Going with Sheriff costly proposition in more ways than one

New World System's computer

Did the City take a match to almost $1 million dollars in a computer system to go with the Sheriff’s Department? Check an excerpt from the back-up under New Business F below. Where are these computers? Did we sell the system?

The New World Systems police computer system was purchased and installed through/by direct cash expenditures of almost $1m over the course of the past two years which involved no loan financing. The Police Motorola radio system, however, was purchased using a loan financing agreement providing for annual payments of $112,853.76 through March 2012 (see payment schedule, attached).

Now the City staff wants us to pay for a radio system even though we are not using it. It’s not in the budget but it might injure our credit if we don’t pay.

On Friday, I was driving down the city streets for approximately one hour where a lot of the “action” happens--drugs and muggings. I spotted two immigrants walking down the sidewalk with open beer cans in Tropical Ridge and people hanging out in the south end. I never saw one Sheriff’s vehicle cruising the streets. I did spot two while on Lake Avenue, however.

It could be my imagination but has anyone noticed their presence is not as predominate as it was the first month? Crime continues to flourish in Lake Worth. As proof, just read this morning’s paper.