President rescues police

When President Barack Obama shared with the nation that a graduating class of Columbus, Ohio police officers would not be hired due to the state of the nation’s economy, new recruit Jaque Carter was eating dinner with his family.
Carter, an African American, was one of those who had completed his training in the academy only to discover that the city could not afford to hire the new officers.
“We were very hopeful and confident that we would get back to work within those 30 days and we did,” said Carter who spent his 30 days sitting by the telephone with no intentions of going elsewhere. Yet, Carter says that the time off was worth it just to have the President attend his graduation.
Once the President mentioned the Columbus class of police recruits, Carter said his phone began ringing off the hook with calls from his fellow recruits. The feeling was that with the President drawing attention to the situation, it would not be long before they would be hired on.
“I was overwhelmed with joy,” said Carter when he heard the President would be coming. Carter’s family came from out of town to attend the graduation and see and meet the President. The graduates were issued only 6 tickets for family and friends to attend the ceremony held on Friday at the Aladdin Shrine Center. “We’re just very happy that Obama helped us get our jobs back with the stimulus package.”
“Not too many people can say that they met the President, but we got to meet him and it was all for a good cause,” commented Carter with a big smile.
“This was a very inspiring event with the President coming,” said Sgt. Bob Stewart, head trainer for the academy. “It was emotional for me as a Black man. I was incredibly moved by his whole operation. I’ve been doing this for 35 years, and with the academy for 13, and this is one I’ll definitely remember.”
“Shocked,” is the word that came to Stewart’s mind when he heard the new recruits would not be hired on. “It was one of the worst days of my life,” said Stewart. “I just felt that we had to hold on. We hoped and prayed that these kids would be able to come back and fulfill their jobs and they did, thanks to President Obama.”
Stewart said that when he saw the President mention his new recruits on the news, he knew that something was going to happen to bring his officers back to work.
“We heard that it was a possibility (of the President coming) but no one anticipates something like that. When we found out that it was actually going to occur we were all on pins and needles.”
Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman visited the capital to meet with the President and his team to discuss the Recovery Act, a stimulus package, which includes $4 billion to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement. That money is also set aside for other criminal and juvenile justice activities that help to prevent crime and improve the criminal justice system in the United States while supporting the creation of jobs and much needed resources for states and local communities.
Over $61.6 million of that money will be used for the state of Ohio. President Obama brought $4.9 million to Columbus.
“These funds are a vital component in our effort to not revive our economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity and security,” said President Obama. “By keeping police officers on the streets whose jobs were threatened by budget cuts and ensuring states and municipalities have the tools and equipment necessary to fight crime, this money will simultaneously help jumpstart the American economy and protect our citizens.”
“We were very honored and thrilled (by the President’s coming) and we are grateful for the tools and resources,” said Mayor Coleman.
“It was very considerate of him to come and congratulate these officers on their new beginnings as police officers,” said retiring Police Chief James Jackson.
“We certainly need them and his stimulus plan is what brought about the opportunity for them to become police officers because the city didn’t have the money to pay them.”
Chief Jackson said that he expects that before this year’s budget runs out, that more than 25 people will be leaving the department due to pensions. Jackson, a long-time promoter of increasing the police presence on the streets of Columbus, said there is still a need for hundreds of new officers, but he doesn’t see that happening anytime in the near future.
“We have 25 new officers that will work on the streets of Columbus and help protect our citizens,” said Columbus’ newly announced Chief Walter Diste-lzweig. “It’s an exciting day for us to have the President here and celebrate this graduation. It’s absolutely unbelievable because this has never happened to us before. This is very important to them and they are extremely excited.”
“This has been a lifeline to help us get through these difficult times,” said Mayor Coleman. “This is an example of how the stimulus package works for our country ... But over the course of this next year, we’ve got a lot of work to do.”