LETTERS: December 12, 2007

newsroom@newsandtribune.com

December 11, 2007 04:36 pm

— FOP offers support for city councilman

I was recently contacted by several of my fellow members of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 99 expressing their concern over some recent letters published in this paper criticizing Dan Coffey. This criticism was over some statistics and comments Mr. Coffey recently made about the crime problem here in New Albany. Our membership has asked me to write this letter in response to this criticism.
Our membership would like everyone to know that the crime statistics Mr. Coffey has been referring to were collected, researched and organized by members of our lodge. These statistics were provided to city council members by our bargaining committee during our recent contract negotiations. We spent a great deal of time and effort collecting the data used to compile these numbers. As police officers working the streets everyday here in our city, we feel that they are an accurate portrayal of the crime problem we are facing. To date, Mr. Coffey has been the most vocal city official when it comes to expressing our concerns about this issue. We appreciate and thank Mr. Coffey for taking up our cause, and for bringing our feelings to light.
Our membership would also like everyone in our community to know that our commitment to you is unwavering. Due to our low “manpower” levels we are not where we’d like to be when it comes to fighting crime, but it is not for a lack of effort on our part. We simply do not have the “bodies” to provide you with the police service you so richly deserve.
— Paul Haub, F.O.P. Lodge 99