On Wednesday, September 8, 2004, at 08:53 PM, CAREY HOWELL wrote:
The mobile command unit IS staffed whenever it is in the neighborhood whether or not the MPD is short-staffed.
So Priority 1 calls have to wait because MPD can't pull an officer away from the Mobile Command Unit Detail?
This is not a homeland security "toy", Dyna, this is a useful piece of equipment that the MPD uses when needed (such as when there is a large, complicated crime scene or when it is needed to deal with a riot, a significant protest, et cetera.)
The greatest need at a significant protest is for traffic control, and the Mobile Command Unit looks pretty useless for that.
The Hennepin County Sheriff's department has two, neither of which were purchased as part of homeland security.
And if there the ones I'm thinking of at least on was built and is staffed by volunteers.
The shades are pulled down probably for the same reasons I keep my shades down. I really am not interested in seeing people looking in my window at me
nor do I want some of the folks perusing my belongings and just waiting for me to go to work
before they burglarize me. But I do answer my door
when someone rings the bell or they knock. If you
knock on the door, Dyna, you will be welcomed
in and given a tour of the vehicle. Really, it's not
a diabolical plot. It's just a tool.
That's quite alright, I've already been in several mobile command vehicles. Most were build and staffed by volunteers like local amateur radio clubs, usually starting with a surplus vehicle from the local government's fleet or a donated travel trailer. For far less than the well into six figures price of a Mobile Command Unit like Minneapolis's they had functional units that were well laid out and efficent, having been designed and built by their users.
I do, however, agree with you about the loss of the Clinton Cops and the hopes of Kerry Cops if he gets elected.
Agreed- especially since the big bucks spent on MPD's new toy is chump change compared to the millions and billions of our tax dollars the Bush administration spends on there toys...
hangin' on in Hawthorne,
Dyna Sluyter
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