Personal Note:

It is my belief thus far, that the whole attitude of the Police Department is delay long enough and the problem (citizens requiring someone to do their job) will go away. The whole process for getting anything done requires a great deal of effort on the part of ordinary citizens, that it is no wonder it is "business as usual" within the Modesto Police Department and City Administrative Offices. They know that in most cases, no one will persist with such a sustained diligent effort, so as to require any real response from the Police Department or City Offices. The proverbial "make nice on the phone, blow smoke up your ass by telling the complainant" (average citizen) what they want to hear, or "passing-the-buck", usually thwarts any legitimate concern or complaint. They know that most citizens within the community have not the "wear-with-all" to wade through the muck (sea of red tape) that they call proper policy or procedure to get anything done. Am I wrong in thinking that it is our taxes that pay these people? Don't get me wrong. I do believe that there are many good hardworking people within the Modesto Police Department and City Administrative Offices. I also believe that there are those that are not so good and that they cling to an inept or inadequate policy which prevents any real positive change, adjustment or adaptation to a continuously growing community. A community which demands that the Modesto Police Department and City Officials grow with us or have our community LEFT BEHIND! Growth which does not necessarily mean adding more staff, employees or police officers, (six traffic cops for the entire city is WAY TO MUCH) but to grow in their way of thinking.

Past LOG part 3

September 8, 2004
FIRST ENTRY:
8:20am Traffic Unit
Called and spoke to Heather. I explained the problem to Heather about our neighborhood. I also explained that I have already filed formal complaints, well over two weeks ago, about the traffic problems (speeding) on our streets. Heather said “we get over 200 calls per day on traffic related problems so to be quite honest if you have already filed a complaint, the only thing they are going to do is mark it again and it will be ignored because an original complaint was already made about your concern”. “The complaints are automatically logged into the computer so they are handled in the order they are received”. I then explained that I purchased my home in January of this year and that I work from home, but I have yet to see any traffic enforcement. Heather then said, “to be quite honest there are only six traffic enforcement officers on duty at any given time enforcing seatbelt laws and various traffic laws like school zones etc.” “Only six enforcement officers serving the entire city of Modesto, so quite honestly it is probably going to be a while.” To which I kindly asked to whom would I speak to regarding this issue since nothing seems to be getting done. Heather then kindly said, “you would speak to officer Sprueill, he is the one who handles the complaints for traffic and enters them into the system”. I was then transferred to what was presumably officer Sprueill’s extension. It rang and rang with no voice mail. I let the phone ring 20 times before hanging up.

Past LOG part 2

August 27, 2004
FIRST ENTRY:
Approximately 1:45pm Traffic Unit
I called Modesto Police Traffic Unit at 209-572-9592 to report a problem of cars continuously speeding (racing) up and down the streets. The problem is continuous and never falls below the level of 7 on scale of 1 to 10 on any given day.
Jennifer at the Traffic Unit stated that I needed to speak to dispatch due to fact it was currently taking place. So, I was transferred to dispatch. I again reported the problem, this time to dispatch. Dispatch told me that I needed to report this to the Traffic Unit at the Police Department so that they could get an officer out there. I was transferred back to Traffic Unit. After explaining to Jennifer what dispatch said, Jennifer stated that “dispatch is supposed to send the officer”, she then took my report/complaint officially on paper. According to Jennifer this is standard procedure when there are ongoing problems with speeding etc.

Start of a Past LOG part 1

As of August 27, 2004. I have begun documenting my correspondence and contacts with the Modesto Police and their Department. I feel this is necessary largely due in part to the lack of concern or interest on the part of the Modesto Police Department. I have, prior to August 27, 2004, made several telephone reports and approached patrol officers posing questions and concerns as well as complaints, about the state of our street and immediate neighborhood safety.
A growing concern within the neighborhood is that unless there is an emergency, you are lucky if the police show up for non-emergency calls. I personally have experienced the police not showing up to non-emergency calls after complaints were called into dispatch. By not showing up, I don't mean showing up a few hours later, I mean not showing up at all…not even driving by. This has been the case on more than one occasion and within the same calendar month.
The following, ongoing journal, is to document and reflect upon any incidents of significance or lack there of, so as not to seem idiotic when explaining events as they unfold.

Let the GAMES BEGIN!

