Vallejo cutbacks could end SWAT team

The Vallejo Police Department's staffing attrition might lead to the demise of its SWAT team.

[Randall]

Vallejo may be a part of the North Bay by location, but by demographics and crime statistics it is clearly an East Bay city such as Oakland and Richmond. Criminals in Vallejo are active, well armed and dangerous. Our murder rate is higher than any North Bay City. To not have a well armed SWAT to protect its citizenry is a failure to protect the community.

The City must remember its sole purpose - Public Safety. Lower the HUD funding by enforcing the rules and dropping those who violate them. Stop chasing away businesses such as Wal-Mart that may not have brought Union Jobs to Vallejo, but a large sales tax base. Also look at all of the thriving small businesses surrounding the Wal-Mart in American Canyan - then look at the mess it left behind in Vallejo.

Poor decisions are leading to the lack of funds available in Vallejo. We are now in a down turn.... No public safety.....No new business.....No new sales tax......Lower property tax.....Poorer and less efficiant schools...... The core to recovery is public safety. New businesses will not come to a City that is known to be less than safe.

Priority Number #1 - Protect the City!

[Frank Lee]

I'm getting so tired of people like Randall claiming that public safety is the key to Vallejo's future. Vallejo has already sacrificed so many city services (including economic development) so that it can keep paying public safety's obscenely high wages, benefits, and retirement packages. Public safety needs to wake up to the fact that everyone needs to make a contribution to better Vallejo. Now, after every other city department has been cut to the bone, it is their turn.

[Golden Retirement]

If there's a choice to be made, wouldn't it be better to have more officers on patrol?

Less SWAT = more patrols = more public safety. That looks like the most bang for the buck.

New revenue might be better used in reopening a fire station than supporting an expensive SWAT program. For those infrequent 4 hour standoffs, other cities will happily send some backup. That might be a good program to consider for a regional merging of services. As for the revenue, the San Jose spokesman hit the nail squarely when he said the city was not laying off police. He said Police are laying off police. Same with the SWAT program.

[common sense]

vallejo should reduce the building permit fees and accept more new exciting bussiness in vallejo and get rid of the so call politician then vallejo would be in great shape to help generate money to the city... but no vallejo chases all go bussiness out and bring in the bad..welcome to city of bankrupt. population negative. crime high. bussiness get the heck out of here.

[anon]

Golden Retirement wrote:

If there's a choice to be made, wouldn't it be better to have more officers on patrol?
Less SWAT = more patrols = more public safety. That looks like the most bang for the buck.
New revenue might be better used in reopening a fire station than supporting an expensive SWAT program. For those infrequent 4 hour standoffs, other cities will happily send some backup. That might be a good program to consider for a regional merging of services. As for the revenue, the San Jose spokesman hit the nail squarely when he said the city was not laying off police. He said Police are laying off police. Same with the SWAT program.

Why reopen a FS? It has be argued Ad infinitum that the archaic NFPA and ISO guidelines of fire station placement are not applicable to Vallejo. Expenditures are down due to FS closures, if it ain't broke .... don't fix it. More open stations =$ higher expenditures.

[Captain]

Here is the cost for one police Captain, according to Craig Whittoms declaration to the bankruptcy court:

Police Captain (average cost)
salary..........202,621
Pers (pension).........58,895
Health/Dental..........13,588
Workers Comp..........33,027
other..........532

Total..........308,583

You can add an 8% salary increase to that number next year (7-1-2010), along with the 5% increase Calpers will be charging.

Here is the link to the source of this information, along with cost breakdowns for other positions in Public Safety (page 13 & 14):

http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/uploads/712/05232... (c)%20Memorandum.pdf

[john from Vallejo]

Golden Retirement wrote:

If there's a choice to be made, wouldn't it be better to have more officers on patrol?
Less SWAT = more patrols = more public safety. That looks like the most bang for the buck.
New revenue might be better used in reopening a fire station than supporting an expensive SWAT program. For those infrequent 4 hour standoffs, other cities will happily send some backup. That might be a good program to consider for a regional merging of services. As for the revenue, the San Jose spokesman hit the nail squarely when he said the city was not laying off police. He said Police are laying off police. Same with the SWAT program.

SWAT sounds like something that could be supported by a regional effort.

[sunny]

If SWAT goes, you might as well just serve complimentary appetizers and beverages at the city limits to all of the thugs who flock to Vallejo. Put out the "Welcome Mat". One thing for sure, they will come!

[Drink the Koolaide]

sunny wrote:

If SWAT goes, you might as well just serve complimentary appetizers and beverages at the city limits to all of the thugs who flock to Vallejo. Put out the "Welcome Mat". One thing for sure, they will come!

