May 09, 2011 06:24
Not Our Problem, Dude...
In New Orleans, we are used to referring to our illustrious police force by that snarky little acronym. But I never realized, until last night, that the slogan would refer to not only us civilians that NOPD swore to "Serve and Protect", but to their own as well.
Apparently, NOPD has cut Special Detail from most of the 8th District (possibly the whole city; the person who told me this was mad). Special Details are things like Jump-out, or Violent Crimes. It gives an increased pay scale along with the added responsibility, which is needed when you consider that most patrol cops are making less than $1600/month starting out.
And now, thanks to this demotion, really good cops, ones with whom I have become friendly, are putting in for transfers out of town. And they're going to get them, because these guys rock. And here we go, further towards a police force with no established ties to the community they are supposed to serve. Not since the Levee Failure has NOPD been prioritizing community relations, and this lame-ass move is going to drive an even larger wedge between our police and our community.
Do we really need this? Can this fucking town really afford to lose good officers, who have already worked a few festivals, and acquired a certain sense of humor about our craziness, and become relatively comfortable pirouetting a speed-crazed, half-naked stripper out of the early morning lobby of her late-night John's hotel, smiling, and with sense enough to say "Good Morning" to the weary night auditor using her first name?
I think not.
Shame on you, NOPD. Again.
bastards,
aaargh!,
angry,
community,
wow...really?,
rant,
wrongness,
damn.,
fuck this stupid shit,
cops,
bullshit,
not-funny,
stupidity,
jerks,
goodbye...,
nopd