A Must Read In Your Live In Harris County!

Facebook wouldn't allow the link to Life at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center, sigh, but I'll put it here. Murray Newman knows and tells it like it needs to be heard.

Two must reads are "I Don't Know Where To Begin"

and

"Another Friday - Another Chief Leaves".

I'm all for on the job training and the learning curve, but, get real, there's too much crime in Harris County for this kind of crap.

JUSTICE THROUGH EXCELLENCE, DILIGENCE AND INTEGRITY

I make no secret of the fact that I'm a big fan of the Harris County Sheriff's Department. I'll vote for Sheriff Thomas for reelection so long as he chooses to run because I know the good that he has accomplished for the department and all the citizens of my county.

I was making a comment on something at the Houston Chronicle online and had to go to the Sheriff's website to check my facts..... wow! what happened over there!? The website has a whole 'nother look from it did the last time I visited it. Bravo! You've got to check it out for yourself.

They have an honest-to-God real Most Wanted page now with pictures of some of the folks they are looking to house and feed.

And check this guy out.....



If you think he looks like one of the Most Wanted you might be right. He's MY Most Wanted to be reelected to the office of Harris County Sheriff! That's a younger, leaner, meaner Tommy back in the day when he was a narc! Iloveit!

There are tons of videos to enjoy and information about every facet. Check it out! And then don't forget to vote FOR Tommy Thomas on November 8th election. Vote often, vote early, vote RIGHT!

Hit, Run, Yawn - Burn In Hell Hopefully

What is wrong with people?

What is this world coming to?

----------

HARTFORD, Conn. -- In a frightening event caught on video, an elderly
Connecticut man was struck by a car and was left lying in the street.
What's worse is that vehicles continued to drive past the man, with
no one stopping to help.

Surveillance video shows 78-year-old Angel Torres being struck by a
car in Hartford. The video shows that no one walking by on the
sidewalk, or driving past on the street, tried to help the victim.
However, Hartford Police Chief Daryl Roberts appeared at a news
conference on Thursday in which they said four people dialed 911
within a minute of the accident.

Police arrived to the scene shortly after the hit-and-run while
responding to an unrelated call. The man was taken to Hartford
Hospital for treatment.

The video has been enhanced by the Connecticut State Police Forensic
Science Laboratory. An older model tan Toyota may have been chased by
a blue or black older model Honda. Police say the cars ran a red
light and crossed a center line before hitting the man.

Police are asking for the public's help in solving the crime.
Torres remains in critical condition and is paralyzed from the neck
down.

The chilling scene - captured on video by a streetlight surveillance
camera - has touched off a round of soul-searching in Hartford, with
the capital city's biggest newspaper blaring "SO INHUMANE" on the
front page and the police chief lamenting: "We no longer have a moral
compass."

Pedestrians gawk but appear to do nothing. One driver stops briefly
but then pulls back into traffic. A man on a scooter slowly circles
the victim before zipping away.

The hit-and-run took place in daylight last Friday at about 5:45 p.m.
in a working-class neighborhood close to downtown in this city of
125,000.

In the video, Torres, a retired fork-lift operator, walks in the two-
way street just blocks from the state Capitol after buying milk at a
grocery. A tan Toyota and a dark Honda that is apparently chasing it
veer across the center line, and Torres is struck by the Honda. Both
cars then dart down a side street.

Nine cars pass Torres as a few people stare from the sidewalk. Some
approach Torres, but most stay put until a police cruiser responding
to an unrelated call arrives on the scene after about a minute and a
half.

"Like a dog they left him there," said a disgusted Jose Cordero, 37,
who was with friends Thursday not far from where Torres was struck.
Robert Luna, who works at a store nearby, said: "Nobody did nothing."
One witness, Bryant Hayre, told the Courant he didn't feel
comfortable helping Torres, who he said was bleeding and conscious.
The accident - and bystanders' apparent callousness - dominated
morning radio talk shows.

"It was one of the most despicable things I've seen by one human
being to another," the Rev. Henry Brown, a community activist, said
in an interview. "I don't understand the mind-set anymore. It's kind
of mind-boggling. We're supposed to help each other. You see somebody
fall, you want to offer a helping hand."

The victim's son, Angel Arce, begged the public for help in finding
the driver. "My father is fighting for his life," he said.
The hit-and-run is the second violent crime to shock Hartford this
week. On Monday, former Deputy Mayor Nicholas Carbone, 71, was beaten
and robbed while walking to breakfast. He remains hospitalized and
faces brain surgery.

"There was a time they would have helped that man across the street.
Now they mug and assault him," police chief said. "Anything goes."


