Not suprising to me.
Posted on 11/15/2004 7:39:40 PM PST by CGASMIA68
Second Coast Guard Member Asks For Transfer From Westport
November 11, 2004
By Bryan Johnson
The Samoan woman is claiming racial discrimination; others say it's part of a larger problem there.
WESTPORT - For the second time in 13 months, a member of the Coast Guard has asked for a transfer from the Grays Harbor Coast Guard station at Westport.
This time, it's a Samoan woman, who is claiming racial discrimination. She says she fears for the safety of her family.
Thirteen months ago, an African-American Coast Guardsman also cited racial prejudice in requesting a transfer from the Grays Harbor County station.
The Coast Guard commanding officer, Darrin Wallace, advised the city and its police department of the transfers this week, and said there was a larger problem for the 43-member detachment.
He said some officers are removing Coast Guard stickers from the windows of their cars because they fear the cars will be keyed or otherwise vandalized.
Wallace added that some Coast Guard members are concerned about walking the streets. "... People approaching them and not knowing what's going to become of that approach. Is it a threatening matter? Or are they just going to ask a question?"
He said of his officers: "They are concerned about the safety in this community."
Wallace said the problems began about 18 months ago when his officers increased the boarding of vessels. He said in one of every four boardings, the Coast Guard is finding drugs or crew members under the influence.
Wallace said that is an extremely high number and the boardings have apparently created tensions between vessel operators and the Coast Guard.
Tony Kramer, a crabber, told KOMO 4 News, "Yeah, I've been boarded before. They've always been respectful to me and my crew. They're just doing their job."
But other crabbers declined even to be photographed, saying there was a lot of tension in the community.
The Coast Guard doesn't know if that upset is linked to the minority officers who have been apparently been victims of racial discrimination. But Wallace added, "we've got one family that probably six or seven times has been mooned on the way to Aberdeen, got the bird, or has been confronted in front of establishments and almost into fisticuffs."
"Many of those assigned to the Coast Guard station don't shop for groceries in Westport," he continued, "and will drive 25 miles to Aberdeen for a bottle of milk."
One storeowner, Karen McLellan, said "We're all very upset about it and shocked that we were not notified earlier of any problems."
Mark Cedargreen, who runs the charter boat association, told KOMO 4 News, "I've never seen anything like this in the 50 years I've been in Westport. It just doesn't reflect this community. But it is serious and we will deal with it."
The Coast Guard said it's very pleased with the response from the community and the police department, and the local government.
I've lived in Connecticut, and I gather the report isn't talking about Westport, CT.
I'm not buying a word of this. Consider the source (KOMO) a clearly hostile leftist TV station.
I served for years in Astoria, and boarded many local fishing boats, over and over. I still rarely had to ever buy my own beer in town if I wore my uniform.
Thanks for your service!
Komo is a Seattle tv staion. Westport is also the name of a town on the WEST coast. Hey, there's a neighborhood in Kansas City called "Westport" as well. My guess is there are dozens of Westports.
Not suprising to me.
Well, Gray's Harbor County DID go for Kerry this time around, so you're probably right. Doesn't mean that the whole state is this way... just a few population centers.
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