Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: DECEMBER 2016 17 MICHAEL BERTOLONE MIKE PARKER OPINION/EDITORIAL A classic case of “policing on the cheap” occurs when a politician’s grandiose plans are met with an unwillingness to commit the sufficient resources re- quired to successfully imple- ment the program. This is exactly what’s hap- pening all over the country including in my home town, Rochester, New York. Recently Rochester Po- lice Locust Club President Michael Mazzeo was inter- viewed for an article in the local newspaper. He pointed out that Roch- ester City Hall has yet to commit sufficient funds to properly implement the five-section model, which was started by Mayor Lovely Warren 18 months ago. In Rochester, we now have a situation in which the Mayor’s administration is scrambling to put together a truncated version of its original Rochester Police Department five-section plan for reform. Mazzeo is right to criticize the administration for its refusal to add more officers and station hubs. Unfortu- nately, ‘doing more with less’ rarely works in law enforce- ment. There is no substitute for boots on the ground, and it isn’t cheap. Stressing cops out by refusing to add additional officers to cover calls does not make sense and wastes valuable funds in the long run. Politicans are wrongly attempting to use officers to provide services that should be handled by social welfare organizations. Law enforcement officers do not have the training or the skills to serve as so- cial workers, therapists, and mental health professionals. And as law enforcement agencies are forced to move away from their core mis- sion and take on tasks they are not trained for, tension will continue to rise be- tween police and the com- munities they are sworn to protect. This is dangerous and will likely produce outcomes that further put our communities at risk. We are fortunate in Mon- roe County to have a highly- educated applicant pool for law enforcement positions in the region. However, a sustained at- tack upon the profession will ultimately drive away highly- qualified college graduates from entering the field. I don’t deny that there are problem personnel within the ranks of law enforce- ment, as is the case with ev- ery profession. These people need to be disciplined and removed if necessary. However, the vast majority of sworn law enforcement of- ficers are thoroughly vetted, caring and committed men and women who genuinely have the best interests of so- ciety at heart. They work in every aspect of the criminal justice system – the street, the courts, the jails, and probation. They represent the thin blue line that stands between chaos and societal order and they deserve our support. It is in the best interests of all stakeholders in our communities to support our officers as they work to get justice for victims of crime regardless of their race, eth- nicity, or socioeconomic position in society. Michael Bertolone is a retired deputy sheriff with the Monroe County Sheriff’s office, as well as a founding board member and past executive vice president of the Monroe County (NY) Law Enforcement Association. I feel grateful to have served the public for 31 years with the Los Angeles County Sher- iff’s Department. I have witnessed thou- sands of untold acts of brav- ery, compassion and pain of our sheriff’s deputies and many other peace officers. I have buried my friends and seen their children grieve, feeling lost and alone, yet sur- rounded by a sea of uniforms. I have seen the extreme cruelty that one human being can inflict on another and the incredible kindness of ev- eryday people toward the less fortunate. I have heard mothers crying over their murdered children, and felt against my face many victims’ last breaths. I have seen a hand touch- ing a shoulder and a few whispered words bring com- fort to the weary. I have heard the elated shouts of parents as a dep- uty finds their missing child safe. I have smelled death so strong I could taste it. I have felt the depth of pain of my partners’ cold si- lence after seeing that which no human being should ever have to see, and then making the arrest without incident. I have shared the weight of society’s fail- ures heaped upon the backs of peace officers who endure it and forge ahead with cou- rageous hearts. If people could see what my eyes have s e e n , t h e y would under- stand what the few do for so many. People would be so proud of these flawed yet extraordinary human beings who give so much hope and protection to the defenseless. To be a brother to such men and women is an honor few are permitted, and I To be a brother to such men and women is an honor few are permitted, and I am grateful to God for the privilege. am grateful to God for the privilege. I am so proud of my part- ners in law enforcement and it’s been an honor and privi- lege for me to serve with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Mike Parker is a commander with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in Cali- fornia. Policing on the cheap is a good recipe for failure Seen the good and the bad and I’m proud “Seriously? You’re trying to guilt trip me? That’s cute. I don’t know if you’ve seen the news, but apparently I’m responsible for the school to prison pipeline, some Godawful shooting in Chicago and ‘robbing taxpayers through civil forfeiture taxation by citation.’ Do your worst . . .”