Thanks Jack! We know most residents love us/police and respect and honor our profession. We are being attacked and demoralized by those who hate us for not getting into lock step with corrupt management style and supporting their BS political agendas (fire fees, museums, country clubs etc..) like the Firefighters (the real thieves of the pension system as the Gazette pointed out with over 30% of its work force over $100k). The Firefighters are now helping Salerno push a fire fee so they can steal more from the taxpayers...why do think all those firefighters were at the last commission meeting? They are using the "life safety" issue as a cloak to hide their real agenda of double taxing the taxpayer...pay twice for the same services you have been provided for over 70 years???

Dear Mr. Thompson:

You male valid points, however, I must disagree with your characterization that there are "barbarians" that surround the City Beautiful. That is a disgraceful and insensitive statement. The Coral Gables Police Department is not what stands between lawlessness and and us, it is a complex formula that includes such factors as socio-economic background, family environment, education, etc.

The fleecing that we have witnessed over the past year by the ivy league suit and tie has been devastating for the nation and our community. Coral Gables doesn't need a SWAT unit and yes, police (as well as fire) salaries, benefits, and pensions are out of whack with reality!

With all due respect, get off your elitist high horse and do something about this mess, RECALL the City Commission!

Jack, I have the utmost respect for you and your family, one that has given our city a lot for many years, including your son being a part of police department that we call family, however, the men and women that protect us are not the problem. Ask them about the issues and they will tell you that they are proud of what they do, how they do it and whereas not receptive to taking pay cuts, they desire to stay on and work in an environment not easily found in other cities that may pay more, but the chances of making it to retirement alive is greatly diminished. The officers are after all, humans, who are mothers, fathers, etc. like many of us.

The issue is the lack of leadership that is so abundant in the department and the police union. After Gene Gibbons' overthrow following the coup-de-tat by the Chief's son-in-law, Sgt. Baublitz and Little Hudak (he is Ed Hudak's ghost writer and internal spy as Ed cannot write his way out of a lieutenant examination in which he scored a failing 60) aka Sgt. Randy Hoff, who was caught by his sergeant having a side scuba diving instruction business by his supervisor while in the Marine Patrol unit, with answering machine and all, all on city time, things started going south and quickly.

The information presented to us at the lodge a couple of weeks ago by the above characters was incorrect and laughable, not to mention their tyrannical attitude. Ever wonder why the FOP is not respected? They are so outdated that their website www.coralgablesfop.com still shows King Gene as president. John, why are you hiding?

The flyers the residents are receiving merit no sympathy as it belittles me, my fellow officers, who are out there, despite being told to slow down and create problems by the police union, and does not represent your views, your son's or any of us. It is the fabrication of Rich (must protect the family's future by protecting my son-in-law, unless he divorces), Ed Hudak, who pays more attention to his second job, UM Football Security director, than to his CG police job, Little Hudak (small in every way aka Randy Hoff), a rat of the worst kind, who is truly a snitch and the cadre of brown nosers that blow smoke up the chief's rear component. Check out all the businesses Hudak and Little Hudak have had as side businesses in years past, in law enforcement and other fields, creating a possible conflict of interest, all on city time and money.

We do not support and will not follow the direction of these failed few who are instigators and would rather see our department destroyed just to make their point. They do not deserve our respect nor our support.

Jack, you mean well, however, the problem is deeply rooted by incompetence, arrogance and cronyism. The residents of this city have never said no to police and fire and they will not say no this time, however, those that got us here must go if we are to regain the residents' confidence. After all, the residents have every right to be upset and demand as they do pay all our bills.

P.S. - Gene, do we miss you. Sorry for the back-stabbing the new leadership handed you. You deserved better.

Does Gables need a SWAT team said: "The Coral Gables Police Department is not what stands between lawlessness and and us, it is a complex formula that includes such factors as socio-economic background, family environment, education, etc."

