By Lisa Lucas Gardner, J.D. On May 29 at 9:10 PM
Okay, here we go again. I know I'm probably going to get kicked in the teeth again for speaking out or giving constructive criticism about our police department. However, based on my background in law enforcement and based on my education, I feel that I do have the right to speak up when I see something that can be corrected or improved upon. Therefore, here is today's observation.
I called the police department today to borrow an engraver to engrave my personal property in case it was ever stolen. Historically, the routine is to engave your driver's license number on your personal items in case they are ever stolen and the police happen to find the items in the possession of the bad guy. That way the police can actually get you your personal property back which is one of their duties as a police officer. Also, if the bad guy ever tries to sell it to a pawn shop the owner is required by law to notify the police. Anyway, this ancient crime prevention program was called "Operation Identification" twenty years ago and I thought that all police departments still participated in it. Today I found out that C.P.D. does not have any engravers to lend out to the public and they dont have "Operation Identification" stickers to put on your personal items and windows of your residence.
I then asked if I could come down and register my bicycle since I have decided to do the "green" thing and begun to ride instead of drive so much. That way, if an officer caught a bad guy riding my bicycle after I reported it stolen I can actually get it back. Well, guess what? C.P.D. doesnt register bicycles either. Both of these ideas are decades old and are crime PREVENTION ideas that help get our personal property back to us and it works. I left a voice mail message with the police department's "Crime Prevention" officer and suggested that he implement both of these programs immediately.
I have come to the conclusion that our police department is hung up way too far on enforcement instead of prevention and this should change. The police officers can help reduce crime, accidents, speeders, and other violators if they try to prevent more then enforce.
I enjoy helping out and doing my part on all this stuff with the police department and I will continue to voice my "opinion" about things that I see and wonder about.
Peace.