When It Works
I live in Sayre PA, in a community known collectively as “The Valley.” The Valley consists of 6 communities in two counties, in two separate states, blended together over the border with NY: Sayre, South Waverly, Athens, Athens Township PA, and Waverly and Barton NY. [GoogleEarth map]
It is impossible, except by air, to see where one community ends and the next begins. Our streets and roads blend seamlessly. From the air, you can see NY’s Rte 17 (soon to be I-86) slashing through the upper end, but a section of the highway actually runs just south of the border – through PA.
In 2000, we were the first FEMA-designated ‘Project Impact’ community to cross state lines and FEMA regions, and a showcase for how to run disasters that impact communities on both sides of a border. We even got some great little signs that notify visitors to the area that we are a “FEMA-designated, Multi-State, Disaster-Resistant Community.” Catchy, eh?
Prior to Project Impact and the signing of Memoranda of Agreement by state, county, and municipal officals, it was a bit of a problem for fire, ambulance, and police to cross the border to assist. Now, it’s simply a matter of requesting mutual aid, the same as is done with same-state companies. It’s done fairly often, especially with police. Since these are small communities, there isn’t a large amount of back-up that can be called. So, when calls go out, Waverly NY’s PD can request assistance from any of the PA communities, and vis versa.
All of which is a long introduction to explain “When It Works.”
On Monday night, three tractor-trailers crashed on Rte 17/I-86, between Exits 58 (Chemung) and 60 (PA Rte. 220 junction) where construction had been on-going and traffic was reduced to two-way traffic, using the previously-eastbound lanes.
Apparently, one driver was westbound and crossed into the eastbound lane, hitting another truck head-on, which caused the crash of the third truck as it attempted to avoid the accident.
It was a massive incident, with trucks on fire and several explosions heard by those in the area around it. One driver was killed, another was taken to the hospital and then flown to a burn center in Syracuse where he’s in critical condition, and the third was treated and released. Fire companies responded from all over the Valley, as well as from all over Tioga County. Greater Valley EMS responded with several rigs.
The highway, naturally, had to be shut down. Local police from both states, the Tioga County Sheriff’s Department and the NY State Police were on the scene, and detoured traffic off Rte 17, sending vehicles onto Rte 17C. Even after the fire was out, traffic was detoured as state police reconstruction unit investigated, the trucks were removed from the scene, and the highway milled and repaved. As of 4pm yesterday afternoon, when I returned home after a trip to Scranton, traffic was still being detoured.
Co-ordinating about 15-18 volunteer fire companies, several law enforcement units, and multiple ambulances is one thing. Throw in a Hazardous Response team, the NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Dept. of Transportation, and the Red Cross and Salvation Army. Then add in a house fire in South Waverly – complete with a “large amount of ammunition inside and poisonous snakes.”
Then try doing it with two or three county communications centers, in two states. The people at the comm centers in Bradford County PA and Tioga County NY, as well as Chemung County NY deserve huge amounts of praise. They did an amazing job.
Speaking of that house fire, that was also another ‘Project Impact’ incident. (scroll down) And, other than Sayre and South Waverly, none of the departments who fought it normally work together. Their fire districts don’t border each other, and one of them is from almost 25 miles south of the Valley. Yet, they also did an amazing job, which speaks to the dedication and training of all our volunteers, in both states.
When it works, it works.
Now, if only the feds would get their act together….
More on Political Hackery in BC
Commenting on my post, Political Hackery in BC, setaf suggested readers study the subsequent articles regarding incumbent Sheriff Steve Evans, as printed by the Daily Review. I figured I’d take him up on it, and save you some time. For those interested in delving deeper than I have, you can go to the Daily Review‘s website. At the top the the page, there is a search bar. The links below were found doing a search for all articles containing the words “Steve Evans” within the past 30 days.
The first two items are actually from editions prior to those I mentioned in my previous post on the subject.
