Stockton police billboards take budget battle to residents

[The Straight Story]

Stockton police billboards take budget battle to residents


STOCKTON, CA - Stockton police officers, frustrated by city threats of more layoffs in their department to balance Stockton's budget deficit, delivered a message of their own directly to the city streets this weekend.

"Stockton police can no longer guarantee your safety."

The bold message on a billboard posted in downtown Stockton was one of five new signs erected around town Saturday, paid for by the Stockton Police Officers Association.

Another sign on Fremont Street declared, "Welcome to the 2nd most dangerous city in California" and "Stop Laying Off Cops!"

The billboards were the latest salvo in an ongoing battle between Stockton leaders and law enforcement as the city wrestles with solutions to Stockton's $23 million budget shortfall.



http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=82513&catid=2

[yella_dawg]

1. Legalize Weed.

Then the cops can deal with real crime.

[cowman]

2. What a crock of shit

they could never "guarantee" your safety, what they could guarantee is taking a report or outlining your body with chalk

[LeftyMom]

3. Stockton isn't dangerous due to lack of cops. Stockton is dangerous because it's Dirt Fucking Poor.

Do something about the income inequality and you'll get somewhere. In the meantime, cops or no, people will do what they need to do in order to get by.

[tularetom]

4. Are they implying that up to now, they COULD guarantee your safety?

I don't believe the courts have agreed with that statement. It ain't their job to guarantee your safety.

At any rate, this is just another cheap stunt to scare the shit out of elderly residents. I hope the city dads are smart enough to tell them they are already overpaid and if they don't like what they get, they can always quit. It wouldn't be too hard to replace them these days. You could find qualified people willing to do the job at half what the current pay is.