night time entertainment, other than Pubs for the young people, ie no Clubs. Why? Because there are not enough police in the COUNTY to cover at night so the Planning application had to be turned down. Any night time crime here, merely gets a Crime number for Insurance purposes and that's it. The Chief Constable has just admitted that they have taken Front line officers into the office to do filing work!
So let me get this right!!! The dispatcher actually tells whomever the caller may be that kind of damaging information...Seriously???!!! Ok sounds like 911 is also absent...It would be better for no one to answer the phone than for that kind of info to be leaked to the public and/or criminal....Can we say AIRHEAD!!!
Actually, none of us are frightened, and there are several elderly couples and two widows on the road. We keep an eye on each other, and a phone call to a neighbor will bring a response that is much quicker than a 911 call. Palustris, that is a shame--no response and trained officers acting as file clerks! About the dispatcher--airhead, perhaps, lack of training, definitely! I spoke to the sheriff about it and he said he'd make sure the dispatcher knew not to disperse this information to all and sundry again. Right . . . .
That is a terrible thing to be happening...Hopefully things will get better. I have heard of areas going together to share costs of paying only one person but this is sad... :'(
So far in hasn't happen in our small town.But sales of hand guns are up in Iowa County. And permits to carry.And having many classes on -how to shoot them. But sad when people too lazy to work. Rather steal.Guy 2 miles away. He tried to steal guys truck. Couldn't get it started. Owner had got picked up for Drunk driving. Had to breath in tube-before it started. They made so much noise-dog started barking. And law came. He's back in jail.
