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The Daily News reports that "scarecrow cars" are being used by the NYPD to deter crime, much to the dismay of the police union. Scarecrow crows are empty radio cars that are stationed on highways in hopes of scaring drivers to straighten up with their driving.
The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association sees the cars as a sign of short-staffing and poor recruiting the NYPD has had lately, due to the low salaries offered. The Daily News has an enlightening graphic (above) that shows how much NYPD police officers make versus cops in other areas and at other agencies. The city and NYPD have been trying to re-negotiate a contracts for years to no avail, which both sides blame each other for.
The NYPD claims that the cars have nothing do to with short-staffing and everything to do with just want to keep things safe. The city's Office of Labor Relations commissioner James Hanley tells the News, "I've been going down to the Jersey shore for a long time, and the Garden State Parkway police have been doing it for years." The comment from Hanley, who is negotiating the NYPD's contract with the city, amused posters on the NYPD Rant message board: "I guess now Hanley is the newest voice in the Ministry of Propaganda. Garden State Parkway Police? When are they giving a test?"
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I have no sympathy on the scarecrow car issue. How many times do you see three or more cops standing around in a circle talking to each other when they are supposed to be "fighting terrorism"? They always have their backs turned to whatever it is they are supposed to be watching. I walked by the stock exchange the other day and couldn't help but think how easy it would been for a terrorist or any other deranged person to walk up, pull out a concealed hand gun, and dropfive cops before anyone would know what happened. These guys are useless.
Nothing new....I live in Los Angeles and for a while the LAPD would park their vehicles at various points. I saw one at the Paramount Picture's gate for a while - never saw anyone there and also at places of worship during specific holidays I would see just a police car sitting there for a few days.
I remember a few years ago I've read some article that life-size cardboard cut-outs of cops placed at the entrance of a store actually helped decreased shoplifting...although no idea if there were other factors to account for. Perhaps this is just the same concept.
Won't these empty radio cars be an obvious and highly valued target of taggers? I'm sure video of bombers completely covering a vacant cop car with paint would make them instant celebrities in the graffiti community. Wouldn't it?
These have been around since 9/11, as far as I can remember, and not just for traffic crime, but to hammer into the head of the citizen that they are indeed living in a city where some 'hoods have a cop car on every block. The goal, I think, is to keep the NYPD in your public consciousness at all times.
DaveH, there is really no way to tell what cars are going to stay empty. What you are talking about would take real chutzpah - or stupidity.
I'm guessing Westchester and Suffolk counties don't need to hire a police force the size of a small country's Army to patrol their streets.
There's a finite amount of taxpayer money that fund police forces. It doesn't come out of thin air. If you want a job that relies entirely on taxpayer money, there's not unlimited amounts of money to pay you.
The really annoying fact about those suburban salary structures is that they are designed to lure cops who have been trained and seasoned at the expense of City taxpayers to leave the NYPD and work closer to home.
To be sure, the men and women who put their lives on the line for the NYPD deserve to be well paid, probably more than they get now. But it's also clear that, the moment the City raises cop pay, the suburbs will introduce parallel raises, to ensure their status as "coo-coo bird" recruiters. (The coo-coo bird lays its eggs in other birds' nests, refusing to nurture its own young but relying on others to meet their needs.)
On the other hand, NYPD has a unique cachet. "Law and Order: Levittown" and "CSI: Westchester" are not on any network's list of replacement shows. People who really want to be cops want to deal with the big challenges, which are found in the City. I'm happy to have people patrolling the streets who value the challenge as much as the money.
Can we compare retirement benefits and overtime pay between NYC and the burbs?
The people who want to be cops in NYC used to be the guy bagging your grocery in Middle village Queens.
Can we compare retirement benefits and overtime pay between NYC and the burbs?
The people who want to be cops in NYC used to be the guy bagging your grocery in Middle village Queens
- Your confusing. Is it a good job b/c u get a good ret. package or is it a bad job since only "the guy baggin your grocery" will want it?
Funny how the lower salary was proposed by and pushed for by the police union to give rasies to older officers.
They want to blame anyone it should be their union bosses for selling out their future.
What does "Top salary" mean? Does this mean a regular beat cop who's been on the job makes this much, or do they have to be a lieutenant or captain to make this salary? If its the former, I must say, Suffolk County PD has it pretty good. If you go in at 18 and make almost 100K by 23, pretty sweet.
Harry Matthews - excellent, excellent points. I'd argue that the same is true for NYC teachers.
Well gee, Thanks for telling every New Yorker that the NYPD Employes driver less cruisers to scare drivers . What a stupid thing to report ! Whoever reported this story needs help seriously . The NYPD needs to correct this problem and use real cops to patrol all of New York's roadways .
Simply - we have unending expectations when it comes to cops, but pay them like toll collectors. Yes many cops suck, but we get exactly what we pay for. I mean, top pay 59K? For fuck's sake, I know hairdressers who make more. In a better world, better cops would be paid better wages. I don't see why we can't make that a reality. I mean, there is nothing on which I put a greater prices than my freedom and my safety. I'll pay whatever I have to in order to protect my freedom and safety and those of other New Yorkers. A better paid police force would be more likely to stop crime and less likely to crush civil liberties. Outflank the union by paying cops so much that they don't need unions anymore. Get the racist and lazy cops out by attracting the best and brightest.
Oh, and Maryland used to make these half a cop-car things that they'd put along the highway. No motors, only one side of the car, with a dummy in it. Creepy and so awsome.