Here’s The Scoop…Chief Gooding Comments…..
May 26, 2009 by Barbara
BUT ARE LBTS ELECTED OFFICIALS LISTENING?………
Excerpts…Feb. 2009 /May 2009 ….
‘Clarifying misconceptions’
From the February 2009 Issue
‘Carole Moore By Carole Moore
It was all over in a matter of seconds. Here’s what preliminary reports revealed: Two officers answer a domestic call. A man barricades himself in a bathroom with a knife. The officers are familiar with this guy – he’s a mental patient and drug abuser who often turns violent. Inside, a woman screams that the man is trying to hurt himself with the knife, so officers kick down the door. The man bolts – one officer covers the woman, the other covers the man. The armed man then goes after one of the officers who shoots and kills him. All of this takes place in a narrow hallway in a matter of seconds.’
‘The call took place on Christmas Eve and is still being investigated. In the newspaper account of the incident two things stood out: A town official who commented that he’s known officers to disarm people with guns and knives; and further comments by readers who believed that the officer should have tried to disarm the man with a conducted-energy device (with which the officers apparently were not equipped) or other less-lethal weapon. Many remarks blamed the officers for not taking down the mental subject without hurting him.’
‘My suggestion for towns that do not have police commissioners or someone schooled in police work at the helm is that public officials who are not police – town commissioners or whoever governs your root organization – need to be educated as to the realities of this job.’
‘Most of this is simple, but it’s amazing the misconceptions the public, press and public officials often have. Nip those knee-jerk reactions by at least educating your own officials.’
Full text for Feb….http://www.officer.com/print/Law-Enforcement-Technology/Clarifying-misconceptions/1$45839
BC- Thanks to a faithful Reader …a copy of the current May issue includes some input from LBTS Chief Scott Gooding…which is very timely as we proceed with the ridiculous assertions from Com. Clottey (“flashbacks” circa 1960’s ) that residents cannot reach the police…perpetuating that there is a “fear” of calling the police to register complaints due to “fear of retribution”…the questioning on car robbery reports…and the VFD presentation tonight …per VM McIntee, Comm. Silverstone and Comm. Clottey for not being “recognized” enough for their role in the hyperbaric chamber explosion…( they got recognized at the last meeting quite a lot……and they’ve got the job for 5 years)…
The article begins with Ms. Moore stating that she appreciates hearing from readers and “sometimes I find a message so good, I need to share it. That’s the case with the one I received from Chief Scott Gooding of Broward County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office.”…Chief Gooding commented on the Feb article above…and added “some other excellent ideas that he graciously agreed to share with you”…She went on to say his points have a lot of merit in this time when law enforcement is faced with hard economic times and face less when looking to fulfill their needs at budget time….”Having sympathetic public officials can tip the balance” when law enforcement is competing for funding….The question asked is how to keep the department’s needs at the top of the list of those allocating the funds…namely the elected officials?…
Excerpts…of advice offered…
Chief Scott Gooding…
“Take your commissioners on a tour of the communications or dispatch center”…911 call centers…”It’s inevitable that once elected, they will receive calls from residents complaining they couldn’t get through to the police”….Having the tour Chief Gooding suggests will enlighten the commissioners to how the calls are handled and routed…
BC- Readers will recall Comm. Clottey went and did just this last year…was not liking what she saw…Guess she wasn’t “enlightened”?…
“Have commissioners do ride-alongs”……adding ‘to get the elected officials involved with a “Citizens Emergency Response Team”…a civilian group that assists the law’…continuing on to say having elected officials involved makes it “easier to concentrate on your job during stressful events”…
BC-LBTS has Citizen on Patrol…but no Emergency Response Team”…HMMM…food for thought?…Or would it be looked upon as an oversight committee?…
” Keep elected officials (including the city or county manager) informed of what’s going on via e-mail. Short e-mails to each official prevent many phone calls”…”Just make sure “ALL” officials are included , don’t leave anyone out of the loop”…
BC- Per Comm. Dodd’s request for just this and the BSO Cybervisor…for LBTS ….CHECK!….
The suggestions continue on with “thoroughly familiarizing your elected officials with your department”…thus taking the “mystery out of policing”…by showing the ” hard working, honest,dedicated individuals who put their lives on the line for the taxpayers”…adding “the old habit of building a barrier between the department and the outside only results in mutual mistrust and criticism”…
BC- Words that the VFD should consider……..as they continue in the opposite direction of transparency…..going deeper and deeper into secrecy…building barriers…resulting in mistrust and criticism…
“Furthermore , Gooding suggests that building a bridge between officials and your agency, you also lessen the impact of critical incidents”…Gooding said ” I have also found [it helps] prevent the shock and awe of duty deaths, killing of suspects and handling natural catastrophes”…He went on to say it builds a rapport and “amplifies” the image of the agency, thus improving the chances for funding….
The article ends with this…” Government that cloaks itself in secrecy or assumes a paternalistic role is neither successful nor trusted.”…Reiterating …to bring the elected officials “on-board” by being up-front with them…”Being proactive can help you avoid being reactive”……
BC- Unfortunately with an BSP Police “agenda” in the works by the Mc-Furth Gang…it’s a no-go…as witnessed by recent actions…stated above…
BC- Readers will recall at the May 13, 2009 Referendum Workshop the current “Gang of 3” on the dais repeatedly said they are there to “protect us”from future commissions……and from ourselves….In this writer’s opinion the “2-Hats” and the Town Manager ” absolutely represent a ….” Government that cloaks itself in secrecy or assumes a paternalistic role [ which ] is neither successful nor trusted.”…. leaving Readers with only one way to stop it…to turn it around…with their vote in 2010…
more to come….
