Dave Robbins review on The Review Journal on Police Shooting

I’m still perusing the articles in the Review-Journal regarding officer involved shootings in the Las Vegas valley and amazed on how skewed the RJ’s “investigation” is. 

The RJ has stated that the focus is on LVMPD’s activities and that the investigation is a result of a year-long effort on the RJ’s part.  No outside, unbiased entities were involved UNTIL the RJ, upon doing its own research, provided their own findings to the outside agencies and asked opinions of those agencies.  At one point, a professor stated “based on (your) data…”

Percentage comparisons between departments showed a higher number of LVMPD’s officers were involved in shootings versus other departments.  Again, no consideration of Metro’s interaction with over 30 million tourists and visitors, and no per capita comparisons between local jurisdictions.

The RJ article states that 97% of the findings of 500 cases reviewed by the Use of Force Board, comprised of officers and civilians, rules in favor of the officer(s).  It cites that officers, such as Officer Pease, “who show patterns of poor judgment and multiple lapses in police procedure with fatal consequences - rarely face discipline when they shoot and kill”.  If I read this right, if an officer has had what is considered by some, as poor decision making skills, and he is placed in a life or death situation, and he has the tools to protect himself or others, he shouldn’t react because he should be punished because of his past?

I invite anyone to be placed in the same circumstances, or ANY life or death situation, given the same tools, and see how they react.  But before they react, tell them their past history will be held against them however they act.  “Remember when you wet your bed as a child?”  “You’ve been arrested for DUI or domestic violence”. 

Inquest results were also listed, and the vast majority was shown as “unanimously justified” for the use of deadly force. Others show a 6 to 1 vote in favor of the use of force. The folks that sit on these boards are civilians, not department members.

Jury of your peers?  Sound familiar?

What is the complaint?  Are the officers being judged?  The jury selection?  The preparation by the attorneys?  The venue?  I’m confused.  It seems that the complaint is that officers, doing their job, protecting their lives and others, are deemed justified, in all avenues, when they use force.

Not all incidents are perfect, and all the incidents have their critics, regardless how “black and white” it seems, and the majority of the incidents that are ruled justifiable show the suspect had a clear-cut intent and ability to harm/kill the officer or someone else.  The officer sometimes had to make a split second decision.

Basically, if you point a gun at an officer, you will be met with deadly force.  The same goes with trying to run them over with a vehicle.  Bring a knife to a gun fight?  Who’s going to lose?  That’s the rules.

It’s unfortunate that shootings do occur.  Someone loses a life.  Someone takes a life.  There is more than one victim.  There are family members, friends of both the person who lost their life and the person who took it.

Hints have been made that alternatives to deadly force need to be used.  There already have been issues raised with the use of less-than-lethal alternatives, such as “Tasers”, bean bags and other types of less-than-lethal shotgun rounds, batons, etc.  Each is a tool on the officers belt and the training on each is extensive, but each can cause severe injuries or worse (hence the less-than-lethal designation).  Each tool has been highlighted by the media when it is used with dramatic effects.

But with each dramatization by the media of any officer’s use of force, regardless of the tools used, the media slowly biases the public’s perception of the folks that are sworn to protect and the department’s reaction to such articles.

LVMPD administration has developed a “kneejerk” reaction to the public’s response to issues, forming committees, additional reviewing teams, additional training, getting more civilians involved, all at additional cost to the already financially burdened department.

Not once, during my tenure in the department, did the administration ask the line personnel their opinion about how change should come about.  Decisions were always made at the upper levels, by administrators that had not seen any street time in several years, yet the sheriff repeatedly states that he remembers where he came from.

No wonder department morale has been at an all-time low.

To be continued…

Congrats to the motor guys.

Recently, I wrote about the new “Eldora” substation being completed and then being abandoned by the department due to lack of funds and personnel.
We’ve learned that the LVMPD administration has now opted to move the traffic bureau to the new Eldora substation.


The traffic bureau is the last “substation” to receive a new substation and has historically always been the last to receive any benefits.
Northwest Patrol has its new substation on west Cheyenne, moved from the old Jones and Hargrove location.


Southeast Patrol has its location at Pearl and Harmon after moving from the old station at Atlantic and St. Louis (The current traffic station)


Southwest substation, now called “Enterprise” is located at Windmill and Rainbow after closing down the Spring Mountain and Duneville location.


