He pulls on his bullet proof vest and buckles his gun belt. He does a final check of his equipment before he eases his patrol vehicle out of the parking pad and starts his shift, not knowing what’s in store for him during the next 10 to 18 hour shift.
Waking up to the sound of glass breaking is an experience that won’t soon be forgotten. You hear every piece as it clinks onto the floor and suddenly you’re frozen. There’s a feeling of helplessness that consumes you, your breath catches and then you close your eyes and pray its a dream. When you hear the familiar sound of the dead bolt click and the turn of the knob, there is a swelling in your throat, your mouth goes dry, you’ve just woken up to your worst nightmare. Soon there is a figure standing over you…..
There is a faint rumble of footsteps and shouts in the darkness. More glass breaking and soon the unmistakable sounds of guns being fired. It’s a thunderous sound that echoes through your mind. A siren wains through the night, the blood soaked blue uniform material has been cut open. Tubes everywhere, bleeps of machines fill the air. In the early morning hours the officer that was shot in the mist of a foot pursuit succumbed to his injuries.
He was a father, a husband, a son, he was a brother, and a friend.
An officer puts on his/her uniform, a bullet proof vest, a badge, and a gun belt. They get into a patrol vehicle that might as well have a big red target painted on it. But, they do this everyday. Risking their lives, they don’t ask for a thank you and they seldom receive one.
The Town Council says they get paid too much, they say the benefits are too great. What price do you put on someone who knowingly and willingly puts their lives on the line everyday?Officers at Mammoth Lakes and everywhere, say, ” I will do everything in my power to ensure your safety on my watch.”
The Town Council wants to reduce the number of officers at Mammoth Lakes Police Dept. They want to reduce their salaries and take away benefits. Essentially putting residents, visitors, and the officers themselves at risk.
Cuts need to be made to fulfill a debt, no one is disputing this, but before you take positions, before you demand more compensation, picture if you will, knocking on the door of the now widow of an officer. Look into the eyes of her fatherless children and tell them that their dad won’t be home for dinner.
Yes, cuts need to be made but public safety should never be on the chopping block. Is the Town Council saying that public safety means nothing to them? Are they willing to risk the safety of residents and visitors? Does the oath that the Council makes mean so little to them?
I recently read an article online entitled, “When your dad is a cop every police death is personal” written by, Travis Mayfield. Making cuts to public safety is personal. It’s personal to the residents of Mammoth Lakes. It’s personal to the visitors, it’s personal to the families of the officers who lay their lives on the line everyday.
I write this as a resident in the town of Mammoth Lakes, as a sister in the Law Enforcement field, as a friend to those who work at Mammoth Lakes Police Dept, and as a victim of a violent crime that has forever scared my memory.
Michelle Anderson
Mammoth Lakes
Actually Tahoes slogan is ” arrive on vacation, leave on probation”. Mammoth is going down the tubes, and long time locals predicted this day would come.
The only criteria you need to be a councilman power-broker is that you received the most votes. And when that happens, you can control everything, do exactly what you want, look after yourself and your business associates, … on and on. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Especially what the economy takes… Read more »
Big Al, you are correct.
It’s not “How can I serve the community’s wants and needs?”
it’s an in-your-face “Let’s see … what parcel can I develop today to make a bundle for myself and my pals?”
Really sad to see how self serving our elected officials have become, I mean, there always has been a certain degree in it, but now .. it is pretty much why people seem to take office, to serve themselves and agendas of others, rather than to make a difference for… Read more »
if law enforcement is cut who will you call when you need police assistance… your council ?? heck since some won’t even go on a ride along they are clueless to the working of a police department!
Nelly, great point. Another question would be is how will they be able to hire anyone, now that over half the department is retiring or have applied for jobs elsewhere? No one in their right mind would apply to MLPD knowing that there is no possibility of job security working… Read more »
This amounts to extortion, ether you pay for the cops, or they may not even respond. Fear mongering the people should not get them anything but exposed for what they are, armed thugs shaking down the very people that pay them for their protection. My father in law was a… Read more »
Overbuilt Force? The California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) in a very recent, extensive study of MLPD says that MLPD is understaffed when compared to similar agencies around the state.
