Big Texas Chief Floyd speak with straight tongue.
Unfortunately, it is true. Some of these younger cops are just plain to gung ho
or to John Wayne in ninja suits. Don't know what they teach 'em these days in
the Academy's, but this is something I've said and felt for years.........that
they view us all as "the bad guys". Not just us MV'ers, but ALL of us!.
Back to the "incident": If dad and daughter left the house with no license,
registration, insurance and other VITAL Paperwork, THEN ran their mouths at a
cop they 'surprised' by their being there; it is stupidty compounded by more
stupidity. Had my 7th generation Texas daughter pulled such a dumb stunt as
this, she would have become a time traveler...........because I would have
knocked her into next week for such rude behavior, ESPECIALLY with dad operating
outside of the law, and dead to rights; WRONG. Real Texas gals might pull on
gun outta their purses, but they're seldom rude......without good reason. And
this "tank girl" had NONE.
On to "Old School vs. the Ninjas": Our annual machine gun shoot here in Texas
always entails notifying our local law enforcement (Sheriff, nearest PD, Texas
Ranger Station), detailing the event. Location is always the same. If the law
dogs drop by, it's invariably the young guys who are uneasy, suspicious, tense,
upset, alarmed and about any other adjective you can say to describe somebody
who may have been raised in a shoe box in say CT, NJ or MA. Even though they
are treated with the upmost respect (we Texans are a very polite people anyway),
and offered food, drink and to shoot any of the exotic or nostalgic weapons
there, they usually scowl, turn heel and leave, probably reporting back that
"while everything is legal, somebody outta shut 'em down anyway." They seem to
hate it when I introduced them to my friends; other cops, federal agents,
judges, that occasional Texas Ranger or other law affiliated folks who enjoy the
shooting sports (and the great Texas Bar-B-Que and cold beer!).
The older guys on the other hand are a real joy to behold!!! They'll sit under
a live oak and shoot the breeze.....some have even taken and shot a vintage
Thompson, Ma Deuce or BAR when offered, or even a ride in an MV. They almost
always carry a tricked out M1911 in a Mexican tooled holster rig with little
other equipment. A good law man usually doesn't need much else. Most are
several generationed peace officers and we are thrilled of a "great granddady"
story of chasin' Mexican bandits or cattle/horse thieves or even a good ol
fashion shoot out with Bonnie and Clyde. I pity other folks around the country
who don't get to meet and know these REAL Texas lawmen. They are the Pride of
our State and honest folks appreciate them's that's left.
My point is that it sadden's me to think Mr. Petri might consider his years of
service to his community and state as "Thankless". And with everything spelled
out in this Texas law man's story we don't need to make a tense situation worse
by stupidty. While he has a badge or other police ID to assist him.....most of
us do not. Consider perhaps that every confrontation will be with one of the
"ninja wanna be's" and 'extend the hand of friendship' (hands always in sight of
course!). I've been pulled over in armored and soft skin MV's and wind up
giving tours of the vehicle and live weapons, inviting them to my shop and or
tip a cold one when off duty. With one exception, all were converted and all
went away with a much clearer mind on who we MV'ers are, what we do and why we
do it. Almost all of them have a 'war story' to tell and it's great community
relations. We Texans enjoy makin' new friends and I'm sure the rest of yall
feel the same way.
If some cops don't wanna be friendly, thats OK too. Never let it be said that
we didn't try! But, I'll tell ya this, a fast smile and a genuine friendly
manner make a lot of converts.
I for one truly Thank Floyd Petri for his tales and thoughts, wish him many
trouble free miles of MV'ing (yeah....right!), say Happy Trails and keep your
powder dry Cowboy!
Pike
TEXAS!
Rikk Rogers wrote:
> Floyd,
> We greatly appreciate your view and I'll post it for you.
>
> Try the other list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MVlist
> it was started due to the technical issues with Arthur's server.
>
> Rikk Rogers - RK Lion LTD.
> (580)762-3157 rkltd@swbell.net
> http://home.swbell.net/rkltd/
> -M35A2- -M38- MVPA -22345-
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Floyd Petri [mailto:fpetri@eastex.net]
> Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2001 6:07 PM
> To: Rikk Rogers
> Subject: Re: [MV] FW: arrest of individual driving armored vehicle
>
> Rikk for some reason I am unable to post to the list. In fact I have never
> been able to post since I have been a member. Wrong address I guess. Here is
> what I sent to the Police Spokesman for FYI.
