Militarization of Police

 

Even I am a bit concerned.

Returning home from our two-week trip we visited Mammoth Cave National Park and the Statute of Liberty. Now, I’ve heard and read a lot recently about what amounts to the militarization of police. Ho Hum. At least “Ho Hum” until I experienced it. Both parks had park police walking around in full tactical gear. I saw the same thing on road patrols. It didn’t bother ...me per se, but I could see how people would be alarmed. I guess what troubles me most is the shift in policing. And while I am sure that these guys are well trained, I didn’t see a great deal of “seasoning”, or what we used to call “stick time”. Having knowledge and ability is dangerous unless you have sense, and sense comes with experience. Lots of experience.

I know times are different. 9/11 changed everything, but I think it is time to rethink and roll back a bit. We do not live in an internment camp. Getting on an airplane anymore is a task in and of itself, but moving the security lines into the general population is contrary to living in a free society.

Regards,

Greg

Terrorism

 

The terrorists are winning. In fact, they may have already won. The fact is that most people don't understand the objective of terrorism and those who do understand its objectives have willingly, though unwittingly, played into their hands.

ISIS, al qaeda, and other terrorists organizations fully intend to raise their flags over the White House, but they know they will never be able to do so by... militarily invading, not with an armed force up against the might and power of the United States Military. Their goal is to let it happen from within. And, it is working. That is not to say that there won’t be attacks on U.S. soil as I am sure there will be. In fact, I think you can count on it.

The attacks of 9/11 were not intended to inflict an immediate fatal blow to the economy or the military and leadership of the United States. Even if their intent was to fly a plane into the Capitol they realized that our government has too many layers to simply collapse by taking out a building full of congressmen. To the contrary, terrorists know full well that any attack against the United States and its people will result in a full-court press to stop terrorist aggression. They depend upon our might and our strength to work against us.

We value liberty and defend freedom, but we also have this overwhelming desire to be secure. What they understand and what we have failed to grasp is that there is a delicate balance between freedom and security and as we employ greater methods of security the more those freedoms will melt away. This is exactly what has happened. Consider TSA screenings at airports; requiring passport documents to cross back into the United States from Canada and Mexico, two countries that have had open borders for law abiding citizens for decades; security screenings of the public at certain national monuments; the militarization of state and local police with surplus military equipment; warrantless NSA prying into personal communications; criminalizing the telling of lies to the FBI; reporting of bank transactions of more than $10,000 to the federal government; and constant surveillance of any movement you make outside your home. And, how do we as citizens of a free society feel about it? Perhaps we are willing to tolerate bits and pieces, but as the bits and pieces grow they will become a mountain. We are comfortable with the camel sticking its nose into the tent. However, are we comfortable when the camel is in the tent and we are outside in the cold?

All it takes is a single spark. It might not be the first spark, but eventually a spark like that which has touched off in Ferguson will make it all come undone. More likely than not, there will be several sparks that will unravel the fabric of our society one thread at a time. One must wonder what the true protestors are really protesting. Yes, they protested the death of a young black man at the hands of the police, but listen carefully to what they are saying. For starters, they are complaining about the military tactics and equipment adopted by the police. On the other hand, they want all police equipped with body cameras. On the one hand there is too much intrusion and on the other hand they want more. They are terribly conflicted within their own ranks. It is this confusion, the stepped up security measures by government, and our own resistance that can lead to the overthrow of our government as we once knew it 50 years ago.

There is more. There is much more. Indeed there is a conspiracy but it is offshore and it is working and most of us don't even know it. And, as I like to ask, Therefore, What?

Has anybody besides me noticed that the "Ferguson Incident" has turned into a three-ring circus?  The media have inflamed the public with impassioned (and unproven) adjectives, lawyers have already smelled the sweet aroma of cash payouts and have begun trying their cases in the public, the governor stepped into a local problem that will probably be a political nightmare for him in the future, a state police captain is playing both sides of the isle and can't do any better at quelling the rioting and looting than the local police can, and we now have three autopsies in play.  (The state police captain should be fired.)  The local police have been criticized for pointing out the fact that the "victim" had just committed a strong-armed robbery and that in the process of talking to Brown, the officer just happened to put two and to together.  The President has interjected his rhetoric, Sharpton is busy stirring the pot, 40 FBI agents who depend upon state and local police to work with them rather than against them are interviewing witnesses who have already made up their minds as to what happened, and local and visiting thugs are looting and pillaging the village.  Protest leaders assert that protestors are not armed, nor are they throwing rocks, bottles, and Molotov cocktails at police while TV cameras catch it all in the background.  Now the National Guard has been called in.  Of course the police have already been militarized so nobody will be able to tell the difference between the police and the Guard.  And since the Guard will be there on a peace-keeping mission they, too, will be armed with their M-16's while they are decked out in full body armor.  Oh, and let us not forget that the local police are now resentful of the state police and the FBI and the Justice Department.  Meanwhile, the officer involved in this circus has already been convicted of murder and the Attorney General is weighing in.  Excuse me?

