What is the turn over rate at Corbin Police Dept.

Date: Oct 22, 2007

What is the turn over rate at Corbin Police Dept.

Date: Oct 23, 2007

I've talked with one recently, and the biggest part is the money and benefits. He wouldn't go much further than that when we talked. Seemed as if he was holding back something, but I didn't press. I see him a couple times a week, I'll try to press for more.

Meanwhile, anyone else have some thoughts.

Date: Oct 23, 2007

These men put their lives and personal safety on the line for us every day, all day long. It's a shame they don't even make a living wage.

The fire department makes more due to their being on duty for 24 hours at a time, getting overtime for it. I think the police officers pay should equal that of the fire department when you calculate out the fireman's pay with the overtime added. It's the only fair thing to do. I won't go into the police vs. fireman issues, but the pay needs to be equal. I've known many fine law officers that has left corbin for pay reasons only. Even the county sheriff's offices pay better than the city.

It's embarassing how we pay them. Even the clerks at city hall make twice the pay they do.

Anyone that thinks their job isn't dangerous, take a few rides in a cruiser, and see how you like it. Make a life or death decision for $9 an hour.

Date: Oct 28, 2007

The numbers would blow your mind, 60-70 officers in the last ten or so years. The officers are not leaving for better pay.... its treatment. The main problem is within the upper ranks of the department. Corbin Police Department needs new blood.

Date: Oct 29, 2007

If its treatment of the line officers by the supervisors that is the problem, then I wish one of the former officers would step up and let someone know about it.

It's a shame when you have college graduates in law enforcement, and many with military law enforcement, working for 8 or 9 bucks an hour, and you have clerks in city hall making over 1/ 3 more.

If anything, it should be the other way around.

Date: Nov 5, 2007

Looks like David O. Smith has done his homework... Give his web site a look. The mayor has got to take controll over this problem before the whole department is gone.

Date: Nov 9, 2007

I've heard of that website before, what is the site address.

I hear it has some really eye opening information.

Would you care to publish it.

Date: Nov 9, 2007

Someone told me the site has a lot of un-truths in its stories and that it was only started after the local newspapers quit publishing his stuff. They were flooded with letters to the editor about one thing or another but the newspapers thought it was just an effort to get exposure without paying for advertising. Of course I am sure this will be denied.

Date: Nov 10, 2007

None of the stories and issues he brought up are untruths. They are facts. Cold, hard facts. His issues make the city and city leaders, as well as county leaders, very bad. Almost ignorant.

He couldn't print fabrications on his site, as he signs his name to it, and if he did, he knows he could be sued for liable and slander. All of the stories as they are printed are facts. Email him, he'll tell you. He's not afraid of anyone, and not afraid to talk to anyone about anything he writes.

The city and county knows they're on the hot spot with his site, so they don't mention it and hope it'll go away.

If David O. had came into play just a year or so earlier, we wouldn't have had the mess we have with whitley county now, debt wise. No occupational taxes. He just got started too late.

Date: Nov 10, 2007

No you are wrong. There is a bunch of BS on that site. It is long on BS and short on facts from someone who only gripes and never does anything for the community. One example was his article about the fire on master street and the nearby fire station being closed. The article said the master street fire station was closed because the fire department was short handed that day. The firemen told me that they were not short handed that day and that the master street station was staffed but that they were out doing routine testing on fire hydrants when the fire started. This is the sort of stuff that you should know before you start blabbing a bunch of BS on the web.

Date: Nov 19, 2007

The mayor and commission must do something about our police department loosing officers. Here are some that have left over the years. Ask them why officers are leaving. Shame on our city for loosing such good officers and not fixing the problem.

