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CAT Tracks for September 24, 2009
HELP IS ON THE WAY! |
Told you so...that the Alexander County crisis would go national!
Ahhh...the irony.
After my "Florida University" post, I started "making my rounds" of news sources...
Voila...a follow-up to yesterday's coverage of the Alexander County debacle.
Help is on the way...an SUV from the IL Governor and patrol cars from St. Lucie County...FLORIDA!
Me...I'm waiting to see a CSI Miami Hummer racing through the streets of Cairo!
POSTSCRIPT:
Of course, one small problem remains...
More irony!
Went to Wal-mart this week, picked up a copy of the remastered version of one of my favorite Beatles' albums..."Rubber Soul". Opening song on the album..."Drive My Car"...the story of a wannabe starlet looking for a driver. Since our starlet hasn't yet hit the big time, she has a small problem...NO CAR. To seal the deal with her wannabe boyfriend, she concludes the song with "Listen, Babe, I got somethin' to say...I got no car, and it's breakin' my heart, but, I've found a driver and that's a start."
Well, in Alexander County, following the flurry of "pink slips", we've found the cars and that's a start!
From the KFVS TV Channel 12 Website...
Alexander County Sheriff gets help with patrol cars
By Tyler Profilet
CAIRO, IL (KFVS) - One day after the Alexander County Sheriff's Department had five patrol cars repossessed, it received help from Governor Pat Quinn's office and another sheriff's department in another state.
Sheriff David Barkett traveled to Springfield yesterday to secure the aide.
"The governor and staff graciously gave up a SUV and gave that to Alexander County Sheriff's Department to help with patrol and response efforts," Barkett said.
However, the county is still in debt, owing more than $55,000 in loans for the patrol cars and more than $80,000 to the Tri-County Detention Center for holding prisoners.
"Hopefully we can find some funds," said Illinois Rep. Brandon Phelps. "I'm going to meet with the county commissioners soon. Why just one department? So there's something there we want to look into."
Recent cutbacks have left only five deputies in the field, requiring the Illinois State Police to help patrol the county.
Barkett says the ISP presence has been a god send, but the lack of county officers stretches the ISP thin.
"There's one commissioner who said we'll just get the ISP to help. Well, they can't afford it either. So what we're doing is putting constituents and taxpayers in Alexander County in jeopardy," said Phelps.
"Obviously, we can't handle the day to day non-emergency type calls for service because we cover six additional counties," added ISP Captain Harry Masse
But Captain Masse says his office will do whatever it can to assist Barkett.
"Our special enforcement team has also been working details in the Cairo area just to maintain visibility and help aleviate concerns and fears citizens may have," Masse said.
As for Barkett, he says his office will continue to respond to 911 calls and patrol the county despite cuts.
"I'm not here to let the people down," he said.
But for now, he'll have to rely on help outside the Alexander County Sheriff's Department.
Some of that help may be coming from Florida. CBS News is reporting that the St Lucie County, Florida sheriff's department is going to give Alexander County several cars.
It's not clear when those cars will arrive but it will be in the next several days.
