Let the people, not city, decide

To the editor:

Regarding a recent editorial on the Houston police situation, I have to mostly agree with the views and suggestions stated. However, I have a problem with the whole idea of appointing a commission comprised of key city officials, business leaders and residents.

Let’s leave the city officials out of it.

The city can provide any commission with any necessary information to make recommendations. However, city officials in Houston have been the problem for too long when it comes to the police. One of the council members suggesting a tax increase is a renter, so it’s easy for him to say we should pay more.

Let’s look at this last year. Your editorial mentioned the officer who shot the animals at the shelter, but failed to include that the so-called “chief of police,” Roger Purcell, allegedly ordered that officer to do so. City officials made the decision to have the mayor serve as chief of police. Is this crazy or what?

The mayor knows nothing about police procedures or needs and really has a conflict of interest being the mayor or being the chief because at times their needs are going to conflict. Our police department in the last few years has had one, two or no officers, depending on any moment in time or the whims of certain city officials. Do we really need a chief? We have a captain, there are only two officers — I think they can handle it. I’m sorry, but I don’t trust the city when it comes to the handling of the police department.

Your editorial stated that the police department has been used as a political pawn. I could not agree more. Just look at the last few issues: the captain was suspended because he spoke the truth; the previous sergeant, who was fired, is now fighting — and winning — to get his record cleared. So now the city wants to raise our taxes another 15 percent so that we can continue to never know if there is even a police presence available.

Last year, the Frontiersman published articles regarding our police, saying that the only way they could pay for their department was to issue more tickets. So if they are out there trying to maintain the department by writing more tickets, then who is available for the domestic violence calls or drunk drivers?

The fact is the Alaska State Troopers post right there at Pittman Road is close enough to respond in a timely fashion. The fact is the few times I’ve called the Houston police either no one was there to answer, or the phone was answered by a very nice woman, but no police were available to respond. In one case, after multiple calls to the department and having to leave a message, two weeks later an officer called back and rudely told us he had more important things to attend to. I’m not saying we don’t now have a professional force, we may. But Houston is a big city in land area and one or two officers just are not going to be able to respond any faster, if even someone is on duty, than the AST can from Pittman.

Houston city politics have been the joke of the borough for as long as I’ve lived here. Purcell made the mayor’s position a joke and it will take time for people to trust the new mayor and new members on the council.

In the meantime, you don’t just throw out a huge tax increase to keep a department that has always been controversial since it’s inception. Let’s start with an honest commission of business leaders and homeowners from all over the city, not just a few outspoken ones. Send a letter to all residents, ask for their participation and maybe even their desires regarding a police department. I’m sure many won’t respond, but I believe there are a lot of us out there who may not be able to get to every council meeting, but for something as important as this that we believe in, we will be willing to participate. Let this commission talk to the current police officers without city officials there, who may use what they say against them. Let the commission poll residents to see what they want. Let the commission see the accounting the city has in reference to the needs of a police department. In the end, let the commission publish its findings so all residents can see and make comment.

If the commission determines a police department is appropriate, then let it work with the city to find the revenue, not just a few council members suggesting a huge tax increase. For too long governments from local to federal have turned to taxes as the be-all to end all for raising revenue. It’s time for a new way of thinking. Cut spending, do more with what you do have and prioritize.

These are tough economic times for governments, but even more so for the people, and there is no real relief in sight. Let’s get Houston back on track fiscally and as a government in regard to trust and respect. Let the people of Houston decide if we want a police department, not city officials.

Karen Nichols

Houston