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Session 1854 <br />October 7, 2002 <br /> <br />CITIZEN COMMENTS: <br /> <br />Kathy Straatman, 6823 Crest, said that she is a resident of the Roth Grove <br />Neighborhood Association. She addressed the Council and City Manager about police <br />service. She stated that the more she talked to concerned citizens and even some <br />police officers, the more distressed she became. There are two issues that she wanted <br />to address. First, no one seems to be accountable for anything to anyone; not the <br />officers to their superiors; nor our Chief and Mayor to the City Manager; and not our City <br />Manager to the citizens. There doesn't seem to be anyone responsible for anything that <br />occurs and, as a result, our neighborhoods are becoming trash piles and havens for <br />intrusive and illegal activities. Although there is a chain of command, it seems that <br />there are never any ramifications or consequences for things not getting done. Littering <br />is no longer a minor issue in the area. When some officers were questioned about <br />procedures for enforcing litter control, they admitted that they did not know and had to <br />check. She asked what recourse do citizens have when police officers have the latitude <br />to determine when reports are generated and there are no consequences for failure to <br />do so. Secondly, another serious concern is that the police officers have trouble <br />understanding the difference between the good guys and the bad guys. Although we <br />are citizens who have been active and known in this community for years, she felt that <br />they are being treated as the criminals. When citizens complain to police supervisors' <br />about behavior consider harassing or abusive, they are told that it is their word against <br />the officer's. She stated that this cannot continue to be an acceptable process; there <br />has to be a system where police officers are supervised and accountable when citizens <br />are complaining about their behavior. She recently witnessed Mr. Dockett being <br />threatened and badmouthed by a young man on her property. She said citizens fear <br />retribution, rudeness and insensitivity from police officers. She tried to explain again <br />about the incident that occurred with Mr. Dockett that day, but that officer turned his <br />back on her and walked away. Citizens need responses to their calls, reports and <br />follow up. <br /> <br />Tim Hepler, 3907 Cortes, stated that he had come to discuss the Law Enforcement <br />Block Grant issue. He had been researching the City Council meeting minutes. The <br />public hearing in August was posted on the bulletin board and at the library, but it had <br />not been posted on the City's website that Friday. He does not know if it was posted <br />over the weekend or not. The mayor asks people to check the website. The Attorney <br />General says that public notice must be posted 24 hours in advance, not to include <br />weekends. The minutes mention that the award was for $34,323 and the Bureau of <br />Justice indicates that the grant is for $ 38,126. There is a list of criteria that the funds <br />can be used for. During the hearing, it was proposed that monies be used to replace a <br />copy machine, install shotgun mounts for the detective, a computer for the bureau of <br />field operations and clothing lockers for department employees. Upon closer scrutiny, it <br />appears that the copier and the lockers do not fit the guidelines established by the <br />Bureau of Justice. The guidelines require matching funds from the City which are to be <br /> <br /> <br />