Northeast substation is now at Pecos and Walnut, after abandoning “Fort Mojave” at Washington and Mojave


South Central has a new substation located on Las Vegas Boulevard and Russell.


Convention Center Command has a well equipped new facility behind the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Downtown Area Command has a new station on Bonanza, east of Las Vegas Boulevard.
The Traffic Bureau had been stuck in the basement of City Hall and then shoveled over to the old (built in the early 70’s), refurbished Southeast substation, with the help of the city.  The city pitched in some funds to help in the re-opening of the station as long as the neighbors had the police presence and was able to take reports from citizens.


The original plan was to allow the motorcycle mechanics to be housed at the substation, in the same building.  A large storage area in the building seemed to be appropriate for the mechanics, and the logistics were perfect for the officers and mechanics.  The officers could drop off their bikes with the mechanics during their briefing times and the bikes were usually done after briefing.  No extra travel times and mileage.  Evidently, some other accoutrements were needed to house the mechanics and the department wasn’t willing to pay out the extra money to accommodate them, so they moved back to the Decatur and Oquendo location, approximately 20 minutes away from traffic briefing.  The other accommodations in the building were sparse and archaic, to say the least.


The new substation should be a godsend for the traffic division and well deserved.
The problems?


Contractors that were working on the Eldora substation bailed out, in the middle of their contracted work.  Since LVMPD takes lowest bids, many bid so low to assure that they would get the contract but then realized they couldn’t do the work for that price, so they walked away, leaving the job partially completed. 
Several jobs were done, only to be re-done over and over again, sometimes with less than desirable results.
And what happens when the Sheriff decides to make the Eldora Substation a patrol station again?  Where does traffic go then?


The city is building a new City Hall.


Does it have a basement?

Great Hotel rates in Vegas

Get ready for Great Hotel rates in Vegas .. after Thanksgiving!

Locals get ready to enjoy casino hospitality with great hotel rates. This only occurs 2 times per year and the ridiculous rates are about to enter into one of those historic annual timelnes. From November 28th to December 16^th hotels rates throughout the area will drop dramatically. The reason … no tourists in town between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hotel rates will drop as low as 14.00 to 19.00 per night. Yes, you will still have to pay the taxes and any up charges the property may require (computer access, phone, cable etc.) but the base rates will be worth a “nearly free” night on the town. Be sure and check the Stations casino’s rates along with those hotels on Fremont St. The strip still makes every attempt to maintain a minimum price on their room rates but hey, don’t be embarrassed about asking for upgrades. Monday Nights thru to Wednesdays will always provide the very lowest in hotel/casino prices and Thursday to Sunday nights are always the toughest to negotiate.  As locals start enjoying your Holidays early it is truly our time of the year – Happy Holidays!

When will the Las Vegas Community demand better?

Editorial by Rick Singer

Although I have written on this subject prior to today the question of “when will the greater Las Vegas community demand more for themselves?’ continues to remain in the conversations of many residents throughout Clark County. As one man put it, (a 3^rd generation Clark County resident) “out of the ashes of what are currently Las Vegas needs to emerge a new Phoenix with leadership”.

When you or I or any resident of Greater Las Vegas or anyone observing Las Vegas from a far looks at the ridiculous standards in which our community continues to operate the scenario goes from beyond humorous to completely embarrassing. The levels of self-indulgence, narcissism and nepotism provided or empowered  by this communities leadership (if you can call this leadership) has excelled to the rate of incompetence, theft and abuse that could never be interpreted as maintaining any form of  ‘fiduciary responsibility”  to the citizens.  Just within the last 4 months, here are some highlights:

