The Martin Chronicles is doing a lot of thinking about the police department issue in Villa Hills while we prepare for the arrival of the Blizzard of '13. We seriously doubt if Villa Hills malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin sees his now-revealed plot to finally rid himself of the police department he hates so much as an example of "budget sequestration". Why? Because we are confident that Martin doesn't have any idea what the word "sequestration" means.
But we do think there is some similarity between the budget shenanigans underway in Washington DC and Martin's bogus assertion that he thinks he can "save a whole bunch of money" by axing the police department and contracting with another agency for (LESS SAFE) coverage. Much like the politicians in our nation's capitol, Martin is slinging loads of horse hockey. Why? To paper over the real reason he wants to send the entire PD packing. He is doing it to finally get his revenge against Police Chief Dan Goodenough and Detective Joe Schutzman.
But Goodenough and Schutzman won't be Martin's only victims. There will be five other officers whose careers will be ruined by this vapid vendetta. Oh, wait. There will also be another nearly EIGHT THOUSAND RESIDENTS who will be left a lot LESS SAFE. Word on the mean streets of Villa Hills is that many, many people DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THEIR OWN HOMES NOW.
The explosion in Villa Hills' crime rate coincides directly with Martin's inexplicable refusal to bring the police department up to proper staffing levels. It is very strange. Martin mindlessly beats his flabby chest about saving $2 on paper towels, $9 on car washes, $4 on coffee and a couple of hundred dollars on a postage meter. All the while TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND-PLUS TAXPAYER DOLLARS A YEAR WALK OUT THE DOOR IN UNNECESSARY OVERTIME EXPENSE.
For whom will Martin push? Will it be Kenton County? Will it be Erlanger? Will it be Ft. Mitchell? Will it be Ludlow? Will it be Park Hills? Should it be anybody but a fully-staffed VHPD protecting the residents of Villa Hills? If you don't think so, you need to let the city council know quickly. This council can no longer sit back and let Martin do this without any oversight. The six council people should publicly state their position on this issue. Before it is too late. Hillbilly lynchmob be damned.
And for the people who say they support "outsourcing" if it saves money-who's money will be saved? Do you expect Martin to reduce your tax burden by any amount he alleges to save? If so, you are going to be deeply disappointed.
There are two ways to explain Martin's bizarre behavior. He may be punishing Goodenough and Schutzman for his 2007 forgery arrest. Or, he may be INCREDIBLY STUPID. Yes, we know you know. The answer is BOTH ARE CORRECT.
There is another reason for the residents to be seriously concerned about Martin's police department antics. What is that? The FACT that Martin is doing all of this in COMPLETE SECRECY. Despite his loony assurances to the contrary, Martin HAS NOT "been telling everyone about this all along". This wacky claim has the same odd ring to it as when he happily told everyone he was not suing them during his dirtbag 2010 mayoral campaign. The problem? HE WAS SUING THEM.
While we know there are a dwindling number of people who still do, you trust anything Martin says at your own grave peril.