Video on YouTube

What The News Doesn't Tell You

I get annoyed when I read the comments posted online at the Houston Chronicle because most of them are jerks and assholes. They are always quick to slam law enforcement and too stupid to know that just because the story is in the Chronicle doesn't make it Gospel. They read only one slanted side of every story and base their condemnations of that slanted view. They paint everyone with the same color brush. Right now they are anti-Grand Juries and anyone NOT indicted is, in their views, guilty anyway and just being protected by the 'good ole boy' system. Seems to me that most of the time those guilty are "guilty" of being white males.

Makes my blood pressure rise.

Which is not of itself a bad thing seeing as how since I've lost weight I have the blood pressure of a stone. Yea, me!

I find this little item to be of interest and certainly haven't seen it in the Chronicle....

Spears' Latest Trip To Hospital Cost LAPD $25,000

Me And The Texas Ranger!

I've always wanted to meet a real Texas Ranger and now I have! He came out to talk to our Harris County Citizen Police Academy Alumni group tonight and he was just great. He answered all our questions about the organization and how it fits in with all the other law enforcement agencies in Texas.

Just like a good neighbor they don't just open the door and barge right in, they have to wait to be invited inside. Once inside they don't take over like they own the joint either...they work WITH for the best way to handle the individual situations.

The Texas Rangers are the oldest law enforcement organization on the North American continent with statewide jurisdiction and the premier law enforcement agency in the state.

He was a Texas State Trooper for 8 years before becoming a Texas Ranger and he holds the rank of Sergeant. He has worked all over the state before being assigned to Houston. Our group was honored and thrilled to hear what he had to say and I personally was tickled pink to get a photo of me with him!

Tomorrow I'm off to volunteer my time at a golf tournament for Women In Law Enforcement via my involvement with the Houston citizen Police Academy Alumni. That should be interesting too. I have a feeling sun screen will definitely be in order. Maybe I'll get some more pictures too.

More Wildlife On The Prowl!

It's beginning to be like some kind of Twilight Zone around here. At the rate I'm going I'm thinking I should apply for a grant or something and become a wildlife preserve! Here's the latest....



When I met the deputy in my driveway I told him that Lucy had treed a RAT! Well once he shined his mega wickedly bright flashlight on the critter it was almost a rat, but not quite. Aren't his ears weird? I've never seen a possum up close like this one!



The deputy, who I call "Trouble", has been my hero on more than one occasion over the years! Thanks, Trouble, for taking that critter off my hands! Lucy might never recover. She wanted to kick some ass and there was no good end in sight. The possum couldn't get up any higher or down where he could run away. Lucy wasn't going to give up the hunt until forced to. She was jumping as high as the top of the bush the possum was in and barking like she was possessed....




Obviously the word on the bayou is that it's fun to visit my place and see the old lady jumping up and down shrieking along side the little white dog who's having conniptions in her own right! I'm better than HD TV to the creatures of the night!

Feel Better Fast Laws Aren't A Good Idea

I'm so sorry for the family and friends of Deputy Constable Jason Norling who was so tragically killed and is being buried today.

In both the Houston Comical and KHOU's report it has been said that the driver of the SUV that hit him was "thought to be using a cell phone" at the time and that has sparked an effort by the family to ban the use of cell phones while driving. That's just a feel better fast solution to a problem that has no solution if people don't have any common sense.

We already have the law that wasn't obeyed saying the driver of the SUV was suppose to slow down and give the deputy and the driver a wide berth. (A new state law requires motorists to switch lanes when they see an emergency vehicle along the side of the road. If they cannot switch lanes, they should slow down 20 miles below the speed limit. But that apparently did not happen this time, according to authorities.) Enforce THAT law please don't make another one.

Better to make it policy that people have to acknowledge the officer and then be instructed to drive to a place of safety off the highway entirely. Although, come on, there is no place of safety if it's your time to go. Now I'm the first to tell you, I don't know bean one about how to conduct a traffic stop, etc., but look more closely at the procedure and not at the millions that don't run over LEOs conducting traffic stops. People ought to have sense enough to pull over and yak on their phones without trying to do multi-tasking, but they don't. I don't. You don't. The deputy most likely didn't either. You can't stop people from taking and driving any more than you can stop them from drinking and driving. You can catch some of them and punish them, but you can't catch them all.

I hope and pray that this senseless death helps to educate some people about both the new law pertaining to emergency vehicles on the side of the roadway AND how dangerous it is to be distracted by something so easy to avoid, but no law will ever make it not happen again and again.

My biggest fear about the slow down or change lanes law is the danger of a rear end collision just trying to comply with THAT law. People, myself included, drive to fast and follow too closely and I'm pretty sure there are laws about THAT on the books too.

