For several weeks, I have listened to well-intentioned residents offer their thoughts on the emotional topic of our local police Department and its future. At this time, I would like to offer my own differing viewpoint. In the interests of balance and fair play, I would appreciate if I could offer my remarks in their entirety and have my statement included as part of the minutes to this meeting. I have always regarded sworn police officers as being tough men and women. In one sense, they have to be because they often are witness to the unsavory side of human behavior and tragedy. Thus, I have been surprised and dismayed at the reaction of some personnel in the Wilton Manors police Department to a management efficiency study of that city department. The police actually appear to be offended that the city ordered a management consultant to review police department operations, with the intent of ascertaining if any cost efficiencies could be obtained. Most of the information in that report came from the police officers themselves. Now, I have read the Dhillon Report and the PBA response. While I don’t agree with everything in the management study, there is enough to cause me concern; and I am aware that some positive changes already are underway in the Department. By law and charter, in Wilton Manors, the city Manager has legal oversight and management authority over all city departments. To include the Police; and our elected officials choose our city Manager. Thus, the following questions must be posed. Why is it appropriate for city management to reorganize other city departments, to ask for the resignation of other Department Directors, and to terminate certain General Employees — but nothing can be done or said with regard to the Police Department? Aren't the police part of our city staff? With some of their actions and statements, the police appear to be acting as if they've been mistreated by our city. Perhaps they have been allowed to fly solo for too long. In the current year, roughly half of our sworn officers will earn more than $100,000 in wages and benefits; and you only need a high school diploma to become a police officer. In the coming fiscal year, the average sworn police officer is budgeted to receive $99,000 in compensation and benefits; and a non-sworn officer is targeted to receive an average of $77,000. Every sworn police officer has a free, city-supplied, take-home vehicle with free maintenance, insurance and gas. Vested police officers with a sufficient number of years of service--usually 20-- receive a good pension when they retire. They also receive a retirement stipend of up to $2,400 per year--and currently an annual 3% pension COLA on top of that. The police and others are spreading falsehoods to the effect that the city wants to bring in the Broward Sheriff's Office to replace the police department in Wilton Manors. This is being promulgated in spite of the fact that every Wilton Manors elected official and the City Manager publicly have stated their intent to retain a local police department; and I support that policy. Perhaps this it being stated because some police officers have retired and others have taken positions in other departments. If we would get rid of some of the unusual screening practices in our police department, we will have no problem getting additional qualified police officers. Much is being said about how the police engender good community relations. But isn't that their job and in their own interest to do so? After all, the Department has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal grants for community policing. It is the height of hypocrisy for certain people to lecture our elected officials about diversity. The current City Commission is proportionately more diverse than the police department ever has been. Nevertheless, it may be prudent for the interim police chief to assure the gay community that there will no change in policy. There also is a campaign underway to restore former Police Chief Rick Wierzbicki to his old position. I like chief Wierzbicki, but I don't believe he should be rehired. If chief Wierzbicki disagreed with some or all of the points in the Dhillon Management Report, he should immediately have prepared a lengthy written and public statement outlining what was wrong in the report and what changes he would make in the department to regain the confidence of the public. He did not do so. I believe that the police officers need to act like the professionals that the public perceives them to be. They need to stop the leaks, to stop fanning the flames of public dissension, and to stop the intimidation. Let's move on! We need to bring in a new police chief as soon as we can. We need to reaffirm the fact that the City Manager is in charge of the city government; and he should act as such. The City Commission needs to be strong in its support of the City Manager in this area--and in dealing with the Police Department on a variety of issues. Concessions can't continue to be made. Failure by our city's elected officials to act in a steadfast manner at this time will mean that the Police will continue to behave as if they are an independent entity not subject to the legal oversight of anyone. That, gentlemen, is anarchy--not democracy. |