1. North Las Vegas judge places an order on North Las Vegas city council preventing further reduction of the city Police force because of the citizens rights to Public Safety have been compromised.
2. The son of a Clark County judge is found guilty for “grand theft” at local casinos and then given a minimal sentence.
3. Sun reporter is “encouraged” by a Judge not to write about a specific story that affects the cornerstone of Journalism and the community’s right to know.
4. The school systems of Nevada and in Clark County are nationally ranked amongst the WORST systems for education in the United States.
5. Pill Mill’s (distribution of Legal Narcotics via Pain clinics) has become so epidemic in the Las Vegas area that the number of arrests of Doctors within the community has gone over 19 in 8 months.
6. Unemployment remains between 13.5 and 13.7%. That means 1 out of every 8 people who were working a year ago is no longer working.
7. Metro’s Sheriff Gillespie and his new management team have determined that it is in the best interest of the public to  triple the building and facilities budget while asking Metro Officers  to reduce their incomes. The leader of Clark County Law enforcement has also decided not to add any new law enforcement academies. (I feel so much safer with that new building, don’t you?)
8. Public Safety has been compromised with multiple shootings taking place on the Vegas Strip; enhanced accosting by smut peddlers and children being both injured and killed attempting to cross the street.
9. Las Vegas property values have diminished at a rate faster than the National average (homes are worth 45% less than they were in 2007) in large part due to the number of foreclosures in Clark County. 
10. Why have the foreclosure rates been so high in Clark County? Because the procedures for “kicking people out of their homes” has been compromised, and oh, by the way, the suicides in which  law enforcement has witnessed in conjunction with foreclosures has increased and  is no longer uncommon.
11. Clark County Firefighters were systematically creating an embezzlement scheme by utilizing ‘loop-holes” in the Firefighters contract to be utilized for sick days.

The list can and probably should continue .. but I am becoming noxious thinking about it. The real question is simple; “when will the Clark County residents become sick and tired of being sold neon signage and a cheap cocktail as a substitute for real community leadership”?

1. Judges are bending rules; children of Judges’ are receiving minimal sentences for federal Crimes.
2. Doctors are going to Federal prisons for drug pushing of prescription narcotics.
3. Our Children are getting the worst education in the Nation
4. Public safety has been compromised, crime has increased and our kids cannot come home safe from a night of “Halloween”.
5. Tourists are concerned about safety on the strip with increased shootings and harassment by smut peddlers.
6. Law enforcement has a nice new building while citizens are being evicted from their homes without proper due process.
7. Firefighters and goodness knows how many other city and county employees are working a system to steal that much more money from the populist.

Is this really Las Vegas at its best? For the MILLIONS of dollars available to these departments and boards are you telling me this is the best result we can get for the community? The answer is obviously No! Many more communities with comparable populations and LESS money are providing more to their citizens.
The hard working people of Southern Nevada are great; the people they choose to represent them are the aliens.  Clark County residents need to begin looking within themselves, their own neighborhoods and friends. It really is time for new leadership at all levels of the City of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Clark County, the Board of Education, the Sheriff, and the Judges. We the people of Clark County need and deserve a new Phoenix with leadership.     

Pedestrian Safety; who’s at fault?

A pedestrian was in the crosswalk when he decided to take a shortcut to the bus stop. He exited the crosswalk and walked in the travel lane where he was struck by a driver supposedly under the influence of alcohol (story).  Since he was jaywalking and the driver was allegedly drunk, who is at fault?

 A Henderson woman was killed crossing a street, struck by a UPS truck.  Details state that the accident is still under investigation and exactly what happened had yet to be determined (lvrj.com).  Who was at fault?

A six year old girl died and two other youngsters suffered severe injuries when they were struck by a 78 year old woman driver while they were in a crosswalk. (cross walk story).  The driver was charged with the accident.  Do we need to invoke a “refresher” course for senior drivers?

 

A school bus ran over a high school student while she was in a marked crosswalk.  She suffered major injuries as a result, requiring surgery to save her leg (school bus story). School bus drivers have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) which requires more training and knowledge of laws and vehicle equipment.  Is it enough?  What criteria does the school district require?

A “high” pedestrian ran out into the street and was run over and killed by a passing car.  (story). Drugs at fault?  Lack of enforcement?

Reference the same article, a 12 year old trick-or-treater was killed by a drunk driver in Summerlin and a 55 year old woman was killed while jaywalking.  A 15 year old was jaywalking when he was struck and killed by a 77 year old DUI driver.

Inevitably, the police will be blamed for the lack of enforcement at crosswalks and driver’s violations.

What’s the saying?

 “Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked (sorry, not a pedestrian reference) a mile in his shoes”.

While working as a motorcycle officer, I conducted enforcement at numerous intersections with varying results.  I did find the good “fishing holes”. 

One of those is the crosswalk in front of UNLV.  Who was at fault in the majority of the observed violations?  The drivers, without a doubt.  But I did witness a few pedestrian violations.  Young people entering the crosswalk without even looking.  Some walking outside of the VERY well-marked crosswalks, some a little bit, some by a lot.

