I am shocked to hear Chief Murray say, ”We are not going to hire short-order cooks with G.E.D.s,” in reference to prospective candidates.

I am very offended he would say such a thing. I am a “short-order cook” with a high school diploma from McIntosh High School.

What is that supposed to mean? A G.E.D. is good enough for a Fayette County Sheriff’s Department [job].

Murray then says, ”We can’t attract candidates because they cannot afford the rent for local apartments.” That’s funny because those “short-order cooks with G.E.D.s” find a way to pay the rent for the same apartments.

If we have such a large shortage of officers in PTC, why are they always sitting in parking lots chit-chatting to each other at all hours of the day?

Also, anyone who has left a local bar has seen at least one to four officers in a given night either in their rear-view or in a parking lot watching and waiting for their prey.

I am sick of hearing this whining by the chief. If anyone wants to see the shortage of officers, go out and have a couple drinks and then leave the bar in your car.

Trust me: You will see the “shortage” then. The entire on-shift force will be waiting for you.

Please publish this in the paper. Many local cooks have been offended by his statements. I am just one voice speaking as a whole for local kitchen personnel community.

Bryan Keith Vellegas
shalaygas (at) yahoo.com