City Terminates All But Two in Police Force

[CodeJockey]

This is very interesting, when my house was broken into about 3 years ago, and my entire gun safe stolen, it was in this city that the Chief of Police returned most of my stolen property after having conducted a raid on a crack house in that town.

Story Here

[mgood]

They were writing too many speeding tickets to city councilmen and their families.
(I am just kidding. I have no idea.)

[sjfcontrol]

They were writing too many speeding tickets to city councilmen and their families.
(I am just kidding. I have no idea.)

You're close! I heard on the radio that the rumor is that the police were investigating at least two city council members. The police were denying it.

[joe817]

I watched the noon news yesterday about this story. I think it was channel 8 in Dallas. Can't be sure.

In the story was an interview with a city councilman. And he said(recalling from memory) that yes they are keeping only 2 officers. BUT the police force consisted of 4 full time employed LEO's and 9 volunteer reserve officers. The volunteer reserve officers received no pay, BUT they were provided insurance for law enforcement officers. And the cost of insurance for the volunteer reserve officers put financial hardships on the town.

Like I say, I'm recalling from memory. And while watching the story, I asked myself why did a small town like Combine need 13 police officers?? Before I saw that story, I had never even heard of the town of Combine in Kaufman county. But that's not saying much. Texas has lots of towns I've never heard of.

[srothstein]

If a police department is going to be a full time department (not all are) they need five officers at a bare minimum. If the officers work 12 hour shifts, on a 2-2-3-2-2-3 schedule (on-off rotation), then 4 officers cover all hours on duty. But, it leaves no one to cover when an officer is sick, on vacation, or attending training. It also leaves a deficiency in coverage when anything happens, or on nights when you want two officers to handle fights (usually Friday and Saturday).

So, many cities use four or five full time paid officers, including the chief, plus a small group of unpaid part-time officers (what used to be called reserves). reserves work two to four times per month on average so you need more than you would first think.

Which brings up a question that has yet to be answered in the field (and TCLEOSE and the legislature have looked into this). What size city/school district should be required to have a police department at all? Right now, any incorporated city can have its own police if they want to. Should this continue or should they be required to use the sheriff's department patrol services?

Yes, this lesson really is on topic because the end question is the political control. What happened in Combine perfectly illustrates the reason towns fight for their own department (to control what it does). The Sheriff may not want to get involved in a mess like that, and he is also a politician who wants to get re-elected. I have yet to see a police department that is not political. Unfortunately, I also do not know of a solution to this problem.

[mgood]

So, many cities use four or five full time paid officers, including the chief, plus a small group of unpaid part-time officers (what used to be called reserves). reserves work two to four times per month on average so you need more than you would first think.

The town where I grew up was basically that. 5 officers plus a lieutenant, plus the chief. But there were a bunch (I'd say at least 15) reserves, which were actually part of the sheriff's department and were reserve deputies, but frequently worked with the police department. The reserves helped with traffic control into and out of the football games, came out in force on big party nights like graduation night and new year's eve, provided backup to officers serving a warrant, and filled in for people who were on vacation or sick.