As with any type of government agency, we are always tasked with doing more with less. For several years we have been dealing with less of a budget regarding equipment, ect. It was so bad, that when our current mayor took office, he approached all of the employee organizations and asked for part of our pay raises back. Our union said no, and now we are paying the price....he fights us on everything while the agencies that gave back are being extra benefits. The population of the metro area (Denver,CO) has grown by approximately 2 million in the past ten years, with the majority of that being Mexican nationals. The manpower of the PD is lower now that it was in 1972 when the city was hoping to get the '72 olympics. Now we have the DNC that happens in August here, and guess what.....there's no money in the budget for training and equipment. The feds have stepped up with funding, but the administration has not disbursed it.
I know that the upcoming election is going to change alot of things, not so much L/E related or budget wise. My concern is having to enforce laws that I believe to be fundamentally wrong. The idea of restricting man's constitutional rights does not sit well with me. With all that said, I am seriously considering an early retirement....don't want to be a part of the upcoming administration/government.