Posted on 08/24/2002 10:37:58 AM PDT by Dog Gone
"Simply issuing citations has had little or no impact"
08/23/2002
HOUSTON (KHOU) -- With parents still fuming over the arrests of hundreds of teenagers for trespassing, 11 news has learned the chief, himself, was apparently in on the planning for Operation E-racer.
Houston Police Chief Clarence Bradford made it clear this week that the raid on Westheimer would be thoroughly investigated. Hundreds were arrested in a sting operation set up to curtail street racers and trespassers.
But many have filed complaints saying the arrests were unjust. People like Emily Demmler. "I was handcuffed. I was put in the back of a van," she said. "And I sat in a jail cell from 4:00 to 9:00."
Monday night Chief Bradford called for an investigation of the controversial crackdown. He wanted to know who was in charge? What instructions were given to officers? And why were arrests made instead of issuing citations?
Who was in charge? It turned out to be HPD Captain Mark Aguirre. He told 11 news that he was surprised the chief had so many questions about the raid. "It was my understanding that Chief Bradford was in the loop," said Aguirre. "I assume that. Nothing of this magnitude would escape his attention."
Friday night 11 News obtained an interoffice correspondence, which appears to back Captain Aguirre's beliefs. The memo is the plan for last weekend's raid. It was sent to Chief Bradford on May 13, months ago.
In the correspondence Captain Aguirre explains to the chief the proposed solution for the problems in that area and why issuing tickets would not work.
Aguirre says, "Simply issuing citations has had little or no impact. By arresting individuals observed violating local, state or federal laws and towing violators' vehicles, law enforcement will have more of an influence over the individuals' future behavior."
Yesterday most, if not all, the officers involved in the raid were told to report to police headquarters where they picked up a set of over 20 questions. They'll all have to answer the inquiries about what happened last weekend, such as who was in charge. The questions came from HPD's Internal Affairs Division, which is investigating along with the Houston's Office of Inspector General.
They ALL knew, and now they're all trying to cover their butts.
Wanna bet that umpteen lawyers have called them offering their services to up that complaint to a lawsuit.
You mention the story of the janitor at your fellowship. What if the police had shown up at your fellowship to make the teenagers leave and had thrown the janitor in jail when he tried to enter the fellowship to do his job? Would it have been alright to arrest him for doing his job? Exactly what law would he have broken?
People are against the police because they arrested innocent citizens who happened to have stopped at Sonic for something to eat. They arrested innocent citizens who were going to K-Mart to buy groceries, clothes, toys, or any of the other items that are for sale at K-Mart. Should someone be arrested for buying a burger at Sonic? Should someone be arrested for shopping at K-Mart?
I have no problem with dealing very strictly against mobs of teenagers who are causing problems. If the police had confined themselves to this action, the situation wouldn't be an issue. The situation became an issue because the police arrested people for engaging in the traditional American act of shopping.
I'm not trying to blast you for supporting the police, but I am criticizing you for speaking out of ignorance of the situation.
WFTR
Bill
It's apparent that you are new to this story.
Do a word search for "Kmart" and read the many articles posted that quote many many irate citizens who were wrongly arrested, hauled out of their cars at stoplights, or were eating at Sonic and were arrested, some of whom could produce receipts showing they were legitimate Kmart customers.
I suspect there is a very good reason this story won't go away.
So your answer to knee-jerk anti-police sentiments is to have a knee-jerk reaction of your own? Seriously, I would suggest that you do more research on this.
P.S. I am not a lefty or liberal; FAR FROM IT.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.