I would have to say that I have never really had any problem's with the our local law enforcement. I have a weekend home in New Buffalo Twp and when I am in town the local Sheriff's car always drives by my home and the deputy always waves (and it's not always the same one). I think that like anything else you can always have a "bad apple" in every group but my dealing with our local Sheriff's has been fine. I have been stopped in the city of New Buffalo by the the local officers for speeding, and I think those guys are bored or something so I must have gave them something to do. I have even seen more Sheriff's on police Harley's than ever this year and my kids loved it. One day when we were walking down to the beach two Sheriff's stopped on their Harley's just to say hi to us and to show our kids their bikes, my hat's off to those officers because they made my kids day. I not real sure about our small local departments but I think the Sheriff in Berrien is doing a fine job whith his people(sorry I'm not sure of his name). As for the bad officers I hope that you can learn something from the nice ones that I have dealt with over the past year that I'v been coming to this area....And good job on this Harbor Country Cop Watch site, I hope it makes people feel better....
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18 comments:
Thank you for your post,
I do agree that not all of our local police are "bad apples", and I have recently become aware of a number of instances in which the local authorities have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help and assist various people with car troubles and/or weather related traffic incidents. However, they're supposed to do these things. They're supposed to act in a friendly manner (i.e. waving, etc.) As was said before, I in no way think that all police officers are bad people. In fact,I would go as far as to say that one must have a big heart in order to want to help people. But I will not give anyone credit for simply doing their job- it's what you are paid to do- and again, does not give you authority to be disrespectful.
I would like to take this time to thank all of our local Law Enforcement for the fine job they have done in 2007. I hope you and your loved ones have a great holiday....God Bless
Are you serious? I dont think the job discription says "you must wave at children and help elderly into the house. There are some new cops that get too "energetic" like a ticket for littering cigerette butts, BUT all in all, if you were in trouble who would you call first? The police force is like the military, they take their life in their hands every day they put on that uniform . Maybe if you have alot of complaints you should apply for the job, take a cut in pay, probably, because police officers arent the highest paid for the job they do, and change the way police are looked at. They ARE paid to pull over speeders and persons making illegal passing and turns. THAT is part of the job discription. Dont break the law and then whine about it!
Actually, police officers don't have to assist you with your "car trouble, or weather related traffic incidents." I highly doubt that is in their job description, and if it is I'd like to see it.
In case you were unaware of the definition for harassment: Words, conduct or action, usually repeated or persistent that, being directed at a specific person, alarms, or causes substantial emotional distress in that person.
If you feel that a police officer harasses you I'm sorry. But do you feel they should allow a person with no headlights to travel on a road, that is 25 mph, going 55? They should just look at that and say "Well, I don't want to harass them, so have a good night."
I personally feel extremely safe living and driving through New Buffalo. The police officers are strict, but they are understanding too. They’re trying to protect you whether you want to believe it or not.
I cannot even count the number of times I have been pulled over in New Buffalo, yet I am not complaining about how they use or “abuse” their authority. Honestly, what good is this blog going to do besides allow you to talk horrible about the people that you are eventually going to need to call at one point or another in your life.
God Bless every New Buffalo Officer. I’m proud to have you serving this community and myself.
Keep up the amazing work.
Really who cares about any of this? As long as we have police on the street people will complain. Don't we have more to worry about than our local small town police? We have a war going on, people loaded with cancer fighting for life and all we want to do is worry about getting stopped for having something hanging from our rear view mirror? This is real sad!! If you break the law pay the price and get over it..I am very happy to be alive...This Harbor Country Cop Watch is a joke.
So we should ignore “small” local problems because of “big” international problems? Our civil rights are no “small” problem.
What is sad is that people have to resort to a forum like this anonymously for fear of retributions and not feel safe enough to bring their complaints publicly to our local officials.
People are not complaining about getting pulled over or ticketed when they break the traffic laws but how they are treated. We are still entitled to decent treatment even when we do commit traffic infractions! Having a dangerous or underpaid job is no justification for unprofessional conduct not becoming an officer. Don’t like the job than don’t do it! According to that logic our firefighters, first responders and soldiers should also treat us like crap. Most of us don’t like our jobs or feel underpaid but that doesn’t give us the right to do the job poorly; why should we accept anything less from our “finest”?
Some of the officers sure have a “funny” way of showing us how they “protect” us. I do however feel much safer every time Katie gets pulled over.
Hey Unbelievable: Have you ever been a firefighter? How about a first responder? or a soldier? how about in police work?,it does not sound like it. You just like to sit and feel sorry for yourself because you "fear retributions" like you said. I think the people that you classify as "low paid jobs" choose that type of job because they want to help others and are willing to put the public before themself. I'm sure that you make alot of money and think your above others but I bet you were to scared to be any of those "low paid" jobs that you stated. I am also sure that you will vote for Clinton in the primary....And Katie I agree with everything you say.. Well put girl....
I think you are one of the bad cops and your entry is filled with faulty un-merited assumptions.
I was a soldiers and a medic. Didn’t complain about the lousy pay or the bad that comes with the job. I foremost didn’t treat the people I was serving like crap.
