Smaller Police Forces - Personal Protection

[1Timothy115]

In the event the economic downturn, recession, or depression continues or worsens public safety funding will be strapped to provide law enforcement personnel. State, county, and local governments are being forced to trim and slash budgets now. Decreased revenue from a depressed tax base will require local governments to downsize their police force. There will be less state, county, and city funds available for law enforcement.

I?ve already seen evidence of city governments dropping police task forces designed to prevent neighborhood drug trafficking and activity. I?ve also heard of localities curtailing plans to increase their police forces.

Ohio authorities question whether city can stay safe with fewer officers
By Elizabeth Gibson
The Columbus Dispatch
"I don't know if I can say crime X or crime Y would get worse, but without them, more things will happen," Leighty said. "It's just a given. That's really going to impact all of our neighborhoods."
http://www.policeone.com/Grants/article ... -officers/

Federal Drug Budget Projections in 2005
?The budget request indicates a decreased federal fiscal role in state and local government drug control activities.?
http://www.carnevaleassociates.com/CA_P ... Budget.pdf

The Fed reduced fiscal assistance to many local government drug and law enforcement programs during 2005-2006. Local governments had to find other sources of revenue to fund current and proposed law enforcement programs.
http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Sectio ... ntID=26465

The result is an already over burdened local economy. This coupled with the reduced local revenues from taxes and unemployment funding has or will drain law enforcement to the point of requiring cuts in services.

These facts point to an increasing awareness we must possess. We have a continuing drug problem in this nation which won?t get better. We have unemployed persons looking for money to pay for their drug habit and now, to provide for their family. We should prepare for a growing trend of lawlessness and crime.

What does this mean to you and me? We are living in perilous times. We need to be vigilant and in God?s Word.

Romans 12:17-21
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good

How do we protect our family and prevent harm from those outside our house?

[John81]

Stay away from dangerous areas. Avoid those most likely to be a part of violent criminal acts.

Consider moving if such might be best for family safety.

Be cautious and alert at all times. Work to make yourself not appear to be an easy target or a high value target.

Walk softly and carry a big stick!

[bzmomo7]

In the event the economic downturn, recession, or depression continues or worsens public safety funding will be strapped to provide law enforcement personnel. State, county, and local governments are being forced to trim and slash budgets now. Decreased revenue from a depressed tax base will require local governments to downsize their police force. There will be less state, county, and city funds available for law enforcement.

I?ve already seen evidence of city governments dropping police task forces designed to prevent neighborhood drug trafficking and activity. I?ve also heard of localities curtailing plans to increase their police forces.

Ohio authorities question whether city can stay safe with fewer officers
By Elizabeth Gibson
The Columbus Dispatch
"I don't know if I can say crime X or crime Y would get worse, but without them, more things will happen," Leighty said. "It's just a given. That's really going to impact all of our neighborhoods."
http://www.policeone.com/Grants/article ... -officers/

Federal Drug Budget Projections in 2005
?The budget request indicates a decreased federal fiscal role in state and local government drug control activities.?
http://www.carnevaleassociates.com/CA_P ... Budget.pdf

The Fed reduced fiscal assistance to many local government drug and law enforcement programs during 2005-2006. Local governments had to find other sources of revenue to fund current and proposed law enforcement programs.
http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Sectio ... ntID=26465

The result is an already over burdened local economy. This coupled with the reduced local revenues from taxes and unemployment funding has or will drain law enforcement to the point of requiring cuts in services.

These facts point to an increasing awareness we must possess. We have a continuing drug problem in this nation which won?t get better. We have unemployed persons looking for money to pay for their drug habit and now, to provide for their family. We should prepare for a growing trend of lawlessness and crime.

What does this mean to you and me? We are living in perilous times. We need to be vigilant and in God?s Word.

Romans 12:17-21
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good

How do we protect our family and prevent harm from those outside our house?

This verse above is soooooo true. I don't know about everyone else, but it has been right in the forefront of my mind lately just how many people in this country are on anti-depressants and other anti-psychotic medications and such. Couple that with a severe moral decline nationally, a bad economy etc. ....things can and will likely get pretty bad. My husband and I both have commented that we live in a day that we need to really work hard to live at peace with those around us and not to provoke people to anger unecessarily especially with our words. It just seems people are more volatile than they used to be and you can't tell who is going to go "off" in retaliation for some perceived "wrong".

[1Timothy115]

I live across the road from a public high school (within 1000 feet), it can't get any more dangerous than that!

The town (if you could call it that) is small. The population 2,387 (2005 U.S. Census Estimate) includes the entire township; add another 1000 when school open. The nearest most populated 'city' has a population of 31,617 in July 2007, 20 miles away.

I was more concerned about the decreasing funding for law enforcement and the increasing joblessness forcing some to become criminal to continue their livelihood. Also, the increasing illegal drug issue and the criminal activity which follows it, is a real concern. The local sheriff has done a good job until now going after the crime and drugs but, I know his funds will decrease.

Be cautious and alert at all times. Work to make yourself not appear to be an easy target or a high value target. Walk softly and carry a big stick!

This sounds like my best option so far.

[jchahl]

Decreased police in my town wouldn't hurt much. It'd probably benefit most people. Our police turn a blind eye to high drug activity in my hometown while they harass me for loitering and pull my brother over for rolling through a stop sign. Our police force is extremely corrupt.

[John81]

Decreased police in my town wouldn't hurt much. It'd probably benefit most people. Our police turn a blind eye to high drug activity in my hometown while they harass me for loitering and pull my brother over for rolling through a stop sign. Our police force is extremely corrupt.

Sounds like much of what we have around here. Unless they make some high profile raids, most often they prefer to go after "easy criminals". They stop little old ladies driving three blocks to get their mail without a seatbelt. They stop farmers to check their machines. They set up speed traps to catch mothers driving five miles an hour over the speed limit.

They are more than willing to harrass those they know won't cause the trouble but are careful to avoid bothering the folks with money and the hardcore criminals who would give them problems.

[tired]

Living in the Baltimore District of Criminals area, we have many, many police departments and federal agencies. They do major in the minor, but many of our police departments have top of the line SWAT and drug enforcement units. The problem is they are so well trained and almost special forces like, that when they ban guns, hate speech, and christianity it will be hard to get away from them.

[JerryNumbers]

I keep hearing crime rate is down, but I don't believe that, the courts are full, the jails are full, and we hear about crimes nearly every day, that use not to be so.

In our nation we have more gambling, more drinking, more drugs with each new year, and all that does is bring more crimes of stealing, murdering.