KELLY FARRIS-KENTUCKY STATE POLICE
MIKE WITT-KENTUCKY STATE POLICE
GARY MARTIN-KENTUCKY STATE POLICE
CLYDE WELLS- KENTUCKY STATE POLICE
BRONSON FUGATE-LAUREL CO S. O
RODNEY VANZANT-LAUREL CO S. O
DARRELL KILBURN- LONDON POLICE
BRIAN LAWSON-WHITLEY CO S.O.
GREG POYNTER- LAUREL CO
TOBY CURRY - KENTUCKY VEHICLE ENFORCMENT
MIKE HAMLIN- KENTUCKY VEHICLE ENFORCMENT
BRANDON WHITE- BELL CO S.O.
GLENN BUNCH- WHITLEY CO S.O
DAVID LENNON- WHITLEY CO. SO
CHAD GREGORY- KNOX CO S.O
JIM POOLE- WILLIAMSBURG P.D
SHAWN JACKSON- WILLIAMSBURG P.D.
KENNY SHAW- WILLAIMSBURG P.D.
BRANDON PREWITT- WILLIAMSBURG P.D
JASON WILSON- PROBATION & PAROLE
RICHIE REYNOLDS- FEDERAL PRISON
MARK HENSON- LEXINGTON AIR PORT POLICE
JASON WILLIAMS - KNOX CO S.O.

Date: Nov 20, 2007

Anonymous wrote:
No you are wrong. There is a bunch of BS on that site. It is long on BS and short on facts from someone who only gripes and never does anything for the community. One example was his article about the fire on master street and the nearby fire station being closed. The article said the master street fire station was closed because the fire department was short handed that day. The firemen told me that they were not short handed that day and that the master street station was staffed but that they were out doing routine testing on fire hydrants when the fire started. This is the sort of stuff that you should know before you start blabbing a bunch of BS on the web.

Wow, you sure are upset. Calm down some. People have a right to raise questions. We don't live in Baghdad, we are citizens in America. Government agencies need to communicate with the people they serve, not rip them apart for asking questions or raising issues. This website has a message board that provides us the opportunity to question those of you that receive our tax dollars for your services.

Whether you accept it or not, people in not just Corbin but the Tri-County area are aware that the turnover of our Police Department is very high. And we have some very good police officers who do a good job and then move on somewhere else. And the word among people is that it is not just about money, but the way they are treated.

All the people want are answers and not bitter criticism of a message board that only works as a vehicle for people to use for communication.

Date: Nov 20, 2007

People tell me its the officer directly under the chief that runs them off.

Date: Nov 20, 2007

Who is that. I thought there were three under the chief, the three shift commanders.

Date: Nov 21, 2007

There is only one officer directly under the chief.

Date: Dec 1, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

The mayor and commission must do something about our police department loosing officers. Here are some that have left over the years. Ask them why officers are leaving. Shame on our city for loosing such good officers and not fixing the problem.

KELLY FARRIS-KENTUCKY STATE POLICE
MIKE WITT-KENTUCKY STATE POLICE
GARY MARTIN-KENTUCKY STATE POLICE
CLYDE WELLS- KENTUCKY STATE POLICE
BRONSON FUGATE-LAUREL CO S. O
RODNEY VANZANT-LAUREL CO S. O
DARRELL KILBURN- LONDON POLICE
BRIAN LAWSON-WHITLEY CO S.O.
GREG POYNTER- LAUREL CO
TOBY CURRY - KENTUCKY VEHICLE ENFORCMENT
MIKE HAMLIN- KENTUCKY VEHICLE ENFORCMENT
BRANDON WHITE- BELL CO S.O.
GLENN BUNCH- WHITLEY CO S.O
DAVID LENNON- WHITLEY CO. SO
CHAD GREGORY- KNOX CO S.O
JIM POOLE- WILLIAMSBURG P.D
SHAWN JACKSON- WILLIAMSBURG P.D.
KENNY SHAW- WILLAIMSBURG P.D.
BRANDON PREWITT- WILLIAMSBURG P.D
JASON WILSON- PROBATION & PAROLE
RICHIE REYNOLDS- FEDERAL PRISON
MARK HENSON- LEXINGTON AIR PORT POLICE
JASON WILLIAMS - KNOX CO S.O.

Someone in a top level City position should call each of the above and "ask each to state what were the two biggest reasons you left the Corbin Police Department"? That should provide answers about turnover in the Department.

Date: Dec 1, 2007

I agree, and not a management position, an elected official. The mayor would be the one to call them.