The crosswalk is probably the best well-marked crosswalk in town, with super-bright yellow strobe warning lights, assorted markings, posted signs, etc.  Yet, drivers CONSTANTLY drive right pass these numerous and OBVIOUS indicators as people are walking in them, sometimes missing them by inches.

I stopped a woman twice for the same violation, at the same crosswalk, within 30 minutes while she looked for a parking spot.  Both times she wasn’t wearing her seat belt.  Made my job easy.

I watched as pedestrians, mostly tourists, run across Las Vegas Blvd, some intoxicated, directly into the path of distracted drivers as they look at the scenery on the strip.

Try and conduct a stop on the strip without it not turning into a “YouTube” event.

Why only have the “walk-overs” at certain intersections? 

They biggest traffic problem on the strip is the pedestrian traffic.  There is too much congestion on the corners as they wait for a walk signal.  Smut peddlers are harassing them as they walk by.  Others hawkers are trying to get their attention.  Alcohol flows freely on the strip,  sometimes on the sidewalks, easily accessed by pedestrians.

What needs to be done to insure pedestrian safety? 

Address the pedestrians?  The parents? The drivers?  How about the resorts on the strip that furnish alcohol to everyone while they walk along the sidewalks and then dart into traffic?

I hope all the schools, every grade level has a program to ensure pedestrian safety.

Have you seen the traffic debacle around the schools when school starts or gets out?  Double parking.  Kids running/darting into traffic. 

Maybe the parents should be required to attend, too.

The strip hosts folks from all over the world and not all speak/read English. 

While most of us agree that the signs and signals are easy to interpret, maybe  signs in different languages need to be posted (not every language, but the major ones).

So, are we doing everything we can to address the issue?  I don’t think so.  Yes, it’ll take time and money.

Isn’t a life worth it?

Police high-technology

Being a big science fiction fan and having law enforcement experience, I naturally watched the “Robocop” series, not for the acting but for the cool gadgets and wondered how long it would take for present day officers to get those types of toys.

Well, we are closer than you think.

Instead of ordering a plain-Jane, off-the-shelf car from one of the big three automakers and paying extra to have the vehicle outfitted with extra wires, lights, siren, prisoner compartments and such, Carbon Motors have come up with a prototype police vehicle, the E7, designed by police officers, that can be made to any specification the police need.  Options include; explosive detectors, armored doors and dashboards, and cameras.  The rest of the vehicle is equipped with police ready features such as custom colored fenders, so additional paint is not needed by the purchasing agencies to match their color schemes.  Performance is through a clean burning diesel engine that exceeds most of the patrol cars out there.  Life span would be approximately 3X’s that of current vehicles. (www.carbonmotors.com)

As long as we are talking about the patrol car, how about the “smart” system integrated into the car?

“Project 54” is a system that lets the officer control the electronics of the car by voice.  For example, the officer could have a license plate checked for wants and registration simply by saying the plate number out loud.  The computer would give a return, out loud, without the officer touching a keyboard or taking his/her eyes off the road.  When the officer initiates the car stop, a voice command turns on the emergency equipment and activates the video recording.  After the stop, the officer can check on the driver’s license and any wants/warrants the driver may have.  Currently, the system is in use in four-wheeled vehicles and motorcycles also. (www.policeone.com).

More smart stuff?

How about a “Automatic License Plate Recognition” (ALPR) camera?

Cameras are mounted on the patrol vehicle, facing forward and to the sides.  The cameras send the pictures of the scanned license plates to a processor in the vehicle and checks them against known Amber Alerts, stolen vehicle and wants/warrants lists. Again, the officer doesn’t have to fiddle with a keyboard, or take eyes off the roadway.  This particular system is already in use and is slightly expensive at approximately $25,000.00 per unit.  www.avigilon.com

I would think the insurance industry would help forgo the costs on ALPR as it would help in recovery rates and reduce their payouts.

How about the crowd control scenario?

This is real Robocop stuff.

Officers equipped with this sleeve/glove combo have a digital display, 50,000 volts, shielding, HD camera, flashlight and customizable features. Officers can intimidate potential threats with a spark display and stun suspects with 50,000 volts if they come in contact with the officer.  Further upgrades could include “TASER” projectile probes, so the officer could “reach out and touch” someone. (policeone - bionic arm)

How about surveillance?  Our childhood fantasies have come true. 

