CG Police at Southside Harley-Davidson

I am an employee of center grove high school. I would like for everyone who is opposed to the referendum to think long and hard before they vote no. I work in the high school clinic. I am the RN in the building. If this referendum doesn’t pass, the clinic assistant position will be eliminated. What the public needs to understand with a student population of 2400 and teaching staff of 200 +, the school is like a small town. With only one medical person in the building, I hope it isn’t your child that needs medical attention.

Brooke:

is there any reason that a sheriff’s deputy whose beat is solely the CG school district can’t do the same thing?

I found the following in the D&J archives, Feb 27 2008 under the title “CG OKs police force”:

The department also will include two security officers who patrol the parking lots and monitor alarms systems throughout the day and night, Cox said.

Before, Cox and Smith were school resource officers and had policing powers by being deputized by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Now, the department is independent and under its own jurisdiction, Cox said.

Last year, Center Grove spent almost $205,000 on security services. This year, school officials anticipated the possibility of a police department and budgeted about $237,000, Assistant Superintendent Bill Long said.

The increase is due to benefit costs, such as group insurance, that weren’t offered before to the three security workers, he said.

So it was already costing more when approved…

Brooke: I would have written the exact same article if the CG Police vehicle was at a Kroger or a church outside the school district. The issue is not the officers use of the vehicle, the issue is what is the most efficient way for the school district to spend your money and mine.

Let me first say that I am not an advocate for the CG Police Department, but last Thursday was the start of fall break for the staff and students. Before everyone starts assuming this and that, maybe we should find out if the 2 officers, who are also staff, were able to enjoy this time off as well.

The police hardly seem like the “good cop” when they are having student’s vehicles towed, giving traffic tickets to the public, making traffic stops at Target on 135, using radar, spending thousands on ammunition and firearms, etc. etc. A security force is one thing the gestapo is another.

Mr veldcamp
You seem to have some kind of issue with police officers or authority in general. You question the use of the departmental vehicle, did you actually ask why the officer was at that location? Was the officer going fro
Point A to point B and it just so happen point C was on the way? I am not so petty as to care that if someone is on work related busn. That they stop and eat, drop something off or what ever as long as it’s not taken advantage of. Did you ask if that officer contributes their own money to the gas tank should they run a personal errand. I know many officers in Marion County often put in a few dollars of there own to keep the cry babies from complaining if they happen to go to a store or something. This is the 3rd of 4th time you have brought up the CGPD. You obviously think that crime is not an issue at CG and that are immune from the hundreds of fatalities that’s occur because of violence in our schools across America. Have you looked at the stats for CG Police Dept. and the amount they deal w/? I keep coming back to the same thing, you have no grip on reality. The Sheriffs department is not going to have someone sitting at the school to handle problems. We will wait our turn like anyone else. JCSD is not going to be able to responds in seconds or minutes should something happen. Don’t believe me? Ask them! Ask then if they have the manpower to do it. Ask them if we are better off with our own officers. Do not guess, or gamble with our childrens lives. Your opinion means nothing when you are Talking about the life of a person. And that is what you are potentially risking. Risk your own life, not mine or my Childs.

