One of our feature writers has a close relationship with SHP. She has
done some personality profiles on a few of the officers and they often
feed her a bit of news.
Marilyn called me soon after the officer died this afternoon to ask if
she should write a memorial for the next issue. (Of course). She was
only slightly acquainted with this particular harbor patrolman, but the
officers she knows well seem to be very upset about losing a
brother-officer and coworker.

There were very strong winds today. First southerlies, then a "hole" in
storm, and by midafternoon strong northerlies with hail.

There was a time when there were three cops in a patrol boat, but it
sounds like there were only two today. I wonder if the anti-tax crowd
forced a cutback in personnel? One guy on shore, the other standing at
the waterline aboard a patrol boat on the other side of a large
tug.......probably no line of sight between them.
What a shame the second patrolman couldn't get to the
victim before he had been underwater ten minutes.

What a shame in every way. You have to feel particularly sorry for the
widow and the baby.

On 16 Mar 2005 21:51:35 -0800, wrote:

I wonder if the anti-tax crowd forced a cutback in personnel?

Jees. Trying hard aren't you Chuck? What *won't* you use to make a political
point?
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

Jees. Trying hard aren't you Chuck? What *won't* you use to make a
political
point?

*********

?????????

We used to see three patrolmen in a boat. Now we're down to two, making
it more difficult for the patrolmen to keep one another in sight or in
comunication at all times. Had two patrolmen been sent ashore to try
and secure the lines while the third held it in place with the
patrolboat, its possible that the officer would not have slipped or
that somebody could have responded before he had been underwater for
ten minutes.

When tax roll-backs force cuts in police and fire protection around
here, it's often the boaters who see services cut first and most
drastically. Example: Tacoma Washington had to reduce the payroll in
the Fire Department a few years back, and the solution? Shut down the
fireboat station, "cross train" members of other stations to do various
jobs on the fireboat, and "mothball" one of the two fireboats. It got
to the point where if there was a marine fire alarm or other emergency,
the fireboat had to wait at the dock until the entire "crew" arrived
from locations all over town to get underway.

People who are always automatically so anti-tax *should* realize that
understaffing our police and fire departments often puts the officers
in jeopardy as well as impacts the level of service available to the
community. What's so "poltical" about that?

wrote in message
ups.com...
Jees. Trying hard aren't you Chuck? What *won't* you use to make a
political
point?

*********

?????????

We used to see three patrolmen in a boat. Now we're down to two, making
it more difficult for the patrolmen to keep one another in sight or in
comunication at all times. Had two patrolmen been sent ashore to try
and secure the lines while the third held it in place with the
patrolboat, its possible that the officer would not have slipped or
that somebody could have responded before he had been underwater for
ten minutes.

When tax roll-backs force cuts in police and fire protection around
here, it's often the boaters who see services cut first and most
drastically. Example: Tacoma Washington had to reduce the payroll in
the Fire Department a few years back, and the solution? Shut down the
fireboat station, "cross train" members of other stations to do various
jobs on the fireboat, and "mothball" one of the two fireboats. It got
to the point where if there was a marine fire alarm or other emergency,
the fireboat had to wait at the dock until the entire "crew" arrived
from locations all over town to get underway.

People who are always automatically so anti-tax *should* realize that
understaffing our police and fire departments often puts the officers
in jeopardy as well as impacts the level of service available to the
community. What's so "poltical" about that?


LOL! Somehow I knew a "Who, me?" response would be coming from Chuck.

JimH wrote:

LOL! Somehow I knew a "Who, me?" response would be coming from Chuck.

**********

Following me around to make personal remarks must get very boring. May
I suggest you consider an actual hobby of some kind?

Do you have anything of substance to add to this discussion, either the
tragedy itself or the
risks associated with reducing staff in certain public service
occupations? Or, have you contributed to the extent of your interests
and abilities with the petty personal comment?

wrote in message
ups.com...
JimH wrote:

LOL! Somehow I knew a "Who, me?" response would be coming from Chuck.

**********

Following me around to make personal remarks must get very boring. May
I suggest you consider an actual hobby of some kind?

Do you have anything of substance to add to this discussion, either the
tragedy itself or the
risks associated with reducing staff in certain public service
occupations? Or, have you contributed to the extent of your interests
and abilities with the petty personal comment?


Sort of like these comments *you*made today?
===============================
1.
You're slipping, Jim

Making remarks about liberals in general is only one small step away
from making specific personal remarks and falling back into the
name-calling, etc, for which you recently apologized.

=============================
2.
Start at the top. Read slowly.

==============================
3.
Aren't you among the crowd normally critical of editing cut 'n paste
before posting?

===================
4.
Looks like you hope to create a mountain out of a molehill on this
item.

Are you aching so badly to find some excuse to begin acting up again?

================================

Now what is that saying about people in glass houses Chuck?

wrote in message
ups.com...

Following me around to make personal remarks must get very boring. May
I suggest you consider an actual hobby of some kind?


I recommend JimH try boating. Then he may have something positive to
contribute.

On 17 Mar 2005 08:35:46 -0800, wrote:


People who are always automatically so anti-tax ...

Gee, who would these be Chuck? Surely you're not referring to one political
group are you?

An even more interesting question might be, "How does a properly fitted and
fastened life vest go floating away?"

But, that wouldn't be making a political point would it?

--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

"John H" wrote in message
...
On 17 Mar 2005 08:35:46 -0800, wrote:


People who are always automatically so anti-tax ...

Gee, who would these be Chuck? Surely you're not referring to one
political
group are you?

An even more interesting question might be, "How does a properly fitted
and
fastened life vest go floating away?"

But, that wouldn't be making a political point would it?

--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

Chuck would never do such a thing....or so he constantly says. ;-)

John H wrote:
On 17 Mar 2005 08:35:46 -0800, wrote:


People who are always automatically so anti-tax ...

Gee, who would these be Chuck? Surely you're not referring to one
political
group are you?

The only group would be, "People who are always automatically so
anti-tax" If the shoe fits......

An even more interesting question might be, "How does a properly
fitted and
fastened life vest go floating away?"

How do you know it was "properly fitted and fastened", John?