North State Voices: Christmas 2010

The seeds of a man’s destruction are planted deeply within his own heart.

This thought has been on my mind for several weeks now. Partly for personal reasons and partly from the experiences I’ve had in my professional life. These experiences have made me focus on the beliefs and mindsets, as well as what I have thought to be, “True” throughout my life. It’s been both affirming, as well as illuminating the things that are of little value in my life.

In large part, I believe that we are born individuals, with inherent personalities. This is modified by the experiences that happen to us, as well as the actions we take in life. It’s these actions that take us along one of many of life’s paths.

I recently spoke with a man who had found the end of his path. He’d called 911 and needed help. As my partner and I spoke with him, we found that he had grown up in an inner city where he began to abuse alcohol and cigarettes. He was raised with a heavy dependence on his racial identity, as well as the belief that the, “good life” lay on the path of money, and perceived power. He lived that life, repeating the same cycles over and over, until in his latter 30’s he found himself addicted, empty, and in despair. 30 plus years of living with a belief system came crashing down when he found that that system was as empty as the packaging it came in.

We spoke as we drove to the councilor’s office and I could sense a change in his heart. This was the turning point in his life and it was apparent that he was now seeing the hope that there was something more to life, as well as a chance to place his feet on another path.

As a Police Officer, I have the unique opportunity to visit numerous families and homes. This affords me the chance to observe family and personal dynamics from a perspective, often times more objectively than the people therein. I watch as child after child is sent off on the same path, never knowing that it leads to nowhere.

On this path, there is no guide but the distant laughter and glittering promises of fun and excitement. It’s as a mirage, just out of grasp. Drawing them further and further into the desert; never knowing until the end that it was empty vapor.

I watch the teenage young men who are fairly advanced on their journey along this path. Theirs is the pathway of “pain management.” Not anger management mind you, as that is what gives them a sense of power and control over their situations.

These are the young men, whom as children lived in homes full of anger, dysfunctional communication and violence. These were the children to whom Santa rarely came.

I thought for my last piece in this column, I could write a nice fluffy piece about Santa and Christmas memories and the like, but that wasn’t what was in my heart. I believe in Christmas. I believe in Christ. And during this holiday season, I’m choosing to do my little part, whenever I get a call to deal with someone on that path, to do my best to help them see another way.

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North State Voices: Dear Rookie...

North State Voices: Dear Rookie: Get ready for a challenge
Chico Enterprise-Record (Chico, CA) - Thursday, September 23, 2010

Dear Officer:

Congratulations on your new career. You're only one of 12 or so graduates from your police academy who actually got a job as a law enforcement officer.

You've passed a physical test, a background check and a psychological screening. Those are no easy feats.

As you enter this new field though, there are a few things I thought you should know.

Your first five years will be the most exciting of your life. You will look forward every day to going to work. You will show up early and you will go home late because the job is so much fun. What could be better than this?

Come about four to five years, though, something will start to change. It will be subtle and very difficult to understand. What's changing is you. More specifically, what is changing is your ability to deal with what you see. As psychologist Bobby Smith teaches, your cup will become full and there will be no room for anything else. Each new drop causes the cup to overflow.

You see, you are entering a field where approximately 52 bad guys kill officers in America every year. While this is a terrible number, the amount of officers who die by their own hand every year is on average 482.

You are entering a career field that is great at teaching you to defend yourself from violent encounters, but lousy at teaching its own officers to deal with the stresses caused by what they encounter.

The public you have sworn to protect and serve has no idea of what things you deal with. They have no clue that "those" types of things happen in "their town." The truth is they don't want to know. That's what makes them feel safe. And that's OK.

When you tell people what you do, they will assume they know everything about you. Their idea of law enforcement is largely gained by watching television and from that "one time" they got pulled over and got a ticket. And I guess that's OK too.

You will go inside "homes" that will make you sick. You will see filth and death and inhumanity in its worst forms. You will be judged by people. You will be yelled at, called a racist, a liar, a thief, a pig and told by people who pay no taxes that they "pay your salary." You will be expected to hold your tongue, stand tall and not let it bother you.

You will maintain a constant state of hyper-vigilance at work. You will crash harder than most others when you get home. You will carry a burden of stress continually from week to week, which eventually comes to feel "normal." This is a wicked cycle that takes a horrible toll.

You are not the only one who will pay for your career choice. Your wife and children will suffer consequences too. Your sons will suffer a greater likelihood of attention deficit disorders and type-2 diabetes. Your family will often not have daddy home for major events and holidays. Your wife will suffer many lonely nights, wondering if she will get the knock at the door, telling her that her world has just been turned upside down. She'll put on a good front, but inside it will tear her heart just a little every time you kiss her goodbye.

So, how do you survive? How do you keep from becoming one of the 482?