University of Texas Massacre Austin, Texas, United States August 1 1966 16
SC State killings1 Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States February 8 1968 3
Kent State shootings1 Kent, Ohio, United States May 4 1970 4
Jackson State shootings1 Jackson, Mississippi, United States May 14–15 1970 2
Olean High School shooting1 Olean, New York, United States December 30 1974 3
California State University, Fullerton massacre Fullerton, California, United States July 12 1976 7
Cleveland Elementary School shooting San Diego, California, United States January 29 1979 2
Deer Creek Middle School shooting Littleton, Colorado, United States April 7 1982 1
Parkway South Middle School shooting Manchester, Missouri, United States January 20 1983 2
Goddard Middle School shooting Goddard, Kansas, United States January 21 1985 1
Portland Junior High School shooting Portland, Connecticut, United States December 10 1985 1
Pine Forest Senior High School Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States May 6 1986 0
Pinellas Park High School shooting Largo, Florida, United States February 11 1988 1
Hubbard Woods School shooting Winnetka, Illinois, United States May 20 1988 1
Atlantic Shores Christian School shooting Chesapeake, Virginia, United States December 16 1988 1
Cleveland School massacre Stockton, California, United States January 17 1989 6
University of Iowa shooting Iowa City, Iowa, United States November 1 1991 6
Lindhurst High School shooting Olivehurst, California, United States May 1 1992 4
Palo Duro High School shooting Amarillo, Texas, United States September 11 1992 0
Berkner High School shooting Richardson, TX, United States November 6 1992 1
Edward Tilden High School shooting Chicago, Illinois, United States November 20 1992 1
Simon’s Rock College of Bard shooting Great Barrington, Massachusetts, United States December 14 1992 2
East Carter High School shooting Grayson, Kentucky, United States January 18 1993 2
Amityville High School shooting Amityville, New York, United States February 1 1993 1
Reseda High School shooting Reseda, California, United States February 22 1993 1
Wauwatosa West High School shooting Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, United States December 1 1993 1
Central Middle School shooting Sheridan, Wyoming, United States September 17 1993 1
Margaret Leary Elementary School shooting Butte, Montana, United States April 12 1994 1
Grimsley High School shooting Greensboro, North Carolina, United States October 12 1994 1
Wickliffe Middle School shooting Wickliffe, Ohio, United States November 7 1994 1
Blackville-Hilda High School shooting Blackville, South Carolina, United States October 12 1995 2
Richland High School shooting Lynnville, Tennessee, United States November 15 1995 2
Frontier Middle School shooting Moses Lake, Washington, United States February 2 1996 3
Hamilton High School shooting Scottdale, Georgia, United States February 2 1996 1
San Diego State University shooting San Diego, California, United States August 15 1996 3
Hetzel Union Building shooting State College, Pennsylvania, United States September 17 1996 1
Bethel Regional High School shooting Bethel, Alaska, United States February 19 1997 2
Pearl High School shooting Pearl, Mississippi, United States October 1 1997 2
Heath High School shooting Paducah, Kentucky, United States December 4 1997 3
Westside Middle School shooting Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States March 24 1998 5
Parker Middle School dance shooting1 Edinboro, Pennsylvania, United States April 24 1998 1
Thurston High School shooting Springfield, Oregon, United States May 20 1998 2
Columbine High School massacre Littleton, Colorado, United States April 20 1999 13
Heritage High School shooting Conyers, Georgia, United States May 20 1999 0
Fort Gibson Middle School shooting Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, United States December 6 1999 0
Buell Elementary School shooting Mount Morris Township, Michigan, United States February 29 2000 1
Lake Worth Middle School shooting Lake Worth, Florida, United States May 26 2000 1
University of Arkansas shooting Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States August 28 2000 2
Santana High School shooting Santee, California, United States March 5 2001 2
Granite Hills High School shooting El Cajon, California, United States March 22 2001 0
Martin Luther King, Jr. High School shooting Manhattan, New York, United States January 15 2002 0
Appalachian School of Law shooting Grundy, Virginia, United States January 16 2002 3
