Blogging for Freedom

In my medium-sized city we have a police force that is getting progressively out of control.  Although we have been experiencing increased assaults and violence, gang activity and random property crimes due to meth and crack cocaine, our  police force continues to focus on busting marijuana.

With the help of federal DEA agents and Homeland Security $$$ and resources, police now prowl our neighborhoods looking for suspicious wiring or plumbing or odor or ... whatever.  I know this to be true because I saw it.

Last week, a city police patrol car crawled through my alley, stopping at an empty fenced-in building two doors down from my home.  I could hear them joke as they circled the property on foot. "Yeah, sure as hell looks like a grow-op to me." one said.  Within seconds they broke through the locked gate and began looking in the windows and rattling the doors.

Uhhh...private property?  They didn't give a shit.  Probable cause?  Due process?  They'll worry about that later.  Real crime that causes real harm?  Too busy and allegedly under-funded to even be able to respond to all 911 calls.

That's right.  A city official recently acknowledged that they were unable to respond to every 911 call that comes in.  In one single day, he reported, four domestic violence calls went unheeded. Under-staffed, not enough money were the reasons cited for our county Crime Check number being discontinued.  Unless it's a life or death matter, you may have to wait until regular business hours Monday through Friday for help.

Another disturbing trend in our fair city is the number of suspects, detainees, arrestees and jail inmates who turn up dead in police custody. Otto Zehm, a mildly disabled citizen who stopped at a local Zips for a soda, was questioned after someone reported he was "acting suspiciously".  Somehow, Zehm resisted or argued or copped an attitude because it turned into a deadly struggle with the cops tasering him at least twice. Then they hobbled him (tied his ankles to his wrists behind his back) and laid him face down on the concrete for God only knows how long.  The coroner said this position contributed to Zehm's heart failure and ruled his death a homicide.

Less than a month later our brave police tasered a run-away cow five times until it dropped dead from sheer panic and fear.  Apparently, they couldn't wait the 15 extra minutes it would have taken the owner to capture the poor thing.  Alive.

Another example to consider - some years ago a troubled student at Lewis & Clark High brought a loaded gun to school.  Everyone safely evacuated - there's always been a question as to whether he meant to harm anyone except himself - and he isolated himself in one classroom.  The SWAT team arrived and took position behind protective barricades, but before they could even start talking with him to calm the situation down  - guess what? -  they shot him in the face.  End of seige. End of problem. End of story.

Well, not quite. This 15-year old screwed-up kid is going to be grossly disfigured for life. I'll always remember him and wonder why - if the sharpshooters on the SWAT team are so god-damned sharp then why couldn't they have aimed for the hand holding the gun, or his arm, or his leg.

No, instead they had to deliver the kill shot to the head.  It's a miracle the kid lived (I wish him peace and well-being).