The “microdrone”  is the police version of the military’s UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) without the weaponry (so far).  It can beam back video footage, in the day and night, flying almost silently overhead the bad guys.  It’s currently in use by the British Transport Police to catch metal thieves. One accessory is a “squirt gun” used to mark suspects for later identification.   Opponents to this $50,000.00 toy claim this is another “Big Brother” spying technique.  (microdrones.com)

Ever wished you had a cannon on your patrol car?  Your wish is about to come true.

Enter the “Starchase GPS Launcher”.   The mortar type barrel fires a shell resembling an artillery shell containing a GPS device and a sticky point that glues itself to the suspect’s car.  Police then can track the vehicle’s movements at their leisure.  (starchase)

Of course there are other advances involving ammunition, clothing, protective gear, knives, mini cameras and such and that would require a bit of time and research on the purchaser’s desires, but when looking at the best bang for the buck, these “toys” really make sense.

A car that is already equipped from the factory for police work and has 3X’s the life of a normal patrol car for a little more than the price already being paid.

A “handsfree” control system that doesn’t require the officer to be fumbling with a radio microphone, keyboard on a mounted computer, switching his overhead emergency lights on and off by hand; it enables he or she to focus on the job at hand, enhancing the officer’s safety.

An automatic license plate scanning system that requires hardly any effort from the officer.  Multiplies the output by 100 fold with results you cannot argue about.  Citizens would love the reduced time for recovering their stolen vehicles.  Fugitives could be located easier.  Missing children also.  Just by driving the patrol car down the street or alley.

A system worn like a glove, still giving the officer manual dexterity, protection, defense, recording ability and respect.

Since many police department do not like or prohibit vehicle pursuits, a system that allows an officer to “mark” a fleeing vehicle that could be easily tracked from a remote location and apprehended when the timing is appropriate.

Sure, they cost.  But what does it cost for a life?  A lawsuit?  Property Damage?  The initial cost would be worth it even in only one situation. 

It’s a shame that administrations only look at the initial costs, not long term.

Sheriff Gillespie.  Are you listening?  The links are listed for easy reference.

New law concerning bicycle riders.

Most of us now know of the new law regarding the use of handheld devices (phones, gaming devices, etc.) while operating a motor vehicle that came into effect October 1^st, 2011.  You can’t do it unless you have a hands-free capability.

There are a few other new laws that went into effect also on October 1^st.  One is aimed at bicycle rider safety.  It doesn’t address the riders, but the drivers of motor vehicles around the riders.

Drivers of motor vehicles have to a give a berth to bicycle riders as they pass them, much like the law concerning stopped emergency vehicles.  Drivers MUST move to the next lane to the left that the rider is occupying or if that is not possible, wait to pass on the rider’s left, giving AT LEAST a three foot clearance as the motor vehicle passes.

Other rules already on the books are the marked bicycle lane, reserved for bicycles ONLY.  It’s not a motor vehicle lane.

And, for those aggressive drivers, you can be charged with reckless driving if you chose to intentionally cut it close to a bike rider or cause the rider to crash.

I remember when a neighbor and I chose to ride our bicycles to work and a large 4X4 truck purposely accelerated and swerved across our path to access the right turn lane.  The driver, a particularly eloquent, vocal anti-bicycle lobbyist, resorted to yelling at us as we had no right to the roadways as were not “motor vehicles”.  We asked if we could “educate” him regarding the laws regarding motor vehicle operator’s responsibilities and the laws pertaining to the rights of bicycle riders.  Okay.  The conversation wasn’t that long or that civil.  He got the point and left waving goodbye at us.

Bike riders have to adhere to the traffic laws as if they were driving a motor vehicle.  Red lights mean stop and stay stopped until the green is lit.  Riders have to use hand signals when changing lanes or turning.  Lights have to be used at night, front and back. You can be charged with DUI on a bike too. 

Nevada has the new driver’s handbook on their website (DMVNV) and it’s updated with the new laws. 

It certainly wouldn’t hurt for the rookie drivers as well as the experienced to take a look at it and keep abreast of the laws, new and old. 

Refreshers are always a good thing.