PSU Apologist--how many times a year is the SWAT team used.Vallejo is hardly downtown Iraq.

Is it a good thing to lose the SWAT Team--no. Will Vallejo go down the tubes due to its absence--NO.

You fearmongers need to get a life--if you want to be scared ride a rollercoaster at Discovery Kingdom and

[Unhappy Resident]

Oh wow, so the PD is out of money? lets see was it Thursday I saw thier mobile command center at one of the most expensive detail shops in town getting washed? Why is it they can find money to shine up that rig and they can't live with the budget they have?

Seems they are just as guilty of poor spending habits as the other city organizations. I guess the Police are lazier than the Firefighters in Vallejo. At least they wash thier own eqipment at take pride in that.

[Local Mom]

I've lived in Vallejo my entire life and have witnessed the misdirection and wasted time of Valljo Police Officers for years. A few weeks ago I parked the wrong direction in front of my house for less than 5 minutes. I exited my home to find VPD writing me a parking ticket, which I can accept because I WAS parked the wrong direction. The issue, which I brought to the attention of the Corporal; is that no more than 50 yards away, some of our local knuckleheads were selling drugs in broad daylight, in the same spot that they sell drugs all day long. The Corporal did not respond, nor answer for his failure to do his job and chose to threaten to give me a ticket for driving on the wrong side of the road, if I didn't go back into my house. I have contacted VPD numerous times reporting the unconcealed drug dealing, public crack smoking, etc and have seen NO increase in police presence. Sometimes its not QUANTITY it is QUALITY and the quality of what VPD spends its time doing is not productive in reducing crime and keeping people safe. Trying to increase city revenue by writing parking tickets and speeding tickets for people driving 5mph over the limit is not the answer to the city budget, nor the crime issue. VPD rarely patrol the areas that have the increased crime. I live in a high crime area and have only seen VPD on my street once, when I was getting a parking ticket. The only time they come around is when they are chasing someone. Luckily, some of us have reserved our right to bear arms so that if necessary we can patrol out own areas and secure out own homes, while VPD is out writing parking tickets. IF the department doesn't even have ample man power to answer 911 calls or come out to take reports for non-violent crimes, then how do they have the time to write parking tickets? That is what I want to know! VPD is a joke!

[interesting]

Local Mom wrote:

I've lived in Vallejo my entire life and have witnessed the misdirection and wasted time of Valljo Police Officers for years. A few weeks ago I parked the wrong direction in front of my house for less than 5 minutes. I exited my home to find VPD writing me a parking ticket, which I can accept because I WAS parked the wrong direction. The issue, which I brought to the attention of the Corporal; is that no more than 50 yards away, some of our local knuckleheads were selling drugs in broad daylight, in the same spot that they sell drugs all day long. The Corporal did not respond, nor answer for his failure to do his job and chose to threaten to give me a ticket for driving on the wrong side of the road, if I didn't go back into my house. I have contacted VPD numerous times reporting the unconcealed drug dealing, public crack smoking, etc and have seen NO increase in police presence. Sometimes its not QUANTITY it is QUALITY and the quality of what VPD spends its time doing is not productive in reducing crime and keeping people safe. Trying to increase city revenue by writing parking tickets and speeding tickets for people driving 5mph over the limit is not the answer to the city budget, nor the crime issue. VPD rarely patrol the areas that have the increased crime. I live in a high crime area and have only seen VPD on my street once, when I was getting a parking ticket. The only time they come around is when they are chasing someone. Luckily, some of us have reserved our right to bear arms so that if necessary we can patrol out own areas and secure out own homes, while VPD is out writing parking tickets. IF the department doesn't even have ample man power to answer 911 calls or come out to take reports for non-violent crimes, then how do they have the time to write parking tickets? That is what I want to know! VPD is a joke!

If there is so much crime in your neighborhood, why don't you form a neighborhood watch?

[do little no tax money]

no tax money it will be cut..

Captain wrote:

Here is the cost for one police Captain, according to Craig Whittoms declaration to the bankruptcy court:
Police Captain (average cost)
salary..........202,621
Pers (pension).........58,895
Health/Dental..........13,588
Workers Comp..........33,027
other..........532
Total..........308,583
You can add an 8% salary increase to that number next year (7-1-2010), along with the 5% increase Calpers will be charging.
Here is the link to the source of this information, along with cost breakdowns for other positions in Public Safety (page 13 & 14):
http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/uploads/712/05232... (c)%20Memorandum.pdf

[anon]

Drink the Koolaide wrote:

<quoted text>
PSU Apologist--how many times a year is the SWAT team used.Vallejo is hardly downtown Iraq.
Is it a good thing to lose the SWAT Team--no. Will Vallejo go down the tubes due to its absence--NO.
You fearmongers need to get a life--if you want to be scared ride a rollercoaster at Discovery Kingdom and

you don't live in vallejo proper anyway, owl. f u and hiddenbrook.