So, here we go. The posts that are going to appear hereafter may have some slight repetitiveness until I catch up to current Date and Time due to an old log I was keeping and then stopped. I almost was going to forego this whole notion of loging my correspondence with police and city officials just because it requires a great deal of time and consistent effort. But, I was keenly reminded today of how I cannot just let things be. Apparently I am the only one who feels that the police should be present and respond throughout the city and not just in the privileged neighborhoods. Or, the only one willing to do anything about it with a sustained effort.
Today, I saw a "county" animal control officer by the name of Jeffrey Hardenbrook (he gave me one of his cards) parked on the "speedway" (Dallas ST.) I approached him and told him that I was glad to see him and that if he were to park here daily, that he would catch a stray dog...daily! The county animal control officer's response was "you will need to call the city of Modesto". "They have their own division of control officers which is actually part of the Modesto Police dept." "I can't do anything to that little tan dog over their because it is in city jurisdiction." Funny, he knew exactly why I had approached him. Let me state for clarification, that I live somewhat but not entirely close to county jurisdiction. However, that county jurisdiction is nearly 1/4 mile north up the speedway (Dallas St.) I guess my question should have been: "Then why are not you patrolling down on the county jurisdiction rather than sitting over here parked and looking official"? I guess because it was not his job to detain stray animals within Modesto City jurisdiction (even thought he was parked here), it would be too much for him to get on his radio and report it so that the proper animal control response could be made by the City of Modesto Police Dept. Or perhaps Jeffrey Hardenbrook already knew what is becoming more and more apparent at least to me, and that is that it is like pulling teeth to get the Modesto Police Dept. to respond to anything other than an emergency.
Why just two weeks ago Saturday I was able to detain a stray Pitbull. I called the Modesto Police Animal Control Dispatch @ 1-209-552-2470 for a pick-up from the Modesto Police Animal Control Division. 2 hours passed and nothing, I called again and was told that their are only 2 animal control officers for the whole city of Modesto and that only one was working presently (it was in fact, a Saturday). An additional hour passed and my wife called. I did not hear what was discussed on the phone with my wife and the other party, but when my wife hung up the phone she simply said what a Bitch! I asked what happened and my wife explained that the lady she spoke to had already told her husband (me) that they only had 2 animal Control officers for the entire city of Modesto and that she would have to be patient and would their be anything else that she could help her with?
At that point I loaded the dog up and drove it down to the Animal Control Division. I waited in line for 15 minutes before being asked what I was bringing this particular dog in for. I explained my situation and that I was just their to drop the stray dog off. Now mind you my patience had flew out the window on my way there, so when the poor girl at the desk began asking multiple questions like where the dog was found, what my address was etc. I simply snapped back, I am not going to answer any of your questions. You would have had all of the information you needed if your animal control officer bothered to show up when I called over 4 hours ago. I then proceeded to step 6 feet to my right with the dog and open a counter gate which led behind the desk where all the employees were. I released the leash and ushered the dog in. I then said now it is your problem...see ya!

Some Background

I was born and raised in San Jose, California. I have a modest job as does my wife. Our income says that we fall within the so-called "MIDDLE" CLASS, but after taxes feels more like the other class...you know, the poor? January of 2004 we decided it was time to buy a home, but low-and-behold, the housing costs were RIDICULOUS anywhere within the bay area to say the least. A decision was made to look to the city of Modesto for refuge. Why not? It seemed everyone else within the middle class was migrating to what we call the Central Valley of which Modesto is part.
After moving into which is currently our first home April 2004, we began to discover that our neighborhood is not as nice as originally thought. You know? Things like a little bit of gang activity, not a whole lot, but 2 houses on the next block over are 2 too many. Like stray dogs running the streets daily. Which I discovered actually belong to some of the people here, but for what ever reason they confuse these K-9's for cats and let them run the neighborhood as a cat would. I mean actually opening their front door and allowing the beast to just go and conquer.
Other things like an extra wide through-way street with a posted speed of 25mph which I estimate the average speed to be in excess of 45mph and of those speeding roughly half belonging to the "2 Fast 2 Furious" movie cast. Did I mention that I live on a large corner lot so the side of my lot is this wonderful speedway? I have the privilege of seeing and experiencing more than my fair share of neighborhood nuisances most of which are breaking the law or city ordinances, but usually nothing too serious. Some of these nuisances do however, have the potential to be very hazardous to one's health if not deadly. For instance, summer 2004: #1-Shooting 1 block south of my home (southeast corner home) resulting in fleeing vehicle crashing into fence (southwest corner home). #2-Hit and run of parked vehicle across street (southwest corner home). #3-exhibition of speed resulting in crash into fence (Northeast corner home). #4-Stray dogs continuously crapping on my lawn. #5-Speeders continuously running the gauntlet.
I know what your thinking. "Where are the police in all of this"? Or, "Didn't you call the police"? With the exception of The shooting I mentioned, which they were all over it, they have an uncanny ability of not showing up. The best case scenario was the #3 incident above. The police showed up an hour later. The driver had time to go home and get here husband who pushed the car off neighbors lawn, began trying to fix the car, couldn't, went down street to neighbors, got truck and pulled his car home.
The excuses the police use are so brazen and matter-o-fact, it leaves one wondering how he/she could have been so stupid as to even consider calling the police for such unimportant BULLSHI*. Example: Item #2 above the police were called via 911. It was explained to them what had happened. 3hours later I called back wondering why the police had not responded and was told that the police will not respond because the owner was not home and that the owner of the vehicle would have to be the one to call and complain. When I explained that the owner was out of town, I was told that it doesn't matter.
These are just some of my frustrations with the City of Modesto and their Police Department. I have long pondered whether or not it is appropriate to make public my frustrations and have come to the conclusion that the City of Modesto, the Mayor's office, the City Supervisors and the Modesto Police Department do NOT care or hear a word unless it affects their public image...so BE IT!