[Vision2020] UI Safer With Moscow Police

[Art Deco]

Wayne,

I thought I mentioned the option you suggest:

"I do not think that the UI has the monetary or management resources to recruit, train, and maintain a viable, competent police force.  It is an undertaking which is more complex than it appears."

Because of funding and other significant legal problems, one of which may be revealed very shortly, the UI really has its plate full.  As to financials resources, not only will it cost the UI money to recruit, train and to maintain a separate police force, there would significant capital investment for equipment and facilities.  That's one of the reason right now I think using the MPD with improved monitoring and communication is the better option right now.  Also, I have noticed elsewhere that some of these kinds of establish-a-police-force endeavors end up recruiting many personnel with less than stellar records elsewhere.  The Federal Way Police Department start up in Washington a few years ago is a prime example.

The WSU policing problems have a long history that is partly cultural and partly the result of neglecting to tend to business from away back.  It's late, so I'll spare you a diatribe, but I've been a student at the UI twice, plus having taught here twice.  The WSU campus has always had significant more crime/vandalism/rowdiness/excessive alcohol use/etc problems than the UI and much less resolve to deal with them successfully.

I qualify the above by saying no option is perfect or even nearly perfect.

W.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Wayne Price 
  To: Art Deco 
  Cc: Vision 2020 
  Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 6:03 PM
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] UI Safer With Moscow Police


  Wayne,


  I think you have made a cogent and effective contribution to this discussion on the options that the university has toward on campus policing.
  But one point is that they would not necessarily be a "private" agency, and could very well be a public law enforcement agency as some
  university police departments are throughout the nation.




  Wayne












  On Apr 16, 2010, at 5:57 PM, Art Deco wrote:


    Choosing any has risks.

    I feel that the MPD has improved is several ways since David Duke took over from Cameron Hershaw as assistant chief.  And the officer who was in charge of the campus some time ago who smoked the weed is gone.

    The MPD is not perfect, and I have been and still am a critic.  I hope they can continue to improve.  However, the MPD have invested in and continue to invest in training with some of it very applicable to potential campus situations.

    I do not think that the UI has the monetary or management resources to recruit, train, and maintain a viable, competent police force.  It is an undertaking which is more complex than it appears. 

    In my years as both an employee and as a consultant my experience has been that private security/policing firms at best are marginally competent and marginally honest, and at worse more corrupt and more incompetent than almost all public law enforcement agencies.

    Of course, when looking at bids, it is just not the price that is important, but the quality.

    I know that there are some noteworthy issues about the present campus policing.  I think the way to handle these are to communicate regularly about them and work through them rather than buy a pig in a poke.  Perhaps when President Nellis gets time after dealing with issues and personnel problems bequeathed to him by the last administration, he can set up some mechanism to insure that campus policing by the MPD meets both the requirements of law and addresses the safety issues of campus.

    Wayne A. Fox
    1009 Karen Lane
    PO Box 9421
    Moscow, ID  83843

    waf at moscow.com
    208 882-7975
      ----- Original Message -----
      From: Sunil Ramalingam
      Cc: vision 2020
      Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 5:04 PM
      Subject: Re: [Vision2020] UI Safer With Moscow Police


      I've just got to ask: 

      Tom, when you ended one of your posts yesterday with 

"Enough EFFING said,"How was that not 'chest thumping'here on the Viz? The post below really strikes me as a Pot-Kettle scenario.Sunil
      > Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:55:39 -0700
      > From: thansen at moscow.com
      > To: bear at moscow.com
      > CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
      > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] UI Safer With Moscow Police
      > 
      > Wayne Price Inquires:
      > 
      > "So, you don't think a university police department can be competent
      > and be established without a disaster?
      > We have an example 7 miles away over in Pullman. Ever heard of the WSU
      > Police Department or do you think they are a major disaster too?"
      > 
      > Yes, Mr. Price. I have not only heard of the WSU police, I have read
      > about them for often than I care to.
      > 
      > If you feel safer with rent-a-cops securing confines of UI, campaign for
      > it, instead of "thumping your chest" here on the Viz, ok?
      > 
      > Perhaps the powers that be should heed another old adage . . .
      > 
      > "If it works, don't fix it."
      > 
      > You might find yourself suffering from the cure.
      > 
      > Enough said.
      > 
      > Tom Hansen
      > Moscow, Idaho
      > 
      > "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
      > and the Realist adjusts his sails."
      > 
      > - Unknown
      > 
      > 
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