Mathemagic
Dear Editor,
Regarding Dick Trail's article "Cats, Cats And More Cats" of Aug. 11, 2009, I have a couple of question problems for Dick the Mathemagician to solve.
Dick claims that the ultimate, end-all, be-all answer to the proper ration of police to population is 1:1000. He also, very correctly, points out that there are 168 hours in a week. How many officers, ideally, should a community of 2000 have, and how many hours a week would those officers work?
A more challenging question: Dick, let's say that it's 2 a.m., and you find yourself in a bar parking lot being vigorously trounced by two or three determined violent criminal assailants.
You happen to live in a community of 8,300 people. Your police department adheres strictly to your ratio-to-end-all-ratios. One of the officers who was to be on duty on this particular night is on vacation, away at training, or ill.
Another is booking a prisoner into the city jail, since the county does not have one. How much help will arrive with lights and sirens, and how do you like your chances? Remember, there are 168 hours in a week...
The 1:1000 ratio does work exceptionally well in communities whose populations are measured in six digits or more. But, four digits? Not so much.
Owen McPhillips
McCook