Let's face it. Being a beat cop is no easy task. They deal with a wide range of problems involving people of different races, different cultures, different religions, etc. This occurs on a daily basis and the overwhelming majority of these situations are handled properly. Most of us have no idea at the number of confrontations the men and women in blue encounter while we go about our daily lives. And, I might add, we do so without giving a thought about those out there keeping watch and ensuring us this freedom.
But then occasionally you'll have a situation which gets the attention of the press. And then suddenly these warriors who we seem to take for granted get thrust into the spotlight and their alleged flaws become headlines for all of us to read. Many believe the initial reports without bothering to look at all the facts of a case and condemn the accused officer. Like a tidal wave picking up steam the criticism expands beyond that of the accused and sweeps up law enforcement in general. Before you know it we have a large portion of our nation's population identifying a problem that doesn't exist. After this come the solutions from all of the armchair quarterbacks.
The situations which get the attention of the press are usually those involving a white officer and a black suspect. An enforcement encounter which results in the use of force higher than those levels at the bottom of the continuum invoke cries of racism on the part of the officer. Never mind the actions of the suspect which forced the officer to increase the level of force they needed to exercise their duties. It's always the cops that get blamed. This blame can and often does spread to engulf an entire agency without merit.
As a retired officer I can speak on this subject validly. I had dealt with these issues back in the 90's at Danville, Il. As an example I will relate an encounter a very fine white officer had with a black man. What could have and should have been a brief stop escalated to a level where the officer had to use force in effecting an arrest. A lack of cooperation on the part of the detainee escalated the situation. It wasn't the officer's fault, he was doing his job. But the black community went into an uproar over the officer's use of force and the next thing we had was a police force being accused of being racist. The political kneejerk reaction was to mandate all officers to undergo racial diversity training.
So we had a bunch of officers being accused of racial insensitivity without just cause. And the politicians threw money at the problem as a solution. Just to appease so they could retain office. The appointed heads of the department went right along with the game because if they didn't they would get fired. It was a joke to the cops because we knew who we were and what we stood for. Racism was not part of our repertoire.
All of this happened before the case which caused the uproar ever was adjudicated. In the end the black man was found to be responsible but that didn't matter. What mattered was lying to the public and appeasing the black community to gain votes for the miserable politicians.
Please read my blog "Political Correctness Buries Truth", it will explain how and why this happens.
I get tired of hearing about the unbalance in the number of white's vs. the number of black's who get incarcerated. Well folks, whose fault is that? I'm here to tell you that it is certainly not a police problem as many want you to believe. It is a social problem with that segment of our population. Until the black community addresses the problem in a real and truthful way the problem will never get solved. They need to accept accountability then take action to turn the tide. It's easy to sit on the sidelines and point fingers at the cops. It's a little more difficult to take a good hard look at yourselves and admit that just maybe you are part of the problem.
To be completely fair I must lay some accountability for the dysfunction in some communities on law enforcement. It has been my experience that most officers do not try to cultivate relations with their communities. A lack of a partnership leads to mistrust which is certainly understandable. Without trust it is impossible to develop relations, therefore the divide between the community and the police is never bridged. Law enforcement must take the initiative in building this bridge as they should be looked upon as leaders and professionals.
Finally I want to pay respects to some very fine black men and women I had the privilege to work alongside during my 26 year career. They are role models we can all look up to and learn from. I will not name them all but I would like to recognize a man with a great success story. His name is Carl Alexander and he worked the streets of Washington D.C. before returning home to Danville, Il and accepting the Chief of Police position. And an outstanding chief he was. One of the best leaders I've ever worked for. Opportunity is there for all of us but it is up to us to go get it. We cannot sit back and wait for it to come to us.
Friday, June 19, 2015
Monday, February 23, 2015
Letting the Fox in the Henhouse
Anyone who still doubts that Obama is promoting Islam should carefully study his latest policy proposal which will allow millions of Syrian's to enter our country. As we know, Syria is the base of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Their goal is to destroy civilization as we know it and declare a worldwide caliphate. Now this may seem like an unrealistic ambition for the treacherous organization but Obama's policies are facilitating them in their endeavor which causes me great concern.
Obama has been very clear that he will not wage war against the Islamic extremists. He does make it clear, however, that he will counter "extremism" with force if necessary. I have a very hard time with this because what exactly does he mean? An extremist has to have something to be extreme about. What, then, is Obama referring to when he cites extremism? Could it be Christian extremism, Jewish extremism or American extremism? It certainly isn't Islamic extremism.
