CITY TALES
Addition by Subtraction
I saw 73 new police recruits get sworn in Monday. I always welcome new police officers but we aren’t adding any new officers, because they will replace the 70-75 officers who will retire at the end of the year. The department has managed to add more officers on the street by moving some from behind the desk, but of those are detectives, investigators and upper management. There are plans in the works to increase the recruitment ranks by lowering the academic standards. Currently officers need to score and 80 percent on the written exam to join the force, that number is being lowered to 75 percent.
Loyal Following
I ran into Center Township Trustee Carl Drummer the other day at a political event. I asked him what he though about Monroe Gray, Drummer said Gray was his friend and he stands by him. He says people make mistakes, but you should never desert your friends. Maybe the Mayor could learn something from the trustee and finally put his arm around Gray at a rally scheduled for Saturday morning at County Headquarters. By the way, the Council did finally vote to move forward with the ethics investigation of Gray. It voted 28-0 to create a bi-partisan commission to investigate allegations against the Council President.
Peterson Plan III
Mayor Bart Peterson is set to unveil Peterson Plan III. It will be unveiled on the mayor’s campaign website this afternoon. I was hoping for a little more fanfare from Hizzoner. But like most sequels, the plot runs thin by the third installment. So hopefully the Mayor will unveil a Return of the Jedi and not a Star Trek III.