Exercise. Eat only good foods. Sleep well (good luck with that). Familiarize yourself with the works of modern police psychologists. They will give you the skills necessary to counteract the constant diet of negativity "the job" feeds you.

Perhaps the best thing you could do is to serve. Truly serve. The best moments in your career will be the times you show compassion and truly help someone. So many won't accept your help, but those times you connect with someone and make their lives better are the times that bring true satisfaction and make the costs of "the job" worth it.

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North State Voices: Remembering Randy Jennings

REMEMBERING RANDY

He stood in his green and tan uniform, filling the hallway with his large frame. He’d missed SWAT training due to scheduling issues and was noticeably disappointed. I don’t know why I stopped to look back, as the team was leaving, but as I did, the thought came to my mind, “What a tall, handsome man.” It was the last time I saw him, for in a matter of days he would be dead.

Randy Jennings was a Deputy with the Butte County Sheriff’s Department for 9 years. During his career, he’d worked in the jail, the courts, the civil division and in the special enforcement unit. He taught arrest and control techniques at Butte College and was a team member on the Special Incident Response Team. It was his dream and he worked hard to get on the team.

It was the night of May 21, 1997 Randy was working an overtime shift, covering south county. The call was for a domestic violence incident in Thermalito. A distraught wife who had fled the residence and a husband who was possessed by an, “evil spirit” having gone out after her. He’s left the residence. Does he have any guns? No? Alright.

Within a few minutes, Randy spotted the suspect at 10th and Grand. A short foot pursuit ensued into the field adjacent to a church. Without warning, the man who supposedly didn’t have a gun, spun and fired at Randy. He was hit.

Now, from a simple domestic violence call, Randy was in the fight for his life. He drew his sidearm and returned fire. The suspect now too was mortally hit. With reasoning only known to the unreasonable, the suspect turned his gun towards his heart and ended his own life.

“County 30, “ This was Randy’s last earthly transmission. The cup was broken. It would hold his life no more.

The funeral and its proceedings are a vague memory now. The members of the Special Incident Response Team were the pall bearers during the funeral. The dignitaries took our seats, so we sat in a side room of the church and told stories about Randy. It was about the best thing we could have done.

As he was laid to rest, the contingent of helicopters flew the missing man formation. It was so appropriate, as Randy loved flying in the helicopters for the Special Enforcement Unit. In my mind, it was then that his soul left and was free to go home.

Today, hundreds of people drive over the Randy Jennings memorial bridge separating Oroville and Thermalito. I wonder how many know the man to whom it was dedicated when they look at the plaque that features Randy’s image.

Many people have come and gone since that time and may not have any idea the complete sacrifice that one man gave to protect his community.

I have a copy of the memorial service in my locker, alongside of a rubbing from the National Peace Officer’s Memorial in Washington D.C. with Randy’s name. It’s the first thing I see every day I go to work and the last thing I see before I close the door on my work day.

In the poem, “In Flanders fields” the author calls out with the voice of those who have died. “To you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high.” For those who worked alongside Randy, these things will ride with us for the remainder of our lives. And despite the darkness, or perhaps in the face of such darkness, the best we can do is to keep the torches taken from those failing hands held high for all to see.

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North State Voices: Remembering Inskip

During the year of 2010, I had the unique opportunity to write for the local newspaper (The Chico Enterprise Record). I used this as a chance to help people understand the impacts of working in the law enforcement have on those who step up to the challenge.

The next several posts are articles relating to law enforcement. I hope you enjoy.

James Dimmitt


REMEMBERING INSKIP

Remembering is a way of honoring. Remembering is a way of tying ourselves and our children to our history and our culture.

This 4th of July season is a time to remember those who gave so much to make us a free people. This season, I choose to remember two local men who gave their lives attempting to maintain the law and order so necessary in a free society.

It was a quiet, warm summer afternoon, perfect for a family trip to Barnes and Noble. I was working as a Deputy with the Butte County Sheriff’s Department. My work pager went off while we were in the children’s book section, indicating that there was a SWAT call out.

I called in and the dispatcher’s voice quietly said, “Larry Estes and Bill Hunter went into a cabin in Inskip and we can’t reach them.” “What?” was all I could reply, trying to wrap my mind around what she was saying. She repeated herself and I hung up the phone. “This can’t be happening again.”

It was July 26, 2001 and that phone call began one of the darkest nights of my life. After dropping my family off, I was transported along with the other members of the Sheriff’s Department Special Incident Response Team (S.I.R.T.) to the Inskip Inn via helicopter.

We were briefed, finding that the Magalia resident Deputy, Bill Hunter had been dispatched to a disturbance call involving firearms. Lieutenant Larry Estes, finishing up administrative work in the area responded to back the lone Deputy. The two made entry into the small red two-story cabin and had not responded since.

