Let's see...
Started out the morning dealing with a call from a DUI arrestee pending trial. Who was full of demands, annoyance and other stuff. Folks - #1, conversations with me which consist of a majority of "You need to" and "You have to"'s will generally not work out in your favor. #2, when you are very obviously using some web site's "How to beat your DUI" line of reasoning before we even get to court - remember, you get what you pay for...
Then we got the official paperwork on the countersuit being filed against me from an arrest a couple of years ago. Delivered at home to my wife. And written in a highly inflamatory manner. Wish I could say more, but suffice to say it didn't help my mood. Then of course having to do emails and phone calls back and forth with the county attorney, my personal attorney, etc.
Spent the rest of the 12 hour day dealing with some VIP visit issues and all the associated fun.
On a positive note, I didn't spend much time out in the rain, and I came home to a wonderful family who were happy when I walked in the door.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Why cops who like DUIs make difficult parents...
from an episode of my children's silly time tonight:
"What would it mean if I said my alphabet A B C D X Y Z?"
"Well son, usually that means you're about to wear my handcuffs and go to jail."
My wife has the most well-toned eye roll muscles in the Western hemisphere for some reason.
"What would it mean if I said my alphabet A B C D X Y Z?"
"Well son, usually that means you're about to wear my handcuffs and go to jail."
My wife has the most well-toned eye roll muscles in the Western hemisphere for some reason.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
More thoughts
Kind of a follow-up to yesterday's post, based on my work today.
I spent the majority of my normal day off working - a relatively unpopular group was doing some protests in town, so we had to both pre-screen the areas as well as stand by throughout the event. The folks in question aren't "bad", but their ideas tend to raise a lot of controversy, counter-protesters, media reports etc.; all of which works in the protesters favor as more publicity and a chance of a stink. So, I was up at 5:45 this morning and didn't get home til the afternoon.
I will also add, as way of reference, that this is certainly one of those groups I am adamantly against - I don't agree with either their message or their frequent venues to argue it in. I can also fairly say my opinion was shared by the majority of the officers and citizens present at the event. But I am also a professional, and all that stayed at home.
I did a little count of the resources assigned to this event - just with my agency we had 60 officers, to include road units, EOD, SWAT, riot team, traffic control, an aircraft overhead etc. This isn't counting the few State police units I know were floating about, or anyone else who may have dropped by. The little gathering had attention all the way up to the Chief of Police.
For five protesters - that's it. A couple of counter-protesters showed up, but heck even the media outnumbered the two groups combined. There were no incidents, nothing more than pickets and discussion, and everyone went home at the end of the day with nothing more than a few more hours on the paycheck.
And I'm proud to live in this country because of things just like this.
Think about it - this is a place where today alone one agency spent thousands of dollars and man-hours to ensure that a small group of people, whose message was unpopular and unwanted in the communities chosen, were able to peaceably assemble and have their say. We didn't spend our time looking for ways to lock them up, or looking the other way as folks beat on or harassed them, or even worse, doing so ourselves. They weren't hounded out of town, denied their opportunities or disappeared into some dark hole somewhere.
All things I have seen happen in other countries throughout the "modern" world.
We are fortunate enough to live in a place where this can be - where people can share their opinions, grievances and beliefs in a public forum; and where that right will not only be observed it will be protected with the utmost promises. Because that's what all of us out their today showed by our very presence - the continuation of the premise that while I may not agree with what you say, I will defend to the death your right to say it.
60 officers today were on that line to defend that right - even for those they did not agree with - and for that I am proud.
We may not always like the words others have to say, we may find them offensive, hurtful or simply in poor taste. But before you judge and try to prohibit such things, remember that next time it may be someone who doesn't like what you have to say.
I spent the majority of my normal day off working - a relatively unpopular group was doing some protests in town, so we had to both pre-screen the areas as well as stand by throughout the event. The folks in question aren't "bad", but their ideas tend to raise a lot of controversy, counter-protesters, media reports etc.; all of which works in the protesters favor as more publicity and a chance of a stink. So, I was up at 5:45 this morning and didn't get home til the afternoon.
