As the very tense issue over proposed cuts of nearly half of the Mammoth Police force continues to unfold, Mammoth’s Police Lieutenant has taken issue with a statement made by the Mayor over a potential reserve or volunteer police program. The Mayor apologized for his “misinterpretation.”
When Sierra Wave Media contacted Lieutenant John Mair about his views, he said the option of a reserve or volunteer program does not exist in Mammoth Lakes and that reserves can not replace regular police.
In an interview with Sierra Wave Media, Mayor Matthew Lehman commented that the proposal to cut seven officers from the seventeen-officer department could be modified or changed. He referred to a “letter from Lt. Mair who said we need time to put in place a reserve and volunteer-type program, as much as six months,” said the Mayor.
In an email to the Town Council, Lt. Mair made it clear that our story quoting Mayor Lehman did not represent his views. When asked about his comment on Lt. Mair’s memo, Mayor Lehman said, “I guess I interpreted it that way. That was my mistake,” he said. Then the Mayor said that he would like to hear why a reserve/ volunteer program doesn’t work. “I think we have to do the research,” said Lehman. He apologized for his misinterpretation of Lt. Mair’s memo and added that the Town is “looking for other solutions and how not to make the police cuts.”
In a memo that went to the Town Council, Lt. Mair had said that the “plan to eliminate seven sworn positions and replace them with reserve or volunteers is not a viable option here in Mammoth.” Mair said the population base is not large enough here. He said reserves do contribute but can not replace regular officers. Mair said the Council wants to eliminate seven positions and then find a way to supplement the work force later instead of building a pool of volunteers and reserves first. Mair said, “Making these cuts without a workable solution in place is just a big gamble, and speaking from my experience I do not believe it is viable.”
Mair also pointed out that reserves and volunteers take more supervision and training than regular officers. He asked, who will recruit, train and work with these volunteers since the officers left will already be doing many more jobs than before. Lt. Mair was adamant in his concern that the Town can not replace 46% of the department with volunteers. He called this idea “ludicrous.” (Read below – Lt. Mair’s original memo to the Police Chief and Town Council and his second communication after the Mayor’s comments.)
(This is the original memo that went to the police chief and the Town Council)
Chief,
I’ve been reading with interest the discussions on reserve officers and volunteers to replace full time, sworn officers here at MLPD and feel that I need to contribute. First, the plan to eliminate seven sworn positions and replace them with reserve or volunteers is not a viable option here in Mammoth. I have worked at departments with Police Reserve Officers and they do contribute to the community, but not as replacements for regular officers.
Here in Mammoth, we do not have the population base to draw from to get the needed amount of officers to fill the vacancies created by these extreme cuts, nor do I believe that this plan has been thoroughly investigated as being viable. The Council wants to eliminate seven positions, then find a way to supplement the work force at a later date, rather than building a pool of volunteers and reserves first, getting them hired, trained and on board prior to stripping the PD. Making these cuts without a workable solution in place is just a big gamble, and speaking from my experience I do not believe it is viable.
The proposal suggests cutting almost ALL police supervision (Lieutenant and two Sergeants) leaving a Sergeant to handle all administrative and patrol functions. This leaves NO supervision in the field, a situation that asks for problems. In addition, volunteers and reserves take more supervision and training than regular officers (they are here only part time, not dedicated to this profession, have limited exposure to situations, etc..) so who do you suggest will recruit, train and work with these volunteers? The officers that are left here after the cuts are made? The same ones that will already be asked to work more, make decisions that a supervisor should be making, deal with the day-to-day decisions that a supervisor makes as well as the collateral assignments that will have to be doled out to each officer? I’m talking scheduling, training, range duties, arrest and control, investigations, internal affairs complaints….the list goes on, but you get my point.
Or will that responsibility go to the lone Sergeant who is left, piling more onto an already overloaded plate of responsibilities? So these same officers now saddled with all the before-mentioned items, will then be expected to train, supervise, document and deal with part-time amateurs in addition to their regular duties? Don’t get me wrong, volunteers have good hearts and are generally good people wanting to help, but that is a small part. Expecting to replace 46%of this department with volunteers is ludicrous. would we suggest this for the any other position in this town? I know that you are being directed to take this approach to solve a budget dilemma, but at some point the truth of the matter has to be told in no uncertain terms: THIS APPROACH IS NOT VIABLE AND WE NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT IS!!
