Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The citizens have spoken loud and clear. The Kent Police need to be on notice that the residents wants better police respect. From the Chief down they need to get out from behind their desks and circulate downtown to neighborhoods. They don't need fancy digs or special offices--might get too comfortable and not ever want to leave their offices. They need to learn some customer service--

I believe a levy would've passed but not an income tax increase that will bever go away. Change your strategy and but a levy on the ballot. You will have my support if you take a temporary levy approach.

My thoughts exactly as I voted.. If it went away...would've supported but NO permanent tax when ours is already higher here! Maybe get a few other bids or designs? Getting alittle too cozy with the same ones doing all the designs, etc. for the downtown area! Bet it could be done for a better cost, design too. (Didn't care for the proposed design myself.) But hey...let's have a CVS, Walgreens, All night cookie store but NO police downtown???Yeah..that sounds like Kent too.."let's move to Top's." Wake up and work with YOUR employers..the citizens!

I agree that a new police station is needed. However, Council only needs to look at how they handled this issue to realize why it failed. On the heels of the previous reciprocity debacle, Council chose to put this issue on the ballot with two emergency readings over the summer (how can it be an emergency when the station has needed replacement for over 17 years?); without addressing reciprocity again; without having a sunset clause (people are dreaming if they think there would be money left over for streets and sidewalks); no concrete plans in place; no location, etc. etc.. The general public doesn't need "education" by Council - we need and demand transparency and honest dialogue. Approach us like we are the intelligent people that we are, and perhaps you might see a different result.

While everybody wanted a new police station, money is too tight for most of us to take on this kind of increase. Would we love to build a new upgraded building for the department and the city? yes. It simply was a bad time. More money and a new station doesnt necessarily mean better or MORE protection, does it?

"We've gimped this building along for the last 17 years or so, since 1995," Lee said. That's some pretty good long term gimping. When the city and the residents decide we can fund it and it's time, PLEASE get the same architects and builders. They did an excellent job for the facilites to last this long.

I have trouble believing there is no back up plan. The article even mentions Tops so this must have been discussed at some point. The city should have purchased the entire Tops lot and used it for the courthouse and a new PD.

Good to hear this failed. I was starting to lose faith in Kent.

I too think the method to pay for this, was it's downfall. Re-purpose the Amtek building the city already owns and has federal money to revamp. Should be a lot less than 18 million new dollars to do that?

To me this is not a reflection on our police, always there when I have needed them. It is, rather, a repudiation of the idea held by our elitist city leadership that the average Kentite has a bottomless barrel of money stashed in his/her basement.

I would have gladly voted in favor of a new building for our police force IF it had not proposed a permanent generic tax increase and if more concrete plans had been provided.
If the background research hasn't yet been done to determine actual needs and costs of the building, how can I trust the figure they used to base the increase? Seemed like they wanted the public's money without doing their homework first - I'm really glad Kent passed on this one.

I voted against this never-ending tax increase too, knowing that council will need to do something immediately to avoid state fines that will kick in soon (ADA compliance and minimum standards for detention/holding cells). Council did not communicate exactly when these fines begin and how paying the tax would help us avoid them.

Why not issue bonds or, as previously mentioned, a short-term levy to finance the new building? A permanent tax increase to pay for a building does not make sense.

The vacant building that housed Tops was mentioned. Why can't that building (perhaps not all of it), or another vacant building be re-purposed for the police department and leased to the city?

Then, the city could sell the building and land of the current police station. Given the location and all of the rebuilding going on Downtown, I would presume the city could get some pretty decent $$ from it. Yeah, this would be away from Downtown itself, but let's be honest. It's not that far away.

I don't see why the city can't lease a building for the police department. At least the vacant Tops (for example) is newer. Perhaps this type of deal should be looked into, if it hasn't already.

This thing reminds me way too much of what happened when we voted to raise funds for the library. Instead of utilizing more existing buildings, they were given a blank check and proceeded to build what appears to be some sort of castle...which in my opinion, is not being used properly, if at all. Big waste of money and space.

Actually I think the students to the visitors to the citizens all need to help pay for the police departments new building--don't lay it on the shrinking homeownwers.. Put a ,25% sales tax on the sales tax now so all can help. They did it for the county jail and Parta --so why not KPD.

