Sunday, February 14, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Settlment in Lima Shooting case Does Not Equal Guilt
It has been announced that the City of Lima's insurer has agreed to settlement with the estate of Tarika Wilson, the woman shot and killed during a drug raid last year. According to GCJ, citing the Lima paper, the settlement was agreed to by the insurer, OVER THE OBJECTION OF THE CITY.
The local NAACP is already claiming settlement proves guilt, because, in their view, no person would settle a case if they were guilty. First, civil law is about liability not guilt, with a much lower level of proof needed to find negligence. Second, the insurer - holding a non-consent policy- did not need the City or Sgt. Chavalia's consent, and made the decision to settle on its own. Insurance companies are doing business. It simply calculated the cost of defense, the risk of losing in front of a Lima jury, and the potential verdict at trial, and settled.
Nothing in the settlement equates to GUILT. It is simply a risk decision by insurance company representatives.
Regardless of the responsibility held by Ms. Wilson, or the drug dealing boyfriend, her children will have a nest egg - a huge nest egg - to survive on. Let's hope it is not waisted by well meaning family.
TAHL
The local NAACP is already claiming settlement proves guilt, because, in their view, no person would settle a case if they were guilty. First, civil law is about liability not guilt, with a much lower level of proof needed to find negligence. Second, the insurer - holding a non-consent policy- did not need the City or Sgt. Chavalia's consent, and made the decision to settle on its own. Insurance companies are doing business. It simply calculated the cost of defense, the risk of losing in front of a Lima jury, and the potential verdict at trial, and settled.
Nothing in the settlement equates to GUILT. It is simply a risk decision by insurance company representatives.
Regardless of the responsibility held by Ms. Wilson, or the drug dealing boyfriend, her children will have a nest egg - a huge nest egg - to survive on. Let's hope it is not waisted by well meaning family.
TAHL
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Drunk, Doped........and Deadly Force.
From the title you may think this post is an attack on TPD officers who have been involved in recent deadly force shootings such as the incident with Linda Hicks, the 64 year old, African American, armed, schizophrenic who was shot and killed last week. It is not.
Ms. Hicks was was a mentally unstable, armed threat to herself, her housemates, and the officers who responded. Had TPD officers not done anything, and she had hurt someone else or herself, they would have been derelict in their duty. From what I have read the officers used the force continuum appropriately when verbal commands, and the taser were ineffective. Any person who calls for non-deadly response to a citizen armed with a knife or other sharp weapon (in this case scissors), does not understand the dynamics of armed conflict; such weapons are deadly weapons. Officers are not - and should not- be trained to meet deadly force resistance with non-deadly force.
HOWEVER, this post is not a TPD cheering session either. Recently we learned that TPD officers who were intoxicated on duty and tested positive for marijuana use, will be suspended, not fired. This is a travesty. Police must be held to a higher standard when their profession is enforcing the law. Had I reported for duty drunk, EVER, I would have been summarily fired on the spot -- and rightfully so.
This is the result and example of the damage unions can do to a modern work force, community, and economy. The union in fact decried the 90 day suspensions as overbearing and overreaction. WHAT??!!! With a straight face the men and women who represent the TPD officer's union claim that drunk cops on duty who get suspended are being treated too harshly. Their hypocrisy is self explanatory.
The TPD has to fight a constant PR battle, doing the right thing under immeasurably difficult situations, while being constantly examined and second guessed by the citizenry. Their effectiveness is only undermined further when misconduct of this type is allowed to continue. For the hundreds of well trained, professional, dedicated officers on the TPD who don't deserve the attacks they receive, these four have made their jobs and safety much more tenuous.
Be safe.
TAHL
Ms. Hicks was was a mentally unstable, armed threat to herself, her housemates, and the officers who responded. Had TPD officers not done anything, and she had hurt someone else or herself, they would have been derelict in their duty. From what I have read the officers used the force continuum appropriately when verbal commands, and the taser were ineffective. Any person who calls for non-deadly response to a citizen armed with a knife or other sharp weapon (in this case scissors), does not understand the dynamics of armed conflict; such weapons are deadly weapons. Officers are not - and should not- be trained to meet deadly force resistance with non-deadly force.
