PRINT
E-MAIL STORY
NEWSLETTER SIGN UPdwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
The following are questions submitted by a reader about why the City of Manteca spends money and/or deploys manpower in the way that they do.
If you have questions, submit them to dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com and we’ll do our best to answer them.
QUESTION: Coming home today (Tuesday, Oct. 20) I took the Union Road exit off of the Highway 120 Bypass going east. As I got to the stop, a patrol car stopped traffic at the intersection. I then noticed a funeral procession entering the 120 Bypass going east. To my surprise it was flanked by two Manteca motorcycle cops which followed the procession onto the freeway with a patrol car following. With the state of the budget and manpower issues, who’s paying for this escort, and can we really spare three officers?
ANSWER: Manteca Police spokesman Rex Osborn said it is a practice that the city is in the process of dropping.
The reason the police have been escorting funeral procession when requests are submitted has to do with public safety, according to Osborn. He noted that people traditionally in such processions try not to “break” the caravan. This often poses safety issues to the rest of the motoring public when they run stop signs or red lights. The escort is usually restricted to just a few vehicles near the front of the procession.
Osborn noted it has also been out of respect for the dead. Even so, Osborn said times are changing. The city is working with funeral homes to contract with a private escort service out of Sacramento when they feel such services are needed. Osborn said the private escort service would be required to follow all laws. The funeral home would be required to pay for the private escort service.
QUESTION: I have noticed how firemen take their fire engine with a full crew to Save Mart, Costco, etc. to buy items for their meals. Why aren’t they making a list at the fire station and then sending one fireman in a small truck to buy their supplies?
ANSWER: Police spokesman Rex Osborn said that is because if an emergency call comes in all three firefighters are with the engine to respond. They do not, however, go outside of their district or area of station coverage when they make such purchases. You may also see them at places during their 24-hour shift getting yogurt treats and such. It is the same reason why when firefighters do inspections all three go with the fire engine.
If you have questions, submit them to dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com and we’ll do our best to answer them.
QUESTION: Coming home today (Tuesday, Oct. 20) I took the Union Road exit off of the Highway 120 Bypass going east. As I got to the stop, a patrol car stopped traffic at the intersection. I then noticed a funeral procession entering the 120 Bypass going east. To my surprise it was flanked by two Manteca motorcycle cops which followed the procession onto the freeway with a patrol car following. With the state of the budget and manpower issues, who’s paying for this escort, and can we really spare three officers?
ANSWER: Manteca Police spokesman Rex Osborn said it is a practice that the city is in the process of dropping.
The reason the police have been escorting funeral procession when requests are submitted has to do with public safety, according to Osborn. He noted that people traditionally in such processions try not to “break” the caravan. This often poses safety issues to the rest of the motoring public when they run stop signs or red lights. The escort is usually restricted to just a few vehicles near the front of the procession.
Osborn noted it has also been out of respect for the dead. Even so, Osborn said times are changing. The city is working with funeral homes to contract with a private escort service out of Sacramento when they feel such services are needed. Osborn said the private escort service would be required to follow all laws. The funeral home would be required to pay for the private escort service.
QUESTION: I have noticed how firemen take their fire engine with a full crew to Save Mart, Costco, etc. to buy items for their meals. Why aren’t they making a list at the fire station and then sending one fireman in a small truck to buy their supplies?
ANSWER: Police spokesman Rex Osborn said that is because if an emergency call comes in all three firefighters are with the engine to respond. They do not, however, go outside of their district or area of station coverage when they make such purchases. You may also see them at places during their 24-hour shift getting yogurt treats and such. It is the same reason why when firefighters do inspections all three go with the fire engine.
« Previous Story
|
Next Story »
