Just say no

Sheriff Ken Fries withdrew the request for a grant that would fund the controversial Metro squad, citing “lack of co-operation from another agency.” The Allen County Council was scheduled to hear discussion on the grant at its meeting Thursday morning.

The Project Safe Neighborhoods grant would have funded overtime for the Allen County Sheriff’s Department and Fort Wayne Police Department officers who would have been participating in the federal gun crime reduction project.

Fries said the grant would have used 2006 money, and he plans to apply again to use 2007 money.

“We are working with the city to work out its problems with the memorandums of understanding,” Fries said.

Councilwoman Maye Johnson said she had received numerous phone calls about the squad and questioned its possible lack of diversity. She also asked Fries to look into working with local groups whose goal is the same as the squads’. She said she plans to set up a meeting with Fries and others about pursuing the grant in the future.

From 1995 to 2001, the squad targeted high crime areas and employed both county and city police officers.

Diversity? What is Johnson talking about? Those members who might have been selected from the city's police department would have lacked diversity based on seniority. The grant calls for a 50-50 split from the city and county. This means that the Mayor Dick appointee, Police Chief Rusty team members of the 50% split would have lacked diversity also.