Some of the links are “Letters to the Editor” and – unfortunately – to find some of them, you’ll have to scroll down the page to find the exact item. (21st century web technology and the idea of links being unfamiliar tools to the local press, I suppose.) I’ve marked them as “LTE” and included the headers in bold where there is more than one LTE on that page, so you can locate them a little more easily. Editorials are marked as such.
Certain things have been marked with asterisks (*) and my comments are footnoted at the bottom.
So, ready to read more? Follow me below the fold!
Fighting the War on Drugs
Cross-posted at Some Notes on Living
It seems like everyone has a story like this, or knows someone who knows someone who has a story like this. It isn’t meant as anything more than a post on how the War on Drugs affected someone I know. And how mandatory sentencing, without respect for the individual circumstances of each case, has damaged one life.
I have a young friend who – depending on your politics – is either a victim of the War on Drugs or a poster child for the effectiveness of the War on Drugs. I’ve changed her name to preserve her privacy.
First, some background:
I met Anna as a thirteen-year-old girl when she began hanging out with my son and his other friends at our home. Anna was – and is – one of those kids who is worldly in all the wrong ways, and yet remains somewhat naive in others.
She lived with her mother and abusive step-father and three much-younger brothers. Often, she would “sneak” into our home, in order to have a safe place to sleep either because her mother and/or step-father had kicked her out of the house for some infraction of the rules or because she was afraid of being hurt. Once her step-father threw a television set at her, causing a gash that required 10 stitches. Another time, enraged over some minor rule-breaking, he carted all her possessions to the landfill, leaving her with a mattress and one blanket. Her mother once threw her out of the car, forcing her to walk eight miles – in the dark – to my home.
My son tried explaining that she was welcome any time because – as I told him – we didn’t want to have to worry about her being out on the streets. This is a small town, but there are still dangers. I tried letting her know that she could always come to us, any time, but – in my opinion – I don’t think she was ready to believe an adult cared.
Her family has had a history of drug use and alcoholism as long as I’ve known them, and she grew up thinking drugs, alcohol, and abuse were just a normal part of everyone’s life. She once asked my son why I didn’t have any alcohol in the house. His answer (that I don’t drink) was such a surprise to her. She honestly couldn’t imagine any adult going about their daily life without using some form of mind-altering chemical – legal or illegal.
Over the years, she and my son became especially close, and dated on and off, and she began talking to me. At first it was just little things, and then the bigger questions that broke my heart. How did I make the kids behave without using a belt? Did I really like my sister, and why did my family always hug and say ‘love you’ whenever we separated – whether for an hour or a day?
It was literally beyond her comprehension: A family that cared about each other, didn’t use violence or intimidation, who treated her as a respected, intelligent, responsible member of the clan.
We included her in our family events, from birthdays to Christmas celebrations to the “just because” picnics. She babysat for my niece and nephew, played the big sister role to my daughter, and became another grandchild to my mom.
So what happened?
Political Hackery in BC
Update II: 5/9/07 – See my most recent post on this subject at More on Political Hackery in BC, as suggested by commenter setaf.
Update: 4/16/07 – I reworked my LTE somewhat, so the version seen below is an updated copy.
*
Since the chances of it seeing print are somewhere between slim and none, I am posting my Letter to the Editor here.
In addition to the Faux Review (my new nickname for the Towanda PA newspaper) I am sending copies to both the Evening Morning Times and the Rocket-Courier.
This is in response to the recent accusations made by the Bradford County district attorney, Steven Downs, regarding the deaths of two sheriff’s deputies on March 31st, 2004.
From the April 14 issue of the “Faux Review”:
Prior to the 2004 shooting deaths of two sheriff’s deputies at a junkyard in Wells Township, Bradford County Sheriff Steven Evans had been warned that the shooter — Dustin Briggs — was extremely dangerous and that the sheriff’s office should not serve a warrant at that location without backup, the Bradford County district attorney said Friday.
