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Message-ID: <54791818.1010806@sbcglobal.net>
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 16:49:28 -0800
From: Richard Childers <fscked@sbcglobal.net>
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To: Bill Dobberstein <BDobberstein@ci.fortuna.ca.us>
CC: jessica.ppmrentals@gmail.com
Subject: Hensons onsite; fist-sized rock found on front doorstep
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Chief Dobberstein,

I stepped out about thirty minutes ago and found a fist-sized rock on my 
doorstep.

Too large to be blown by the wind ... placed so quietly that no one 
heard a thing ... large enough to hurt someone.

I called dispatch. It didn't seem to be an emergency yet.

Two officers dropped by a few minutes later. They didn't seem too happy.

The rock was there. They ignored it. They weren't interested in knocking 
on 4-B's door.

I asked them for an incident number. They told me to call the dispatcher 
..?

They left. They didn't seem interested in anything that didn't involve 
blood flowing or tangible damage.

(Does it even need to be said, "Give the citizen an incident number, in 
writing?" Isn't that, like, part of police kindergarden, by now?)

Customer relations are not their forte, it would seem.

I don't see either of those gentlemen becoming detectives any time soon.

So, I called the dispatcher.

I got the incident number. It doesn't matter. You know it. It was around 
1815, today.

I told the dispatcher - Gabe - that if the police force waits until 
something happens, they aren't actually adding any value - they are 
being reactive, rather than preventive.

If they want to PREVENT things from happening they have to INVOLVE 
themselves.

Your officers acted like I'd interrupted their poker game.


Regards,

~richard