This is an interview with San Diego Assistant District Attorney, Steve Walter from the local Public Broadcasting Service's local station.
(A link to the original source, which includes an audio version can be found after the full text.)
MAUREEN CAVANAUGH (Host): Now what constitutes the difference between a drug dealer and a legitimate provider of medical marijuana?
WALTER: It’s a very difficult question. The law itself, when I say the law I’m talking about Prop 215, SB-420, and the AG’s guidelines, as well as the case law. In essence, you have to be either a user or a qualified patient or a caregiver for such a patient.
Wow. So according to the San Diego District Attorney's Office, "a user" is "a legitimate provider of medical marijuana." That's really disturbing as I have obtained/do obtain all of my medical cannabis from Medical Cannabis Caregivers/ Legal Patients. These are the ones that Walter himself oversaw the aggressive arrests of. I guess going on the above quote, he believes that any one ELSE, just so long as they 'use marijuana' is a responsible, law abiding, trustworthy source for the medication I use for my healthcare. Great.
This is the first time I've heard of a representative of the law enforcement agencies involved speaking publically on the matter (with exception to the San Diego District Attorney.) Once again I'm hearing the same lie that the City of San Diego is spreading to the citizens and performing horrific illegal acts based upon: District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis claims that the collectives, co-ops and other medical cannabis organizations are illegal, profiteering criminals and not legal medical cannabis patients nor are they caregivers to their fellow legal medical cannabis patients.
I am a legal, medical cannabis patient. As such, I am a member of a few collectives, but most active in one called the Beneficial Care Collective. I do not receive any pay for my work, my only reward is being able to share my feelings, thoughts, expierences and medical treatment stories with my fellow patients. The Beneficial Care Collective was raided and shut down by armed forces on 9/9/2009, a patient that I consider a friend and fellow caregiver was wrongly arrested and the medication was illegally stolen by the City of San Diego.
Here is another report/ piece of insight on the situation currently going on in San Diego, California:
Craig Beresh of S.Cal NORML reports that at least 14 San Diegodispensaries received "cease and desist" visits by the S.D. policeyesterday. They were told that a written notice would followshortly. Numerous other dispensaries remain closed in the wake ofthe recent raids. As the following report indicates, police arefalsely spreading the notion that collectives can't operate legallyunder state law. S. Cal NORML is contemplating legal action againstSan Diego. - Dale Gieringer, Cal NORML>From: "Southern California NORML" <craigberesh@normlsc.org>>To: <dale@canorml.org>>>The San Diego police will be visiting all collectives over the next>few weeks...>>At Pacific Beach town council meeting Wed 9/16>PBTC handed out fliers to everyone with every collective's name and>address. The inference is to call the police and complain, although>that is not written. The theme of the night was to call police and>complain about everything, including motorhomes, street repair,>floatillas on the bay, alcohol, smoke shops and medical marijuana.> Then Shelli Zimmerman spoke. She was just promoted to Asst. Chief of>Police from the Northern Division which includes PB:>"All collectives are for profit. There has been no change in the>law. Collectives are illegal. Props 215 and SB420 do not make>medical marijuana legal. It just gives people an 'affirmative'>defense. Growing for your own medical use is ok and the cops won't>bother you. They are only going after illegal collectives (which are>all of them) We are using the same strategy as in 2005 and 2006. We>worked with SDPD, sheriffs, DA, and DEA. Seized product, multiple>handguns, and hundreds of thousands in cash. We don't have enough>resources to shut them all down. We went after the ones with most>complaints. Community vocality helps. Especially all the noise,>vandalism, intimidation, threats and profit complaints. All the rest>of the collectives will be getting personal visits by the police>informing them they are breaking the law and to shut down over the>next few weeks. If they>don't, they will get cease and desist letters. If they stay open they>will be raided. Just like in 2005 & 2006, all the collectives got the>message. Another strategy may be going after the landlords.">>A few personal comments:>I'm not sure what affirmative defense means other than a legal defense>or medical defense...>It sounds like people are organized and complaining to police with>multiple, anonymous, and false reports of noise and vandalism, like>PB town council, <http://savepb.org>savepb.org, and><http://discoverpb.org>discoverpb.org Is>this legal?>This is from a person just promoted to Asst Chief of SDPD which should>worry the medical community in SD. How can she even say that ALL>collectives are for profit without investigating them first. Send in>state auditors not SWAT!> - Craig Beresh, S. Cal NORML Source Visit California NORML for more information