I have never been so excited to vote "NO" for anything else before. Why did they feel the need to tax just the working class. I just don't understand it. Would it be just the working class that would have benefited?. The slogan "vote yes for our safety" didn't make any sense. I am not too sure a new police station would have made me feel safer. I really think the chief needs to step it up. What has she done to make the department stand out. Most residents don't even know who the chief is.
I will.point out again that the cops just got brand new cruisers, which look silly, knowing that the station has issues. Its not very responsible of her. If I went out and bought brand new cars knowing my house needs repairs, what do I do? The city is surrounded by some really awesome police departments. Why can't we have one.
I really do think that the cops do spend some money very unresponsible. Just look at how many cruisers are parked and left running. I see it more times than not. The lights are not on so there is really no point. Also, please look at the brand new suv cop car that is always just parked behind the station. See for yourself.
STOP TAXING THE WORKING CLASS. IF YOU NEED MORE MONEY THEN FIND A WAY TO MAKE MORE. ITS HOW THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED.

I wish they would read the patch. Every reason this failed is right here in everyone's responses. I can't help but wonder if everyone knew this was a perminant tax? Did the city try and pull a fast one on us? I hope not

@Ted: Believe it or not, I think they most certainly WILL have read this or had it pointed out to them. No doubt in my mind : )

This issue will come up again. The City had better show more specific info for residents. I would love to see how much money went for repairs, how many maintenance employees are there, and a list of what repairs are done daily and I'd like to see that for at least the last year. Maybe I'd like to see it for the last 17 yrs.

I might learn some tips to keep my place gimping along.

@ Teresa. Lol. Gimping along. It's only because you have a ton of cash in your basement that the city really want. 17 years it's a long time of doing nothing how to fix a problem. I use to have a stash of cash in my basement can I used itto building a new library and public transit.

I may be wrong, but I don't think it's the police department's fault that this need was cast in such a poor funding model.

As I see it, council rushed through a permanent income tax hike to fund a temporary (desperate) need rather than estimating the actual cost and funding it through a more transparent method. The rush to push through an income tax hike could have been an effort to "make hay while the sun shines" and skim off as much temporary construction worker dollars as possible, but we weren't really told that. Raising the sales tax might have to be instituted county-wide (which wouldn't fly for a Kent municipal police department). Property tax increases would be even more unfair, since it is students, rather than home owners, who most drain police department resources. Council needs to talk to the citizens about the various funding options and logically narrow down the best/only option for us.

The citizens support the police department whole-heartedly. I doubt many of them feel that way today. Firefighters got their money...through no fault of our own we are made to appear stingy with the police force.

How about everybody who is convicted of a crime in Kent pays $100.00 toward police station repairs.

By the way, windows are broken out and the front door is hanging open at a house located at 329 East college Avenue that the university bought from Quatro Novus. One of my tenants at 224 South Willow heard glass breaking around 1 AM Wednesday morning and found glass in my parking lot. The lady at the Kent Police Department told me that the city has no jurisdiction over university property unless the police see something happening. The lady at the university police department told me that they have no record of the university owning the property. Perhaps the deed has not transferred? Anyway, if someone reading this is responsible for that house, I want it boarded up today. TODAY!!! I don't want any more glass in my parking lot and I don't want any drunks or junkies making meth right next to my property and my tenants, or damaging my tenants' cars or my property, or causing bodily harm to anyone.

Thank you.

My heart burn with the police department is how they treat the citizens. To tell you the truth I am a nobody, just the average citizen. I don't have a record don't have any tickets. I was pulled over in my own neighborhood because of a bad license plate light. What's the cops ran my plates and realized I was a registered gun owner with a ccw permit all hell broke loose. The cops at thereand and waited for more of their buddies to come. They all approach my car with their guns drawnon me. I haven't saw the red laser on my chest. Is this how we lead hey Police Department.
My advice is to have the chief get active within the community. Take notes how other departments are run.

Sorry, Ted, Kent police don't draw their weapons on someone simply for holding a concealed carry permit, as the experience of other citizens can affirm. This is far off-topic.

If you are withholding a new building from the police department to censure them for poor customer service, you're barking up the wrong tree. Go to city council and share your police report.

Laura, I only shared my experience to show I have.some real heartburn towards them. I met with a lieutenant to go over my situation. He said he would pull the dash cam video.
I do not want to pay $25 a month for a service that is well below standard. Its 2the hours a month that someone would have to give just for this. Its not very fair that only the working class has to pay.

