Signed, Sealed, Delivered…Swat’s Yours!!!

        A very frightening story hit the news this past week…a Mayor’s family in Maryland was treated to the life changing experience of being treated like a criminal; and surprised by an alledged forced entry appearance by a swat team that was performing a drug raid.  It was July 29th; the Mayor Cheye Calvos arrived home and saw a package on his front door step addressed to his wife, he took it in the home and set it down, unopened.  He then went to change his clothes; but, before he could re-dress…he heard gunfire in his home. 

         He was then taken downstairs and handcuffed on the floor alongside of his mother-in-law.  That is when he saw the bodies of his beloved dogs bleeding on the floor.  They had been shot by the swat team.  He tried to tell them that he was the Mayor; but, he was not believed.  That was something that, seems to me, should have been verified before the raid…who the homeowner was, before they went into the home with guns firing.  There was no knocking, no announcement of entry from what i have heard and read.

         A drug sniffing dog flagged a package in Arizona; sent from Los Angeles, through the delivery service Fed Ex, that contained 32 lbs of marijuana.  It turns out that the package was addressed to the Mayor Calvos’ wife, Trinity Tomsic.  She turned out to be uninvolved and was not home at the time of the police raid. 

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City Of Brotherly Love Under The Influence Of Fear And Anger

        An investigation has begun, in the city of Brotherly Love, because of a video tape shot by a television crew; it shows officers pulling three suspects out of a vehicle and then kicking and punching them. 

        The three suspects were involved in a shooting earlier.  Officers witnessed four suspects getting out of a vehicle earlier and shooting into a group of men.  One of the suspects got away by running from the scene.  The other three drove off and were chased by the officers and stopped.  The video shows the officers pulling them from the vehicle and beating & kicking the suspects, on Monday. 

          There has been a strong current of anxiety since Saturday when another officer was shot and killed.  The officer’s name was Stephen Liczbinski, and he was a police Sgt.   Three arrests have been made in the fatal shooting of officer Stephen Liczbinski.  That shooting set the atmosphere presumably for the incident on the video tape.  Emotions on all sides, the police department as well as the public, are inflamed.

           Officers, that were involved, are being pulled off of their regular beats during this investigation.  There are reports that as many as 15 officers could be involved in this video taped beating.  Of course, none of us know what went on before the video or after the video was filmed.  However, i think it would be very difficult to find any reason that would allow for such violent and extreme actions on the part of the officers.  If it happened the way it appears to look on tape, then it is nothing short of an abuse of power. 

          This is a horrible situation.  It damages everyone.  There will be more information released when the investigation is done…but in the meantime, it will be difficult to keep peace.

         When the trust of the police department in any city, or town is compromised; it creates nothing but anger, fear and mistrust.  This is not a good situation for the public safety or for the integrity of the police department.  

           The real shame is that this investigation is going to take some of the focus off of the officer who was shot and killed, doing his duty with honor.  Hopefully, a city that is being torn asunder will still find a way to mourn the loss of their officer, Stephen Liczbinski; and support his family.

         

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Cops Allowed To Hit Or Bump Suspects?

         I was reading a news story today about a disturbing situation in South Carolina; two videos surfaced that showed officers chasing suspects with their police cars and “bumping them”  in two seperate incidents.  What about safety?

        The officers were white, the news report stated; and the suspects black.  Now, personally, i don’t think that ANY police officer white or black  should be “bumping” any suspect, white or black!  Yes, i understand that the “suspects” are exactly that…”suspected criminals” . 

        However, when they are suspects…they haven’t yet, been convicted of anything…and also, i feel that it is dangerous for the suspects, the officers, as well as the general public to be chasing and “bumping” people. 

           Obviously, what happens if the suspect gets rolled under the vehicle and gets serious hurt or killed?  Then, the suspect is not only injured or killed, but, the officer will have to go through an investigation; it will cause him or her, to possibly not only loose their job; but, also could send them to prison for manslaughter.  

            The situation could allow whatever community the officer represents to be rightfully sued, costing tax payers not only money; but, also fan the flames of another huge racial conflict.  We need to work on identifying and healing racial divisions not  creating new reasons to deepen the wounds in our communities.

          No, i just think it is wrong to allow these types of situations to occur without challenging them legally.  Yes, if someone is doing something illegal they deserve to, not only be arrested; but, also convicted.  

           The two officers who are on the video tapes have set an awful precedent by “bumping” their suspects.  Not to mention, at least one other incident of another officer, in a different situation allegedly shouting out racial slurs about a suspect in South Carolina.  This is definately something that should never be allowed. 

           Human beings are to be treated with respect by people we entrust to represent us in law enforcement.  The federal investigation that could come out of this situation is needed; not only in one state, but in all 50 states and we need to set a standard in how things are to be handled.

        I respect officers and most of them do a wonderful job; they have a passion and a commitment to uphold the law.  They have very difficult jobs.  We need to recognize the good officers and hold them up as an example to follow.  Upright and honest citizens can help officers to do their jobs better by setting standards that weed out the officers that abuse their power.  

            Officers are out there every day risking their lives to uphold the law; and truthfully, often they see the worst our nation has to offer in regards to human behavior.   It must be difficult to keep a positive view point of humanity when you constantly see the horrible things that people do to one another. 

           Lift up and encourage officers that you know in your neighborhood, your family, your churches, your schools, and even on the street corners.  It is one of those jobs that gets very few thank yous.  I am sure that they dis-like the bad officers as much as we do because it makes their jobs more difficult.

             We need to teach our children once again to respect authority in the home, in our schools, and in our communities and in law enforcement.  To  accomplish this, we must act responcibly and respectfully even when dealing with the criminal elements in our society.  We want our children to respect officers, not fear them. 

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Halloway Break Through Around the Corner

       The last day of January 2008 and the news reports today, that a Dutch, crime investigative, reporter feels he has new information that helps to solve the mystery of what happened to Natalee Halloway back in May of 2005.  She was a young woman away with her school on a spring break vacation when she disappeared under questionable circumstances; many believing her dead all this time.

        Prosecuters in Aruba, a Dutch caribbean island are investigating this new information.  It has been said that the new information may help to explain how Natalee died; and, how her body became missing. 

        I think everyone has pretty much accepted that she is no longer alive…however, the need to know what happened can only be a balm to her family and friends after all of this time. 

        There have been suspects picked up and held for questioning over and over again;they denied involvement.   There did not appear to be enough evidence to convict them previously… and one has to wonder, whether that will soon change.        *** See previous post Dec 18, 2007

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Natalee Halloway-Missing in Aruba

       Today, it was announced that the three suspects in Natalee Halloway’s disappearance are not going to be prosecuted.  After two years and, many different attempts to prosecute the suspect’s they are not going to pursue the case; unless new information comes to the forefront.

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