Craig Beresh of S.Cal NORML reports that at least 14 San Diegodispensaries received "cease and desist" visits by the S.D. policeyesterday. They were told that a written notice would followshortly. Numerous other dispensaries remain closed in the wake ofthe recent raids. As the following report indicates, police arefalsely spreading the notion that collectives can't operate legallyunder state law. S. Cal NORML is contemplating legal action againstSan Diego. - Dale Gieringer, Cal NORML>From: "Southern California NORML" <craigberesh@normlsc.org>>To: <dale@canorml.org>>>The San Diego police will be visiting all collectives over the next>few weeks...>>At Pacific Beach town council meeting Wed 9/16>PBTC handed out fliers to everyone with every collective's name and>address. The inference is to call the police and complain, although>that is not written. The theme of the night was to call police and>complain about everything, including motorhomes, street repair,>floatillas on the bay, alcohol, smoke shops and medical marijuana.> Then Shelli Zimmerman spoke. She was just promoted to Asst. Chief of>Police from the Northern Division which includes PB:>"All collectives are for profit. There has been no change in the>law. Collectives are illegal. Props 215 and SB420 do not make>medical marijuana legal. It just gives people an 'affirmative'>defense. Growing for your own medical use is ok and the cops won't>bother you. They are only going after illegal collectives (which are>all of them) We are using the same strategy as in 2005 and 2006. We>worked with SDPD, sheriffs, DA, and DEA. Seized product, multiple>handguns, and hundreds of thousands in cash. We don't have enough>resources to shut them all down. We went after the ones with most>complaints. Community vocality helps. Especially all the noise,>vandalism, intimidation, threats and profit complaints. All the rest>of the collectives will be getting personal visits by the police>informing them they are breaking the law and to shut down over the>next few weeks. If they>don't, they will get cease and desist letters. If they stay open they>will be raided. Just like in 2005 & 2006, all the collectives got the>message. Another strategy may be going after the landlords.">>A few personal comments:>I'm not sure what affirmative defense means other than a legal defense>or medical defense...>It sounds like people are organized and complaining to police with>multiple, anonymous, and false reports of noise and vandalism, like>PB town council, <http://savepb.org>savepb.org, and><http://discoverpb.org>discoverpb.org Is>this legal?>This is from a person just promoted to Asst Chief of SDPD which should>worry the medical community in SD. How can she even say that ALL>collectives are for profit without investigating them first. Send in>state auditors not SWAT!> - Craig Beresh, S. Cal NORML
Source
Visit California NORML for more information
Terrorist Attacks On Medical Cannabis Patients Continueby 921 » Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:34 pm Unfortunately it appears that despite her claim to care about "Medical Marijuana Patients", San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and her armed militia continue to wage war on San Diego's most defenseless...I received this report from an anonymous Medical Cannabis Patient/ Co-Op Member just today:A narcotics officer came in last night and demanded the administrators personal information. he would not leave until we gave it to him. he said he was getting all admins personal info for records and that the "task force" was going to be sending letters, that's why he needed it. I know he went to Mother Nurture and a couple others in SD. I feel it is a ploy to get their personal info so they can raid their houses along with their businesses. If you could post this all over for me, it would help others.I fear that those suspicions may be correct. In addition to above report and what I perceive are truly medical cannabis patients asking for help, I have noticed a whole new influx since 9/9/2009's raids. People I have never met or even "chatted with online" are emailing me asking where to get medical cannabis, asking where I live and telling me about buying marijuana off the street. People are posting "reviews" on the BCC section on WeedMaps insinuating that the Collective was anything but a legitimate Medical Collective. I post about BCC possibly opening back up and the suspicious emails increase instantly and the forum is hit with what I assume are links to possibly illegal, pornographic websites. And even though I've done countless hours of volunteer work to support local law enforcement families & officers and even though I may not live to see next year thanks to Cirrhosis (and other currently fatal health issues) - I am afraid that at any moment the door to the apartment I can't afford will be kicked in and I will be put in a jail cell even though I have not knowingly broken any California State Law.If this is how Bonnie Dumanis CARES for me and other Medical Cannabis Patients, I'd rather she ignore us, because she's far worse than any of the diseases that are killing me.~ "921"
Terrorist Attacks On Medical Cannabis Patients Continue
by 921 » Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:34 pm
A narcotics officer came in last night and demanded the administrators personal information. he would not leave until we gave it to him. he said he was getting all admins personal info for records and that the "task force" was going to be sending letters, that's why he needed it. I know he went to Mother Nurture and a couple others in SD. I feel it is a ploy to get their personal info so they can raid their houses along with their businesses. If you could post this all over for me, it would help others.
http://www.sandiegobcc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=50
While serving as a US Federal employee, I was brutally beaten in my face, head, arms and legs in an Oklahoma jail cell on July 16th. I am a black woman under the age of 30 and a plain clothes policeman followed me after asking me inappropriate personal questions. I was booked at the jail for eluding the policeman at 30 mph below the speed limit and arrested me at gun point. After I was beaten, I was left for dead and placed into a suicide chair for hours until 8 AM the following morning. I was arraigned by a judge who increased my sentence from a misdemeanor to a felony and the District Attorney continues to refuse to drop the charges.