A vast majority of Syrian's are Muslims. Sunni Islam sets the religious tone for Syria and provides the country's basic values. I don't believe that most Syrian's are members of ISIS. But ISIS has contaminated and saturated Syria such that it has formed a nation of peoples infiltrated with the brutal murderers. ISIS members, no doubt, have an influence and an affect on the people they co-habitate with. ISIS members proclaim to embrace Islam and interpret the Koran in the strictest sense. Their motivation for slaughtering people is to rid the world of the "infidels", those who do not follow the tenets of their faith. They rule by fear and intimidation.
We have seen how many American citizens as well as citizens from other allied nations have been radicalized and converted to the faith which ISIS follows. These are people who live in the free world and are afforded all of the opportunities such nations provide. Just imagine how many more Syrian people are being radicalized when living with and among the butchers'.
The U.S. claims that it will have a very strict vetting process which will supposedly eliminate the possibility of ISIS fighters entering our country. Let's assume for an instance that this were true. While this may prevent current ISIS fighters from entering our country it would not prevent people who have been indoctrinated and radicalized from entering. ISIS sympathizers could begin streaming across our borders with our consent. That's like letting the fox in the henhouse. It's reckless and it is inviting tragedy.
Once sympathizers, or those inclined to become sympathizers, take residency here they will provide a network of safe havens for the fighters who will slip across our borders. They will blend like they do in the middle east and identifying them will be increasingly difficult. This is what ISIS wants more than anything, to wreak havoc on U.S. soil.
In the long term we have to look at the demographic concerns. The millions of refugees who will be allowed to inhabit our country will be birthing children. These children will be brought up as Muslims. Now, over time, our country could transform from a largely Christian population to an Islamic population. Is that what we really want? I don't think so.
I'm all for humanitarian efforts to aid the refugees. A better plan would be to work with the dozens of middle eastern partners Obama claims to have garnered support from and provide assistance for these countries to house the refugees. By doing this we eliminate the threat of allowing Islamic terrorists onto our soil and we keep the refugees in their indigenous region.
We must voice our opposition to Obama's proposal by contacting our senators and representatives. Please do not delay. Once this policy is put into practice it could just be the beginning of the end of life as we know it and our children will be the ones to suffer most.
Obama has been very clear that he will not wage war against the Islamic extremists. He does make it clear, however, that he will counter "extremism" with force if necessary. I have a very hard time with this because what exactly does he mean? An extremist has to have something to be extreme about. What, then, is Obama referring to when he cites extremism? Could it be Christian extremism, Jewish extremism or American extremism? It certainly isn't Islamic extremism.
A vast majority of Syrian's are Muslims. Sunni Islam sets the religious tone for Syria and provides the country's basic values. I don't believe that most Syrian's are members of ISIS. But ISIS has contaminated and saturated Syria such that it has formed a nation of peoples infiltrated with the brutal murderers. ISIS members, no doubt, have an influence and an affect on the people they co-habitate with. ISIS members proclaim to embrace Islam and interpret the Koran in the strictest sense. Their motivation for slaughtering people is to rid the world of the "infidels", those who do not follow the tenets of their faith. They rule by fear and intimidation.
We have seen how many American citizens as well as citizens from other allied nations have been radicalized and converted to the faith which ISIS follows. These are people who live in the free world and are afforded all of the opportunities such nations provide. Just imagine how many more Syrian people are being radicalized when living with and among the butchers'.
The U.S. claims that it will have a very strict vetting process which will supposedly eliminate the possibility of ISIS fighters entering our country. Let's assume for an instance that this were true. While this may prevent current ISIS fighters from entering our country it would not prevent people who have been indoctrinated and radicalized from entering. ISIS sympathizers could begin streaming across our borders with our consent. That's like letting the fox in the henhouse. It's reckless and it is inviting tragedy.
Once sympathizers, or those inclined to become sympathizers, take residency here they will provide a network of safe havens for the fighters who will slip across our borders. They will blend like they do in the middle east and identifying them will be increasingly difficult. This is what ISIS wants more than anything, to wreak havoc on U.S. soil.
In the long term we have to look at the demographic concerns. The millions of refugees who will be allowed to inhabit our country will be birthing children. These children will be brought up as Muslims. Now, over time, our country could transform from a largely Christian population to an Islamic population. Is that what we really want? I don't think so.
I'm all for humanitarian efforts to aid the refugees. A better plan would be to work with the dozens of middle eastern partners Obama claims to have garnered support from and provide assistance for these countries to house the refugees. By doing this we eliminate the threat of allowing Islamic terrorists onto our soil and we keep the refugees in their indigenous region.
