Reader comments
Salt Lake police, fire face cuts, too

Davis | 7:06 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

The cops are overpaid and don't kick in their fair share of tax money on the fulltime use of patrol cars either. Lay off more of them.

1-Medic | 7:28 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

If Utah would enter into the 21st century for a change and realize that ambulances could be adequately staffed with 1-Medic and 1-EMT/EMT-I and not compromise patient care that alone would save SLC and County a bunch of money. 48 other states have figured that out a long time ago and Utah as usual seems to be a little slow on figuring this out.

Old Cop | 7:57 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Maybe time to look at a VALLEY-WIDE Police force again? Taxpayers in all cities could save a lot of money by eliminating duplication. Economy of scale in staffing let alone emergency response would be frosting on the cake.

If done right, you can keep local control (precincts) and still save tons of tax dollars by combining forces for administration and buying power. Time to drop the egos and look at the facts!

Comments continue below

Idea! | 10:49 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Maybe the next time we have a large Tax surplus, like we did a year or two ago, we don't spend all the money and save it for times like this. As soon as state workers found out there was a surplus, there mouth's began to water for a raise. I don't want cutbacks in our Police force when the crime in SLC seems as its only getting a lot worse.

foresight | 11:02 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

I certainly hope Mr. Becker's intention is to cut waste and streamline administrative services and not actual numbers of police and fire personnel.

Why doesn't government abolish the practice of giving days off to recognize those honored by "holidays?" Or give the days off without pay. That is a wasteful practice most companies gave up long ago.

the mayor | 11:29 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

how about the fact that the mayor is still managing to fund 6 million in rennovations to the galivan center. Or 80 million or more for that stupid broadway theater. Or 30 million for a new fleet services. That seems like non essential items when your looking at cuts.

Stop speed traps | 11:55 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Maybe they can concentrate on being useful, rather than setting up speed traps and issuing tickets to drivers who aren't doing anything unsafe.

Re; old cop | 12:20 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

The old cop is spot on about combining police services. Under recent studies, the valley could safe 1-2 million dollars a year and not lose any services. This is the time to look at cutting the fat, like the over paid chief where I live.
As for speed traps, stop! I drive from Sandy through Cottonwood Heights to get to I.215. Those areas are a gauntlet for speed traps. Enough with the tickets.

Anonymous | 2:03 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

People don't get it. If you don't pay one way, they will get the money other ways which are more painful

Because... | 4:09 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Speeding is unsafe, so speed enforcement is used.

Speed contributes to fatalities, so speed enforcement is used. ("Speed kills..")

Speed enforcement isn't about you, it's about the public, so get over yourself.

An Older Cop | 5:09 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

In the computer age, there is not much to save. Right now there are several understaffed police departments in the valley. Combine them and you have a big understaffed department. It's true that a few chiefs would not be necessary, but then they would be replaced with captains... not much of a savings.

The other issue is that metro departments around the country have reputations for being unresponsive to local issues. Since the Las Vegas Metro department was formed, several smaller cities have pulled out for that very reason. In fact, right here in happyville, many small cities have formed their own police departments because the Sheriff's Office refused to address local issues.

Keep it local and let the city's citizens decide how their tax money should be spent, not a committee or not a single chief for the entire valley.

Lastly, to all those complaining about traffic tickets. Slow down.

re; older cop | 9:45 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

You have been out of the game a little too long. Computers are great but if 14 agencies do not share their information or talk or work together, then nothing gets done. Yes, Welcome to Happy valley, that is the case. As for saving money, read the recent study and see that millions, yes millions could be saved (captains make 30-45 thousand less then most chiefs in the valley). Finally, one city has left metro LV, henderson, since 1972, not several. The problem with old cops, they lose touch, focus on retirement and stop caring about what is best for the citizens they serve.

Re: re; older cop | 11:56 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Better get you facts straight youngster. Mesquite left and so did North Las Vegas. Logandale and Overton are considering it. Further, the citizens of Las Vegas proper were so disgruntled about Metro, they took it to the voters a couple of years ago. The vote was close and next time there is indications that the city of Las Vegas will pull out of Metro and go back to their own department. And you forgot to mention the destruction of the SLCo Sheriff's Office and its fiasco with the cities. As far as computers and lack of communication go... it's a programing and ego issue. Lets demand they talk, not simply blow the system up.

re; older cop | 8:03 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Almost voted and considering and program/egos does not mean what you orginally said. It means nothing in LV. As for Mesquite (formed PD before 1972)same with No. LV and Boulder. Logadale and Overton considering, well I guess I could say Sandy and W. Jordon and Murray are CONSIDERING contracting with the SL Sheriff.
My in-laws live in LV (dad in-law is retired metro). Older, Enjoy retirement! I hear Vegas is warm in the winter.

Last comment | 11:39 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Better check your facts again. Mesquite did, IN FACT, abandon its police department in 1972 and joined Metro. Then a few years ago gave up on Metro because of poor service and went back to their own police dept. Also, why don't you check with your dad-in law. If he was a Las Vegas cop before Metro, he can tell you horror stories of the merger and how it took years to get the professionalism back that was expected by the City of Las Vegas officers. Again, Keep law enforcement local. Otherwise, we lose our say.

Re: Because | 12:13 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Nice rhetoric on speeding being unsafe, but you're wrong. Bad driving is the problem. Slow and inattentive drivers cause more accidents than speeders.

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