Law Enforcement & Crime

My heart has always been in law enforcement (and always will be), but the money is not there.

You’ve heard the expression "Crime Doesn’t Pay".   This is a true statement, but it wasn’t coined by the criminal when he got caught, but rather by the police officer when he got his pay check!

Law enforcement today is a tough and dangerous profession. There are too many law enforcement officers out there trying to make ends meet. I have known many that work a second job just to pay the bills, some also have a working spouse. We must keep pay competitive with other cities so that Goldsboro does not lose qualified law enforcement personnel. These brave men and women have earned an increase and deserve a fair wage..... AND IT IS LONG OVERDUE! Are you sick and tired of reading about drugs, gangs, and violent crimes? Are you tired of hearing gun shots EVERY NIGHT? It doesn't have to be that way. Our officers are simply over worked, under staffed and under paid.

06/06/07 Tuesday's murder marks the 10th murder in Wayne County this year.
07/02/07 A Typical weekend for Goldsboro?
07/09/07 Man shot to death on Walnut
08/08/07 Man dies after city shooting The sixth fatal shooting within Goldsboro's city limits since April 22
09/11/07 Goldsboro man dies in shooting Monday
09/16/07 Suspect in murder identified Jeffery's death marks the seventh fatal shooting in Goldsboro since April.

09/21/07 Crime statistics

Goldsboro Police Chief Tim Bell presented August crime statistics to Goldsboro City Council on Monday. The total number of major crimes -- including homicide, rape, robbery, asault, burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson -- was 332, compared to 344 in July, the chief said. Total stolen property in August was valued at $386,454. About $161,221 worth of stolen goods were recovered during the month, the chief said. Arrests totaled 388, and 923 citations were issued in August, the chief said, with a total of 95 drug-related charges. Police recorded four reports of assaults on police officers, Bell said.

By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on September 21, 2007 01:45 PM

 

I propose an AUTOMATIC Annual cost of living increase with Merit Pay for each additional certificate of specialized training received. There is no need to wait until the end of the year, to see what little change, if any,  we have left over in the budget so we can 'toss them a tidbit' and say "Good doggie"

Every time there is a turnover (an officer leaves and a new one takes his place), The new officer is likely not so familiar with the city streets and the people on them. There is an initial orientation period that takes away from the new officer's effectiveness as he is 'broken in' to his new surroundings. Likewise, when one leaves there is usually 'unfinished business' to be taken care of.

Court appearances that can extend long after he is gone, are lost if he is unable (or unwilling) to appear and testify in the case. Cases must be dismissed. I have seen many instances where the criminal has been set free because the officer no longer works for that department. This hurts everyone and it costs. It only makes sense to keep as many good officers on the force as you can, for the longest period of time.

I would like to see Goldsboro Police Department establish a Reserve program. This would attract a lot of officers. who for one reason or another (mainly financial), are not full time employed in the field. They may be active duty Air Force and would like to keep their certification which requires them to work for a law enforcement agency within 1 year of leaving another. After the one year period, the North Carolina Criminal Justice Training and Standard's Certification lapses and they are required to go through the whole BLET (Basic Law Enforcement Training) again. This would give the regular officers a little relief, the city more protection and entice more young men and women into the criminal justice career field.

Fire and Rescue follow a close second and similar consideration should be given them.

Recently, Wayne County took over the dispatch for Emergency services in a new 911 center. The Goldsboro Police Department and the Wayne County Sheriff's Office no longer have any control over this area. It seems that the county, under some new Emergency Management program (probably having a great deal to do with the 9/11 attacks) felt that the county would be better prepared to handle a situation if everyone was 'under one roof'. While the intent is admirably, in reality it is a step or two backwards.

From my personal experiences, most of the dispatchers working there are not properly trained. Some of them probably don't even know what 10-4 means. I don't know where Wayne county got these people from (welfare, workfare or the local soup kitchen) or who is suppose to supervise them, but the dispatch department is an utter disgrace to law enforcement.

It reflects that on the officers' performance and response time. Now, in all honesty, I have heard one or two professional sounding dispatchers from time to time, but that is an exception rather than the rule. The officers' lives are on the line and the most powerful piece of equipment that he has is not his gun, but his radio. The radio is useless if there is not proper support at the other end. There is liability here and you will see it soon surface as one too many 'mistakes' are made. I wouldn't be surprised to hear one of our Emergency 911 tapes played on Nancy Grace in the very near future.

In the last few years, if you've called in a prowler or any other incident for that matter, ask yourself, "Were you happy with the response time"? If your answer is NO, DO NOT blame the officer! There seems to be a delayed reaction from the time you call it in to the time it's given out over the radio. If you have the opportunity, the next time you make a call, turn your scanner on and get out your pocket watch. Also listen to the information given out. I will bet it is not the same information that you gave the dispatcher. (By the way the dispatch frequencies are:

155.580 for Goldsboro Police Department and 154.785 for Wayne County Sheriff's Office)

705-6572 is a regular phone number that will connect you to either the city or county emergency services, if it is not a 911 emergency. Meanwhile, until I take office and try to get the dispatch back to the Sheriff and the Police Chief, if you have a problem with the dispatcher ask to speak to their supervisor (and take notes)

Ask any law enforcement officer, city or county, the next time you get a chance to strike up a conversation with him, what he thinks about the dispatchers. More than likely it will be one of two responses. He will either tell you in a sentence or two that it's a mess or he will just roll his eyes, shake his head and get back in his patrol car without comment. TRY IT!

Goldsboro, as well as the Sheriff's Office NEED to regain control of their dispatchers. It is necessary for efficiency and security of our community and the officers themselves. This is one issue on the top of my list to accomplish as your new Mayor of Goldsboro.

No man is above the law and no man is below it: nor do we ask any man's permission when we require him to obey it.
...Theodore Roosevelt

Got a story? Post it on the Forum Page.