Got rape?

[lincolnboy]

Wonder what the percent of the rape cases involved drugs. if drugs are involved, they should be using those rape kits.

[03trubluGT]

Oh, and cops aren't the ones getting the money. If that's the case, I've been jipped for the last 23 years.

It's all about the city council taking money from the police budget and putting it in the general fund so they can award their buddies contracts and get kickbacks. It's nothing more than dirty politics.

[Frank]

I'm still puzzled by all this expensive yearly maintenance everyone keeps touting if its not getting used. The vehicles are free and will be just an excuse to attempt marshal law under certain circumstances.

[03trubluGT]

Oh, and cops aren't the ones getting the money. If that's the case, I've been jipped for the last 23 years.

It's all about the city council taking money from the police budget and putting it in the general fund so they can award their buddies contracts and get kickbacks. It's nothing more than dirty politics.

Example:

A Crown Vic goes in for an oil change and the PD budget is charged $75. The $75 goes into the general fund so the city can use the money any way they want and tell the citizens the police budget is lacking.

[bcoop]

Rape victims do have a choice. It's the victims of domestic violence that the state picks up the charges.

That is absolutely retarded. I'm sure this is because the DA doesn't want to force rape victims to testify and relive it, and I can understand that. But if DNA evidence is present, they shouldn't have to testify.

[dee]

I'm still puzzled by all this expensive yearly maintenance everyone keeps touting if its not getting used. The vehicles are free and will be just an excuse to attempt marshal law under certain circumstances.

Ours get used when there is a armed and barricaded suspect. Apparently the fire department frowned on swat using their million dollar ladder truck.

Example:

A Crown Vic goes in for an oil change and the PD budget is charged $75. The $75 goes into the general fund so the city can use the money any way they want and tell the citizens the police budget is lacking.

Ours the maintenance and fuel come out of the fleet budget no matter the department. It is that departments job to budget for everything including new vehicle purchase.

[03trubluGT]

That is absolutely retarded. I'm sure this is because the DA doesn't want to force rape victims to testify and relive it, and I can understand that. But if DNA evidence is present, they shouldn't have to testify.

The Constitution says you have a right to face your accuser.

[Chili]

I have been looking for maintenance cost estimates, but could only find sources regarding costs overseas ($60k a year). Obviously that is not a good comparison since that is what he DOD "pays", and they were getting much more use over there.

I saw several references to the "retrofit" costs being substantial, but only found one source that confirmed a number. They put $130k in theirs, just to get it into service:

http://murrieta.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/murrieta-police-acquire-new-armored-swat-truck

Murrieta police then used $130,000 in asset forfeiture—monies seized during narcotics-related investigations—to transport and retrofit the Casspir with new electrical wiring, paint and fabrication, the lieutenant said.

Of course, their justification was that the money came from seized assets, so really didn't cost the taxpayers money.. The flaw there being that they still could have used that $130k for something more useful, rather than dumping it into paint and wiring for a vehicle that will supposedly get little use.

Found another article where an agency crashed theirs on the way back from picking it up. Tire blew causing it to total a pickup. The claim was $42k. More interesting was the repair bill for the MRAP.. over $3k for 4 tires and some repairs, and over $500 just for the tow. These things also get 5-6mpg on deisel, so the trip from El Paso to SoCal used more than $500 in fuel plus the plane ticket to get them to El Paso:

http://banning-beaumont.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/draft_fe681730

On Sept. 19, a Reimbursement Request from Holder to Purvis included a $550 Unique Heavy Recovery tow bill from the crash location to Phoenix and the tire shop, and $3,117 for installation of four tires and vehicle repair.

Just seems like a whole lot of wasted money for something that will get little use, "free" or not. That's not even addressing the whole "militarization" of police agencies. It was also interesting to me that the agencies that got them in the story above didn't even get approval from their city council before accepting delivery.

[Sean88gt]

They actually buy the MRAP's or other military "assault trucks" because they get them donated or buy them dirt cheap. Most police departments would rather have smaller more 'normal' assault vehicles but can't afford them so they end up with the military surplus. I know, it sounds crazy, but it is what it is. Here's an article about one town:

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2...icle/10170225/

Your comments completely miss the point that POLICE do NOT need MILITARY vehicles.

[Sean88gt]

The Constitution says you have a right to face your accuser.

Red light cams?

[03trubluGT]

Red light cams?

It's no different than any other video (think convenience store, parking garage, etc...)

[Sean88gt]

It's no different than any other video (think convenience store, parking garage, etc...)

I don't agree with the over usage of cameras period, but those don't charge me a fine.

[Chili]

I don't agree with the over usage of cameras period, but those don't charge me a fine.

Besides, convenience store and parking lot cameras are installed by the owners to protect their property. Red light cameras are installed by government agencies with the sole purpose of assessing fines.

[03trubluGT]

I don't agree with the over usage of cameras period, but those don't charge me a fine.

Besides, convenience store and parking lot cameras are installed by the owners to protect their property. Red light cameras are installed by government agencies with the sole purpose of assessing fines.

You guys just have bad attitudes.

Those cameras are for safety!!!!!!

(Recipient of a red light ticket myself)

😜

[racrguy]

First off, it's disgusting that evidence from rape cases sits for a week, let alone years.

I wholeheartedly agree.

And if someone gives you a $50k vehicle, don't you think you could afford to maintain it.

No, they can't afford it because they're pulling money away from stuff they should be doing and instead spending it on toys. I say toys in a very loose term, because when has anyone ever NEEDED an MRAP. Edit: outside of a war zone. I completely understand the need when you're at war.

Realize these aren't on patrol, they have very limited yearly mileage.

I'll grant you that they don't see as much mileage as a patrol unit does, but with the estimated 50-80k SWAT raids performed in the US each year, now many miles do you think they're getting put on them?

The data for unprocessed kits would be skewed if it includes kits that aren't being processed because of the victim not pressing charges. This is just a speculation depending on if the have the right to choose. Imo they shouldn't have that option if there is dna available.

I think all people should have the choice whether or not to press charges. However, I disagree that just because someone doesn't want to press charges it means that there is no longer a rape that was committed. The data still needs to be compiled as if a person is capable of raping once, they're capable of doing it multiple times.

Oh, and cops aren't the ones getting the money. If that's the case, I've been jipped for the last 23 years.

Cops aren't, the PD is.

It's all about the city council taking money from the police budget and putting it in the general fund so they can award their buddies contracts and get kickbacks. It's nothing more than dirty politics.

I disagree that it's done solely for that reason.

Example:

A Crown Vic goes in for an oil change and the PD budget is charged $75. The $75 goes into the general fund so the city can use the money any way they want and tell the citizens the police budget is lacking.

The costs associated with maintaining a vehicle have to come from somewhere. Does the PD have their own service people that handle the motor pool and are paid out of the PD's budget, along with any inventory used? If yes, then it's bullshit that they PD is being charged, as the city is double dipping. If they're employees of the city that handle all city vehicles, then I don't see an issue with it, as it's how things are supposed to work.

I don't go to a service center and expect them to change my oil for free simply because we're private entities, why should the police get their oil changes for free simply because it's all under the umbrella of the city?