I apologize if this post offends anyone for any reason. I had to get it off my chest and I mean no disrespect to Deputy Norling's memory or his survivors. There's not a day that goes by that I don't worry about my friends that wear a badge and pray for their safety whether they are engaged in traffic stops or sitting behind a desk with their feet propped up OR talking on their cell phones while driving around the mean streets.

Please Help An Injured HCSO Deputy!

How can you help Deputy Cupial?

If you're in the area, you can attend the BBQ! Tickets will be available at the door.

If you can't physically attend, you can send MONEY!

Send your donation to:

Deputy Pete Cupial
c/o Harris County Federal Credit Union
1400 Franklin Street
Houston, Texas 77002

Thanks in advance for helping one of Harris County's finest!

I'm Just A Gal That Can't Say "NO"!

I've been up to my pits in volunteer options. It's difficult for me to turn down ANY opportunity to hang with the fuzz! (Good Lord I am old! No one says 'fuzz' anymore!).

Two weeks or so ago I was "helping" with a RAD class. Mostly I stood around and kept an eye on some gals even older than me hoping to catch them if they toppled over. They did let me film the final exam phase and that was cool.

RAD is one of Sheriff Thomas' pet projects and a wonderful program for women only. It's all very hush-hush with lots of female only high signs and special handshakes so I can't get into specifics, but the gist of it is to teach women to be more aware of their surroundings and watchful for imminent threats to their person. The ladies in the class just lap it all up like it was melted ice cream. They LOVE learning how to NOT be a victim.

I'm going to help with RAD again in a couple of weeks.

Last night I begged a ride to Kingwood to help with the current Harris County Citizen Police Academy class. I can't even say what number that class is because I flat out didn't think to find out. I graduated from Class 10 and they are probably up to 23 or 24 now.

They asked for a bunch of volunteers to help with "scenarios" and I got to be a "happy drunk" in the passenger seat with the male "happy drunk" driver. Then inside the building he and I were paired as a sister who called the police and her crazy brother. He had a plastic gun hidden and "killed" all but one of the deputies that responded. The only one that survived was the one that hustled ME out in the hallway to get me out of their way!

I had a ball! I was worn out by the time I got home last night and my forearms are covered with "bruises". I guess they are called bruises. The older I get the thinner my skin is and all you have to do is stare at it hard and it colors up! I also had a small skin tear that had to have a band-aid to stop the bleeding. I didn't want to show the brass in charge for fear they'd get all weirded out about the potential for liability, but thought it was probably better to ask for first aid than to bleed on the students!

I'll probably volunteer again for scenarios as it was fun! I'm quite the ham it seems! There were 16 or so of us that showed up to help and that was good because we saved the department a LOT of money as they usually used deputies for the role playing. There were scads and scads of deputies there as it was. I'm sure people driving by wondered what in the heck was going on with all the cruisers with flashing lights on and the staging of the 8 to 10 or so scenarios much less all the people in the parking lot of the 2nd Baptist Church!

The finale outside is the felony stop complete with sirens and a loud speaker. That involved 3 of the volunteers in one car being stopped by a half dozen or so patrol cars. The deputies all had to lock their real weapons up and use the red plastic handguns. One of the students wondered if the deputies felt silly advancing with their red guns outstretched. I was told later that they really felt silly before the use of the plastic guns when they just held their hands together and simulated the use of a weapon. The students were all abuzz with excitement watching the drama unfold.

You know...the more I know about Harris County's public service activities the more proud I am to be a resident of Harris County!


Previous post on CPA classes

Not True, Yet Why Not?

This letter is making the rounds in e-mail.

According to Snopes.com, my favorite place to check on the validity of such matters, it's not true. They report that "according to the Virginia State Police and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial office, there is no record of a Mitchell Brown having served with the Virginia State Police, much less having been killed in the line of duty".

Here's the letter....

I am a COP

Mr. Citizen, it seems you've figured me out. I fit neatly into the category where you've placed me.

I'm stereotyped, standardized, characterized, classified, grouped, and always typical. Unfortunately, the reverse is true. I can never figure you out.

From birth, you teach your children that I'm the bogeyman and then you're shocked when they identify/associate with my traditional enemy.... the criminal! You accuse me of coddling criminals.... until I catch your kids doing wrong.

You may take an hour for lunch and several coffee breaks each day, but point me out as a loafer for having one cup.

You pride yourself on your manners, but think nothing of disrupting my meals with your troubles.

You raise Cain with the guy who cuts you off in traffic, but let me catch you doing the same thing and I'm picking on you.

You know all the traffic laws.... but you've never gotten a single ticket you deserve.