I will also add, as way of reference, that this is certainly one of those groups I am adamantly against - I don't agree with either their message or their frequent venues to argue it in. I can also fairly say my opinion was shared by the majority of the officers and citizens present at the event. But I am also a professional, and all that stayed at home.
I did a little count of the resources assigned to this event - just with my agency we had 60 officers, to include road units, EOD, SWAT, riot team, traffic control, an aircraft overhead etc. This isn't counting the few State police units I know were floating about, or anyone else who may have dropped by. The little gathering had attention all the way up to the Chief of Police.
For five protesters - that's it. A couple of counter-protesters showed up, but heck even the media outnumbered the two groups combined. There were no incidents, nothing more than pickets and discussion, and everyone went home at the end of the day with nothing more than a few more hours on the paycheck.
And I'm proud to live in this country because of things just like this.
Think about it - this is a place where today alone one agency spent thousands of dollars and man-hours to ensure that a small group of people, whose message was unpopular and unwanted in the communities chosen, were able to peaceably assemble and have their say. We didn't spend our time looking for ways to lock them up, or looking the other way as folks beat on or harassed them, or even worse, doing so ourselves. They weren't hounded out of town, denied their opportunities or disappeared into some dark hole somewhere.
All things I have seen happen in other countries throughout the "modern" world.
We are fortunate enough to live in a place where this can be - where people can share their opinions, grievances and beliefs in a public forum; and where that right will not only be observed it will be protected with the utmost promises. Because that's what all of us out their today showed by our very presence - the continuation of the premise that while I may not agree with what you say, I will defend to the death your right to say it.
60 officers today were on that line to defend that right - even for those they did not agree with - and for that I am proud.
We may not always like the words others have to say, we may find them offensive, hurtful or simply in poor taste. But before you judge and try to prohibit such things, remember that next time it may be someone who doesn't like what you have to say.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Just so Jackie will quit giving me crap...
Perfect scores at the range again this week - so there!
But hide behind Momma Fargo all you want!
But hide behind Momma Fargo all you want!
Clueless of the day
I generally try to stay away from the politics on my blog, because most folks do it much better than I do, and I don't feel like getting into comment wars.
However, this quote today (from Yahoo News/Christian Science Monitor) on the investigation into voter intimidation and Justice Department policies managed to annoy the crap out of me:
Mr. Lichtman, your ideas and theories there are completely clueless, inept and wrong - to put it nicely. The whole intention of the Voting Rights Act is the same as the legislation which provided minorities and women the right to vote in the first place - the very same as the other protections under the Bill of Rights and throughout our government. The intention is absolutely for all Americans to be equal under the law - for black, white, brown, red, yellow, blue, purple or any other shade you choose to differentiate people with.
It is double standards like this which have done more to continue racism (in all directions) in this country than anything else in the past 40 years I have been alive.
We are a nation of equal laws - and I for one am sick and tired of the "some animals are more equal than others" attitude which has infected our society. Whether race, social class, gender, sexual/food/exercise/other preference, geographic location, education or whatever - none of the above ENTITLES you to anything more than equal protection and equal opportunity to succeed or fail on your own merits.
Rant off.
However, this quote today (from Yahoo News/Christian Science Monitor) on the investigation into voter intimidation and Justice Department policies managed to annoy the crap out of me:
The case could damage the Obama administration, says Mr. Lichtman at American University. But he also argues that most Americans understand that the Voting Rights Act was intended to correct gross and historic injustices, not nit-pick along partisan lines.
"You can try to force [the Voting Rights Act] to be equal, but it's not," he says. "If these are the worst examples you can find, then, by God, white people in America are pretty safe."
Mr. Lichtman, your ideas and theories there are completely clueless, inept and wrong - to put it nicely. The whole intention of the Voting Rights Act is the same as the legislation which provided minorities and women the right to vote in the first place - the very same as the other protections under the Bill of Rights and throughout our government. The intention is absolutely for all Americans to be equal under the law - for black, white, brown, red, yellow, blue, purple or any other shade you choose to differentiate people with.