We must voice our opposition to Obama's proposal by contacting our senators and representatives. Please do not delay. Once this policy is put into practice it could just be the beginning of the end of life as we know it and our children will be the ones to suffer most.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
If there was a word in the English language that could describe how I feel about the atrocities being committed against innocent human beings around the world I would use it. The closest word that comes to mind is "outrageous". But really this word comes no where close to measuring my emotions.
I have to believe that a majority of God fearing red blooded Americans feel the same way. How could anyone with a soul and a conscience not? The problem ladies and gentlemen is that the person who could do more than anyone to prevent the slaughter is the president of the United States. He is the commander in chief of the armed forces of the most powerful nation in the world. With the stroke of a pen he could send legions of heroes in to rescue the innocent from the hand of evil. But he won't, because he is part of the problem and not part of the solution.
When your golf game is more important than the brutal murders being committed against good people you have a problem, or at least a majority of American's this president is supposed to represent believe it's a problem. But Obama's values are different than ours, his principles are different, indeed his belief's are different.
Our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian values. Our forefathers, the men who shed much blood to provide us with this great nation under these principles, did not intend for their heirs to sit idly while innocents, regardless of their geographical location, were ruthlessly slaughtered at the hands of an enemy which threatens our way of life. And our God expects us to defend His name and His people in the face of evil.
So what gives? Why does the supposed leader of the free world continue to minimize the threat and refuse to act? Do we not have a moral obligation to protect the vulnerable, the weak and the human right to life? To me the answer is quite clear. Barack Hussein Obama is a follower of Islam and sympathizes with their cause, including the cause of the radical Islamic extremists.
Obama has the audacity to lecture Christians about the Crusades, something he obviously knows little about. The Crusades were a Christian response to Muslim aggression, 1000 years ago, and the Muslim aggression continues to this day.
This Obama needs to be removed from office for dereliction of duty. He fooled many and lied his way to the presidency. Now that creature beneath the wool is being seen for what he is-a wolf among sheep. He is leading the sheep to slaughter and it's time we stood up and stopped him from further harm.
Indeed, it is our duty as Americans to see to it that the president of our country represents us in a way which epitomizes our values. Obama has not done that. So we need to dismiss him from office. We cannot and must not allow this wolf in the white house to continue to look the other way in the face of evil. The existence of those who stand for what is right and just is at stake. For the sake of the future of the world it's time for all good people to call for his immediate resignation. He is obviously conflicted with this Holy war because his interests clash with those of most Americans. So America, in the words of Todd Beamer, "let's roll".
I have to believe that a majority of God fearing red blooded Americans feel the same way. How could anyone with a soul and a conscience not? The problem ladies and gentlemen is that the person who could do more than anyone to prevent the slaughter is the president of the United States. He is the commander in chief of the armed forces of the most powerful nation in the world. With the stroke of a pen he could send legions of heroes in to rescue the innocent from the hand of evil. But he won't, because he is part of the problem and not part of the solution.
When your golf game is more important than the brutal murders being committed against good people you have a problem, or at least a majority of American's this president is supposed to represent believe it's a problem. But Obama's values are different than ours, his principles are different, indeed his belief's are different.
Our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian values. Our forefathers, the men who shed much blood to provide us with this great nation under these principles, did not intend for their heirs to sit idly while innocents, regardless of their geographical location, were ruthlessly slaughtered at the hands of an enemy which threatens our way of life. And our God expects us to defend His name and His people in the face of evil.
So what gives? Why does the supposed leader of the free world continue to minimize the threat and refuse to act? Do we not have a moral obligation to protect the vulnerable, the weak and the human right to life? To me the answer is quite clear. Barack Hussein Obama is a follower of Islam and sympathizes with their cause, including the cause of the radical Islamic extremists.
Obama has the audacity to lecture Christians about the Crusades, something he obviously knows little about. The Crusades were a Christian response to Muslim aggression, 1000 years ago, and the Muslim aggression continues to this day.
This Obama needs to be removed from office for dereliction of duty. He fooled many and lied his way to the presidency. Now that creature beneath the wool is being seen for what he is-a wolf among sheep. He is leading the sheep to slaughter and it's time we stood up and stopped him from further harm.
