Posted on Wednesday, 12th May 2010 by Patrick Dorwin
This week is National Police Week, and the Republican Party of Wisconsin is calling out Mayor Tom Barrett after he addressed the Wisconsin Professional Police Association. Barrett failed to address OpenSky and the WisGOP is calling him out for his lack of leadership in the failed radio system that is endangering our officers, and soon will include our fire fighters, as they move ahead with a radio system that doesn’t work.
Did Barrett Drop the Call at WPPA Meeting?
MADISON – An in-person visit with the Wisconsin Professional Police Association was necessary for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett today, as a police radio system is still not up and fully functional, putting officers at risk, after approximately $18 million taxpayer dollars have been spent on the troubled project.Back in November, after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported officers were experiencing gaps in coverage and missed calls for backup, Barrett’s Police Chief acknowledged, “…$17.5 million in taxpayer money has been spent on this system; that means questioning every further expense and demanding strict accountability for performance.”
Months later, problems persisted and the City extended $1 million to bail out the failed project, but Barrett’s lack of leadership has left an accountability gap—and Republican Party of Wisconsin Executive Director Mark Jefferson said a Mayor absent on public safety issues is sadly something Milwaukeeans have come to expect.
On December 3, 2007, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported: “In his first term, Barrett has faced criticism on a variety of fronts, including the stubborn murder rate and, at one point, for not acknowledging that the city faced a crime crisis. Some have derided him as “Mayor Milk Carton,” saying he was missing on some issues.”
“The unresolved gaps in coverage and missed calls for backup that plague the Milwaukee police radio system, along with Barrett’s unwillingness to make public safety a budgetary priority, serve as reminders Barrett really deserves that ‘Mayor Milk Carton’ title,” Jefferson said. “In his meeting with the WPPA, Barrett should explain why he’s dropped the call to get police officers a working radio system they can rely on.”
Tags: OpenSky
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8 Responses to “Barrett gets called out on OpenSky failure”
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May 12th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
And I heard today they endorsed him. Yep, my Union is stupid!!!!
May 13th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
An association that is supposed to represent police officers endorses Barrett?
Apparently, it’s allegience is to Big Union and the Democrat Party instead of its police officers.
Shameful.
No surprise, but still shameful.
May 13th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Stalker, with the WPPA it’s all about the Bennies, and which Politician will pay out more. They frequently try to justify this in the quarterly newsrag. Doesn’t matter if they are complete opposites on political or social issues that affect us. As long as the gravy train keeps flowing the execs couldn’t give a crap!
The leadership of the WPPA is based in Madison. And the majority of it’s members as Police Officers are a pretty conservative bunch as are our local reps. And even they can’t figure out what kool-aid they’re drinking in Madison.
There wasn’t a vote or even a polling of the membership to ask who to endorse, The execs. just announced they supported Barrett.
May 13th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Martin, I’m quite certain there is a provision in law, called The Fair Share Act, allowing members of unions to demand a refund of that portion of their union dues which a union uses for political purposes. I think you can verify that through the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission. If the majority of the membership is conservative, then such a demand would surely get the attention of the union board. The next step would be to unseat them in elections.
May 13th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Are you sure about that, Martin? Their website shows nothing.
May 15th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Check out what Ozaukee County said about OpenSky on September 24, 2004
http://twitpic.com/1nw4x4/full
http://www.co.ozaukee.wi.us/minutes/RadioSystemUser.htm#September%2024,%202004
May 15th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Glenn, I know about the law and the Union made an announcement for anyone that wanted to do that to send in their info. I declined since it looks to be ready made “Blackball” list. But that may change with this endorsement.
mke, I saw it as a brief blurb on FOX 6. They’ll probably make the announcement after the GOP primary.
May 15th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
10-4 Martin. I still think people need to make a stand when a small group is making unpopular decisions for the whole.