Saturday, August 7, 2010

Interesting Insight In The CCSD School Police Department

The LVRJ ran a good story about how a police officer for the CCSD Police Department (yes, we have a school police department) was forced to resign and it really gives a good insight into the inner workings of the department.
First, the story goes is that a newly hired (2008) police officer was hired from California and he filled out an application and stated that he had so many years in as a police officer. He retired from a local police dept. in CA. and came out of retirement to work for CCSD.
From the LVRJ:Goodwin said his quick rise and even quicker fall from grace in the department -- about two years total -- was due to his ability to handle budgets and his willingness to question every purchase.

He began working for the district in 2005 as a second grade teacher. In 2007, he moved back toward police work as a campus safety coordinator, one of about 50 police administrative jobs that do not require certification. About a year later, Arroyo was promoted from captain to chief, replacing Hector Garcia.

Goodwin said Arroyo admired his administrative skills and respected his background. A Naval Academy graduate, Goodwin had served 11 years as a naval officer before joining the California Highway Patrol and later the Manhattan Beach department.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/ousted-officer-blames-chief-100179269.html
The RJ goes on to say he was hired as a captain to oversee the budget and administrative part of the department. His main duties was to oversee the budget and implement new polices in regards to overtime and other duties. No police duties, apparently.
So, my first question is: Why do you need a captain of a police department to oversee the budget and administration duties and not do police work? It is one thing if Metro did this because that is all Metro does- police work. But don't we have employees in CCSD who do nothing but work on budgets and administration. Why does it take a police officer to do these kind of things? Maybe because a Captain makes a lot more money than a civilian doing the same job. A captain of a school P.D. should be doing police work, not budget work in a school police department.
Then we have an issue of providing undercover officers, who are on overtime, to school board meetings. First, if this is true, it's just another waste of taxpayer money. Just like providing police protection at a school's school play or Christmas concert. Just a waste of money. CCSDPD have officers at the meeting who are there in uniform and I don't think they are on overtime. Why do they need undercover officers there and why on overtime?
Police officers in CCSDPD don't make as much as other local police officers such as Metro, NLV and Henderson. The CCSDPD make their money in overtime and it's things like going to school concerts, plays and other productions that help increase the cost of school operations.
Anyways, read the story. It gives good insight to the police department and the waste that goes on there. It also has the potential of scandal, if what the former officers says is true.

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