Indeed, it is our duty as Americans to see to it that the president of our country represents us in a way which epitomizes our values. Obama has not done that. So we need to dismiss him from office. We cannot and must not allow this wolf in the white house to continue to look the other way in the face of evil. The existence of those who stand for what is right and just is at stake. For the sake of the future of the world it's time for all good people to call for his immediate resignation. He is obviously conflicted with this Holy war because his interests clash with those of most Americans. So America, in the words of Todd Beamer, "let's roll".
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
A Case Exposed
Radical Islamic Extremism has existed for decades in various nations around the globe. Certainly since 9/11 it has become the focal point of American security at home and abroad. We generally relate Islamic terrorists with foreigners in far away lands. Seldom do we consider the tens of thousands of urban terrorists right here in our nation. They have plagued our streets in both city and rural communities. They have decimated neighborhoods by way of their criminal enterprises and violent behaviors. And many of these urban terrorists, also known as criminal street gang members, are following the religious aspects of their respective organizations.
I experienced radical Islamic extremism by way of criminal street gangs during my career as a law enforcement officer. As an example I will relate a case I investigated in Danville, Il in 2007. The Danville branch of the Black P Stones, which evolved into the Masjid Al Ka'bah, conspired with other street gangs to murder Danville Police Officers. This branch of the Masjid Al Ka'bah operated under Proclamation One.
Once law enforcement became aware of the hits an intense but short lived campaign to disrupt the plans of the gangs commenced. Weapons, drugs and other contraband were recovered during this shake up but no one was brought to justice for the solicitation of murder for hire.
Myself along with other members of my unit set out to bring those responsible for the planned attacks to justice. We engaged in an intense intelligence gathering campaign. Our efforts were fruitful and much information was obtained which corroborated the initial allegations. Despite this, however, the brass at the Danville Police Department refused to acknowledge that the threats on the officers were real. Upper command officers could not wrap their minds around the fact that heinous acts such as murdering police officers could actually be carried out in Danville, by street gangs.
My team and I along with my gang trainer and mentor went to work building the case. Suspects were developed and, it just so happened, that one of the primary conspirators was also suspected of committing a triple homicide in Danville. And he was a member of the Masjid Al Ka'bah.
This is when things really started to get messy. I took the case to our State's Attorney and he, along with his first assistant, were not interested in prosecuting gangsters on "just a conspiracy". When I contacted the Attorney General I was told by my boss' that I could not contact another prosecuting authority without permission from the top brass, the same guys that were in denial that gangs existed in Danville. And, yes, they refused to give me permission to work with the A.G.
I tried to get the feds to take the case but my boss' worked against me in this endeavor. They minimized the seriousness of the threats and tried to discredit our intel. Of course the feds lend more credence to those wearing the bling. So our case stalled and no one was ever brought to justice under our nation or state's justice system.
Ironically the general for the Danville branch of the Masjid Al Ka'bah turned up dead in Chicago. Others named as accomplices in the deadly plot scattered and violence targeting suspected informants ensued.
The Danville case illustrates why street gangs can accurately be termed urban terrorists. But if the Danville case is not convincing enough one need look only as far back as the 1980's. It was then that the founder of the Masjid Al Ka'bah, an American citizen, conspired with Moammar Gadhafi to commit terrorists acts in the United States. That founder was indicted and convicted on federal charges related to this conspiracy and he was sentenced to 80 years.
For the skeptics and naïve who believe that America is safe from the atrocities being committed in far away places I'm here to tell you that we're not. Terrorists are within our borders by the multitudes and are committing violent acts every day. Ignoring the problem will only embolden the terrorists. It is time to get real, acknowledge that the problem exists, then provide the resources needed to disrupt and destroy these evil organizations.
I experienced radical Islamic extremism by way of criminal street gangs during my career as a law enforcement officer. As an example I will relate a case I investigated in Danville, Il in 2007. The Danville branch of the Black P Stones, which evolved into the Masjid Al Ka'bah, conspired with other street gangs to murder Danville Police Officers. This branch of the Masjid Al Ka'bah operated under Proclamation One.
Once law enforcement became aware of the hits an intense but short lived campaign to disrupt the plans of the gangs commenced. Weapons, drugs and other contraband were recovered during this shake up but no one was brought to justice for the solicitation of murder for hire.
Myself along with other members of my unit set out to bring those responsible for the planned attacks to justice. We engaged in an intense intelligence gathering campaign. Our efforts were fruitful and much information was obtained which corroborated the initial allegations. Despite this, however, the brass at the Danville Police Department refused to acknowledge that the threats on the officers were real. Upper command officers could not wrap their minds around the fact that heinous acts such as murdering police officers could actually be carried out in Danville, by street gangs.
