Published: April 15, 2008 08:54 pm            

Letter to the editor - Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Operation Public Servant right for us

Thank you for the opportunity to inform your readers about Operation Public Servant. We can increase emergency communications capabilities without grant money and expensive wireless gadgets by simply utilizing the resources and the personnel we already have in place.

Currently, as a last resort, citizens who cannot get an emergency message to a loved one while they are at work can call their local law enforcement department and request a police officer relay a message to a job site for them. However, if an officer is unavailable for any reason, citizens could be out of options. OPS is intended to provide additional options. The mayor and the council are paid public servants who offer their phone numbers to the public for the purpose of communications. OPS is a suggestion that citizens who run out of options could call the mayor or a council member and request the public servant relay an emergency message in person to the job site, instead of waiting for an officer or taking an officer off the street. OPS is good for a variety of emergencies and requires no mandates of employers to implement.

Not unlike helpless passengers on a runaway train, council members will be more willing to comply with your request when informed that their refusal could expose the city to a liability lawsuit if their refusal to comply directly results in the loss of life, limb or property damage.

To be prepared, the general public should clip the mayor’s and council members’ phone numbers and keep them close to your phone or fridge. By utilizing our resources and our elected officials, we will be better prepared for future emergencies. With the help of our public servants and the public whom they serve, we will make it so.

Good luck with OPS

Mike Carpenter

Shelbyville

        

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