Re: Our Cops are tops...
TheNiteHwk said:
While there is a few rouge cops and of course there is always room for improvement IMO we are doing pretty well for LE in Toronto. Given the limited tools and resources etc that they have to work with over all I would give LE in Toronto better then a passing grade. Also given the BS they have to deal with. It's really hard to get cops to sign up for Toronto Police force because of all of the above. And then it's even harder to hold on to them because they are always looking to go elsewhere to other different forces after a few years in Toronto. Read: Burnout. While we should always keep our guard up and an open eye on them... we should also have an open mind as well. Just my 2 cents.
Don't take this the wrong way.
But you couldn't be more wrong.
The police Dept. in Toronto is the number ONE receiver of public funds. They are truly over paid and underworked.
Every year, they demand more and more of the municiple budget, always more than inflation, and always more than any other department.
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/budget2004/pdf/2004spending_for_impact.pdf
When they don't get all the money they want, they are the first ones lining up to whine and complain to the media and put the fear into the public at large.
The cops in Toronto should be treated no differently than any other department (TTC, Roads, Works, Education, social services, etc.) They should be TOLD, your budget is getting cut. You will provide the same services to the public as you did before. In a nutshell, you will do MORE with LESS.
Being a cop in Toronto is a very good paying job with excellent benefits. There are thousands of them making more than a hundred grand a year. Not too shabby for basically a high school or community college education I would say.
Overtime, well, I have to regularly work 60 plus hours a week and don't get paid for my overtime. "You have to be a professional"
Try telling a cop that he has to work free overtime.
You will most likely get shot.
There is no shortage of applicants for the police dept. because everyone knows it's a great job.
Sure you have to deal with some scum bags. But compare Toronto to Detroit, or Washington, or NYC.
It's a walk in the park.