I looked high and low on the 8 bronze plaques in the Coral Gables Police Department lobby and saw nothing about social economic and educational issues...I did see one killed by a rifle, another machine gunned, and one shot in the neck in front of his K9 partner...some how all that academia was lost in the carnage and blood spill of those fallen officer who died protecting the City of Coral Gables

So whatever happened to the employees screwing in the Public Works Offices?

Why does the City Administartion and Mayor Sleeznick condone public offices to be used as a brothel by married , adultrous employees . Why do the taxpayers have tp pay for scumbags to be screwing in the workplace? Shame on the administration and the corrupt employees in the City. In the private sector this would not be condoned.

Dear Don't cloud the issue:

Thank you for your thoughtful words, however, it appears that you have taken my words out-of-context, which frequently happens in City Hall and apparently, elsewhere in the City Beautiful (especially when UNIONIZED GROUPS are concerned).

The loss of life is ALWAYS mournful! No one ever forced the people who have lost their lives in the line of duty to accept their position in the first place. They were adults and knew the risks and accepted that -- murder is murder, so why differentiate between civilians and sworn police officers? A life is a life, is it not?

I was referring to Mr. Thompson's well written letter and merely illustrating that just because a person is police officer in the City Beautiful, does not ENTITLE these persons to any extras, such as, but not limited to, reduced priced/discounted meals, increased salaries, benefits, pensions.

Police officers and Fire persons are PAID by the TAXPAYER to perform their DUTIES. If they don't like the compensation levels, they are FREE to go elsewhere, just as everyone else does so in AMERICA and AMERICAN society.

As for a SWAT Unit, Miami-Dade County has one, let's use them when required (as does the City of Miami). All of these Police (and Fire) Departments meet the SAME NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, so don't tell me that Coral Gables Police (Fire) are somehow superior to the County's, etc.

Its socialist talk by "Don't cloud the issue" that is leading us down in this Nation -- I would suggest that since Mr. Thompson and you feel so strongly about the Police (and perhaps even the Fire) Department, dig into your own financial resources and pay for the black hole that is the Police (and Fire) Department. I ALREADY PAID and will be PAYING EVEN MORE THIS YEAR IN TAXES/FEES.

IT IS TRULY HEART WARMING TO HEAR AND READ ABOUT OUR CITIZENS THAT CARE ABOUT "IT'S" POLICE OFFICERS. AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, THIS CITY LIKE NO OTHER HAS CITIZENS THAT BACK ITS OFFICERS DURING THE BEST AND WORST OF TIMES. PATROLLING DOWN NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AND HAVING PEOPLE WAVING HELLO IS VERY SATISFYING, THANK YOU! OUR UNION OFFICIALS ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, WE ALL KNOW WE MUST CONTRIBUTE 5% TO RETIREMENT TO HELP FUND IT. HOWEVER THE 71/2% AND THE DISTRUCTION OF THE PENSION PLAN IS UNFAIR AND LONG TERM DISMEMBERMENT OF ONE OF THE BEST DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY. WE HAVE FALLEN TO 13TH OUT OF 16 DEPARTMENTS IN PAY AND WITHOUT A DOUBT WOULD HAVE TH WORST PENSION PLAN OF ALL 16 IF THIS "NEW" PENSION PLAN PASSES. WHO IN THIER RIGHT MIND WOULD JOIN THIS DEPARTMENT WITH LOW PAY AND HORRIBLE PENSION?? ALSO DON'T BELIEVE WHAT MR. SALERNO SAID IN THE HERALD, MANY OFFICERS WILL LEAVE AND HAVE BEEN LEAVING. WE ARE CURRENTLY 7 OFFICERS SHORT IN A 180 OFFICER DEPARTMENT, THAT IS 4% WITH MORE IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND NO ONE TO REPLACE THEM.

PLEASE COMMISIONERS DO NOT ALLOW MR. SALERNO, WITH HIS DESPICABLE BEHAVIOR AT THE SILENT PROTEST OF GLARING AND SCOWLING AT OFFICERS AT CITY HALL, GET AWAY WITH THIS. THIS IS "OUR" CITY, THE CITIZENS , THE COMMISSION AND ITS OFFICERS, HE IS NOT ONE OF US.

