HPD is doing its part to make some money for the city
Is HPD helping generate some revenue for the city? This KHOU-11 story sure makes it appear that way:
Dozens of Houston police officers have contacted 11 News wanting you to know about a new policy they say will hinder their ability to fight crime.
They say the "productivity policy" will force them to bypass calls for help from criminal victims so they can write traffic tickets.
[snip]
Executive Assistant Chief Tim Oettmeir admits the department is close to releasing a productivity standard that he says will be fair but tough. He says if an officer is found to be consistently non-productive, he or she could lose their ability to work extra jobs. Oettmeir says the goal is to make the department more efficient.
But officers believe this is only a money grab -- nothing else.
"If I put a guy in jail for aggravated robbery, the city makes no money for that," said the officer. "If I write a ticket for a seatbelt or inspection sticker, the city makes money off of that.
11 News has obtained documents which show officers' productivity will be based on a point system.
If an officer spends their shift investigating a home invasion, a missing juvenile, an assault and makes an arrest, he might be awarded seven points.
But if the same officer spends all of his time on two traffic stops, his productivity could soar to 15 depending on the number of violations found.
"You're not going to sell me the idea you're trying to make people safe. You're basically telling me you need money," said the officer.
A productivity policy that values writing a speeding ticket over investigating a home invasion or finding a missing child is just bizarre.
Which leads to another story on KHOU last night, this one about radar cameras. (This story isn't posted yet on KHOU; when it is I will add the link) Councilman Michael Berry was on Chris Baker's show Wednesday and he downplayed the idea of installing cameras to issue speeding tickets. On last night's KHOU story, it was made clear that the person who wants those cameras is...Chief Harold Hurtt, who is presumably still unable to wear an HPD uniform.
KHOU's story also talked about red light cameras and pointed out that a study done in San Diego had shown that if you lengthen the yellow light, red light violations decrease dramatically.
Here is an informative look at the "crisis" of red light running. One interesting note is that red light violations have increased as cities have shortened yellow light times, especially at intersections that have red light cameras.
Chief Hurtt's spokesperson wasn't buying the yellow-light-lengthening idea, and she made it clear that the city wants red light cameras. KHOU (I believe the reporter was Dan Lauck) pointed out that lengthening yellow light times would cost the city nothing to implement. But it won't generate any revenue, either.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/04/05 07:44 AM | Print |
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