Chief Billdt welcomes union's upped role
As indicated in a story in Wednesday's paper, Police Chief Michael Billdt says he welcomes Police union President Rich Lawhead's vow to make stronger connections with the community.
In a telephone interview Monday, BIlldt told this reporter the community has "misperceptions" about his department that could be improved by stronger community and public relations by the rank-and-file.
Although he didn't say so specifically, the "misperceptions" the chief spoke of could have something to do with the alarmingly high number of police shootings this year.
Officers have shot and killed at least eight people this year, according to police records. This is at least the highest total since 2002. None of the killings have been found unlawful.
However, earlier this year a federal court awarded more than $800,000 to the family of a man police shot and killed in 2004. Last month, the shooting and severe wounding of a 16-year-old boy on the Westside - the boy has been charged with carrying a stolen handgun, among other things - sparked community outrage.
Just prior to that, a clash between police and Westside community members mourning the shooting death of a neighbor the night before has driven more community indignation and triggered an investigation.
Meanwhile, a San Bernardino police officer has sold T-shirts lampooning San Bernardino as a murder-haven for rival gangs. To his credit, Billdt released a statement saying he in no way condones the T-shirts or any message they send.
"Misperceptions" or not, increasing crime (violent crime is up more than 6 percent this year over last) and increasing police shootings may require more than public relations campaigns.
So...let me get this straight...a 15 year old "kid" (GANG MEMBER) runs from the police, pulls a gun, points the gun at the police, is then shot by the police, and the community is "outraged" at the police???!!!
WTF has happened to our society???!!!
Where is the outrage at the parents for not knowing that this '15 year old" (GANG MEMBER) had a gun???!!! The GANG MEMBER'S "mother" claimed she moved the GANG MEMBER to the High Desert to get him away from the gang issues he was dealing with in San Bernardino, right??? Well, I guess it leads me to ask the question of: What was he doing back down here hanging out in his GANG'S turf with a HANDGUN??? (This was not a Red Rider BB Gun, nor a plastic toy handgun with an orange tip, but a bonafide weapon of destruction)
Our Police Department's image does not need to be repaired! The community's responsibility barometer needs a serious adjustment.
At these community meetings all I have heard is what a "bad job" the police are doing, but nobody talks about what a BAD JOB these so-called parents are doing raising these GANG MEMBERS!
Here's a question...why do we need a "Phoenix" program when we can't get these people to take advantage of the most valuable FREE item that society has to offer, I thiink most of us have heard about it...IT'S CALLED SCHOOL!!!
We have a "PHOENIX" program that well over 85% of the people that it serves, can't even spell Phoenix.
Mr. Rogers, find out how many of the CRIMINALS that the police have shot this year were armed, how many were engaged in criminal activity at the time, how many have completed the free education offered to them in the public school system. (I guess a good example of criminal activity could be...high speed pursuits, robbing a gun store, shooting at the police during high speed pursuits)
Also report how many of the CRIMINALS shot by the police were innocently sitting in their kitchen making dinner at the time of being shot...
The violence in this city is being fed by the ignorance of the community, and it's leaders!
If you don't like the police, quit committing crimes, quit raising felons, and you won't see them. Let the police patrol the tax paying citizen's neighborhoods that are constantly victimized by the CRIMINALS of this community!
In closing San Bernardino citizens, Don't point guns or sharp objects at the Police, and they won't shoot you!
Kudos to the men and women of the San Bernardino Police Department for dealing with this Septic Tank called a city!
testing
Oh and the prison system is working ...RIGHT!I watched a special on the prison system on the discovery channel...The first question that is asked when someone is put in prison is "Whats your affiliation"?, meaning....what GANG are you with...if they don't have an affiliation...they are put with their own race....TALK about MAKING GANG MEMBERS.Lets look at when all this crime, degradation, despair, blighted communities, murder started.... The WAR ON DRUGS...is when it started. That is when the FUNDING was RELEASED by CONGRESS. The privatization
of the prison system, Theres lots of money in CRIME...Lots of people employed by CRIME. Who is the target....the poorest and most in need in our communities. This kid was certainly "AFRAID of the COPS". He knew they weren't there out of concern for his community. He ran out of fear...period....Thats a problem.
The California Prison system has been creating this monster for about 30 years now. Its generational, Its also a lucrative business. Cops also have to ensure job security. The prison guard union is the largest in California with the most lobbyist .America has THE MOST PEOPLE INCARCERATED IN THE WORLD....Wake-UP PEOPLE!
We have our Legislators to blame for this mess.
The whole justice system in this country is broke. When the rich get-off and the poor do entire lives in this system, something is so wrong.Community's need to start looking at themselves and how they can help one another, stop looking for the Government to fix there problems. It is more than apparent that The government can't fix the problem....and after BILLIONS spent in this phoney, failed WAR ON DRUGS
the cost has become to high. Broken families, blighted communities full of despair and a police force that is scared of the community it is paid to take care of....its time to fire the Government and The real Communities leaders need to step up with genuine care and concern for their communities and re-build with Compassion. Then, maybe we will have Vibrant, Livable Communities that the rest of the world will envy.
Oh and the prison system is working ...RIGHT!I watched a special on the prison system on the discovery channel...The first question that is asked when someone is put in prison is "Whats your affiliation"?, meaning....what GANG are you with...if they don't have an affiliation...they are put with their own race....TALK about MAKING GANG MEMBERS.Lets look at when all this crime, degradation, despair, blighted communities, murder started.... The WAR ON DRUGS...is when it started. That is when the FUNDING was RELEASED by CONGRESS. The privatization
of the prison system, Theres lots of money in CRIME...Lots of people employed by CRIME. Who is the target....the poorest and most in need in our communities. This kid was certainly "AFRAID of the COPS". He knew they weren't there out of concern for his community. He ran out of fear...period....Thats a problem.
The California Prison system has been creating this monster for about 30 years now. Its generational, Its also a lucrative business. Cops also have to ensure job security. The prison guard union is the largest in California with the most lobbyist .America has THE MOST PEOPLE INCARCERATED IN THE WORLD....Wake-UP PEOPLE!
We have our Legislators to blame for this mess.
The whole justice system in this country is broke. When the rich get-off and the poor do entire lives in this system, something is so wrong.Community's need to start looking at themselves and how they can help one another, stop looking for the Government to fix there problems. It is more than apparent that The government can't fix the problem....and after BILLIONS spent in this phoney, failed WAR ON DRUGS
the cost has become to high. Broken families, blighted communities full of despair and a police force that is scared of the community it is paid to take care of....its time to fire the Government and The real Communities leaders need to step up with genuine care and concern for their communities and re-build with Compassion. Then, maybe we will have Vibrant, Livable Communities that the rest of the world will envy.