CM PRESS # 425

[UPDATE]: The USS Ponce (pictured) and the USS Kearsarge, the two amphibious assault ships carrying U.S. Marines, have now cleared the Suez Canal from the Red Sea and are in the Mediterranean.  They will presumably take up stations off the Libyan coast in case they're needed.

Both the Ponce and the Kearsage have air and sea assault capabilities.

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[UPDATE]:  The suspects who allegedly attacked a girl and tried to tie her up in Tewinkle Park have been described by the CMPD as male Hispanics, 18-19 years old, wearing dark clothing.  "Hispanics" was missing from the report in the Daily Pilot.

The Daily Pilot may not have omitted that important descriptor intentionally.  The CM PRESS had to make many telephone calls to get the description and at least one employee of the CMPD refused to give us the description.

Link to Daily Pilot report on the attack
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MARINES ORDERED TO WATERS OFF LIBYA

Link

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HERE'S THE OC REGISTER'S REPORT ON THE OUTSOURCING DECISION LAST NIGHT
Link
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PRESUMED COP USING ANONYMOUS NAME RESPONDS TO MY LETTER/COLUMN IN THE DAILY PILOT ABOUT OUTSOURCING

s-kelevra at 11:49 PM March 01, 2011
There are lies, damned lies, statistics, and Millard.

The vast majority of cops in Costa Mesa would -love- to earn $175,000 a year in total compensation, because very few of them get anywhere near that.
{SNIP}
Link to my column/letter and s-klevra's full comment.


Here's my response to s-kelevras above comments:

Actually, s-kelevra, according to the CMPD's own reports, a lot more than "very few" get near $ 175,000 per year.

In fact, there are 83 cops on the force who make more than $ 175,000 per year in total compensation.

Thirty six of those make more than $200,000 per year in total compensation.

There are 40 officers who make between $ 150,000 to $169,000.

Sixteen make between $130,000 to $ 149,000. 

There are ten who make between $ 120,000 and $129,000. 

There are five who make between $ 110,000 and $118,000. 

There is one who makes $97,385.64, and this is the lowest paid cop.

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CITY COUNCIL APPROVES OUTSOURCING NOTICES

Link to Daily Pilot report

Councilmember Bever correctly pointed out that while many people seem  focused on just making up the approximately $1.4 million present budget gap so salaries and pensions can be paid, the reality is that the City has to do more than just pay employees. 

It also has to fix streets and many other things and at the present time the deferred maintenance on such infrastructure items may be around $30 million for storm drains and $70 million for streets.

In other words, the City has been robbing Peter to pay Paul.

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TWO MEN ATTACK GIRL IN TEWINKLE PARK
Link to Daily Pilot report

The CM PRESS is trying to get a description of the suspects and if we get it, we'll publish it ASAP.

According to the Daily Pilot, the CMPD didn't release complete descriptions of the suspects.  We'll see if we can find out why. 

Wouldn't the public be safer and arrests more likely if the universe of possible suspects was reduced with complete descriptions?
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