My team and I along with my gang trainer and mentor went to work building the case. Suspects were developed and, it just so happened, that one of the primary conspirators was also suspected of committing a triple homicide in Danville. And he was a member of the Masjid Al Ka'bah.
This is when things really started to get messy. I took the case to our State's Attorney and he, along with his first assistant, were not interested in prosecuting gangsters on "just a conspiracy". When I contacted the Attorney General I was told by my boss' that I could not contact another prosecuting authority without permission from the top brass, the same guys that were in denial that gangs existed in Danville. And, yes, they refused to give me permission to work with the A.G.
I tried to get the feds to take the case but my boss' worked against me in this endeavor. They minimized the seriousness of the threats and tried to discredit our intel. Of course the feds lend more credence to those wearing the bling. So our case stalled and no one was ever brought to justice under our nation or state's justice system.
Ironically the general for the Danville branch of the Masjid Al Ka'bah turned up dead in Chicago. Others named as accomplices in the deadly plot scattered and violence targeting suspected informants ensued.
The Danville case illustrates why street gangs can accurately be termed urban terrorists. But if the Danville case is not convincing enough one need look only as far back as the 1980's. It was then that the founder of the Masjid Al Ka'bah, an American citizen, conspired with Moammar Gadhafi to commit terrorists acts in the United States. That founder was indicted and convicted on federal charges related to this conspiracy and he was sentenced to 80 years.
For the skeptics and naïve who believe that America is safe from the atrocities being committed in far away places I'm here to tell you that we're not. Terrorists are within our borders by the multitudes and are committing violent acts every day. Ignoring the problem will only embolden the terrorists. It is time to get real, acknowledge that the problem exists, then provide the resources needed to disrupt and destroy these evil organizations.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Squeaky Wheels Get Greased
Now NBA players are doing it, expressing their views on racially motivated issues which have been created by haters. The recent grand jury decisions which have cleared police officers of criminal misconduct in use of force cases which have resulted in deaths has stirred a wave of violent protests across the country. And professional athletes have gotten involved to promote an agenda which supports the protesters'.
The truth of the matter is that the deaths have not been racially motivated and the cries of racism we hear from the haters is a fallacy. While they apparently lack the understanding of the reason police had to use force the haters clearly understand that in our society squeaky wheels get greased. Make enough noise and you will be appeased irregardless if you are right or wrong.
Hard working, honest Americans of all colors are generally not racist. Sure, there are hate groups across the racial spectrum but they only represent a fraction of our population. As a 26 year law enforcement veteran I can tell you that there is no deep seeded racial bias in the law enforcement community, although that is what the haters want Americans to believe.
The problem has nothing to do with race and everything to do with accountability. There is a segment of our population which refuses to accept responsibility for their actions, or inactions, and wants to place blame elsewhere. So they shift the focus away from reality and create a political hot button topic like racism to get what they want.
I've had personal experiences as a cop with such situations. You can do everything by the book but still get lambasted by the haters. And usually it's because they want something for free. It could be a get-out-of -jail-free card, a big pay day at the hand of a lawsuit, more government handouts or an atmosphere which discourages lawful scrutiny of their unlawful conduct.
So why are these haters being listened to and given the time of day? Even Barrack Obama has found time in his busy schedule to address their "concerns". It's all a bunch of garbage but alot of these haters are also voters so they get greased when they squeak. Politics as usual.
I pray that in future elections we vote in people who have the guts to keep it real and talk straight. People who will discard the squeaky wheel instead of greasing it and replace it with one that is sound in it's performance without all the noise. Because that's what all this rhetoric about racism is, just regressive noise.
The truth of the matter is that the deaths have not been racially motivated and the cries of racism we hear from the haters is a fallacy. While they apparently lack the understanding of the reason police had to use force the haters clearly understand that in our society squeaky wheels get greased. Make enough noise and you will be appeased irregardless if you are right or wrong.
Hard working, honest Americans of all colors are generally not racist. Sure, there are hate groups across the racial spectrum but they only represent a fraction of our population. As a 26 year law enforcement veteran I can tell you that there is no deep seeded racial bias in the law enforcement community, although that is what the haters want Americans to believe.
The problem has nothing to do with race and everything to do with accountability. There is a segment of our population which refuses to accept responsibility for their actions, or inactions, and wants to place blame elsewhere. So they shift the focus away from reality and create a political hot button topic like racism to get what they want.
