Yup lots of laws on the books but not nearly enough enforcers....and so it goes!

Judging from the two AA County cops who came into the 5 Guys while I was eating, the $650 for fitness activities needs to be used.

"Officer Mike Shier said the allowances come at a time when morale has reached an all-time low in the department."

One real way to measure morale (as opposed to asking for opinions from those looking for more money) is to measure retention rates. Anyone know how many of AA County's "finest" have voluntarily resigned (and presumably moved on to better jobs) in the past 10 years?

No one is perfect, but these men and women put their lives on the line for you every single day. A little respect is in order here.

agreed Lisa...of course they should have these allowances and more...would any of you like to patrol the drug neighborhoods alone or show up to horrible accident scenes to help? They aren't paid nearly enough money or respect.

I would like to see raises for cops and firemen and their allowances also, but when a county police officer is outside he should have his hat on. if they are not going to wear the why do the taxpayers buy then. I think a.a.co is the only force that is allowed to get away with this

a gutless county council that caved into 540 cops, and screwed AAC voters. We are after less,, less taxes. Police officers are over paid now. Has their retirement gone up to 65 yet? Why not? lets get a council that does what it says and cuts county expences, school, cops, and firefighters. We had all volunteer firefighters, who built the fire stations,, bought the fire trucks,, only to be pushed out by full time paid firefighters,,, why? and don't give me any crap they couldn't handle it,, they did. Teachers used to teach,,, I don't really know what they do now,,, mother earth stuff and sex ed,, but no reading writing and math. We need a council who answers to the people,, and not just a handfull of union members.

You get what you pay for people and we AACO pay our police a pitiful amount and cannot even find recruits anymore...of course the fact that the under indictment County Executive John Leopold said he will not honor the LAW that we, the voters, passed could play into that problem! As far as showing anyone "the facts" look them up like I did, I will not be your secretary go google it the facts on all issues are there for all to see, oh unless you are a FOX Noise person then the FACTS do not matter to you!

Dear Mr. Williams, I think you are placing the blame of who is screwing who on the wrong person! I believe that OUR UNDER INDICTMENT County Executive John Leopold has screwed all of us and YES we all pay taxes even those of us who disagree with YOU! Respect is something that is lost on lots of levels...I for one have problems with the attitude towards our PUBLIC SERVANTS...perhaps the "blame" should start with those who have been elected to serve US and not themselves! JMHO

well, i have to agree with Ron, The AACP. are and always have been working secondary jobs since the beginng of time. And today they they still do but get paid either under the table , or a 1099 and who knows what else goes on. I would like to know who paid the 1 million in damages for the marley middle school when it burned down while under construction and why the TWO Police from AACO. Who were hired to do security at the site Where not there when it happened. OH thats right we the tax payers paid for it. So why didnt the county hire a private security co. to do the work, that way we could have recovered the damages thru. insurance from the security co. Oh thats right that makes to much sence.
JOHN

Some of you people are clueless. Until you work as an officer, are married to one or work for the Dept you have no idea what an officer endures in their career. These "allowances" are just another word for a deserved pay increase that at any time can be taken away. Some of you speak against working secondary jobs ... why wouldn't an officer do that? It's common sense - if I want more money I work more hours (and I use the same uniform!). Some officers do resign and move on to other positions and again ... why wouldn't they? If I could make more money quitting my job and going to work in a surrounding county making more money ... again common sense - why wouldn't I? "Street cops riding around eating donuts" that's hilarious because the officers that I work with spent a ton of time this past year learning a whole knew computer program that was riddled with problems to be able to write reports, etc. Additionally officers work different shifts taking them away from their families, holidays etc. while you people work your 9-5 and sit on the Patch and berate their inadequacies and performance when you have no idea what its like to be an officer. Walk a mile (or beat) in their shoes before you claim to know what they do or do not need. Oh and btw some of you who have the time to write comments on this site should spend that time back in a classroom because your writing skills are atrocious. An officer wouldn't have a report approved if they wrote with such terrible grammar.

Well said, Tammy!

Exactly Tammy. My husband is a former officer (not AACo) but you all have no idea what these officers endure for their jobs. Do some things need to be fixed with our department? Absolutely! And many officers work second jobs because they NEED to! I'd like to know where you're all getting your figures if you think these officers are over paid. Most municipal officers are extremely over worked and incredibly under paid. They willing choose to put their safety and personal time behind the needs of the citizens. While everyone else is spending their evenings and weekends with their families, these officers are on the street, working! I've had my own negative run ins with the officers in the this county, and while I've lost respect for a couple due to my own personal experience, I will always have an immense appreciation to these individuals for what they do and you all should too!

So, if being a cop is such a crappy job, with such crappy benefits, it will be very easy to prove. Just show me the retention rates of the various departments....how many of these so-called overworked and underpaid 'public servants' are voluntarily leaving their jobs for something better.

My hypothesis is that they're neither overworked nor underpaid. Governments in general have retention rates that are way above nearly all private sector jobs. There are reasons why that's the case.

As Dave Williams noted, police officer is not close to being the most dangerous profession. Remember, these people carry guns openly. Most violent criminals tend to avoid armed people when searching for victims. And when a violent offender requires police attention, they show up with the equivalent of an army battalion.

McGibblets:
Please address why you feel officers should not receive this allowance (pay increase)? Is there something that the officers are failing to do, why are people not pleased with their performance? Crime rates in AACo are DOWN, so where are our officers failing? TRUST ME, I know there are a few bad apples in the bunch and unfortunately that is the first thing the finger pointers bring up when the department is discussed as a whole. You generally don't hear about the good things an officer did, but rather what he failed to do! There are plenty of government employees who fail to do their "cushy" jobs but nobody complains as much about them receiving raises as they do law enforcement. As far as your comment to Lisa - yes I'm sure many people feel they are overworked and underpaid. I myself have not had a pay increase in 5 years; I'm not boo-hooing about that but if I am given a pay increase, who is anyone to stand there and judge me saying I don't deserve it - as if you work in my shoes and know what I do! Same goes with being an officer ... don't judge what they are worth until you've done the job.

I can see why your HOA needs officers to monitor your board meetings ... I'm sure that entitlement you feel you deserve wins votes with the neighbors ...

The fact that you would have to be told to “step outside of a meeting” speaks volumes. Just because an officer is on duty or off or in uniform or not, you should still be respectful (to him or any “true American”). The first way to receive respect IS TO GIVE IT. An officer doesn’t take his/her badge off just because they are not on the clock (or in a private capacity). You don’t think an officer has an obligation to stop at an accident or render assistance to a citizen because they are off duty or not in uniform? The officers have been hired to come to these meetings or many (on their own time) are asked to come to speak about crime statistics, etc. I don’t think it’s fair that you feel they should just “sit their ass down” because you don’t want to hear what they have to say.

Maybe your actions (and I’m only going by your hostile tone) are the reason you feel someone is trying to intimidate you, I mean really we are talking about a homeowner’s association here! But here’s a thought … if you are so unhappy with your HOA and all it entails then MOVE, it’s your constitutional right to live where you want.

I AM DONE WITH THIS FORUM. I have a job to do so that I can pay my taxes so that all these “undeserving” officers can get a paycheck. If you ever require the assistance of an officer – call your mommy instead and cry to her since the police are useless to you.

I'm a retire PGCOPD officer with 25 years in harness.
Reading these comments reminds me of why I learned very early not to work for approval or apperceiation. Do the job because you love it.
To many of you, all I can say is until you have done the work, you have no right to comment on it.
Joe Wambaugh spent 30 yearas trying to explain to you folks what it can be like. I can't repeat that here.
All Police jurisdictions differ as to danger and intensity- we sure see that in the difference between PG and AA County. But ther are certain immutable facts in any police work.
Allen West, the Congressman from Florida, responded to everyone critisizing Marines in Afghanistan for urinating on dead Taliban- " Until you have had Taliban shooting at you, sit down and shut up." Now , let me make it clear- I DO NOT suggest officers should urinate on captured handcuffed prisoners in front of the station!
BUT

Any of you armchair heroes care to chastise law enforcement, put on a gun and a badge for a year or so( IF you can make it through training) then I'll listen.

I agree on unfit officers- no excuse- get fit or get another job.
So we address that propblem, and any others specifically. Enough with the donut comments-I agree with Tammy on this- the next time some meth nfrea they're insulting and cowardly in this anonymous format.

I agree with Tammy on this- the next time some meth freak breaks in to your house at night and scares, or worse, your family-OR- Some DWI crosses the center lane and kills your family-OR- some REAl dirt bag (cleaned up) kiicks your armchair-ne
ver-been-in- a-life-and deaf-physical-fight ass don't call the cops. Cal;l one of the super critical non-hacking whiners in here. I'm sure that immediately after reading my post the will feel compelled to publish their phone numbers so they can be reached 24 hours a day.

Bon Chance

Again- forgive the typos. I really can spehl

Ronald - I addressed the concept ... many times. Did you even read the article? It's about officers receiving pay allowances ... not about them intimidating you at your corrupt HOA meetings. Hello??? "Cops should be paid enough so that they don't need or want extra jobs" That's the point, they don't make enough and when they are thrown a bone there's an issue about it. That's what this whole forum was about. You're right I shouldn't attack misspellings or grammar ... clearly with you it's a common sense skill you're lacking. "Pathetic" would be the sucking up you did on the other comments that were made when they agreed with me soooo DISMISS THIS!

Great News

I'm sorry, but I don't understand the problem with officers picking up second jobs. The fact is that many are not paid enough to support their families on the income provided by the county (or department), would you not also take another job in order to support those you love? And in looking for another job, would you not seek one that allows you to use the skills you have? How is this any different than military service members taking second (or third in some cases) jobs? It's not! It's very simple, does the income you receive cover the necessary expenses needed to survive and support a family? If not, find a way to make it happen.

As far as cops choosing this 'job' and should know and plan for the income (or lack of) involved. Really?! So all social workers, educators, etc aren't allow to take on additional work because their chosen profession doesn't pay enough? I'm not sure what you all do for a living but the fact is that some careers are more than just a choice that was made in school, it's something that someone is born with. Many cops I've met and know personally were born with it in their blood. Most wouldn't even know what to do in the civilian world (much like military) because being a cop is something that is so ingrained in them.

Bottom line, these are the men and women who serve and protect our community, no matter how happy you are about this, they deserve some sort of respect from all citizens. We are all adults on this forum so how about we start acting like it and stop treating each other like children. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I personally feel that some of the opinions here are simply uneducated in this subject. Even if you haven't had the personal experience of police work, you certainly have a right to judge, we all do. However, please be aware that your opinions sound ignorant because you are speaking without truly knowing what goes into this 'job'.

Hey about the "donut" comment: anyone notice how much cheaper they are then apples? Just saying the donut comments and the 7/11 comments are getting old, real old...get a life people and pay the cops to enforce the laws that many break because they can! If you get a chance how about you walking up to a car and trying to look into those windows that are dark AND against the law in most states.....it is no wonder that we can not find good, caring, decent people anymore to take the jobs to protect us ALL not just those who carry guns!

Certain careers are forbidden from taking 2nd jobs because of the appearance of conflict or because it casts that profession in a bad light. Should police officers be allowed to wear their uniforms if they take a job at 7/11? or on a trash removal truck? Where do you draw the line?