tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231162963364357109.post6785617794808960977..comments2023-03-27T02:36:53.691-07:00Comments on Sparky San Diego: Poor Self-Esteem or Self-LoathingSparkySanDiegohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659685665397099088noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231162963364357109.post-70582687900432738912010-03-25T14:11:23.288-07:002010-03-25T14:11:23.288-07:00I read the whole business including the links, and...I read the whole business including the links, and I do not see your writing as pessimistic or tragic. I think you're a realist and it's possible that some of your readers are <i>out there</i>.<br /><br />Back in the bad old days, President Jimmy Carter was faced with a hostage crises. President Carter wanted the hostages rescued and he commanded (literally, he's the commander in chief) the personnel who could get the job done. Instead of going to his special forces leaders and telling them to 1) Handle it without anyone's approval or worry about fallout and 2) if you need anything, tell me and I'll get it to you, the good President got involved along with a few elected officials, some of whom had never held a gun in their lives. We all know the resulting debacle.<br /><br />In the case of the Fire Department, city management <i>could</i> have faith in professionals and say much the same thing. We've got fires as need putting out. You get your men together and put out the fire, and if you need anything let me know and I'll get it for you.<br /><br />That's not happening here, and that's something no city can afford.<br /><br />Obviously this is a two way street. Fire personnel cannot become greedy and request things they don't really need. However, I'm willing to pay a little extra, especially when it will save my home.<br /><br />I think a large part of the problem is that the people who are managing the city, that is the city government, are qualified for that position by winning a popularity contest. So, if I'm attractive and well-spoken, and have minimal skeletons buried under the floorboards, I might get elected. Give me a great staff, and I'm likely a shoo-in.<br /><br />Keep writing. You're doing good.Mad Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06190137186843630543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231162963364357109.post-35507024295083450752010-03-24T21:54:27.591-07:002010-03-24T21:54:27.591-07:00Ok I have something to share......We are in bad ti...Ok I have something to share......We are in bad times right now and things only seem to be getting worse. We took big cuts to our paycheck last year. We have recently lost our PSO's. And now Officers for SDPD have already learned to take more paper and work in unsafe conditions as minimum staffing has no real meaning. When is enough going to be enough? Fire has individuals stand up on TV and say it's brownouts are going to only put peoples life in jeopardy. Wish we had leadership in the department who would stand up for us. <br /><br />Instead at Central Division there is a new thing to combat. They have the "Best" Captain in the Department. His new way of micro management is to waste the time of Sgt's and make them print off every officers daily journal.<br /><br />Let me ask the question. Couldn't this time spent reviewing all these officers journals be better spent doing things to better the morale of the division and department? Not to mention the time wasted by Sgt's printing there squads journal off.<br /><br />Maybe the time would be better spent cleaning a bathroom or two since they are way below sanitary conditions.<br /><br />Is this just another way to make officers resent this department even more. What is it, the officers fault when crime is occurring. Speaking from the experience of working in Central Division under Captain Jones it sure feels like this. Every time a serious crime occurs there is a new command post at the location the crime occured.<br /><br />I can't wait until the summer crime trends hit. The command will not have any officers in the field they will all be sitting at places like 32nd and Commercial around the clock.<br /><br />I agree with Steve when he says the most dangerous time is yet to come this summer. It's amazing when some of the commanding officers care more about numbers then they do of the welfare of the officers working under them.<br /><br />This is one reason that makes me along with several officers in this department disgruntled. I'm prepared to leave along with others. Why work for a city so mismanaged that your retirement is up in the air and not guaranteed. In talking to several recruiting officers from other department I have discovered several bits of information. One bit of information is recruiting departments from other agencies have told me we are still looked upon as being well trained and experienced officers. I have even been told from one recruiting officer that he knows many agencies who are going to start a recruiting push here in San Diego do to the large cuts and mismanaged city and police department.<br /><br />Its only began.....rumor is the city is in such a whole that even if we don't lose anything this year that we wont gain for several years do to the large deficit. With the cost of living and the economy possibly starting upward this will leave SDPD officers at the bottom of the barrel. <br /><br />Remember the bumper stickers "Above average Cops for below average pay." Its upon us again. <br /><br />Be safeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231162963364357109.post-6952630680628991112010-03-24T11:53:21.224-07:002010-03-24T11:53:21.224-07:00"Cities all around the country are hurting&qu..."Cities all around the country are hurting" from these tough financial times... I can name a dozen cities that offer BETTER retirement benefits (employees contributing less to their pensions), serve a public that is more in tune with whats going on and actually cares, and are NOT cutting police salaries (maybe cutting back on budgets... but not salaries). You want examples? Montgomery County PD (Maryland), Tampa PD (FL), Arvada PD (CO), Denver PD, Fullerton PD (CA), Huntington Beach PD (CA), and the list goes on and on. So why am I still here? Mainly my friends, my coworkers. I'm not trying to complain here... just offering examples to those who think EVERYONE is in the SAME situation as us... we just have one of the worst city governments. Look at the history of our department... has it ever really been "great" here? A raise comes then it gets taken away. Even when finances were good!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231162963364357109.post-23729598325065058772010-03-23T22:40:38.691-07:002010-03-23T22:40:38.691-07:00I hate myself; I hate myself; I hate myself. How&#...I hate myself; I hate myself; I hate myself. How's that for self-loathing?<br />Actually I like myself. I tell the truth, not like the lansclown, and his cowardly staff. I actually can look at myself in the mirror and say you're an honest person, with high moral values, character and ethics. Unfortunately these are the traits that the police department's upper management lost, or never had; and that includes "spines."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231162963364357109.post-57054530858420445242010-03-23T09:04:15.239-07:002010-03-23T09:04:15.239-07:00"Paul"? Obviously, he's a Kool-Aid ..."Paul"? Obviously, he's a Kool-Aid drinker...and why? 'Cause he has a cush job opening his bosses door, getting him coffee and running interference...wownoreply@blogger.com