Boy, did I get some of those facts wrong. In my original post, I had stated the concerned neighbor called the police because they had seen two black men trying to force their way into a house. I was happy to cling to that belief until I heard the 911 tape on television. The concerned neighbor actually said there were two men who were trying to break in. When asked what they looked like, she stated one was Hispanic (although she could not be sure).
On Thursday (07/30/2009), the President, the Police Officer, and the Professor will actually sit down and have beer together at the White House. We don’t know if it will actually be a beer, but the parties involved will meet nonetheless. I don’t expect a monumental shift in race relations to occur. I do hope an open dialogue will take place. Perhaps both sides acted a little stupidly during the initial incident.
The Police Acted Stupidly
The President dared to say what he can
He described actions and not the character of the policeman
Even with his measured and careful word
People attacked what they think they heard
On that night when the arrest was made
Lawman, who trains other acted stupidly, I’m afraid
Invading ones own home, how could this be?
Could a man jimmying his own lock be described as guilty?
Even when he says to the police he’s the lawful owner
Are there no checks that would verify this, is there no procedure?
Can I expect that had this man been a White
That he would’ve been meted out that same treatment, that night?
Ever considered the mood you would have been in
Disgusted from your circumstance now the police, outside, beckoning?
Sir! Get out the house! And you asked, Why? Cause I’m Black?
This is no reason for the police to get out of whack
Using a cane, standing 5’5”, with proof of ID
Police surely could’ve walked away, even without an apology
I agree with the President and think our trained policemen
Diffuse many more volatile incidents, so why not then
Locked emotions, Professor Gates and Sergeant Crowley
Years of racial mending being broken because the police acted stupidly.
This past Memorial Day, people got in their swimming trunks and bikinis and loaded up the Texas sized big rigs with alcohol. It’s Memorial day weekend and Dallas Police get the warrants to have a no refusal weekend and the right to draw your blood and take you to jail on the spot. Well who cares? Everyone should care because one group of Mad mom’s are infringing on peoples rights. If you are caught drinking on a boat, they can force you to do a breathalyzer, and if you refuse, they draw your blood on the spot and take you to jail. They say this is very effective because out of the 51 people that were tested, all of them plead guilty. Well, what I see is, Police officers are there to enforce the law. They have no right to administer medical procedures on anyone. Even if they take a class on how to do it and are certified. They are not licensed professionals, and they are impeding on Doctor/Patient confidentialities. Maybe this is just me, but this is an outrage. MADD should not get involved in activities at the lake or on the water. Sure, obey boating laws, and don’t litter on the beach but geez. Get a life MADD. Mothers Against Drunk Driving, not Mothers Against All Things Alcohol Related and no longer effect my children(because they are dead from DRUNK DRIVERS). Try to arrest me on a boat and take my blood, I’m going to swim my ass to a lawyer. Notice how the police believe that upon a refusal they have the automatic right to a search warrant. Probable cause to arrest never occurs to them. We don’t spend a lot of time teaching police the value or nuances of the 4th, 5th, or 6th amendments. So it’s not suprising that they have no working knowledge of your rights. By the way 4th = Unreasonable Search and Siezure, 5th = Right to Due Process, 6th = Right to Trial (Mostly the Part about Accusation, and Disclosure of Indictment). So get a lawyer because MADD just might make your city or state a Vampire Nation of Police with Permanent Warrants to draw your blood and take you to jail costing you up to $10,000 in fines and fees; not to mention community service, loss of drivers license, alcoholics anonymous classes, personality assessments, and annual fees totaling thousands.
What do you think about this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUzd7G875Hc?
Please discuss!
EMK
Subject : - Denunciation of STATE CRIME against the three members of the SILVA-MARQUEZ family: Mrs Marie-José MARQUEZ - Miss Elisabeth SILVA and Mr Marc SILVA.
- Demands of the opening of National and international inquiries and the revelation of the Secret Defence on the Leo BALLEY affair.
After a forced expatriation of my family, during almost four and a half months in England followed by an arbitrary detention in U.S.A., splendidly immortalized with courage by my dear sister Elisabeth SILVA, in a book which crossed the borders, the Calvary of my family thrown to the vindication of maffioso continued, from our return to France on 11/02/2004.
