Last week was an extremely busy week for The Oro Valley Police Department. The department arrested and charged a youth who was brandishing a wooden marching rifle in Kreigh Park. The charge is a felony charge. The department arrested two individuals for allegedly providing prostitution services at an Oro Valley Spa. At the end of the week, the department found itself defending some of its practices in an article that was published in the Arizona Daily Star. The Daily Star's reporter, Phil Villarreal, spoke with council members Garner and Zinkin regarding their claim that police department operations could be more efficiently run at less cost. He also spoke to Chief Sharp and Mayor Hiremath. The mayor and the chief both defended the practices of the department.
The article prompted one Oro Valley Resident to write a spirited email to the mayor and council members. In it, the individual voice dismay over the need for overtime and take-home cars. Resident seemed generally surprised. Apparently, the writer of the email has never read our publication.
Later in the week, Mayor Hiremath wrote a seething one paragraph email to many accusing council member Garner of attacking town employees; and of not following "protocol" by going public with his concerns.
Apparently Mayor Hiremath does not have the self-control to stay above the fray.
Council member Garner has served the town on council for more years than Mayor Hiremath. Garner knows what is right thing to do for the people of Oro Valley.
We spoke with council member Garner. We asked him the intent of his remarks. His response was simple: "I work for the people of Oro Valley. They are my only constituents."
We applaud council members Garter and Zinkin for standing up for the people. They are not allowing the council to ignore its responsibility to provide oversight to the police department. We have not been able to identify one instance during the past four years in which Majority-4 exercised the role that they have been charged to do in regards to the oversight of the police department. It is only Garner and Zinkin who provide this oversight. And for this the Mayor castigates them.
As council member Zinkin notes in his comments in the article, none of this disclosure would be needed if the chief of police reported to the town manager as is the practice in every other community in Arizona.
Some will accuse Garner and Zinkin of being anti-police. They will accuse them of threatening the very safety of the community by merely asking questions.
Garner and Zinkin are not anti-police.
Garner and Zinkin are pro-Oro Valley Resident.
What do you think?
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9 comments:
Apparently Mayor Hiremath does not have the self-control to stay above the fray.
This must qualify as the understatement of the year!!
Personally, I find the language Garner used in the Arizona Daily Star, directed at the OVPD, to be offensive, disrespectful, and out of line. As a town representative, he should speak professionally and avoid name calling. After reading his distasteful comments, it's hard to imagine that Garner can be objective when it comes to making any decisions regarding the OVPD!
Sheldon,
Am I correct that you are referring to the following quote in the article from Council Member Garner?
'"Unfortunately, this department is a prima donna department. It tries to put candidates forward sympathetic to it so its interest can go unchecked,” Garner said. “It’s union politics and thuggery that goes on.”'
Thanks,
Richard
How did I miss that article yesterday? Personally, I agree with Councilman Garner and Councilman Zinkin. The Oro Valley Police are too big for a town this size. Mayor Hiremath in my humble opinion needs to relax.
That is definitely the quote!
Indeed Mr. Rose. And the distasteful comments by our mayor do not help the political discourse of the town either.
Garner is only speaking the truth. Shortly after I moved here over 10
years ago, the first thing I heard from a neighbor was to "watch out for
Oro Valley cops!" She gave me an earful. Then one of my doctor's told
me that the OVPD was "the sacred cow of Oro Valley." I've now
witnessed their behavior over a 10-year period. They ARE a prima donna
department.
They also endorse candidates who will roll over for
them. Have you not seen how Hiremath-Hornat-Waters-Snider consistently
vote in their favor? That's no coincidence.
Union politics is
also correct. Where in the business world does anyone get paid 8 hours
of overtime when they've only worked 8 hours in the entire week? Do you
think that it's right for taxpayers to pay for this? A cop goes on
vacation to Hawaii from Sunday through Friday and then puts in a shift
on Saturday and gets paid time and half for that shift. And you
consider this to be a proper use of taxpayer money?
Thuggery. Also correct. I could write a book on that one.
I thought Hiremath's Christmas Day rant against Council Member Zinkin was offensive, disrespectful, and out of line.
You said of Garner, "As a town representative, he should speak professionally and avoid name-calling." Have you SEEN Hiremath's unprofessional and name-calling antics during council meetings? Funny how you don't say the same thing of him.
We have often pointed out on this blog and occasionally in a letter to the editor, that take home vehicles and overtime must be carefully managed.
To date, no evidence has been presented that these programs are under careful management.
Only the OV voter can change this sad state of affairs.
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