Last of the Gunslingers...

[ExSDSO]

Read this in the paper today pretty interesting. Just wanted to share.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jun/08/1n8barf002939-sd-polices-border-unit-last-gunsling/

[Fuzz]

I read that too.......interesting and definately a different time and different PD back then.

[pulicords]

Funny, no mention of the fact this officer is eligible for an "outrageously" high 90% of his last year's salary for life? Where's the anger that his retirement is so much better than what the average citizen receives? No comments by the Governor or other politicians about the greedy public employees, their loathsome unions, or the fact that this officer is only 56 years old??? :confused:

(Sarcasm mode off.) While this officer's work was exemplary and that particular assignment did entail significant risks, most officers who were hired in that time frame (in San Diego and other jurisdictions) placed their lives in jeopardy every day, received debilitating injuries, and made significant personal sacrifices for 30+ years, to earn the benefits that they are now being criticized for daily by this newspaper and other media sources. IMHO, this article should be linked to every story that questions whether or not public safety employees (read: cops like this) "deserve" the pay and retirement benefits currently offered.

While the 1970's and '80's had a higher average violent crime rate than currently seen and more officers were being killed during those years, cops working now face danger too and can't rely on the present day's stats to foretell how safe the job will be in the decades to come. "Youngsters" just starting in the profession may look back on their experiences 30 years from now and have similar memories, if they stay that long. Shouldn't officers working now be as appreciated for their efforts and sacrifices? If their retirement benefits were cut to a 50% maximum (as some have suggested), what standard of living will they have to look forward to after a few years of 8-10% annual inflation?

The "gunslingers of yesterday" aren't just important for what they did in the past, they remind us of the risks faced and sacrifices made by today's cops too, and serve as models for their future.

[DOAcop38]

Puli- you know you have to be SHOT, STABBED,BEATEN,SPIT on by DISEASED SUSPECTS, and have your life expectancy cut short by at least 1- 2 dozen yrs before you are considered to have "earned" your retirement these days.......:(

Whats worse? try and tell younger officers - they really don't care, cause they don't plan on getting dirty anyway.......

[pulicords]

With the probability of massive releases from state prisons (only "non-violent" offenders :rolleyes:), a decrease of space in county jails, continued unemployment, no more state "assistance" (read: welfare), less cops being hired and court staff being reduced or furloughed, there's a "perfect storm" building for the exact same levels of crime we experienced during the 1970s and 80's or worse.

Young officers had better take some history lessons from their older peers, because that's what they are going to face. Additionally (if projections are true), double digit inflation is going to hit all of us and public employees (like before) will be expected to take reductions in pay that will increase the effect on them. "Blue Flu" and other job actions will be a distinct possibility, whether anyone likes it or not.

[DOAcop38]

With the probability of massive releases from state prisons (only "non-violent" offenders :rolleyes:), a decrease of space in county jails, continued unemployment, no more state "assistance" (read: welfare), less cops being hired and court staff being reduced or furloughed, there's a "perfect storm" building for the exact same levels of crime we experienced during the 1970s and 80's or worse.

Young officers had better take some history lessons from their older peers, because that's what they are going to face. Additionally (if projections are true), double digit inflation is going to hit all of us and public employees (like before) will be expected to take reductions in pay that will increase the effect on them. "Blue Flu" and other job actions will be a distinct possibility, whether anyone likes it or not.

Yes,sir !!! and "bRATtons" absurd claims that crime today in L.A. is as low as it was in 1956, will soon slide down the toilet Mayor Tony Vatos "ciudad de los diablos" has.

won't matter cause most of the younger officers think its cool to hang out in spots with their saggy jean wearing thug "friends"( de-generation X box).With so many 5'3",120 lbs "super cops" with no street savvy coming on the job( had one ask me what "CK" stood for, after he released a PAROLEE talking crap to him on a ped stop) you can bet crime will go up. The only fighting they believe in is watching the UFC on pay per view, and if they can't taser a suspect or let them go, they don't bother like the older cops I knew when I came on ( givign a "less than receptive" suspect a visit to the 13th flr of LCMC was a must)

Kudos to your generation of officers and the SDPD guys of "BARF"- no one will really understanf what has been lost( well some will)...

[nobodyjr]

Part of the problem at SDPD is that we lost a lot of the hard charging senior officers to other departments. We have a lot of good people left... but there's a small (yet vocal) group of slugs.

We had a couple of them pull some new hard charging officers off to the side recently and tell them to stop being so proactive and to hide and wait for radio calls.

Everything is FUBAR here. It's a tragedy.

[DOAcop38]

Part of the problem at SDPD is that we lost a lot of the hard charging senior officers to other departments. We have a lot of good people left... but there's a small (yet vocal) group of slugs.

We had a couple of them pull some new hard charging officers off to the side recently and tell them to stop being so proactive and to hide and wait for radio calls.

Everything is FUBAR here. It's a tragedy.

..the "disease" must have spread from L.A. on down to SD......:(