carterbeauford
member
I probably would not be posting this if my area did not experience what I consider to be unacceptable response times. Do not interpret it as cop bashing because I don't think this is any fault of the cops themselves, I listen to the scanner, and in the area covered by this barracks, they are stretched too thin. I thought this appropriate for S&T because my call to the police last night resulted from a suspicious vehicle near my house.
So I get home about 11:00PM to find a car parked along the road in front of my neighbors' house, next to my driveway. Area is in close proximity to I80, which explained the NJ plates. Windows fogged up, headlights on. I was armed at the time (1911 and P11) and briefly considered asking if they needed help, but I figured I'd really rather not. Called Pennsylvania State Police, Mercer barracks, who took my information and said they send a car. They asked if the vehicle was occupied, so I shined a 10 million candlepower spotlight on the vehicle from my deck and observed at least one person inside.
40 minutes after the call, the car leaves. I go to the end of my driveway and wait... 45 minutes after the call, two troopers show up. I advised them the vehicle left and thanked them for coming out.
I only have one other recent incident that occured near my house on which to average the response times, a near fatal traffic accident. Also took 45 minutes. However, they have a long history of long response times, this is nothing new. The barracks is 8 miles up the road from me, 10 minutes away, more like 7 or 8 minutes if they speed. Mercer County is not that big. My situation last night might not have been a priority, but a near fatal accident is.
So what are the times like in your geographical area? I think the only real variable in this equation is manpower, there are not enough troopers on patrol to handle the things that can and do require their attention here. If there is one accident on I80, all troopers on patrol are tied up immediately. Thoughts?
So I get home about 11:00PM to find a car parked along the road in front of my neighbors' house, next to my driveway. Area is in close proximity to I80, which explained the NJ plates. Windows fogged up, headlights on. I was armed at the time (1911 and P11) and briefly considered asking if they needed help, but I figured I'd really rather not. Called Pennsylvania State Police, Mercer barracks, who took my information and said they send a car. They asked if the vehicle was occupied, so I shined a 10 million candlepower spotlight on the vehicle from my deck and observed at least one person inside.
40 minutes after the call, the car leaves. I go to the end of my driveway and wait... 45 minutes after the call, two troopers show up. I advised them the vehicle left and thanked them for coming out.
I only have one other recent incident that occured near my house on which to average the response times, a near fatal traffic accident. Also took 45 minutes. However, they have a long history of long response times, this is nothing new. The barracks is 8 miles up the road from me, 10 minutes away, more like 7 or 8 minutes if they speed. Mercer County is not that big. My situation last night might not have been a priority, but a near fatal accident is.
So what are the times like in your geographical area? I think the only real variable in this equation is manpower, there are not enough troopers on patrol to handle the things that can and do require their attention here. If there is one accident on I80, all troopers on patrol are tied up immediately. Thoughts?