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My time as
Chief of Police in Indio has been one of constructive change
in service delivery. In the past five years, as your Chief
the members of Department have: reduced crime, increased
levels of service, added 37 police officer positions to
which provides 87 officers, reorganized the department,
added support staff in Code Enforcement, Animal Control,
opened the Animal Care Center: established in July 2006 the
Community Outreach Unit for business, residential, school
outreach, and the Graffiti Task Force in conjunction
with the Public Works Department. We are currently realizing
a -13% reduction in crime, and our response time to
emergency calls for service has been reduced from 6 minutes
in 2005 to 2.5 minutes in 2006. This is well below the
national average of 3 minutes.
The main
point that I want to make clear is that “Cops Count” and
that cops are the most essential component of the equation
when it comes to fighting and reducing crime. Although some
researchers claim that fluctuations in crime are due to
socioeconomic factors, the fact is cops are the most
essential component in the crime fighting and crime
reduction equation.
The City of Indio’s is experiencing its
lowest crime rate while experiencing its most rapid growth
in history. This is a direct result of the hard work of the
men and women of the Indio Police Department. I don’t know
of any other city that has been as successful, especially
given that the ratio of officers to residents is well below
the standards of other cities our size in this State.
The reductions in crime and disorder in
Indio attest, to the Department’s innovative strategies and
its consistent, compassionate, and constitutionally
appropriate approach to law enforcement. While socioeconomic
issues may have a slight bearing on the rise and fall of
crime, the quickest way to impact crime is through a
well-led, properly managed, and appropriately-resourced
police force. That embraces risk-taking and not
risk-adversity. This police agency will always include
accountability-focused, quality of life initiatives, and
problem-oriented community policing that is transparent and
accessible to the public, the media, and the profession.
I believe strongly that the single most
important cause of crime is human behavior. One thing that I
have learned and strongly advocate is that police officers,
with proper resources and appropriate direction, can control
behavior to such a degree that it will change behavior. I
have seen nothing in the way of hard evidence to dissuade me
from the simple truth that well managed cops on the street
make the difference. Cops Count, as they are the essential
catalysts in the reduction and prevention of crime. On a
daily basis, Indio Police Officers are making a difference.
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