By: Dave Robbins, Publisher VegasNewsReveiw.com

More Metro notables

Today is the scheduled grand opening for the new multi-million dollar LVMPD headquarters. (fox 5 story) Hopefully they will announce the grand opening for the newly completed “Eldora Substation” also, probably in late 2012, or early 2013.

I’m a little confused.  Employees of LVMPD are being told not to call it the “headquarters” and the buildings were not built to “headquarters” specifications. So is the media calling it “headquarters” or did the Public Information Office release the info as such?  We were told it’s the “Administration” building.

How about the “Money Pit”?

Metro will be paying 300 percent of what they were paying before in rent for the other buildings they used to rent.

After the building was completed, administrators added to the cost by incorporating improvements which should’ve been included in the building process.  Not included are the hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, needed to bring the buildings up to the 21^st century.

Several offices received different color paint, after the initial color, due to the occupants personal tastes (whatever happened to the LVMPD standard of “You’re lucky to have a job”?) at taxpayer’s cost.  Other improvements were installed after the completion, again adding to the cost instead of implementing them in the building process.  Brand new furniture and appliances for each floor and offices (nothing was wrong with the other furniture they were using, most of which was thrown away or bundled up for auction at an additional cost burden including; hiring additional manpower to move the furniture, load it, drive it to storage, wrap it and store it.  It would’ve saved money just by throwing it away!  Donating?  Guess it wasn’t considered.)  Other bureaus suffered due to the money needed for the accoutrements for the new building.  The Horse Patrol bureau office lost its air conditioner in July only to be told they had no money to fix it, only to find out that tens of thousands were being spent at the same time to purchase appliances for the unoccupied admin building.

Maintenance wasn’t considered when the building was planned.  No freight elevators.  Minimal access to roof for service technicians with equipment. High maintenance flooring.

But yet, they claim the lighting is planned around the employee’s schedules and will be cost effective.

I guess they forgot the costs involved when the schedules change.  Service requests to change the light schedules, technicians needed to service the equipment, etc.  

Rumors of civilian employees getting “bonuses” (brand new personal vehicles).  New equipment that is being thrown out to conceal the fact they were ordered erroneously.  The sheriff wanting to form an “Elite” squad of officers responsible for the new building’s security, complete with “dress uniforms” and specialized training, but yet, the new $7,000,000+ Southwest Substation at 8445 Eldora sits unoccupied (and with a complete display of local graffiti art on the back fenced in walls) and will continue to, because there are not enough officers and civilians on the department to man the brand new substation.  Because it will be vacant for some time, a monitored alarm system will be added, at extra cost, to maintain interior integrity.  Rumor is that forced transfers will be implemented (I can hardly wait to see the morale at that substation), leaving other stations at skeleton crew status.  So again, we pay rent on a building we aren’t using.  Yup.  We now have a jail AND a substation that isn’t being used and the taxpayers are footing the bill.  Oh, and no new academies, civilian or police, are scheduled for the next year.  Retirements are at a record pace.  Officers are spending hundreds of thousands of their own dollars to purchase time to retire early.  The common phrase upon seeing another officer is “I can’t wait to leave this place”.

Did we lose the holiday spirit or did someone steal it?

Someone stole “Michael Myers” from a local Halloween display.  Great.  Just when I thought I was done with those movies.  What are we up to now?  Part XII?  XIII?

I noticed that it seems that the holiday spirit wasn’t so prevalent going into this holiday season.  I used to see elaborate displays for the holidays, especially Halloween, set up in people’s yards and sometimes in entire neighborhoods.  I thought that it was a clause in the HOA for the neighborhood to set up a display.  Now, it appears that the folks' artistic touch is waning.

I wanted to take photos of all the displays and put them into a video collage in case some of our viewers didn’t get a chance to drive around town. 

I was lucky to find one great display on Durango, north of Lone Mountain.  That’s it.  I was able to surf the internet and find one from 2009 in Henderson

Someone suggested that the economy may have an effect on the lack of displays.  Someone else claimed it’s because the local and federal government have enacted restrictions on such displays on government property.  Even religious bias was mentioned.

I think folks are tired of the vandalism and theft that is occurring when the displays are set up.  It seems to be at epidemic levels. YouTube is rampant with surveillance videos of thieves and vandals caught on tape.  So as a result, Michael Myers is on the loose again.

Whatever happened to the house getting toilet papered?  The burning bag with the dog poop?  Smashed pumpkins?  Egging?  Am I outdated?