Our information was that the suspect was in the cabin, reportedly with an AK-47 and likely other firearms. Going into the cabin that night, everyone on S.I.R.T. truly believed that they were going to be shot, if not killed.

A rescue was devised after which there were a few minutes to make final preparations. One of my team mates caught my shoulder as I walked past. He held tight and would not let go. It was then that I realized that he was praying. Here in the middle of the road, my friend whom I’d never known to be particularly spiritual was calling to his Heavenly Father for us to make it through the night.

The entry was made and we found the worst had occurred. Our friends were dead, ambushed upon entering the tiny cabin. In an act of pure courage, Lieutenant Estes stood barrel to barrel with the suspect, exchanging gunfire. Both men found their mark.

Even now, I can close my eyes and see that awful scene. Somehow, with time I suppose, those visions have faded somewhat into the background of my mind.

There are five law enforcement Officers who have given their lives protecting our communities in Butte County. CHP Officer William R. McDaniel (1934), Chico Police Officer Carleton J. Bruce (1938), Deputy Randy E. Jennings (1997), Deputy Bill Hunter and Lieutenant Larry Estes (2001). These are the men who have given everything to protect our citizens.

Their names and the lives they lived should always be remembered. In your July 4th celebrations, would you spend some time telling your children their stories?

Teaching them that there are those who stood against all odds to keep us free.

Published May 2010 Chico Enterprise Record

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The people in your neighborhood...

When I first became a Law Enforcement Officer, I didn't realize that I would be inheriting so many stereotypes. I found myself suddenly being accused of being a racist, a pig (still don't know where that one came from or how farm animals figure into this), a doughnut eating lazy jerk, and various other things that I can't say on a rated PG / PG-13 forum. Most were boring and got old fairly quickly, but occasionally I'd get one that would make me laugh. I recall, for instance an older drunk guy calling me, "Johnny Law" all the way from Chico to the Oroville jail. Maybe it's not the name, but the way he said it, "Is that what you think, Johnny Laaaaaaaaaaaawah?" I'm still not sure who "Johnny Law" is, but it apparently was this guy's best attempt at an insult.

My point being, we are often judged by the stereotypes presented in entertainment media. I have been in law enforcement for about 12 years or so at this point. While I have worked with a few people who might fit the negative stereotypes, MOST are nothing like the Officers portrayed on fictional television shows.

The next few posts are going to be dedicated to the fine men and women I work with. They are good people who live interesting lives and have good hearts. True, sometimes they have bad days and might occasionally say something untoward, but then again, who the heck doesn't?

Please stay tuned...

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The first weeks back...

"The students are back." A quote oft repeated at this time of the year by Officers, administrators and Chicoans alike. I have been assigned to a team of Officers dedicated to helping deal with the influx of so many students in such a short period of time.

Traditionally, the major impacts are felt the week prior to school starting and the first week back. There are new students who are freshly graduated from high school and perhaps aren't aware of the laws concerning alcohol use, or the powerful effects alcohol can have on the body.

The last shift of this last weekend seemed as if it was "alcohol poisoning" night. My partner and I found and sought medical attention for at least three students who were overcome by alcohol poisoning.

In the first two cases, the poisoned person's "friends" were "helping" them by getting them a cab ("It's O.K. we called him a taxi"). I'm not sure what the cabbie is going to do with them, but the potential for this person to die was significant. In one case, the "friends" were people who were also intoxicated and had "just met" the person at a bar. Tell me, what emotional ties do these "friends" have to this person? If they dump him off in a bathroom or bedroom and leave him, will it matter to them? Here are intoxicated and apparently immature people making life altering decisions for someone they barely know. It may not matter to them, but I'll bet it will matter to the families and loved ones who's son or daughter this is.

The last one of the night for my partner and I was a young adult who had drunk himself into a complete stupor. Bystanders found him under the back tires of a vehicle parked near a favorite downtown bar. Luckily, they pulled him out from underneath the vehicle and placed him on his side, propped against a parking meter. While this is the correct position to prevent asphyxiation on his own vomit, it left him completely vulnerable to the whims of whatever person walked by. Again, luckily for this man, we came by and were waved over by another set of bystanders.

My blog partner Jim Parrott came across a similar situation the same night while he was patrolling on his horse in the South Campus Neighborhood. He and his partner were flagged over by a student who said there was a drunk girl passed out in the alley behind his house, and he was concerned she would become a victim. Jim and his partner rode into the alley and found the female pictured below. She was alone, seated on a curb in the dark alley, bloody from an apparent fall, and her feet resting in a pile of her own vomit. She was able to tell Jim that she was a student who lived in an on-campus dorm. She was so intoxicated that she could not stand. Jim and his partner summoned an ambulance and she was taken to Enloe Hospital to detox.

