San Jose cops unveil plan to cut services to businesses and residents

[Newsjock]

Source: San Jose Mercury News

Don't expect San Jose cops to go after that lady selling fruit on the street corner without a license. Or the guy pilfering Budweiser cans from the recycling bins on your cul-de-sac.

Illegally parked car? Noisy neighbor? Nah. Probably not for those, either.

Burglar alarm going off? Nope. Only if someone says there was a break-in.

In the department's first detailed assessment of how it will make do after budget cuts pared 165 officer positions from the force in June, San Jose police say those are some of the changes residents should expect.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_18671267

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. The didn't do any of that stuff anyway.

They all drive batmobiles & hide behind a blind catching speeders going 50 in a 45 zone or busting people with stale tags.

[cutlassmama]

2. Revenue making stuff

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. Safe revenue stuff.

Paired 165 officers in a place the size of SJ? How many god damn cops do they have in that place???

[Art_from_Ark]

4. San Jose has nearly 1 million population

and 1100 cops, about 1 cop for every 900 people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population

[EFerrari]

6. Plus they are contracted to cover unincorporated areas

in the county like parts of these foothill.

There is a gang situation out here on the East Side. Not that cops make it any better most of the time.

[Art_from_Ark]

16. I remember when Dionne Warwick had a hit song

asking the way to San Jose-- and at that age, I thought she was talking about San Jose, Costa Rica! I didn't find out there was a San Jose, CALIFORNIA, until the next year, when I read an article about the Winchester Mystery House in some Disney magazine that was being given away at Gulf service stations. LOL.

But on a more serious side, I don't know how you deal with that gang stuff in your neighborhood, especially with an apparently overstretched police force that doesn't seem to be helping the situation much.

[EFerrari]

17. I rarely go into town so it doesn't affect me directly.

But a son of a friend got mixed up in it and did some time. He was probably the first person in his family to see the inside of a cell and he was very young, only 15. One morning we woke up and realized that there had been a double murder less than a mile away, in the suburbs that are just below our place. A gang came and shot up a summer party.

There's a lot of poverty just below the surface of the suburb and no jobs. That's only going to get worse for a while. :(

[Amerigo Vespucci]

5. 100% true.

San Jose cops have become well-known for having an attitude about doing their jobs.

And you're right about the tags.

DMV's had budget cuts, too. They used to send the registration renewals over two months ahead of the deadline. Now, my August renewal letter came around July 20th. I sent it in, with my smog certificate and payment, about three weeks ago. I called to follow up on it today, found out that it was mailed three days ago, and that it will be a week to 10 days before I get the tags in the mail. I mentioned the possibility of a cop pulling me over for the tags and was told "He'll be able to see on the system that you've paid."

But even BEFORE the layoffs, San Jose cops became MASTERS at telling you how they don't like to do this, they don;t like to do that, you have to handle it yourself, etc.

And they do love to hide and pop people for those "easy" tickets. Then they can drive to Zanotto's and order their sandwiches and flirt with the market employees. If you're not into San Jose cops, make sure to get your sandwiches BEFORE or AFTER the lunch rush. They show up in DROVES, one squad car after another, and they all try to carry themselves like swashbuckling pirates. They can;t just walk in and get their sandwiches...they have to DO the "walk."

I'm sure there were some good men and women bitten by those layoffs. I also have to believe that, to some degree, the city took out its trash.

[cstanleytech]

7. I actually feel sympathy for the the police

because as someone pointed out that size of police department isnt big enough based on their population but this is what we can expect to see more of as long as there are idiots in the government who still blindly cling to the Reagan/Bush idea of lower taxes to corporations and the wealthy and smaller government is better philosophy.

[No Elephants]

10. Reagan/Bush? So, we raised taxes in 2009, when we had a majority in both houses?

Or as of January 1, 2010, when we still had a majority in both houses?

Yeah, yeah, I know. Republicans gave Obama no choice. Poor Obama. Some Republican (or Democrat) is always giving him no choice.


Well, we Democrats are certainly happy to keep doing our part in the war against all the Eastasians who keep foiling Obama, those worthless scum!!

[cstanleytech]

11. Sorry but I cant help but smile

as you clearly either didnt read my post.

[No Elephants]

8. If you observe 7 little people whistling anywhere near Apple Annie, you may want to steer clear.

[Downwinder]

9. Hasn't the San Jose PD had some rather expensive court appearances?

Are those budget items?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

12. Classic poison pill maneuver

Give us the money we want and the freedom to bully who we choose or we will make sure you feel pain.

[sarcasmo]

13. Libertarian paradise.

[trud]

14. I remember

when there was a serial rapist, and the SJPD basically did nothing detectable until he raped a nun.

[Taverner]

15. There are a lot of Libertarians in San Jose

I should know - I grew up there

It has always been that way - usually Democrat, but unabashedly Libertarian

Fatal flaw of many in the tech industry - I need no one to watch over me, so no one else should either

Problem is reality does not have a political stripe...