I don’t make a lot of money, don’t think I am above others and never have nor ever will vote for a Democrat.
I have nothing but respect for the police officers, soldiers, firefighters and first responders who do their jobs properly. For those who abuse the power of their position I have nothing but disdain.
I don't understand how some people can be so NARROW minded that they can't realize the objective of this blog. To those of you defending the officers, your intent is commended. You are right in that officers and their families make tremendous sacrifices and put their lives on the line daily. No one here is denying that. However, can you please be open minded and logical enough to realize that others still have a right to expect and demand courtesy from law enforcement? Democracy only thrives because of accountability. Our forefathers fashioned the system of checks and balances to hold public servants accountable. It’s only human nature to lean towards abusing power and if you were honest you cannot deny that some officers have abused their power by using the same condescending tone toward the public that SGT has used on this blog. This blog is simply following our democratic example and holding officers accountable in hopes that they will cease to abuse power. If you know of an officer who does not abuse his/her power (and I know a couple), then this blog is not referring to that officer. You can be proud of that officer. However, you should NOT want to silence those who are asking every officer to behave like the officer you know. If you are an officer that truly respects and serves the public; than you should be happy for this blog. You also should appreciate that the public is demanding the same behavior from your co-workers that you work hard to display each day. EVERY AMERICAN should praise a website that follows the example set by our founding fathers and uses the democratic virtue of accountability to restrain the abuse of power. Please be open-minded and logical enough to realize that THIS BLOG IS NOT BASHING OFFICERS, IT’S SIMPLY EXPOSING ABUSE OF POWER. And NO ONE should be against exposing abuse.
I have been reading these posts since this site started, and find the idea behind it confusing. The problem I have is that I come from a law enforcement background and currently live in New Buffalo Twp.I left law enforcement because I coundn't deal with the stress anymore. I found the disrespect of the general public, and the other variables to be to much to deal with after 12 years. I just did not have the heart for it anymore. It's funny at one point in my career I remember people saying that we were all lazy and sit around eating donuts all day. At another point in my career we were all crooked, and now I hear that officers are direpectful. The funny thing I find is that there is always someone willing to complain about something, and I know from my experience that there are few people in this world that will thank an officer or department for catching them braking the law. It is truly a thankless job. coupled with the bad pay and long hours, I can honsetly wonder how anyone can make it through a career with out distroying their out look on the world. It certainly affected mine. It was the contributing factor in my divorce and the loss in many friends. This site has brought back many horrible memories of a passed I have tried to forget. The horrible things I saw, and the everlasting memories of things I had to do. I will never forget the look on the families faces when I would tell them their family members would not be coming home, because a drunk got into my patrol area and collided with another motorist. I still blame myself for everyone one of them, and I can remember trying to think of ways of preventing the next one only to learn that I couldn't. This is the truth that every officer will have to face. Now I feel sorry for the officers in my area because of this site. They have to deal with all the things I couldn't handle and an internet site that allows every criminal to attempt to take revenge. I can only imagine what is going through the minds and hearts of the officers reading these. To you officers reading this post I want you all to know if you ever feel the need to stop me in my less then average pickup truck for an equipment violation, or feel the need to ask me for ID while I walk through the city late at night, you will get all that you ask for and a hand shake in thanks for what you do. God bless all of you. To the general public I ask all of you thinking of posting on this site to give it real consideration. Because your words truly affect others.
Dear Anonymous Former Police Officer: Although your posting is heart-warming, it sadly misses the point. I too am a public servant. In my job, we take abused children from abusive parents. My job has also affected my outlook on life and I have many anguishing memories. I too can remember the faces of crying parents when I’ve testified recommending that the Judge terminate their parents rights. I remember the faces of children when I’ve told them that they will never see their parents again and are now up for adoption. Like police officers, I also do a job that goes without appreciation. Many times the very children we are protecting hate us for removing them from their parents. The parents despise us and refuse our services rather than thanking us for providing them with services that can help them become a better parent. But that doesn’t give me permission to treat them rudely or unprofessionally. Despite their treatment of me and my co-workers, I must uphold the conduct of a public servant and I must treat them with respect and courtesy. The public’s treatment of me and my co-workers does not change the fact that accountability remains a great democratic value. My anguishing memories do not negate the virtue in a website that holds public servants accountable. And no matter my anguishing memories or treatment by the public, I would praise a website that would hold me and my co-workers accountable in dealing with our clients.
I think that there is a little confusion here as to what the role of the police officer is. Some of you--and many police officers think that the only role of the cop is to bust bad guys. Well, I suppose that is one school of thought. I would propose, however, that if all you want from your police department is criminal arrests, you ain't getting your money's worth. Just how much crime do you suppose New Buffalo has? I submit that MOST of the "complaints" your police department answers are "calls for service" or assistance. How many bank robberies have there been in New Buffalo in the past 100 years? I can answer that: 1. How many murders? 1. So, essentially, your police are either going to be public service oriented, or else sitting around alot waiting for crime that doesn't happen. Service includes helping stranded motorists, and yes, HELP ELDERLY PEOPLE INTO THE HOUSE. Traditionally, all police agencies have done those kind of things. There really isn't much opportunity to "kick ass and take names," even though most cops prefer that. Of course, you have to ask, if they prefer that, do you really want them carrying a gun with the right to immediately deprive people of their liberties. Of course you don't. You don't want somebody who has the ability to "taze me bro" because you are arguing with them.