At once, my sister and myself were gained by the consternation, when we notice the state of the mailboxes of our respective apartments, nevertheless distant around 700 kilometres, one of the other one. Both locks had been forced with the same savagery. Only the mailbox of my mother’s house located in Saubusse (40) had escaped any act of vandalism. For a very good reason, the owner of the house, without even waiting for the end of the lease had taken the decision, after the worrying missing of her tenant, to forward the mail to the local post office.
Armed with her only courage and strong of the only arms, my ruined family had to resolve to begin both moves of residence to settle down at home. The first pause intervened very fast.
With a single game of writing, the Bailiff crossed off boorishly the first date of the act to replace it by, that of the 10/02/2004, that is to say, the day of our booking of the plane ticket London / Paris. I clarify that this date also coincides with my last phone contact, from the British ground with the secretariat of the Prefect Mr. Roger Marion in Marseille (13), which I informed about our repatriation in France foreseen the next day and that, by our own means.
To exploit my honesty, not possessing either very personal, or even motor vehicle, given up for lack of being able to maintain it, nor a bank account placed in a tax haven, I shall produce to the Judge of Execution, not the simple paragraphs appeared in the French media, but the long cuts putting in light the blatant abuses of a certain press at the mercy of the organized crime.
During the next two rigorous winters, despite the payment of provisions of heating, a single apartment on eighty one, that holds the building, where I live, will be sporadically deprived of heating over long periods. Because of the fall of the temperatures, I was obliged to seek repeatedly technicians' intervention heating engineers with the guard of the building, Mrs D. (Phone. / 06. XX.XX.XX.XX), who, will scrupulously note on a register, according to her statements, each of my complaints.
- Deposit of complaint to the public prosecutor near the T.G.I. of Paris of 28/07/2004 for Violation of professional secret and defamation by one or several police officers who supplied the media with confidential character informations.
These pernicious, despicable schemes at least of a candidate likely to preside over the highest fates of FRANCE, are rather revealing of the perversity and the determination of this former employer, author of moral harassment. Demonstration is so made, that this new exaction does not manifestly ensue from a frenzy or from a wrong interpretation or still a syndrome of persecution, as for me, as tends to demonstrate it, by the most despicable means the Home Office.
www.remixxedradio.com reporting Live from the Rally in Columbus Ohio against the Police Brutality and Shootings & Beatings of Youth by Police officers of Columbus.
to see the video go to www.youtube.com/hustlebabyent
Official Press Release:
March 5 2009 @ Columbus City Hall
The Community Leadership Council for Justice is an umbrella organization of community organizations such as the The Community Intervention Team, NAACP The Grassroots Ordinary People Movement along with some members of the Baptist ministerial Alliance and others are calling for a Press Conference at city hall Thursday at 2pm.
The purpose of theis press conference is to Highlight the Presidents visit to Columbus Ohio and to show disagreements for the stimulus package, or any federal aid being used to fund the Mayor's Special Task Force. The issues being undertaken by these organizations are police brutality, illegal shooting of unarmend African-American men and children, illegal stops & seizures, racial profiling and basic violations of our citizen's civil rights.
We will discuss possible legal actions against the City of Columbus and the Columbus Police Department at press time.
Thank You for your considerations in theis matter
Contacts Available upon request.
DJ Isis Reporting Live from Hope Central.
The Health and Well-Being committee has two ideas for projects. With a strong interest in Mental Health issues, we are involved with research and the collection of information on what other communities, police departments, and mental health organizations are doing to help people with mental health issues before they end up in jail for criminal behavior or in the hospital with a self inflicted injury. The committee is also concerned about the crisis many have with medical debt and the cancellation of insurance polices of the seriously ill. We will update the group on our findings and talk about how we might turn these into projects at the next meeting on February 22, 2009.
Maryanne Colter, Committee Chair
Maryam Stewart
The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.
Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.
Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when
Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.
Alternative EnergySource: David Apperson
url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy
Senators Feinstein and Bennett Urge DC Government To Reverse Emergency Alcohol Law
WASHINGTON, DC / Senator Dianne Feinstein, Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), and Senator Bob Bennett, Member of the JCCIC and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, today urged the Mayor and City Council of Washington, DC to reverse the emergency legislation passed last week to allow bars and restaurants to sell alcohol until 5 am during the week of the inauguration.
“We have reached out to Mayor Fenty and Council Chairman Vincent Gray because of our grave concerns about the unintended consequences of this legislation,” said Senator Feinstein.
“What is clearly meant as a boon to local businesses may instead create tremendous problems for already overwhelmed law enforcement agencies.”
