On the beat

By World's Editorial Writers - 11/4/2009


The federal government has OK'd a city plan to use stimulus money to rehire 18 laid-off police officers.

The city originally had planned to use the money to actually increase the size of the police department by 18 officers (which still wouldn't have gotten the department to its proper strength) but the national recession's impact on local sales tax revenue destroyed that idea.

The city returned equipment to the 18 laid-off officers on Tuesday, and they will hit the streets starting Wednesday. The stimulus grant lasts three years, and the city is betting that by that time the economy will have recovered enough to keep the 18 officers on the payroll.

Three more officers remain laid off. City leaders say they're working on a plan to return those officers to duty too.

Meanwhile, again because of the recession, the department's helicopters are grounded, the mounted patrol has been put out to pasture and the remainder of the police department (and the fire department, and the rest of the city's work force) is working fewer days because of furloughs.

Clearly, these are dark days for the city. Bad but unavoidable decisions have been forced by a national economic fiasco that wasn't of Tulsa's making, and hasn't yet ended.

Mayor Kathy Taylor said she was "very relieved" the city was able to use the federal money to stop some of the drastic cuts in public safety.

It's hard to dispute that, but the real relief will come with the promised end to the recession, when Tulsa can start rebuilding its police force.


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Tulsa World Reader Comments
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Rupert Shootman, Tulsa (11/4/2009 10:53:39 AM)
All that money the new city hall is draining out of the coffers is making the Queen look pretty danged silly, now...isn't it?

Michael Phillips, Tulsa (11/4/2009 6:58:38 AM)
When government is out of money it is at it's best. When the city is desperate for money they will do desperate things like selling swimming pools and golf courses that they should never have owned in the first place. Then they will do what ever is necessary to fund police and fire protection which really is their responsibility. I am going to eagerly await the return of two helicopters to service for the city. Then I will know that the city is doing the things they need to do to protect the citizens.

JCash, (11/5/2009 9:13:28 AM)
PhoenixIX: Our helicopters are a great asset. True they are expensive to operate. You admit they are useful but you are hesitant because of the expense. Your view is representative of a major problem with Tulsa. You think big but want to pay small. It sounds good but it CAN NOT work. With your logic/view Tulsa will remain static: the biggest SMALL-TOWN in America. Well here's a newsflash like it or not. Tulsa is the smallest BIG-TOWN in America. Tulsa is dying to grow, poised to grow, with notices like being on "top" cities list, etc. Yet we are static. Why? Your small-town vision with its small-town budget will produce small-town results. This city needs a police helicopter, more cops, better streets, a better funding design, etc. But mostly, we need people who think bigger than the small-time, small-town dogma that you, and many others, advocate. PhoenixIX, I've read your ideas in the past and I know you are a thinking person. With respect, maybe you need to think about moving to BA, Owasso, or Bixby, etc. Those good cities seem tailor-made to your vision of smaller, no frill thinking. Good Luck.

dustyoutlaw, Tulsa (11/5/2009 11:50:35 AM)
I also agree with JCash. I can't think of a single city of this size or larger that doesn't have police helicopters. Tulsa is a huge city limits area. To even think that helicopters aren't a valuable asset in the control of crime makes me wonder what people are going to say when crime skyrockets behind the loss of helicopters. Do you have any idea how long it would take to relay messages and MAYBE get the OHP chopper in the air IF it's not busy elsewhere? It's a no brainer to me. We need those helicopters.

PhoenixIX, Jenks (11/4/2009 7:10:02 AM)
Selling the Helicopters is a good decision that is long overdue. Their usefulness in no way justifies the cost.

Thunder196, Tulsa (11/5/2009 11:44:44 AM)
We need the Helicopters. They are used a lot in our area of town, and they are an asset. . Keep the helicopters. Use Them!

Thunder196, Tulsa (11/5/2009 11:45:42 AM)
JCash I agree with your post.

DBJohn, Tulsa (11/4/2009 9:24:46 AM)
Michael, well said. However I believe that the frivolous and non-productive things that are not in the public eye should also be addressed.



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