John McDonogh High School shooting New Orleans, Louisiana, United States April 14 2003 1
Red Lion Area Junior High School shootings Red Lion, Pennsylvania, United States April 24 2003 2
Case Western Reserve University shooting Cleveland, Ohio, United States May 9 2003 1
Rocori High School shooting Cold Spring, Minnesota, United States September 24 2003 2
Columbia High School shooting East Greenbush, New York, United States February 9 2004 0
Fairleigh Dickinson University shooting Florham Park, New Jersey, United States April 4 2004 2
Randallstown High School shooting Randallstown, Maryland, United States May 7 2004 0
Red Lake Senior High School massacre Red Lake, Minnesota, United States March 21 2005 8
Campbell County High School shooting Jacksboro, Tennessee, United States November 8 2005 1
Pine Middle School shooting Reno, Nevada, United States March 14 2006 0
Essex Elementary School shooting[12] Essex, Vermont, United States August 24 2006 2
Orange High School shooting Hillsborough, North Carolina, United States August 30 2006 1
Platte Canyon High School shooting Bailey, Colorado, United States September 27 2006 2
Weston High School shooting Cazenovia, Wisconsin, United States September 29 2006 1
Amish school shooting Nickel Mines, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States October 2 2006 6
Henry Foss High School shooting Tacoma, Washington, United States January 3 2007 1
Midland Dow High School shooting Midland, Michigan, United States March 8 2007 1
University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina, United States March 24 2007 0[13]
University of Washington shooting Seattle, Washington, United States April 2 2007 2
Virginia Tech massacre Blacksburg, Virginia, United States April 16 2007 33
Delaware State University shooting Dover, Delaware, United States September 21 2007 1
SuccessTech Academy shooting Cleveland, Ohio, United States October 10 2007 1
Louisiana Technical College shooting Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States February 8 2008 3
Mitchell High School shooting Memphis, Tennessee, United States February 11 2008 0
E.O. Green School shooting Oxnard, California, United States February 12 2008 1
Northern Illinois University massacre DeKalb, Illinois, United States February 14 2008 6
Davidson High School Shooting Mobile, Alabama, United States March 9 2008 1
Central High School shooting Knoxville, Tennessee, United States August 21 2008 1
Henry Ford High School shooting Detroit, Michigan, United States October 16 2008 1
2008 University of Central Arkansas shootings Conway, Arkansas, United States October 27 2008 2
Dillard High School shooting Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States November 12 2008 1
Henry Ford Community College shooting Dearborn, Michigan, United States April 10 2009 2
Wesleyan University1 Middletown, Connecticut, United States May 1 2009 1
Canandaigua Academy shooting Canandaigua, New York, United States May 5 2009 1
Harvard University Cambridge,Massachusetts, United States May 18 2009 1[14]
Larose-Cut Off Middle School shooting Larose, Louisiana, United States May 18 2009 1
Skyline College shooting San Bruno, California, United States September 2 2009 0
Atlanta University Center Atlanta , Georgia, United States September 3 2009 1[15]
Deer Valley High School shooting Antioch, California, United States September 16 2009 0
Northern Virginia Community College Woodbridge, Virginia, United States December 8 2009 0
Discovery Middle School Madison, Alabama, United States February 6 2010 1 [16]
University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville, Alabama, United States February 12 2010 3 [17]
Deer Creek Middle School Jefferson County, Colorado, United States February 23 2010 0[18]
Birney Elementary School Tacoma, Washington, United States February 26 2010 1[19]
Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio, United States March 9 2010 2[20]
Belleville Township HS East Belleville, Illinois, United States August 17 2010 1[21]
University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas, United States September 28 2010 1[22]
Alisal High School Salinas, California, United States October 1 2010 1[23][24]
Mid-Atlantic Christian University Elizabeth City, North Carolina, United States October 3 2010 1[25]
Kelly Elementary School Carlsbad, California, United States October 8 2010 0[26] [27]
A little research goes a long way, what part of murder in SCHOOl is it that you do not under stand ?

