* All images courtesy of "Google Images".
Information contained in this article courtesy of "Wikipedia,
"The Los Angeles Times" and "89.3 KPCC,Southern California Public Radio"
Titles by FBN.
BLOG POST
by Felicity Blaze Noodleman
Los Angeles, CA
7.18.14
My Name if Felicity Blaze Noodleman and I write for the Noodleman Group. This week’s article will address the problems we all are faced with concerning the sky rocketing financial costs of Government at every level and especially the exorbitant costs of law enforcement here in Los Angeles, CA.
Last week we took a look at "Cops in the News"; this week we want to focus on the LAPD. First of all let me state the need for law enforcement. It should be responsible law enforcement. I’m usually one to cry “police brutality”, but every once and a while I run across an incident which leads me to ask myself; what in the world do these guys think they are doing?
Now; before I go any further let me say in all fairness, Los Angeles has some very special law enforcement needs. LA is a major port area - a port of entry for all air and sea traffic coming into the United States. LA is also not that far from the US – Mexico border which presents other security issues. Lastly; LA is home to the entertainment industry which has its own law enforcement issues.
"The color of authority".
The List of law enforcement in the county of Los Angeles is truly astounding and our tax dollars are paying for it all. It would seem to me that local law enforcement easily our number the National Guard. With approximately 20,612 officers working out of an estimated 4 different local law enforcement agencies (LAPD – Los Angeles Police Department; LASD – Los Angeles Sheriff Department; LAGSP – Los Angeles General Services Police; and the LAXPD – Los Angeles Airport Police Department) it is no exaggeration to say that we are living in a police state similar to Nazi Germany. Also consider all of the other law enforcement agencies working within the LA area (Highway Patrol, Port Authority, State Police and FBI ect.).
Each of Los Angeles 42 contract cities also maintain a police force. The list is truly extensive. These days the trend for law enforcement is growing steadily since 9/11 with more and more safety police, special interest guards and security guards showing up on a yearly basis. Policing is becoming big business! Many of these agencies are paying good wages including benefits – you know; the works – health and pension! When all the expenses are added up including cash settlements for police misconduct it would seem that taxpayers are being held hostage - pay what is being demanded or else!
2012 has not been a good year for the LAPD as this South LA
accident illustrates.
WHY AM I WRITING
THIS ARTICLE ?
The other day I was having breakfast and coffee at my regular Jack In The Box. After using the woman’s room I was stepping out for a cigarette when I noticed 6 or 7 police officers arresting another of the restraints customers whom I will call “Johnny Boy”. Johnny comes to the Jack In The Box also for breakfast. He is homeless and a mental case as I have observed him talking to his imaginary nemesis. Sometimes Johnny can get quite loud and I believe this is why he was being arrested. Question: Why so many police officers who all showed up in their 5 police cars just to detain and arrest one mentally disabled homeless man? I feel this was excessive.
As I go about my daily business moving back and forth in Los Angeles, so many times I observe the police committing a high number of infractions which you or I would be cited for. Shouldn’t our police be setting a good example for us all? Of course they should but don't always do so. I suppose they think their badges grant them extra rights. Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. On the very same day I witnessed Johnny Boy being arrested by a brigade of LAPD officers I am going home when I see this LAPD riot vehicle parked in a bus stop zone. I questioned the officers about it and suggested they move ahead to a more neutral area and park their vehicle which they did. Sometimes I think the police just aren’t paying attention to what they’re doing at all!
The two above incidents are just a few of so many cases I have witnessed over the years. Are the police just stressed out and not even thinking at all? I realize they are only human but give us all a break officers! You are supposed to be making our streets safer but in some cases the police are the number one hazard. We need to really "be ware" when these officers who operate under the motto "to protect and serve" are around.
LAPD auto accident in N. Hollywood - 2010, (give yourself a ticket
for that one officer)!
Speaking as one citizen who gets a little upset when she hears about police officers who are involved in any kind of misconduct and the law suits that go along with this kind of lawlessness, I become enraged by the cash settlements the city is obligated to pay out in judgments for irresponsible police officers.
Are the police as bad or worse than criminals? City budgets are now operating in the red financially and having to borrow money to meet their annual payrolls. This has been happening for some time now and is expected to continue rising out of control. Record payouts by Jury awards to victims of police brutality seem to be at an all time high. This also includes property damage settlements for the irresponsible behavior of our officers in blue. Credit ratings for all levels of our government have fallen and are approaching the default point. If you or I had a credit rating this bad we would be cut off and be expected to repair our finances or else! We cannot afford this kind behavior from our police officials not to mention the stigma it gives society as a whole!
LAPD beating victims top left to right: Rodney King 1991 - Michelle Jordan 2012
bottom left to right: Oliver Martinez 2012 - Brian Mulligan 2012
Now we have come to the subject of officer involved shootings. The numbers are not good for the LAPD. We have pulled a recent report from the "LA Times" which explains:
Watchdog disputes LAPD rationale for rise in police shootings
A report by the Police Commission inspector general disagrees with LAPD Chief Charlie Beck's assertion of a link between the jump in officer-involved shootings and assaults on officers.
