Cicero Police/Fire Rescue Boat: "Setting the Record Straight"
To the editor:
This letter is in response to Mr. Richard Bower's "letter to the editor" in the Noblesville Ledger,dated 8/20/04, titled "Gulls make point: Cicero PD boat unused". Those of you who know me, know that "Public Safety" is my number one concern as a town official and reserve Police Officer for Cicero, which is why Mr. Bower's article immediately caught my eye. I found the article offensive and unfounded.
Mr. Bowers stated "the town was unnecessarily owning and maintaining marine vehicles since lake patrol is the responsibility of the state". Let me clear a few things up: 1) Cicero has owned the Police boat since 1992. 2) The dock was donated to the town. 3) The boat lift was donated to the town. 4) The only cost to the town is one tank of fuel per year. 5) The boat is used every year as a Safety/Rescue boat for the July 4th fireworks, Cicero Triathalon, and other water related special events. 6) The DNR has only 2 officers to patrol Eagle Creek, Geist, and Morse. The officers are rarely on Morse during the week. During the weekend, they could easily be on the opposite end of the lake when an event occurs on the Cicero end. 7) For the record, after correspondence with Fire Chief Peachey , I confirmed that the boat has responded 11 times for life safety concerns the last two years when the DNR was not available. We provided a quick and guaranteed response, and our boat was successfully used earlier this year on a rescue mission. Is a tank of gas worth a human life? In the words of Police Chief Cook "The boat is like most other types of special emergency equipment. It may not be used often, but when it is needed, it is invaluable. Something you can't put a price on." I agree.
It should also be mentioned that it was the Cicero Police/Fire Rescue boat that located the suspect boat (near Mr. Bower's residence) that was involved in a serious crash on the lake a couple years ago.
My recommendation for Mr. Bowers would be to better educate himself before passing judgement on the Cicero Police department, the Town, and mocking the necessity or use of it's equipment. Police Chief Garry Cook, Fire Chief Steve Peachey , or I, would have been glad to explain the history and use of the town's Police/Fire Rescue boat if you had asked.
If you have a concern regarding the town, please bring it to a Cicero Town Council meeting. If you cannot attend a meeting, I have set up a website to allow Cicero Residents to "Speakout" about their concerns: www.brettfoster.net/ciceroresidentsspeakout.html. Please e-mail me through the site and I will be glad to promptly address your concerns. If I don't have the answer, I will find someone who does. My request to Mr. Bowers, is that he do some research before making contentious and erroneous allegations about our town.
I'm sure you would be the first to thank the Cicero Police Officers and Cicero Firefighters that would pull you from the cold waters of Morse should an unforeseen event happen while you are boating.
Perhaps Mr. Bowers should read the article in the Indy Star Friday, August 20th, 2004 on Fishers Fire Dept. and their new $100,000.00 boat. Finally, I would suggest to Mr. Bowers that the next time he wants a "Big Laugh", he should try the Comedy Channel.
Brett Foster - Vice President - Cicero Town Council
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