Tony: Give it up already. The point isn’t “does a school need police protection” the question is the best way to provide it. By the way a quick review of your figures show that about 60 students were killed in school shootings in the 1990′s, a definite tragedy. Did you know that 192 children under the age of 12 were killed by airbags in the same time period? Maybe some schools’ police department needs to go arrest the federal regulators who required airbags to be installed in cars.

Center Grove police deserve a vote of confidence, not putting them down for personal gain in politics or getting even for some dislike of policy performed in their duties. They are here to serve and protect, not to harass or show who is in charge.
In the first couple of weeks of school there were several fights attended to, drug bust and code violations acted upon. An adult became angered because of a new traffic pattern instituted to better serve the school grounds in safety for students and vehicles. The police officer had to stand and take the harsh words until it became disruptive to peace. If left unchecked the problems would increase with each day instead of being controlled and contained as not to create disarray.
These officers work 50 to 60 hours a week with no over time or compensation. At times a seven AM to eleven PM is a normal day with home games and other extracurricular. They keep order and correct problems you never hear about and many times help students and adults keeping them out of trouble and possible jail.
Center Grove Police is a result of several problems brought to the fore front. A takeover hostage situation in the school, not enough Sherriff to patrol the vast Johnson County area and answer minor calls of fights and vehicle problems on school grounds gave way to needed authority control. The teachers and monitors can’t possibly watch everyone and not trained in police tactics to recognize dope problems or stop something before it gets started.
A pat on the back and a handshake is what they need not a slap in the face and spied upon tossing accusations around to make them look bad. If enough slime is thrown, eventually some will stick and someone will believe it. You will see a take home car parked in front of an establishment at times as the hours they work will have them stop on the way home to pick up a thing or two. Try working 50 to 60 hours without a brake and still lead a home life. The hours work out to about 4 or 5 dollars an hour. Would you put your life on line for that?

Robert:

The items you listed are things any cop has the authority and need to do on a day to day basis. Doing their job does not make them a “bad cop.” What you people need to understand is these officers have jurisdiction outside of the school corporation. This includes giving tickets to the public. Have you seen the speeds people do along Stones Crossing Road, in the school zone? I am thankful they are there. They are in fact, “real” cops who have gone through the academy and are sworn officers just like any other officer. Also, much of the items purchased by the department is done so through grants, not through our taxes.

Ryan-The former Center Grove policer officer lived in Fishers, neither one of the current officers live there now.

Joe-Police Departments are hurting everywhere. When officers/departments are short handed, if they do not feel a case is priority, they will take other more important cases, first. If Center Grove did not have their own police force, the schools could be waiting hours for assistance if the outside departments do not deem them a priority.

I am grateful for the Center Grove Police. They are keeping our schools and streets safe and allowing our children to feel safer.

Joe-

The same goes for Gwd PD. Try getting someone to the schools when needed. The school has a Gwd officer who helps traffic control every morning on Stones Crossing. He does that as part of his normal patrol of the Gwd area and because he offered to do so. That doesn’t mean that same officer would be available any time the school needed him.

As for the sherriff and the money for additional officers, the additional officers would still need cars and equipment. Yes those would be provided by JC, however they would probably require a higher price from the school for the additional patrol the school system requires. Even if they are “given money” it would be nearly impossible to require those officers to be on call 24/7 for the school or to require them to drop what they are doing as JCS’s to respond to the school.

Becca, you are incorrect the SOP is for the Johnson County Sheriff and Greenwood SWAT to be called immediately. Also it has been proven time after time that in school Police Depts are ill equiped to handle these type of situations. Becca, the fact is that 4 officers spread all over our school system would in fact probably not even be the first cars/officers at the scene at any particular school in case of an incident. I think you and others are once again being driven by fear and misinformation.

LOL, is that why Johnson County had to take care of the boy attacking the girl at the High School because CG police didn’t get it handled. Also note what I said that the officers in no way could clear nor handle an incident at any of the schools due to size of the facility and students. Anyone with any law enforcement or military background knows this. I never said they would not respond. I stated they probably would not even be the first officers at the scene. I will stand by this due to the seperation of the schools, I do not want the school to only use their officers in case of an extreme violent situation. I want them to use properly trained SWAT units also.

I am so weary of the public discourse, especially in White River township, because everyone focuses on either taxes OR services, each in isolation of the other, and often without investigation into the facts. You don’t get services without paying the cost!