“Security needs to be the number one priority during the Inaugural ceremonies and extending the sale of alcohol until 5 am in DC will only divert law enforcement resources away from their primary focus on security measures and crowd safety,” said Senator Bennett.
Text of the JCCIC Letter
Dear Mayor Fenty and Council Chairman Gray: We are writing today to urge that City Council and the Mayor reverse emergency legislation approved by the Council last week that permits nightclubs, bars and restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages until 5 a.m. for four nights during the Inauguration of Barack Obama as our 44th President. With projections as high as 4 million people planning to visit the city during this time period, we are deeply concerned that the plan approved by the City Council could seriously strain law enforcement resources that need to be focused on the large crowds and security requirements of the Inaugural and its impact on the City. There is great cause for celebration at this historic event. But we believe that the benefits of this emergency legislation, passed with little public notice, are far outweighed by its possible consequences. We understand the pressures you face from the different constituencies in your city. But we also know the importance of standing firm to ensure the safety of residents, workers and visitors who will be in Washington, D.C., participating in this historic event.” Sincerely, Robert F Bennett and Dianne Feinstein
Dear Mayor Fenty and Council Chairman Gray:
We are writing today to urge that City Council and the Mayor reverse emergency legislation approved by the Council last week that permits nightclubs, bars and restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages until 5 a.m. for four nights during the Inauguration of Barack Obama as our 44th President.
With projections as high as 4 million people planning to visit the city during this time period, we are deeply concerned that the plan approved by the City Council could seriously strain law enforcement resources that need to be focused on the large crowds and security requirements of the Inaugural and its impact on the City.
There is great cause for celebration at this historic event. But we believe that the benefits of this emergency legislation, passed with little public notice, are far outweighed by its possible consequences.
We understand the pressures you face from the different constituencies in your city. But we also know the importance of standing firm to ensure the safety of residents, workers and visitors who will be in Washington, D.C., participating in this historic event.”
Sincerely,
Robert F Bennett and Dianne Feinstein
UPDATE: I spoke with the Mayor's office this morning. They stated that there will be another meeting on this issue in the near future. I recommend those reading this post call the Mayor and cast your vote for security.
The number for Mayor Fenty is 202.727.5011 - Vincent Gray's number is 202.724.8032
Ed Note: PoliceOne has just launched a unique new product area focused specifically on companies that are run by cops, for cops. Check it out and let us know what you think.
By Hannah Simon PoliceOne staff writer
Working as an inner-city patrol officer in Columbus, Ohio, Officer Kareem Kashmiry realized that he was at a disadvantage with his radio mic. Wrapped around his shoulder and clipped to the front of his shirt, he found it difficult to use when faced with foot chases and arrests. Most officers wear a shoulder mic over their back, but tactically it’s not safe, Kashmiry explains.
“My philosophy is that our eyes need to be on the situation at all times. If you’re looking down to talk, you aren’t watching what’s in front of you,” Kashmiry says. “That’s when I thought of developing something to help officers communicate better.”
Not only can mics prevent police officers from keeping their eyes on their subject, but mics with long nylon cords can be easily grabbed and used as a weapon by an attacker.
Kashmiry’s idea gave birth to WalkieClip, an accessory to wearing a shoulder mic that makes communication faster and more efficient.
With WalkieClip, you can pull the mic up to your mouth with your eyes on the situation at hand at all times.
“I started making WalkieClip not to get rich, but because I knew it was something that would help me and my fellow officers,” Kashmiry says.
Like Kashmiry, many police officers who recognize obstacles and challenges on duty are beginning to take action by starting their own companies to develop products and services that help other cops.
Steve Russ, a retired police officer from the City of Troy Police Department, became the president of Russ Innovations, Inc. after receiving the patent for the Flak Vest Hanger™ in 2003. Working as an officer eight years earlier, he noticed that there was a lack of equipment to safely store body armor. “Using my background in engineering, I started to work on developing a product to solve the problem of maintaining body armor,” Russ says. “I tested the product myself along with five other officers in my department, using their feedback to make adjustments.”
Russ says that he has encountered many officers who are more likely to trust products when they are developed and sold by other law enforcement officials.
“Cops are used to being sold items that are supposed to work but turn out to be a piece of junk,” Russ says. “With the Flak Vest Hanger™, officers are more open to the concept because I come from a law enforcement background.”
Officer John Johnson has also found that officers are more likely to work with him after they discover that he’s a cop. A full-time officer in Suffolk County, New York, Johnson also runs his own insurance company called Balanced Financial Solutions. After his wife got cancer and passed away, Johnson was faced with the cruel reality of being without insurance.
