Are we still heading in the right direction?

It is a new year.  We have seen the implementation of shift differential and the continued promise of improvements such as assigned cars and educational incentives.  It appears the director is now showing signs of concern on the assigned car program with his latest update video.  Ford may not be able to keep up with demand according to the update.  I find that hard to believe given the County's past history on following through with promises.  It smells like a stall tactic to me but I have been wrong before.  We lost approximately 52 officers last year and the training center is strained to keep the recruit mill running.  Anyone who has been to the training center lately knows how overtasked training is right now.  Remember the days when there might have been one or two mandate classes a year with only a handful of recruits?  I doubt we will ever get back to those days.  I spoke with a relatively new officer awhile back and he shared some details of his retirement package.  Needless to say he/ she is getting screwed.  I have said it before but will say it again.  I sincerely hope this department can recover and return to the department we all know it can be.  It will take GOOD leadership and positive action but it can be done.  Time will tell but the clock is running out.