Editor’s Note
Back in the old days — that’s less than a decade and before there were such things as blogs and interactive conversations with readers — editors used to respond to their newspaper readers with an “editor’s note.” Sometimes it clarified a point made in a letter to the editor. Sometimes it offered a correction. Sometimes it was just a simple explanation. An editor’s note was a handful of sentences; maybe a four or five paragraphs. It was always a personal link between the editor and the reader. Only difference between it and today’s blog is the immediacy and the platform. Welcome to Editor’s Note.

Cops and GPS: What’s the prob?

June 12th, 2009 at 09:49am Linda Grist Cunningham

Rockford’s going to install GPS systems in cop cars. Doing so allows the dispatchers to track the cars, know where they are and dispatch the closest ones to wherever they are needed. Makes perfect sense to me.

Apparently not so much to the police union. Police Benevolent and Protective Association President Aurelio DeLaRosa says “… we don’t know if there are any alternative motives” and plans to file a demand to bargain.

Geesh. Doesn’t take a brain surgeon to see what the alternative motives might be: Are you (the cop and car) where the heck you are supposed to be at the time you’re supposed to be there?

If you are, no worries. On the other hand, if you happen to be parked outside your house for a couple hours while you mow the lawn or if you’re in the grocery store parking lot while you run errands, then, yep, there could be a problem. Ya think?

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized

4 Comments Add your own

  • 1. the dude abides  |  June 12th, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    Methinks Aurelio doth protest too much.

  • 2. Paul  |  June 13th, 2009 at 5:07 pm

    Yea right - the city wants them because the cops all go home and mow their yards or go grocery shopping. Is that the best you can do? Talk about bias. No wonder people question the opinions expressed by the media.

  • 3. hokumboy  |  June 19th, 2009 at 1:04 pm

    When will the RRStar be installing GPS systems in company cars to make sure it\\\’s staff isn\\\’t shopping or mowing lawns on company time? Why should they be trusted any more than our police force?

  • 4. Linda Grist Cunningham  |  June 24th, 2009 at 5:07 pm

    @ hokumboy…. We don’t assign company cars these days beyond the fotogs and a handful of cars that can be reserved and signed out for very specific trips. And, those are tracked. But, even if we did have company cars for everyone, it’s not your tax dollars paying for what we do. It’s not about trust. It’s about who is footing the bill.

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