Posted on 07/27/2004 9:46:21 AM PDT by JOAT
TYRANNY ALERT!
OSHKOSH POLICE CONDUCT DOOR TO DOOR GUN CONFISCATIONS
Shooting of Oshkosh police officer results in knee jerk neighborhood gun grab
Oshkosh, Wis. -- Following the shooting of an Oshkosh police officer Saturday night, area residents were forced from their homes, their lawful firearms being confiscated by police.
The Oshkosh Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics Unit responded to the area, with a K-9 police dog in pursuit of the perpetrator who was reported to have fled on foot.
Citizens' guns were seized through searches of area homes. The police promised to return the firearms after forensic tests proved they were not involved in the crime. The injured officer's name was withheld, but media reports indicate his condition is not life-threatening.
"The message is: Hand over your guns, now!" said Corey Graff, executive director of Wisconsin Gun Owners Inc. "This is a blatant case of guilty-until-proven-innocent and an abuse of police power."
Still, residents in the area are furious about the home invasions by police and what they see as theft of their property. Although early reports are unclear, they indicate a search warrant was issued for two homes, yet additional home owners also had firearms confiscated.
"We want the perpetrator of this crime caught and brought to justice just like everyone else," said Graff. "But that doesn't mean the police should trample citizens' 4th amendment protections, steal lawful private property and enter the home without reasonable suspicion or warrant."
One homeowner in the area said his guns were taken by police, guns that hadn't left his gun safe since last hunting season. Another victim of the police searches -- an elderly women -- reported waking up to officers' searching her home in the early morning hours.
The Oshkosh Northwestern reported, "Residents were not being allowed to return to their homes by press time."
>>How many citizens will have the nerve to refuse to grant "consent" under these highly coercive conditions?<<
Myself and my wife do. We keep a camera system handy to film the house as we are being forced out so the jury will be able to see just how much "Respect" the police show to the community members.
On the way out I would just poke the alarm and instant video comes alive. The alarm system video copies to two discs, one at home and one at a neighbors.
they just bought themselves a huge Freaking lawsuit.
Saw an article about some Police being caught on film by a home camera while "planting" a pistol during a search.
I think, all told I have got about $2600 in the system. A camera in every room and 360 around the house. Punch in 3 numbers to get it going, four numbers includes the alarms.
Imagine searching a house where you can rip the alarm system out of the wall and the damn horns will not stop.
About a month ago,my neighbor heard sounds in an unused house.By the time a Deputy could show up,there were a half dozen of my friends and neighbors surrounding the place,called together by cellphone,to give the Deputy some backup.
A Mexican,escaped from State custody,was caught after he made a run for it.
I'm told,he only fell down "three" times,though. :(
If not for the "backup",he would have gotten away.It's good when LEOs and citizens can work together,as they should.
If they had gone out and gotten a individual court-order for each single citizen...then they might have a legal basis...but some blanket action like this? Its purely illegal and will wind up in court. My suggest for any citizen of Oshkosh who lost their weapon...don't take this into a lawyer...take it to small claims court and do it yourself. You don't need tens of thousands for this action. If 100 owners go into small claims court, and collect $2k each...they will have made their point and the cops will be out of $200k. Its fair and keeps the lawyers out of the mess.
Police have learned it is easy to just act and allow the courts to eventually try and undo anything.
This involved a police shooting. The police allways react harsher and vigorously when there is a police shooting.
they were armed...
not theft...
the cops committed armed robbery.
If the crap ever does hit the fan, I can think of nobody in the world who would get it off quicker than B4Ranch.
I'm not quite sure that's the reputation that I want. If you mean would I wait until everyone was locked in pens for speaking out about just what our Constitution means to us, no I wouldn't, but I wouldn't try to gain our freedom alone.
Many of the older LEO's on Reno and Sparks would be in front of me. They are the men who would be the 1st to find out about a weapons confiscation plan and they are the ones who would take off their badges to fight for our freedom.
They are sure many of the younger officers would follow their example in turning in their badges before taking an armed resistance against unjust law decisions.
I've already discussed this possible event with quite a few officers and learned what their thoughts are on martial law. Not too many would support it, a few would stay on the force for the INTEL. I guess this is something they've talked about also. I didn't feel as though I was bringing out a new subject from their thoughtful responses.
>>.It's good when LEOs and citizens can work together,as they should.<<
That is the intention of how a police force should operate.
The small claims will at best be able to get the gun back.
This whole mess sounds like another Houston K-Mart.
Is the connection to both wireless, and with a single transmitter?
Since they rarely seem to suffer any repercussions, that is where the cunning is.
WOOF
Oshkosh police search for clues in wake of officer’s shooting
By Jeff Bollier and Jim Collar
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
OSHKOSH — An Oshkosh police officer injured in a Saturday night shooting was released from Mercy Medical Center Sunday, while fellow officers “narrowed down a list of suspects” that may be responsible for the unprovoked attack.
Officer Nate Gallagher, a five-year veteran of the department, was shot in his right arm at 10:10 p.m. Saturday while standing outside his squad car near the intersection of Minnesota Street and West 17th Avenue, talking to another officer. No arrests were made as of Sunday afternoon.
Officers were in the area responding to a report of an underage drinking party.
Sgt. Steve Sagmeister said the shooting and the party appear to be unrelated.
“This came out of nowhere, totally unprovoked,” Sagmeister said. “That really raises the awareness in this instance.”
The Oshkosh Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics Unit conducted a house-by-house search of several blocks surrounding the site of the shooting into early Sunday morning.
Police later served a search warrant at a home on Minnesota Street. Police declined to say what evidence was found or how it related to the incident.
Plainclothes police officers in unmarked cars held a presence on Minnesota Street throughout the day.
Police said Gallagher was in good condition when admitted to the hospital on Saturday night.
Sagmeister said no one saw the shooter or where the shot came from. No description could be provided.
“That’s the bad thing, not knowing where it came from,” Sagmeister said. “All anyone did was hear it. There’s no real clue as to the direction (the shot came from) or who (fired the shot).”
The SWAT team completed its search by 5:30 a.m. Sunday and detectives began investigating the scene and gathering information. SWAT team members took firearms from at least two homes in the area, but without concluding they were used in the shooting.
The incident was the first shooting of an Oshkosh police officer in 21 years.
Terry Wesner, who lives with his wife, Pat, on the 1700 block of Minnesota Street, said he was watching television when he heard a single rifle shot.
“The sounds were right outside the house,” Terry Wesner said. “All I know is it was in the block someplace. It was enough to startle you.”
Richard Discher, a resident in the 1600 block of Arizona Street, was on his way home from work when the shooting occurred. Instead of going home, he had to go to a friend’s home until police allowed him beyond the barricades. After two hours, an officer escorted him to his front door by foot. No one was allowed to drive in the area of the investigation.
The incident is shocking for such a quiet neighborhood, Discher said.
“I’ve lived here for 10 years, and it’s always been nice,” he said. “The people are very nice — everyone says hello when you walk by.”
The police promised to return the firearms after forensic tests proved they were not involved in the crime.
Residents searching for the slug?
This brings to mind a few problems - chain of custody and proving it was the slug that hit the officer.
Oh, let them stupid themselves into oblivion. Then maybe the public will wake up and demand Cops with a Clue (TM).
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