Letter to the Editor, SF Examiner, Dec. 9, 2010

Dear Editor:

As a supporter of privately-sponsored and privately-paid neighborhood policing by the Patrol Special Police, I encounter the objection that such policing is suspect because it's profit motivated. That's pure balderdash. If we clients don't want to hire a Patrol Special for extra patrols that supplement the SFPD, we don't have to. Further, we can fire our officer with one month's notice if their ''profit" or hourly rate become too high in our opinion. Of course that's not the case with SFPD officers, who rarely can be fired or punished without substantial time and enormous expense to do so, arising from their civil service status and extensive due process rights. I'm ever more concerned about the motivation of taxpayer-paid SFPD officers who command huge salaries and benefits. Capt. Cassenego of Ingleside district admitted in your December 9 news article "Citations drop during election," http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/crime/2010/12/citations-drop-during-election, that some of his officers reduced ticket writing to engender good will. They hoped that citizens would defeat Prop B and relieve police officers (and City workers) from contributing more to their retirement and health benefits. If that's not policing impermissably determined by a pure profit motive, I don't know what is. Assistant Chief Godown said he didn't know how to respond to the captain's news, but there's only one clear answer if he truly accepts his mission to protect the public safety: find and get rid of police officers who make policing decisions solely or primarily on the basis of filling their own pockets.

Ann Grogan
Glen Park Resident, 30 years