[Vision2020] Stout Not Wrong n Union Support / Police Union StandNot a Conflict

[Tom Hansen]

One MAJOR problem that the Moscow Police Department is experiencing is lack
of continuity.  After a year officers tend to pack up and move to "greener
pastures", primarily due to wages/salaries that are not competitive (here in
Moscow) with other comparably-sized community police departments.
Ultimately this results in loss of quality police officers.

Establishing a police union will ensure the rights and privileges for our
police department; rights and privileges that have up until just recently
received nothing more than lip service from our city council.

Once continuity is established, the community becomes familiar with members
of its police force.  The community gains first name familiarity with the
officers responsible for protecting its streets.  This level of familiarity
breeds a relationship where police officers become very approachable.

I could go on and on about how such a relationship benefits the
neighborhoods, but I am sure you get the picture already.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho 

"If not us, who?
If not now, when?"

- Unknown

-----Original Message-----
From: g. crabtree [mailto:jampot at adelphia.net] 
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 6:58 PM
To: Tom Hansen; Moscow Vision 2020
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Stout Not Wrong n Union Support / Police Union
StandNot a Conflict

Ray writes a fine letter as far as it goes. The question I have yet to see 
answered satisfactorily is how is a unionized police force is good for the 
city and by extension the citizens? It's easy to see that it will be good 
for the union. More dues. It will be good for politicians who support it. 
More contributions. It might be good for the police. More wages and 
benifits, perhaps. But good for the people of Moscow as a whole? That hasn't

been established by any stretch of the imagination. In fact its not too hard

to envision several negative outcomes that will be brought about by union 
recognition not the least of which will be greatly increased costs.

gc