Courier Editorial
Opinions
Note: Opinions are entered by date.

June 11, 1998
More talking less posturing needed in C.F.

When Cedar Falls Police Officer Dave Bond submitted a letter to the editor to the Courier, which ran as a guest opinion, he was informed a copy would be provided to city officials for a response.

Cedar Falls officials replied to Bond's letter, critical of some staffing changes implemented by new Public Safety Director Jay Kohl, with their take on the cost savings and efficiencies, maintaining safety requirements were still being met.

But they didn't let it go at that.

A hearing Tuesday focused on whether Bond violated department
rules - a matter never broached with us in the week officials had to ponder their Guest Opinion reply.  

Neither government nor business wants dissention in the ranks expressed publicly. However, any disciplinary action runs the risk of fomenting more disenchantment by creating martyrs, particularly when the problem is widespread, rather than isolated.

And many Cedar Falls police officers and firefighters are unhappy campers. Not that this is entirely new. Putting their departments under one umbrella more than a decade ago never sat well. However, under former Police Chief Paul Hoffey, the misgivings never bordered on insurrection.

Kohl, though, has been quick to make changes, cutting overtime and reorganizing the flow chart. Change, of course, bucks tradition and can be hard to accept. However, even before Kohl's arrival, the city had made it clear more volunteers were envisioned and, now, part-timers.

Many police and firefighters are convinced safety - both personal and public - is being jeopardized, and they are worried about job security.

Meanwhile, city officials are quick to defend Kohl, who has been subjected to a nasty smear campaign, including various charges of dubious merit, maintaining he is only following their directives.

It has been difficult to distinguish hyperbole from reality in the volley of charges.

Innocent bystanders are left with the impression nobody could be as evil as Kohl is portrayed. Yet one has to wonder if the changes could have been implemented with more finesse and less angst.

Unfortunately, no resolution is in sight as long as both sides buy into the "us vs. them" mentality. Some common ground needs to be established. Costs - tax dollars - must be contained, but morale should not be undervalued.

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