tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post1235488602668995118..comments2023-10-17T22:56:42.784-04:00Comments on Only in The Republic of Amherst: Another Crazy Weekend For 1st RespondersLarry Kelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-7658369822540017342014-09-29T13:10:19.694-04:002014-09-29T13:10:19.694-04:0011:33, many people feel the same way about this is...11:33, many people feel the same way about this issue. Of course they dont leave in the summer. They would lose their spot to panhandle. Yet another statistic that Musante is ignoring. <br />If its going to be a wet shelter, they better work harder on the issues of addiction and mental illness. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-23870667309415741392014-09-29T13:10:06.883-04:002014-09-29T13:10:06.883-04:00This blog had become a police blotter. With a lit...This blog had become a police blotter. With a little bash the schools for good measure. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-59092148402815547552014-09-29T12:37:26.937-04:002014-09-29T12:37:26.937-04:00Anonymous said @ 10:09 AM...
Unfortunately, you ar...Anonymous said @ 10:09 AM...<br />Unfortunately, you are right but, the issue is not new. It's just finally getting the exposure many in Town Hall have worked hard to prevent.<br />Although both the police and fire departments need help, it's not as simple as the # of employees each has or hasn't. The primary reason for the problems is a cultural one among many young people. However, we also have individual town departments that have become like small nations entrenched in their own bureaucracies.<br />There is no doubt that the 'fire' department is overwhelmed (and I just heard a rumor that 2 employees up and quit recently because of it). However, if you look at the stats you will see that the # of fire responses has increasingly been exceeded by the # of ems responses for years. <br />So, what we now have are emts also trained as fire fighters (instead of the other way around) and led by a Chief who had no previous ems experience. That is a dramatic change from when (in the 70's) we didn't even own an ambulance. Perhaps a different approach to how we provide these two services is in order.<br />And, with all due respect to the police department, we may be at a point when a review of its resource allocation is also needed. After all, why are there almost as many officers of rank (i.e. captains, lieutenants, sergeants) and those assigned to administrative tasks as there are assigned to patrol (and, therefore, available for dispatch). Should we revisit the primary purpose of a police department and get more of the boots that we already have on the ground instead of behind a desk or tending to non-law enforcement tasks (8-4) Monday through Friday.<br />Perhaps, if we had more officers actually on patrol, SLOWLY cruising the streets and neighborhoods as well as walking through the downtown (the last officer regularly assigned to do so during the day was pulled from that-as a statement that we couldn't afford such any longer and instead was assigned to install infant car seats-go figure) getting to know us and we them, the tide might turn back towards seeing them as we did when I was growing up, with respect and a sense that they were ultimately there for you not against you. Wishful, story book thinking perhaps, but worth a try.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-66778260337458352432014-09-29T12:25:30.818-04:002014-09-29T12:25:30.818-04:00Anon 10:09
I never would've guessed that Smur...Anon 10:09<br /><br />I never would've guessed that Smurf village was in the NE.keithwnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-29513536283205833182014-09-29T11:33:53.902-04:002014-09-29T11:33:53.902-04:00You haven't noticed the yearround increase in ...You haven't noticed the yearround increase in crime and panhandling by hardcore addicts since the shelter opened? Many of the shelter residents don't leave in the warm weather. Take a walk in the woods. Read the police report. Where have you been?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-69750249491174764672014-09-29T10:09:24.885-04:002014-09-29T10:09:24.885-04:00Too many tales about police issues. Perhaps "...Too many tales about police issues. Perhaps "tolerant" Amherst should do something about this crime wave (or LEO obsession)....or could consider actually being tolerant. <br /><br />I think every story on the front page of this blog right now is treatise to local policing. If I was considering moving here, and simply saw this blog (let alone read), I would be looking for a safer place to live, a place where there was not a demand for so many police and where local first responders were not overwhelmed by drug addicts and criminals. <br /><br />There are many small safe towns in the NE, many that are so safe, they don't even have police. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-32938659301246433062014-09-29T09:33:07.333-04:002014-09-29T09:33:07.333-04:00At anon 9:00-
The shelter sisnt even open right no...At anon 9:00-<br />The shelter sisnt even open right now-the cease operation from April to November. Try again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-88532450284740627802014-09-28T21:00:56.328-04:002014-09-28T21:00:56.328-04:00Isn't it time to just have a regular homeless ...Isn't it time to just have a regular homeless shelter and stop having a wet shelter? This is just not safe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-53764558316306650442014-09-28T20:12:01.423-04:002014-09-28T20:12:01.423-04:00Yes and sort of.
We would be getting State PD ass...Yes and sort of.<br /><br />We would be getting State PD assist anyway for Halloween weekend. Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-64623842532486901282014-09-28T20:09:10.700-04:002014-09-28T20:09:10.700-04:00Are staffing levels under 40 now with all the inju...Are staffing levels under 40 now with all the injuries? Will State Police be helping out more now? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-64817435533170304972014-09-28T19:41:51.168-04:002014-09-28T19:41:51.168-04:00Actually they did not have any apparatus in the pa...Actually they did not have any apparatus in the parade.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-70428951085425959542014-09-28T19:37:04.901-04:002014-09-28T19:37:04.901-04:00Was every piece of fire apparatus in the parade? I...Was every piece of fire apparatus in the parade? I would think an engine would've been held at North Station to respond to any AFD needs during the paradeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-73433346365712488922014-09-28T17:40:57.435-04:002014-09-28T17:40:57.435-04:00I believe that I am one of the people in the pictu...I believe that I am one of the people in the picture. I was standing in town center as the police and fire engine hit the horns and sirens. At first, I thought it was part of the parade. Then, it was evident that they were trying to get around - I don't think the floats in front of them realized it though. I found myself thinking, "I wonder if Larry Kelley is here to see this - if so, he will put it on his blog."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-91376237837390816282014-09-28T15:11:14.928-04:002014-09-28T15:11:14.928-04:00I've actually heard the suggestion that's ...I've actually heard the suggestion that's it's not any worse than previous years, it's only the bright light shined on it by you know who.<br /><br />Which is about the only thing regarding this sad state of affairs that I find laughable. Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-35531962876008662582014-09-28T14:58:37.374-04:002014-09-28T14:58:37.374-04:00Gets worse every weekend and every year, that is w...Gets worse every weekend and every year, that is why we saw newspaper photos yesterday of two former APD officers who are now state troopers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-84349715754413242092014-09-28T14:48:59.667-04:002014-09-28T14:48:59.667-04:00The vast majority of the ETOH patients are unconsc...The vast majority of the ETOH patients are unconscious. Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-27989286153553520312014-09-28T14:39:20.772-04:002014-09-28T14:39:20.772-04:00I am from Spain, so I dont really know who this wo...I am from Spain, so I dont really know who this works, but it's always necessary that when somebody is drunk, but conscious, call an ambulance? It seems too much for me, and we can save resources for important issues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-10102768252888514232014-09-28T14:04:30.636-04:002014-09-28T14:04:30.636-04:00And the record keeps spinning...It's the same ...And the record keeps spinning...It's the same story Larry, however, thank you for bringing it to light. Other than the first responders and the Town Manager, no one else is truly aware of how grossly understaffed the Fire and Police departments are. The Town Manager doesn't care...isn't that obvious? He only cares about his 100% fiscal management rating. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-60969733705143799562014-09-28T14:01:38.583-04:002014-09-28T14:01:38.583-04:00I have $20.00 says he doesn't get any jail tim...I have $20.00 says he doesn't get any jail time. Richard MarshAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com