[Peace-discuss] Martial Law comes to Garden Hills

[Jenifer Cartwright]

Thanks for sending this Marti -- I'd missed this one entirely -- and Thanks, News Gazette for getting the headline (and story!) right -- Resident Rips Police for Shooting Into House. This was outrageous!!!. I can't believe the Chief of Police is defending such sloppy and dangerous police work! Randomly shooting into the house had every chance of hurting or killing someone innocent, and almost no chance of hitting their intended target!! (It's another question as to whether or not the police should have been shooting at the man at that point anyway, before at least warning him. I think I heard/read a local officer's statement that they're trained to- and  always shoot to kill, that they don't do the Roy Rogers thing and try to wing the guy, shoot his leg to stop him, or shoot out his tires, etc, and that's a scary thing, if I got it right.) 
   
  I caught city council mtg last week (I think) on TV. Several officers presented information on increased patrol in certain areas of town, and it sounded reasonable and appropriate to me, something that residents would appreciate having, something that would increase their safety and well-being, which is what we all want (and which most of us on this list are fortunate to have). I am still persuaded that the plans were and are reasonable and appropriate. 
   
  But if this is the way officers handle situations that make it necessary to have increased police presence -- and worst of all -- if Capt Finney is going to defend THIS case as reasonable and appropriate behavior, I've got a HUGE problem w/ it. Would I do any better if I were in the officers position? No. Do I expect better from them and their supervisors? Yes. 
   
  Jenifer

Marti <tvchick at insightbb.com> wrote:
        st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }                Recently residents of the Garden Hills subdivision received a letter in the mail regarding the increased amount of police activity which would be taking place.  This was done with the ‘good’ of the residents in mind.  One of the results of this increased patrolling is the story below.
   
  http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2007/06/29/resident_rips_police_over_shots_into
   
  According to the resident of this house the man who ran into her place was not firing his gun at the moment, yet police officers maintained open fire and caused damage to the property.  Now if I decided to damage the property of my neighbors they would be well within their rights to charge me with vandalism, yet our police chief defended the actions of his officers when they caused damage to someone’s house.
   
  I wonder if the City of Champaign will pay for the repairs in this instance. At this point that would be the proper thing to do. 
   
  Peace, Marti
   
   

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