Letter to the editor: Protect and serve?

By Chris R. Vaughn, Inola - 11/4/2009


Are the police looking out for the well-being of the public? Give us all a break.

This "brotherhood" won't even give up their take-home cars to give the taxpaying folks of Tulsa the service they are deserving of and help keep some of their own on the city payroll.

It has to make one question if they really have the best interest and safety of the people of Tulsa at heart.

It isn't about the people of Tulsa, but about the "integrity of the contract."

I'm glad that I live in Rogers County. Good luck, Tulsa.



Letters to the editor are encouraged. Each letter must be signed and include an address and a telephone number where the writer can be reached during business hours. Addresses and phone numbers will not be published. Letters should be a maximum of 250 words to be considered for publication and may be edited for length, style and grammar. Letters should be addressed to Letters to the Editor, Tulsa World, Box 1770, Tulsa, Okla., 74102, or send e-mail to letters@tulsaworld.com.


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Tulsa World Reader Comments
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Angry Citizen!, Bluejacket (11/4/2009 8:45:46 AM)
It is interesting that the FOP would retain their take home cars while simultaneously demanding that Tulsa won't be as safe with less officers.

FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/4/2009 9:50:04 PM)
I believe those positions are part of the charter requirements. I don't see how the new Mayor can violate the city charter and subject themselves to recall.

Hijinx, (11/4/2009 7:01:04 AM)
I don’t think you should be throwing any stones Chris. Rogers County? Really? You cant be serious.

dustyoutlaw, Tulsa (11/5/2009 9:15:50 AM)
One of the purposes of taking police cars home is the deterrence of crime in that neighborhood with criminals knowing a cop lives in the neighborhood and is equipped for quick response. How does that hold true for a cop living in Broken Arrow? Our taxpayer cop cars shouldn't be leaving the city limits.

dustyoutlaw, Tulsa (11/5/2009 9:21:37 AM)
Not to mention that all cities should be encouraging their own cops to live within the city limits of the cities and towns they work for. When you live in your own city you know more about the feel and moods of that city and you have a better feel for what belongs and what doesn't. Ya know? Instead of just profiling?

Elusive, the burbs (11/4/2009 5:36:09 PM)
If KT would have given up just one or two assistant positions it could have saved 2 cops jobs too. oldfatdude said "Cops are under-paid and under-appreciated" They are paid much better than our Teachers both having a BA degree, the very people that keep your children several hours per day. I hold them in higher esteem than the cops.

Elusive, the burbs (11/5/2009 12:35:00 AM)
Yes, I agree Corvetteguy. I think there was a little too much delegating going on there.

Oldfatdude, Shàngdu (11/4/2009 9:33:48 AM)
Cops are under-paid and under-appreciated. While there are the occasional bad cops, the good ones more than make up for it. Maybe the FOP isn't necessary, or maybe it is. I don't know. However; I wonder if ol' Chris would survive if there were no LEOs. How good is your wild west quick-draw Chris ol' buddy?

Oldfatdude, Shàngdu (11/4/2009 4:38:42 PM)
If economic times were better, this wouldn't be an issue. I put the blame squarely on those that screwed up the economy. You decide who that was for yourself. I've got my own opinions. Fix the U.S. economy and this problem goes away. Y'all get out there and create some jobs, if you can't create jobs then boycott those manufacturers that outsource to third-world cheap labor. Oh, and quit cooking meth and stealing, we wouldn't need as many cops if y'all just fly right.

Corvetteguy, Tulsa (11/4/2009 9:15:05 AM)
if I rmember correctly, the Rogers County Sheriff is a retired Tulsa Police Officer, and long time member of the FOP. Have you checked to see if the Rogers County Sheriff has a "take-home" car?...Don't bother checking, Chris. I can tell you...he does, and should. How many critics of law enforcement have put their lives on the line, for their fellow neighbor?

Corvetteguy, Tulsa (11/4/2009 2:31:11 PM)
Oldfatdude, you have made some very good points. A thoughtful posting. Keep in mind, that the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), is the certified bargaining agent for Tulsa's TPD, during negotiations with the City of Tulsa's official benefit negotiating team (Human Resources division). The City's negotiators MUST AGREE to proposals put forward by the FOP representing Tulsa's Police Officers. They clear approvals with THE MAYOR. The city is under no obligation to agree to anything, they only are obligated to listen to the FOP's prosposals, and then state the city's proposals. By law, Tulsa Police Officrs cannot walk out, or go on strike. I have heard many, many posters blame the FOP for the "take-home" car policy. The Mayor, as the Chief Executive Officer for the City of Tulsa, gave approval for the Take-home car policy, solely. Debate the policy on it's merits all you like, but it is unfair, and inaccurate to put the blame on the backs of Police Officer's, or the Police union...FOP. I'll stand by our Police Officers any day.