[…]
Evans had also stated in the 2005 Daily Review article that, in the year prior to the deaths of VanKuren and Burgert, sheriff’s office personnel had been at the Dustin Briggs residence numerous times “without incident.”
Evans also said that on March 31, 2004, VanKuren and Burgert went to the Dustin Briggs residence “to find April Harris for her suspected involvement in meth manufacturing (all charges against Harris were later dropped) and to serve a warrant on Dustin Briggs for failure to pay court costs for an old criminal case. … If there had been any hint of anticipated resistance, Mike and Chris would have asked for and received additional resources. These were veteran law enforcement professionals, having over 15 years’ experience between them.”
From the April 15 issue:
The Daily & Sunday Review left numerous messages Friday and Saturday on Evans’ home, office and cell telephones, but none were returned.
The Review also tried unsuccessfully to obtain comment from the solicitor for the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office, attorney Ray DePaola. When a reporter went to DePaola’s Towanda home Saturday afternoon seeking comment, DePaola refused to answer questions, and would not accept a letter that formally asked him for comment on the accusations made by Bradford County District Attorney Stephen Downs.
Instead, DePaola said to see him during normal office hours and threatened to call the police if the reporter did not leave. Then — standing in his doorway – he turned to someone inside the house and said, “Call 911.” The reporter left immediately.
Click the links to read the full articles.
Here’s my response:
To the Editor:
I am writing in regard to articles in the Saturday and Sunday editions of the Daily Review.
As a life-long resident of Bradford County, I am both appalled and disgusted by the lack of professional ethics shown by the district attorney and the Daily Review.
First, Mr. Downs: How dare you?! Have you no sense of shame whatsoever, that you would use the tragic deaths of two honorable and outstanding law enforcement professionals as a political football?
Doesn’t the Bible teach, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”? Before discussing the failures of any department in the courthouse, Mr. Downs, you would be well advised to start with your own. The nickname “Sweet Deal” Downs didn’t simply materialize out of the ether.
Which brings me to the editors and publisher(s) of the Daily Review: To inject your paper into any political discussion leaves one with the unmistakable
impression of hackery and, in this particular case, a vendetta against Sheriff Evans by your paper.The Daily Review and its staff – for whatever reasons – have shown themselves to be about as “fair and balanced” as a certain right-wing television news operation.
Specifically, your reporter’s intrusion onto Mr. Evans’ attorney’s private property and subsequent refusal to leave, after being told to contact him during business hours. Mr. Loewenstein’s account in Sunday’s paper leaves the reader into believing Mr. DePaola was acting unreasonably, in order to avoid commenting on Mr. Down’s scurrilous accusations.
Perhaps your paper doesn’t believe so, but I would think Mr. DePaola is well within his rights to enjoy a Saturday at home with his family without the
intrusion of an overzealous reporter – regardless of his clients’ names.In conclusion, Sheriff Steven Evans has brought nothing but honor and integrity to the Sheriff’s Department, and – unfortunately for our county – the district
attorney and the Daily Review have shown a sad lack of the same.
[The PA_Lady]
cc: The Morning Times
The Rocket-Courier
*
Sheriff Steve Evans is running for re-election on the Republican ticket, but I will be writing his name in during the primary, and I intend to vote for him in November.
Largely through his efforts, the people Bradford County learned the sheriff’s department did far more than provide court security and run the county jail, and – even before the deaths of deputies Mike Van Kuren and Chris Burgert – he and his deputies worked tirelessly to teach the public about the dangers of meth and other drugs and to eradicate them from the county.
Thankfully, Downs is stepping down as DA. I am undecided between the two contenders, Robert McGuinness and Pat Barrett. Both have served as district attorney previously, and both had distinguished records.
Regardless of which ends up as DA, Bradford County will be far better served than they ever were by Steven Downs.
When the Death Penalty Isn’t Enough
I read this article earlier today at msnbc.com, and literally threw up. Ever since, my brain hasn’t been able to let go. I can’t stop thinking about this little boy who was sodomized and killed and who was just six goddamned years old. A baby.
