Cops get all-clear for radios
Englewood official says purchase had been delayed by funding The public safety chief, chastised by the police union, will use homeland-security money for the upgrade and says he'll be more cautious about future promises.
By Manny Gonzales
Denver Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 01, 2005 -
Englewood - After the police union slapped him with a "no-confidence" vote last month, the city's director of Public Safety Services said the radios that officers badly want are on the way.
Director Chris Olsen said he also will avoid making promises that because of outside factors he might not be able to keep.
"I know I'm being held to promises," Olsen said. "It's hard to guarantee anything these days in this economic climate."
On Feb. 22, the Englewood police union presented to the City Council its no-confidence vote and a list of issues about public and police safety.
Among the areas of concern was the department's aging radio system, which works on a VHF band that results in dead spots in certain parts of the city.
"When an officer is calling for help, he oftentimes has no one on the other end of the line," police union attorney David Bruno said. "It's an archaic system that at best is duct-taped together."
Last summer, Olsen told officers the city would make the switch to a system using an 800-megahertz band, which would allow officers to transmit to other police agencies.
But Olsen acknowledged that he delayed buying the system because he wasn't sure the city could afford it. A recent award of $750,000 in homeland-security funds alleviated that problem. Now, the department is just waiting for delivery, Olsen said.
Meanwhile, the police union noted other concerns, including the department's aging computers in squad cars and a lack of staffing. The union said the department remains below the 36 patrol officers Olsen said he would strive for. There are 35 officers assigned to patrols, but two of them are in training, officials said.
"These have been ongoing concerns that have been discussed with him over time," Bruno said.
The city has cut its budget each of the past four years. Olsen noted that his department's budget - about $15 million this year - has been trimmed by 5 percent to 10 percent every year since 2001.
And despite those cuts, Olsen said, the department has avoided laying off officers.
"We hope to have the number of officers on the street back up to 36 very shortly," he said.
City Manager Gary Sears and Olsen said they will respond to the union's concerns when the City Council meets Monday.
"Putting our officers in jeopardy is not something that (we) wanted," Sears said. "I don't know if we've been as proactive as we should have been, but overall, I think Chris has done a good job."
Note: Originally assigned DTRS id’s 3075 – 3079.
Englewood official says purchase had been delayed by funding The public safety chief, chastised by the police union, will use homeland-security money for the upgrade and says he'll be more cautious about future promises.
By Manny Gonzales
Denver Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 01, 2005 -
Englewood - After the police union slapped him with a "no-confidence" vote last month, the city's director of Public Safety Services said the radios that officers badly want are on the way.
Director Chris Olsen said he also will avoid making promises that because of outside factors he might not be able to keep.
"I know I'm being held to promises," Olsen said. "It's hard to guarantee anything these days in this economic climate."
On Feb. 22, the Englewood police union presented to the City Council its no-confidence vote and a list of issues about public and police safety.
Among the areas of concern was the department's aging radio system, which works on a VHF band that results in dead spots in certain parts of the city.
"When an officer is calling for help, he oftentimes has no one on the other end of the line," police union attorney David Bruno said. "It's an archaic system that at best is duct-taped together."
Last summer, Olsen told officers the city would make the switch to a system using an 800-megahertz band, which would allow officers to transmit to other police agencies.
But Olsen acknowledged that he delayed buying the system because he wasn't sure the city could afford it. A recent award of $750,000 in homeland-security funds alleviated that problem. Now, the department is just waiting for delivery, Olsen said.
Meanwhile, the police union noted other concerns, including the department's aging computers in squad cars and a lack of staffing. The union said the department remains below the 36 patrol officers Olsen said he would strive for. There are 35 officers assigned to patrols, but two of them are in training, officials said.
"These have been ongoing concerns that have been discussed with him over time," Bruno said.
The city has cut its budget each of the past four years. Olsen noted that his department's budget - about $15 million this year - has been trimmed by 5 percent to 10 percent every year since 2001.
And despite those cuts, Olsen said, the department has avoided laying off officers.
"We hope to have the number of officers on the street back up to 36 very shortly," he said.
City Manager Gary Sears and Olsen said they will respond to the union's concerns when the City Council meets Monday.
"Putting our officers in jeopardy is not something that (we) wanted," Sears said. "I don't know if we've been as proactive as we should have been, but overall, I think Chris has done a good job."
Note: Originally assigned DTRS id’s 3075 – 3079.
