For The Record

In an article published Tuesday, Hanford Police Officer Association President Richard Pontecorvo wanted to clarify his statement that fewer officers could make city residents more vulnerable to crime.

"With officers leaving the department, officers are forced to work overtime to maintain staffing. The issue of experienced officers leaving the department would create problems, due to losing the knowledge of those experienced officers to work crimes and knowing the streets and individuals that are most likely the ones that are committing the crimes," Pontecorvo said. "When HPD loses experienced officers and is replaced by a new officer coming out of the academy, it will take two to three years before those officers start feeling comfortable with all aspects of the job and learning the streets."

Also, when the city reopened the contract with the police department four years ago, the city gave HPOA a wage adjustment and not retirement benefits as reported.

(Sept. 13, 2007)