 Or maybe the economy does have something to do with it.  More people out of work and too much idle time on their hands.  More vacant/abandoned homes also.

Religious bias has also become an issue.  Christian, Atheist and other religious displays are vandalized every year.

Don’t allow these stories to prevent you from putting up a holiday display.  People do appreciate them.  You will see folks driving by and slowing to show the kids, taking photos or meeting friends. Neighborhoods become community meeting spots again.  The ambitious bring holiday treats. And guess what?  It’s free. For many people this is the best time of year. Halloween to New Year's Eve; a big holiday every month, all in celebration of something. There will be signs of that everywhere if you take the time to look, and you can always do your bit by adding your own.

Last year, the “Glittering Lights” display was featured at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and was quite the hit.  (Vegas Glittering Lights) There is a small charge for this display but well worth the drive and the entrance fee.

Check it out and Happy Holidays…

A Fat Tax - really?!

Taxed to death or because of it?

Denmark has recently instituted the world’s first imposed “Fat Tax” due to research showing that less than 10% of the population was considered “obese” and it contributed to 4% of the country’s premature death. The foods targeted are high in saturated fats such as dairy products and lard. (Time Magazine)

Opponents of the tax claim it is the government’s way of filling their coffers.

Denmark has banned potential harmful ingredients from being used in food products and forbid importation of certain foods into the country based on the ingredients used to process the food such as transfats, the ingredient used mostly in snack foods.  They have attributed the ban to a 30% lower incident of cardiovascular disease.

Is the “Fat Tax” a good idea or a knee jerk reaction?

The foods it targets are high in saturated fats, but mostly natural products.  Butter, other dairy products, olive oil, etc.

The French eat foods high in saturated fats (butter is the main ingredient in a lot of the food) and are among the healthiest people in the world.  They also ban harmful ingredients to be used or imported into the country.

Some would argue that it is not the type of fat, but the process the product is subjected to. 

Processed foods are refined, bleached, crunched, ground, mixed with fillers, emulsifying agents and anti clumping compounds. Artificial colors added to make it pleasing to look at. Synthetic sweeteners or heavily refined sugars are added under the pretense they are derived from “natural” sources.

Research has shown that artificial sweeteners contribute to cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and don’t help you lose weight and actually cause you to gain weight.

High fructose corn syrup, used in almost everything we eat, contributes to weight gain, which will cause other ailments such as diabetes and organ stress.

Do you realize almost every “fast food” burger has high fructose corn syrup as an ingredient?  When I make my burgers (deemed among the best burgers ever by my guests), I have yet to add any type of sweeteners to them.  I only add, oh sorry…secret recipe, all natural ingredients.

So, could something like the “Fat Tax” ever fly here in the United States?

Doubt it. 

The government is uneducated or doesn’t care as to what is healthy or harmful to people. 

Your pet or farm animal is getting better nutrition than you are.

Many of the officials in Washington D.C. that are involved in the scrutiny of your food were also high administration officials in the very same companies that produce the artificial and/or harmful ingredients that you eat and feed your families.  Many of these ingredients are banned from importation into other countries based on their track record and research documenting their harmful effects on humans.

Start reading the labels on your food packages.  Do you know what each ingredient is?  Can you pronounce it? What’s a GMO? 

There is no way that we can implement a fair “Fat Tax” without sweeping reform in Washington and without pulling almost EVERY food item off the shelf. 

But changes can be made as to the production of our food and education to the public. 

Cigarettes now have warning labels on the packaging declaring what could (or will) happen if you smoke. 

How about food ingredients?

Might read something like this; 

These ingredients have been clinically shown to cause diabetes, weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidney stress/failure, liver stress/failure, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, skin disease, hair loss, etc., etc.

Warning labels for food?  Yeah, that’ll happen…

Is there stress in Police work? Part 4

This is a continuation of a series of articles regarding the different types of stressors that officers face daily, in their personal and professional lives from a personal point of view.

Is there stress in Police work? Part 4

After being “forced” out of a detail, I chose to enter the Field Training Program to train the new officers, fresh out of the academy.

I enjoyed the challenges of exposing the new officers to the rigors of police work.  It was an eye-opening experience for most of the officers and it was my duty to make sure it was a safe learning (and mostly enjoyable) experience for the new person.