“When I started as an officer, my department did not educate me about insurance,” Johnson says. “I was only 23, and never thought I needed it.”
Johnson began Balanced Financial Solutions five years ago, helping families of survivors and officers who were also without insurance. He has found that officers are more likely to work with him after they find out he’s an officer, too.
“I only allow police officers to work with other police officers,” Johnson says. “It’s such a tight knit group … customers know that fellow officers will tell the truth.”
At Balanced Financial Solutions, Johnson offers life, health, disability, and long term care insurance. He has come to realize that police departments don’t thoroughly explain the importance of insurance, deferred compensation or retirement planning to their employees.
In fact, cops are more likely to become disabled during their earning years than other jobs. Johnson believes that it’s important for cops to understand safety in terms of financial livelihood.
“We have dangerous jobs, and we need to protect our families,” Johnson says. “If we can’t help each other, who else will?”
Whether they are developing a product or providing a service, police officers who run their own business face constant demands and challenges. It’s not easy to balance a career in law enforcement and run a private business with the little free time available.
“If a cop is thinking of starting his own company, my warning to him would be that you’re going to put in an awful lot of hours and work harder than you ever thought,” Russ says.
Steve Russ, showing off his design for the Flak Vest Hanger.
Running a company that deals with law enforcement products and services can be a powerful networking tool as well. When Kashmiry developed the WalkieClip, it received a score of 4.85 out of 5 by the National Tactical Officer’s Association. Through websites, Kashmiry has been able to distribute the product nationwide.
“My whole thing is that I just want to get the product out there,” Kashmiry says. “Starting your own business helps you grow as a person, but it’s not easy, that’s for sure.”
In fact, Johnson knows many officers who started their own companies and failed.
“You have to be willing to do whatever it takes to make it work,” he explains. “I have plenty of 18 hour work days, but it’s rewarding because I really believe in what I do. In the end, I know that I’m helping fellow cops.”
http://www.policeone.com/police-products/for-cops-by-cops/articles/1704719-P1-Exclusive-Entrepreneurship-in-Blue/
[I agree police deserve all the assistance/protection they can get.
Even if it is coming from a source that is least likely, naming me. I advocate on behalf of law enforcement every chance I get. At times i might appear to be overly aggressive, but I mean well, I really do. So don't take it personal when i question individual behavior.
I am the kind of person who will do whatever it takes to get the job done even if that means stepping outside of the box. Stepping outside means influencing legislators, FBI, DCI, DOJ or any other influential partner that can make a difference in officers lives.
Kudo's to those who defend officers in the line of duty.]
Kade
Question: "How is it a police department, that once had "questionable" pratices, can get away with continually classifying a change agent (dishonorable cops call change agents Whistleblowers) as mentally unstable?"
Pushing for change against 'questionable police training' is in no way shape or form, a form of mental instability! How so? 'you do the right thing, because it is the right thing to do' makes you mentally unstable? Really by who standards, the corrupt? Apparently so.
It is my opinion that men and women who push for change on questionable police practices should be held as hero, not outcasted and treated like the less desirable. Because fact of the matter is, if it was not for honorable police, the profession wouldn't be worth a damn. It would be just another way for the mob to control the public with an iron fist. It be worth a bunch of criminals wearing police uniforms. Talk about a threat to national security! If police acted like mobsters, our country wouldn't have any security whatsoever! Well, sorry that kind of "radicalism" is not going to happen, that only happens in 3rd world countries. We are not a totalitarian state and we never will be. So those of you who "think" we will be, get over it because it will never happen! America will never be a police state, being that it has already become a socialist one. Our intelligence agencies have already merged, this means we are officially a social driven community. Socialist do not do business with want to be police state supporters.
Hail to the change agents who have the courage to 'protect and serve' the rest of us....and for those who have no courage at all? Your already damned.
I, and the rest of society, have no respect for law enforcement officers who outcast the honorable in favor of those who have no honor at all.
Supporting and defending those who disregard the meaning behind; "why they were hired in the first place" does a dis service to those who value their careers in public service.
I salute the change agent. Thank you for keeping the profession of law enforcement honorable. And thank you, to all the honorable police officers who dispise other officers who ruined it for the rest of them.
Josh and Kade
It would be interesting to evaluate how many US troups there are that Bush has sent to Afghanistan against the number of police there are on the force in NYC.
How does McBush feel about this? Would he change it? How?
Hello,
How are you doing today? I have entitled this blog entry "Marriage and Divorce, Oregon Style", because for whatever reasons these people have, Oregon laws are written more or less the same as all the rest of the other States, but in practice it is a very different kettle of fish altogether, especially if the Matlands are involved in either doing the ceremonies, or the courthouse for Linn County are doing the divorces.Or yet again, if it is one of the many marriages that the Matlands are actually participating in, when being the new spouse.
