LYNN - A plan afoot at City Hall aims to bolster the Police Department budget with donations from local businesses, particularly the larger companies.
Police Chief Kevin Coppinger told the Crime Prevention Resource Committee on Tuesday that balancing his budget and maintaining last year's level of services will be difficult given the city's fiscal problems. According to Coppinger, the department's special units have been trim-med, noting that his overall complement of uniformed police officers is far lower than cities of similar size.
[side note: the Lynn Police Chief's name is Coppinger? Get out!]
On the one hand, part of me applauds the chief for thinking "outside the box" on this one. Rather than try to hold the city hostage and demand a tax override like so many other towns, he's trying to increase funding through voluntary means. This isn't the worst idea in the history of bad ideas - if done correctly.
On the other hand, they're essentially telling businesses, "look, we can't provide adequare protection here. Youse has a nice shop. It would be a shame if something were to happen to it"... The article then quotes the chief:
Coppinger also emphasized that summer is fast approaching, which typically signals an uptick in violent activities among youth gangs such as the Bloods and the Crips. An increase in reports of confirmed gunshots in many Lynn neighborhoods has also become cause for concern, he said.
So, basically, pay up or the city gets it. Either you "voluntarily" donate money to the city PD so they can beef up patrols, or we can't protect you from these evil gangs that will smash your storefronts, steal your inventory, and murder your patrons. Gee, when you put it that way, how can we resist?
On the third hand, this may very well backfire on the chief. What happens if enough stores decide they're not going to pay the city's
In any case, telling businesses "we can't protect you unless you cough up more money" just seems to be a recipe for disaster IMHO...
That is all.
3 comments:
Many small towns have been doing this for years. Currently, one town I do business in has "sponsored" cars, with the name of the sponsoring business placed prominently on the back of the car.
It doesn't change things, however. They just spend the money from the car on something else and cry poor the next fiscal year.
Three hands, Jay? What are you, a Motie or an Arpalone? (and serious geek points to anyone who actually recognizes the second name there)
Imagine if the business owners were to invest their money in firearms and ammunition, and offer to help the police out by ventilating a few unauthorized, late-night 'customers'? Think they'd appreciate the gesture?
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