You shout "FOUL" if you observe me driving fast to a call, but raise the roof if I take more than ten seconds to respond to your complaint.

You call it part of my job if someone strikes me, but call it police brutality if I strike back.

You wouldn't think of telling your dentist how to pull a tooth or your doctor how to take out an appendix, yet you are always willing to give me pointers on the law.

You talk to me in a manner that would get you a bloody nose from anyone else, but expect me to take it without batting an eye.

You yell that somethings got to be done to fight crime, but you can't be bothered to get involved.

You have no use for me at all, but of course it's OK if I change a flat for your wife, deliver your child in the back of the patrol car, or perhaps save your son's life with mouth to mouth breathing, or work many hours overtime looking for your lost daughter.

So, Mr. Citizen, you can stand there on your soapbox and rant and rave about the way I do my work, calling me every name in the book, but never stop to think that your property, family, or maybe even your life depends on me or one of my buddies.

Yes, Mr. Citizen, it's me the cop!

The Author of this article was Trooper Mitchell Brown of the Virginia State Police.(He was killed in the line of duty two months after writing the article.)

AS A SALUTE TO THE MILLIONS OF POLICE OFFICERS WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERYDAY, PLEASE PASS THIS ON!!!!

Well, I say, it doesn't matter if there was a Trooper Brown or not. The letter is well written and, as the British would say, it's spot on!

Too many troopers, agents, officers, deputies and the like who are dedicated to protecting our lives and our property are being killed. Each and every day. They are people just like you and me but with a big difference, they are sworn to uphold the laws and preserve order.

I believe with all my heart that the good people who wear the badges are called to that life. They are the priests, teachers and nurses of the Sam Brown wearing brigades. They are the men and women that rarely make the news or any headlines if they do a good job, but woe be unto them if they choose the wrong snap decision in a time of crisis. They deserve more than they get. They deserve our respect and our support. Take care....be safe, my friends.

Cops Sure Know How To BBQ!

I donned my "uniform" shirt to do some volunteer hash-slinging for a very good cause yesterday and one of the fringe benefits was some of the BBQ that was being sold in order to raise money. Since I can't eat a whole lot these days I took me a small plate home and while chowing down on my lunch it occurred to me that cops make the best BBQ in the world! I don't know how they do it, but this beef was just perfect. It was flavorful, tender, tasty and moist. It hit the spot! The potato salad, which I was actually slinging serving, was "store bought" and came in a vast tub o' plastic, but the beans and sauce and meat were all the real deal.

Now true I'm sure there are some cops that can't BBQ worth a flip, but when you go to one of these big deals they bring out the super chefs. I've eaten enough cop-made BBQ meals to say without a doubt that cops DO make great food on the grill.

They also had an auction and I managed to walk away with four balls! Not an easy feat considering how fast the law was gobbling up the balls! Much less how difficult it is to walk with four balls without dropping one or two!

Hmmmm.....

After rereading that I guess a tad bit of clarification is in order...

I WON four autographed baseballs. All Astros players to be sure. To wit: Brad Ausmus, Jason Jennings, Phil Garner and Morgan Ensberg. None of them came with authorization, but that's okay because I KNOW the ballplayers sign for the police all the time for free and they are happy to do so. Further more these are just for my own private collection to give the girls something else to scrap over when I'm planted. It's not like I scored them to resell on E-bay or anything.

It was a swell day. I'm glad I said "yes" to the request for warm bodies to help. After all cops, baseball and BBQ are all close to my heart!

My Friend Jim In Washington, DC

My friend Jim is in Washington, DC this week for National Police Week and the solemn events honoring our fallen heroes at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. He gave me permission to blog these photos.




President Bush's motorcade arrives. Impressive.




Jim is a Harris County Deputy Sheriff and a big shot with the FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE HARRIS COUNTY LODGE #39 and he won't like me saying that he's a "big shot", but he is because they don't let just anyone go to DC and hang with the Prez!




There are 17,917 names now listed on the NLEOM's wall. 1326 were from Texas. 33 of those were Harris County Sheriff's Deputies. May they rest in peace and never be forgotten.



National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Harris County Sheriff's Office Memorials

Concerns Of Police Survivors, Inc.

Greater Houston Concerns Of Police Survivors

The 100 Club, Houston Texas




Hurry home, Jim and thanks for the photos and your service. Take care...be safe...

19th Annual Candlelight Vigil Honors 382 Officers

NAMES OF FALLEN OFFICERS DEDICATED ON NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MEMORIAL
19th Annual Candlelight Vigil honors 382 officers, including 145 from 2006

Washington, DC - As thousands of people held lit candles in their honor, the names of 145 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty during 2006 were dedicated on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Sunday night in Washington, DC. The names of an additional 237 officers who died in previous years dating back to 1827 were also dedicated during the 19th Annual Candlelight Vigil.

