Chief Weasel, er, Ramsey (D.C. Keystone Kops)

Washington Times ^ | 6/30/02

[kattracks]

In 1997, the year before Charles Ramsey became the police chief of Washington, the city's homicide-closure rate exceeded 70 percent. In mid-1998, the year he arrived, the homicide-closure rate hit 64.5 percent. In 1999, the closure rate dipped again, to 61.2 percent. So, in establishing bonus-related goals for 2000 and 2001, it hardly seemed extreme to seek to achieve a closure rate fractionally above the rate achieved during the year he was hired. Thus, the homicide-solving goal became 65 percent, which, it's worth noting, was still more than 5 percentage points below the rate obtained the year before the chief arrived. Well, as it happens, the homicide-closure rate continued to deteriorate. In 2000, the rate fell to 57 percent.

[Tacis]

But, this is what government employees do! Why pick on the chief? Once federal and some other government employees learned about performance based bonuses, that became the sole object of their work. Set soft ball objectives with easy weasel outs and just for the taxpayer cash to roll in. This is why it took so long to catch the FBI mole. His spending patterns matched EVERY other FBI guy who got big bonuses for meeting last year's fake numbers.

And, if you look carefully at the chief's case closing numbers, I'll bet you find another characteristic mark of government employees, creative definitions. A really messy murder of a low level drugee may, if no one claims the body and a friendly coroner is available, may be counted as a suicide and, of course, a verdict of suicide allows a case opened as a "murder" to be closed. Look at the details of the chief's numbers (and Clinton's FBI, too) to see how well this system works to improve performance and qualify for maximum bonuses.

[Twodees]

Very good points. DC is a perfect example of the value of a state government. It's the only city in the nation without the buffering influence of a state government between its municipal government and Congress. The result speaks for itself.

[archy]

But...but...HOW can you fail to be inspired by such a leader of men, such an example to his troops:

Kinda hard to believe he hasn't been put in charge of U.S. airline security, isn't it....

[OldFriend]

But but but he's trying and he does feel the Levy's pain......