I realize that my position has been cut, but these suggested solutions have a potential for disaster for the department and the town. I believe that we should be spending this valuable time on workable solutions since we are not an apparent tight time frame. We should look at how we are going to deliver service with only ten sworn officers; developing a schedule that accurately reflects a part-time police department since we will not be able to cover a 24/7 schedule; look at cutting services that are not required by the PD such as traffic accidents, fingerprinting, civil stand-by calls, etc..; Having a large part-time reserve or volunteer program will cause us MORE work not less, even if we did have the pool of citizens to draw from.
Just my thoughts, John.
(Below is the second communique from Lt. Mair to the Town Council)
Town Leaders,
I read the story posted on Sierra Wave today (October 9, 2012) By Benett Kessler regarding police department cuts and the decision making process behind it. I recently wrote a memo regarding the viability of reserve officers and volunteers to staff the department in place of full-time sworn officers, and thought I was clear about the chances of success that this proposal has. The Sierra Wave article refers to my memo as saying that we need up to six months to get a viable program up and running to fill seven vacancies at the PD. Let me be clear to all of you: That is not what I said. I have attached the memo in its entirety below for you to read. Having worked in departments where viable reserve and volunteer programs exist, that option DOES NOT EXIST HERE IN MAMMOTH.
When you have a large population base such as Southern California, you have a large pool of people willing to volunteer, a situation that we do not have here. In addition, most reserve officers have other full-time employment and are usually required to meet a two-shift per month commitment to the department. With that, its takes years to recruit, train and certify a reserve to the level that they could work by themselves. POST recently changed requirements for reserves making the commitment to be a reserve officer about the same as a full-time officer. They certainly are good for riding in the car with a full-time officer and learning the job, but are not a replacement for them.
The same situation exists for volunteers: usually retired citizens who want to stay involved but they cannot supplant regular officers. They work part-time when they can, but have other pressing issues in their lives as retirees. As you will read in the memo attached below, I feel that we need to be looking at realistic, viable solutions to this problem, not constantly asking Chief Watson to conduct staff-reports on programs that are not realistic here. Most of you have known me for a long time and know that I love it here, as does Chief Watson. Between the two of us we have about 70 years on the job so how about including us in finding solutions rather than directing us to conduct busy-work that will end up wasting all of our collective time?
I wouldn’t assume to tell any of you how to run your businesses as an outsider and not knowing the business, I would probably consult with someone who has been in the business awhile and learn about it and then make informed decisions. Both Chief Watson and I are here for a reason, and that’s to help find a workable solution and shape the departments’ future. It has been rare that I have worked directly with any of you. My job is to support the Chief and run the day-to-day operations of the department, but such a role demands that I say what is needed. This solution will not work and is not viable in the next year at least, most likely several years. Please read the memo I sent yesterday it is attached below. Again, we are here to help with the situation, not to work against you, so contact us anytime, something that has not happened in the recent decision-making process.
Thanks for your time, John.
I’m starting to think a town that doesn’t look like it’s in a police state sounds pretty good to me.
When is a Grand Jury going to get active and investigate the power-brokers responsible for the entire mess?
Here is the Mono County Grand Jury website: Learn about – Functions Responsibilities Complaint form http://www.monocourt.org/grand_jury_history.htm These Councilmen have way too much power. Don’t ever expect them to police each other, especially when the possibility of making money through their vote exists. The Grand Jury may be the only way… Read more »
Our Grand Jury only acts upon its citizens’ complaints. It seems there are many of these today for a host of reasons: ie., – Using voter-passed measurements for reasons other than for intended Measures XYZ morphing into a “General Fund” that the elected officials can do what they want with,… Read more »
Here is your citizen complaint form.
