A. Mayor Ireton's proposed FY15 budget will take a Police Recruiter Position, presently held by a sworn officer, and make it a civilian position - moving 1 officer back to patrol duty B. Mayor Ireton's May 1, 2014 budget transfer of $277,000 in the Salisbury Police Department will take 4 Police Dispatch positions that are held by sworn officers, and make them civilian positions - moving 4 officers back to patrol duty C. Mayor Ireton/Chief Barbara Duncan's proposed May 1, 2014 budget amendment proposal of $832,822 to be spent for the hiring of 10 new Salisbury Police officer that, after training, will be on patrol duty
In all, these proposed staffing changes and additions will put 15 seasoned and new police officers on the streets of Salisbury over the next 18 months. With the budget transfer and the approval of the police recruiter by City Council, 5 of those 15 will be on Salisbury streets by July 1, 2014.
"Salisbury has seen a historic drop in violent crime over the past 5 years. Chief Duncan, Colonel Barkley and the entire Salisbury Police Department should be commended for their work. As we come to the midpoint of this decade knowing what we know about our population - how it will increase and how many people visit Salisbury in a single day - it is clear that reaching the goal of under 2000 Part 1 Crimes in a calendar year, will take more resources. I am proud to support the proposal that will do just that, and I am more than confident that the City Council will as well," said Mayor James Ireton, Jr.
Police Chief Barbara Duncan said, “The residents and business owners throughout the city have consistently reached out to work with SPD, and our partners, the Maryland State Police and Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office to reduce crime. Mayor Ireton has worked to hire police officers and put more officers out in the street at every turn. This announcement today is proof positive our Mayor is committed to funding the Salisbury Police Department to produce long term solutions which address obvious staffing needs so that we can continue to reduce crime in Salisbury. We all know that crime reduction is an important aspect of economic success and SPD will soon be staffed to help the City make that success a lasting reality.”
36 comments:
This doesn't make any sense since crime is down. If crime is down then why change the way they are currently doing things. Makes no sense.
CRIME IS NOT DOWN!!!!!
Part ONE crime is down.
Thefts and burglary is through the roof.
Ireton will say ANYTHING to make a bad situation look better.
I have been stating for YEARS, WHY new Firefighters and not the Police Department.
Ireton is an Idiot. YOU will still have to pay for those civilian positions.
Where's Barbara Duncan?
When I went there for a tour 2 years ago the dispatchers were civilians, when did it change to paid officers?
That position pays crap for what you have to deal with, my guess is they probably were sick of going through civilians so they stuck paid officers in there that were on Duncans crap list or injured.
WWLSD?
Overall Crime maybe down but VIOLENT Crime is on the Increase.
We all know where that will lead to... an increase of Non-Violent Crimes.
The gangs control the west side of Salisbury therefore law enforcement does patrol those areas. Law enforcement "sweeps" those statistics under the rug to make the Crime figures on the decline.
Makes no sense... if crime is down why hire more officers. Must be an Obama initiative. Ha Ha!!!
Not even Part I crime is down. They change these crimes to misdemeanors to give they appearance. Crime is only down during press conferences and the Chief and Mayor know it.
just throw more money at the problem. the liberal agenda at it's best.
I seen Lee Stevens and Mayor Ireton running down lollipop lane this am. Would love to hear what they talked about.
First of all some crimes that are Wicomico County are not considered Salisbury.
Second, Joe what would you have done different by now? I am curious?
Thanks for the gumball Mickey.
2:52, First of all, it's not what I would do, it's what I would have done.
I would have never allows a proposal to put on 12 new Firefighters. Instead, I would have put in 12 new Police Officers years ago.
I would have met with O'Malley long ago and secured those new Officers.
I'm NOT saying Duncan hasn't done her very best. I'm saying IRETON has made sure Duncan wasn't able to do things with available grants.
If crime is down then why hire more officers or re-assign?
Actually that is a cop out by re-assigning. Those 5 officer positions are officer positions that you will never get back.
Even though they are re-assigning the officers they still have to pay for those civilian positions.
If those 5 officers requested the positions they were being re-assigned from they are going to be useless on the street because they are not going to give it their 100%.
hey anon 2:08 PM
if you think crime is down, i have a challenge for you. go to doverdale playground this friday night at dusk and just sit on the picnic table near the playground. i dare you
The incidence of crime in any society is more a reflection of the society's moral foundation than it is the number of police on duty.
More police = less crime? This is a lie created by police departments in order to justify more budget allocation.
Less crime = more police? this is the scenario described in this article. The police chief and mayor are proud there is less crime. They will therefore supply more police. This is idiocy in action.