I've had personal experiences as a cop with such situations. You can do everything by the book but still get lambasted by the haters. And usually it's because they want something for free. It could be a get-out-of -jail-free card, a big pay day at the hand of a lawsuit, more government handouts or an atmosphere which discourages lawful scrutiny of their unlawful conduct.
So why are these haters being listened to and given the time of day? Even Barrack Obama has found time in his busy schedule to address their "concerns". It's all a bunch of garbage but alot of these haters are also voters so they get greased when they squeak. Politics as usual.
I pray that in future elections we vote in people who have the guts to keep it real and talk straight. People who will discard the squeaky wheel instead of greasing it and replace it with one that is sound in it's performance without all the noise. Because that's what all this rhetoric about racism is, just regressive noise.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Hypocrisy NFL Style
The National Football League claims to be all about anti-violent platforms. Just take a look at the way they have admirably come out against crimes like domestic violence and child abuse. Indeed, there is no room in our society for perpetrators of such heinous acts. It is good that the NFL uses their stage to promote what is right and just. Their influence and message can reach millions.
There is just one problem. In the wake of a grand jury decision which exonerated a Ferguson police officer from alleged brutality there has been a wave of violence sweeping certain communities, including St. Louis. One would think that the NFL would be consistent with their anti violent campaign and come out against the violent protesters and try to bring calm to their communities. That didn't happen. In fact, in St. Louis on Sunday, certain Rams players did just the opposite by their inflammatory gestures which certainly added fuel to the flames. And the NFL is standing behind their prima donna athletes' "right to free speech".
Well, NFL, I got news for you. Ya can't have it both ways. Either you promote peace or you don't. Their is a fine line between exercising a constitutional right and inciting violence. When the former causes the latter then it's gone too far. And I really don't need to tell you something you already know. But the question remains as to why you won't condemn such conduct when it obviously will stir further upheaval.
Oh, I think I know why, is it because of the almighty dollar? Bingo. We certainly don't want to alienate the fan base of thugs and looters out there because, of course, they are big supporters of the NFL. I mean, look at their gear. From their hats to their shoes. So let's not promote the right message, lets promote the most lucrative message.
I get it NFL. I'm not blind to what all this is about. If you really mean what you say then you would respect the system and stand behind an exonerated officer who was forced by a thug to use deadly force to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself. But you're thumbing your nose at the outcome because a multitude of your fan base is, and you're going right along with it.
Money, the root of all evil. Now I clearly understand the motivation behind all of your messages. It's not what you may really believe is right, it's about what will have the biggest impact to your wallet. It is disgraceful if I should say so myself.
For the record I want to say that my support is firmly with the men and women who risk their lives everyday and night to protect all of our rights and freedoms. They are who I applaud and cheer for. And I thank God for them. Without them there would be no NFL to entertain us.
There is just one problem. In the wake of a grand jury decision which exonerated a Ferguson police officer from alleged brutality there has been a wave of violence sweeping certain communities, including St. Louis. One would think that the NFL would be consistent with their anti violent campaign and come out against the violent protesters and try to bring calm to their communities. That didn't happen. In fact, in St. Louis on Sunday, certain Rams players did just the opposite by their inflammatory gestures which certainly added fuel to the flames. And the NFL is standing behind their prima donna athletes' "right to free speech".
Well, NFL, I got news for you. Ya can't have it both ways. Either you promote peace or you don't. Their is a fine line between exercising a constitutional right and inciting violence. When the former causes the latter then it's gone too far. And I really don't need to tell you something you already know. But the question remains as to why you won't condemn such conduct when it obviously will stir further upheaval.
Oh, I think I know why, is it because of the almighty dollar? Bingo. We certainly don't want to alienate the fan base of thugs and looters out there because, of course, they are big supporters of the NFL. I mean, look at their gear. From their hats to their shoes. So let's not promote the right message, lets promote the most lucrative message.
I get it NFL. I'm not blind to what all this is about. If you really mean what you say then you would respect the system and stand behind an exonerated officer who was forced by a thug to use deadly force to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself. But you're thumbing your nose at the outcome because a multitude of your fan base is, and you're going right along with it.
Money, the root of all evil. Now I clearly understand the motivation behind all of your messages. It's not what you may really believe is right, it's about what will have the biggest impact to your wallet. It is disgraceful if I should say so myself.
For the record I want to say that my support is firmly with the men and women who risk their lives everyday and night to protect all of our rights and freedoms. They are who I applaud and cheer for. And I thank God for them. Without them there would be no NFL to entertain us.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
It's O.K. to Parley
The military does it. World leaders do it. So why can't law enforcement do it? The fact is that a parley can and often does result in conflict resolution. In some cases it may be the only means by which to foil a deadly plot or bring an end to a cycle of violence.