Please expand on your “expert” analysis.
Please check out this site on Inyo Co. budget for 2012/2013, page 31. Chart showing the largest hit to the Inyo Co budget is Public Protection at 30.99%. Education & Parks is only 2.17%. http://www.inyocounty.us/Budget/2012-2013/Documents/Budget.pdf That is why I say it is overbuilt. And needs big cuts like the rest… Read more »
As I always say, safety comes first until it costs money, then it is second or third.
Great letter by Michelle Anderson…but it happens to be true,the last sentence that “Bemused” has to say….It’s all good that Law Enforcement is there to protect and serve, but,usually,when it comes to personal protection,if something gets to that point,it would be a good idea to be able to provide that… Read more »
…and what better slogan for Mammoth than, “Come Armed”…
No Ken, the slogan is “come on vacation, leave on probation”.
I agree Wayne.
…and another answer to the problems up there in Salem.Oregon that I was dealing with ?….move to where I used to go hunting and fishing back in the 80’s when I was living in Lancaster… Sell everything I owned,pack up, start over and take my chances…. move to Lone Pine…which… Read more »
Sorry, but this unnecessarily dramatic letter is more of less valueless. Any insinuation that Mammoth will degenerate into a crime den if MLPD cuts go through is just absurd. There is really no argument to support MPLD’s current full-time staffing levels. What we should be exploring/discussing, is the potential to… Read more »
Bingo… Bemused… These are true words: “And the notion that L.E. can reasonably be expected to reliably PROTECT the public is illogical. The fact is, the mostly do suspect apprehension, mop-up, and documentation. Those concerned about personal protection should implement plans and procedures to provide their own first (and usually… Read more »
Yes almost as absurd as people who like to leave provocative comments, but hide behind some clever Alias. I was living in Mammoth in 1976 and boy was it a different place; lots of cocaine back then but not like now. The drug problem is off the hook now and… Read more »
Jesse,
It’s a supply and demand thing. Legalize pot, tax it if you want, but you will have the bootleggers who grow their own anyway. So what? But control the stuff you put up your nose or inject into your bloodstream (clearly dangerous stuff).
A bit tough to follow you, and I can’t figure out where I said that Mammoth is/will/could stay the sleepy town it once was?? But anyway… Here’s where your logic, and the logic of the larger “war on drugs” for that matter, goes awry: You assert that the drug problem… Read more »
Yes the Drug trade is going through the roof in our current system so what good did any of the past efforts do to keep it from being in the state it is in right now? Serious question! And how many people have been dying on the Mexican border in… Read more »
Jesse, it’s the way the world is going, society is getting so self indulgent. How can it not be when it is all it sees is the junked crammed down it’s throat?
Let me add that I greatly respect and support the MLPD, and believe the department has gone a long way in the right direction over the past few years under Chief Watson, et al. This isn’t about the MLPD per se. It’s about the public (taxpayers) getting proper value for… Read more »
I agree with Bemused and Bill, but my clicker doesn’t work.
Thanks Michelle, I wrote a similar letter to the town council. Here’s hoping they listen.
Is this editorial about a crime victim, or did you lose your husband in a shooting? Did this happen in Mammoth?
Hard to fathom what goes through the minds of those that want to cut essential funding for ALL first responders. It’s a shame to hear about a town counsel trying to cut such important services, do they really want the chaos that will surely come about with such drastic cuts… Read more »
Why can’t the police union band together and take a pay cut to save each others jobs. In this economy everybody has suffered and made cutbacks. Law enforcement should do the same since their moto is to Serve And Protect. I’m sure I’ll be given a lot of thumbs down… Read more »
Did you read the letter published by the MLPOA? They have been giving up salary and benefits for years to the town. When does someone finally say enough is enough. I’m sure they have bills and families to feed just like everyone else.
So what happens when there is no money to pay salaries?
I can’t hit enough numbs up for this comment!!!
Yes I understand Bret, it’s tough to tell someone to take a cut in pay, you’re right though .. so many have had too I know I have, and looking at another cut soon. It was raised at work .. we will either cut pay or lay off! My vote… Read more »
Great letter!