Theory vs. Reality

November 30, 2011

Theory vs. Reality

Filed under: Probable Cause — Bill @ 9:49 am

This is theory and philosophy.

This is reality.

Comments (22)

22 Comments

“I would not want to live in a world without good Samaritans or people that were willing to take a risk to help others, but the police department cannot advocate for that,” Wood said. Double talk at its finest. She apparently was wearing her NIC ‘hat’ when she made it.

Yes, we want a defenseless citizenry. We want the police to protect us from cradle to grave. Spokane’s police are a shining example of the protection provided by the police. Cda’s and the County’s finest are striving to meet that high standard.

I am reminded of an experiment that occurred in Europe. The police force was disbanded and the crime rate dropped dramatically. I say lets leave the police to do what they do best–pulling over motorists for traffic infractions.

Comment by Joe Six-Pack — November 30, 2011 @ 10:16 am
You know, John Edwards was right – we live in Two America’s. The Big Government as Nanny world of John A and Sgt. Christie and the real world that has good men like Tim Patterson in it. Sadly we all pay the salaries of the Big Government types while the good men get to pay their own way.

Comment by Pariah — November 30, 2011 @ 2:57 pm
My oldest daughter has a concealed permit – not here in Idaho but near one of the bigger drug capitals of the U.S., however, Idaho is where she learned to be skilled at using a gun from the age of 12, where hunter safety classess were also offered by the Idaho Fish and Game. She was an avid hunter for many years and has her share of trophies. She still practices her shooting skills. Her job is fairly high risk since she works with teenagers who are ordered by the court into substance abuse treatment. She tries to get then smart before they go really bad. She doesn’t look the part, she looks like an easy mark. Big Mistake.

Criminals are criminals, saavy folks like my daughter and the gentleman who helped that woman, know how and when to use a gun and it is not for an act of crime.

Comment by Stebbijo — November 30, 2011 @ 3:10 pm
The only reason a person needs a concealed gun permit is their weapon is hidden from public view. Otherwise, as long as the weapon is visable to the eye, any one can pack one.

Comment by LTR — November 30, 2011 @ 6:03 pm
Joe Six Pack. “I am reminded of an experiment that occurred in Europe. The police force was disbanded and the crime rate dropped dramatically. ”

What study specifically? Sounds more like an opinion…in my opinion.

IMHO getting rid of the cops will not cause a drop in the crime rate.

I happen to know a couple cops. I even know one who has been involved in a shooting. Do you know what happens in our state if you shoot someone as a cop? You don’t get time off to feel better about yourself. You get time off because you are being charged with Second Degree Murder and you are being investigated. Also, your agency doesn’t protect you during this time. Sounds like a sweet vacation eh!

I believe in my CCW and in good samaritans. It doesn’t surprise me that a government agency can’t advocate for you to put yourself in harms way. Although they really appreciate it.

Also, I am disturbed by some of the comments here lately. It seems to have degraded from information and debate to personal attacks. I thought opencda was better than this.

Comment by pu — December 2, 2011 @ 7:04 am
We ask people to stay away from personal attacks, “pu”, so if you see one, call the commenter out on it specifically. It’s hard to hear “I am disturbed by some of the comments here lately”, because we don’t know which statements you are referring to. Feel free to tell a fellow commenter that you think they are over the line, and why. If they don’t agree, there will be a discussion about it, I’m sure!

Comment by mary — December 2, 2011 @ 7:51 am
“pu” I am glad that I checked back. Given your adversion to “personal attacks” I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Rather than do all the research for you I will give you an easy starting point to progress outward from. Begin with July 19, 2005 and Ukrainian President Vikto Yushchenko. He abolished the traffic police. As reported at the ‘Final Gear’ site, about three months later, “vehicles in the Ukrainian capital have in recent weeks been moving more quickly, and with a good deal less honking and noice, than when the traffic cops were running things.” So, not an opinion, an observation. As far as ‘knowing cops’, I once was one and I too know many. I respect many. I would suggest to you, however, that it is difficult for the ‘average Joe-Six Pack’ to have knowledge of the problems because they are not usually the ones who are confronted. Talk to a few of the ‘less than average’ who have interactions with them. Then you will begin to have knowledge. Rather than “advocate” for persons to place themselves in harms way, they should give him an award for saving this person from a robbery and potential serious injury if not death. I also suggest that you research Catherine Susan “Kitty” Genovese (July 7, 1935[1] – March 13, 1964). She was a New York City woman who was stabbed to death near her home in the Kew Gardens section of Queens, New York on March 13, 1964 while 38 persons stood by.

Comment by Joe Six-Pack — December 2, 2011 @ 1:58 pm
My favorite comment from the CDA Press site:

IDmtnman posted at 1:34 pm on Wed, Nov 30, 2011.

“Remember folks, when seconds count, Sgt. Woods is minutes away!”