Last year, two minors died of alcohol poisoning within a few weeks of each other. This was a huge loss for the families and unfortunately one that is repeated annually. With the influx of students unfamiliar with alcohol and the ready availability of mass amounts of beer and other forms of alcohol, the health of the students becomes a significant concern.

Chico State CADEC Alcohol Poisoning card

I personally like working with the college students. While it gets old hearing, "F*** the Police" repeatedly, most are reasonable people who are here to have a good time. We have worked hard this year at educating and building trust with the students at the regular hotspots around the south campus neighborhoods. This has worked well in helping deal with out of control parties.

While we'd rather people didn't host parties that could quickly rage out of control, most residents have realized that they can call us to help them settle the situation. We explain that there are several consequences to hosting large parties, including:

· Alcohol poisoning
· Underage drinking
· Narcotics sales
· Assault and battery
· Stabbings
· Sexual Assaults
· Vandalism
· Thefts
· DUI’s

Other potentialities include the possibility that the residents could be civilly liable for the bad things that happen to victims at their parties. This along with the fact that now hundreds of people know what nice stuff is in the house. These same residents are frequently calling us the next day to report the theft of laptop computers, IPOD's, purses and other valuables.

I am personally glad to help people who are taking the responsibility for their homes and parties. I am more than happy to let these types of calls take precedence over general noise complaints where the reporting party refuses to provide their information.

This has been an interesting and exhausting week for law enforcement. The sheer amount of calls and types of calls have taxed our reserves. Despite this, the Officers and Supervisors I work with have handled it well. I congratulate them for their patience and congratulate the student body for doing a good job (for the most part) assimilating into our community.

*For more ideas regarding alcohol intoxication, please refer to the Shelby's Rules website. This is a wonderful movement borne of sorrow and loss. Perhaps it will help to prevent such tragedy.

**More alcohol related resources include:

Chico State's alcohol policy

Chico State's alcohol and drug education center

Chico State's alcohol poisoning tips

Chico Safe Rides

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What chance do they have?

My partner and I were recently patrolling one of the more crime-ridden apartment complexes on Nord Avenue. As we were pulling out of the complex, I saw a little 6 year old girl riding her cute little pink bicycle. When the little girl saw us, she screamed, “COPS!” then flipped us off. You heard it right, in perfect form, she gave us the finger.

I was shocked. I stopped my car and asked her, “Hey, baby-girl, what was that all about?” The little girl smiled a sweet smile, waved and rode away.

That situation left me with severely mixed emotions. On one hand, it’s kinda funny that we were flipped off by such a little girl. On every other side though, it’s completely disheartening that such a young child has been trained to act in such a way to the Police.

Does she hate us? No. Her smile and wave told me that. She did what she was taught by her parents to do. This incident begs the question, “What chance does she have in life?”

Here is this beautiful little girl with matching pink bike and dress, with her hair done up in neat little cornrows and colorful beads woven in; and she has little chance at success in life. These anti-social attitudes will do nothing but harm in her life. I realize that people can overcome anything in life, but why stack such odds against a little girl?

I recently spoke with a couple in downtown Chico, who were arguing in front of their children. The children shied away from my partner and I when we spoke with them. The father told us, “They’re scared of Cops.” Really. "And why is that?" I wondered. The father’s negative attitude, anti-social tattoos and dress spoke volumes about his previous encounters with law enforcement.

I tried to explain to the father that fear of Police is taught. I tried to explain that if he wanted to change their attitudes towards law enforcement, then it was up to him to change it. I further told him that he should start refering to us as “Police” rather than “Cops”, a word they associate with negatively. I saw the father a few weeks later and he said, “Look kids, it’s the Cops.”

The final story I’ll share is best illustrated by the following photo:

I took this photo in an apartment where domestic violence was prevalent. I looked at the sweet little faces of these children and was struck with sadness. They have no idea what they are doing, and what destruction this lifestyle is going to cause them. They only know that it makes their parents happy when they pose like that. These innocent little boys have no idea that this lifestyle that they are being taught will almost guarantee them that they will never be financially successful, or lead happy and violence-free lives. They only know that their parents are not yelling at them right now.

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Chico Police Department Business Support Team...

On 05-08-2009, Chico Enterprise Record reporter Greg Welter posted a story regarding the newly formed "Chico Police Department Business Support Team" (CPDBST).

By GREG WELTER -Staff Writer Posted: 05/08/2009 12:00:00 AM PDTCHICO — A group of citizens calling itself the Chico Police Department Business Support Team has been placing signs around Chico to express their admiration for the work of local police agencies.

They read: "We appreciate our local law enforcement."

Acting Chico Police Chief Mike Maloney said the group was formed by local business people who didn't believe officers and others involved in law enforcement were getting the recognition they deserve.

Member Chris DiGiovanna said 120 of the small black and white signs were produced, and about half of them have been placed around businesses that have joined the group.

