CAT Tracks for May 13, 2010
OUT OF GAS

With respect to the story about the Alexander County Sheriff's Department not being able to purchase gas for its remaining vehicles...

Two Things:

But first...


From the KFVS TV Channel 12 Website.


Link to Original Story

Alexander county sheriff's department out of gas

By Arnold Wyrick - bio | email

CAIRO, IL (KFVS) - The troubles for the Alexander County Sheriff's department just keep on coming.

This past year the county board laid off several employees. Shortly thereafter the departments patrol cars were repossessed.

Now Sheriff David Barkett says he has no more gas for the remaining cars.

"The county board has not paid the departments fuel bills since May 1st."

And that leaves the surrounding police departments in the county concerned about getting help when they need it.

"Assistance is far and few in between right now due to the fuel cuts," said Terry Crowe Chief Marshall of Thebes.

The financial troubles for the county don't stop with the parked patrol cars. The county is also behind in payments to the Tri-County Detention Center for inmates fees.

"That puts us right now having to drive 70-miles to house any prisoners that we have in Franklin County," Crowe said.

And that leaves the citizens living in the rural areas of the county with no one to help in a timely manner, in an emergency.

"That's sad because we need the services of the cops to get around to emergencies," said Alexander County resident Joanne Hawkins.

"It's sad that people don't now have the cops to come around if something really bad happens," Hawkins added.

For now Illinois State Police District #22 based in Ullin is handling all 911 calls in Alexander County.

Calls to the Alexander County Board Chairman were not returned Wednesday.


Okay, now for the "related article"...

(My comments follow the article.)

From the WPSD TV Channel 6 Website.


Link to Original Story Police mount effort to get horse patrol

By Dave Detling

PADUCAH - Paducah police on horseback patrol? Tonight a local police department made its case before city officials.

Paducah Police Chief James Berry says adding horses to the force would help officers patrol downtown festivals and cut down on crime.

They're not making any decisions tonight, but if this were to be approved, Carson Park would be the new home of these horses.

Berry said the horseback patrol would help the force.

"Police work is more than just arresting people," he said. "It's also about preventing crime."

And horses are exactly what Berry has in mind when it comes to fighting crime. He's asking the city to consider a $24,000 dollar investment in two mounted police units. The money would buy and train the horses.

Downtown resident Brian Steffen told Local 6 he thinks it's unbridled spending.

"I think with the bike patrol and the lack of crime we have, we could probably use the money in a lot better ways," he said. "Maybe they could use it as an intimidation factor but i don't know why they would want to do that."

Downtown business owner Sue Clark said she would favor a more high tech patrol option.

"I think I would recommend a segway," she said. "They're a lot easier to feed. You just plug them into the wall for a few hours and they're ready to go."

It's criticism Berry said he's heard before. And if the city isn't willing to back the horses, it's an issue he won't push.

"I am going to be realistic," he said. "I don't have a whole lot of extra manpower and we would have to be creative with the utilization of those horses."

The department is looking to partner up with Horses, Inc. at Carson Park. The chief says the if that happens, the horses would serve two purposes: first, patrolling the street, and second, when they're off duty, they could serve as mounts in a therapeutic riding program for special needs children.

This all depends on city approval.

If approved, Paducah would be the state's third city with a mounted police force, following Louisville and Lexington.


Horses?

You betcha!

I mean, if the City of Paducah thinks it's a good idea...who are we to disagree???!!!

And...

In light of the Alexander County "out of gas" article, horses are a natural fit for Cairo!

Look at all the grazing land that is available - in my block, in your block, all over the city...and, yes, all over the county!

Cairo Mayor Judson Childs saw fit to have a letter printed in The Cairo Citizen honoring the "Weed Warriors" who have taken it upon themselves to attack various overgrown parts of the city...encouraging others to follow suit.

Well, "hay"!

Switch the Alexander County Sheriff's Department over to four-legged transportation and get more bang for our buck! In fact, with the city's abundant, free, renewable fuel source, the Sheriff's Department could even afford to buy the luxury model of horses...the ones that don't "buck". (Wouldn't want to see an increase in worker's comp claims!)

Cairo Public Utility could even get involved...

A wonderful by-product of the new four-legged transportation system is the regular dispensation of a free natural fertilizer. CPU could bag it and sell it through their hardware store.

The possibilities are endless...

When the going gets tough...cowboy up!

YEE HAW!