Oh and by the way,,, fuel for UPS FEDEX etc vehicles are not paid from our taxes as City vehicles are..although BOTH sc enarios contribute to Global Warming

It’s way too easy to fall into the us vs. them mentality.

It takes approximately ten minutes to go through the process of turning them back on, logging on, etc. in the start of shift. After approximately one hour of leaving all the electronics on after shutting the car off, the battery has a tendency to drain a lot. Then the police have to waste time and money calling someone to come jump start the patrol car. Its a bit of a waste. Pardon the sarcasm guys but you get a bit cynical after a while when you spend you time serving a public who constantly wants to tell you how to do your job. I’ll be the first to admit I don’t know the first thing about being a doctor. When I’m at the doctor’s office, I don’t tell him, “Doc, I think you’re checking my pulse wrong, I’ve found a much better way to do it.” Do you? Yet, just because my salary comes from citizens’ taxes, many of them feel the need to back-seat drive everything we do. You may not know any officers personally. I can tell you, we’re human beings. I wasn’t born an officer and hopefully, I won’t die as one. I’m someone’s son, father, husband, uncle, brother, etc.

I breath the same air you do. I don’t care if I never get another “thank you” as long as I live because I get enough satisfaction serving others. Contrary to what you might have been taught or what your personal bias is, for the most part, those in law enforcement are pretty decent people.

As for the cell phones, we’re not just making stock trades or talking to our buddies. We have department issued cell phones to contact people like those that make the calls to dispatch, so that we can better utilize our response time and prepare for the call we’re going to. I’m sorry you don’t like the idea of a “copper” talking on our cell phones, trying to serve you better. I could make more cynical comments but I’m going to refrain. As for trust, it goes both ways.

I don’t take it personal that you don’t trust me. I really don’t lose sleep over it. I’ve got a job that I’ve sworn to do and will continue to do it to the best of my abilities. Be safe. That is all.

G

Next the hardest time in a computer and an internal combustion (gas engine) and a compression combustion (diesel engine) are when they are started. On start up RAW gas or diesel makes it into the atmosphere. When the vehicle stays warmed up their are less emmissions. Next point, an engine that is allowed to idle instead of being shut off and restarted lasts LONGER, ask any Taxi company or any trucker. The savings are a moot point.

Their may be global warming, but there is NO conculsive evidence that people have caused it. Stalinistic restrictions on freedom have no place in the USA as proposed by Blurton. Or was his post a joke?

If the so called Computer Crash happens every time you turn the car off then what you are saying is they crash every night when you park them. Plus what do you really need the computer for to begin with other than to receive call info, run plates, and oh yeah, instant message each other. I think the only one worth mentioning in an emergency situation would be to receive call information, but then what do you have radios for? Anyway, I agree with Tim and know that if he says he did the research he did, he’s quite good at it.

I am only arguing for argue sake because I think there are bigger issues with coppers than just how much gas they waste. I guess if that is our biggest problem we should be grateful.

AND two appeared to be working on their computers at the same time…..they seem to set a poor example of “attentive” driving…..and my kids noticed it too.

Have you forgotten that this is a Representative Republic, not a democracy. If you don’t like whats going on, why don’t you vote in a new mayor and city council, not just try to shout the loudest and hope you get the attention.

“Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths…”,

“We may define a republic to be … a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people, and is administered by persons holding their offices during pleasure for a limited period, or during good behavior. It is essential to such a government that it be derived from the great body of the society, not from an inconsiderable proportion or a favored class of it; otherwise a handful of tyrannical nobles, exercising their oppressions by a delegation of their powers, might aspire to the rank of republicans and claim for their government the honorable title of republic.” James Madison, Federalist No. 10, (1787)

“A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men.” Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

That is all.

P.S., I expect that those of you who think Boise’s air problems stem from vehicle emissions will display your unconquerable integrity by riding a bike to work every day. Thank you for your help in making Boise a cleaner place.

G.

Mr. Logic, until you strap on a firearm and a ballistic vest every day to prepare for your 8 to 5 job, you really have no standing with me or probably most of my ‘brothers’ when spouting off on the subject of public service and officer safety.

But hey, if you take your argument to its (Mr.) Logical conclusion, you should obviously investigate and rat out those darn National Guard A-10 pilots at Gowen Field and their obvious misbehavior and disregard for hard-working taxpayers. I hear rumor they let their tax-payer funded jet fuel guzzling turbofan engines run between hot missions and while they are conducting pre-flight operations to keep the cockpits cool and the avionics running – to hell with the safety and comfort of our public servants, right? As long as it’s good for the environment and saves a few pennies, they’re expandable.