The take-home vehicle

program has been shown to reduce the overall costs of

vehicle maintenance by not having a patrol car on the

road 24 hours a day. As the PCPD spent less than it was

budgeted for the fiscal year ending September 1999, it is

highly unlikely that the PCPD would just have 20 cars

sitting around collecting rust. Putting police cars in

the driveways of various neighborhoods throughout the

city, in addition to the regular patrols, is a further

step towards reducing crime. Reduction of crime is

something that any citizen of Peachtree City can support.

Mr. Thompson also expresses

confusion as to why Peachtree City is building a new

police facility. Perhaps I can provide Mr. Thompson with

a non-exhaustive list of reasons for the new police

facility.

First, as Mr. Thompson

alludes, the present facility is too small for the

current number of officers. Not only does the police

department have need for more space, but all of the other

city departments housed in the same building are in need

of more space.

Second, the current

population of Peachtree City is just over 33,000 people.

According to Mr. Thompson's figures, the PCPD has 55

officers. These figures give us the ratio of one police

officer for every 600 citizens. Optimally, the ratio

should be closer to one officer for every 400 citizens.

It follows that the

aforementioned less-than-optimal ratio combined with the

likely increase in the city's population shall lead to an

increase in the size of the PCPD. Failure to foresee such

an increase in the police department's size would be of

great detriment to Peachtree City.

Third, the training

facilities for a department the size of the PCPD are

inadequate. Officers are having to do some training in

the parking lot. A failure to properly train its officers

will leave Peachtree City open for potential lawsuits.

Fourth, prisoners are

removed from the patrol cars in the same parking lot

where citizens enter the lower floor of the library. Not

having prisoners in such close proximity to a location

where children gather is probably in the best interest of

the city and the citizens.

Fifth, the new facility

will permit the PCPD to continue having all of its assets

and resources in a single centralized location. Such

organization will permit the PCPD to maintain its average

response time of less than four minutes. Quick police

response is certainly something that any citizen of

Peachtree City can support.

Pursuant to Mr. Thompson's

reference to Peachtree City as a speed trap, I visited www.speedtrap.com . The website is not an objective

compilation of statistical data. It is merely a forum for

people to complain. The total of information about

Peachtree City amounted to three entries from March 1998.

The most interesting part

of the website was the portion that stated in pertinent

part: "This page in no way encourages speeding and

recommends that you always follow the posted speed limit.

You are responsible for your own actions." I am sure

that if Mr. Thompson follows the advice of the very page

which he cited he will take responsibility for his own

actions.

The "rules of the

road" are there for our safety. If you don't agree

with the rules, don't condemn those who are charged with

enforcing them. Take your case to the legislative body

that created those rules.

G. Robert Williams II

Peachtree City

[Williams is an attorney

practicing in Newnan.]