Thirty-seven states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico all lost officers during 2006. California, with 16, had the most officers killed in the line of duty last year, followed by Virginia (10), Florida and Texas (9 each), and Illinois (8). Five law enforcement officers from federal agencies and two from the military also died last year. There are now 17,917 fallen law enforcement officers whose names are engraved on the Memorial.

US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales delivered the keynote address and led the reading of the names of the 382 officers being dedicated on the Memorial. During the ceremony, Craig W. Floyd, Chairman of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, introduced Tyler Minicozzi, a boy from Reading, PA, as an example of how Americans can honor their law enforcement officers. When Reading Police Officer Scott Wertz was shot and killed in the parking lot of a convenience store last August while pursuing a suspect, 9-year-old Tyler set up a lemonade stand with the goal of raising $1,000 for the officer's wife and two children. Reaching that goal in two days, Tyler went on to raise $5,283.16 in the first week.

"Tyler's story provides tremendous hope and inspiration to all of the survivors here tonight," said Mr. Floyd. "I hope Tyler will inspire many others to follow his lead and to ensure that the service and sacrifice of our law enforcement heroes are never forgotten."

Dedicated in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial permanently records and commemorates the service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers. The Candlelight Vigil serves to kick off National Police Week — a time to remember all law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty and to salute the 800,000 officers still serving in federal, state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide.

The number of officers killed in the line of duty last year declined nearly 8 percent from 2005, when there were 157 officer deaths. The 2006 figure was the lowest annual total since 1999, when 143 officers were lost.

For the ninth year in a row, traffic-related incidents claimed the lives of more officers last year (73) than shootings (52) or any other cause of death. This is a reversal of historical trends, in which most officers killed in the line of duty were shot. The number of officers killed in traffic incidents rose 16 percent last year.

Of the 237 historical cases added to the Memorial this year, 39 date from the 19th Century. The oldest case is Watchman Gerrard Arnold of the Alexandria (VA) Police Department, who was beaten to death in September 1827.



For the list of officers added this year to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, click here.

FLAGS TO BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF ON MAY 15, PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY

On Tuesday, May 15 - Peace Officers Memorial Day - flags across the United States are to be flown at half-staff in remembrance of the nearly 18,000 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in our nation's history.

All give something, some give all.

Jason's Advice For Beating A Citation

Check out Jason's advice at Cigars....Donuts...and Coffee. Bearing in mind that the part about "beating" the ticket is mine, not his. Most of his advice is just common sense, but since too many folks don't have ANY common sense I can see where it'd be a good idea to bone up on the suggestions rather than be the bone-E next time you're pulled over!

A couple of years back I'd of just said the best way to get out of a citation is not to be breaking the law, but......I'll admit that being lucky doesn't hurt a bit either! I must be very, very lucky!

And I'm all for close calls. I find a good close call will put the fear of the Lord and the cop in you and see to it that you walk the straight and narrow until the shock wears off. Mileage may vary with gender differences.

The main thing, or so I've been told by those that know, is attitude. Clarification: make that GOOD attitude. Having a "tude" is not the same as being respectful and taking it like a "man". Whine like a little girl or cry like a baby and you're on your own. Oh and just in case it never dawned on you, trying to look down on a law enforcement officer while he is standing ABOVE you is dumb, dumb, dumb. It's a job nothing more and nothing less, but it's the kind of job that can ('cuse me) fuck you up good if you are an idiot.

Anyway it's good solid advice from one that knows. Unlike me who is just lucky or hasn't been caught YET....

Looking for Drugs, Teacher Texts Kentucky Trooper

From the DUH Department.......

MURRAY, Ky. -- It's a tough lesson for a Kentucky middle school teacher.

State police say she sent text messages looking for marijuana to a state trooper instead of a drug dealer.

The trooper was at a birthday dinner when his phone started buzzing with messages about a pot purchase.

Police spokesman Barry Meadows says the trooper thought it was a joke at first, but realized it wasn't after a few phone calls.

So he set up a meeting with Ann Greenfield.

Law enforcement officers were waiting for her when she arrived at the meeting point.

Says police spokesman Meadows: ''She learned her lesson. Program your dealers into your phone.''

Greenfield, who's 34, has been suspended with pay pending results of an investigation.

Officer.com

UPDATE: Cops, Tasers, OT and The Houston Chronicle

This is today's revelation:

Seven witnesses say Robert McIntosh was shot by a police officer before he was handcuffed during a violent struggle Jan. 8, Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt said today.

