I was troubled to read in the paper that fewer people are signing up to become police officers and more candidates are dropping out of the academy. Also, the more experienced officers are taking tests in Nassau and Suffolk counties to be officers there because of better pay. To rub more salt in the wound, the city plans to cut 1,000 department positions due to the slowdown in the city's economy. This is reported to bring the force to its lowest numbers since 1993.
Since January, there has been an increase in crimes like rape, felonies, grand larcenies and murders. “The main reason is the painfully low salaries that New York City is paying police officers,” said Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch.
I agree. New York has also been attacked by terrorists twice and there have been many threats to our city. These threats were foiled in part by our finest, who were not as taxed as they are now. We need to write Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and the City Council that our lives are on the line.
Also remember what Lynch said last summer: “You can never pay a police officer enough money to take a bullet, but at least pay them a decent wage.”
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose
