The botched search for James Kim

michellemalkin.com ^ | December 18, 2006 06:29PM | Michelle Malkin

[the anti-liberal]

By Michelle Malkin

  ·   December 18, 2006 06:29 PM

The Oregonian reports:

Searchers failed to exploit vital clues in the hunt for the family of James Kim, including several crucial pieces of evidence that surfaced in the final hours of his life, when he was freezing, alone and lost in the woods.

An examination by The Oregonian found a search plagued by confusion, gaps in communication, and failures of leadership in Josephine County, where the Kim family was found.

Ugh:

Many of the key missteps came in Josephine County. The search-and-rescue coordinator now acknowledges she was overwhelmed by the demands of the search. She failed to call for help from the National Guard, which meant that heat-detecting helicopters stayed on the ground in the crucial two nights James Kim slept in the forest.

Her direct supervisor, an undersheriff in his last week on the job, said he ignored a late-night call from her about the case because he was watching an Oregon State football game on television.

SF Chronicle has a similar re-trace of the fumbles and lapses.

Let's hope everyone--travelers and law enforcement alike--learn from the mistakes.

[the anti-liberal]

"She failed to call for help from the National Guard"

I just can't help but wonder about that: did liberal political correctness (Portland is very liberal) cost James Kim his life?

The included article from San Fran Chron outlines events pretty well, as far as I can tell.

[the anti-liberal]

ping for your Oregon list

[bobby.223]

great pic. of michelle!

[verity]

"The Ineptness of James Kim." is a much more appropriate Title.

[PGalt]

Michelle Malkin bump!

[Yorlik803]

I feel for the incident commander. I was involved in SAR for a while and ran a few incidents, both real and Mock. It is very easy to become overwhelmed. You have to keep your head when all about are losing thiers.
This is something she is going have to live with for a long time. I wouldnt be too quick to comdemn her unless you were put in simular positions.

[DCPatriot]

Why is that??

[JRios1968]

Thank you for following the rules

[rightandproud]

As someone who lives in the Portland Metro area, let me assure everyone that The Oregonian is as left wing a rag as there is.

I have to wonder who they're protecting by placing the blame at the feet of the Josephine County....

[the anti-liberal]

I'm not condemning her, but I know San Fran's "distaste" for the military (and the National Guard), and I know Portland's a San Fran wannabe, so it's not a stretch, in my mind, to think she may have chosen not to contact the National Guard out of PC bias.

Not knowing what really did take place I can only surmise, of course.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Her direct supervisor, an undersheriff in his last week on the job, said he ignored a late-night call from her about the case because he was watching an Oregon State football game on television.

I have a friend whose son was born brain damaged because a doctor failed to show up in the delivery room 45 years ago for a similar reason. They were the first people in the Bay Area to successfully sue a doctor in such a case.

[the anti-liberal]

Always, and always a pleasure!

[Logical me]

Why am I surprised. The military as well as some special private companies have heat seeking equipment and can detect a dear in the forest. Where is this equipment? Same place as almost everything that could be used is. We have a political system built of the dumbest of the dumb, and don't expect anything important to be added to the search and rescue teams. Too busy filling their pockets to do anything meaningful.

[the anti-liberal]

Wow! I'm sure (I hope) they realized that the game really just wasn't worth it, and regretted their decision.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Sheriff preferring to watch football instead of call to action didn't help, did it?

[taxesareforever]

You mean his desire to find help for his family is termed "ineptness"? Your comment termed "assinine" is more appropriate.

[ThreeYearLurker]

80% of Oregon is as conservative as can be. If it wasn't for the overwhelming concentrations of liberal in a few key spots, it would be like Idaho. Josephine county is red.

[the anti-liberal]

"Where is this equipment?"

Right now I'm recalling all of those buses in New Orleans during Katrina.

[CottShop]

Did the report ALSO mention that while there MIGHT have been some breakdowns- that at least SOMEONE WAS LOOKING for Kim? Or did they just malign all those who risked theirl ives looking for kim- criticising their efforts when the reporters did NOTHING? Cripes- http://sacredscoop.com

[WV Mountain Mama]

Well, for starters, he could have turned around when he missed the exit for the main highway. The exit they knew they missed. Or, when driving down a deserted, snow and ice bound road, he could have turned around to go back to the exit they knew about. Not that it is nice to use hindsight on a tragedy, those two things stand out to me. I feel terrible for the family. I am sure the wife will second guess that day her entire life, not to mention when he left them. She has the terrible shoulda, coulda, woulda's to live with.