After some exposure to the various challenges inherent to law enforcement, some officers decided that police work was not for them and gracefully bowed out.  Some handled some situations poorly, certainly not to the best of their abilities and training, and continued to struggle throughout their training period.

It became apparent that some were not ever going to be suited for police work and needed to find other avenues for employment.

I digress.  I made sure the new officer was able to experience the full gamut of police work.  Dead body calls, bank robberies, report calls, public contact, traffic stops, foot and vehicle pursuits (yes, at that time, we could chase bad guys).  Everything from the most trivial of misdemeanor crimes to the most heinous felonies.  It was always a learning experience, but I wanted it to be interesting and enjoyable, if possible, for the new officer.

I had trainees tell me and my supervisor that I was the best, or one of the best FTO’s (Field Training Officer) that they had, because they were able to experience a variety of calls, not just drunks sleeping on bus benches all day long, etc.

After about 7-8 years of Field Training, I noticed a “shift” in the program and some of the candidates that entered it.

Some new officer’s personalities were more defiant.  A lot were more submissive and less apt to get involved in serious situations.  When critique was given after each incident, excuses and rationalization became the norm.  Blame was placed on everything/everyone other than the new officer.  If the defiance continued, I would bring the new officer into the Sergeant’s office to discuss the situation.  Several times the stubbornness of the new officer continued and would require an intervention by the Sergeant or even higher ranking supervisors. 

When it was very apparent that the new person was not able to successfully complete the training period, they were given several options to follow up with.

Some would get the hint, and again, some would not.  Other procedures had to be implemented to terminate the employee, requiring proper documentation from the FTO(s).  I’ll talk more about those people later.

But wait!  If you documented to the point that it made someone else work a little extra, like the sergeant in charge of field training, then you, as a FTO, were talked to about “too much documentation”.

Really?!?!?

The Sgt. claimed he didn’t have enough time to read a nine page daily evaluation report about a “problem child” as he had several others to read each day.  So, I was instructed to shorten my evaluations.  I refused as I explained that my ass would be on the line if I didn’t document the deficiencies exhibited by the trainee and he failed to progress properly, and due to the inability to “get it” may commit a grave error. 

As a result, we were subjected to a “FTO report writing” class.  We, as the trainers, were now being trained on how to document the trainees based on the training supervisor’s inability to manage his time to do his job.

The first two evaluations that were on the top of the stack of “How not to write an evaluation” were mine and a fellow squad mate, also a FTO.  Both were documenting two different trainees and both were fairly long.

Needless to say, it was a long class with much “discussion”.

Back to the people we were training out in the field.

As an officer, you HAVE to develop certain skills.  You have to look a little deeper, longer and harder at people and the things they do.  Sometimes you have to ask questions that you would never ask anyone else.  You have to be willing to put hands on people, to make an arrest and get physical, if need be.  Some of the new folks were absolutely terrified to get close to our contacts in the field.  They couldn’t/wouldn’t  make eye contact.  They danced around suspects as they attempted to get close to handcuff them.  They would run from a fight.

Others couldn’t wait to play “cops and robbers”, even off duty.

One particular academy classmate of mine would sit in his personal vehicle, while off duty, and in field training status, in a particular notorious area of town and try to conduct “undercover” surveillance of drug dealers in the area.

A trainee of mine, again while off duty, would dress up in his academy training gear, that had LVMPD emblazoned on it, and put his gun belt on and handle the domestics in the apartment above him (rumor had it that he was smitten by the female in the apt.)

The same trainee, off duty, would dress up in full uniform and drive his personal vehicle to his old work place and walk in with extra guns jammed into his belt.  When his old co-workers asked him what he was doing, his response was “just checking out the old neighborhood”.  When they asked about the extra fire power in his belt, his response was that he and his Field Training Officer (me) had been threatened by gang members and he wanted to be “prepared”.

Both incidents were documented and brought to the attention of the department, but yet nothing was done.  No discipline other than a “talking to”.

The rationale of the department was that they had spent a significant amount of money to attract, hire and train these new officers and they didn’t want to lose their “investment”. 

When the senior officers objected, the administration claimed that there was “strength in numbers” and we should be glad that there is another “body” that can back you up while on a call.  The senior officers stated they wanted “quality”, not “quantity”.  A “quality” officer was worth 10 of a “quantity” officer.

That’s when I knew it was time to look elsewhere on the department.

To be continued.