With that preface, the question that seems to be posed by this article is simple: Should our schools be patrolled by dedicated officers that monitor safety and are the first responders to incidents that occur at the schools? To answer that question, we really need more information. Let’s put it into perspective. How much is the budget for these officers? Less than $160,000 is budgeted for 2011 and that is $80,000 less than was budgeted in 2008 (my guess is that someone already got laid off or an open position was never filled). It was suggested by someone else that much of that budget is paid for through grants, but I couldn’t tell just looking at public information on the CGS website so I will assume that none of it is paid through grants. The security budget comes out of the general fund budget of over $40 million, so it less than four tenths of a percent of the total General Fund budget. The general fund budget is now paid by the state (not property taxes), which is the source of the referendum issue because the state cut the revenues to be paid to the schools. Eliminating the security department will not affect your property taxes.

The suggestion in the article is that cutting this service would reduce the budget shortfall that the referendum seeks to address. I suppose it would account for 5% of the $3.1 million shortfall. Instead of seeking a rate increase of fifteen ten-thousandths (.0015) per dollar of assessed value, the schools would only need a rate increase of 0.001425 per dollar of assessed value if the security department was completely eliminated. Of course, you won’t have any police presence at the schools anymore. For my part, I am not prepared to sacrifice security at the schools to save a few bucks (if that).

Most of the debate on here hasn’t even been about cutting the service, but rather who should provide the service. It sounds like most of the people who have commented on here aren’t ready to give up security completely, they just don’t want to pay for it! Should security services be provided by JCS instead of the school administration? What does it matter? If JCS provides dedicated officers without compensation from the schools, then the cost is being borne by the entire county instead of those of us who live in the school district and benefit from the services. I suppose that could indirectly reduce our tax burden, but is that fair? If JCS provides dedicated officers to the schools for a fee, how much would that fee cost the schools and would it cost any less than what is budgeted now? The JCS has to pay salaries and benefits just like CG does. More importantly, is the JCS even interested in doing this? I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I suspect the JCS doesn’t want to mess with it when the school system has the authority to provide the security on their own and out of their own budget. The JCS has other things to do with its officers. I also suspect that the level of service would be significantly reduced simply because the officers would not report to the school administration.

I am not prepared to eliminate the security services provided at the schools and I am incapable of coming up with $3 million in cuts out of the General Fund budget that would not directly affect the programs and facilities that students use today. I am willing to pay the few extra dollars a month necessary to maintain the excellent schools that we have in Center Grove.

After all, the schools are the only thing we have going for us in this township, because noone is willing to spend money to make this a desirable world class community that attracts businesses. We will be doomed to high taxes because we are afraid of following the Carmel example.

The school holds budget school board meetings to show where all the money goes and how it is spent. The budget then has to go through the school board to get approved. You are right all the money is not spent on curriculum…just like all the money that goes to your insurance company is spent on your medical or automotive expenses. Some is spent on buildings, some is spent on utilities, some is spent on people,and some is spent on supplies. Just like anything else it takes money to run any business and a school corporation is no different. If you don’t like how the money is spent then attend the board meetings and vote for your favorite board member who approves every budget the school has.

Rich, please provide specifics. What programs, personnel, expenses, etc are you going to cut to make up the $3+ million dollar shortfall? Academic Honors? Guidance Counseling? Nurse services? Athletics? Cutting all of those might get you there. Eliminating full day kindergarten would save a serious chunk of money.

Please don’t talk about cutting costs without talking about the services that are associated with those costs. What are we giving up?

Also the new amount fopr health benefits at $150/month for admin (42+) people is still too low.

Joe
If you are referring to my typos I have already explained I am using an iPhone, which if you have one then you know the auto correct is not the best and you only get to see 2 1/3 of what you are typing. So if you feel the need to harp on my typo’s have at it. But anyone with a brain can see the point I am making.

To the clown who brought up the airbags
I really don’t have the desire to go back through all the post to find your name again but I’ll adress it anyway.
When air bags have intent, and that intent is to do bodily injury or kill someone then I will lead the charge for getting rid of them.

Rich & Andrew have made perhaps the best comments on the CG school referendum – Andrew broke things down well, and Rich made several good suggestions for where the CG school district could be spending money wiser.

Thank you both for your input.

