Crime at the Post Office?

Just after noon today there were three Woodstock police cars at the Post Office on Country Club Road, and another police car was circling nearby behind the Walgreen's building. Something was definitely up.

A patrol officer was standing with an elderly white male and appeared to be taking a report. I had been in the Post Office and stood at some distance, waiting for an opportunity to ask what was going on. Sgt. Latham arrived and I nodded to him as he approached the other officer and the apparent victim. The absence of acknowledgement by Latham was immediately obvious - no nod, no gesture - absolutely nothing when he looked at me. (Latham and I have a little "history", but there is no excuse whatsoever for being rude.)

When the officer had walked away from the apparent victim, I asked him whether he could tell me what was going on. He replied that he could not, which was the answer I expected. So I asked from whom I could get information, and he told me to speak with Sgt. Latham, which was the correct answer, since Latham was the ranking officer there at the moment.

I knew it would be a waste of my time to ask Latham for information, so I didn't. Would he have given information to a reporter from the Northwest Herald or the Daily News, even The Woodstock Independent? Probably.

So I called the Northwest Herald and reported a story developing.

I realize that cops might not talk to everyone passing by but, had I been told something, anything, such as "We're looking for a blue Chevy with a red fender" or an individual of a certain build who ran in a certain direction, I might have spotted it (or him) and notified WPD. They all know of my police background and willingness to help.

Stamp prices going up

The United States Postal Service just doesn't get it.

Stamp prices are going up in May. First Class postage for one ounce will increase from $.42 to $.44. What will this mean?

Fewer people will send mail. More will use e-mail.

Stupid. Really stupid.

The USPS needs to examine its payroll. I recall, even today, being outraged to learn in 1989 in Santa Fe that a postal counter clerk earned $35,000/year. And that was almost 20 years ago! And that guy was stoned. And they couldn't fire him, because of the strong union!!!

Maybe the Post Office ought to be figuring out how to attract customers, not drive them away.

If the public really knew about the wages of USPS employees, we'd probably stop using USPS completely!

Does anyone know the wage scale of carriers, counter clerks, local management?

$250 Parking Spot

Why, oh why, do drivers pull into handicapped parking spots, when they don't display either the special license plates or the special placard that indicates they have the privilege to park there?

I know - they are running into the Post Office "just for a minute". Then there is a line or a delay, and they are there 2-3-4-5 or more minutes.

Early this afternoon the parking lot was almost empty, but the proud owner of this

with the Illinois license "BOFFIN 1" felt entitled to swing right in and take up one of the two handicap parking places. I thought about walking back into the lobby and saying, "The police are out there writing a $250 ticket on that grey Jeep in the handicapped parking spot." Let's see; would that be Disorderly Conduct?

You may have seen some of the drivers who make it to the Post Office and properly use these two spots. Some of them can barely make it from the car into the Post Office and back. They need these spots.

Now, if this driver has a placard, it belongs on the inside mirror, not on the dashboard or the passenger seat or the floor. If it is not displayed properly, then it is not displayed.

I wonder ... how many tickets has the Woodstock Police Department issued this year to violators of handicapped parking restrictions?