Tulsa is not Adding to the Fire Department or the Police Force?

[Johnboy976]

Okay, what has everyone heard about Tulsa nixing the hiring of new firefighters and police officers? I'm not asking you if you have heard anything from the news, which says that Tulsa will not be hiring any more firefighters and police officers for the next fiscal year, but have you heard anything from the inside, directly from the TPD, TFD and mayor's office. What are Tulsa's citizens saying?

While the next class will be hired in late May, early June (meaning that they MAY be exempt from the July 1st deadline), there is no guarantee that they will move forward with this.

[TUalum0982]

From my understanding, TPD still plans on having a summer academy along with a winter 09 academy as well.  I know several people that are in the different stages of trying to get accepted into the upcoming academy.  Not 100% sure on the Winter 09 academy, but I haven't heard anything otherwise.

[RecycleMichael]

I relate police protection to water protection.

The city cleans the water, it is clear and safe and can deliver it directly to you 24 hours a day. But some people want even more. They buy filters for the faucet or stupidly pay 4,000 times the price for bottled water.

The city does the same for police. The police officers are well trained, visible and will come to your home quickly 24 hours a day. Yet people often learn self-defense, buy a dog, or even more extreme, buy a gun.

If the economy was good and we wanted to pay for it. we could have a police officer on every doorstep and a waiter filling our water glass at every moment.

It is always a struggle to fund new workers. We all want to live in a safe community, but we resist efforts to fund them. One of the ways we fund police are with traffic tickets. Part of the job of police is also to keep our streets safe from bad drivers and this means sometimes writing expensive tickets that speeders hate.

[Johnboy976]

Thanks. I am in contention for the next academy, so I wanted to know if anyone had heard anything. I get the impression from the recruiters that they are pushing the summer class forward. My concern came after hearing a Tulsa council member who reported that the hiring of new police officers was one of the first things to go, so I wanted to make sure.

[RecycleMichael]

I gave you karma. Now, when you become an officer, you can be nice back to me.

It is just a matter of time before a policeman beats me with his nightstick. I just get all nervous when they pull me over. I don't know exactly why, but maybe I just don't like meeting men from behind.

[Johnboy976]

LOL!!! Well if I get into TPD I'll be nice to you. Just ask each cop that pulls you over if their call sign is Johnboy976 on TulsaNow. Wait, that might be reason to give you a field sobriety test. Okay, maybe we should work out a code. You know, you look at me and say, "Sorry, I was listening to Sammy Hagar." Then I'll respond with, "How fast was he going?" Huh, that's not so good.

[Cats Cats Cats]

I gave you karma. Now, when you become an officer, you can be nice back to me.

It is just a matter of time before a policeman beats me with his nightstick. I just get all nervous when they pull me over. I don't know exactly why, but maybe I just don't like meeting men from behind.

You sir are funny.