>
> Hello. I have read all the comments posted about the armored vehicle
> incident. I have also seen the television News Video from Channel 3. Most
> important I have just read the so called release by the Police Spokesman. I
> have a couple comments to make about all of this and I will call my comments
> "Constructive Criticism" and let you know that I am a retired Police Chief
> and a retired Special Agent so that you will know that I am not just one of
> the ever day police critics. I want you to know what I think about all this.
>
> 1. You should know that to me it appears that you all are suffering from
> your pride being hurt. Police Officers should not become personally involved
> when a verbal bashing takes place either in public or privately. You are
> supposed to be above all that. A surgeon should not take out on the patient
> just because he gets blood on the surgeon. IT COMES WITH THE JOB. Your
> problem is that it happened in front of witnesses and your pride was hurt.
> Shame, shame & more shame on you.
>
> 2. When the television people taped the police officer telling about the
> incident it reminded me about television people taping the KKK. They seem to
> always pick the biggest hick with the lowest vocabulary in the KKK to
> interview. They do that to make the KKK look even more stupid and wrong. In
> the case of the officer, they did not have to do that. He did it to himself.
> When he said "37 cal." instead of 37 mm he immediately became a "Never been
> in the military a day of his life" person in the eyes of millions of
> veterans. Even if he had been in the military they will never care after
> that remark. He showed his ignorance and that will be what is remembered.
> Also when he said that it really did look like a military vehicle, he
> crossed the line. Is it now against the law to be a real military vehicle?
> Stupid, stupid & more stupid you look. Not to veterans so much as to other
> police officers. Maybe not in Yankee Land, but down South and out West.
>
> 3. The really big one is that the public is getting more and more aware that
> this country is looking like it is racing toward Communism as fast as it can
> with Police Abuse of Power. The Supreme Court upheld the arresting and
> handcuffing a women for not wearing her seat belt??? Well that is exactly
> what you people look like. Jack Booted Nazi Thugs is what I have heard
> people say you look like. I would have gone out of my way to avoid those
> kind of remarks being generated. After Ruby Ridge, Waco and Oklahoma City it
> should make all Police Officers aware of what is happening in this country.
> Government is getting out of hand. Police are out of control. You can be
> part of the fix or part of the problem. What is it going to be? It is your
> decision. Not mine.
>
> Now for the big news. I live in Texas and I grew up wanting to become a
> Police Officer. I am now retired law enforcement as I first stated. Today I
> think that it was all a very thankless job. Today I drive on the highways
> hoping that I never get stopped. I love my country, but I am afraid of my
> government. I love Police Officers, but now I am afraid that they will make
> up something or plant something on me before I can tell them that I am a
> retired Officer. Also that may not make a difference either. They may be Hot
> Dogs or worst. Used to be in Texas that there was never an arrest for minor
> traffic violations. What is happening to this wonderful country?
>
> Now for the bigger news. I own and drive an armored vehicle too. I live in
> the country and sometimes I drive it to town 15 miles away. Every time I go
> to town I get stopped. Here are the facts.
>
> The armored vehicle has tires and not tracks. It is licensed and has license
> plates displayed. It is inspected. The .30 cal. Browning Machinegun sticking
> out of the turret is not there. There is only a cooling jacket with the air
> holes and the end has a bright orange plug. There is not even a hole showing
> in the bright orange plug. All original document of ownership, registration,
> inspection and Insurance are kept in the vehicle. A walk around inspection
> is made before driving to make sure all lights, horn and etc. are working.
> So having 35 years of law enforcement experience now tells me that I am
> legal and there is NO VALID REASON TO STOP ME unless I make a traffic
> violation. If you are curious, then follow me till I stop and park and then
> approach with a friendly hello. No reason for lights and siren just to show
> that you have the "power".
>
> The first day I was stopped 3 times. The first time by a Game Warden while
> on the way to town. This was an official stop because of the way he made it.
> I guess he really thought that I was going deer hunting in a "tank".
> Everything worked out OK because I was retired law enforcement. He was
> intelligent, but no common sense or he would not have stopped me. Still
> wondering what would have happened if I had not been law enforcement? The
> second time a Deputy Sheriff followed me into a parking lot and hung back
> until I left and went into a store. Then pounced on my kid I left in the
> vehicle. Big Brave Officer. Again my being retired law enforcement saved me.