HOWEVER, this post is not a TPD cheering session either. Recently we learned that TPD officers who were intoxicated on duty and tested positive for marijuana use, will be suspended, not fired. This is a travesty. Police must be held to a higher standard when their profession is enforcing the law. Had I reported for duty drunk, EVER, I would have been summarily fired on the spot -- and rightfully so.
This is the result and example of the damage unions can do to a modern work force, community, and economy. The union in fact decried the 90 day suspensions as overbearing and overreaction. WHAT??!!! With a straight face the men and women who represent the TPD officer's union claim that drunk cops on duty who get suspended are being treated too harshly. Their hypocrisy is self explanatory.
The TPD has to fight a constant PR battle, doing the right thing under immeasurably difficult situations, while being constantly examined and second guessed by the citizenry. Their effectiveness is only undermined further when misconduct of this type is allowed to continue. For the hundreds of well trained, professional, dedicated officers on the TPD who don't deserve the attacks they receive, these four have made their jobs and safety much more tenuous.
Be safe.
TAHL
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Animal House Rescue Charity Event -- Sunday July 26th
ANIMAL HOUSE RESCUE CHARITY EVENT
BIG DOG WALKJuly 26, 2009Walk:9 A.M. - 11 A.M.Secor Room Activities: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Secor Metro Park http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metroparks/maps/
Register and donate on-line, or in person with cash at any AHR adoption
http://www.ahrescue.org/
Short Walk: Woodland Pond Trail, 0.3 mile Long Walk: Swamp Forrest Trail, 1.2 miles
Grand Prize Raffle: $250.00 Visa Cash Card: Need not be present to win.Silent Auction in Secor Room 11 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. (bidding ends at 12:30 p.m.)Raffle Drawing at 1 p.m. in Secor Room
Adoptions in Secor Room11:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. Entertainment, food, beverages, variety of specialty vendors, samples, games, prizes, and more……
$20.00 registration donation includes t-shirt, water bottle, samples, and coupons Pre-registeredWalkers check-in between 9 & 10:30 a.m. Sunday Morning. Official start 9:30 a.m.*
Follow the AHR BIG DOG WALK SIGNS*Register at any adoption event Saturday, July, 18th at Anderson’s, 503 Illinois Ave., Maumee, Ohio, between Noon and 3 p.m. or; Saturday July 25th, at PetCo on Monroe Street between Noon and 3 p.m. $25.00
Same Day Registration Donation 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. in the Secor Room.Additional t-shirts available for $10.00 donation on event day.
To register and pay online, go to http://www.ahrescue.org/.Click on the link for Walk Registration, fill out and submit the form.Then click on the PayPal link to pay your $20.00 Registration Donation.
For details or space rental: ahrdogsncats@yahoo.com***25 Free AVID micro-chips, available to registered walkers at 9:00 a.m.*** Reduced Cost Shot Clinic 10:00 a.m. - 2 p.m.***Restrictions apply. See website for details***
BIG DOG WALKJuly 26, 2009Walk:9 A.M. - 11 A.M.Secor Room Activities: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Secor Metro Park http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metroparks/maps/
Register and donate on-line, or in person with cash at any AHR adoption
http://www.ahrescue.org/
Short Walk: Woodland Pond Trail, 0.3 mile Long Walk: Swamp Forrest Trail, 1.2 miles
Grand Prize Raffle: $250.00 Visa Cash Card: Need not be present to win.Silent Auction in Secor Room 11 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. (bidding ends at 12:30 p.m.)Raffle Drawing at 1 p.m. in Secor Room
Adoptions in Secor Room11:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. Entertainment, food, beverages, variety of specialty vendors, samples, games, prizes, and more……
$20.00 registration donation includes t-shirt, water bottle, samples, and coupons Pre-registeredWalkers check-in between 9 & 10:30 a.m. Sunday Morning. Official start 9:30 a.m.*
Follow the AHR BIG DOG WALK SIGNS*Register at any adoption event Saturday, July, 18th at Anderson’s, 503 Illinois Ave., Maumee, Ohio, between Noon and 3 p.m. or; Saturday July 25th, at PetCo on Monroe Street between Noon and 3 p.m. $25.00
Same Day Registration Donation 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. in the Secor Room.Additional t-shirts available for $10.00 donation on event day.
