I couldn't agree more. In Eugene, over 70% of the officers employed by EPD live outside of the city and it really shows in their attitudes and effort expended. 

I've had conversations with several officers who stated in no uncertain terms that they hate Eugene and would never let their families spend time in our parks. Why are our parks (other than on the south side) a dangerous mess? Because EPD won't do their jobs and enforce the laws. It seems clear to me that they would enforce the laws and remove the thugs from the parks, many of whom trespass in the parks every night, if they lived inside the city and it was their families being mugged on the bike paths.

There's also that windshield perspective entitlement thing. When one only sees a place from the inside of a car, things like traffic law enforcement that really add to the joys of walking and cycling in a city can be seen in a negative light. Also, why risk your life doing a traffic stop just to make someone else's city nice?

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