"They all indicated he was handcuffed after the shots were fired," Hurtt said in a hastily called news conference today.

Two of three other people who said that McIntosh was handcuffed before he was shot have "recanted or clarified" their statements to indicate otherwise, Hurtt said.

Although he did not mention Yolanda Perry by name, Hurtt made it clear that Perry, the wife of a minister whose church is near the shooting scene, remains the only witness known by police who still maintains police shot a handcuffed man. Perry testified in secret before a grand jury concerning the shooting. She could not be reached immediately for comment Wednesday.

I sure hope they intend to indict Ms. Perry for perjury when she ends up recanting as well. She was just dazzled by the 15 minutes of "fame" and encouraged to "act out" by a certain felonious act-tee-vist, no doubt.

----------------------->>

From A blog about the Houston Chronicle with James Campbell

We don't create stories about HPD; we report them

The Chronicle peddles hate on a daily basis. One of their favorite groups to hate is the police. They seem to take turns bashing HPD and then they'll go off on the Sheriff's Department. If the Chronicle had it's way no blacks or browns would ever be arrested. The police would have to give up their handguns, their tasers, their sprays and striking devices and their patrol cars! 'Cause someone might get their widdle self hurt by those big old meanies in blue. Boo hoo.

One brave officer is taking up the challenge and responding quite eloquently and I'm going to cut and paste what he's had to say if for no other reason than to be able to find it. The Chronicle gets all possessive about their archives and dang if you can find something later if you need it. Way to go, "Dude" and here is what you had to say...

I agree that the Chronicle has been hammering the Houston Police Department. The only reason, in my opinion, that the overtime issue is being raised is because the department has been in the "headlines" lately. It's simple, its fresh on everyones mind. If the recent shootings and taser incidents had not occurred this overtime issue would never have came up again.

Now, onto the shooting incident involving Robert Mcintosh. I am a Houston police officer. I work the area where Robert Mcintosh was shot. I was on the scene that day, after the shooting. No one has addressed the fact that the suspect, Mcintosh, had a pocket full of PCP, crack cocaine, and powder cocaine on him at the time of his death. He was a dope dealer, plain and simple. He had driven out of a known dope location, 5050 Sunflower, when Officer Smith stopped him. Mrs. Perry stated she saw the entire incident. I know for a fact that she did not arrive on the scene until an hour after it had happened! One of the main witnesses in this case stated that if she would have been standing where she claimed, he wouldnt have seen anything. He did see the entire incident. Officer Smiths flashlight never left his car even though Mrs Perry stated she saw the officer beat Mcintosh with it. Officer Smith never got into his car and drove off after the shooting as she claims. How could he, he still had the feamle suspect in the back seat of the patrol car. I could go on and on here. The bottom line is, the woman is lying. She lied to the grand jury and I hope and pray they file charges on her. The other witness, Mike Oliva, who the Chronicles crack,expert, journalist quoted as saying he saw the whole thing from his bedroom window, told the homicide investigators that he had only said that so he could get on TV! Once the sworn statement form was placed in front of him he quickly recanted. Why isnt all this reported? I know you guys have to hear these things. This officer is a good man and these blatant lies by a few people and then your paper running with it is a crying shame. The story you guys should be investigating is the "all might" Quannell X. Find out where Mr X is getting his money. Go see his house. He used to be a two bit dope dealer in Sunnyside and Southpark in the late 80's and early 90's. Does he have a paying job now or does he just sponge off the people he claims to be defending? Now that would be an award winning piece of work.

As far as officers working overtime? Who cares? Do ya'll want to go deal with drunks, write tickets in the pouring rain and cold, or work accidents in the driving rain? The story should be about the divorce rate for the guys working so much. They're trying to make a living now and for when they retire. No one writes stories about a Mcdonald's manager working overtime or how much they make. Why is it even an issue? It's common knowledge that some Federal law enforcement officers make well over a 100K a year. Would you rather more of our department leave and work for the fed's?

Find another story to write about. And when you do decide to write one follow up with the facts, even if its days later. You guys are messing with peoples lives here.

Posted by: Dude at January 17, 2007 09:19 AM

And then again he wrote.....

