Comments on: What Really Happened? http://www.undergroundtownhall.com/archives/what-really-happened Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:05:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cindy http://www.undergroundtownhall.com/archives/what-really-happened#comment-1320 Cindy Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:17:38 +0000 http://www.undergroundtownhall.com/?p=6839#comment-1320 I gave it my best shot what can I tell you. All of us want the police department to be fairly contented. It affects their work. I think the Cheshire Police Dept is well equipped BUT you are correct in that they don't have a say in things. That is why I will continue to say that Cheshire should have a police commission. It isn't perfect, but I think we should give it a shot. And please, let's not hear from some people "its too much government." That is like saying the Congress and Senate are too much government. They are our checks and balances. This is the way our country was set up. The people are the checks and balances. I would like to see these issues that you talk about addressed out in the open. I gave it my best shot what can I tell you. All of us want the police department to be fairly contented. It affects their work. I think the Cheshire Police Dept is well equipped BUT you are correct in that they don’t have a say in things. That is why I will continue to say that Cheshire should have a police commission. It isn’t perfect, but I think we should give it a shot. And please, let’s not hear from some people “its too much government.”
That is like saying the Congress and Senate are too much government. They are our checks and balances. This is the way our country was set up. The people are the checks and balances. I would like to see these issues that you talk about addressed out in the open.

]]> By: Robbie http://www.undergroundtownhall.com/archives/what-really-happened#comment-1319 Robbie Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:32:05 +0000 http://www.undergroundtownhall.com/?p=6839#comment-1319 Recruitment and retention of high quality individuals to be police officers is a difficult task. There are a lot of factors in play, not to mention the "competition" of other towns and cities, who also draw from the pool of candidates. Money tends to be more of a motivator to young, single persons. But as these new recruits get settled and have families, they become concerned about benefits as well. Sorry to say, but an additional $1,000 as the top step of the pay scale isn't going to do it. These officers can make that in a few extra construction type jobs. The town needs to have a decent pay and benefit package to attract and keep the very best candidates. The college incentive they offer is about laughable. Some twenty years ago, West Hartford was paying about ten times what this town does for a four year college degree. In Massachusetts they have the Quinn Bill, which is a serious incentive for police officers to get advanced degrees. The town would certainly reap the benefits of having a professionally developed staff. Serious candidates will have done their homework and will know which police departments have a good reputation for being well-equipped, professional, progressive, and have a forward looking administrator (chief) and command staff. These are the people that you want to recruit and retain for a full career. They also want to be treated with respect and have some input about the operation of their department. Recruitment and retention of high quality individuals to be police officers is a difficult task. There are a lot of factors in play, not to mention the “competition” of other towns and cities, who also draw from the pool of candidates. Money tends to be more of a motivator to young, single persons. But as these new recruits get settled and have families, they become concerned about benefits as well.

Sorry to say, but an additional $1,000 as the top step of the pay scale isn’t going to do it. These officers can make that in a few extra construction type jobs. The town needs to have a decent pay and benefit package to attract and keep the very best candidates. The college incentive they offer is about laughable. Some twenty years ago, West Hartford was paying about ten times what this town does for a four year college degree. In Massachusetts they have the Quinn Bill, which is a serious incentive for police officers to get advanced degrees. The town would certainly reap the benefits of having a professionally developed staff.

Serious candidates will have done their homework and will know which police departments have a good reputation for being well-equipped, professional, progressive, and have a forward looking administrator (chief) and command staff. These are the people that you want to recruit and retain for a full career. They also want to be treated with respect and have some input about the operation of their department.

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