Imagine my surprise yesterday, that whilst listening to the radio, I was informed the city of Palm Springs had hastily sent out an erroneous benefits letter to the families of the 2 recently slain Palm Springs police officers. Apparently there was some confusion about insurance coverage. What should have been a minor matter exploded into a debate that can only exists on talk radio. Assertions, assumptions by the hosts and uninformed opinions spewed back and forth. I get that. I was in that industry for 20 years. But it really never should have gotten to that. The 2 main culprits in this unnecessary drama were the city and the Palm Springs Police Officers Association.
In the future City Manager David Ready should oversee the benefits process for both families period. He is now asking Doug Holland, soon to be departing City Attorney to look into the matter. The deaths of Gil Vega and Lesley Zerebny demand that all actions regarding their survivors must be overseen by the top and not by a junior city clerk.
The Palm Springs POA has to do a better job too. They obviously leaked this story to the media. A quick call to their attorney would have shown the letter was not accurate and well not clearly written, The city has acknowledged this. Instead it was attempt by whoever leaked this to needlessly inflame passions. While I have been critical of the PSPOA in the past, I chalk this up to an unfortunate yet over emotional reaction to a mundane matter.
It these times of sorrow, caution and common sense must prevail.
Steve Kelly can reached at kellyscorner227@gmail.com or followed on Twitter @skellynj
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