Police Say Focus on Anti-Terror Funds Makes Fighting Street Crime More Difficult - Polidicks

[QUOTE]ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Since 9/11, the federal government has issued Homeland Security grants to prepare local police departments to face domestic terror. But some departments say they're losing ground now to common criminals, because federal funds to fight neighborhood street crime have fallen victim to the budget ax. Thanks to Homeland Security money, police in Rochester acquired a high-tech armored tactical vehicle their SWAT team can use in an anti-terror operation, as well as a bomb-disposal unit. It cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and has the ability to detect chemical or biological agents in explosives. But what the department desperately needs, says Chief David Moore, is more police officers to fight everyday neighborhood crime, and he says cutbacks in federal funding are hindering the department's ability to hire them. "It's causing us to basically rob Peter to pay Paul," he said. "In other words, we're taking very needed resources from within our city and purchasing additional officers, and that's been very problematic for us." The number of federally funded police officers in the Rochester Police Department is down 50 percent from a decade ago. And this year, after 14 years, the Justice Department program COPS (Community-Oriented Policing Services), which helps put police on the nation's streets, was eliminated. Another similar program, the Byrne Justice Action Grant, has seen dramatic cuts this decade, dropping from $757 million in state aid in 2003 to $107 million in 2008. Without the money, Chief Moore has had to redirect his resources. "I have pulled 80 officers from critical positions throughout the Rochester Police Department, whether that be in licensing, narcotics, vice, special investigators," he said. "We have pulled those officers out of the building, putting them back in uniform, and that has been very, very problematic with other things that are very valuable to this community." Beat cops in Rochester say they need more hands on deck. On the rare occasions when they get a break from answering calls, they set up impromptu surveillance posts and watch street side drug deals go down one after another in broad daylight. Having officers ride alone puts twice as many police cars on the streets, which is one way the department makes up for a lack of officers. FOX News rode along with Officer Erique Gomez as he pulled over a 31-year-old driver and found a car littered with used needles, bloody rags, and a small amount of cocaine. Gomez could have hauled the man off to booking, but that would have meant loads of paperwork, which would have taken officers off the street — a luxury they can't afford right now. So Gomez eventually let the offender drive away with a promise to appear in court to face a charge of drug possession. The U.S. Conference of Mayors estimates more than 90,000 more police officers are needed in departments nationwide to return them to what it calls "appropriate staffing levels." With that in mind, it plans to present the next president with a crime-fighting "wish list," which will make clear their belief that local crime is America's problem. "Americans today are much, much more, and I mean overwhelmingly, more concerned with the thug on the street corner than they are with a terrorist attack," said Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, head of the conference of mayors. "And so I think the mood of the country is in that direction."[/QUOTE] Source: [url]http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,408362,00.html?sPage=fnc/us/americasfuture[/url] The government, as always, needs to reorganize the priority of where they spend tax money. On the other hand, why not call criminals "terrorists", because everyone is afraid of being robbed! :downs:

How about the government stop wasting money in Overseas military operations that they cannot win. :smug:

[QUOTE=radioactive;17695043]How about the government stop wasting money in Overseas military operations that they cannot win. :smug:[/QUOTE] We can only win Iraq if we surge troops! ...er, wait, I meant Afghanistan now :downs:

[QUOTE=radioactive;17695043]How about the government stop wasting money in Overseas military operations that they cannot win. :smug:[/QUOTE] You don't get how it works

[QUOTE=Latias;17695116]You don't get how it works[/QUOTE] Care to elaborate?

Look, everyone with any sense knows that what our government is trying to do in the Middle East is hopeless. They just keep saying in speeches "WE GOT BLEW UP BY THESE NAUGHTY NAUGHTY FREEDOM FIGHTERS, LETS SEND MORE TROOPS INTO THEIR COUNTRY AND PISS THEM OFF EVEN MORE!!!". This is just stupid, the 7/7 bombings were done because the Muslims of this country were getting angry at this country's government for not getting out of the Middle East, but NO! They didn't listen, they've sent even more soldiers over there, and are now thinking about sending even more because apparently that will help things. The best way to befriend and take over a country is by Economic means, not military. Even SPORE tells you that Economic Cities will always win the game and it is Easiest. But HEY!! WHY LISTEN TO A STUPID 14 YEAR OLD ON AN INTERNET FORUM? THE BIG STUPID RETARDS AT THE TOP DO NOT LISTEN UNTILL THEY ARE LOSING VOTES IN A FUCKING ELECTION WHERE ANOTHER IDIOT DOES SOMETHING ELSE STUPID. [editline]08:49PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Latias;17695116]You don't get how it works[/QUOTE] If we leave them alone, they will leave us alone.