Let me address a few things here. First of all, as I stated earlier, I am an HPD officer and unlike the chronicle, I dont make statements that I know nothing about. Let's get to the overtime issue. We are able to work over the 16 hour rule with a Lt's permission. Do some officers go over this 16 hour rule. Sure. Most of the time its not just to make extra money. It's due to something that has happened on the shift to where you cant hand it off to another unit or investigator. If I'm in the middle of working a major accident why pass that off to another unit who wasnt on the scene. That's when things start to get screwed up. What, should I think, "Oh, Im about to pass the 16 hour threshold, I better hand this mess over to someone else." No, you work it and deal with the overtime issue later. I still dont see a problem. A handful of officers made a kiiling in overtime. So! I, for one, didnt. There is still about 4,400 of us who just worked the minimum. No one was complaining when all of us were working 3-4 days straight when our "lovely guests" from New Orleans showed up or when we worked 2-3 days straight during Rita. We all did. I dont know of one single officer who acted any different towards the citizens because he was tired or "cranky". Most of us are ex military and working long hours without rest is no big deal. We are all professionals and understand the ramifications of our actions. Please, dont let this OT thing be an issue.

Now, on to my favorite subject, the taser! Give it a rest! Bottom line is this, if you physically resist me I will light you up. There. Need I draw a picture. I really dont care what color, sex, age, religious belief, or you voted for, if I lay my hands on you and you resist you will get lit up! I have tasered five suspects since I was issued my taser. They were all black males and they all resisted. Two of those times the taser did not work and we still had to chase the suspect around a neighborhood until he was caught. The highly informed member of the Chronicle, Roma Khanna, made a comment that the taser was used more than 1,000 times in the last two years but in 95 percent of the time they were used in cases where the suspect was not armed with any weapons. Well, no kidding! If I pull up and you are standing there with a gun in your hand I am not going to use my taser on you. You will be hit in the ten ring multiple times! What a stupid statement. Does she expect me to use my taser of suspects holding weapons? It wasnt made for that. It was given to us so we had another tool to use along with our batons and pepper spray. In my opinion, it works. Ive deployed my taser two times. Ive pulled it out on a daily basis and just the sight of the little red dot will make some suspects stop whatever they are doing. Ms. Khanna also states that a number of people we tase are not being charged afterward. Now, there is a story. The District Attorneys office makes it routine to drop all charges once we file the charges and the suspect is processed in the system. Thats not because the case is weak, its because the D.A's office likes to get "minor" cases off the docket. They also will dismiss cases or plea cases out without even contacting the arresting officer. Most of the taser incidents I see are ones generated by the so called "routine" traffic stop or disturbance call. You stop a suspect, he has dope, you try to arrest him, the fight is on, you tase him. Smae with the disturbance. You get there, the suspect has assaulted someone, you try to arrest the person, he fights you, you tase him. Is any of that wrong? By the way, there is nothing "routine" in stopping a car at night or going to a family disturbance with weapons involved. Maybe Ms. Khanna would like to go to one of these calls. Let's all remember Officer Rodney Johnson. He died on a traffic stop. I think about him and that stop everyday.
The bottom line is, if you dont want us to tase you, do what we say if we are there to arrest you. If you, as a city, do not want me to tase people then dont call me when the bad guy is breaking into your house, threatening your family, stealing your car, or lurking around in the dark. Let me stay in the Shipleys or the coffee shop where I wont get complained on.
I love my job. I love helping the people who call me. And I know this part will surprise alot of you, but I like helping ALL of you, the black, hispanic, asian and white citizens. However, let me make something clear. If anyone tries to hurt me, my partners, or another innocent citizen, I will light them up with my taser if it calls for it, or if need be, I will send two to the chest and one to the head.

Posted by: Dude at January 18, 2007 04:46 PM

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Take care....and be safe, guys and gals!

Bullet Proof Bra? Murder Biz As Usual?

Maybe the police don't need those bulky, hot, uncomfortable vests....maybe all they need is a GOLD BRA....

One woman discovered on New Year's Eve that her bra could do more than lift and support when a falling bullet was halted by the bra strap on her left shoulder.

Debbie Bingham, 46, an Atlanta resident visiting family in St. Petersburg, said her gold bra slowed the falling bullet during the holiday celebrations.

Her injuries may have been much more severe had it not been for her bra strap, said George Kajtsa, spokesman for the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Then there's this loser...

A man who allegedly robbed a Loveland bank so he could avoid jail time is now headed back to jail.

Mark Steven Valladares, 48, is accused of robbing a Wells Fargo Bank last week for money that he wanted to use to pay off outstanding [DUI] driving fines. One hour after the bank robbery, Valladares was pulled over about one block from the Loveland police and courts building, police said.

He allegedly told investigators that he was headed to the police station to pay the fines and that the robbery was an act of desperation, the Loveland Daily Reporter-Herald said.

Looks like things ARE getting back to normal in New Orleans...

Seven people have been shot to death since New Year's Day in New Orleans. Five of the shootings, all unrelated, occurred within a 14-hour span Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Also, a body with signs of physical trauma was found Wednesday wrapped in a rug. That death has not been classified but could bring the total for the 5-day-old year to eight.

