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The police, however, don’t put forth such an effort.
We can understand that the police department has fewer people and a growing demand, which could contribute to the employees just being “all business.” But there has to be a conscious decision in the department that it must join the community in more than just a law enforcement capacity.
Chief Harold Skelton needs to make this a priority, and it doesn’t even have to be that difficult. It could be as simple as having reserve (a.k.a. volunteer) police officers reading to children in the schools, in uniform. It could be having them man information booths at the Hometown Holiday Festival.
Of course, it would be ideal to have officers such as K.T. Taylor and Bill Bergin – the two officers specifically targeted in the recent lawsuits – out in the community in a non-enforcement capacity, so people can get to know them and realize they’re more than just the people you run into before getting busted. They need to be indisputably friendly faces in the city.
Officers are often confined to their patrol cars, offices or behind the impersonal walls and Plexiglas at the police station. They don’t get information out to the public in a timely manner (The Post finds that reports are often filed several weeks after incidents occur – and those are the “simple” cases such as DUII and dog-at-large). And they aren’t forthcoming with important information about cases; we tend to get much more information from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office – which is based in Oregon City – than we do from our own neighborhood police force.
That’s not the kind of open-door policy necessary to build trust and respect. Instead, it creates an atmosphere of secrecy and elitism, one that easily gives birth to conspiracy theories and shocking allegations.
Skelton needs to make community involvement and “sunshine” operations his primary goal in the department to bring credibility and respect back to the Sandy Police Department. The face of the department has to change from one that’s scowling and half-cloaked to one that smiles and is recognizable. Until the chief makes openness and community involvement (outside policing) a priority, the department will continue to struggle, as it is now.
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It is obvious to this reader that the editor of this story has not a clue to what he is talking about I have seen the sandy fire department and I have seen the sandy police department and I know who gets the bulk of the publics money not to insinuate anything against the fire department the city of sandy is growing your police force is not this leaves little time for as you state for PR! As for the law suits Anyone can sue anyone but it's real scary if you take the word of drug addicts,thugs with past crimanal records to be true! and to allow this to happen is really the crime!
(email verified)
Thu, Mar 29, 2007 at 09:36 AM
Steve Roberts
"it's real scary if you take the word of drug addicts,thugs with past crimanal records to be true! and to allow this to happen is really the crime!"
What?
Not every person who has been wronged and is seeking damages here has a criminal record. And besides, having a criminal record, unless it’s a record for fraud, embezzlement, or some other non- victimless crime, doesn't make them a liar, does it? Maybe a person who, at one time, made a bad decision, but not a liar.
Hell, what percentage of people who pay your salary would you classify as drug addicts, thugs with crimminal records or otherwise classify as low lifes. Most people who have been convicted of a crime at one time or another, still do pay taxes, and isn't that where your salary comes from? I do admit if someone is breaking the law, or has and not fulfilled their debt to society, should be prosecuted THROUGH THE COURTS. I am all for that. As long as it is done in a civil and professional manner.
But once someone has completly paid their debt, is it possibly that maybe they have turned their life around for the better. Maybe it was just bad judgement on their part, and they have learned. And now conduct themselves as a respectable citizen. Most likely their crime had nothing to do with them being a liar. Which isn't illegal, though maybe it should be, especailly for those who have sworn to "serve and protect". Did your oath make exception to anyone with a record or drug problem? I feel it is the greatest injustice when the police break the laws they have sworn to uphold. Talk about a crime!
(email verified)
Fri, Mar 30, 2007 at 09:50 PM
The editor obviously knows nothing about how the police department works.
If reports are late to getting on the log, it is probably because the cops are too busy fighting crime during an 8-hour shift and have to write all of those reports between that battle.
The fire department has many more people and the folks that show up for Good Morning Sandy do so when they are on shift.
Do you want to take the 1 police officer who is on shift away from crime fighting just to please a business group that cannot even get most of its officers to attend Good Morning Sandy.
the editor seems to trust the criminals more than he does the police.
What is the editor's own criminal background?
(email verified)
Mon, Apr 02, 2007 at 03:51 AM
Editorial response:
There are plenty of reserve officers (volunteers) in the Sandy Police Department who could serve as goodwill ambassadors. We just think the "we don't have time" argument, as true as it is, can work for the department anymore. We're not necessarily saying that officers have to participate while ON DUTY... that would be ridiculous, as was the assertion that we "trust" criminals by identifying a PR problem and the question about the editor's (non-existent) criminal background.
Editor, the reserve cops all have other jobs, mostly full time and away from Sandy. they already give much more back to the community with their service than even you do. How much more time would you demand they are away from their families?
Why don't you require the chamber members to volunteer as reserve officers?
(email verified)
Mon, Apr 02, 2007 at 06:50 AM
yea, thats a joke! try living in sandy, that will give you the real image of who they are and what there capable of doing. it must just be a coincidence that there are so many complaints and people having fear with the police of Sandy. NO ITS NOT! man get a clue...
(email verified)
Wed, Apr 04, 2007 at 07:08 AM
Hey "ashamed", how many times have you seen you name in the police log?
I do live in Sandy and have no fear of the police because I don't do anything illegal.
(email verified)
Wed, Apr 04, 2007 at 07:13 AM
i dont do anything illegal either, but when it comes to morals and what i believe in, good always wins over evil and right over wrong. also, you dont need to do anything illegal to get the pigs attention, they'll still harrass ya anyways.
how many lawsuits are there again? yea, too many to be overlooked this time!
(email verified)
Fri, Apr 06, 2007 at 05:39 AM
Get a clue people... Look at the ones who are suing the police department. I understand it is the first lawsuit in over 20 years. I happen to know of a couple of these poor picked on citizens and I would not want them as neighbors AND they are affiliated with each other. One of the people suing the police was stealing from his own elderly mother until she died. Wow, that is a good citizen for you. What does that tell you?
I have lived in Sandy for 36 years. Neither myself nor anyone in my family (neighbors too for that matter) has had negative contact with the police. I did get a ticked for rolling through a stop sign. I guess I should have called the policeman names for that.
Try supporting our local troops.
(email verified)
Fri, Apr 06, 2007 at 09:24 AM
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Re: Sandy Police need better image
Wow. So, Skelton needs to make "community involvement and 'sunshine' operations his primary goal in the department to bring credibility and respect back to the Sandy Police Department"???
So rather than address the serious concerns of citizens that police are "harassers, liars, thugs, racist against Hispanics ... and even murderers," you propose that these would be resolved if only the cops paid more attention to PR? Good grief.
Guess what? I'd still be upset if the cops "man[ning] information booths at the Hometown Holiday Festival" gunned down a critically injured, unarmed man. Get a clue.
"Madam Hatter"
(email verified)
Wed, Mar 28, 2007 at 05:27 PM