Is His GQ Higher Than His IQ?

Although I already posted an article about the PAC 14 production last week with Chief Webster, I couldn’t help but make additional remarks thinking, “If I Were The Chief Of Police In Salisbury.”

The first thing I would have done would be to ask Barrie Tilghman Live, exactly what does she expect from an under paid, under staffed young Police Force? My Police Force is a team and if you want to see things turn around the first thing you’ll propose within this years budget is equal pay for my Officers in the City of Salisbury. That beings said, equal means the same pay as the Sheriffs Department as well as the State Police.

Without a pay raise the Salisbury Police Department will continue to lose Officers, especially seasoned Officers that are extremely valuable. Since there will be a new City Council in the next few months, should things continue down the path the Mayor has taken all of us, “ALL” Officers will have to consider transferring to other Forces because there’s no light at the end of the tunnel for the next 6 years.

It is vital we see the like of Tim Spies, Terry Cohen and Louise Smith, who are willing to stick their necks out and demand the City recognize that Public Safety must be the first line of correction and a very poorly managed City. The Mayor and even the Council have received substantial raises. The Fire Department is receiving a $10,000,000.00 facility, even though the City cannot afford it. The Police were left behind.

The Salisbury Zoo is looking at a $36,000,000.00 renovation and they have tripled the Staff at the Zoo while hundreds of animals have died and there are far less to care for. Again, the Police are being left behind. The Zoo has asked for $50,000.00 from the General Fund for engineering drawings for a new visitors center/education building. They are also asking for an additional $250,000.00 for construction of that building, even though Ron Alessi stated not a dime would come from taxpayers! The Zoo is also asking for $500,000.00 from the City for an animal isolation building the AZA demanded be built three years ago. They’re even asking for $70,000.00 for an Australian Exhibit that is supposed to be covered by their fund raising and have now been slick enough to pass it off on the taxpayers. Again, the Police Department is struggling with old vehicles and not enough BASE PAY to get anyone interested in relocating here and joining our Force and again are being left behind.

Barrie, if you cannot respect the fact that my Team must be cared for, I must offer you my resignation. The lack of respect I receive from my Team right now is at an all time low and I fear most everyone will look elsewhere for jobs that will provide for their families. Anything less than equal pay is unacceptable, especially as my Team looks around them and watches other groups come first. The Zoo is over staffed and the Police Department is under staffed. This makes no sense.

I would like to also work as closely as I can with Sheriff Mike Lewis and use our resources together to create the finest law enforcement team ever created in one county. I believe the Salisbury Police Department has equipment and staff that could compliment the Sheriffs Department and I believe the Sheriffs Department can offer some of what we don’t have. Together we can work as a team to get the drugs off the streets, get a strong hold on Gangs, get the guns off the streets and get control of our City/County again and make Salisbury/Wicomico County a very desirable place to live and retire. Without such a Team Force and without utilizing our resources and experience as a Team, we have no control as we are under staffed and we cannot offer our Officers the back up and security that would encourage someone to go out there and risk their lives for this kind of pay.

It’s time for a change, with or without me. The most important thing I can off my/our Officers is proving to them that I believe in them, I stand behind them and if I cannot do my job, (which is convincing everyone we need this kind of support) I cannot accept another paycheck.