A bunch of folks in Maple Heights have been asking about the brand new police vehicles they see cruising around.
They are especially concerned because money meant for people (who abut the railroad) in districts 3 and 5, was thrown into the general fund recently (because of a resolution that was passed in March of this year). Some of the residents who abut the railroad in districts 3 and 5, will only be receiving 20% of that "railroad" money. The rest of the money went into the general fund.
Anyway, according to a resident from district 5, she said she called Eric Dean, the finance director, to ask about the new police vehicles. She was concerned because she was told (by others) that the city had financial problems.
She said that the finance director stated that the last vehicles that were purchased [by the city of Maple Heights] were purchased in 2008; whereupon she asked if she could have a written accounting of how the railroad special fund monies were spent before being transfered into the general fund; and now that the railroad special funds have been transfered into the general fund, how is that money being spent? She's still waiting for a response from the finance director.
[Update 7/20/2012: Since this post, Mr. Dean has been very helpful in providing financial information requested. He is the only department head that has responded with information that we've requested. Various members of council have also decided not to respond to our requests for information. We'll post those names in another post after August 1st]
[Update 7/20/2012: Since this post, Mr. Dean has been very helpful in providing financial information requested. He is the only department head that has responded with information that we've requested. Various members of council have also decided not to respond to our requests for information. We'll post those names in another post after August 1st]
So there are several questions on the table. 1. If the vehicles were purchased in 2008, why are we just seeing these vehicles now? 2. If they are not purchased vehicles, are they leased vehicles? 3. If leased, how are we paying for them? 4. Since the special fund money went into the general fund, on what has money in the general fund been spent?
Another resident added: "Yeah, they must be really proud of those vehicles, because you hear police sirens more often. Don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing."
Related:
07_18_2012_WENS_10_04_PM_4427
6 comments:
and they want us to pass a levy? no way
Questions:
Did a local UAW endorse the mayor in last year's elections, with the understanding (or was it implied) that he lease or purchase new vehicles? or
Did the mayor ask a local UAW to endorse him in last year's election, with the promise or implication that the police department would be leasing or purchasing new police vehicles? or
Was a deal struck (regarding endorsing the mayor in 2011 or same year) in 2008 with a local UAW when the city bought new police vehicles?
Of all the Maple Heights city departments, Mr. Dean seems to be the only department head that will answer questions asked by African Americans.
Here's how to helpfully weed out racist, psychologically unstable, and incompetent cops on any police force:
1. Every police officer must undergo a sophisticated psych exam (that changes every 2 years so there' no cheating) before being hired. And every officer, once hired, must be retested every 2 years.
2. Full background check (you want to see if the officer is linked to any hate groups).
3. Random drug testing
4. Mandatory advanced firearms training every 6 or 12 months.
Just learned that some of these squad cars may have been paid with "war on drugs" money.
Read: http://articles.latimes.com/1986-04-20/local/me-1088_1_police-departments
Very interesting column:
Police addicted to drug money: Column
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/10/24/police-drug-money-policing-for-profits-column/3182955/
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