July 02, 2012|By Joel Rubin, Los Angeles Times
"As such, there does not appear to be a clear correlation" between attacks and shootings, the report concluded. Bustamante's report did not offer any possible explanations for the increase in officer shootings.
The Los Angeles Times
I recently read of a case involving an police shooting of an unarmed 19 year old youth. Officers discharged 120 rounds killing the suspect. The youths family is suing the city of LA for $120 million, a million for each round fired. Do you have $120 million? I don't! I couldn't afford the legal costs. I guess the police were feeling exceptionally wealthy that day and must have thought the city's insurance would take care of the mess. The story was reported by 89.3 KPCC; Southern California Public Radio and follows below:
Family of Abdul Arian sues city for $120 million — $1 million for every shot fired, they say
County of Los Angeles
Arian was unarmed, but police have said he called 911 and told dispatch he was carrying a gun and was ready to engage with police. That recording hasn't been released, but police did release a partial transcript of the conversation. In it, Arian is quoted as telling the dispatcher, "I have a gun," and "If they pull their guns, I'm gonna have to pull my gun out on them."
Around the country, the number of officers killed by suspects has also risen: 72 were killed last year, up 75 percent from 2008.
89.3 KPCC S.C. Public Radio
IS IT TIME
FOR GOVERNMENT TO
RETHINK LAW ENFORCEMENT?
The basic concept of law enforcement in the United States really hasn’t changed much in the last 150 years. Do the police really need to be carrying guns? Most police departments and their officer’s act like they’re Wyatt Earp or something during the days of the wild west in Tombstone, AZ of the 1870’s. Our police officers are the last of the cowboys! In today’s world of 2012 shouldn’t we be advancing to the next logical step in law enforcement? Do our police officers really need to be carrying guns? A list of countries where the police no not carry guns is as follows:
Countries such as Japan and Germany are among other nations which normally don't arm their police offers as well but I do not have a complete list. These nations are far more advanced than ours in the practice of policing. I mean honestly; the days of the gun slinger are over! I feel a huge financial savings could be realized if local governments would only follow the examples of these more advanced civilizations. STUDY IT, TEST IT AND IMPLEMENT IT! What we need today in the 21st. Century is "smart law enforcement". You would think with everything police officers carry on their belts for eight to twelve hours a day that they themselves would want loose their guns.
Let me offer another cost saving idea concerning our police departments. Could we implement a program which would be similar to the military? Officers would serve in a four year program like the National Guard and then be released. This would save a lot of money since there would be no pensions offered and would continually add fresh young officers eliminating the problem of stressed older policeman. Just an idea! I found a very interesting web site which reports national police statistics and will pass it along to you:
I have not enjoyed writing this article at all. It cuts across my grain but these things have to be exposed. In conclusion: now that I've added my two cents worth about the police, that's about what it's worth. Things probably won't change until there is some kind of monumental incident of catastrophic proportions. This is Felicity trying to stay out of LAPD's way and hoping for the best! Next week we will take a look at Los Angeles history. From the 1860's up into the recent past. Some very interesting vintage photos!
- England
- Wales
- Scotland
- Republic of Ireland
- New Zealand
- Cook Islands
- St. Helena - They also police Ascension Island and Tristan Da
- Falkland Islands
- Pitcairn Island
- Iceland
Countries such as Japan and Germany are among other nations which normally don't arm their police offers as well but I do not have a complete list. These nations are far more advanced than ours in the practice of policing. I mean honestly; the days of the gun slinger are over! I feel a huge financial savings could be realized if local governments would only follow the examples of these more advanced civilizations. STUDY IT, TEST IT AND IMPLEMENT IT! What we need today in the 21st. Century is "smart law enforcement". You would think with everything police officers carry on their belts for eight to twelve hours a day that they themselves would want loose their guns.
Let me offer another cost saving idea concerning our police departments. Could we implement a program which would be similar to the military? Officers would serve in a four year program like the National Guard and then be released. This would save a lot of money since there would be no pensions offered and would continually add fresh young officers eliminating the problem of stressed older policeman. Just an idea! I found a very interesting web site which reports national police statistics and will pass it along to you:
http://www.copblock.org/17484/infographic-a-neutral-look-police-brutality/
I have not enjoyed writing this article at all. It cuts across my grain but these things have to be exposed. In conclusion: now that I've added my two cents worth about the police, that's about what it's worth. Things probably won't change until there is some kind of monumental incident of catastrophic proportions. This is Felicity trying to stay out of LAPD's way and hoping for the best! Next week we will take a look at Los Angeles history. From the 1860's up into the recent past. Some very interesting vintage photos!
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