Short on Officers

[Mike B.]

Dodge City Police Short 5 Officers
Read the story here.

Small town police departments short-staffed


Tucker Jankosky
KWCH 12 Eyewitness News
Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Dodge City's newest police officer started this week, but the police department there would like to have several more

see link above for more


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06-21-2006 04:05 PM



Mike B.
Member

Registered: Jan 2004
Location: Dodge City
Posts: 185
Short-Staffed
Just to let everyone know, police officers in Dodge start out with a base salary of 27,000 dollars a year. If a married man buys insurance for himself and family it cost 3,000 dollars a year. That bring his pay down to 24,000 dollars a year.

These are the men and women who protect us, serve us and in worst cases put their lives on the line for us, and we slap them in the face with this kind of pay! (What a joke)

They deserve better!!

<The crime rate in Dodge is above the National Average in most every area. Why? Because our City leaders are afraid to address this issue, they are afraid that it would make Dodge look like a bad place to live. Not even the Globe will write a story about the 18-20 Nationally recognized gangs that operate here. There is an estimated 200-400 gangs members here in Dodge.>

Why would new officers stay in Dodge City very long? We have become a training grounds for other communities through-out the Mid-west.

Dodge City needs to wake up and start addressing issues that are of real concern to our community!

I hope our City Manager and Commissioners realize what these officers contribute to our community. From what I know first hand of our Commissioners, nothing will happen. Sorry to say that!

Sincerely,

Mike B.



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06-26-2006 02:16 AM



LordFoulsBane
Junior Member

Registered: Jun 2003
Location:
Posts: 28
Just to let everyone know, police officers in Dodge start out with a base salary of 27,000 dollars a year. If a married man buys insurance for himself and family it cost 3,000 dollars a year. That bring his take home pay down to 24,000 dollars a year.

Actually, a PD officer does start at 27,000, but after the FTO program, the base salary is 30,000. The insurance you mention is the deductable for a family plan. The deductable for a single officer is 1500.

Thanks for your kind words Mike B.

P158


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06-26-2006 02:21 AM



Mike B.
Member

Registered: Jan 2004
Location: Dodge City
Posts: 185
LFB,

No need to thank me for the kind words!

My intent was not to be kind. But to expose our city leaders.

I suppose if anyone were to pay attention to what's going on, I would not need to do so!

Mike B.

P.S. LFB, May the Lord bless you!

[TexKan]

Houston is so short of officers the newstalk radio actually has done some "head hunting" comercials for them. Take a listen!

http://kprcradio.com/pages/audio/THEHPD1.wav

http://kprcradio.com/pages/audio/THEHPD2.wav

Service jobs have historically paid low wages. You need a college education for advancement but you never get paid a fair wage. I think cops move from Dodge not because of wage but for opportunity. Perhaps it might help to get some officers point of view - Does the PD stand behind thier officers? Do they get the training they need to stay safe? Is thier equitment state of the art? There are lots of reasons cops move on. Ususally the political atmosphere will send them packin before money does. How many of your officers are DC grown? Lots of cops want to work in thier home town and will work elsewhere till an opening they really want is available. Do ya'll have an academy at DCCC? Is it convieniant for locals to become DCPD?

From experience in DC as a nurse I must admit the pay is much better down here. I just think if you are in a profession where college is required - there out to be some money to go with all the crummy shift work. I got that here - so when I was in DC - I made sure I was paid if I worked anything other than days. Nurses can now get away with that - but it wasn't always like that.

I would say cops make more money at side jobs. I think my son probab makes alot more than that - but then he's in a much higher crime area, is on SWAT, and works doubles ALOT, as well as pullin lots and lots of side jobs for the refineries. Lots of good money to be made just guardin the parking lot! Ours also get paid for court time - not all departments pay for court time. It's about supportin your cops and it happens from the top. Ask the hard questions - it might not be just the city council - the chief needs to be the leader for his force. If the department is not the issue then it's time to take it to city council - the officers will be happy ya did - hell they will be happy someone cares enough to even raise the issue.

[357 mag]

What link?

[TexKan]

I couldn't find his either - mine are more entertaining!!

[357 mag]

oh ok just though I was loosing my mind!!! My husband's been on the PD for a little over a year now and I think the only bad thing was the 17 week academy because it's in Hutch. He's been on really good shifts and everyone backs everyone. They are a "family" not just co-workers. I think Dodge is a good starting point for anyone though because the "crime rate" isn't as high as the big cities. That's my thoughts though.

[TexKan]

17 weeks?????? Ya'll turn cops in 17 weeks???????? Lord!!! Texas City just started payin for the academy but when my son and DIL went - it was and still is a college course that lasts 9 months. It's not a garuntee that graduating will get ya a job - they don't hire till ya pass TCLOSE - Geesh at 17 weeks - ya might be gettin the same committment ya get from CMA's and CNA's. Quick school, low pay, low committment................ they get college credit????? Down here it's a college course - with lots of hours, lots of practice, and it's not cheap!

[Mike B.]

Dear 357 Mag,

I bet if you go to the DCPD, as I did, and got the numbers, you'd find out that Dodge City is high on the list of, not just crimes but also violent crimes, which includes, murder and rape. I got my numbers from Chief John Ball and Det. Sgt. James Morton.

Crimes per capita are very high in Dodge. Above the national average!

I do support our officers, more than most, and will continue to do so!

I will also show my support of them in a small way by paying for, any and all, officers coffee at the C-Plus, just north of Wendy's on Central. I'll talk to Cindy (the manger) and take care of the details.

Best wishes to you!

Mike B.

[lurker]

Do they have donuts at the C-Plus?

[TexKan]

Houston has the highest increase in murder in the country I believe. Statistics are a funny thing.- I say ask the street officers - they don't play with numbers - they work the streets.

I'm real surprised to see those claims - with a 70% hispanic population - I'm surprised that any crime at all is actually reported other than murder and the wife beater sunday afternoon that goes on. Iknow ya'll have lots of gang stuff - but I've been gone 2 years - alot can can change in that time.

Circle C and those stop N steals actually charge a cop for coffee????? That's downright shameful!!

[TexKan]

Be careful lurker - you'll be road muck if they catch ya!!!....LOL