http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_je...18021.html

Quote:When neighbors fume at each other and call 911, police in Pennsauken Township respond. When someone makes a noise complaint, officers respond. If residents call about a suspicious person - or even a possum in their backyard - officers respond.

"The police get called for pretty much everything," said Chief John Coffey, whose department protects the Camden County community of 35,000 residents. "A mother will say: 'My son doesn't want to go to school. I want the police here,' and we go."

The calls add up in time, paperwork, and resources, but departments such as Pennsauken's don't see an alternative.

Now, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey wants to change that. It has proposed that an agency other than police respond to minor calls - ranging from disorderly conduct to trespassing to complaints about bad behavior - so that officers can devote resources to more serious calls.

Udi Ofer, the state ACLU's executive director, said the idea requires creativity from municipal leaders.

This is how he sees it: A new agency of city employees is formed. These individuals don't carry weapons and don't have arrest powers. But they are authorized to respond to and resolve minor conflicts.

"The problem is, community residents have no one else to call right now" except the police, Ofer said.

In advocating for the move in its "Police Reform Blueprint," released Aug. 25, the ACLU also said stops for minor offenses and conflicts can sometimes quickly veer into violence.

SO what happens when these ACLU inspired unarmed government agents get to the trespassing complaint and the trespasser decides to pop a cap in their ass? Or when they get to the disorderly subject and he commences to beat the tar out of them for getting in his business? Not to mention how exactly are already strapped local governments going to pay for this entirely new government agency?

The ever expanding government. Thanks liberal Dems for this mindset of , " let the government do everything for you!"

Maybe the ACLU should volunteer to respond to calls?

No

(09-06-2016 09:37 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_je...18021.html

Quote:When neighbors fume at each other and call 911, police in Pennsauken Township respond. When someone makes a noise complaint, officers respond. If residents call about a suspicious person - or even a possum in their backyard - officers respond.

"The police get called for pretty much everything," said Chief John Coffey, whose department protects the Camden County community of 35,000 residents. "A mother will say: 'My son doesn't want to go to school. I want the police here,' and we go."

The calls add up in time, paperwork, and resources, but departments such as Pennsauken's don't see an alternative.

Now, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey wants to change that. It has proposed that an agency other than police respond to minor calls - ranging from disorderly conduct to trespassing to complaints about bad behavior - so that officers can devote resources to more serious calls.

Udi Ofer, the state ACLU's executive director, said the idea requires creativity from municipal leaders.

This is how he sees it: A new agency of city employees is formed. These individuals don't carry weapons and don't have arrest powers. But they are authorized to respond to and resolve minor conflicts.

"The problem is, community residents have no one else to call right now" except the police, Ofer said.

In advocating for the move in its "Police Reform Blueprint," released Aug. 25, the ACLU also said stops for minor offenses and conflicts can sometimes quickly veer into violence.

SO what happens when these ACLU inspired unarmed government agents get to the trespassing complaint and the trespasser decides to pop a cap in their ass? Or when they get to the disorderly subject and he commences to beat the tar out of them for getting in his business? Not to mention how exactly are already strapped local governments going to pay for this entirely new government agency?

Noise complaint?..suspicious person?...Police job. lazy children and possums in the yard are not their problem. Looks like this police chief needs to get his departments priorities in order...and so do those they serve.

We're from the government, we're here to help.

I'll take the other side of this.

There is merit to the idea that we too often use our military... designed to be the biggest baddest fighting machine the world has ever seen, and ask them to play hall monitor... similarly, I think we often expect the police to be able to handle everything from parking tickets to armed stand-offs.

I think there are NUMEROUS activities (like highway patrol) who really don't need the same training or weaponry as an 'active crime responder'... at least in large, highly populated areas. Said differently... a highway patrol officer who sees a car on the 'APB' list might follow, but not try and apprehend that car without 'specialists' unless absolutely necessary/given special authorization... whereby the officers are somewhat protected from personal mistakes by being specifically told (in the public interest) to go outside their traditional operation.

I've not thought through all of the possibilities and nuances... but it seems to me that specialization in crime enforcement (as in military operations) is generally a good thing.