hmmm..... gilbert is paying cops $40 an hour and they goof off instead of directing traffic!!!! Original Article Off-duty police are found off-duty at Gilbert posts Mike Walbert The Arizona Republic Aug. 15, 2005 12:00 AM GILBERT -The town is enduring major migraines, stationing off-duty police officers at 10 gridlocked four-way stops to direct traffic. And the pains intensified with the opening of schools last week. For about two months, Gilbert has received several reports of hired officers sitting in cars for extending periods of time, leaving intersections before completing required four-hour shifts or not showing up to direct traffic, according to records obtained by The Arizona Republic. At the same time, some motorists have acted boorishly toward officers by gesturing and yelling rude comments during rush hour, making the traffic control task more difficult for officers, according to Town Manager George Pettit. Despite glitches, most town officials and residents say the temporary traffic-control program, which has been in place since June 2, is crucial as development continues to sprout up in pockets of southern and eastern Gilbert. "Something has to be done because it's just getting so crowded down here," said Mary-Lou Pakenas, who lives near Recker and Ray roads. Gilbert has contracted since early June with Law Enforcement Specialists Inc., a Glendale company that hires off-duty officers from all over Arizona to perform traffic control and other services. Gilbert pays $40 an hour per intersection for coverage from 6 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. Assuming full coverage occurs at all intersections, Gilbert is on pace to spend $794,000 for the year, according to town estimates. But full traffic control coverage has eluded the congested intersections. "On average, for the first 30 days, intersections received coverage about 71 percent of the time," Pettit wrote in a July 19 memo to the Town Council. According to records, the town provided a handful of written reminders to Law Enforcement Specialists about getting officers for eight hours each day, as contracted. "Because of the high public visibility and significant cost of this program, it is important these officers understand they need to be in the intersection performing work during the time period contracted," Pettit wrote in a July 1 memo to the company. "I have received several employee comments, as well as citizen calls where congestion is present, but the officer is in a vehicle or not conducting traffic." One particular complaint centered on Greenfield and Pecos roads, where road construction has created traffic jams for more than a year. Pettit said in the July 1 memo that a resident observed an officer not directing traffic at the intersection for three straight days. "I will not be paying for that officer, when billed," Pettit wrote. Pettit then issued a stern warning to LES, stating that when the town learns of similar reports, Gilbert would seek credit from the bill for the time and day at the intersection. Town officials have supported officers taking water breaks but have asked they do so at opportune times. Law Enforcement Specialists did not return phone calls seeking comment. The start of Gilbert and Higley schools turned up the heat on Gilbert's traffic as roads became flooded with school buses, parents driving and children crossing streets. To deal with increased traffic, Gilbert had hoped to plug in officers at two intersections in addition to the 10 now covered, but those plans are on hold because the company simply cannot provide enough officers, Pettit said. Staffing issues have snowballed, forcing Gilbert to transfer an officer from Val Vista Drive and Queen Creek Road to Chandler Heights and Higley roads, where a new school is located, Pettit said. Intersections such as Riggs and Higley roads near the Chandler Unified School District's Payne Junior High School will be monitored and take highest traffic priority, he said. Pakenas, 63, encounters four-way stops once or twice a week during rush hour but said she has seen officers sitting in vehicles and dislikes the waste of taxpayers' dollars. After a conversation with Law Enforcement Specialists last week, Pettit said he learned some motorists have been honking at officers and giving rude hand gestures, "which is disappointing but probably indicative of the attitude and frustration of the people in regard to the four-way stops." Overall, though, officials and council members generally have received positive feedback from motorists. Town officials hope to get temporary traffic signals at six four-way-stop intersections within a month. The signals will replace stop signs and should decrease costs. Pettit said that getting power from the Salt River Project has been difficult and could push the timetable back a few months.