TAXATION W/O REPRESENTATION. We’ve all heard that before, guess what it’s still with us. The spin is different. We have a world class county police department (JOCO SHERIFF’S DEPT), they do it all, from proptecting our property to maintaining traffic on our roads and streets. We pay taxes for that service and do not complain. Now we have a “johnny come lately”, the CGSC Police Dept. How it came about is anyones guess. We pay for that service and if CGSC has their way, it will cost more. This morning 0945 +/-, sitting on the N Grove parking lot is one of GCSC finest. Because that section of Fairview in front of N Grove is in a school zone, for 26 years that I know of, it has a posted speed limit during school of 25 MPH. Why was CGSC PD there? A coffee break? Doing paper work? How about traffic enforcement? Later I told my wife about it. She replied that Wednesday the CGSC PD car had a car pulled over. We now have two “departments” that we pay taxes to do traffic control? Why doesn’t Greenwood PD join in? At least for now We’re not paying any taxes to them. That might not be in Greenwood. Need to check with the Mayor. The Indiana State Police should join in, we pay taxes for that service also. I can take enforement out one more notch, the U.S. Marshal’s. They have arrest powers in that area also, but no radar. Our fed taxes cover the Marshals. Man we pay a bunch of tax for law enforement. Now this “johnny came lately” gets in the act? For what? Question: if the CGSC PD writes a ticket, what do they collect? Bottom line, why do they need more tax bucks?

You are right…they do nothing but sit around and drink coffee all day…oh wait just saw CGPD confiscate three DEADLY weapons made by a CG student this morning…but you are right…we don’t need them and they aren’t worth our tax dollars are they? There aren’t any threats and it is all scare tactics. Yeah well times have changed in the past 50 years and things aren’t what they used to be. Kids learn stupid things and do stupid things all as a part of the internet and television. Our officers are highly trained on these new issues especially with the internet and Face book. It’s not like the old school yard fights back in the olden days. These officers are trained to also investigate internet problems that arise today like bullying act. I highly doubt a security guard is going to cover all this and the sheriff’s department does not have the time to investigate these instances.
Complain about police officers all you want but if anyone deserves more trained professionals and time dedicated directly to them and their protection…the students deserve it. I would hate for my child to feel afraid to go to school and have it directly impacted her education.
Part of their salaries are paid by the tickets they write for those not following the speed limits in a school zone…but you are right…they shouldn’t be pulling people over…people should be allowed to speed in school zones without consequences…see everyone wants to say they do nothing because what they do is not splashed all over the front pages…they do their job and don’t expect any glory from it.

Mr Woods

You make no sense what so ever. If CG did not hav those officers JC would have to put some one in those spots. JC makes more money then CG so you would be paying out more money if JC has 1 of there officers doing it. The school gets thousands of dollars in federal money for CGPD so you are actually paying WAY less for them the. You would for JC. Let’s see, same training, less money, makes perfect sense to me.
As far as the running traffic goes, THEY ARE Police officers. “school police” running radar in a school zone ? You really need an explanation asbto why they would be doing it? Do you also ask why a Dog would wear Dog Tags? Uhhhh next question please.

Tony,
We use the term CQB close quarters battle (military/ swat) training. Tony also I mentioned we did not have a police force 50 years ago. Nothing about having SWAT 50 years ago here is the quote “Tony Tony, We went 50 years without a police force before.” Perhaps you are letting your anger blind your thinking. Hey we can disagree on the validity of an internal police force. However I would take a teacher over a cop any day of the week if having to choose who loses their job due to budget constraints.

Sam; I can tell you “for a fact” your comment about an angered parent is incorrect. You did not hear the exchange, nor did anyone else, besides the uniformed individual and the parent. The parent was not angry about a new traffic pattern. It all had to do with the attitude and lack of professionalism of the uniformed individual.

tony Sara, CG posse is “trained”, but JOCO Sheriff Deputy’s are pros. If the Keystone folks where not there & if they weren’t part of the CGSC, then maybe my taxes would be less. Also maybe CGSC wouldn’t be crying for more funds to waste.

tony, sorry amigo we only speak English.