The victim's mother today called for peace.  Came the question: "How can peace be restored?"  Her answer: "Justice."  And how can justice be obtained, she was asked.  "Be fair.  Arrest and try the officer."  Left unsaid was, "Then hang him in the public square."

First of all, peace does not assure justice, and anybody who holds to the stupid slogan of "no peace, no justice"  or "no justice, no peace" is a fool.

I believe that it is doubtful that justice will ever be served in the "Ferguson Incident".  First of all, they are courts of law, not courts of justice.  We've learned that we get closer to justice through rule of law than by mob-think or any other system, but it it isn't perfect.  I think it is doubtful that we will ever know exactly what happened and if somebody figures it out, half the population will reject it, so it really doesn't matter.  There will be no such thing as a fair trial, which incidentally, the officer is also entitled to should criminal charges ever come his way.  And, in the event he should ever be vindicated by clear and convincing evidence (which he does not have to do under the Bill of Rights--it's called reasonable doubt and he doesn't have to prove anything), his career is over.  He will be lucky to get a job as a parking lot attendant.

I don't know if the officer is guilty of criminal wrongdoing or not.  The only facts we have are lay opinions and prejudiced agendas and soon-to-be conflicting theories by pathology experts.  I'm not sure if this is a railroad or a circus.  Perhaps it is a circus on a railroad.  Police have another term for what is going on, and in this case it is very appropriate.  I will not repeat it here, but trust me, it aptly applies.

Patriotism

The following is a flag retirement ceremony that I've written for the Owego-Utica Stakes Girls Camp for 2014.

2014 Flag Retirement

A person recently asked several friends which they would rather be known as, a patriot or a statesman.  People were puzzled by the question.  Many did not know the difference.  Sadly, some responded that they would not want to be either.

Two major organizations that survey attitudes of Americans recently reported disturbing findings.  A Gallup poll found that only 79% of Americans are satisfied with the amount of freedom they enjoy.  That is down from 87% who were satisfied with America’s freedoms just six years ago.  Of nations reporting a decline in satisfaction with their own country’s freedom, the United States was fifth from the bottom with only countries like Afghanistan and Syria having more dissatisfaction.  In a separate research done by the Pew Foundation, findings showed that only 28 percent of Americans today believe that the United States is world’s best nation.  That is down from 38 percent in 2011.

So, what does it mean to be a patriot and just exactly what is a statesman?  A patriot is a person who loves and zealously supports one’s own country, while a statesman is one who is wise or experienced in the business of government.  A true American patriot waves the flag and stands behind the assertion that “these colors don’t run”.  The real American statesman works tirelessly to see that our system of government works and that the interests of our people are represented and protected.  Neither is an undesirable label.  In fact, a person sould be honored to be both a patriot and a statesman.  Sadly, it appears we are in a short supply of both patriots and statesmen.

The presence of the United States of America is represented around the world by our flag – thirteen alternating red and white horizontal stripes representing the original thirteen states and fifty white stars representing each of the fifty states, on a dark blue field normally located in the upper leading corner of the flag.  It is the third oldest flag in the world and is emulated by other countries, including Malaysia, Bikini Atoll, Chili, and Liberia.  Even the Communist country of Cuba’s flag is patterned after the U.S. Flag.

Though the current design of the flag was designated by Congress in 1777, how it got to be this design is somewhat of a mystery.  At the beginning of the American Revolution our flag consisted of thirteen alternating red and white horizontal stripes, with a British Union Jack placed where the star field is located on the current flag.  Folklore and tradition state that George Washington commissioned Betsy Ross to sew the first Stars and Stripes based on a pencil drawing that he made of his family coat of arms.  But, the Betsy Ross story is only one of multiple flag origin stories.  What is known for sure is that after the Second Continental Congress approved of the design of our flag, word of its adoption reached Fort Stanwix during a battle with the British.  Soldiers cut up their shirts to make white stripes; red was taken from the red flannel petticoats of the soldiers’ wives to make the red stripes, and the blue star field came from an officer’s blue cloth coat. 