Date: Dec 17, 2007

I hear that the police and fire departments are starting a union and a majority of both departments have signed union cards. The mayor and commission have let this get way out of hand!!!! I also hear both departments have been meeting with union people and things WILL change very soon.

Date: Dec 18, 2007

Get serious. There can't be 30 chiefs in the police department. The trend has been that cops get in a few years and then begin to notice that there are a half a dozen others ahead of them. The chances of them getting to the top of the heap in the next few years is very slim and they suddenly realize it. This along with pressure at home about needing to make more money and they are out the door. A few end up telling their friends that things just were not right there and that something needs to be done. There are many cops in the police department but it does not mean that all of them will stay there for a career.

will kitey · Veteran Member

The last poster does not have a clue!!! There have been several great policemen leave the dept in last several years, based only on the command staff, not the money or the opp to advance. get rid of the clown at the top and see what happens the guys at the bottom will stay and flurish under new leader ship. The city needs to go out side of the dept for the new cheif that is the only way to wright the ship.

Date: Dec 21, 2007

Come on Will

Money is 75% of the Issue, the wages vs what they can get in Lexington, Knoxville and other Mid Major cities is twice what they make now. Sure there is a number of unhappy folks, try every company in the world and they will say the same thing.

The Poster two up is exactly correct, sounds like you have some personel issues here? The city is just not large enough to hold it's staff at this point, unless the competing wages were upped significantly.

We have great people at the police & fire depts, just tough for a small town to compete.

Date: Dec 21, 2007

just few quick things.i believe the police department starts at or right around 10 dollars where the fire department starts at 7.23 an hour.yea the firemen get overtime,but when you factor in the police get a car,free fuel and don't have to worry about insurance,the police make about the same if not more than the fire department for less hours worked..just thought i would throw that in.

Date: Dec 22, 2007

I wish Will Kitey would tell us more. It sounds like he may have inside information. Perhaps he was a former Corbin police officer who quit and went somewhere else or maybe even the KSP. I have not heard of any complaints being filed against the police chief or any other police personnel. I doubt that there is any truth to Will Kitey's comments.

will kitey · Veteran Member

Sorry not a former cop, only buddys with some that left to go to all different agencies. Noboby likes to work at a place where you are scared to go to work, or have to watch who you talk with, because the brass does not like there dept, Yes the money would help but not solve all the problems.

Date: Dec 23, 2007

In a sense, you get what you pay for.

All those that want a career in law enforcement, know they sometimes have to start out where they can, and then move on to bigger and better things. I think that says it best for the issues with the CPD.

We've had many fine policemen, (but no women, I wonder why) go through the city hall portals, and most of them have left to move upward to other police departments or other law enforcement agencies.

It's sad when all he county sheriff departments around corbin pay much better, have better benefits, and we lose our trained officers to them. And then, and you can verify this with them, when they need backup, the CPD is one of the first to answer the call.

If we can't afford to raise our police and fire salaries, lets cut the others down to what they make and see how it flies.

Date: Dec 23, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Get serious. There can't be 30 chiefs in the police department. The trend has been that cops get in a few years and then begin to notice that there are a half a dozen others ahead of them. The chances of them getting to the top of the heap in the next few years is very slim and they suddenly realize it. This along with pressure at home about needing to make more money and they are out the door. A few end up telling their friends that things just were not right there and that something needs to be done. There are many cops in the police department but it does not mean that all of them will stay there for a career.

Good post!

Date: Dec 23, 2007

being a ex police officer here in corbin i can truly tell you why we leave and other questions you have about the dept. first of all i left because of money,and the way a grown man is treated by the higher ranks.i was well liked and had no problems with my place in line.do you know how much money your tax dollars spend to train and then let go of a officer?ask the number 2 man he will tell you. also if he gets anything against you, that is it for you[that means personal things as well] after all it is not his money , it is yours. i have no hard feelings for him or the dept and i left on my own [was not asked to leave or forced out like so many ]if you here it's the higher ranks as many times as iv'e read and heard and for sure know, then guess what it MUST BE TRUE.so just make proper adjustments to the higher ranks and the problem will be solved!