Some of them line Cohasset Road near the Chico Nissan-Hyundai dealership. Rory Rottschalk, one of the founders of the group, said it became a more or less formal organization about a year ago, but some members have been supporting police recognition for several years.

Member businesses pay annual dues of $20 to support activities like placing the signs. Last year, DiGiovanna said, funding went to help send a group of Chico police to a memorial for fallen officers in Washington, D.C., and also recognized the work done by animal control, community services officers and police volunteers with $60 gift certificates to restaurants.

"These people do tough jobs, and get little recognition," he said.

Maloney said the group was seeking to quietly promote awareness and appreciation for law enforcement. "If there's one thing we'd like to get across it's the idea that public safety is a community responsibility," said DiGiovanna.

"We're very serious about doing this," Rottschalk said, noting that police get little recognition for activities outside their usual law enforcement roles, like saving property and helping to evacuate residents during last summer's fires.

About 60 Chico area businesses currently belong to the group. Information about the CPDBST may be obtained by calling 410-6867.

To start with, I have to say that I do not know the originator of the program Mr. Rottschalk or the other member quoted, Mr. DiGiovanna. To those men and the other members of their organization, I’d like to offer my appreciation.

There’s a saying in Police work. It goes something like this, "You didn’t get into this job to make friends." I suppose this is somewhat of a self-soothing consolation, seeing as we get to meet all sorts who REALLY don’t like us. Trips to the jail often include verbal tirades insulting our mothers, families, children, and threats to do unimaginable things to them all. You can imagine that it’s really fun hearing people berate those you hold most dear. People wonder why Police Officers sometimes get a little jaded or cynical.

Law Enforcement Officers tend to face a lot of prejudice. The other night, I found a Swastika drawn on the sidewalk, with an arrow pointing to one of our patrol cars. Obviously, the "artist" intended to show that the Police Officer was some sort of Nazi. The funny thing was, was that the Officer whose vehicle the swastika was directed towards, was of mainly Filipino descent. Not your typical Hitler loving "Aryan Brother". When questioned, the Officer assured me that he was in no way affiliated with the Nazis or any of their subsidiaries. I guess I shouldn't pre-judge. Perhaps they were only insinuating that the Officer was a member of the Finnish womens union Lotta Svard.

Friday night, I was almost hit with a large rock (approximately 4-5 inches in diameter). This could have been a career, if not life ending injury should it have hit me in the head. This is the second time this year that I have almost been hit by flying rocks. I wonder if the people who do violent things towards Officers, or chant, "(Blank) the Police!" (heard ad nauseam on weekend nights) ever consider the fact that there would be whole families devastated at the loss of their loved one, including and most importantly the little children who have to wonder why their mommy or daddy isn’t coming home.

Despite the negatives, occasionally something comes along which helps break the cynical attitude. Seeing a 15 year old boy hugging his mother shortly after you respond to deal with his violent outbursts. Watching a sweet little 4 year old girl who is living in squalor, running out to give you a colored picture she quickly drew to make your day better. Saturday night, for me was the article Mr. Welter wrote. I hope someday to meet the members of the CPDBST and thank them for their efforts and their concern for their community.

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"Victims..."

Look at this picture. What do you see? It seems like a fairly well lit stretch of bicycle path, yet on this path there have been several strong armed and armed robberies in the last few weeks. The victimology is consistent, single males or females (can you see the guy walking alone on the path?) who are approached by multiple persons demanding their wallets, cell phones, etc. If any resistance is perceived, a swift and severe beating follow suit. The last beating was so severe, that the Officer relating the incident said that the victim looked nothing like the photo on his driver’s license. To date, no one has been shot, but that is only a few pounds of pressure away during a time when emotions and adrenaline are high.

I have had the opportunity lately to work a shift that allows us to patrol this particular stretch of bike path. We are constantly running into people walking alone on the bike path late at night. When we stop and warn them of the dangers, we are frequently met with, “I’m alright.” Really.

Apparently, these people have never seen or been a victim of violent crime. Perhaps the thought of violence has been dimmed by constant exposure on television and in theaters. Who knows the reason for their blindness, but if they were deer, I’m pretty sure that they’d have their heads mounted on someone’s mantle by now.

When I see these people wandering around in the dark by themselves, I have started thinking the phrase, “Victims.” This is not a disparaging comment, per se, but a statement of disappointment, disbelief, and disgust. Disappointment and disbelief, because it’s very sad that there are so many people who have no sense that very bad things REALLY CAN happen to them, and disgust, because there is a high likelihood that we will be taking another robbery or rape report shortly.

Partying in Chico is a longtime pastime. Waves of students wandering to the downtown area in order to find the big party, is a common weekend sight. Waves of the same students staggering back to their homes on the outskirts around 2:30 am is also common. Unfortunately, there are a few who become so inebriated that they have no control of what happens to them. They are often found staggering down the bike path and other dark alleys where predators wait.