          Since the American Revolution, our flag has flown in each of the 67 wars it has been engaged in, including the Utah War, the Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, the 27 declared wars against Native American Tribes, and of course the American Civil War.  Our flag flies over our military bases, embassies and consulates around the world, over government buildings, schools, private businesses, parks, private homes, and even on the moon.  Our flag is the first symbol of our nation you encounter when crossing the borders from Canada and Mexico into the United States.  Our military personnel, police, and firefighters wear flag patches on their uniforms.

          But, simply wearing the American flag on a uniform or putting it on a flagpole at your home does not make you a patriot and certainly not a statesman.  Patriotism begins by fulfilling minimal citizenship responsibilities, including exercising your duty to vote, serving on juries, obeying our laws, and defending our nation against all threats, foreign and domestic when called upon to do so.  We begin becoming statesmen when we educate ourselves in our history, our heritage, and our government and then working together to preserve “our religion, and freedom, and our peace” (Alma 46: 12), and our duties and rights.

          We display patriotism by showing reverence to our flag, such as standing at attention and placing our hands over our hearts when the flag is being raised and lowered and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.  We display patriotism by not allowing that flag and what it represents to be sullied “in consequence of evils and designs which … exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days” (D&C 89:4).  And, lastly tonight, we display patriotism by properly retiring a flag of the United States that has stood as a witness of “liberty and justice for all”.

          Proper flag retirement etiquette calls for a ceremonial burning of the flag.  We will now unfold the flag and hold it as you stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  We ask that you remain standing, hand over heart, until the flag is consumed by fire and you are invited to be seated.

Lessons I learned from Mowing My Lawn

Lessons I learned from Mowing My Lawn

1. Not everything that grows in your yard that is yellow is a dandelion.
2. Not everything that flies around you while mowing the lawn is a mosquito.
3. Grass is not the only green thing growing in a lawn.
4. Pine cones hurt just as much as rocks when a mower blade picks it up and casts them at your face.
5. You can indeed have quiet time with the roar of the... lawn mower going on.
6. During that quiet time you figure things out like understanding that not everything or everybody that is good to you is good FOR you.
7. You know it's not your trash in your yard when you find beer cans in your yard and you don't drink.
8. Think real hard about #7. Like, it isn't always your trash though it appears to be. Keep thinking.
9. Weed eaters don't eat.
10. It would be really nice if people driving by would smile and wave as they go by. I think I'll start doing that myself.

Talley's Laws

Talley’s Laws

 

Years ago I placed a list of Talley’s Laws on my office wall.  When I retired a couple of people asked for copies of Talley’s Laws.  When I returned on year I noticed that these laws were placed on yet another office wall.  Some are tongue-in-cheek.  Some are thoughtful.  Some are meaningful. 

I’ve added a few new laws since and I’ll share those later.

 

1.         Indecision is the key to flexibility.

2.         Some decisions are best left unmade.

3.         Some decisions left unmade will fall to the level where they belong and may be made.

4.         Some decisions just don’t matter.

5.         Some problems solve themselves.

6.  A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part; however,….

7.  Committees are created to evenly distribute blame and assure that no one has ultimate responsibility.

8.  Midnight tonight comes at the same time whether I walk fast or whether I walk slowly.

9.  The sun comes up whether I am awake or not.

10.  The way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.  But, who wants to eat an elephant anyway?

11.  The longest journey begins before the first step.

12.  Sometimes the dragon wins.

13.  Never lose weight.  Put it someplace where you can find it later on when you need it.

14.  There are two lies: never and always.

15.  People really don’t admire you when you admit you were wrong. 

16.       Some people are born mean, ugly, and spiteful.  Others learn it from those who were born that way.

17.       Honesty is rewarded in Heaven and taken advantage of in life.

18.       Good managers are neither made nor born.

19.       It may be better to give than to receive, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad to receive.

20.       Some people just need to grow up and get a life.  Others shouldn’t.

21.       If you take the time to stop and smell the roses you may miss a beautiful sunset.

22.       There are just as many sunsets as there are sunrises.

23.       Everything is relative, just not material.

24.       There are two kinds of people in the world: those who care and those who don’t.

25.       Some hurts you don’t get over.

26.       The mind is a marvelous wonder.  If left alone it will heal itself or drive you crazy.

27.       There is disgrace in failure.

28.       Yes, “they” can take your birthday away from you.

29.       It is better to have loved and won than to have loved and lost.

30.       It is better to have never loved at all than to have loved and lost.

PREFACE: The original Talley’s Laws consisted of 33 points.  After I retired from my law enforcement career and began teaching criminal justice it became apparent to me that some of my students were much too casual in their studies while others thought that policing would be nothing but fun and games.  In frustration one day, I blurted out what has since become #34.  My intent, of course, was to get them to learn in the classroom and not by accident on the job.  It seems the instant I said it that it became my by-line at the College.