[anon]

interesting wrote:

<quoted text>
If there is so much crime in your neighborhood, why don't you form a neighborhood watch?

It is easier to just have FBP come by and paint it.

[Silly]

Local Mom wrote:

I've lived in Vallejo my entire life and have witnessed the misdirection and wasted time of Valljo Police Officers for years. A few weeks ago I parked the wrong direction in front of my house for less than 5 minutes. I exited my home to find VPD writing me a parking ticket, which I can accept because I WAS parked the wrong direction. The issue, which I brought to the attention of the Corporal; is that no more than 50 yards away, some of our local knuckleheads were selling drugs in broad daylight, in the same spot that they sell drugs all day long. The Corporal did not respond, nor answer for his failure to do his job and chose to threaten to give me a ticket for driving on the wrong side of the road, if I didn't go back into my house. I have contacted VPD numerous times reporting the unconcealed drug dealing, public crack smoking, etc and have seen NO increase in police presence. Sometimes its not QUANTITY it is QUALITY and the quality of what VPD spends its time doing is not productive in reducing crime and keeping people safe. Trying to increase city revenue by writing parking tickets and speeding tickets for people driving 5mph over the limit is not the answer to the city budget, nor the crime issue. VPD rarely patrol the areas that have the increased crime. I live in a high crime area and have only seen VPD on my street once, when I was getting a parking ticket. The only time they come around is when they are chasing someone. Luckily, some of us have reserved our right to bear arms so that if necessary we can patrol out own areas and secure out own homes, while VPD is out writing parking tickets. IF the department doesn't even have ample man power to answer 911 calls or come out to take reports for non-violent crimes, then how do they have the time to write parking tickets? That is what I want to know! VPD is a joke!

It is funny that you say VPD never patrols your neighborhood but they are giving you a parking citation. If they WEREN'T patroling your neighborhood like you want them to then you wouldn't have received a ticket. So you can't say they do not patrol your neighborhood cause they obviously do. You crack me up when you say VPD NEVER patrols your neighborhood. Are you standing in front of your house or looking out your front windows 24 hours a day to see if VPD drives by? I DOUBT it. Just another citizen complaining because they received a citation. You are the JOKE!!!

[Anonymous]

Silly wrote:

<quoted text>
You crack me up when you say VPD NEVER patrols your neighborhood. You are the JOKE!!!

The joke is tht we hear "vallejoans are unsafe vallejoans are unsafe" and yet the VPD seems to have time to write a parking ticket??? Hmmmm something is NOT adding up.

And why didn't the officer address the dealing going on right under his G-D nose? Why do we pay these guys $202,000? Cut that in half and two that want to do the job for $100K (still a great salary). When other jursidictions start laying off - and with an unemployment rate climbing over 12% there are plenty of good candidates out there.

[FVH]

Good grief! It's sad how depleted our police force has become. SWAT is a very important police tool for such a large city. I'm sure I would want them there if something major was going on in my neighborhood. SWAT may not be called out every day, but when they're needed, it's crucial to have them there. I guess it's kind of like the fire department. They're not needed 24/7 either, but you sure need them when all hell breaks loose!

[Ridiculous]

You people crack me up... You complain about high crime and drug dealing, but are excited when the police department cuts programs. A city with Vallejo's type of crimes needs a SWAT team. A SWAT team can do things that the patrol does not have the resources to handle. And without the SWAT team, there is no use for the negotiators. So here is how it will work...

Patrol will try to handle a situation that they do not have the training or resources for, which will result in the demise of some poor criminal. The poor criminal's family will sue for a ridiculous amount of money and win, since there is prior justification for the team. I can guarantee the amount of money that the city will pay out will be far less than the cost of the SWAT team budget for years. But that sounds about right in line with the way Vallejo invests it's money, so I'm sure it will happen.

Hope you guys don't need the help.

[gun metal blue]

the swat team should be already members of the existing police force. therefore, the loss of any members are those being laid off because of the high wage problem vs. budget. there is no reason to "loose " the swat team as it should as said be members of the police force and not a special bunch of officers that go to work only when a swat team is needed. so how many are really needed to take out one person in a house or a bank holdup> one door in a bank to exit, maybe 2, so does it take a 15 member team to cover 2 doors? does overkill sound right? members of the existing force should be able to fill any holes made by members leaving. more time to panic tactics...