Students often get angry that they are being arrested for public intoxication. Trust me it would be much more enjoyable NOT to have to place someone in the back of your nice clean patrol car where they proceed to lose their evenings cheap beer, shots and burritos (by the way, we don’t have service personnel to clean that up). They’ve placed us in a position where we have to take action to protect them from their own actions. The alternative is for them to be assaulted / robbed, wander into the roadway or worse yet drown in their own vomit.

The majority of people who come to Chico to party are good people who are there to just have a good time. I enjoy talking and joking with them. It’s one of my personal missions to help break down the negative stereotypes that are taught by the media regarding law enforcement. It’s angering when one of these good people who’ve just come for a good time, fall victim to these cowardly robbers who hunt in packs.

Please help us to protect you by staying away from those situations and places where bad things are likely to happen. Situational awareness is one of the keys to personal safety.

A female walks alone late at night in a parking lot

with LOTS of bushes to hide in and nobody around.

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In Memoriam...our brothers in arms.

Sergeant Fonseca of the Chico Police Department recently provided me with some information regarding two Officers that were killed in Chico in the 1930's. I had only heard of one (Officer Carleton J. Bruce) because of a memorial placard positioned in the front of the Police Department. The second, (California Highway Patrol Officer W.R. McDaniel) was killed in 1934. Both Officers were murdered by gunfire.

It was really interresting reading the newspapers rendition of events. The paper was apparently the "Chico Record" at that time. The news doesn't read like that anymore. For instance, the reporter refers to the killer of Officer Bruce as "his German assassin." I suppose ethnicity held a different weight in that day.

There were two things that struck me as I read the articles. In Officer Bruce's case, an "ANGRY MOB FORMS - The shooting attracted hundreds, and an angry crowd gathered outside the police station during investigation of the killing." In Officer McDaniel's case, the suspect, "died before the flaming guns of an avenging posse that tracked him to the foothills east of Chico and ended his flight shortly after the sun broke over the hills."

What took me aback, was the way the public responded to the loss of their protectors. In one instance, an angry mob of citizens gathered (most likely to see that justice was done), and in the other, average citizens mounted up and hunted down the wolf that had entered the flock. While I have my pessimistic days (usually coinciding with an irate citizen railing my very existance), I think that many would react today, the same way our fellow citizens did over seventy years ago. Having gone through too many Officer's funerals and seeing people lining the streets, I know that there are still many who would step up and help in any way possible.

Please take a moment to read these Officer's stories. These and many more of our local heros are listed in the, "In Memoriam" section on the bottom left hand side of the Blue Review. Their stories are presented for a reason. These are our friends and brothers who went the full distance in order to uphold civility and protect us throughout the years. May God bless them and their families.

Again, special thanks to Sergeant Fonseca and Brett Vosika of the Chico Police Department for the information.

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No good deed…

I would like to take a moment and thank the Chico Police Department traffic enforcement unit.  In particular, I would like to congratulate two particular Officers, Travis Johnsen and Tony Ferreira.  Between the two of them in 2008, they made 448 DUI arrests (208 and 240 respectively).  Think of that.  Here are two very hard working Police Officers who were able to take 448 drunk drivers safely off the street where they could do no harm. 

At a recent MADD awards presentation, these Officers were given honors for their efforts.  The nearest any other agency got to their arrests by an individual Officer, was an Officer with approximately 150 arrests from the Redding area. 

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), in 2007 there were 12,998 people killed in drunk driving “accidents”.  Think of that.  Nearly thirteen thousand people died from a completely preventable incident.  Where else can you get such a guarantee?  100% of the people killed in those drunk driving “accidents” could have been saved should one or more drivers chosen not to drive impaired by alcohol. 

How many people are killed by handguns, compared to automobile collisions?  Can you guess?  What does “Lifetime” the channel for victims tell us?  The reality is quite the opposite of what is often presented in the media. 

In 2005, 788 people were killed accidentally by handguns.  In that same year, 16,885 people were killed in automobile collisions.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005 (the latest year tallied), in their WISQARS unintentional death statistics site, firearms are involved in 0.6% of accidental deaths nationally. Most accidental deaths involve, or are due to, motor vehicles (39%), poisoning (18%), falls (16%), suffocation (5%), drowning (2.9%), fires (2.8%), medical mistakes (2.2%), environmental factors (1.2%), and bicycles and tricycles (0.7%). Among children: motor vehicles (45%), suffocation (18%), drowning (14%), fires (9%), bicycles and tricycles (2.4%), falls (2%), poisoning (1.6%),environmental factors (1.5%), and medical mistakes 0.8%). 

 

For more, the CDC has a really good DUI Factsheet. 

