quote:
Originally posted by swake
Nice theory about the crime rate hurting convention business, but it’s not true, the two cities with the largest tourist/convention industries both have crime rates higher than Tulsa’s.
Tulsa 633.7
Las Vegas 694.5
Orlando 758.9
Why would the city have to annex the rural areas? We have a City/County Health Department and a City/County Library system today, why not a City/County police force? We don’t need to force Broken Arrow to merge their police, but offer them the option. And even so merging the police departments does not mean having to merge the cities, many cites have metro and city/county police departments, it’s very common. Oh, and check a map, Sapulpa and Catoosa are not in Tulsa County.
I know you are not seriously comparing Tulsa to Las Vegas, Orlando or Chicago? I know that Las Vegas, Orlando and Chicago do have higher crime rates but look at what they have to draw visitors! What exactly does Tulsa have? High crime rates and a broze statue that is not built! Indian bingo and casino halls with such big name draws as Ed "Too Tall Jones"! A downtown full of only bars were 30+ people fighting on the sidewalks outside are common on the weekends. An Arkansas River that is sometimes full.
Lets face it comparing Las Vegas, Orlando or Chicago to Tulsa is like comparing a expensive car to a skateboard, or apples to apple seeds, or oranges to lemons ect. I'm sure you are getting the picture. Don't get me wrong, I love living in Tulsa but those other cities are in a different catagory all together.
As far as combining the police departments,
TCSO minimum requirments:
Certified Deputy - 21 years of age.
60 credit hrs. from an accredited college, or Advanced Certificate from CLEET.
Reside in Tulsa County within 90 days of employment.
Pass background investigation.
Pass a written exam at 75% or above.
Pass a oral screening board at 75% or above and interviews.
Weight in proportion to height.
Vision - Corrected distant vision 20/20 in each eye.
Successfully pass a physical/medical examination as established by the Sheriff's Office.
Successfully pass a drug screening examination.
Successfully pass the MMPI psychological examination within 3 months of employment.
Meet identity requirements as required by federal law.
No Protective Order or on probation/parole, no criminal record charges pending, never convicted of a felony.
Successfully pass all required training.
TPD minimum requirememts:
Applicants must be 21-45 years of age.
There are no residency requirements to take the test, but applicants must be U.S. citizens and reside in the Tulsa metropolitan area once hired.
Applicants may not have been convicted of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude.
Applicants must have completed a Bachelor's degree with a C+ average or better at an accredited college. No military hours or credits are accepted unless they are received from or converted through an accredited college.
Far Visual Acuity of at least 20/30 in each eye with or withour corrective lenses.
Peripheral Vision without correction of 140 degrees in the horizontal median in each eye.
Ability to distinguish red and green on a standard Ishihara test for color blindness.
Hearing must be normal in both ears. No hearing aid devices will be accepted.
Successfully complete the written aptitude test.
Complete the take home background questionnaire (BIQ). Mail or deliver the BIQ and an official college transcript with a raised seal to the Testing Coordinator.
Appear for oral interview before the Police Screening Board.
Undergo a comprehensive background investigation conducted by the Tulsa Police Department.
If an applicant passes the above then they must pass a medical examination by the City Physican, including drug screening test and Psychological assessment.
ALSO:
* There is no lateral entry into the Tulsa Police Department. All selected applicants, regardless of previous law enforcement experience or rank, will enter employment with the Tulsa Police Department as an APO (Apprentice Police Officer) which is the City of Tulsa's entry-level law enforcement position.
Even if you could find some middle ground on the requirements, how do you combine the employees. Do police officers with a Bachelor's degree or a master's degree get paid more? How much more? What do you do with all the ranking officers (Sheriff, Chief of Police, Deputy chiefs, undersheriffs, captains, sergeants, corporals ect.)How do you rank officers.
When people test to promote what will be the requirements? Will college degrees count? If they do then the sheriff's office will always loss out initially.
These are just some of the smaller problems at combining the two offices at first glance. Not even considering the difference in equipment and tactics. So I think everyone can see the difficulty it would be if it was even tried.
As far a CCA is concerned, they really do need to go but the bad thing is TCSO doesn't want the jail back. That was where most of their headaches were in the first place. TCSO is content with patroling the county areas and doing prisoner transfers. There as been talk about making TCSO take the jail back but TCSO estimate on what it would cost for them to run it is more then the county is paying CCA now.