> Again wonder what would have happened if I had not been law enforcement? The
> third time was a real eye opener. A city cop stopped me and when I asked why
> he stopped me he said that the Police Department received three calls that
> there was a tank in town and that they wanted to know "why"? So he wanted to
> know why? Why I am in town? Big crime here. I was in town. Next he (on his
> own) wanted to know what I was going to use the machinegun for? Now the
> "hick" came out in him. A cooling jacket with holes in the side that anyone
> can see that there is no barrel there and with a big orange plug with no
> hole in the end..... and he does not even know that it is not a real gun or
> even implied that it is not real by the orange plug?? A real brain surgeon
> here and they allow him to be armed? He may be stupid, but he was smart
> enough to not make any ARREST.
>
> Well I have said enough. Most likely too much. I apologize if I made you mad
> or upset, but you do need to think about what I have said with a positive
> slant. Public relation is everything. I have added Conn. to my list of
> states that I will never visit because I am afraid of you too now.
>
> Floyd Petri
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rikk Rogers" <rkltd@swbell.net>
> To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2001 9:28 AM
> Subject: Re: [MV] FW: arrest of individual driving armored vehicle
>
> > Sorry Ron,
> > I guess I was un-clear.
> > He sent the posted email to me to post to the list as an official comment,
> I
> > was hoping to see a bit more detail but it covers the gist.
> >
> > rikk
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ron [mailto:rojoha@mediaone.net]
> > Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2001 11:10 AM
> > To: Rikk Rogers
> > Subject: Re: [MV] FW: arrest of individual driving armored vehicle
> >
> >
> > Hi Rikk:
> > Thanks for all your work on this matter. I am a little confused
> though.
> > Your message says you are including the officers email along with the
> > official statement. Is his email "The official statement" or is something
> > missing?
> > Regards, Ron
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Rikk Rogers" <rkltd@swbell.net>
> > To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> > Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2001 11:50 AM
> > Subject: [MV] FW: arrest of individual driving armored vehicle
> >
> >
> > > This is the official comment Officer Vinci sent to me for posting to the
> > > list.
> > > He knew when he sent it to me that I paned to re-post it to the lists,
> so
> > I
> > > am leaving his email attached.
> > > If you reply to him I would strongly encourage you to remember the point
> > of
> > > this thread, BE FFRIENDLY!
> > > Many of us have dealt with "cop" mentality, and unfortunately it tends
> to
> > > create a brush that is used on all police ?persons?.
> > >
> > > Don't add to the brush created here, in reference to MV owners.
> > >
> > >
> > > Rikk Rogers - RK Lion LTD.
> > > 416 S 4th St
> > > Ponca City OK. 74601-5335
> > > (580)762-3157 rkltd@swbell.net
> > > http://home.swbell.net/rkltd/
> > > -M35A2- -M38- MVPA -22345-
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Domenick Vinci [mailto:dvinci@whpd.com]
> > > Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2001 7:33 AM
> > > To: rkltd@swbell.net
> > > Subject: arrest of individual driving armored vehicle
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The individual was arrested on Sat. June 9, 2001 not because he was
> > > operating around on city streets in an MA Greyhound armored vehicle. It
> > was
> > > for the fact that the vehicle was being operated around without proper
> > > registration & valid insurance. When the arrestee was being questioned
> > > about not having the proper paperwork, he became upset with the police
> > > officer & became verbally abusive. His passenger. Which turned out to
> > be
> > > his daughter was also verbally abusive to the officer. Both dad &
> > daughter
> > > were charged with breach of peace for their actions after the officer
> was
> > > questioning them about the expired tags. There was a few hundred
> > residents
> > > walking nearby on the boardwalk. The incident took place near a beach
> > > boardwalk that usually sees 1000's of residents everyday. this
> particular
> > > day (June 9, 2001) was an exceptionally beautiful day, which brought out
> > > more than the usual amount that day. The West Haven Police Dept. is not
> in
> > > the practice of picking on or harassing collectors of military vehicles
> or
> > > any other collectors. The vehicle was not legally registered & the
> owner
> > > could not show proof of insurance for the vehicle. Then the individual
> > > made matters worse, when he started to act up to the officer in front of
> > the
> > > already large crowd that had gathered.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Officer Domenic F. Vinci
> > >
> > > Police Spokesman
> > >
> > >
> > > ===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
> > > To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: <mil-veh-off@mil-veh.org>
> > > To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to
> <mil-veh-digest@mil-veh.org>
> > > To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
> >
> >
> > ===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
> > To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: <mil-veh-off@mil-veh.org>
> > To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to <mil-veh-digest@mil-veh.org>
> > To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
> >
>
> ===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
> To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: <mil-veh-off@mil-veh.org>
> To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to <mil-veh-digest@mil-veh.org>
> To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Jul 05 2001 - 00:40:36 PDT