THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9504280181
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: BY ROBERT W. MATHIESON
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
As a police officer in Virginia Beach for almost 20 years and president of the Virginia Beach Police Benevolent Association, I've had a great deal of experience with the ``front line'' police officers who see what the people of our city deal with on a day-to-day basis. We know that providing for their needs comes down to more than just ``adjusted percentages'' and ``annual in-creases.''
People want the opportunity to provide for their families and feel secure. They want to know that their children will not only get a quality education but will be safe while they do so. They want to be assured that if they run to the grocery store they don't have to look over their shoulder. They want to feel that they can sit in their homes or work in their yards without fear of break-ins or vandals.
Police officers want to be able to provide citizens that security to the very best of our ability. That means having the support and the tools we need - both from city leaders and the public. And that means providing salaries and resources to help us keep experienced, well-trained officers in the Virginia Beach Police Department and on the streets.
The salary survey conducted by the Human Resources Department this year showed that Virginia Beach police officers rank far below the 50th percentile when compared to cities that are similar demographically. In fact, master police offers were in the 33rd percentile, police sergeants were in the 34th percentile, firefighters in the 32nd percentile, and master firefighters in the 29th percentile.
Compare this with the salaries of many city officials (the director of management and budget, in the 85th percentile; the director of video services in the 82nd percentile) and you can understand their concern and skepticism when police and fire personnel are told, ``We'd like to get you to the 50th percentile if we just had the money.''
A recent survey of registered voters in Virginia Beach shows that over 70 percent support a 4.5 percent pay increase and take-home cars for police officers. This survey had more than 500 respondents - all registered voters, Republican and Democrat alike, young and old, from all across the city. The numbers were clear: The people in this city want to do what is necessary to see that the good life we have in Virginia Beach is not only maintained but improved.
We can't do that with too few officers on the street. We can't do that with too many experienced officers going to other cities with better pay. We can't do that with low-paid rookies having to make experienced decisions. We can't do that if criminals know they have time to scout neighborhoods and malls without worrying about police cars showing up.
It's understandable to some extent when budget hawks look at their computer printouts, shake their heads and tell us, ``The money isn't there for public safety and education. We do, however, have money for sand and amphitheaters and oldies bands on Labor Day - even if they lose us money. We do have money for city officials and staff to take cars home, but the police will have to forget it.''
Tell that to an elderly woman who has just been knocked down in a mall parking lot and had her purse stolen. Tell that to a family that comes home to find it robbed and ransacked. Tell that to a terrified teenage baby-sitter who heard a burglar but has to wait for help because officers on the street at night are stretched so thin.
As police officers, we can't force any proposal on City Council members. But some of them campaigned last year on a platform of improved public safety and take-home cars. They would be wise to listen not only to the police officers who know what is going on in our city but to the citizens whose priorities are good schools and a safe environment.
We commend City Manager Jim Spore for having the courage and initiative to get the salary facts for comparison and get them out for discussion. What Council must do now is review city priorities. Public safety is a basic for any community, whether it's Virginia Beach, Los Angeles or Mayberry. We who serve on the streets of Virginia Beach are the first line of defense, and we make all the difference in the quality of basic public safety. by CNB