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New grant funds police equipment
$100,000 would pay for GPS, canine unit

Palo Alto's police officers will soon be equipped with global-position-system devices, binoculars and radio earpieces thanks to a $100,000 state grant.

The Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS) grant, which the City Council voted to accept Monday night, will also allow the department to enhance its evidence-collection trailer and to get a new canine unit — which would allow one of the department's aging canines to retire. The department also plans to use the COPS funds to buy 12 "heavy-duty cases" for storing patrol equipment; 12 large-capacity UBS flash drives; and five new "remote area lighting systems."

The department's "enhanced" evidence-gathering vehicle would include a drying shed for "wet evidence," a refrigeration unit for other types of evidence, a place to view DVDs and security tapes, a generator and improved lighting. The cost of outfitting the evidence-collecting vehicle would be $50,000.

The council voted unanimously to accept the COPS money, saying the funds would bolster the police department and make the city safer. Palo Alto has been accepting COPS funds every year since 1998. In the past, the funds helped the department buy Tasers, surveillance equipment, upgrades to patrol vehicles and automatic license-plate readers.

"I think this is important for our police force and our community," Vice Mayor Sid Espinosa said Monday. "I know we've accepted funds for this program since 1998 and I hope we never get to the point where we're not accepting money for much-needed Police Department needs."

— Gennady Sheyner

Posted by Binaryan, a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood, on Jan 15, 2010 at 9:20 am

You have to be got to be kidding me. Last week I received $504 in tickets for running a stop sign on my bicycle. When I asked the officer if he was serious, he said to me "it's Palo Alto...I've got nothing better to do."

Well now he has $100,000 more in toys to do it with.

Posted by Resident, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jan 15, 2010 at 9:28 am

Wow. At last, a bicyclist getting a ticket for running a stop sign.

I hope the message gets out that bicycles are vehicles and need to stop at stop signs. It is about time.

Posted by Binaryan, a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood, on Jan 15, 2010 at 9:59 am

Hardly. It's telling I must deal with my infraction at the Department of Motor Vehicles, when my vehicle doesn't have a motor.

What it is about time for is legislation that allows cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs, which Utah is already considering (see link). Unlike automobile drivers, who are in a guarded, climate-controlled two-ton machine capable up speeds up to 100mph, cyclists are exposed to the elements and lose valuable momentum at stop signs. The intersection I rode through on my bicycle, on a freezing night after 10pm, was completely empty. The cop came tearing out of an adjacent parking lot to ticket me.

Road safety had nothing to do with it.

Web Link

Posted by Scofflaws beware, a resident of Stanford, on Jan 15, 2010 at 10:04 am

Bravo to the police for nailing one of the biking scofflaws. Maybe next time Binaryan will think twice before breaking the law. If you want, Binaryan, talk to your legislators about changing the law--but for now the laws apply to you and you must deal with the DMV.What a pathetic excuse that the intersection was empty. I think $504 is not enough--there should have been an arrest, fingerprinting, mug shots and a strip search

Posted by George, a resident of the Charleston Gardens neighborhood, on Jan 15, 2010 at 10:39 am

> "I think this is important for our police force and our

> community," Vice Mayor Sid Espinosa said Monday.

---

The article states:

The department also plans to use the COPS funds to buy 12 "heavy-duty cases" for storing patrol equipment; 12 large-capacity UBS flash drives; and five new "remote area lighting systems."

---

and how is any of this money (borrowed no doubt by the Feds from the Chinese and to be paid back by our grandchildren through 75% income taxes) going to make Palo Alto safer? (The article doesn't say where the ultimate source of funds is coming, but it would be a surprise if it were not directly, or indirectly, from the Federal Government.)

It would have been less embarrassing for Palo Alto residents if the Council had voted their acceptance of this money on the Consent Calendar. Having to listen to gobbledygook like that of Vice-Mayor explaining his vote is painful. He should learn to keep his silly opinions to himself.

Posted by waste, a resident of the Embarcadero Oaks/Leland neighborhood, on Jan 15, 2010 at 1:38 pm

what a waste. btw,cannabis will make you see the truth right away about what the natural life supporting earth is ding. thats why they dont want you to have it. it will make you see through lies,and has less physical effects that a cup of strong cofffee!!!!

Posted by M, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jan 16, 2010 at 1:02 am

Outstanding. We need to continue to make sure our police agencies are getting the funding they need.

Posted by K, a resident of the University South neighborhood, on Jan 18, 2010 at 12:25 am

$500 ticket it’s just a warning that a habit zipping through intersection may cost bicyclist significantly more … may be a life