Posted on 04/25/2011 2:59:49 AM PDT by Daffynition
COLUMBUS, Ga. --
Starting at 10 o'clock Friday, two senior non-commissioned officers from Fort Benning will be on courtesy patrol. The soldiers will be wearing arm bands that read, "Courtesy Patrol."
Fort Benning Commanding General Robert Brown and Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson made the announcement earlier this week.
They need to increase security in Uptown Columbus comes after two weekend incidents in early April
Military patrols in the US?
Quaint...
Why are local police responsibilities in Columbus, GA now a federal concern?
In the first incident, police say five soldiers beat another man. The beating was witnessed near First Ave. and 10th street- sending the victim - a former solider - to the hospital with head injuries.
The other, a shooting that left four injured - one fatally - at Mario’s restaurant on Broadway. A man is charged in connection with the assault.
Now, Columbus police will have the company of two uniformed Fort Benning soldiers on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Mayor Tomlinson says the soldiers will not be able to make any arrests, but will be able to command order of all military personnel and if need be, alert military police.
“You can’t arrest someone for being intoxicated, but a senior officer can order you back to base or have military police come get you and bring you back to base,” says Tomlinson.
Charlotte Burton says the extra patrols might not be enough.
“I know this is just a start but i think they will have to increase security that’s being offered….a lot of people come down here at night,” says Burton
For Specialist Ryan Jesse - stationed at Fort Benning - he says soldiers will think twice after seeing another in uniform.
“It keeps things in check. It avoids thing getting out of hand which happens a lot with soldiers unfortunately,” says SPC Jesse.
The patrols will last about five hours ending at 3a.m. when the bars close.
This is not the first time the City of Columbus has enlisted the help of military courtesy patrols, but it has been years since the practice was used.
In addition to checking in on the courtesy patrols, Brown said he also came downtown to enjoy a night with his family. But after a somewhat delayed response to the beating, in which four Benning soldiers were charged two weeks ago with aggravated battery, it was clear that post officials sought to send a message to soldiers and the community. In downtown, the stakes are high for the post and the city on the weekend, and both entities have seemed acutely aware of public perception in light of the recent violence, which included a fatal shooting that did not involve any soldiers.
Still, Brown stressed that incidents involving military personnel are few and far between.
Read more: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/04/24/1550666/courtesy-patrol-steps-in-downtown.html#ixzz1KWnQWzS3
Posse Comitatus?
What about Phenix City?
welcome to “state assistance by federal forces, title 10” land ppl... hope that is right, the title 10 part.
This is the thin edge of the wedge, they shall call it “assistance to local authorities, notwithstanding the prime focus is the protection of federal property”
And if in any doubt as to how they shall wash this.....
Let me see... oh yes.... the standing orders, “there is no permission for warning shots. All interaction SHALL be using Deadly Force”
Or something like that... anyway..... IDGARA as I am recalling this for a very large document I read a few weeks ago.... maybe I am wrong.... maybe...
EL
the govt violates so many other ofits own laws, now they do this?
Where is a Congressman/woman with the spine needed to confront this?
When I was in the Army in Germany, courtesy patrols were the norm. Basically, having a couple on senior noncoms opo in kind of keeps a lid on things.
opo = pop. grrrrrr.
PC can and has been sidestepped, and my associate to whom i showed the documents to, a staunch FRiend, said his heart hit his feet when he saw what they have organized should OBummer want to play nasty...
EL
Far from it. This is probably a good thing. It’s a ‘locals vs. soldiers’ thing. Normally the soldiers would get the worst of it due to the LEOs often favoring locals. By having a few soldiers on patrol the command’s influence is asserted rather than the local LEOs.
I use to do it when I was in the army..patrolled on foot in downtown Columbia, SC, the street in front of the state capitol building.
Only NCO combat veterans were qualified to patrol. We were on a duty roster..I was an instructor for basic trainees.
We had a nightstick, CP helmet, arm band..saw nothing wrong with it.
I remember in the 1950s, MP’s on weekends patroling towns close to bases. And they had their work cut out for them by the GI’s, don’t ask how I know.
Military police, policing military,has nothing to do with non military. Has gone on always.
Not hardly.
You've probably never been out on the town with nearby military bases. It's pretty much SOP, or at least was, to have Shore Patrol or MP's patrolling the bar areas on week end nights rounding up drunken enlisted men.
The idea of just two unarmed officers relying soley on command presence seems weak to me though. Should have had the MP's out long before this and it might not have come to ahead.
This is nothing...if you want to see action..visit Djibouti when a US navy ship has a three day port visit..and there are 900 French Foreign Legion based in country..
Used to be commonplace to have Navy “Shore Patrol”, and Army “Military Police” pulling duty to ensure the Military personnel represented their respective services well in civilian environments. Especially on weekends when the drinking can get out of hand.
I don’t find this outrageous other than it could get out of hand only due the attitude of the current CIC, and company versus American, Constitutional respecting leadership.
I take it you were never on Hay Street in the 70’s.
Two soldiers from Fort Bragg on Courtesy Patrol and two Cops walked the 500 block every payday weekend.
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