So, while firearms are vilified, DUI’s are defended, which brings me to my next point and to the title of the story.  Despite the tremendous effort that these two dedicated Police Officers put forth, some in the community seek to challenge their efforts and make disparaging remarks about their success.  I recently opened a copy of the Chico News and Review and found an advertisement for a local attorney’s office.  The add loudly displayed the following: “CHICO POLICE MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATED”.  Really.  The advertisement hints that this attorney (who gets his money by defending drunk drivers) is investigating “misconduct, manufactured or exaggerated evidence, stake out of bars, gender bias, etc.”  Really.

Apparently the Chico Police Department has Officers out there “mis-conducting” themselves (I know it’s not a real word), making up evidence, staking out bars (what’s illegal about that?), and being biased towards people because of their gender (uh, what?). Apparently in our zeal to uphold the law we are going to place our lives, our livelihood, and our freedom on the line so we can “frame” a few extra citizens.  Let’s think about that.  What in the world would it benefit the Officers?  Extra pay?  No.  Prestige?  Beyond the occasional write up in an obscure blog…no. 

In fact, what it does do for the Officer, is bury them in endless paperwork, days away from home working overtime going to court, and apparently being lambasted by ads in local papers. 

No, I propose a different theory.  One that will not please the masses who have been proverbially spanked by the Po-lice.  How about this?  Maybe the Officers in question are extremely dedicated individuals.  Maybe they have character that goes far beyond the average person (myself included).  Maybe they have found their particular niche in the department and are running full bore to get as many people who are breaking the law (placing in danger every other responsible citizen who chose not to drink and drive), off the streets.  Maybe they’ve felt the pain of all those MADD mothers and caught the vision that they can do some good to lessen the tragedy of these preventable deaths.  Yeah, maybe that. 

I suppose I’ll never understand what it is that makes some blame law enforcement for doing their job.  Often times, when I meet new people and they find out what I do, they regale me with tales of an Officer with nothing better to do than to harass them for speeding.  This gets pretty old, pretty fast and I usually ask them, “And what law weren’t you breaking?”  Zinger! 

Please don’t get me wrong.  I believe in defense attorneys.  I truly do.  If it were not for men and women willing to keep the government in check, our country would have fallen to total governmental control a long time ago.  Ever increasing control seems to be in the nature of governments.  What I do not believe in, however, are lawyers who conjure up nonsense in order to defend their clients.  Worse yet, are the semi-delusional ones who disregard basic decency in order to do so. 

This ad is a huge boon for the attorney in question.  Here are two benefits to placing such a disparaging ad:  1) Increased business from those “wronged” by the “lying cops.”  2) Well, I guess that’s about it. 

Whether the “allegations” are true or not, he makes money.  Dab a little sprinkling of sensationalism and watch the money roll in.  That’s the benefit of making accusations, whether it be allegations of dishonesty, racism, or whatever.  In our “Jerry Springer” society, the onus is placed on the accused to prove that they are not whatever it is they are being accused of.  The irony, is that this attorney is biting the proverbial hand that feeds him.  If it were not for Law Enforcement Officers arresting drunk drivers, he would be out of business (this one at least). 

I have no personal agenda against this lawyer.  I have heard frankly that he is a pretty good defense attorney.  I do however feel that his add is in poor taste and only serves to disparage the department as a whole and to bring him more paying customers.  I’m sure it has worked on both points. 

So, despite the tremendous success of these Officers, the Chico Police Department traffic enforcement unit is once again being reduced.  Due to budgetary constraints placed on the department, one of the Officers is going back to patrol.  This from a unit that has already lost two motorcycle Officer positions.  This new move leaves the traffic unit with one motorcycle Officer and one auto based traffic Officer plus a supervisor to deal with the tremendous traffic problem in Chico. 

So next time you get a citation by a traffic Officer, you should probably go out and buy a lottery ticket, ‘cause this just may be your day playing the odds.  

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Chico Police Chaplain Video...

I recently discovered this video on Youtube. I was very impressed with the quality of the program and thought it deserved a place on the Blue Review. The Chaplains offer an invaluable service and I am grateful for their association with the department. Enjoy.

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Thanks for your help.

I have been told that this blog is for the purpose of reacting to misstatement of facts and inaccuracies that have been printed recently in the local news media. What immediately springs to mind is an article printed in the Chico News and Review on 08/28/2008 titled What Really Happened to Jeremy Logsdon? Running down the rumors, looking for truth, written by Jamie O’Neill. I was originally planning to do a point by point rebuttal of O’Neill’s article, which relies in part on what I like to call REO Speedwagon information (heard, it from a friend who, heard it from a friend who, heard it from another you‘ve been messing around). I decided not to do that because how can you refute fantasy and make believe? I might as well attempt to argue with some Trekkie about the top speed of the Starship Enterprise.

