Here is the assessment of a local elected official I know well:
The FPD has some wonderful people working in it. The Rank & File deserve better pay and working
conditions. The City needs more and better paid police personnel on the streets and fewer and lesser paid supervisors and higher-ups in the building.
One problem is that there are way too many "supervisors" supervising way too few people. The ratio is way out of whack. This means resources are mis-allocated cheating some and overly rewarding others. It is inefficient, cumbersome, wasteful, and top-heavy.
The most glaring example is that Florence, Alabama has THREE Police Chiefs. That is ridiculous. One "deputy" Chief is plenty and even that is not a given. But two Deputies and a Chief? Come on.
There are also too many other high-up type positions getting too much resources that could be better spent and used down the line. This breeds a complaceny and self-preservation type behaviour instead of innovation and stream-lining. It is insular and isolated and has contributed to the scandals and problems that are undeniable.
Political rhetoric will not solve it. Realism and a willingness to change might. Then the City could pay the Rank & File a worthy wage, retain more and better people, and get out of the cycle they are now in. The resources and money could be much better utilized.
A leader with vision and courage could change it for the better of the majority of men and women in the Department, and for the betterment of the City itself. Morale would be higher within, and the citizens would have more confidence as well. That is a win/win.
Many of the Rank & File agree with this but are scared to say so. Publicly at least. They do know the score though and hope it can be changed.
It would be beneficial. For most at least. There would be a few sacred cows squawking but that would be proof of the correctness of this approach. Something must be done. That is certain.
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