In Oscoda Township.
They sure can think of a lot of things to spend your money on can't they? Unnecessary things at that. Let Johnny relay a story about the Oscoda police and what they look NOT to do with the money you pay them. Recently in his neighborhood residents, adults and children were dealing with a menacing, nee, threatening individual. Vandalism, threats, breaking down doors to attack neighbors, walking around threateningly with a sword, charging at his neighbors all while his parents threaten gun violence on those who turned him in. Desperate residents and parents (The guy had taken to taking off his shirt and doing "pose downs" for playing children) got no help.
What residents got was a litany of cowardice really. OPD looked for ways to not get involved. Johnny spoke with them along with neighbors and all residents heard was why the OPD was going to do nothing. A caller to the police line was told "Next time let him run you over and we can actually do something." Great advice, huh?
Nothing, for months as the threats increased residents got nothing from the OPD. The OPD would not cooperate with the Villages of Oscoda office. Nothing happened.
Until.
Until this malcontent did something that involved police. THEN and only then did they care. They piled back into the neighborhood asking residents to please help them find this guy. Yes, the same guy everyone had been pointing out for weeks.
So NOW you want help to do your job that you've been telling folks it wasn't your job to do. Oh wait, he offended against the police, must be time for action. A complete failure to 'protect and serve' because there was none of that going on. The OPD still got paid.
Now, suppose the millage fails. What if we don't have huge money for little police service? Well friends you'll hear all kinds of doom and gloom from those with money to make off of the PD budget. How Oscoda Township will be overrun with new crime somehow and nobody to stop it (which would be different how?). Johnny grew up in Ortonville. Ortonville had a local police force when Johnny was young. It too had it's issues and had just simply stopped being any kind of effective and Brandon Township voted to use Oakland County police instead. Oh the wailing and beating of breasts about how crime would overrun Ortonville (LOL), and residents wouldn't be served in a timely manner.
Know what happened? Nothing. No crime rise, Oakland County handled Ortonville and Brandon Township with aplomb and the Township saved a lot of money. A LOT of money.
Ask yourself, how often do you NEED police in an emergency? Not an ambulance of fire department, NEED police now. Exactly. It answers itself. The OPD and their acolytes don't care if you get protection, they simply want more tax money for more unnecessary jobs.
Johnny and the Oscoda City Desk urge a NO vote on the Oscoda police millage August 6, 2024.