But most of all, you don't want somebody with a badge and a gun and a tazer that thinks he is so powerful he can yell at some soccer mom and her toddlers on her way to school. Of course we get that kind of cop everywhere, but activities like that have to be curtailed. The cop who is so drunk on his own power that he has to yell at someone he is writing a ticket to--as reported in this blog--has to go. Anyone who has to assert his authority in such a way should not be a cop, and whoever hired him should be fired as well. Of course, that is why big city police departments do psychological analysis on new cops: to avoid the power hungry, the cops with an axe to grind, those who want to be a cop for the power of the gun and that badge.
Remember, a traffic violation is, in Michigan, a CIVIL INFRACTION, not a criminal matter. Why can't the cop be polite? Why does he have to show his power? Why isn't that cop fired? He is a ticking time bomb, and it is only a matter of time before his next victim gets beat by the cop "in the name of the law". Sounds like the kind of guy who got a swirly in gym class and is now taking it out on society in general.
And, until police work is recognized as a WHITE COLLAR profession, instead of a BLUE COLLAR profession, that's the kind of cops you will get. 30 years ago, there was a push on to require a baccalaureate degree as a prerequisite to any police job. Not now. GED and you are good to go. Do you really want some guy with a GED in charge of stuff he can't even spell? Who thinks the BIll of Rights is a communist plot? Apparently society does. Otherwise, we would require the education and pay them more. Yes, lady who got verbally abused by the cop during the traffic stop. You are right. And, watch for his name. He is the type who will be in trouble, get fired, or kill somebody, all in the abuse of power.
Just a little correction to the last blog: I believe you were referring to the Raz Rd murder when you state only one murder in New Buffalo in the last 100 years. Please dont forget about the two Michigan State Troopers that were murdered IN NEW BUFFALO. We should never forget the sacrifices they made for all of us. Many who have moved to the area in recent years may not realize that this happened right here in our little community. Any town, small or large is a dangerous place to be an officer. Thank you.
Oh be quiet all of you. Bunch of whiners. I'm sure if we knew what you did for a living Watchful I, that we'd have a complaint about how you conduct your business. It's easy to be a Big Man when you're too chicken to reveal your true identity because you fear getting picked on. Man up. Reveal yourself. COWARD!
Watchful I is a joke. A JOKE I say. I'll bet it's all those TOMAC people who have nothing better to do since they lost their bid to keep the casino out of town. That or it's all of those out of towners with nothing better to do. Watchful I must be one of the most uneducated people I've ever heard of. The fact that your local fish-wrap gave him attention is pathetic. I can think of better things to put in the paper. Watchful I must think he's better than the rest of us. My how he's got ALL the answers. Numbskull.
To Duff:
I fail to see the relevance in Watchful I's occupation and education. This is Harbor Country COP WATCH. I was unaware that you attended Harvard Law. Your blind accusations and antagonizing remarks show your ignorance. You say that Watchful I has all the answers. When, you seem to know what everyone else should or should not do with their time and 'fishwrap.'
watchful I seems to have more time on his hands than the rest of us to point the finger at everyone else. Nevermind that he may be doing something wrong himself. I'm not going to argue that there aren't bad cops out there. There are. Believe me, I know. I work with them and have been pulled over by them. New Buffalo has been getting a wee bit aggressive shall we say? My sis-in-law was pulled over by the female officer down there and let me tell you, she seems a bit below board on her tactics and the fact she threatened a ticket to my sis-in-law for an expired Michigan license when she in fact was in possession of a VALID out of state license. Some of you have valid complaints. The rest of you seem to complain that you're not allowed to do as you please. Some cops take advantage of the fact that they're cops. Think they're above the law. I'm a cop. I've been pulled over. I've taken my lumps. I don't tell the cop right away that I'm a cop. I hand him my license, and my registration and insurance. I ask no breaks if I'm wrong. What I will tell you though, is if you feel that you've been mistreated, this site is not the way to go about voicing your concerns. Call the Chief of Police(City)/Sheriff(County)/Post Commander(State) and file a formal complaint. You will have to make yourself known, but things will be taken care of. If you don't want to take the time and file the complaint, these things will keep happening. I think it's great that Watchful I has this site, and if you want to be anonymous, that's fine too. But then you have no room to complain. And to DAC, no, I didn't go to Harvard. I'm too poor for that. I put myself through school and EARNED my own education. I have two degrees from state colleges, I may not be as refined as some of you, but I am educated. I may be inflammatory, but so are most of the comments on this site.
"New post"
I noticed two apparent Police Officers asking why there are so many anonymous post. I believe it's self-evident.
Their post where ironically anonymous also.
Bill
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