We've got a new Congressman in Memphis and I was just thinking maybe I would send him an idea that, I think, needs to be implemented. Currently, if a person wants to purchase a gun from a private citizen, they can just make the transaction without trying to find out if the gun is stolen, or they can try to get the seller to go with them to find a cop. The cop can check the gun to see if it is stolen, because most won't check it unless they have the gun in their possession. I think the FBI could help recover thousands of stolen guns, and other items, if they would allow citizens to check serialized items against the NCIC stolen articles database.
I can't even remember how many times I've arrested someone carrying a pistol that was stolen, and they were not charged with Receiving and Concealing Stolen Property. The thought is that you can't prove they knew it was stolen. Well, I agree, if the item was stolen months ago, you can't get a conviction on that. So, why not open up the information to the public? If someone brings a gun or any other item to me and I run it and find out it is reported as stolen. I'm not giving it back. I'm calling the cops and turning it over. How many other people would do the same? If only a handful of people did that, there would be fewer stolen guns on the streets.
This access could also allow people to check other items, like vehicles, tractors, four wheelers, etc. to see if they are stolen. I think this is an idea whose time has come. Anyone else agree?
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Crime Fighter - Extra-Ordinary
Hmmm, as I recall our current Sheriff ran for office on a promise of employing functional consolidation. When he took office, there were already a batch of "metro" operations in place. Since that time things appear to have gone south. There was even talk of a "Metro Narcotics" unit being formed right after his initial win, and there was a lot of time and money spent on trying to make it happen. The end result was nothing. There was even talk of a Metro Fugitive operation, it too never happened. The MPD refused to throw-in with Mark.
Then there was the metro-gang unit. The MPD pulled out of that last year and put their officers on the street. Mark took his ten men and formed his own "unit". I'm told he has pared that large number down to six, so instead of calling it the gang unit, I think it would be much more appropriate to call it "our gang". You know like the "Little Rascals". Wonder who is playing Alfalfa? Welcome to the gang club.
The latest revelation is the breakup of the Metro DUI unit. MPD Director Godwin pulled the plug on that operation just yesterday. I guess he agrees with me that running beer stings is not the highest and best use of available manpower. But, then again, Godwin has actually made arrests. He understands crime fighting and since his trip to New York, he has had an epiphany. If anyone cares to do the research, they will see that I have been preaching the answer for the past two years - non stop, ZERO tolerance coupled with innovation. This was my plan from the outset and based on what I had seen from working in the streets and developing systems that are highly effective.
Note to Mark - Mark you cut the resources of the SCSO down to dangerous levels so you could look good to the taxpayers, and now "the chickens have come home to roost." Go back to the county commission and ask for money to hire more deputies, then consolidate your narcotics street club (less than 10), your "our gang club" (6 officers) and the Fugitive squad (less than 40). Ask for an additional 100 officers and forget about Glammer Slammer II. I know you just floated that out there to scare people into supporting your real agenda, which is to get CCA to take over the jail and corrections center. Next, stop answering law enforcement questions like you had risen through the ranks. Let Chief Oldham answer those, he's been there, done that. You can field the jail questions.
On another note, and while I'm still being instructive to the high shurf, I see you cleaned up your campaign finance operation to the point that the only convict I recognized was Bobby Lanier, and he's on everybody's list. I know you were saddened to see your long time friend and campaign contributor (Joe Cooper) get arrested recently. But, I guess you can look back on that picture you had taken with him at the car lot with fond memories. Now, don't get too down about this next revelation but, I'm also hearing some more of your friends/contributors are going to be staying at the Crossbar Hotel - and soon. (Oh well, easy come, easy go.) Back to the donations - I didn't even see the wives of convicts or underworld types names on this list. The only thing you've got left to fix is taking money from people who do business with the county, you know like people who run body shops and wrecker services and other such things. Of course, I also noted that you didn't take in nearly as much money this time either!
Now, back to my review of all things criminal in Shelby County. Under the current Sheriff, the county has experienced a blossoming crime problem. Violent crime in Memphis only grew by less than 3% in the first half of this year, yet in the county it grew by 17%. Why is that? Could it be because of failed policies? Isn't that what was said about Memphis and the reason it had gotten so bad? I believe it is. This is why it is dangerous to have a Sheriff who has never done the law enforcement side of the business. If he were merely the titular head, and he delegated the crime fighting to people who had a plan of attack, things might be different. But, the reality is that he is the Sheriff and he appears to think that because he won the race, he's a lawman. I say the facts don't support that assertion. He's now into his fifth year and things are not looking better, they are looking worse. Not only is crime getting worse in the county, the police chiefs in the other municipalities are shunning him. I believe it is because he "knows not" what he does.
Now, I know this posting will rankle many people. You'll say, we had no alternative but to vote for him. Well, that may be true. As a write-in candidate, I knew I had no chance, and the other alternative wasn't acceptable. So, I'm merely pointing out that this guy isn't getting it done. If you find anything I've said to be untrue, please let me know and I'll make the corrections and apologize. On the other hand, if you review the facts, I believe you have to agree. Sheriff Luttrell is failing the taxpayers of Shelby County.
In the immortal words of Ronald Reagan, "are you better off today, than you were four years ago?" In terms of crime, I would say not.