A parley is not a substitute for bringing justice to those responsible for crimes. But it can be an acute solution to an urgent situation. To give an example I'll address a case that I was involved with in Danville, Il while I was still serving as a police sergeant there. From 2006 through 2008 Danville had experienced a rash of violent crimes, from murder to planned attacks on officers. Most of the crimes were gang related and one gang in particular was responsible for most of the activity. They were known as the Motown Stones, a set of the Black P Stones that is based in the Motown neighborhood of Chicago. They had deployed members to Danville to establish a branch there. They set up a flourishing criminal enterprise which included drug trafficking and all sorts of violent crimes. They flew under the radar for years because of the lack of law enforcement officers who were educated on the organization.
When I began training with Denny Davis I asked to be taught about the Stones first because they were the biggest threat to public safety at that time. Denny brought out a 4 inch binder that was full of Stone literature. I began combing through the material page by page and realized for the first time just how sophisticated the organization was. I explained to Denny my concerns about the violence they were inflicting within our community and the need for an immediate solution to stop it. Area law enforcement personnel were not able to get to the inner circle of the organization and, unless the leadership was disrupted, the gang would continue their wave of violence.
In the early stages of my training I did not yet have a rapport with the Stones. Denny, on the other hand, did and volunteered to participate with me in a parley with some gang chiefs in Chicago. Denny suggested that a parley could result in a halt to the violence and terminate plans the gang had to murder police officers.
Before I go further I want to be very clear about something. In no way, shape or form were we going to cut deals with the devil. We would continue to seek justice for those responsible for crimes already committed. We had gathered intelligence about plans for future crimes and knew that law enforcement could not keep pace. The threats were imminent and something needed to be done immediately to stop it.
So on one of my days off Denny and I set out for Chicago to parley with some particular leaders of the organization. Our mission was to make it very clear to the leadership that if the violence continued in Danville we would hold them responsible. We didn't have to explain to them about the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act). They were well aware of the act and knew what they were facing if we tied them to organized criminal activity. They assured Denny and I that steps would be taken to bring members of the organization under their control within law.
The parley was quite effective. We saw an immediate change in the climate on the streets. In fact, the parley was the beginning of the end for the Danville branch of the treacherous organization. The branch's leadership was called back to Chicago. The criminal activity slowed and gave law enforcement a chance to get caught up on their investigations. The streets were safer and the violence suppressed. The parley was an obvious success.
A few months after the parley Larry Thomason, the director of public safety for Danville, caught wind of it. You see, I hadn't told him about it for several reasons. First, he wouldn't understand it, he wouldn't have approved it, he wouldn't have joined us and he didn't believe we had a gang problem anyway. So what would have been the point in telling him? Anyway, he asked me about it and I told him what we did. He never said anymore to me about it. Kind of weird I thought but par for the course. He had at one time written a memorandum to the officers stating, in part, that the officers should "take care of the small items first (ordinance violations) and hopefully they stifle the larger ones from occurring." I'm not making this up, that's what he wrote. I have the memo.
My point here is two fold. First, parleys should be utilized when necessary but not be employed as a substitute for prosecution. They are an effective tool which law enforcement should use when a particular situation calls for it. It's not a new idea, it has been around for centuries but many may misunderstand the purpose. No deals are being made with the devil, in fact, by keeping it real with your adversary you make them very aware of what is about to occur. By reading my previous posts it will all make sense. And, secondly, administrators should educate themselves about gangs and be supportive of their officers efforts in fulfilling their mission. Don't stifle progress. Be in touch and encourage sound strategies which lead to safer streets. That was a luxury I did not have in Danville. I had to deal with incompetent administrators which wasted much of the energy I could have expended on the streets.
Finally, I want to say that before you parley know your enemy. Learn everything there is to know about them. Don't walk in blind, it could result in tragedy. Be the shot caller. You dictate but do so with respect or you will get nowhere. Is there a risk? Yes there is. But the risk can be managed and reduced if you know what you're doing. I don't want to give the impression that Denny and I just one day decided to go to the south side of Chicago and meet some gang chiefs. There was much preparation involved and others were aware of what was happening. We didn't act haphazardly. Our moves, actions and words were very calculated and, of course, we were properly prepared if things went bad.
It's like I said before, law enforcement officers are expected to take calculated risks to protect the public. Police work is not for the faint hearted. Officers need to be brave, skillful, smart and dedicated. If they don't have these characteristics they should not be in that line of work.