I keep asking myself, if these are the details the police and DA are willing to release in the indictment, what aren’t they telling?
I keep thinking that these were convicted sexual predators. *I keep thinking that this baby was raped by a father and son, and that the wife of the former watched and masturbated. I keep thinking (and hoping) that there is a special circle of hell – perhaps the 22nd or 50th – for people like this.*
I keep thinking that sexual abuse of every stripe is happening to children every day across this nation, and that our laws are not enough to protect them.*
How many times do we have to hear about children being sexually abused and murdered by sickos that never should have been allowed back on the streets? I’m sick and tired of hearing about this one or that one who was allowed to victimize more children because they’d been paroled after serving only a few short years.
Our laws should be very simple: Hurt a child, go to jail forever.
The laws we have aren’t designed to protect all children. Some, yes, but not all.
Here’s what I would do, if I were President – or King, as we seem to have nowadays:
Law #1: People who sexually abuse a child should receive an automatic sentence of life in prison. No special sentences for first-time offenders (because it sure as hell isn’t the first time they’ve done it, just the first time they were caught.) No parole. No early release.
Law #1a: People who physically or mentally abuse their children get ONE chance to rehabilitate themselves. Parenting classes, counseling, family therapy, etc. should be provided by the state, but a second offense results in life imprisonment under Law #1.
Law #2: People who kill their own children should receive an automatic sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole. They should be housed in a cell with every wall covered in pictures of their child, and the photos should be behind bullet-proof glass, so the killer parent(s) can’t remove or deface the pictures. Above each montage, there should be a painted caption that reads, “You destroyed this life.”
Law #2a: The only exemptions will be those who are mentally incompetent to stand trial. They’ll be sent to mental institutions for life, unless later found to be competent – then they’ll be sent to prison under Law #2.
Law #3: Anyone who kills a child after committing any type of sexual assault deserves a public castration with a rusty knife (and possibly a fork or other sharp, pointy utensil) by the parents of that child – unless and except if said parents are involved in the sexual abuse/assaults. (ie: A mother who allows her boyfriend to molest her child would not be allowed to castrate said boyfriend if he kills that child. Instead, she would be sentenced under law #2.)
After castration, the sick, disgusting pervert would be strapped to a post in front of the county courthouse and all residents of the county would be allowed to jab him/her/it with sharp objects. (Not in the eyes, though.) However, said sharp objects must not have the capability to kill said pervert. Just cause pain.
Then the pervert should be remanded to a state prison, and simply set amongst the population. Not only will that greatly decrease his/her term without allowing him/her to wander freely amongst decent human beings, but it will save the states money that could be spent on education.
–
* – Sentences between asterisks added on 3/23/07, 1:45am
Belated Update: Wilmington NC Shooting
I previously wrote about this case in North Carolina here and here. My apologies for not finding out about this until today.
The 2nd degree murder charge against the sheriff’s deputy who shot an unarmed 18-year-old, Peyton Strickland [because he mistook the sound of the battering ram for gunfire from inside the residence] was rescinded by the DA’s office on Dec 12th, a day after the grand jury returned the indictment.
The grand jury foreman told the DA’s office he had ‘checked the wrong box.”
From msnbc.com (Dec 12th) :
Officials rescinded a murder charge Tuesday against a sheriff’s deputy accused of shooting an unarmed teenager who authorities believed had stolen video game consoles, after a grand jury foreman said he had checked the wrong box on the indictment paperwork.
The dismissal came a day after New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David announced the second-degree murder charge against Cpl. Christopher Long.
[snip]
The grand jury foreman told a court Tuesday that he checked the wrong box on the indictment form by mistake, according to an order signed Tuesday by Superior Court Judge Ernest Fullwood. The foreman learned about the mistake after other jury members heard about the incorrect indictment from media reports.
A copy of the indictment filed as evidence Tuesday shows a checked box for a “true bill” of indictment crossed out, with a heavy mark made through “not a true bill,” followed by what appears to be the foreman’s initials and Tuesday’s date.