If you hire 100 more police crime would still rise. This issue is about a lack of jobs that pay a living wage, lack of community revitalization, and a severe lack of community engagement.
Yikes - a Salisbury media event without Fake Day. Is he sick or has Jim-beau realized that Day will be his main opponent in the Mayor's race next year?
My guess would be that they are taking the lieutenants out of the dispatch room and putting them on the street, 4 squads, 4 Lt's
Joe - this is 2:52 and I did type What would you have done?
All part one crimes are handled by the Maryland State Police in Salisbury. Wonder if Duncan is passing stats to MSP. They need all the help they can get.
Ok let's just play along for a second. Crime is down. Homeless is up and continues to grow. You can't even go to Dunkin donuts for a cup of coffee without being asked for money at the end of the lane. I would think the city would know that there are hundreds of people seeing this blight on the city each morning. You can't walk down 13 from the hospital to fruitland without an encounter with a homeless person asking for something. Ok enough about the homeless.
If I remember this past month there have been at least 3 shootings reported on this site. So if crime is down there must have been more last year.
I guess I am like most of the residents in this area , if it isn't me then crime must be down . If I see homeless all over the city it is ok because they aren't the ones shooting each other.
So I hope crime continues to go down, maybe someday I can walk to the store again after dark without fear.
When did Msp start handling all part I crimes in city limits 5:22?
2:19 maybe, as many have experienced, the civilians answering the phones/dispatch were uneducated, impolite, rude and a liability.
that statement alone has answered a lot of questions for many many citizens who have had to deal with the awfulness we have endured when calling in for information or assistance.
Dealing with crap goes both ways.
So now if you drive to the police station after 4 pm, there will be no officers in the building to assist you, the dispatcher will have to call one in. If you have a complaint about an officer, there will not be a supervisor in the building to hear it at that time, if you have a question about a matter of law, the civilian is not trained or qualified to answer it and guess what...there won't be an officer in the building to answer it.
Just make sure the new idiot kids are trained well. no dog or civilian killings.
Excellent!! I am glad to see this very positive announcement.
Great news!!!
I'm glad but it's still not all rainbows and unicorns, remember, the new positions have to cover 3 shifts. I'll take what we can get.
When will City taxpayers get tired of paying for two Police agencies whild the County taxpayers only pay for one? Let WIcomico COunty provide the police service for the City and save City taxpayers many millions
To little to late.
Better late than never. Very good ideas on the initial moves. Fresh young new hires will help as well.
For the majority of you making comments - do a little bit of research as to what constitutes a Part 1 or Part 2 Crime. Murder and Theft are both Part 1 Crimes. An increase in part 1 crime could mean drive by shootings and robberies killed a bunch of people...or a bus load of college students showed up at Walmart and started stealing clothing and cosmetics.
MSP is not taking investigations for all Part 1 crimes in Salisbury. MSP handles calls in their jurisdiction. SPD handles calls in their jurisdiction. Agencies can and do show up to assist and provide backup, but MSP is not taking the calls.
Anonymous said...
2:19 maybe, as many have experienced, the civilians answering the phones/dispatch were uneducated, impolite, rude and a liability.
that statement alone has answered a lot of questions for many many citizens who have had to deal with the awfulness we have endured when calling in for information or assistance.
Dealing with crap goes both ways.
April 28, 2014 at 6:47 PM
You are absolutely correct. I have called numerous times to report something in my neighborhood and sometimes I get that rude fat @ss that answers the phone. I have complained about him and he is still working there. I have complained to Barb and Jim and he is still working there. Every phone call is taped and they can hear how he treats the tax payers, but they refuse to discipline him. I can't support the SPD as long as that creep is still there. He reminds me of JT.
New officers have 6 months of academy training and another 3 months of OJT. So don't plan on seeing new officers for another year with time to interview, physical, polygraph etc. And the next class won't start until July.little to late.
Anonymous said...
When will City taxpayers get tired of paying for two Police agencies whild the County taxpayers only pay for one? Let WIcomico COunty provide the police service for the City and save City taxpayers many millions
April 29, 2014 at 11:14 AM
I've been saying that for years. I would rather have the Sheriff's Office respond to my emergencies anyway. The majority of the SPD officers wanted a job in the County but the County wouldn't hire them so what you get left is the bottom of the barrel.
Look at the picture and notice the only fans of Ireton's press conference are the usual department heads that are told they have to be there.
What SPD is not telling you is how many open positions they already have and can't fill because officers are leaving as fast as they can. Why do they want 10 more positions if they can't fill the 10 they already have? Because that way they can put twice as many barely qualified candidates in the academy, hoping most pass, and rest survive field training during which time another 10 seasoned officers will have left.
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