Chief,
How! (holds up hand in traditional TV greeting)
BTW, most of us here don't feel compelled to use our job titles as introductory precursors. We're all pretty much equal here, cept for a few weirdos. Now that you did, we may as well know what or whom you are chief of.
In a message dated Sat, 17 Mar 2001 2:31:22 PM Eastern Standard Time, "Chief Richard L. Hileman II" <chief@cermak.com> writes:
>>Few "enforced-against citizens" don't have issues. >>Some though look at the big picture.
And fewer and fewer citizens THAN EVER haven't been "enforced against". Finish the thought, will you?
Chief, the "BIG" picture, as you call it, is getting smaller and smaller each day as more and more law abiding citizens are enjoying situations like the aggrieved that began this thread. There have been many listers who specifically have reported hair curling run- ins with law enforcement while pursuing their hobby. It gets tiring to constantly hear that we are hitting all law enforcement types with a tarbrush. Add together all the stories about ridiculous and overzealous enforcement of MV laws, rude police behavior toward MV operators, and outright dangerous encounters with police on our highways, and the big picture is that something is way out of wack. Police your own ranks instead of closing them around the rogues, and if the shoe fits, wear it. (that'll be the day!)
> Last time I checked, it was still legal to offend law enforcement
officials. If that is not the case, let me know so I can call the movers.
>>It is generally legal, I believe, but it is rather rude.
So, I'm rude then, and for that I apologize, but my feelings have been stepped on many times by law enforcement types who later did not have the integrity to do likewise.
>>It is kinda amusing that law enfocement is taking a >>beating over profiling
>>and yet you are profiling the police. Painting with a >>rather wide brush, eh?
Profiling of citizens by law enforcement is real, ongoing, and criminal. No point in denying it any longer. It results in wrongful deaths, car stops gone awry, and unnecessary provocation of folks who would never have broken the law otherwise. For all these sins, it repays with the occasional drunk driver or kid smuggling some pot. The police I have asked about this have said it's done because profiling works. Given that example, perhaps we're a bit behind the curve. Oh, the brush? We just paint with it...you guys are the ones who decide how wide it needs to be.
>>Interesting that they are held >>to higher standards >>and yet you view them with such >>disdain.
It's even MORE interesting how many law enforcement types believe they SHOULD NOT BE held to higher standards, but rather, that they should enjoy exemption from the same laws they enforce. Don't even get me started on the examples, because it will finish with me hoarse and out of breath and you looking rather silly.
>>What I >>would admit is this Tomlin seems like >>a >>really nice >>guy. As for what happened to him, I >>haven't seen >>any first hand accounts, so I won't >>leap >>to >>judgement of him or the officers.
yes, amazing how many "real nice guys" get battered these days, eh? Like the HMV convoy in an un-named New England state last year that was stopped (it's all in the mil-veh archives, go look!) and detained by the local gestapo while enroute to a rally....but then, there are always "the facts", which always seem to prove that Mr nice guy is a crook...or at least vile enough to merit this sort of police treatment. Funny how seldom an arrest results. It's not so funny when the police close ranks around their errant brothers to keep the "facts" from ever seeing the light of day.
>>Well isn't that the point of our system. We find >>those in violations and put them in front of the >>court.
Aren't you forgetting the times we can't seem to manage this, and so we burn them out, shoot them up, and make them disappear? The times where we fire 41 shots at a guy who dared to speak another language? The times we burn 61 homes to the ground with an armed helicopter attack because a small group of dissenters was creating a public nuisance? Give me a break, eh? At least the LAPD can manage a low speed chase once in a while without wreaking mayhem. And aren't we forgetting the times when we can't find the violators, so just anyone handy will do? (44 guys already let go from death rows due to dna evidence)
>>There there will be time for a careful >>examination >>of the fact and extenuating circumstances. >>I haven't >>heard anyone propose he wasn't in violation, >>just >>that it was technical and de minimis.
I have yet to hear a cop say that there was ANYONE who wasn't in technical "deminimis" violation of something. Why not just lock us all up? If ever I hear of one single cop who doesn't think everyone is guilty, I'll shake his hand and buy him a Daniel Webster cigar.
>>meaning, no nothing other than my affront at the >>comment, and of course as a law enforcement type I >>guess you wouldn't care what we >>think, so you can >>just disregard our feelings.)
Hey, just a minute!! No one held a gun to your head and forced you into police work. If you don't feel good about the public's disdain then don't behave in a disdainful manner. Duh? You would be surprised at what some people take to heart...and what some people feel...but I can't recall the last time it counted for anything during a car stop. The line of work that I'm in is thought of quite well by the public, and we don't give them any reason to think otherwise. Now who's using a wide brush?
Rick, or Chief, whatever, I'm sure that you are also a nice guy, and that any violation you are guilty of is de minimis and technical, so I'll offer my hand in truce. Anyone who drives the green can't be all bad. But remember that you were among those who chose to drag their profession into the fray. I don't recall ever using a title on this list, or saying what I do for a living. My sole reason for being here is trucks...but far too often the agenda seems to point to other issues. If you get offended at reponses like mine, then keep on topic and spit your frustration over on police L. If you can do that, I'll promise to do the same. We may not be sharing Sunday dinner discussing politics, but surely we can drive in the same convoy, eh?
Jack, not chief of nuttin
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Apr 04 2001 - 08:10:47 PDT