With All Due Respect Mr. Mayor, I’m Calling Bull**** on This One
I’ve just reviewed some comments by “Hizzoner” Mayor Bart Peterson about the shortage of police officers facing Indianapolis and Marion County. While most of us argue the department is at least 120 officers short, the Mayor told WISH-TV the number was closer to nine, because us media folks aren’t including the officers on probation and in the current recruit class which amounts to 134 potential officers. Confused, let me explain.
The city says its number of actual sworn officers is 1,633 and it’s authorized number is 1,642. That number includes the chief, his staff and a bunch of other people who aren’t out on the street. That notwithstanding, they also include the 134 potential officers in the new recruit class and current ones on their probationary period who will be fully sworn when they complete probation.
Here’s where I get to call bull****.
IMPD’s full actual strength is 1,929 personnel according to their own staffing table as of May 20, 2007. Their allocated number is 2,106 for a difference of 177 vacancies. How do they get to the 1,929 figure. Let me break it down.
Allocated Positions — 2,106
Chief — 1
Assistant Chief — 2
Deputy Chief — 5
Major — 9
Captain — 21
Lieutenants — 107
Sergeants — 247
Patrol Officer — 1109
Probationary Officers – 79
Recruits — 53
Civilians — 296
Total — 1,929
Difference — 177 personnel.
The city is ALREADY counting its probationary officers and new recruit class as part of its staff. That’s how they get to the 1,929 number. Even though they can’t legally function as police officers. If they didn’t exist we’d have 311 vacancies. To say the 134 recruits and probationary officers will fill the gap would mean the city would have to count them TWICE at the least. And the city is also assuming no one will violate probation or drop out of the academy. And just for the record, there are only 30 probationary officers are assigned to districts according to the staff report.
This city is not nine officers short, it looks a lot like 120, and with all due respect Mr. Mayor, smells a lot like Bull****!