A parley is not a substitute for bringing justice to those responsible for crimes. But it can be an acute solution to an urgent situation. To give an example I'll address a case that I was involved with in Danville, Il while I was still serving as a police sergeant there. From 2006 through 2008 Danville had experienced a rash of violent crimes, from murder to planned attacks on officers. Most of the crimes were gang related and one gang in particular was responsible for most of the activity. They were known as the Motown Stones, a set of the Black P Stones that is based in the Motown neighborhood of Chicago. They had deployed members to Danville to establish a branch there. They set up a flourishing criminal enterprise which included drug trafficking and all sorts of violent crimes. They flew under the radar for years because of the lack of law enforcement officers who were educated on the organization.
When I began training with Denny Davis I asked to be taught about the Stones first because they were the biggest threat to public safety at that time. Denny brought out a 4 inch binder that was full of Stone literature. I began combing through the material page by page and realized for the first time just how sophisticated the organization was. I explained to Denny my concerns about the violence they were inflicting within our community and the need for an immediate solution to stop it. Area law enforcement personnel were not able to get to the inner circle of the organization and, unless the leadership was disrupted, the gang would continue their wave of violence.
In the early stages of my training I did not yet have a rapport with the Stones. Denny, on the other hand, did and volunteered to participate with me in a parley with some gang chiefs in Chicago. Denny suggested that a parley could result in a halt to the violence and terminate plans the gang had to murder police officers.
Before I go further I want to be very clear about something. In no way, shape or form were we going to cut deals with the devil. We would continue to seek justice for those responsible for crimes already committed. We had gathered intelligence about plans for future crimes and knew that law enforcement could not keep pace. The threats were imminent and something needed to be done immediately to stop it.
So on one of my days off Denny and I set out for Chicago to parley with some particular leaders of the organization. Our mission was to make it very clear to the leadership that if the violence continued in Danville we would hold them responsible. We didn't have to explain to them about the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act). They were well aware of the act and knew what they were facing if we tied them to organized criminal activity. They assured Denny and I that steps would be taken to bring members of the organization under their control within law.
The parley was quite effective. We saw an immediate change in the climate on the streets. In fact, the parley was the beginning of the end for the Danville branch of the treacherous organization. The branch's leadership was called back to Chicago. The criminal activity slowed and gave law enforcement a chance to get caught up on their investigations. The streets were safer and the violence suppressed. The parley was an obvious success.
A few months after the parley Larry Thomason, the director of public safety for Danville, caught wind of it. You see, I hadn't told him about it for several reasons. First, he wouldn't understand it, he wouldn't have approved it, he wouldn't have joined us and he didn't believe we had a gang problem anyway. So what would have been the point in telling him? Anyway, he asked me about it and I told him what we did. He never said anymore to me about it. Kind of weird I thought but par for the course. He had at one time written a memorandum to the officers stating, in part, that the officers should "take care of the small items first (ordinance violations) and hopefully they stifle the larger ones from occurring." I'm not making this up, that's what he wrote. I have the memo.
My point here is two fold. First, parleys should be utilized when necessary but not be employed as a substitute for prosecution. They are an effective tool which law enforcement should use when a particular situation calls for it. It's not a new idea, it has been around for centuries but many may misunderstand the purpose. No deals are being made with the devil, in fact, by keeping it real with your adversary you make them very aware of what is about to occur. By reading my previous posts it will all make sense. And, secondly, administrators should educate themselves about gangs and be supportive of their officers efforts in fulfilling their mission. Don't stifle progress. Be in touch and encourage sound strategies which lead to safer streets. That was a luxury I did not have in Danville. I had to deal with incompetent administrators which wasted much of the energy I could have expended on the streets.
Finally, I want to say that before you parley know your enemy. Learn everything there is to know about them. Don't walk in blind, it could result in tragedy. Be the shot caller. You dictate but do so with respect or you will get nowhere. Is there a risk? Yes there is. But the risk can be managed and reduced if you know what you're doing. I don't want to give the impression that Denny and I just one day decided to go to the south side of Chicago and meet some gang chiefs. There was much preparation involved and others were aware of what was happening. We didn't act haphazardly. Our moves, actions and words were very calculated and, of course, we were properly prepared if things went bad.
It's like I said before, law enforcement officers are expected to take calculated risks to protect the public. Police work is not for the faint hearted. Officers need to be brave, skillful, smart and dedicated. If they don't have these characteristics they should not be in that line of work.
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