So let us look at this a bit closer.There are obviously both men and women at the homeless shelter, and being normal and having the need to be loved or feel wanted, some meet and fall in love.Then they look towards the pastor or the minister to perform the ceremony for however much it is that Matlands charge nowadays.This is supposed to be the happiest day of one's life.By taking money for doing the ceremony,and they most definately do, and the Matlands not being ordained, that alone is fraud.One marriage ceremony whereby the people are charged, can be prosecuted.Think how many have taken place over thirty odd years.
So OK, Matlands will do nearly anything for money.I can understand that.They know that this is fraud, but choose to go ahead anyway.Now I am only referring to people/couples who meet up and fall in love, who either live at the shelter or in the area and think that Matlands really are genuine, and therefore ask them to perform the service.That is fine.Those people are innocent to the crime that they unwittingly get embroiled in.The records of that union are placed in Linn County Courthouse and Oregon Vital Statistics, or when Matlands were in Cave Junction, they were kept in Josephine County Courthouse.
But what when it is one of the Matlands themselves who find a new victim, who usually comes from the homeless shelter and there is perhaps no family that seem to know that that person is perhaps even staying there? Whichever Matland is on the prowl , they chat the unsuspecting person up, letting them see what good church people they are, and impress them with tales of all of the properties that they own, and in general, give them the full spiel, and perhaps that person thinks that they are on to a good little number anyway.But having said that, they still have absolutely no idea of course that this is part of a big scam.So the paperwork is filled out, lodged in the court and the Marriage ceremony goes ahead.Then just weeks or months later, that person is seeing that not everything is as it first appeared.Matlands will work your butt off, open bank accounts, put utilities in your name, steal your mail, and if you have children which came with this new spouse(for want of a better word)put them to work, use and abuse them, and they will do that to the spouse as well.If there is any money to be got from welfare, Food Stamps, or anything that gives Matlands more money, then Gale would be the one to sort that as she is the one who deals with the paperwork because she is a trained forger. She was trained by the best when in California working in a clothing sweat shop.She wanted more money, so they trained her to do the books and the art of forgery.And believe me, she is good at it.What she doesn't know, isn't worth knowing.And you only have to look at what she is doing today, to know how good she is.Right under all of your noses.
So we have the illegal marriage. We have the new spouse sort of getting an idea that not is all as it should be. Nobody perhaps is contacting him/her and they are feeling more and more isolated from past friends and family and 'their mail' and they are not allowed to use the phones.So alarm bells have to surely be ringing in their heads.On top of this there is the violence, plus they have to work their socks off for the Mission, in one capacity or another and therefore have no time to think hardly, let alone cop on that they are just being used for whatever Matlands had plans on using them for.
Then comes the time when they have to leave this situation and find that the Matlands are not wanting that to happen and so do everything to make sure that that person is going nowhere.I have already described some of their tactics whereby they will chase you down like they are a posse, whereby they use their vehicles instead of horses,then God help you if they catch you, then see what happens to you.But that is not the subject of this entry.One man who married Gale had three children. The paperwork went on file, however it was not worth a light.The situation for him became so intolerable that in the end, he had to escape in the middle of the night.But had to leave his children behind with the intention of returning in the daylight to pick them up when he had found a place to take them.Matlands refused to part with his children and things got so serious that he had to go to the police to get a 'Writ of Assistance' to get them back.Now you would think that that was quite straight foreward.The children were only two, three and five years old when this illegal marriage took place.Surely wouldn't the police simply go and knock on Matlands door and pick the children up. It's not as if Gale gave birth to any of them or that Gale had been married to this man for any length of time. But NO! Matlands wanted those three children for their evil purposes.Money being one.To get those children back, the police had to trick the Matlands and when they were out of the way on the street, other police went in and grabbed them back.Had Matlands have not had to part with them, according to Gale, they would have been counted as orphans and were worth far more to them.But doesn't it make one wonder if perhaps there was not a more sinister plan and were they perhaps going to sell them on like a lot of other children were in Oregon, which of course you can read about on the 'Voice for 'Children Website, listed on my Links section.And be sure to see the names of who is featured on the Hall of Shame, pages and read the Supreme Court Hearings and listen to the video recordings and read "The Truth is on Trial" pages and then if you live in Oregon and are reading this, you will see so many of the people whom Oregonians are supposed to look up to.They are the very same people that are running your State offices and courts and SCF and in the Children's Ombudsman's office.
