Comments on: Greenwood PD called to WRT meeting – update

By: Gary Stofer Jr

Gary Stofer Jr — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:52:01 +0000

I feel sorry for the officers and dispatchers that were used as a political pawns on this day. Procedure was not followed and the right questions were not asked. Orders were given and carried out by threat of job loss. The folks on duty knew what they were doing was not right, but at the same time, they get to use the chief as a scapegoat if they just do their jobs and leave.
The whole shift change issue is completely irrelevant. Generally, departments do not respond to calls for service inside each other’s areas without notification, as it is proper, polite, and protocol. Let alone to send five cars.

Had I been working dispatch that day, it would have been the last call I dispatched before quitting. What a waste of taxpayer dollars and risk to the public.

By: John McNeely

John McNeely — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:52:50 +0000

I have to agree with Mr. Veldkamp and Mr. Murphy. Let’s make sure we focus on what is important here, yet not overreact prematurely.

The point here is not whether or not the JCS Reserve Deputy was on duty or not, or whether he was paid by the Center Grove Schools for that event or any another. T

The point is not whether the Greenwood Police officers were on duty, off duty or in the middle of a shift change, or live in the township.

The point here is that, if in fact, a Greenwood Common Council member made such a call to the Chief of the Greenwood Police Department, she should have had the tact and wherewithal to understand the political sensitivity of this gathering, and consider the implications to those already concerned, rightly or wrongly, that this merger is being forced upon them, before the call was made.

Secondly, If in fact this call was made, I am very concerned that no one in command at the Greenwood Police Department, especially if the call were made to the Chief of Police, would recognize or act upon the knowledge that these officers were several miles outside of the jurisdiction, and had no right to be here in any official capacity. a simple call to the sheriff Department would seem to have resolved any problem.

If they were there as fellow citizens, wishing to learn more about the issues and how it would affect them and their community, I welcome them with open arms.

If they were there prior to the call being made and simply offered their assistance I have no pproblem.

If they were there to act as crowd control, or if they were there responding to a concern for the safety or health of a participant in the meeting, when it is clearly the responsibility and the right of the Sheriff Department to respond within their jurisdiction, I have grave concerns for the future of my township under the leadership of the Greenwood Common Council and Greenwood Police Department.

Let us all hope that is not what transpired.

By: Concerned CG Senior

Concerned CG Senior — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:34:13 +0000

Before you publish, you should probably get all the facts first. 1) The Johnson Country RESERVE Sheriff Deputy was off-duty and contracted through a third party security company for the CG Basketball game, his being there was for his own entertainment. 2) Yes, the Greenwood Police Department was called for not crowd-control, but the safety of the WRT Board. 3) The 5/6 Greenwood Police Officers were in the last 10 minutes of their shift (Shift Change), where 1 Officer was going into his shift. and 4) 3/6 Officers live in White River Township, with 2/3 having children that attend Center Grove Schools.

So before you go and beat up on the Greenwood Police, I would check to make sure YOU the writer has correct information before publishing it to the local community.