To register and pay online, go to http://www.ahrescue.org/.Click on the link for Walk Registration, fill out and submit the form.Then click on the PayPal link to pay your $20.00 Registration Donation.
For details or space rental: ahrdogsncats@yahoo.com***25 Free AVID micro-chips, available to registered walkers at 9:00 a.m.*** Reduced Cost Shot Clinic 10:00 a.m. - 2 p.m.***Restrictions apply. See website for details***
Friday, June 26, 2009
CopArazzi
Yes, the paparazzi have the right to take photos of celebrities in PUBLIC, but none of us support or condone their METHODS.
Yes, police have a DUTY to keep our streets safe, but, red light cameras are not the proper METHOD.
They have become the CopArazzi, lost is the spirit and intent of their job and purpose. Lost to the all mighty dollar. The perfect analogy.
IN FULL DISCLOSURE - I heard this term on Bob and Tom today, from comedian Augie Smith.
TAHL
Yes, police have a DUTY to keep our streets safe, but, red light cameras are not the proper METHOD.
They have become the CopArazzi, lost is the spirit and intent of their job and purpose. Lost to the all mighty dollar. The perfect analogy.
IN FULL DISCLOSURE - I heard this term on Bob and Tom today, from comedian Augie Smith.
TAHL
Monday, June 1, 2009
I want to live in a community.................
Where the police know the residents, including the kids, by name; and watch, investigate, inquire, or contact strangers at night or if they suspect wrongdoing.
Where the police aggressively enforce traffic laws so its safe for me and my kids to drive, ride or walk on the sidewalk and streets on the way to the park; and where the community benefits from the investigations that start as traffic stops.
Where drunk, reckless, negligent, unsafe drivers know they should avoid my community because there is a higher risk the police are being vigilant and the chance of being discovered and prosecuted is real; so they choose to drive around my community.
All these things most every honest person would admit they too would like in their community. Yet they are the things being used to attack the Ottawa Hills PD in the wake of a shooting incident following a felony chase, in which a motorcycle rider may have become paralyzed.
I remain proud to live in a clean, safe, well maintained, lighted, diverse community with a pro-active police force. I thank them for their service every chance I get.
TAHL
Where the police aggressively enforce traffic laws so its safe for me and my kids to drive, ride or walk on the sidewalk and streets on the way to the park; and where the community benefits from the investigations that start as traffic stops.
Where drunk, reckless, negligent, unsafe drivers know they should avoid my community because there is a higher risk the police are being vigilant and the chance of being discovered and prosecuted is real; so they choose to drive around my community.
All these things most every honest person would admit they too would like in their community. Yet they are the things being used to attack the Ottawa Hills PD in the wake of a shooting incident following a felony chase, in which a motorcycle rider may have become paralyzed.
I remain proud to live in a clean, safe, well maintained, lighted, diverse community with a pro-active police force. I thank them for their service every chance I get.
TAHL
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Support our Cops -- Wait for the facts.
Standing in the street as cars go buy can get you killed. Thats called a traffic stop - the most dangerous activity a police officer does.
Driving fast on side streets in a 3000 pound car can get you killed. Its what cops do every day.
Confronting people who are drug crazed, angry, intoxicated or just simply bad people can get you killed. Its what cops do every day.
So before we race to judgment about the shooting of a suspect by Ottawa Hills police, the community I live in, and officers I know; lets wait to find out the facts. Recognize and revere their sacrafices, and wait to pass judgment in haste.
TAHL
Driving fast on side streets in a 3000 pound car can get you killed. Its what cops do every day.
Confronting people who are drug crazed, angry, intoxicated or just simply bad people can get you killed. Its what cops do every day.
So before we race to judgment about the shooting of a suspect by Ottawa Hills police, the community I live in, and officers I know; lets wait to find out the facts. Recognize and revere their sacrafices, and wait to pass judgment in haste.
TAHL
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