Corvetteguy, Tulsa (11/4/2009 9:46:17 PM)
Elusive, It is going to be very intersting to see if the next Mayor gives up some of those Mayor's assistant positions. Very interesting indeed, and i predict that the actions taken will come up in any re-election attempt. Many concerned citizens will be watching intently.

Corvetteguy, Tulsa (11/5/2009 9:11:45 AM)
FUTURE WORLD, the city charter defines positions within the city. It does not mandate that these positions are filled. Just like the Mayor can increase the position strength of the TPD, and only needs council approval for increased budget funding, the Mayor can reduce staff positions at will. The lone exception is when the signed legal, union contracts specificaly address lay-offs and how lay-offs will be handled (TPD, and TFD). That's why the most junior rookie police officers were laid off first,... the signed union contract demands that plan. The next Mayor CAN REDUCE the Mayor's staff at will. The voters will be watching.

Thunder196, Tulsa (11/4/2009 5:27:14 PM)
It's hard to feel sorry for people who lose their jobs because nobody within the ranks wants to give up their perks. I would rather give up perks to make sure everyone kept a paycheck coming in.

justiceawaits, Claremore (11/4/2009 8:35:57 AM)
Let the cops take their cars home. Parking them on a lot somewhere to switch to a personal vehicle only makes them available to vandalism. Plus they are on the road for the commute keeping speeders in check.

What the ?, OK (11/4/2009 12:27:33 PM)
We're glad you live in Rogers County too! Stay there.

What the ?, OK (11/4/2009 12:29:10 PM)
Stay in BlueJacket too, Angry Citizen.

sirwinston, (11/5/2009 9:21:18 AM)
I don't think the police officers should be allowed to take home their cars and then work a security job making $20.00 an hour using our tax dollars that pay for their vehicles. We also pay for the gas for them to work their second jobs while they make money on the side, sometimes in cash and untaxed. As long as they are driving their car, we are footing the bill for the gas. Why hasn't our city switched police cars to CNG? The savings alone would have saved all 21 jobs and allowed us to create even more. When fuel was $3.99 a gallon, cng in Tulsa was only $1.19 a gallon because it's right here in Oklahoma and we have plenty of it!

Issues of Fact, (11/4/2009 5:26:09 PM)
The letter is right on the money. It is prety sad that there is no concern for those they are sworn to protect! Even more disturbing is that they wont even give up the ridiculous perk to save the jobs of their "brothers and sisters." Guess the priorities of the union are clear. The citizens and the younger officers may not even rank in the top 5!

loudshirt, (11/4/2009 4:22:33 PM)
I think there should be take home cars but only to officers that live in Tulsa. What good does a TPD car do me, the taxpayer, if it sits in Collinsville every night? It helps keep crime in Collinsville down with no cost to that city. Also why do you drive your city car to your second job? I would be all for making all TPD and TFD officers live in the city limits. Almost all Sheriffs departments require that their officers live in the county. To and TPD officer that lives outside of Tulsa I have two questions: 1. Why dont you live in Tulsa? 2. Why should you get a car to drive outside of the city/what benefit does you having the car give a taxpayer that would not be gained by you living in Tulsa?

hubba bubba, (11/4/2009 5:03:45 AM)
Unions & Politcs have no useful purpose in todays society. Both have become so corrupt that they are meaningless.

RC1936, St. Robert (11/4/2009 11:11:02 AM)
If at all possible, police should drive cop cars to and from home. It makes faster response time and also serves as reminder to people to be a little more attentive on the streets they must transverse. As far as the union is concerned, I have long felt that unions no longer have a place in our society. All contact I've ever had with unions and their representatives has been negative. They never told me what they could do for me, they just reminded me of what would happen to me if I didn't comply. I joined unions twice and twice I was screwed. Never again.

RC1936, St. Robert (11/4/2009 11:11:29 AM)
I meant to say traverse. Sorry for the typo.

DBJohn, Tulsa (11/4/2009 9:37:36 AM)
I am in favor of the officers taking their vehicles home, only if they live within the city limits. There are benefits to the public such as quicker responses and the visibility of the police in the community.

DBJohn, Tulsa (11/4/2009 6:46:40 PM)
Oldfatdude, Officers can choose were they and their family's live. That should not be dictated. If they want to live outside the city, then they just don't get to take the car home.. Issues of Fact, it's not a ridiculous "perk", it is beneficial to the citizen of this community.


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