[snip]
The development drew a quick reaction from Strickland’s family, which had praised prosecutors after they won the indictment against Long.
“Yesterday, our son’s murderer was going to have to answer for what he did,” Don and Kathy Strickland said in a statement. “Today, we just don’t know what is going on in Wilmington. We are upset, confused and searching for answers.”
*
[And thanks, MSNBC.com, for putting this in your “Games” section where it went unnoticed by me until today. Who would think to look there for updates on a shooting??]
Update: Wilmington, NC Shooting
The sheriff’s deputy who fired the shots that killed an unarmed 18-year-old, Peyton Strickland, while attempting to serve an arrest warrant, has been charged with 2nd degree murder in his death.
From the AP, via MSNBC.com:
Cpl. Christopher Long, 34, was indicted in the death of 18-year-old college student Peyton Strickland, who was shot Dec. 1 when deputies and police from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington raided a house he shared with roommates.
Officers knocked on the front door and watched through a window as Strickland walked away from the door. Long fired his gun after an officer used a battering ram to knock on the door, which Long misidentified as gun shots from inside the house, District Attorney Ben David said during Long’s first court appearance Monday. [emphasis mine]
“When the ram hit the door, he thought it was gunfire,” David said. “His belief that there was gunfire coming from the inside out was not shared by others.”
[…]
An autopsy report said the fatal bullet hit Strickland in the head after hitting another object. Strickland also was shot near his right shoulder.
Officers also shot Strickland’s German shepherd, who bled to death outside the house.
“This indictment is an important first step in holding accountable everyone responsible for Peyton’s death — but this is only a first step,” his parents, Don and Kathy Strickland, said in a written statement. “None of these actions can bring Peyton back to us, but perhaps they can save someone else’s child.”
Now, as I wrote in my post, From the WTF?! Files, this was a quasi-SWAT team. This deputy didn’t know what a battering ram sounds like when it blasts in a door??
I feel for Cpl. Long and his family. From all indications, he is a genuinely nice guy, who killed an unarmed teenager, and will have to live with that for the rest of his life.
But he’ll have a lifetime, which is more than he gave Peyton Strickland.
From the WTF?! Files
The lawyer for the city of Wilmington, NC is probably gearing up for the wrongful death lawsuit that is almost certain to be filed.
From the AP:
A prosecutor pledged Monday to investigate the death of a college student who was shot as deputies tried to serve warrants accusing him of stealing two Playstation 3 video game systems.
Remember that. This was about TWO stolen PLAYSTATIONS.
Peyton Strickland, 18, died Friday at the house he shared with three roommates following a raid by officers from a special unit of the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Department.
[snip]
The prosecutor declined to discuss details of the case, but said he had talked with Strickland’s father, Raleigh lawyer Don Strickland.
A spokesman for the Strickland family and a member of Don Strickland’s law firm said the family would wait until at least after Peyton Strickland’s funeral Wednesday to comment.
Peyton Strickland’s roommate, Mike Rhoton, said Strickland was unarmed, but may have been holding a video game controller when he went to the door as it was bashed in by officers.
[Sheriff Sid] Causey would not comment on why officers felt it necessary to call in his department’s emergency response team to conduct what he termed a “high risk” search.
“If this boy would’ve come to the door, opened the door, we probably wouldn’t be talking,” Causey said Sunday.
He can’t tell you why a quasi-SWAT team was sent after an alleged thief, but then goes on to say it’s the kid’s fault for not answering the door promptly.
Arrest warrants alleged that Strickland, a student at Cape Fear Community College, and a University of North Carolina at Wilmington student stole two PlayStation units from another UNC Wilmington student on the day the game system was introduced.
[snip]
“I think anytime that someone beats a person severely and commits an armed robbery, I certainly would consider him a risk and a danger,” Causey said.
If only they were this hard on abusive husbands and boyfriends….