This is what's going on in Houston since the 1st of the year...

For a second consecutive year, Houston recorded a rise in homicides within its borders, with the number of killings edging toward its highest point in more than a decade.

Despite another annual increase, residents here are not necessarily at greater risk of becoming a homicide victim. That's because Houston's homicide rate per 100,000 residents rose only incrementally in 2006 — since the city's population is estimated to have surged by more than 148,000 people, due largely to an influx of Hurricane Katrina evacuees.

In 2006, the Houston Police Department recorded 379 homicides as of Dec. 31, a 13.5 percent increase from the 334 homicides recorded in 2005. The 2006 total is the highest since 1994, when 419 homicides were reported in the city.

Then there's ...

Jan 1 - Travis Michael Zielenski was found dead inside an residence at the Timber Mill Apartments in the 1400 block of Sawdust.
Jan 2 - A 96-year-old Conroe woman, who apparently wandered from her home and was lying in the street, was struck and killed by a motorist early New Year's Day.
Jan 2 - After racking up 379 homicides in 2006, Houston made it through the first day of 2007 without a slaying — but just barely. It was about 1 a.m. Tuesday when two east Houston youths heard gunshots outside their bedroom window in the 300 block of Super. Minutes later, police discovered a man dying from gunshot wounds in their backyard.
Jan 4 - A 10-year-old boy who apparently was mimicking the execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein accidentally hanged himself on New Year's Eve, authorities said.
Jan 4 - A 6-year-old girl was apparently struck by a hit-and-run driver in west Houston around 8 p.m. this evening. The unidentified girl was hit on Westhollow and flown by helicopter to an area hospital, where she is in critical condition, authorities said.

So that looks like the Houston area has "only" had one homicide in 6 days of 2007. The one with the guy found dead on Jan 1 doesn't count because he was probably murdered "last year". I wonder what it's like to live somewhere without this kind of news daily? You know if you don't open the Comical and see your name on either the front page or in the death notices it's probably going to be a good day! All the same, I think I might look into getting one of those gold bras....

Officers Save Man from Garbage Truck

OAK PARK, Mich.-- A man who awoke inside a garbage truck that was about to compact its load was rescued after making a frantic cell phone call to police, authorities say.

The man, who is unemployed but not homeless, was scavenging for bottles Thursday when he fell asleep in a Dumpster, said police Lt. Mike Pousak. He awoke when the container was unloaded into a truck.

He told police he didn't know which truck he was in but gave a dispatcher the location of the Dumpster he fell asleep in, Pousak said.

He had tried yelling for help but no one heard him.

Police soon lost contact with the man when his cell phone battery became dislodged, Pousak said. Police checked several trucks, including one in a parking lot.

"An officer went and pounded on the side of the truck and somebody pounded back," Pousak said.

The man appeared to be unhurt except for a scratch, Pousak said.

"If I was him I would go to church and play the lottery because today was his lucky day," the police officer said.

From Officer.com

The question remains "WHY"? Why sleep in a dumpster if you're NOT homeless? Drunk. Has to be drunk. Or druggy. 'Course dumb comes to mind too. Dumb drunk druggy!

On the bright side, now I can tell my kids I only have a cell phone in order to call the cops if I'm ever trapped inside a garbage truck!

Harris County Sheriff's Citizen Police Academy Info

Harris County Sheriff Tommy Thomas would like to invite the citizens of Harris County to participate in an upcoming Citizen's Police Academy. Classes will begin February 1, 2007.

The Citizen's Police Academy (CPA) is an eleven week program designed to give the participates a working knowledge of the Harris County Sheriff's Office. This program consists of a series of interactive classes demonstrating police procedures and protocol. The classes will be held at the Cypress Creek EMS Education Center located at 7111 Five Forks every Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. There are no tuition fees and enrollment is open to qualified individuals. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and reside in Harris County. A thorough background check will be conducted on each applicant.

The Sheriff feels the CPA plays a vital role in reducing crime by improving communication with citizens through local input and support throughout the county. It is our hope that the graduates will become partners with us in identifying problems and solutions to the crime issues that are affecting our county. Graduates will gain knowledge they can implement to enhance the quality of life in their respective neighborhoods.

Through this eleven week course, CPA participants learn many aspects of law enforcement such as Texas Penal Code, Gang Awareness, Terrorism, and many other topics. It is through this program that Harris County residents will gain a better understanding of how police services are conducted in their community, and see "how and why" officers make some of the decisions they do as they perform their duties.

Applications may be picked up at any Harris County Sheriff's Office Storefront or by contacting the Community Services Division at 713-759-9454. All applications must be turned in no later than January 19, 2007.