Hardly a day passes that some WNC newspaper doesn’t have some law enforcement scandal in the headlines. In fact, I rejoice on the days when all headlines are about druggies, embezzlers, and bank robbers with no government official “leading by example.” As I have said before, I don’t like to get into police scandals because it is criminals that stand the most to gain by demoralizing the police force. I feel like I’m, in the popular vernacular, being played.

However, the Mountain Xpress, continuing its coverage of the hour and 46 minute response time for an armed assault, has noted ten out of twenty-five communications positions are vacant in the Asheville Police Department. The article reminds the reader the FOP has been blaming the current chief’s “management style” for turnover rates that are unusually high even for the notorious LEO “training ground.” One can only recall the chief’s predecessor, Bill Hogan, talking about management style and wonder if the new guy isn’t a Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

I liked Hogan. He came in when everybody was complaining about drug deals going down behind the police department and prostitutes getting in and out of officers’ cars. When the city hosted an event where the public could interview the top three candidates in the executive search, it was nice to see those who came to represent political, artistic, pothead, gay, or other interests looking at each other and nodding with pleasure at the chief’s responses. “This guy can instill confidence,” thought I.

Anyway, I felt kind of bad about the last post on the anomalous response time in that Captain Tim Splain was taking the bad rap for the problem. I went on my first APD ride-along with him, and got to see him do all kinds of things I didn’t think were possible. I can’t say enough about how well he picked up on signals and responded immediately and effectively, while I was still saying, “Huh? What?” I was, of course, very disappointed when he was promoted to a desk job. If anything, I’d say Splain is overqualified for his current role.

If there are complaints with dispatch management, I could understand that, too. The department was once headed by Kevin West. West had a reputation for not being able to shoot straight at a target, but knowing enough about his handicap to compensate. I best remember him for, soon after being promoted to manage the dispatch room, calling off some officers who were going to go after my car. I was doing some goody-goody stuff in public housing, West heard my name on the radio amongst whatever else was going on in the communications room, and told them I was legitimate. I didn’t even know he knew my name. So, yeah, his replacement may not be as amazing.