Additional Info on LE Presence on Equipment Drive
I haven't been through the SC area or Equipment Drive since the last time that I had reported on it, and still wouldn't recommend the area for finding SWs due to the risks, but thought I would add some things that was not in my original report just for future reference.
The LEO sitting over by the gas station on Equipment Drive & Sugar Creek, and the LEO sitting over by Regal Inn that I saw did not have their blue lights on and flashing. It appeared as though they were strategically parked as to have a good view of things of which lead me to think they are looking to deter crime, and not just that, but also to see where suspicious activity is or has been coming from. The LEO that parked by the gas station on Sugar Creek and Equipment drive could see Days Inn directly in front on him, and Sunset Inn to the right of him. However, the view of Regal Inn was blocked from him because it's behind Sunset Inn. So you have another LEO sitting in the front parking lot of Regal Inn in direct view of the front office where people go to check in, and check out. I don't think it was any coincidence that they parked in the way that they did.
The LEO parked by the gas station on North Graham Street and Equipment Drive, parked his car at an angle as to be facing the area behind the gas station, and had not just his flashing blue lots on, but also a spotlight on, yet there was nothing going on when the LEO did this. He just appeared to be sitting in his car chilling at the time I passed by. So my thinking is that the purpose of that LEO would be purely deterrence as there are no hotels at the intersection to keep watch on. If SWs were to go up on Equipment Drive starting at Sugar Creek to North Graham, they'd likely pass by the LEO sitting at the gas station on Sugar Creek, seeing the flashing blue lights on North Graham further down on Equipment Drive, turn around and either go back to their room or to a different part of the SC / TH loop of which the LEO by the first gas station would see, and probably radio in to his buddies.
I don't know if they are still doing that, and if they are, for how much longer, but that's my take on it. I think it also may suggest that there may have been activity on Equipment Drive on the section between Sugar Creek and North Graham that we may have overlooked in the past. That or, it could be where the SWs started walking after seeing LE on Tom Hunter and Reagan, and LE responding accordingly by sending LEOs to their new traffic pattern on Equipment Drive. Not Sure.
Maybe, But Hiring Off Duty Cops Is Expensive
[QUOTE=MettLife;2508852]Not to correct the entire post, but I was in the gas station on SC one day and the cop was there early in the morning because he forgot to get his money, so my thoughts are just like the cop that sits in the hotel parking lot all night. They are working off duty. Meaning they use the cars and uniform, but don't respond to anything off premises.[/QUOTE]You might be right. I don't know, if they are on duty or off duty, but what I do know is that it is expensive for a business to hire off duty police officers. The LEO that I have sometimes seen at Travel Inn by the intersection of Sugar Creek and Reagan, I think may be off duty because that hotel has been known to hire outside security companies to watch over the place in the past, and would likely consider hiring an off duty LEO from what I've heard. That and the LEO I have seen out there not too long ago seemed awfully relaxed when I passed him by to actually be on duty. He just had his parking lights on, parked in the very back, and appeared to be chilling.
Also from what a security guard that worked there years ago told me, LE makes around $17/ hr when they are working for the city. When they are working off duty for a private business, its around $34/ hr. So while it's possible all the LEOs parking around the gas stations and hotels are off duty, I think it's more likely that the one at Travel Inn is off duty, and the rest are on duty in response to recent crime in the area. That is unless the other ones are staying put until something like 7 AM or 8 AM in the morning, when the daytime management first gets there to let them know how the night went. In that case, they could be off duty, and whether or not they have been doing that or not, I wouldn't know.
What would strike me as odd about that though is the recent murder took place at Brookwood Inn, yet as far as we know there have been no off duty LEOs over there. It's just been everywhere else where the murder didn't take place at that LEO has been maintaining a heightened presence at.