The sheriff said Strickland was shot by members of a special police unit that had been called in to help university officers serve warrants. Strickland’s dog, a German shepherd, also was shot to death.
The second man named in the warrants was arrested at another address and was released on bail Saturday, authorities said.
In 2004, (the last year for which statistics are available) there were 8 murders, 57 rapes, 437 aggravated assaults, and 292 robberies, according to Wilmington Area Connect. Wilmington’s crime stats are above the national average in every area, but there’s no listing of how many suspects were shot because they didn’t answer the door fast enough.
Somebody’s scared….
You just know that if Republicans are questioning something that happened to a Democrat, the world has either tipped over on its axis…or they're scared of it happening to them.
From the Associated Press:
The FBI’s weekend search of the House office of a Louisiana Democrat under investigation for bribery may have overstepped constitutional boundaries, House leaders said as the congressman under investigation pledged to stay in office.
House Majority Leader John Boehner of Ohio told reporters Tuesday that the Congress will somehow speak to “this issue of the Justice Department’s invasion of the legislative branch. In what form, I don’t know.”
[snip]
House Speaker Dennis Hastert said the Justice Department had never before crossed a line that separates Congress from the executive branch by searching a congressional office while investigating a member of Congress.
Can you smell the fear? Obviously the last thing the Party of Corruption wants – especially those already under investigation – is for the FBI to go wandering around their offices.
Someone needs to explain to these unpatriotic unAmericans that we're at war! We were attacked on 9/11, and we have to do whatever we can to fight the terrorists, even when we aren't actually targeting terrrorists.
And, by the way, isn't it nice of Alberto Gonzalez to offer a little 'Don't worry, my good buddies'?
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Tuesday he understood the concerns of some members of Congress about the search and said he was working with lawmakers as to how to handle the investigation.
“We’re in discussion privately about what can be done to alleviate the concerns,” Gonzales said at a Justice Department news conference. “I … and the department have a great deal of respect for the Congress as a coequal branch of government … and obviously are sensitive to their concerns. We are working to address those concerns. We have discussions with the House. Those began last night.”
Awww…Attorney General "Torture is legal, and George can do what he wants" Gonzalez respects Congress as "a coequal branch of government".
Steny Hoyer on the other hand seems to think that Gonzalez and his department might just – maybe- respect Republicans just a little more.
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said the raid raises questions about why the Justice Department raided the offices of a Democrat but not Republican lawmakers under investigation. “It certainly has been disparate treatment,” he said.
Singing = Terrorist?
Attention! From now on, there will be no singing along with the radio, MP3 player, or CD! You could be mistaken for a terrorist if the lyrics contain certain words.
Think I'm kidding? A man was detained by police in London after a taxi driver reported him for singing The Clash's 'London Calling'.
From CNN:
Detectives halted the London-bound flight at Durham Tees Valley Airport in northern England and Harraj Mann, 24, was taken off.
The taxi driver had become worried on the way to the airport because Mann had been singing along to The Clash's 1979 anthem "London Calling," which features the lyrics "Now war is declared — and battle come down" while other lines warn of a "meltdown expected".
Mann told British newspapers the taxi had been fitted with a music system which allowed him to plug in his MP3 player and he had been playing The Clash, Procol Harum, Led Zeppelin and the Beatles to the driver.
"He didn't like Led Zeppelin or The Clash but I don't think there was any need to tell the police," Mann told the Daily Mirror.
A Durham police spokeswoman said Mann had been released after questioning — but had missed his flight.
"The report was made with the best of intentions and we wouldn't want to discourage people from contacting us with genuine concerns," she said.
I could be wrong, but do you really think a would-be jihadist is going to be singing along to The Clash?!
You Have Spoken
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“I don’t have an agenda, I don’t have a program. I’m not a communist or a socialist. I guess I’m a left-libertarian and a populist, and I believe in the Bill of Rights the way some folks believe in the Bible.”
– Molly Ivins, 1944-2007
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