Jesus H. Christ, I understand terrorism is a concern, but yeah... priorities.

There isn't even a point to us being in that fucking desert anymore, the oil's pretty much all been shipped to America, and we are just losing more and more people because our governments want more UN Brownie Points to have a bigger E-Peen.

[QUOTE=radioactive;17695193]Look, everyone with any sense knows that what our government is trying to do in the Middle East is hopeless. They just keep saying in speeches "WE GOT BLEW UP BY THESE NAUGHTY NAUGHTY FREEDOM FIGHTERS, LETS SEND MORE TROOPS INTO THEIR COUNTRY AND PISS THEM OFF EVEN MORE!!!". This is just stupid, the 7/7 bombings were done because the Muslims of this country were getting angry at this country's government for not getting out of the Middle East, but NO! They didn't listen, they've sent even more soldiers over there, and are now thinking about sending even more because apparently that will help things. The best way to befriend and take over a country is by Economic means, not military. Even SPORE tells you that Economic Cities will always win the game and it is Easiest. But HEY!! WHY LISTEN TO A STUPID 14 YEAR OLD ON AN INTERNET FORUM? THE BIG STUPID RETARDS AT THE TOP DO NOT LISTEN UNTILL THEY ARE LOSING VOTES IN A FUCKING ELECTION WHERE ANOTHER IDIOT DOES SOMETHING ELSE STUPID. [editline]08:49PM[/editline] If we leave them alone, they will leave us alone.[/QUOTE] If the muslims of the nation were angry, they could of started political rallies and protests against the war, not kill innocent people. Governments don't call them "Freedom Fighters", only people who support them say that. And don't use a video game for back up of an arguement. [editline]02:52PM[/editline] [QUOTE=radioactive;17695220]There isn't even a point to us being in that fucking desert anymore, the oil's pretty much all been shipped to America, and we are just losing more and more people because our governments want more UN Brownie Points to have a bigger E-Peen.[/QUOTE] Are you listening to yourself?

[QUOTE=radioactive;17695220]There isn't even a point to us being in that fucking desert anymore, the oil's pretty much all been shipped to America, and we are just losing more and more people because our governments want more UN Brownie Points to have a bigger E-Peen.[/QUOTE] Woah, woah, woah there bud, don't go crazy on me.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;17695241]If the muslims of the nation were angry, they could of started political rallies and protests against the war, not kill innocent people. Governments don't call them "Freedom Fighters", only people who support them say that. And don't use a video game for back up of an arguement.[/QUOTE] [highlight]ARE YOU SUPPORTING HAVING SOLDIERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST?[/highlight] They are usually blowing themselves up because they think they will get 72 virgins when they die, obviously this is just a trick used by the older muslims to get them to do this. OR it could just be the CIA doing all of this shit just to get every drop of oil. I call them Freedom Fighters because they want their country back. SPORE is a basic video game, I'm using to say "LOOK AT THIS BASIC GAME, AND EVEN THAT GETS IT RIGHT!" [editline]08:55PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Billiam;17695262]Woah, woah, woah there bud, don't go crazy on me.[/QUOTE] That comment was just aimed at the world. [editline]08:55PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;17695241] Are you listening to yourself?[/QUOTE] There is no decent point of any soldier to be in that country.

[QUOTE=radioactive;17695220]There isn't even a point to us being in that fucking desert anymore, the oil's pretty much all been shipped to America, and we are just losing more and more people because our governments want more UN Brownie Points to have a bigger E-Peen.[/QUOTE] What the fuck are you talking about None of what you just said is true