Some in Homer concerned about police response
HOMER — About 30 residents who follow a Facebook page called "Homer Watch" turned out for a special meeting of the village board's police committee, to voice their concerns about the Homer Police Department, the hours local officers are available, and whether the department's overall price is worth the services it provides.
Homer resident Craig Wakefield, whose home was burglarized on Dec. 2, said the hours local officers are on duty would seem to prioritize traffic enforcement over criminal investigations. He said the local police force does not bear its share of the burden in local criminal investigations, but relies instead on Champaign County sheriff's deputies to respond.
Rodney Nash said, "Are traffic tickets more important than crime and the safety of our kids?"
Susan Forsyth said in her experience, local police are slow to respond to calls, if they respond at all.
Said Forsyth, "Why should I pay property taxes that go to our cop, and pay more taxes to the county for the same service? We're paying into it twice."
Shawn White objected to cutting back the local department, saying, "We need more police, day and night."
Cindy Fuller spoke out in defense of the local department, which works limited hours.
The police department, under the direction of Chief John Rouse, provides eight hours of local patrol daily, seven days a week, at irregular hours as scheduled by Rouse; outside these hours, the sheriff's office dispatches emergency response to the village, and forwards non-emergency calls to the Homer department.
The purpose of the special meeting was to hear Wakefield in closed session on a specific complaint against the department for its handling of evidence in the Dec. 2 burglary investigation. His complaint resulted in a decision to resubmit evidence for DNA testing. Sunglasses and a soda can, presumably left behind by the burglar, had already been tested for fingerprints.
The police committee was echoed by Mayor David Lucas, who said he has no doubts as to Rouse's competency: "If you can't trust the police chief and the police department, that's a problem. But I do trust him. My position has always been that John (Rouse) runs the police department. And that's been my advice to the Police Committee members as well, not to micro-manage him."
The total annual cost of the police force is about $63,000, with a portion of the cost covered by the department itself with fines. Lucas said budget constraints would not support adding more hours of local police service.
James, you might have a different opinion if you realized that about the only thing that the police do is sit on the north end of town waiting for the random few outsiders who pass through town to enter the city limits a mile or two per hour over the speed limit, only to slap them with a speeding ticket. On a lucky day, they'll even catch a resident! <insert "woo hoo" here> Basically, they're doing nothing more than financially perpetuating their own existence, and that sounds like the gripe of the residents.
I was just saying that is a great deal for 8 hours a day 365 days a year but this year is an exceptionally great deal with 366 days. Everybody is always welcome to come to Champaign/Urbana where Millions of dollars are spent on a police force 24 hrs a day 7 days a week and someone gets robbed at gun point everyday, multiple houses are burglarized daily, endless numbers of assaults and other robberies. There is good news: Our property taxes are building a 20 millioin dollar swimming pool and if someone donates atleast a few hundred grand they can have the pool named after them. Although there are open positions on the Urbana Police department that can't be filled due to lack of money........Come join the fun, just watch your back walking down the side walk going the new awesome pool cause you might be the next victim of a gun in your face or you might have just entered a game you didn't know you were playing, called "Polar Bear Hunting"!
I was just saying that is a great deal for 8 hours a day 365 days a year but this year is an exceptionally great deal with 366 days. Everybody is always welcome to come to Champaign/Urbana where Millions of dollars are spent on a police force 24 hrs a day 7 days a week and someone gets robbed at gun point everyday, multiple houses are burglarized daily, endless numbers of assaults and other robberies. There is good news: Our property taxes are building a 20 millioin dollar swimming pool and if someone donates atleast a few hundred grand they can have the pool named after them. Although there are open positions on the Urbana Police department that can't be filled due to lack of money........Come join the fun, just watch your back walking down the side walk going the new awesome pool cause you might be the next victim of a gun in your face or you might have just entered a game you didn't know you were playing, called "Polar Bear Hunting"!
As a resident of Ogden, which has no police department due to lack of funding, I too am concerned about safety. Who am I supposed to call if something happens and how long would I have to wait for an authority member to show up? As a taxpayer, I would like to see what my taxes are being spent on. I couldn't tell you the last time I saw a county or state police officer cruising through town.
Also, does Homer really need all the fancy, blacked out vehicles for their officers? How about taking the tint off and letting the residents see their police officers. Let the residents and officers get to know each other, make everyone feel more comfortable instead of creeping around town, chasing people for petty traffic offenses.
The small communities in the county, and C-U have similiarities, and differences. I am not trying to portray life in rural areas as ideal. People there come together; and try to care for each other. Crime has spread there also. Having your house broken into feels the same in the country, and city. The neighbors in the small communities do try to look out for each other. The Sheriff's deputies cover the county the best they can. I have no fault with them. They are drawn off the county roads when disturbances happen in the city. The small communities have limited financial resources with growing numbers of their citizens becoming unemployed, and gas prices constantly rising. They have their criminal element also. Most citizens of the communities know who are the local criminals. Volunteer fire departments cooperate during disasters like fires, wrecks, and locating lost children. The frustration seen in Homer exists in other villages across the county. As resources diminish due to the current economic situation; the citizens in the county band together even more. I am not saying that this does not happen in C-U. However, there is a difference between the rural areas, and the city. Don't make assumptions about "Mayberry". Sometimes, a "Watch" needs to be formed; but with the cooperation of the Sheriff's Office. I would not recommend sightseeing after dark.
I am not a Homer resident. But based on what I have read and heard through friends, the police force there is subpar at best. It seems like it would make more sense (and cost effective) to disband the Homer Police Force and simply contract through the Sheriff's Office, such as Savoy or Saint Joseph does. This would solve most (if not all) the problems and offer the citizens of Homer a far more professional, experienced and effective police force.
Always Yours,
Chambana Dude
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