31.       It is O.K. to get mad.  Get even so only you and the person who made you mad know that the score is even.

32.       Some people deserve to be publicly humiliated.  It just generally doesn’t happen.

33.       True power rests with the person who changes the batteries in the TV remote.

34.       In police work, anything less than 100% will get you fired, sued, or killed.

The New Talley’s Laws

I developed the New Talley’s Laws over a period of the last 18 years.  They are a little more serious than the previous Talley’s Laws.

I hope you enjoyed, chuckled, agreed, disagreed, or pondered over the previous set.  While I’m sure that you questioned some of them (O.K., maybe all of them), each has meaning to me.  Perhaps one or two will have meaning for you.

1. Pick and choose your battles.  Not all battles are worth fighting.  You don’t have to win all battles to win the war.
2. Pick and choose your words carefully.  Consider what road your words will travel and where they will go.  Not only may they hurt others, but they may come back to haunt you.
3. First listen.  Listen first.
4. Kindness and humility are not signs of weakness.
5. Win or lose, if you endure to the end, though you may be exhausted, you will have gained strength.
6. A good deal of our “doing” doesn’t live up to our “knowing” and “believing”.  I’m not sure that it makes us hypocrites.
7. Not every helping hand is helpful.
8. Nobody wants to hear how you did it with some other organization.  Instead, ask questions that will lead others (and yourself) to discovery and innovation.
9. Before giving advice, ask yourself these questions:
1. Is it any of your business?
2. Do you hold a position of responsibility and authority over the person you want to advise?
3. Do you follow your own advice?
4. Is the advice you want to give intended to make you feel better or the person you are advising feel better?
5. Did the person ask for advice?
10. People who like everything you do or say are either insincere or blinded by (fill in the blank).
11. Pick your friends as carefully as you pick your nose.

The Second Seven Deadly Sins

The Second Seven Deadly Sins

(An Introduction to the Second Seven Deadly Sins)

From the Holy Bible

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Proverbs 6:16 – 19, KJV

The Seven Deadly Sins

(An Introduction to the Second Seven Deadly Sins: Part II)

The following is a list of the commonly recognized Seven Deadly Sins.  I invite you to compare these to the Seven Deadly Sins as listed in Proverbs 6: 16-19, which I listed on 5/14/2014

1.      Wrath:  Anger, Rage, Fury, Ire

2.      Greed:  Insatiability, Self-indulgence

3.      Sloth:  Laziness, Idleness, Lethargy, Inactivity

4.      Pride:  Arrogance, Conceit, Smugness, Self-importance, Egotism

5.      Lust:  Desire, Yearning, Covetousness

6.      Envy:  Jealousy, Bitterness, Resentment, Spite

7.      Gluttony:  Excess, Superfluous

The Second Seven Deadly Sins

As you look at the two above lists you see that there is some overlap.  Also, as you look at the second list, the one that is “widely recognized”, you will notice that there is overlap within the list itself.  For example, Greed, Lust, and Gluttony are very closely related.  I have also come to the conclusion that PRIDE is at the root of the other six.

I have often wondered what the Second Seven Deadly Sins are.  I’ve searched and have found no such list.  Therefore, I’ve created my own list.  Here for your enjoyment is my list.

The Second Seven Deadly Sins

1.      Debt: Obligation, Liability, Requirement, Onus

2.      Gossip: Chatter, blather, rumormongering, scandalmongering

3.      Ingratitude: Ungratefulness, rudeness, Insolence, Disrespect

4.      Impatience: Annoyance, Irritation, Exasperation

5.      Indifference: Unimportance, Irrelevance, Inconsequence

6.      Intolerance: Bigotry, Prejudice, Fanaticism, Racism

7.      Revenge: Retaliation, Vengeance, Reprisal, Retribution