Tony tony tony, you seem to not have the facts, since by your own words do not even live in our community. I went by the High School today and saw Greenwood Police, Beech Grove Police and Franklin Police, wow our own force is really saving us money, LOL. It is you who have no clue. I have military experience on CQB, anyone who says that 2 officers could secure and handle a crisis at the High School like a Columbine, is sadly an idiot. Even someone without experience could use common sense and figure out that 2 officers could not handle the chaos and size of a school facility by themselves.

Rich, It sounds like you’re have the inside scoop on the CGSC Police Department. I wish I could find out this information along with thousands of other parents and students.

For the past 3 years, since my oldest was at CGMSC, I knew we had security patrols around the schools and saw 1 marked vehicle. I never knew CGSC had a trained police force until this past May. 99% of CGSC parents I’ve talked to didn’t know either. I’m wondering, aside from the state grant, how and why this department got approved and implemented without the parents knowing about it.

I have yet to be able to find any by-laws or policies that specifically outline their purpose or scope of authority. I’ve had one converstion with Asst Super Dr Bill Long, but their mission and purpose was still unclear. When I tell others CGSC has our own Police Department, they think CG is some kind of “getto” and ask why we need a police force?

I, like Mr. Velkcamp, have seen the CGSC Police vehicles in odd locations like Flap Jacks, JC Courthouse in Franklin, and at Starbucks on US on school days. It makes me wonder if these men and 1-woman were hired to take care of the children, why are they at Starbuck’s when my kids are in school?

And before anyone wants to get on me again for the typos. Yes I am still using my phone so I apologize to all the people who can’t win the argument so you want to divert the attention off the subject. Yes I did read my post after it was posted and yes I saw several errors.

Rich
It is not my opinion, it is the policy of every police department I know of. Check into it for yourself, right or wrong that is what has been put Into place. But we can agree on one thing. You are correct I hope we never have to find out.

I actually do have a problem with CG Police having take home cars and being allowed to drive them anywhere. Who pays for the gas in these vehicles? During the rough economy, most companies and police departments who once allowed employees to take home vehicles suspended those programs because of the enormous cost. And an IMPD officer has to live in Marion County to get a take home car so why is a CG officer allowed to live in another county?
Now I admit, I may have a personal grudge since I was harassed by one of these “supposed” officers when I attempted to pick up my daughter at the high school. And if you’ve ever been to the high school when students are released you’ll see that there are still Johnson County deputies there directing traffic so our county tax dollars are still being spent on security.
I will vote yes to the referendum because we moved to Center Grove for the school district but I do think there are ways that the district can cut down on excessive spending without eliminating teachers and programs.

Mary; Please think about what you said; you will vote yes for the referendum. How do you plan to hold the administrators accountable; you won’t by giving them more money. If the new school board decides to take hold of the situation and stop the gravey train the admin has; then we should revisit a referendum next year. Don’t allow them to play on your concern for the students; they are NOT about the students, they are about them. The school corp is fine, especially if they do the right things over the next year. If that doesn’t work then many more of us will be supporting a referendum.

Jonathan:

Apparently you don’t have children in the Center Grove Schools. It’s a very safe environment and no one can enter the schools without buzzing in with the office and getting a pass and badget.

It’s the secretaries that keep track of all these SAFETY and security measures, not the CGPD. So why are the secretaries on the chopping block for the Referendum and not some of CGPD employees. They have 1-2 young undercover officers in addition to the 2 uniformed officers.

My comments about Starbucks and other sites that I have seen the CGPD vehicles is NOT without thought. Two of the 3 vehicles were at Starbucks at 10!15 am on a school day, and 2 were also at the Johnson County Courthouse for 2 hours on a school day. So what good are they going to do when they are that far away?

If the CGPD’s PRIMARY job is to protect the children of Center Grove Schools, then why are they off campus during the school day and pulling over parents on SR 135? It leaves the school uncovered and opened to problems. That’s the simple point that several of us are making.

However, having the police force, is an additional drain on the BUDGET which is not necessary.