Somehow or another the esoteric and philospical spouts of "no swat /low taxes" have a resounding ring of pseudo intellectualism peppered with a dose of hallmark moments and a little Jerry Springer final comment sternness. Hey bud you are not the only one here who has spent a ifetime in academia bubbling circles with a #2 pencil, so cut the frank discussion of life and death and interchangeability of profesional people. A doctor is a doctor right? So go on down to a 3rd world country and get your gall bladder out. A pilot is a pilot right? So jump on a puddle jumper over the Florida straits and try not to step on the flight manual for junior who holds the yoke like a nintendo game. We make choices, we live with choices...I get it...we all get it Dr. Phil. But unfortunately we all also live with consequences and the tragedies of the great human dynamic, something the police department shields you from night after night as you dig into your Hungry Man swanson dinner watching Big Brother III. The police buffer and insulate you time and time again from the things you don't have to see or expereince and CARRY with you for the rest of your life, you want to dig into finances...why don't you dig into that soft heart of yours and come ride in a crown vic some night and let us watch you dig your nails into the console, or dig your puckered spinchter into the seat as you see life as it is: upfront, unwavering, unpredictibale,unsymphatetic and unreal

He said you took his words out of context and you actaully quoted him...how out of context is that? LOL

AWESOME POST!!!!!

I realized that most Gables citizens are not aware of some history. Up to 1990 the Gables Officers did contribute 8% to the pesnion. That year's contract the city offered instead of a raise, that means instead , no raise. The officers no longer had to contribute. The significance is that officers did not earn more but did take more money home. Now due to the stupiduty and mismanagement of the city (moslty by the criminal known as Don Nelson), we have to contribute again with no raise. We have no problem contributing (5%) but not 7.5% and do not destroy our pension!!!!

"...come ride in a crown vic some night and let us watch you dig your nails into the console, or dig your puckered spinchter into the seat as you see life as it is: upfront, unwavering, unpredictibale,unsymphatetic and unreal."...LMAO.

Cool, where can I sign up? And can I get the same kind of experience from working in a Crwon Vic with the CG Citizen's Patrol?

I would contend that Coral Gables officers do not ordinarily have it has tough as some City of Miami cops, but they certainly face more daily danger than most of our taxpaying citizens. Should we have our own SWAT Team when one is available from the County? Probably not. I'd rather have surgery from a doctor who practices daily than one who has great schooling but little practice.

But even in day to day policing, Coral Gables cops can face some unusual circumstances. For perspective, I suggest readers follow the following web link to find all of the police reports filed re: police activity within the past 2 months within a half mile of their own home:

http://p2c.coralgables.com/

In an earlier post listed above it shows the CGPD short 7 officers, well it is now 8. The threat of the proposed destruction of the pension has forced an officer to take early retirement or loose 18,000 a year. This is just the beginning; several officers with less then 5 yrs on will be submitting applications to City of Miami if this contract is forced upon our members. Mr. Salerno has already told the Senior Staff of the CGPD and Union officials that these positions will not be filled. There will no longer be a minimum staffing. If 2 officers call out sick and staffing falls below minimum, then the officers on duty will have to handle all the calls. If you call for the police, you will have to wait longer for response. These are not my words, Mr. Salerno has said it. The other problem, if the officers on duty are handling calls, then fewer officers are actively patrolling. This is not a joke, this is not to scare you, this is what will and is happening (minimum staffing has already been reduced twice in the last year alone). The officers of the CGPD understand the pay cut, but the screwing of the retirement is not needed. I am begging our citizens to go to the website listed above and send e-mails and messages to our commissioners. Please do not destroy a good department. The commissioners are being told lies by Mr. Salerno and by Don Nelson. Do not believe them!!!!!

Finance has reported in the last 24 hours many officers have requested to review their files and are debating retiring and leaving the police department. Experience and knowledge are poised to drain out of the city like a broken pipe.

Way to go CGPD! That's the way to ride the firefighters' coat tails.

Let them all go. Working in this city is a nice gig. We will get three applicants for every sour puss that leaves.