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Wrong emphasis on law enforcement
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Posted on Sep 20 2000
The Issue: Our mini version of CHIPS patrolling the public highways with uniform officers on motorcycles.
Our View: DPS has placed greater emphasis on highway patrol than going after criminals in our community.
The general public isn’t ignorant of the lack of peace in the villages. They are fully wary of criminal activities being on the rise from theft to robbery and murder.
These criminal activities basically include purse snatching, robbery in poker venues, cattle rustling and theft of commercial farmers’ produce and a case of murder of a tourist in her hotel room. Unbelievably, there’s also the bicycle theft season where reporting parents of such widespread mischief are left to investigate for themselves.
In short, there’s the apparent loss of trust on the part of the general public on the ability of the Department of Public Safety to keep and ensure safety and peace in our community.
This mistrust is further envenomed by misplaced emphasis on law enforcement (as raised recently by a taxpayer) on highway patrol sporting our mini version of CHIPS. How appropriate a question: Who takes care of the culprits who steal and rob innocent citizens in the inner villages?
We’re not adding fuel to an already low regard for DPS. Funneling more money may not be the answer either. Common sense and courtesy are in obvious short supply, especially the placement of priorities. If criminal activities are on the rise, would beefing highway patrol help resolve this issue?
DPS Commissioner Charles Ingram needs to buckle down and get his ducks in order. That there’s an increase in serious and heinous crime logically dictates beefing up the investigation section more so than ever before. It’s vital for the safety and peace of both residents and visitors alike. It’s time to re-engineer the tired old unworkable ways of the department. It’s the only way to secure and reclaim public trust and confidence. Si Yuus Maase`!