That was for johnathan not Joe.

Mary
CGPD does not have a take home car program. If you go to school you will see them safely parked on the property. Of you got “harassed” by. The police I would be willing to bet you were doing something you should not of been doing. Everyone who says that is doing something they shouldn’t be and have an issue with being told they can’t do what ever they want. It goes with the job of being a Cop, it is said alllll the time. CGPD is in fact the only department in the area that does not have a take home car policy.
This next little section applies to several comments made.
There are only two police officers at CG that comment is a flat out fabrication of someones imagination. It goes to show yet again how much people on here actually know.
Coffee and food complaints? Really? That is just embarising, everyone who works is entitled to breaks it is a federal law. Cops are not am exception to that.
If someone got stopped on 135 they designed it. When you are a police officer you take an oath to uphold the law first. It comes before whatever department you work for. Again you don’t have to agree w/ it or like it but there is nothing you can do about it. You are not going to change an oath that has been in effect since before you could speak.
And to the person who actually commented about them being at JC court house Really? Are you serious with that? Uhhh I would guess they had a they had an order to appear by the court. That’s not optional dear. It goes along with being a police officer. I actually sit back and read these and have to control the insults I have the desire to spew out.
As far as the salaries go, my guess is that includes all benefits, retirement , and insurance. Of you look at the line for any job that has these things your salary is way less then what they assign to your line. It makes then feel better I guess. But with all these people on here who think they are cops, and or know how to do a cops job, why doesn’t one of then use those detective skills to find the exact salary of a CGPD officer. In sure it’s public record.
Oh back to the take home car thing, CGPD is in the minority most departments allow you to not only take then home but drive them for personal use. Infact some departments like speedway, and greenwood allows you to live out of county and still have one. So you can stop trying to make it sound like they get something special that no one else does

Budgeted salary for the police department, per Dr. Gabriel the schools CFO, is $125,000 a year including benefits. That covers both the chief and the officer. How it is split between the I did not ask, nor does it matter.

Jody
I am 100% sure that an officer for CGPD may not drive the car home. Now that may change and should more on that in a moment. But the Chief should get a take home car to and from work as needed. Due to the fact that both officers have to respond at all hours. Are you aware they are salary? And anytime they are called out it is for free? And w/at least one officers own car and gas? Is that fair? It would not happen on any other police department. CGPD has one of the lowest payscales of any department around, and without the take home car makes it even worse. There certain things that come with being a police officer in central Indiana and a take home is part of that. As a police officer I would not work for a department who did not have that. There are simply to many other departments who pay much more and have a take home car. You people are lucky and have no idea that you are. You keep bringing up things that are common practice in law enforcement that CG does not have or do. And you think they they are getting something that no one else does. You are lucky to have what you so for the price you are getting it at.

Johnathan
Thank you for being a voice of reason. I am glad to see at least one other parent has their Childs safety as a priority. I don’t see how these other people on here are so naive to think nothing is going to happen in “my school”

im a cg student.

the new cgpd police officer was the first on the scene at the football game to treat a man who had a heart attack. even doctors and the hospital officials have said that he died and was brought back to life by this guy from CPR. Doctors have said that if anyone was even up to 30 seconds late, he would have died with no chance of survival.

the cgpd saved this mans life until the medical personal from the hospital could get there and take over.

you cant put taxes or a dollar amount on the fact that a man is alive still to make a positive impact on this community. this man will contribute (and has already as a grandpa and current baseball coach) then anyone on here arguing will.

as a student, i know that the cgpd are wonderful to have at the school. i know about all they do. their presence itself is what makes the biggest difference. If you took them away, our schools violence/fights/drug use/everything else would rise which would inhibit this school from creating a safe environment for the education process.

This school is one of the best in the state and no one on here has a valid opinion on anything like this unless you are here in the buildings on a regular basis. me and other staff who have seen this article can actually have an informed opinion on the topic and its not mere speculation trying to compare money to safety and education.

The police officers not only write tickets and tow cars, they save lives.

thanks