You see, we citizens DO have a voice in the community afterall.
http://www.monocourt.org/citizen_complaint_form.pdf
(HEADLINES) ALL CROOKS AND BAD GUYS COME TO MAMMOTHBERRY. IT’S GOING TO BE LIKE THE TOWN OF MAYBERRY 2COPS-ONE POLICE CAR–AND ONE BULLET-THANKS TO THE TOWN COUNCIL– IT WILL BE OPEN TO ANY CRIME YOU WOULD LIKE TO PULL OF AND NEVER GET CAUGHT.. THE INCREASE IN DRUG ACTIVITY-THEFTS- PROPERTY… Read more »
Reserves and volunteers will never replace a professional police force. Police work is fraught with potential liablities. We have all read about high-dollar judgments from lawsuits against police officers and their employers. Relying on an untrained, inexperienced and under-supervised police force is a time bomb that will ultimately cost far… Read more »
Where did the auxilliary Town Manager ever get the idea(or the power) to present the notion that the town would do just fine with police reserves and volunteers? Where does she live? Why does she justify this naive notion? This is not some huge metropolis. This is not Oakland. It… Read more »
The reason why MMM made the absurd statement about using volunteers and reserves is, she is trying to spin her way out of the decision to lay off seven officers. She has no clue what she is talking about. Volunteers cannot do any of the tasks that a police officer… Read more »
This assistant town manager should be the first to go…That would save a half million per year…right?
I never thought I’d see a more stupid, arrogant, self-centered, know-it-all, and ignorant council than the one in the town I left, but Mammoth’s is worse. Mammothites should be up in arms about how its council has given away its town’s future and ignores the wisdom of its professional staff,… Read more »
Maybe some of the laid off cops can be the new TC candidates?
It is time to ask some of our Town Council members to LEAVE….enough is enough! http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/recall.pdf To get an idea on the number of signatures that are needed: The number of signatures required TO QUALIFY A PARTICULAR RECALL IS AS FOLLOWS: 1. If an officer of a city, county, school… Read more »
The time to “ask” them to leave is at election. Then you don’t have to ask, you tell. But of course the last election did not exactly see a lot of people pounding down the registrar’s door to enter the race. I’ll sign your petition however if you will agree… Read more »
Typical! The council hears what they want to. I especially love how they stated in the survey that “It is likely that the elimination of the 7.0 positions will be delayed until July 1, 2013, to allow for the development of the reserve and volunteer programs as means of supplementing… Read more »
I agree with you, 1234. The delay in the plan is because of the Police Officer’s contract, not to allow time to develope a reserve and volunteer programs. (Which are not viable anyway for all the reasons John Mair points out. And the council is very aware of that). However,… Read more »
I’m beginning to see a pattern of behavior, playing dumb and apologizing whenever the mayors core values/opinions are contradicted by increasingly written and/or oral public opinions. If Rick”the weasel”Wood and John “punch drunk” Eastman is what Matthew “the snow job” Lehman uses for role models, he may also have to… Read more »
Wow! Total Honesty by Lt. Mair and Total Spin by Mayor Lehman. This says it all. The fact that the Town Council NEVER consulted with the Chief or Lieutenant to cut 7 officers, and how it would affect our community before making their decision, shows total incompetence on the part… Read more »
Really? Town Council is trying to come up with a solution. They are asking for community input. The bottom line is, the Town has to pay a judgement of $2.5 million in the current fiscal year and $2 Milliion every year after for 23 years. This Council is asking for… Read more »
Council is telling us how it is going to roll. They have already made up their minds. The survey is just political theater.
Lt. Mair is one of the most honorable, caring, intelligent, and dedicated sworn law enforcement officers that has ever worked for the MLPD. He sets an exemplary example for our Police Department and the community and we are lucky to have him serve our community. How ironic then that two… Read more »
Lehman is not admitting he was wrong, he is pleading guilty to lying and getting caught by someone who actually tells the truth, Lt. Mair. The only out for Lehman now is to say that he never learned to read! The next phone call that Lehman makes will be to… Read more »
You may indeed be correct regarding your comments on Mr. Lehman. For the sake of our community however, I truly hope my perspective on his behavior is more accurate. Our community deserves much better.
People who know Mr. Lehman, know that he has an incredible dislike for MLPD due to prior encounters with MLPD that did not end well for Mr. Lehman. He has been very vocal about this over the years.
Lehman has a hidden agenda and that is payback.