Letters to the Editor
Des Moines police cuts impact South King fire calls
As firefighters of South King Fire & Rescue, we have concerns about public safety and potential service delays for the Citizens of Des Moines.
South King Fire & Rescue serves fire and emergency medical services for the cities of Des Moines, Federal Way and a small area of unincorporated King County.
For decades, King County Fire District #26 (Des Moines Fire) and the Des Moines Police Department have enjoyed a close working relationship--something that is not common in a lot of jurisdictions.
Three years ago, King County Fire District #26 merged with Federal Way Fire, creating South King Fire & Rescue. After the merger we have been able to continue this close working relationship.
Our relationship creates a more cohesive, efficient and safe working environment out on the streets of Des Moines, ultimately making a safer community for our citizens.
A staffing reduction in the police department is a concern to us and should be a concern to the city council and citizens of Des Moines.
Our #1 priority is the citizens we serve and time is of essence when mitigating emergencies.
The level of service provided and the safety of our community hang in the balance.
Firefighters are severely handicapped if we are not safe while doing our job and if we enter an unsafe scene. Potentially, we could become part of the problem and not be able to help our citizens.
By cutting police staffing, a ripple effect could delay our services. There are a number of situations (i.e. - violent crimes, assaults, domestic violence, overdoses and suicides to name a few) where the fire department doesn't enter the scene until police go in first and verify it is safe for the fire department to enter.
By reducing staffing in the police department, our response times to such scenes could be significantly delayed, thus delaying the fire department's ability to enter a scene and mitigate an emergency in a timely matter.
Reducing police staffing could have a significant impact on the health and safety of the citizens of Des Moines. We encourage you to reconsider your decision to reduce police staffing.
We need, at the very minimum, to keep current staffing levels to maintain a safe community, which the citizens of Des Moines deserve!
Scott Ervin
Vice President
South King County Professional Firefighters
IAFF Local #2024
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Stop Police force cut!
With the rising violent crime report each week if not every day from SeaTac to Federal Way, it is untimely to reduce our police force and leave the residents of Des Moines and neighboring cities a prey and ultimately victimize by criminals which are abound in every corner of our streets.
Instead of reducing our police heroes, its much wiser and safer to add and hire more policemen to make Des Moines and neighboring cities a better place to live.
Stop Police force cut!
With the rising violent crime report each week if not every day from SeaTac to Federal Way, it is untimely to reduce our police force and leave the residents of Des Moines and neighboring cities a prey and ultimately victimize by criminals which are abound in every corner of our streets.
Instead of reducing our police heroes, its much wiser and safer to add and hire more policemen to make Des Moines and neighboring cities a better place to live.
CUT SOME COP JOBS NOW
I'M SICK OF THE POLICE NEVER BEING ABLE TO TAKE ANY CUTS. THEY ARE ALL DRIVING LEXUS CARS AND HAVE CADILLAC RETIREMENT PAYED FOR BY US, BUT STILL EVEN IN HARD TIMES THEY WILL LIE AND SCAM TO KEEP ALL OF OUR MONEY THEY CAN.
THEY SUE US IF WE TRY TO CUT THE BUDGET WHEN WE ARE BROKE. THEY JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THEM NEED TO BE LAID OFF, WE ARE BROKE...
THAT SAID, I WHOLELY SUPPORT THEM AND PRAY OFFICER MUNDELL MAKES A FULL RECOVERY. NO ONE EVER WANTS TO HAVE TO LAY ANOTHER LINE OFFICER TO REST FROM VIOLENCE.
THE HEARTBREAK OF EVIL OUR POLICE HAVE ENDURED IS AS SAD AS ALL THE KIDS COMMING HOME IN BODY BAGS FROM OBAMA'S DIRTY LITTLE WAR...
section 8 housing
each city should refuse to accept section 8 housing which causes crime. police do get too many benefits especially retirement benefits, but the south sound is not the place to cut police.
federal way has been ruined in the past 10 years. ex military move to federal way and bring their ghetto relatives from the south and calfifornia to seattle for section 8 housing and lax drug laws.
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