As outrageous as this article is (if you haven‘t read it the link is here http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=779156) it brings up a couple of issues the public should be reminded of, and for bringing these issues to the public eye we should thank Jamie O’Neill.

First, police officers are your sworn protectors. We are here to protect the public and in doing so we put ourselves at great risk. When Officer Schmid exited his patrol car that night he didn’t know who Jeremy Logsdon was. He had never seen Logsdon before, he harbored no ill will toward Logsdon. There was no longstanding feud between the two, there was no history of police contacts that would have indicated to Officer Schmid that Logsdon was prone to assaulting police officers, there was nothing at all. There was simply a call for help and a police officer to answer that call.

What Officer Schmid knew about the situation he was thrust into was that there was a female motorist being attacked by a violent and obviously deranged individual (Logsdon), and Officer Schmid came to her aid. I want this to be perfectly clear to all of you reading this so I will reiterate it, Officer Schmid came to her aid. Officer Schmid was by himself at the onset of this call, and was soon being attacked Logsdon. Officer Schmid was now in a fight for his life. Now you may ask, “Why would you say that Officer Schmid was in a fight for his life?” The bottom line is, and this is doctrine taught to police officers beginning in the basic police academy, if a police officer loses a fight it can cost him his life. The underlying reason behind this way of thinking is that if a suspect overpowers us in some manner he has access to all of our weapons including our sidearm, which can be turned on us (and in many tragic cases it has). Officer Schmid called for assistance and it arrived. Logsdon did not go quietly he continued to resist as other officers attempted to gain control of him. Logsdon was taken into custody after continued assaults and resistive behavior. The job of protecting the public from a violent suspect was now complete.

Second, police work can be brutal. That is a fact of this job and it is a result of the fact that we often take people to jail that don’t want to go, and will do anything to keep from going. We deal with mentally ill people or in the case of Mr. Logsdon people that are high on mind altering drugs. So if a police officer encounters a suspect who is endangering a member of the public and they are going to resist arrest and assault us are we supposed to just ignore the problem and continue driving on because the situation may result in a physical altercation with the suspect? Obviously not, we the members of your police department are going to react because that is what we are trained to do, that is what we are paid to do, and that is what we have sworn an oath to do.

Finally let me leave you with this thought. When things go bump in the night who do you call? What do you think Jaimie O’Neill would do if he saw the same deranged, violent suspect beating on a woman’s car and threatening her life? Would O’Neill jump out and run to her aid…my guess is no. Jaimie O’Neill would call a cop.

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In the beginning...

Welcome to the Blue Review. The idea for this forum came at a time when local law enforcement was becoming the target of some pretty unsavory media attacks. You may well remember the stories printed recently about Officer Chris Pickering of the Paradise Police Department, a sensationalistic story pegging Officer Pickering as a corrupt Officer, based entirely on unsubstantiated allegations. If not, you will when you read Jim Parrott's excellent post.

For years, law enforcement has basically stood silent in the face of such attacks. After all, we know the truth, so who cares what some reporter thinks? But this response is not enough. Public opinion is formed from the information they see and read in the local media, television shows, movies, etc. If that media constantly portrays law enforcement in a negative light, then it’s no surprise when we contact people who have no respect for the Police. I always thought it somewhat of a “Catch-22” that the only forum that we have had to respond to media criticism is through those same media outlets. I’ve found the “blogosphere” to be the perfect venue to help challenge this paradigm.

This post’s goal is to be a “fourth media” of sorts for the citizens of Chico. We will provide information, opinion, and stories that will not be marginalized or editorialized. This forum will help to keep the other news sources in check.

Unlike news media sources, we are receiving no money for our efforts. Our goal is to provide “Chicoans” with clear sources of information provided with upfront integrity. Our survival does not depend on advertizing and therefore we do not have to concoct or generate sensational stories to improve our readership. Our names will clearly be displayed on the stories that we post. We will not hide behind pseudonyms and will be as upfront as possible.

As Police Officers, we are bound by rules. Some of these rules are that we are not allowed to undermine the policies of the Chief and the Department. This is fine, and is not one of the goals of this forum. We cannot give vital information regarding cases that have not been adjudicated. What we can do though is comment on information put forth in the media, whether it is spin, hyperbole, completely misleading, or even accurate for that matter.

A great man once told me, “Never argue with someone who buys ink by the barrel full”. He was right then and I miss his wise counsel greatly, but this is a different time. One of the greatest gifts of the internet is that the common man has a forum to be heard. He is not forced to hear the truth strained through the filter of the usual information media sources and his words can now be heard directly.

We hope that you enjoy coming to and searching out information in the Blue Review. We have some great Officers who are willing to share their opinions and stories. For your convenience, we have placed links to the main media outlets in the Chico area so that you can “shop and compare”. There are three sides to any story, yours, mine and the truth. Hopefully this site will help you in your search for truth.

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