Comments on: MAYOR HOTLINE June 19- June 23

By: CYCLOPS

CYCLOPS — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 13:42:19 +0000

I, as well, have a tough time believing that a patrol officer would be that rude to a citizen. In my younger days, I baited officers to the point where, if I were them, I would have beaten the *#%@ out of me. Every response from the officers was polite yet firm. Hopefully this new level of policing that the city is looking at will free the patrol officers to respond faster to the “important” stuff. I travel extensively with my work, so I am able to observe other cities services. I am more than happy to come home and deal with our police force, our traffic, and, yes I said it, our City Hall. For all the griping we do, we still have one of the best places in the world to call home.

By: kip wills

kip wills — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 13:50:19 +0000

In response to JQP, I am all in favor of accountability for government employees. By all means if we are driving poorly etc. please let us know. Like anyone else, people get in a hurry, etc. And you are right, C plates are general city and county vehicles (Not police, sheriff, fire which start differently). As for the laptops, there is no policy at looking at one while driving but there is one about typing while driving. With that said, most of our dispatching is done via the laptop and so the administration continues to cover themselves by having a “policy”, knowing full well in order to provide better and faster service that it is broken constantly. There are “heads-up” and other technologies available but city hall will not spend the needed money for them so we try and do the best we can. The same is true of the cell phones, no policy exists and officers are encouraged to handle as much business as possible via cell phone to cut down response times, etc. I enjoy everyones comments here, I may not always agree, but I do try and address problems as I see them arise to be more accountable and open in our public service. Thanks.

By: Jon Q Publique

Jon Q Publique — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 03:22:33 +0000

Kudos to Mr. Wood for calling in inappropriate driving by, presumably, a Boise City employee using a City owned vehicle. The fact he was able to get the plate number gives creditability to the complaint.

A “C” plate is used on vehicles owned by any City, County, transit authority, or school district in Idaho. Perhaps other local government agencies as well. Hopefully Mr. Woods saw a Boise City seal or some other Boise City markings on the vehicle.

Like the Guardian, I too have noticed BPD officers looking at their laptops while driving. I’ve also noticed officers talking on cell phones while driving. I was told by a BPD officer when the laptops were first installed that the Department had a policy against looking at the laptop while driving.

To minimize confusion to callers, perhaps it’s time the Mayor’s Office either renames the Hotline to include a reference in the title to graffiti or makes it clear in the recording that it‘s also the graffiti hotline.

JQP

By: kip wills

kip wills — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 21:10:05 +0000

Just commenting on the post over Hyde Park parking problems. First you should know I am assigned to the traffic unit and work parking and truck enforcement. I find it hard to believe that multiple officers made vulgar comments about the parking enforcement not being their job. Second, as far as parking enforcement outside the downtown core, that is done when complaints are called in. I happen to know Hyde Park has been hit hard lately with parking enforcement. And what has the police union and chief of police got to do with parking? I am the union president and fully support our officers writing parking tickets when appropriate.

By: bikeboy

bikeboy — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:36:24 +0000

Ah, the ferris wheel at Fun Spot. So many happy memories! When I was a kid, I was scared to death of the roller coaster. (Anybody who remembers the roller coaster will recall that it only went maybe 10 feet off the ground at the highest point.) I wasn’t scared of the height or speed of the coaster… I was always afraid I’d get a tooth knocked out, it had such a bumpy, jolting, jarring ride.

I’m very concerned about the message from Sharon Jenkins, the California real estate agent. She’s asking about “spatial interest.” What is THAT??? Isn’t it bad enough that all the Californians are coming here? What’s next… a spaceport so the Martians and Neptunoids can relocate to Boise? I hope Dave says NO! No spatial interest at this time. (Insert your own “Uranus” joke here…)