The CDA Police are inept and poorly trained. Sgt. Woods and her comments regularly point that out.

Comment by Pariah — December 2, 2011 @ 2:12 pm
Yo Joe. Thanks for the links to pertinent information. My guess is that comparing traffic policing to murder, property crimes, other social crimes is apples to apples? I guess I’m confused. Is the point that you are trying to make is that if we get rid of our Police then people will act more responsibly?

Not sure about that.

Personal attacks. Not so much in this thread I guess. So, I stand corrected. Just feels that way sometime I suppose. Should I go back through all of the old “opencda” posts and bring out the skeletons? I appreciate the conservative viewpoint of this blog. It seems that folks are just a little rude when they have a key board in front of them….sometimes.

Comment by pu — December 2, 2011 @ 4:05 pm
Not so much in this thread I guess.

Well good, glad we pass muster pu. I’d hate to think we failed you in some way.

Comment by justinian — December 2, 2011 @ 4:07 pm
pu,

We try to give commenters and posters quite a bit of latitude, because in the two-dimensional world of the printed word, people use different styles to try and make their opinions and points. To one commenter, saying “You’re wrong” might be synonymous with another commenter saying “I disagree.” We can’t hear inflection and see body language.

As we say in the opencda policy, “Comments containing profane, obscene, or inappropriate language will not be approved. Comments will not be edited, aside from our correcting obvious typos or formatting code, or when a comment violates OpenCdA Policy published on this page.”

Some commenters have requested that we add a “preview” button so they can see how their comment will appear before hitting “submit comment.” It’s not a bad idea, but the free software we use does not offer that. The poor man’s alternative is to use the computer’s text editor function to compose the comment, check any link codes, and then edit before cutting-and-pasting into the comment box. Lacking that, the best suggestion we can make to commenters is to compose, pause, read, edit, and submit. Often self-disciplined editing will temper anger.

Comment by Bill — December 2, 2011 @ 4:56 pm
I love that saying, “When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.”

Comment by concerned citizen — December 3, 2011 @ 7:17 am
Sorry, guess I was still asleep when I wrote that. LOL

“When seconds count the police are only minutes away.”

Comment by concerned citizen — December 3, 2011 @ 2:13 pm
See the latest post by the idiots from the CDA Police – truly amazing. Their PIO is an embarrassing, incoherent waste of money.

Comment by justinian — December 3, 2011 @ 2:23 pm
justinian,

What post? Did you intend to link to it?

Comment by Bill — December 3, 2011 @ 2:27 pm
Christie Wood posted at 3:03 pm on Fri, Dec 2, 2011. [In comments attached to Coeur d’Alene Press article online.]

Since Tim follows this story I think it is important for him to know that neither the Police Department or me has criticized him in any way nor do we disregard his heroic efforts that day. I am posting the original email I recieved from the reporter, and my response in order to assure him we do appreciate the action he took that very likely prevented serious injury to the victim. My comments to the reporter were about the general safety of citizens getting involved, and never focused on Tim. The Police Department is in process of pullling together a public presentation to honor his bravery. Here is the original email:

Hi Christie
I was talking to a man named Tim Patterson today, who works in the yellow mobile kitchen outside Goodwill. He said he helped stop the robbery attempt when he came out and pointed a gun at the suspect, who then dropped the knife and ran, Tim said. He said he stood there and waited for police to show up.
I’m wondering if you could comment on Tim’s actions. Do police have any recommendations they make to people when trying to intervene in such incidents? Is he considered a hero?
Also, Tim was surprised he wasn’t mentioned in our story today. I said his name wasn’t in the press release. Diane Galloway from Goodwill did tell me that Tim came out of this stand and yelled, too, but didn’t mention he had a gun. Just for my information, not for a story, was there a reason Tim was not mentioned?
thanks again for your help

Comment by justinian — December 3, 2011 @ 4:15 pm
justinian,

Okay, now I get it. To clean up the lengthy blockquote, I relocated the hyperlink to immediately follow your lead-in to the blockquote. Thanks for explaining.

Comment by Bill — December 3, 2011 @ 4:34 pm
Wow, I think Sgt.Christie should go back on patrol and attend English classes in he evening.

Comment by Ancientemplar — December 3, 2011 @ 4:52 pm
What does the good sergeant get paid for those turgid sentences?

Comment by justinian — December 3, 2011 @ 5:21 pm
Oh, and her night classes shouldn’t be at NIC as she’s a member of the Board of Trustees.

Comment by Ancientemplar — December 3, 2011 @ 7:45 pm
Sgt. Wood made

$86,556

in 2009-2010 as the Police Public Information Officer. Benefits were on top of that amount.

Comment by mary — December 3, 2011 @ 8:15 pm
Wow. Just wow!

Comment by justinian — December 3, 2011 @ 8:34 pm

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