I'm sure glad I read McHenry County Blog. Cal Skinner commented on Democratic sheriff's candidate Mike Mahon's press release, barking at incumbent Republican Sheriff Keith Nygren for using the McHenry County emergency alert system to notify the world about a new jail training program by Aramark.
WHAT?
He did what?
Now, of course, maybe an underling used the alert system without authority. Maybe the person in the sheriff's department who runs the kitchen and thinks that this program is worthy of waking up people in McHenry County did it. Maybe that person will get three days off work without pay for making a bad decision.
On the other hand, there ought to be a pecking order at the sheriff's department for who writes releases to be broadcast, who approves those releases, and who actually implements the system. For sure, a jail training program for inmates does not make the cut for use of the alert system.
Does it take two employees with keys to locks that are at least seven feet apart? Is there a safety system in place so that one employee cannot run off half-cocked and send out an alert?
So, who ultimately has the say-so for alerts? Well, duh.... How about Sheriff Keith Nygren (unless he is in Florida or Wisconsin and his cell phone is off)? The buck stops there.
Let's make it this way, instead. The buck stops.
Thanks to Mike and Cal. You're a worthy opponent, Mike. Polite. Professional. When you retire from the Cook County Sheriff's Department, come and see me about a job.
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8 comments:
Gus,
I respect you but Nixle is a commercial program that communities and business use for basic text and email communication. Mahon saying it is for emergency use only is either dishonest or ignorant of the facts.
Check it out for yourself. Sure it is a great tool to get out emergency blasts on places like a college campus where everyone has phone texting, but it is also used to announce community events and local restaurant specials.
How about we at least keep the attacks based on some factual basis?
From the MCSD's website
"Receive community safety alerts instantly by text message and email! Registration is quick, easy and secure. Sign up now!
Residents did not sign up with the Sheriff's department to get this kind of information. They want information that about crime and safety. They are not in the business of providing us with day to day updates unless they are regarding public safety. This is the only message that has not been something related to community education or crime. Telling us that they are hosting a new training program for felons is not the same thing as offering residents a training program on personal safety or letting us know that there has been several beak-ins in our neighborhood.
This was just another attempt for Nygren to make it look like he is doing something besides vacationing on our tax dollars.
To sign up for Nixle you must go to the Nixle site. If you want the truth about what Nixle is simply read their FAQ's for yourself.
http://www.nixle.com/faqs.html
To help summarize the blatant falshood's in Mahon's most recent dishonest attack simply read what Nixle itself says about the type of messages you will get from local municipalities. The claim that Nixle is only intended for emergencies and not for day to day community info is simply dishonest.
"What messages would I receive through Nixle?
Only authenticated agencies and community organizations can securely publish information. There are four types of messages; Alerts (many would refer to this as an emergency type alert), Advisories (less urgent need-to-know information), Community Information (day-to-day neighborhood to community-level information), Traffic (very localized traffic information)."
But Seriously, thanks for your comment. Now it is easier than ever for all to see that Nygren's use of NIXLE to publicize his politically-motivated announcement about kitchen training for inmates does not find into any of the permitted categories.
Unless, of course, inmates with sharp knives might break out of the jail and wreak havoc in the neighborhoods and schools near the jail.
Kind of makes one wonder just what the plan in the jail is, should inmates take guards hostage with knives and threaten to kill them. Is there a firm policy in place that inmates will not be released, even if holding hostages and threatening harm?
Gus,
We aren't looking like we are going to agree on this one.
This announcement of a new vocational training program for county jail inmates very much fits in with the real life usage of Nixel nationwide for announcements of community interest.
How this very real new jail program is somehow worse to announce this way than say McHenry City announcing a talk by Mike Singletary or the Village of Lemont announcing their Octoberfest celebration plans remains lost on me.
This is how the business "Nixle" routinely uses it's community announcements. It may not be how Mahon or yourself wants this business to allow it's software to be used but it is the common practice and the business's intent and politician should not be trying to restrict them.
At very least you do have to admit Mahon's attacks on this implying Nixle is for emergency use only are simply dishonest.
For community service purposes perhaps you should start letting out such Nixle "emergency" alerts like this one from the Chicago PD.
http://local.nixle.com/alert/3099538/
Or Chicago PD's most recent "emergency" Nixle message about Jody Weiss doing an interview with Bob Sirott.
http://local.nixle.com/alert/3493457/
:)
If elected Sheriff, I would use NIXLE only for emergencies and other truly important messages. NIXLE sells it for how they'd like to see it used (widely); that isn't what the public wants.
A press release to the media would have been more than sufficient about the jail training program. I'd say 99% of the public doesn't give a hoot about such a program.
And you're entitled to your opinion, Gus. But that's all it is in this case (and many others). Everything you seem to become fixated on becomes a struggle of the wills... Gus "Sancho Panza" Philpott battling the forces of evil in his head. Doesn't make any difference if you're right or you're wrong. As long as it against what YOU think is wrong, it becomes a criminal act worthy of a repeat of the Nuremburg Trials. Save it for Comedy Central.
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