FOR YOUR INFORMATION
I am a parent too, and my children are very active in school. They sometimes get to school from a game late at night, and that is the only business they have after hours, nothing else. I know that nothing can happen to them because I am a responsible parent that has patience to wait for them until they get back to school from a game or competition.
I don't need a patrol officer to babysit my children. Your children and mine are our responsibility after hours. I do know, however, that some campuses need an officer or more officers on site to keep order and protect. Some schools are over populated. Edinburg North is one of them. They could certainly use more officers on campus.
Again, people need to be informed before saying anything. For one the two officers that were mentioned previously about being dismissed were not police officers; they were security officers. Security can not arrest students, so how could they arrest. Second, they were given a directive by an administrator, and they refused to follow it. If I would have been in the administrator's place, I would have done the same.
The idea behind this is that in case of an emergency this situation could have put students and staff at risk. Any employee who works professionally should follow a directive, and if he/she is not in agreement with the command, they should follow-up on it under closed doors, not in front of others.
In reading The Daily Review, I think the idea that the top officials have might work. More coverage in securing the school by other law enforcement agencies may be safer and less costly. It has been done before. Also, I had no idea that the district only had one patrol unit at night and no dispatcher. AH WAIT! THERE IS NO DISPATCHER BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO WORK AT NIGHT INCLUDING THE CHIEF'S SON. THE CHIEF'S SON? ISN'T THIS NEPOTISM?
THIS IS ANOTHER ISSUE. According to the newspaper, the department has three dispatchers, and not one works at night. A real and efficient police department would rotate his officers and dispatchers on two or three shifts. OF COURSE, THAT'S A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR MANY OF THE ECISD POLICE OFFICERS.
Other cities are not trying to get police officers; IT IS TOO COSTLY. Some have tried it and shut them down. Donna had it, and now it is down to just a few policemen and the rest are security.
If some officers think that doing away with patrol is unfair, they need to go to a city police department and see if they like it working on 10 to 12 hours shifts. THEY SHOULD GIVE IT A TRY. THEY CAN PATROL DAY AND NIGHT.
Everyone has priorities. Perhaps ECISD's priority is trying to save money that could go to education. Obviously, ECISD has a different priority than that of the public. Everyone and every plan deserves a chance, give administration chance; it might just work. DON'T TAKE IT TOO PERSONAL!
