Deputy Police Chief Responds to Oklahoman Story
Here is an e-mail from Major Steven B. Thompson, Deputy Chief of Police in response to reporter Johnny Johnson’s report of a rally of neighbors next to a proposed Public Safety Center.
Mr. Johnson,
We have been working closely with other members of your staff in getting the truth and accurate facts out about the proposed public safety center, and they have done an awesome job of being fair and impartial.
The article published today under your name only reported one side of this issue. We (Edmond Police Department) thought The Oklahoman was done with this issue, as we sent a very supportive letter to the editor in from a local builder/developer and we were told it was too late and it would be put on the blog or internet site. We would like the opportunity to respond to the article published today as there are far many supporters than nay Sayers. Come to downtown Edmond today from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and talk to the community members as they bring their children to the downtown Halloween festival, I think you will hear a totally different story. Shadid is mad at this council for unrelated reasons and that’s why he is stirring up this neighborhood by using the fear factor of crime. In reality every study ever done shows that police presence reduces crime. I can show you google maps of police departments throughout the nation where crime is mapped on the site and in almost every case there is an obvious barrier of a “No crime Zone” around these police stations.
Now you might ask why we did not have a presenter at this meeting. We have asked, and been denied.
Please contact me here or at 359-4401 and we would be happy to tell the other side of the story.
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Comments
We are starting to see the desperation of those who want this measure approved. The leaders of this proposal are resorting to name calling and mud slinging by trying to insinuate that Mr Shadid is pissed off at the City Council for “unknown reasons” and therefore wants to derail this project. Are you serious? We as Officers in the EPD are constantly told to be professional, and then the Officers who are against this measure were referred to in an inter-department email as “malcontents”. This name calling and mudslinging shows the proponent’s level of professionalism and is a perfect example of do as I say, not as I do. NEWS FLASH – not all Officers are happy with this proposal. Some of us are property owners in Edmond and want to see fair way of funding, which is sales tax. We know that the proposed location is not the best place to put the new facility. And we know that there is unfinished business – lawsuit – that has purposefully been delayed in hopes that this proposal passes.
“…that’s why he is stirring up this neighborhood by using the fear factor of crime.” Balderdash! Here’s another news flash, our neighborhood got stirred up about two and one-half months ago when we found out about the upcoming vote and plans for the sports field. It seems no one in the immediate area was notified about a zoning change, site plans, nor the future of our neighborhood.
A few weeks ago, a policeman told me he clocked someone driving 50 mph on Main Street. I was also told that we would have more police visibility in the coming week. The day after the story broke about our opposition, guess what? No police visibility and people continue disregard the speed limit and stop signs, thus endangering our children and themselves everyday. As for the location, the current station is one-half mile away. We do not understand how moving the location a 1/2 mile west will provide anymore of a deterrent?
Here are some quotes from a man in Edmond: “What would actually be the best solution is for the Edmond City Council to eminent domain the entire area, give the homeowners who live there a fair settlement so they can move to Moore or MWC or Springlake or some other such more suitable (for them) suburban paradise, and redevelop the area around the new police station along gentrification lines.” ‘The entire area around the proposed site of the new PD is basically Section 8-bait… …”slum” or “ghetto” area, the neighborhood adjacent to the proposed location is basically it. The “baseball field” these NO folks are supposedly worried about is a run-down joke”…
Shame on you, Jason! What slanderous words! I find it very disconcerting that harsh accusations from City officials and other residents condemn anyone who expresses an opposing opinion. We work very hard for our homes and are thankful for our piece of this town. We pay our taxes, obey the laws, and contribute to the community. In times of disaster, we help each other. We take care of each other. And, yes, contrary to some recent statements, we are a viable neighborhood in Edmond.
Thank you Ryan, “no-too”, and CNA for sharing common sense non-bigoted replies to the issue of the location of the proposed new police station and jail. I live in the area. It is a well-preserved community of Old Edmond, before the word “Edmonite” was invented. Contrary to the vile and bigoted rhetoric that Jason and Burt spew forth, it is a viable and useful neighborhood to the city of Edmond.
Homes are being re-modeled and refurbished regularly. We DON’T have the snootiness that may occur in other developments, but we don’t condemn them for such. We prefer to live in the Old Edmond with it’s Old Edmond friendliness and prefer to NOT move into a Lifted Nose environment. Please don’t condemn us for that.
Regarding the location…we do NOT need increased traffic, increased taxes, and increased danger to our children in our neighborhood. NO neighborhood should have to suffer the consequences of a police station and Jail within the borders of it’s comfort zone.
Park space and play area is VITAL to a neighborhood. This park space is currently useful to thousands of hours of play every year..Major Steve Thompson is dead wrong about his views on that.
And what’s with the above…did Major Thompson or another City Official try to pressure the Oklahoman to shut them up about further communication with the opposition??? DOES THAT BEAR FURTHER INVESTIGATION???
John, it’s great that I found this post of yours this morning, and I find it ironic that any proponent of this project would accuse the other side of using ‘fear factors.’ Feel free to check out my blog post on how I view their fear tactics:
http://blog.edmondoklahomesforsale.com/index.php/keep-edmond-safe/local-issues/260/