I was at the Red Bank Commission meeting last evening, and Commissioners Floy Pierce and Rick Causer refused to offer any explanation for refusing the federal grant for computers for the Red Bank Police cars.
In their defense, I would like to offer some explanations.
1. If the police cars had these on-board computers, it would be a very simple matter to check license plates and registrations.
The police would not have to follow the vehicle in question for miles, getting the information from a 911 operator.
2. Think about it. Since Red Bank is six miles long and one mile wide, the vehicles in question will be out of Red Bank and in Chattanooga, where it's the problem of the Chattanooga police.
3. Hence, there will be many less arrests in Red Bank, and the crime rate will drop.
4. So, the denial of appropriately equipping Red Bank Police will ultimately lead to a crime-free community, if we take away more and more of the other equipment of the Red Bank Police.
5. Ms. Pierce and Mr. Causer's goal is to save Red Bank a ton of money by avoiding making arrests (which is expensive), going to trial (which is expensive), collecting fines (which is expensive), monitoring those on Red Bank community service (which is expensive),
6. Following this ingenious crime suppression strategy, we should take away the police cars, guns, body armor, cuffs, radios, etc. Put the police on bicycles with a sack of rocks to throw at criminals. And, there are thousands of people in Red Bank who will let the police use their phone to call for more rocks if needed.
Steve Daugherty Sr.
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When I read the article this morning concerning the Red Bank Commission meeting I was appalled to read that Rick Causer and Mildred (Floy) Pierce voted against a federal grant that would help the police department. Why would a commissioner, that is supposed to be helping the city, not want to help the police department?
I was not there last night so I can not speculate what happened but at every commission meeting that I have attended Floy Pierce and Rick Causer seem to act like kindergartners, it is either my way or no way.
I hope that all the residents of Red Bank will think very hard about their vote this time. Red Bank cannot afford to have four more years of Floy Pierce.
Red Bank may not be able to replace Rick Causer this time but please make sure that we keep John Roberts. We will try our best to replace Rick Causer in 2016.
Deirdre Hamill
Red Bank