I have spent the last few days defending the Fayetteville Police Department's judgment, and then they go and do something like this. Big picture in the Northwest Arkansas Times today with Captain Kenny Yates showing off the take in a marijuana bust in Fayetteville, as if that has anything to do with protecting the public from serious crime or injury. More people have died this year from careless drivers at crosswalks in our city than from selling or smoking weed, yet who gets sent to jail?.
Fayetteville Police and the 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force seem to go for the easy picking of dope smokers while the real dangers of methamphetamine manufacturing appear to go virtually ignored and unchecked. These boys who like their toys. Helicopters, Tasers, and night goggles come to mind as what happens when agencies get too much funding and have too much time on their hands. It is like an addiction.
It is also a huge waste of tax dollars. As I have noted before, the City is set to spend $475, 562 for a Drug Enforcement Program that is expected to produce only $12,000 in fines and forfeitures. That's no way to run a city. Greenland and Johnson make far more than that on their speed trap operations. Admittedly, some of this huge inefficient budget comes from a federal grant, but we are still dumping in $233,000 in city general revenues for a failed War on Drugs started under a previous mayor. Let's take a pass on the federal funds and save our money.
Let's also get a grip on what crimes should be priorities for enforcement in a time of limited financial resources. Our constabulary should be allowed to focus on serious offenses instead of being diverted by suits taking federal money for frills.
Looking over "Christmas giving" lists of non profits who need money I began wondering why these projects don't come under the 'public services' rubric to be funded by a designated city budget line. Homeless people, abused children, people who need but can't afford health care.... How much money does the city appropriate for each of these? why is each one dependant on "charity"? any one of them is more important to the public good than pot busts.
ReplyDeleteA crime is a crime no matter how large or small. The police can't turn a blind eye when they see a crime nor can they ignore a crime that has been reported to them. If people feel the having pot is not a big deal then they need to try to change the law.
ReplyDeleteIf people feel the having pot is not a big deal then they need to try to change the law.
ReplyDeletePeople have been trying to change Arkansas's Mj laws for 20 years. Have you ever tried to outspend Ark churches on anything? They can whip up a frenzy of spending on non-issues like whether the couple down the street from you is gay.
Churches, with the support of Big Pharma, are the ones opposed to making mj laws sane.
I figured if god didn't want people to smoke the stuff then god would not have put it on earth so abundantly. Yet, god's disciples think a wild growing weed is a thing of evil because some big government agency said so back in the late 1930s.
Then another Big Government type, Richard Nixon, declared "WAR" on the harmless weed. It's the one "War" we have consistently lost for over 40 years.
But, the privatized prison bidness is booming. Arkansas houses enough prisoners to replace the entire city of Fort Smith, which is larger than Fayetteville. Our prison population, were it a city, would be the second largest city in the state.
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In other news this Saturday in Northwest Arkansas Newspapers I noted:
ReplyDeleteBy Skip Descant
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Print item
FAYETTEVILLE — Construction of a massive residential and commercial development centered around a proposed 200-acre public park in south Fayetteville faces a new city deadline.
City officials say they will deny the 1,000-acre SouthPass, a mixed-use subdivision, an extension of its development approval unless the project’s developers hand over ownership of 200 acres intended for a regional public park.
story is here
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Anon 1:21 says a crime is a crime. Fair enough. Which of the thousands of crimes should be given priority? Domestic violence? Speeding in school zomes? Borrowing money from an FDIC insured bamk for a development then spending it for something else? Toking up? Only a dope would make pot a priority.
ReplyDeleteYes, first shut down all the meth labs, then waste the remaining time busting kids for weed.
ReplyDeleteThe police could start arresting business owners who don't pay their employees. It is called wage theft, and it is a far more frequent crime than you might imagine, from contractors to restaurants.
ReplyDeleteIf a police officer sees you committing a non-priority crime, guess what he's going to do? Arrest you.
ReplyDeleteIf a prosecutor receives a case with a non-priority crime, guess what he's going to do? Prosecute you.
If a judge or jury finds a guilty verdict on a non-priority crime, guess what he's going to do? Sentence you.
Non-priority crimes ARE STILL CRIMES. Most MJ arrests come from traffic stops, routine searches, or incidental to other crimes.
There's no question that pot crimes are silly crimes, and that the law needs to be updated. But police officers, prosecutors, and judges have an obligation to follow the laws as written, and not as they would like them to be.
I hope forefeitures stay low. They're a scam and are ripe for abuse. If we're to continue to make the mistake of not legalizing drugs, and make the mistake of having these sorts of agencies, then let's not compound bthings y forcing the cops to self-fund using forfeitures.
ReplyDeleteL.--
ReplyDeleteI think Mr. Descant's reporting is top notch. And am always glad to see an update on the SP debacle. But to write that Jordan has consistently voted against Sow Piss, is not accurate.
Anon 3:00 PM said: "I think Mr. Descant's reporting is top notch."
ReplyDeleteThe SouthPass (aka Renaissance Community Park) article would of been much better had it actually mentioned the names of the developers - Dean Graziosi wannabe John Nock & Richard (Tricky Dick) Alexander.
It should be noted that the signatures appearing on the agreement with the city are Nock's & Alexander's, not Lex Broyles'. I think Mr. Descant gave the developers of SouthPass a pass on this one.
L and Anon 3:00 - Lioneld Jordan voted for the Southpass deal proposed by Nock et al in 2004 when this was first trotted out for council approval. That was a deciding vote there, and everything later was certain to be merely cosmetic. I would love to see the later votes, do not recall that he voted against it "at every turn". He didn't say much against it, in any event. It's a shame that it's so time-consuming and difficult in Fableville to have a look at each councilman's and commissioner's voting record.
ReplyDeleteWho was it that vetoed Candy Clark's reappointment to the planning commission?
ReplyDeleteI sure hope you aren't advocating the notion of pursuing crimes based on how profitable each particular crime is for the city. It sure sounds like you are.
ReplyDelete@Morgan
ReplyDeleteAre you any relation to Tom Dooley? Not the mythic hanged guy, but the fellow who used to live in Fayetteville & moved away in the late 80s or early 90s?
@Anonymous 11:39a
ReplyDeleteWho cares?
Donny Story cares.
ReplyDelete@Urk
ReplyDeleteNot that I am aware of, no. However my father's name is Tom Dooley and his family is related to that famous Tom Dooley. Interesting story.