Things aren't all peaches and cream at the Galveston Police Department in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, and it's taking it's toll on the rank and file.
Cops are stressed out. They are having to share cars. One car to three or four detectives. Taking turns, waiting in line to use a car to go out on an investigation or follow-up.
Cell phones. Many officers have no cell phones. Those lost in the storm were not replaced.
"Our budget has been so seriously slashed we are hardly able to function," said one veteran cop. Officers are jumping ship. They're fed up and the one's that are eligible for pensions are taking their money and going to other jobs. In November a high-ranking member of the command staff will retire and take the police chief job at Santa Fe ISD. A veteran sergeant in charge of the Training Division is dragging up for a position at Alvin Community College. That's just two that we know of. The Galveston Police Department, traditionally low on manpower, does not announce when cops leave, but they do announce when they graduate a new cadet class. It's Catch-22 at Galveston, the swinging door syndrome.
Shortly after Ike, Chrysler Motor Company gave the city 10 new Dodge pickup trucks. The police department, which lost about 13 vehicles in the storm, got one. That's why we see two cops in every car and that's why detectives have to take turns using a car.
Don't mention the demise of the Criminal Identification Divison. The CSI's, as they are referred to nowadays, are doing other things. The street cops are taking fingerprints and photographs of their own scenes, processing their own crime scenes. Where are the CSI's? Everywhere. Wherever they need a warm body they slip someone in until the leak stops.
You won't hear any upper echelon city talkers saying anything about the serious situation at the PD. It's hush, hush. They want you to believe that everything is hunky doorie. They especially want the few tourist who still come here to think they're safe. Tourist bucks is about the only source of income left to support this town and the police are way down the list when they hand out those bucks.
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Seems like the Galveston City Government was hit with a double whammy this year.
They had no way of knowing $4.00 a gallon gas would be in their future when the budget was written and approved.
However, if any City Government should be prepared for the aftermath of a hurricane, Galveston should be at the top of the list. If any planning was done for the aftermath of a hurricane it sure is not visible. It looks like all of the planning was done for the evacuation and little or no thought was given to what to do afterwards.
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