Laura, it does reflect poor judgement on the department that they just went out and bought brand new cruisers knowing that they needed a new building.

Please leave the fire department out of this. They have very strong leadership and have been rated too notch. The new chief will carry this forward. Letskeep on subject please.

For the record, and yes, off topic, I went high up into the adminstration and found that the university does own 329 East College where the windows were broken out early Wednesday morning and the front door is hanging open. It will be boarded up very soon.
Why wasn't it boarded up when the one next door was? Only The Shadow knows.

Sorry, but I am reading all this stuff about cruisers being bought and how the Chief is not invovled with the community. I personally believe that maybe some people should get involved with the Kent police department before making allegations that they know nothing about.
1. Chief Lee has been involved with the kent community for many years and has started programs for Landlords to inform them of changes in the laws and to keep them informed of whats going on in our community.
2. Try looking at it in thier point of view. If you pulled someone over and they was a registered gun owner with a ccw permit. Wouldn't you do the same and call for back. Especially these times where shooting people in some areas is a daily thing. If you were a Father/Mother wouldn't you want to make sure that you went home to see them at the end of the day.
3. I am not saying that some police officers don't have an attitude at times. I personally feel like they are justified. They are the ones who get to deal with the drunk drives, the child abusers, child molesters, rapist, and murders. Thay are also the first ones that have to see the results of what these idiots have done first. Then they get to inform the unfortunate families of the victims. How would like it if college students were throwing bottles at your face?

4. As for the cruisers being purchased how can you not see the need for the police to have the best on the road. Especially with the technology changing everyday.
5. As for the cruisers being left on when the officer is not in the car. Well I don't know about you but my laptop doesn't like the heat or the cold in the cars. Keep the cars running that way we don't have to purchase another cruiser and its components within.

Now for the real shocker I voted against issue 11. I personally feel that there is another way to purchase the building that is in need.

RIP Officer J A Simmons
My loving Dad

Teressa. You are right. A car getting 0mpg @$4 a gal is a small price to pay to keep electronics warm............they have to run high test. Its very unresponsible to get new cars when you have other priorities. I am just sayin.....I have never heard about this chief till now.

So where is the solution. We know what the problems are. Reading all of the posts, it seems that the answers might be a fair tax, for everyone. A term increase in tax. Have the cops bring more to the table, as in get more involved with all of us.. I am not saying I will vote for it, but the way it was all thrown together was sloppy.

The solutions could be right in front of us. We are the community you want the Officers to step up and get more involved. (which they are maybe not the way you want) but Maybe we should do the same. Make suggestions!!!! Have an Idea post it, we as citizens need to help out also. Chief Lees says that there is no back up plan. I don't know and I don't have the answer but I can say that if KPD needs help or suggestions I will do my best to help.

ALSO: I would like to thank the KPD for coming out for the Senior Appreciation day that we had. We had a great time and enjoyed the information that you gave to the seniors.

Food for thought: Look what Ravenna had to go through to build the new school.

Teresa T: There should have been a survey sent to homes or even put in with the water bills to save on postage.

For many of us: the first we heard of NEEDING a new station was over summer. It might have been known by some before hand, but not most of the people I talked to. So I go from hearing about some bad conditions and now putting this issue on the ballot.

Here is my suggestion: survey the WHOLE city of Kent... the ones who are going to pay for a new station.

AWell said teresa K

And to not have a backup plan. And do not have. a plan B. There some stellar leadership skills. It shows how sloppy This whole thing was put together.
Look at Brimfield, They're department is ranked In the top 10 percent of the whole country. They just built a brand new police station without a tax increase. So why can't we.
I'm wonderingif this would have turned out different if it had been a fair tax, not just against the working class.

@ Teresa K. Excellent suggestion.

@ teresa, I have never had an attitude about being pulled over. doesnt make sense too. as for the officer that was shot and killed, you made no mention whether or not he was a person with a CCW. Regardless, an officer pulling a gun on someone because they have a gun sounds like a threat to me. If I had a CCW and a cop pulls a gun on strictly because I have a ccw sounds like a threat from a unprofessional and inexperienced cop. Cops are here to keep calm levels, pulling a gun for no reason is not keeping the situation calm. Sounds like this officer should have been pulling his gun on EVERYONE he pulled over because there could always be a threat.