At the work session on Monday, Dec. 7, the Greensboro City Council appeared to ignore one often-repeated request to help recruit and retain police officers.
In the discussion on the surge in violent crime in Greensboro that has been going on for several years, but has increased even more this year with 57 murders, Greensboro Police Chief Brian James brought up the fact that even counting the police officers in training, the department is down 25 from the 674 sworn officers that are authorized.
If you don’t count the officers in the police academy and the ones in field training, Greensboro has 612 fully trained sworn officers.
Mayor Nancy Vaughan asked if there was any specific reason the Greensboro Police Department was having problems recruiting all the officers it needed.
James mentioned several broad issues, but then talked about an issue that has come before the City Council for years and the council has refused to do anything about it.
According to James, when compared to other departments, “There are few in this area that don’t offer a full-time take home vehicle.”
He added, “High Point, Winston-Salem, Burlington and Guilford County have take home cars.”
In Greensboro patrol officers share cars. It may not sound like much to some folks, and evidently doesn’t to the city councilmembers, but police officers and former police officers say that it can be a deal breaker. Some even argue that cars last longer when they are assigned to particular officers because they take better care of them.
This is simply a money issue. The City Council would have to allocate the money that would be required to purchase the additional cars to provide each patrol officer with their own car. Despite the fact that the council has been told repeatedly by different chiefs that it would make a major difference in recruitment and retention of officers, the money has not been forthcoming.
The argument is also made that having police cars parked in neighborhoods deters crime.
On Monday, City Council appeared to be more interested in spending money on a “shots fired” system than in providing take home cars for police officers.
Mayor Nancy Vaughan said, “I would agree that the need for more officers has been stated and I think we are all in agreement that we want more.”
But no one on the City Council talked about take home cars which according to James hurts their recruitment efforts.
Mayor and council would rather fund empty performing art monuments. They would rather discuss and fund money for their nonprofit favorites. They would rather make choices that fund lawsuits and settlements. They would rather discuss how they can Mandate closings, fines, penalties, and setting up phone lines for “fine citizens” to report their business rivals and enemies.
I certainly would like a police car parked overnight in my neighborhood. Sheriff car, Hwy Patrol, etc..
What has been said during the last several months? Hire more police, flood the high crime neighborhoods with police, re-active the gang unit, stop GIVING money to a councilwoman who does not have to account to the citizens of Greensboro, let the chief run his department and council stop being politically correct!
Well the $900,000 the taxpayers have given Councilwoman Johnson for her HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL “Cure Violence” program would’ve bought 20 brand new cruisers…just sayin’. 🙂
“Mayor Nancy Vaughan asked if there was any specific reason the Greensboro Police Department was having problems recruiting all the officers it needed.”
Why would anyone want to be a police officer in Greensboro when a significant segment of the population makes a life-long sport and pastime out of attacking and undermining the department?
Author you are exactly right. Madam mayor wants to follow Portland . She needs to be teaching preschoolers how to best eat their PBJ ‘s correctly.
Not really sure a police car parked anywhere will stop criminals didn’t the court house and jail get shot up downtown lots of police cars around there. Criminals today are like the city council they have no respect for for the police.
Amen Will …Amen
well said
You want the real reason:
High Point PD
• High School Diploma $40,356.16
• Associates Degree $42,373.76
• Bachelor’s Degree $44,391.36
Take home car
Guilford County SD
$38,750 = High School
$40,650 = Associate’s Degree
$42,550 = Bachelor’s Degree
$44,450 = Related Master’s Degree
Additional Incentives
$3,800 = Full Time Military Service
Up to $3,800 = Full Time Law Enforcement/Corrections/Probation Officer Experience $1,800 = Fluency in Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, or Arabic
Take home car
Gibsonville PD
$39,335
Burlington PD
38,272.00 – $44,012.80 depending on education and experience, take home car, Tuition reimbursement, longevity pay
Greensboro Police
$38,987
Randolph County SD
36,984 Take home car
Winston Salem PD
$39,469 – $43,416 depending on education level. Take home car
Raleigh PD
$41,068 + 660 per year with AA, $1,320 per year with BS
Wilmington PD
$38,984 with $1000 for AA per year and $2000 with BS per year. Take home car
Charlotte Meck
$45,757 with 5% for bilingual, 5% for AA, 10% for BS
NC SHP
$37,323 in school, $46,228 at graduation, $67,453 at year 6. Take home car. They have overlapping classes that are full
Kernersville PD has had take home cars for 27 years. The cars look better and last much longer. There is a high accountability for damage, maintenance and wear. An officer is pretty much limited use without a car and the equipment that goes with it. It pays judge dividends in mass emergencies when you might need a large police response.