It is double standards like this which have done more to continue racism (in all directions) in this country than anything else in the past 40 years I have been alive.
We are a nation of equal laws - and I for one am sick and tired of the "some animals are more equal than others" attitude which has infected our society. Whether race, social class, gender, sexual/food/exercise/other preference, geographic location, education or whatever - none of the above ENTITLES you to anything more than equal protection and equal opportunity to succeed or fail on your own merits.
Rant off.
Friday, September 24, 2010
An earworm for you
Don't recall which blogger introduced me to the band Hey Monday a bit back, but I've found a number of their tunes rather catchy. This one has been in my rotation recently - like the song, and for some reason I find it reminds me of The Bangles cover of "Hazy Shade of Winter". Anyway, hope you like since I have little else to share.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Use of Force Analysis
Recently there was a police shooting of a citizen in Las Vegas which has caused a bit of concern. I have avoided posting on it, mostly due to a lack of complete info. However, Confederate Yankee has a guest post up on it today which is well worth the time to read - not only due to the issues in the shooting of Mr. Scott, but as an exceptional analysis of the concerns we face in any law enforcement shooting.
I hate to "Monday Morning Quarterback" but the more that comes out on this one the worse it looks... I just hope that the department has the integrity to come out with all the facts, good and bad, soon.
I hate to "Monday Morning Quarterback" but the more that comes out on this one the worse it looks... I just hope that the department has the integrity to come out with all the facts, good and bad, soon.
Requested Dog Pics
Yes, I know they should have been up yesterday - hadn't really gotten the chance to take any.
This first one shows Bella and her lines - she is rather a nice looking dog. Does well on the leash, though we're still sorting out whether she's going to need the harness or just adapt to a collar. She definitely loved some time in the park though.
Here are Bella and Kyleigh in their natural state - showing part of the difficulty of pictures when they only function at Mach 3.
Finally this is the Dog and Her Boy are in the park - she's already decided he is a Favorite Human, and I foresee a lot of time the two of them will be playing together.
This first one shows Bella and her lines - she is rather a nice looking dog. Does well on the leash, though we're still sorting out whether she's going to need the harness or just adapt to a collar. She definitely loved some time in the park though.
Here are Bella and Kyleigh in their natural state - showing part of the difficulty of pictures when they only function at Mach 3.
Finally this is the Dog and Her Boy are in the park - she's already decided he is a Favorite Human, and I foresee a lot of time the two of them will be playing together.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Monday bits
- It's amazing what a night of you know, actually sleeping, will do to help your brain and body recover. Might have to try this more often.
- Enjoyed a nice day off today - didn't do anything work at all. Went on a run through the woods with my wife, dropped some things off for a friend who's opening a consignment store & then went to pick up the new family dog. A friend of a friend had one that needed a home, and as we were somewhat in the market it all worked out. Then dinner & time with the kids & now a quiet night at home.
- The new one is settling in nicely - her name is Bella, she's a year-old black lab & coon hound mix, and she's enjoying the yard, the kids and the chance to explore. Meanwhile the two cats are in a constant state of fluff and anger, so we shall see how long it takes for them to recover.
Tomorrow starts the work week, hopefully it continues on this positive note.
- Enjoyed a nice day off today - didn't do anything work at all. Went on a run through the woods with my wife, dropped some things off for a friend who's opening a consignment store & then went to pick up the new family dog. A friend of a friend had one that needed a home, and as we were somewhat in the market it all worked out. Then dinner & time with the kids & now a quiet night at home.
- The new one is settling in nicely - her name is Bella, she's a year-old black lab & coon hound mix, and she's enjoying the yard, the kids and the chance to explore. Meanwhile the two cats are in a constant state of fluff and anger, so we shall see how long it takes for them to recover.
Tomorrow starts the work week, hopefully it continues on this positive note.
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