So I am going to close this part of the blog and return with some more food for thought following the divorces that took place with Matlands as Petitioner.
I will keep this short and sweet today.This is more or less just to ponder upon.The weather being cold does turn ones mind to heat, then fire, and it doesn't take much of a guess to know that I would be leading up to my point about how strange it is for one family to be around so many fires.
Let us talk about the latest that I know of, and that was at 705 Lyon Street, the homeless person's shelter owned by The Signs of Victory Mission.This was started by a non-incendary device, around 5 am in the morning. There were families there at the time and with children.This was in January 2003. A pile of cardboard mysteriously caught fire , which the mission had been planning on selling.The shelter had eight smoke detectors.Better still, all of them worked, according to fire officials.This fire caused $25,000 in damage.That's a handy bit of insurance to come back.
Everybody got out safely because the fire started up the east side of the building.Well, I'd have to say "Thank God for that".So that was very convenient that this fire did not start anywhere where there were people around.I wonder how much insurance would have come back then? There were people on each floor including the basement. I wonder if the windows were nailed down that day. I bet they weren't, but they bloody well used to be.Maxine said that it was to stop people breaking in to the building.Is she mad or what! Who the hell in their right mind would break in to a run down hell hole like that? Nobody would, but going back not to long ago, the nails were definately in the windows and that was to stop the Veterans (who stayed in that area) from leaving. And please do not think that they just had to climb the stairs up to the hallway, because that door had a hook and eye shutting it at night.But Maxine said that that was so these men could not get up into the main area of the house.UTTER TRIPE!!!!
These people were not intended to be going anywhere.And that can be proved, like the rest of what I have written.The veterans were worth money to the Matlands and visitors were definately not encouraged,so I find it very strange that on the day of this fire, there were fresh batteries in each of the smoke detectors and this door to the basement was not locked, on top of which this pile of cardbord was able to set itself on fire and was in a position so that nobody got hurt. Now apart from the lady that heard one of the smoke alarms and woke the other people, guess who was first on the scene, to make sure that this fire got put out? Come on now, it's not a hard guess.You've got it. Dear old George Raymond Matland Jnr. himself, bless him.He had it put out before the firefighters arrived.He said "I almost had it out".Now being that it was cardboard that started this fire,by setting alight to itself, and George living in his mother's house in Seventh Ave., who I wonder was phoned for first??? Was it George? did he still have his clothes on at 5 am in the morning? or was it the firebrigade, who are only one block away and used to rushing to fires??? George got there first and put the fire out and then the fire brigade turned up.Isn't this just the biggest load of crap that you just read? Do they all think everyone is stupid? Nobody on that day or during the fiasco of an investigation, had a clue as to who set fire to the Mission (so they say).How then was a story printed a few months later when Matlands were looking for more money, did George tell the reporter that the mission was set fire to by a drunk that got banned from the mission? Excuse me, the main drunks at that mission are the Matlands themselves and how did they come up with that person when on the day of the fire, nobody had a clue as to who started it.It must have been psychic intervention. And once they came up with this man, was he arrested? Not bloody likely.
The next fire was 532 Baker Street,That was March 1996. One fire set in one place which did not do enough damage, so another was set. And who came home not 5 minutes later from being out, George Matland, and the one subject that was not discussed, was the fire at 532 Baker Street. I don't know about you, but if my house burnt down, I would most certainly be discussing it. And Matlands told everybody that it was one of the people who had been staying at the Mission. Well, should I be surprised? He was not even in Albany that time and Matlands were pissed off at him because he had gone off to be at another church.You see they always blame someone at the mission for everything, because they move around a good bit.
Then take the fire again like the first two, started by a non incendary device, but this time at 200 Pacific Blvd., where Matlands had their pallets.Rolled up newspapers were stuffed into the pallets.This was clever. That paper also caught fire and of course, up went the pallets.And who walked in to the house not minutes earlier, puffing and blowing, George Matland.This is a very nifty runner.Did he get done for that fire? No he did not.
Fire number four that happened was on a neighbour of theirs cabin in Cave Junction.They fell out, so his cabin got burnt down.Did George get done for that? No he did not.
Now there is a fifth fire, started again by a non incendary device, and was fairly recent, and in a building that Matlands had occupied.But I won't put that one here, for reasons best kept to myself at this time.
But all I am pointing out is, this is to much of a coincidence surely to be real. And why did the fire brigade officer at the time when I called regarding all these fires, chat for ages, and passed it on to the Batallion Chief who was investigating the Lyon Street fire and unfortunately, it didn't go any further because he happened to be retiring. What a coincidence all this is, don't you think? He didn't even bother to phone me back. Talk to you soon.