Then there was the metro-gang unit. The MPD pulled out of that last year and put their officers on the street. Mark took his ten men and formed his own "unit". I'm told he has pared that large number down to six, so instead of calling it the gang unit, I think it would be much more appropriate to call it "our gang". You know like the "Little Rascals". Wonder who is playing Alfalfa? Welcome to the gang club.
The latest revelation is the breakup of the Metro DUI unit. MPD Director Godwin pulled the plug on that operation just yesterday. I guess he agrees with me that running beer stings is not the highest and best use of available manpower. But, then again, Godwin has actually made arrests. He understands crime fighting and since his trip to New York, he has had an epiphany. If anyone cares to do the research, they will see that I have been preaching the answer for the past two years - non stop, ZERO tolerance coupled with innovation. This was my plan from the outset and based on what I had seen from working in the streets and developing systems that are highly effective.
Note to Mark - Mark you cut the resources of the SCSO down to dangerous levels so you could look good to the taxpayers, and now "the chickens have come home to roost." Go back to the county commission and ask for money to hire more deputies, then consolidate your narcotics street club (less than 10), your "our gang club" (6 officers) and the Fugitive squad (less than 40). Ask for an additional 100 officers and forget about Glammer Slammer II. I know you just floated that out there to scare people into supporting your real agenda, which is to get CCA to take over the jail and corrections center. Next, stop answering law enforcement questions like you had risen through the ranks. Let Chief Oldham answer those, he's been there, done that. You can field the jail questions.
On another note, and while I'm still being instructive to the high shurf, I see you cleaned up your campaign finance operation to the point that the only convict I recognized was Bobby Lanier, and he's on everybody's list. I know you were saddened to see your long time friend and campaign contributor (Joe Cooper) get arrested recently. But, I guess you can look back on that picture you had taken with him at the car lot with fond memories. Now, don't get too down about this next revelation but, I'm also hearing some more of your friends/contributors are going to be staying at the Crossbar Hotel - and soon. (Oh well, easy come, easy go.) Back to the donations - I didn't even see the wives of convicts or underworld types names on this list. The only thing you've got left to fix is taking money from people who do business with the county, you know like people who run body shops and wrecker services and other such things. Of course, I also noted that you didn't take in nearly as much money this time either!
Now, back to my review of all things criminal in Shelby County. Under the current Sheriff, the county has experienced a blossoming crime problem. Violent crime in Memphis only grew by less than 3% in the first half of this year, yet in the county it grew by 17%. Why is that? Could it be because of failed policies? Isn't that what was said about Memphis and the reason it had gotten so bad? I believe it is. This is why it is dangerous to have a Sheriff who has never done the law enforcement side of the business. If he were merely the titular head, and he delegated the crime fighting to people who had a plan of attack, things might be different. But, the reality is that he is the Sheriff and he appears to think that because he won the race, he's a lawman. I say the facts don't support that assertion. He's now into his fifth year and things are not looking better, they are looking worse. Not only is crime getting worse in the county, the police chiefs in the other municipalities are shunning him. I believe it is because he "knows not" what he does.
Now, I know this posting will rankle many people. You'll say, we had no alternative but to vote for him. Well, that may be true. As a write-in candidate, I knew I had no chance, and the other alternative wasn't acceptable. So, I'm merely pointing out that this guy isn't getting it done. If you find anything I've said to be untrue, please let me know and I'll make the corrections and apologize. On the other hand, if you review the facts, I believe you have to agree. Sheriff Luttrell is failing the taxpayers of Shelby County.
In the immortal words of Ronald Reagan, "are you better off today, than you were four years ago?" In terms of crime, I would say not.
Friday, December 01, 2006
And then there were Eleven
Arrest or indictment aren't necessarily indicative of guilt, but it sure doesn't look good. From the evidence that has been presented to the public at this point, to the historical factors, to a general sense of criminal conduct in and around the political scene, I'd say this bunch is pretty much "toast".
I was talking about this with my wife earlier tonight and she said something I thought hit the nail on the head. (I always check with her to see how the general public feels about something, because I think she is representative). She said, "this doesn't surprise me, isn't this what politics really is anyway?" I found myself trying to defend politicians, then stopping midstream and pretty much agreeing. At least in Memphis and Shelby County, this appears to be the way it is. I've been railing about the culture of corruption here for the past year or so and when I first started talking about it, I got a wake-up call. When I mentioned that so-and-so had taken money from a convicted felon, almost every politician I spoke with said, "well, I took money from him too, but I didn't know." I don't recall ANY of them giving the money back, except my friend Terry Roland. Terry got a check in the mail from one of the more notorious ex felons and he promptly put it in a return envelope with a note thanking him for offering to help.
I'd say this would be a great opportunity for these "elected officials" to go through their books and return any money they took from the underworld, wouldn't you? Do you agree that a sheriff shouldn't take money from a convicted drug dealer? Do you agree that a DA shouldn't take contributions from a convicted felon, and that a mayor, clerk, commissioner, councilperson, or even a school board member should also adhere to the same policy? I've been trying to get the CA to dig into these politicians financial disclosures and connect the dots so the citizens can see what I already know to be true. So far they have yet to undertake the project. However, hope springs eternal, and they may now take a look. I'm told, they are nosing around a little more these days. . . .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
