My recent law enforcement experience.

[dodge man]

I was reading another thread and read some negative comments about LEO and thought I would share my recent experience with them.

Long story short my daughter left a small coin purse behind at a local restaurant. A lady picked it up and took my daughters debit card and cleaned out her bank account. I'm talking down to the last penny. It wasn't a lot of money but was about $300. My wife caught the withdrawls the next day and we contacted the police right away. At that time we weren't sure if she lost it or if it got stolen. They filled out a report and to be honest figured there wouldn't be any follow up. They assigned a detective to the case.

The lady that used the debit card wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer as she used the card at 3 local business's. They had her on camera and someone that worked at one of the stores knew her. They caught her and she confessed. The bank covered the lost money but I made it clear to the bank and the police I thought this entire thing was a waste of time if they didn't prosecute. We were also worried that maybe a friend of my daughters or someone at her school may have committed the crime but it was a random stranger. I think what bothered me was the deliberate way they cleaned out her account. The last store they went to was a tobacco store and they tried to buy too many packs of smokes so they kept taking a pack off until the debit card worked.

This all took place about 3 months ago and yesterday we got a letter in the mail saying they were going to prosecute and my daughter may have to testify.

I'm impressed by local law enforcement taking what it really a pretty small crime and following up on it, catching the person and then actually prosecuting the person. I don't want to see this lady do hard time but there has to be some kind punishment or there is no deterrent. Overall LEO was very professional and courteous to us and I hope my daughter learned something from this.

 

[MoKelly]

Interesting.

Now, lets see how the prosecuters and Court system deals with something like this given the amounts involved.

MoKelly

 

[davesl708]

It is great that they prosecute even the small crimes. Sends a message.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

About 10 years ago, my daughter had her purse stolen. She knew the girl who took it. The thief went to a local Sams Club the nexy day and purchased a $2000 big screen TV, and hit a few other stores along the way. She also wrote out the rest of my daughter's checks. We called the Tulsa police and they were not interested.

We contacted Sam's Club and explained the theft. The store manager pulled his video and had the girl red-handed on tape. We again called the Tulsa police who were still not interested. As a result, my daughter's credit is destroyed and she still cannot write a check.

If you're looking for a completely useless law enforcement agency ... look no further than Tulsa, Oklahoma.

 

[ThomasH]

Wow! That is a good story. Around here (Atlanta), the police won't even come out unless there is life threatened, you have to go to the police station and fill out a report. So smaller crimes go on and on at much higher levels, until the criminal graduates to much bigger crime. I remember reading last month about somebody that had 20+ DUIs and driving without a license and had finally killed someone in a head on collision in the middle of the night because he was driving the wrong way drunk. You might think that he had spent a long time in jail but you would be wrong. Too crowded in jail, so they let him out quickly each time on work release, parole, or early release for good behavior.

So I wish the police around here would patrol the streets like they used to, and respond to smaller crime.

 

[TripleR]

It is good to see something positive for a change and I'm glad it worked out so well. My daughter had a similar situation happen several years ago and it literally took years for her to get it resolved and her credit rating only got back to normal after a lot of work on her part as well as the police.

Like any profession there are incompetents or those who don't care, but I've worked in metropolitan areas to rural and oftentimes it is not a matter of what the officials want to do, but what they can afford to or are allowed.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

My daughter must have received 40 or 50 collection threats in the mail because of the identity theft. Initially, we responded politely. Eventually, it got pretty awful. I wrote a narrative of the theft, our efforts, and the lack of police response, including officer's names, dates, a copy of my filed police report and the phone number of the Tulsa Police Department. That was forwarded to each and every collector, business and credit company involved. After about 2 years we stopped receiving the harassment. The police never did anything. The thief is probably still enjoying her new TV. My daughter lives with destroyed credit.

But ....... all of this is a bit off-thread ....... Just wanted to put a check-mark in the Tulsa Police Suck column

 

[kcflhrc]

I guess I will add my positive story because I believe for the most part law enforcement does the best they can.

My son got hit at an intersection by one of those south of the border folks. The guy had no insurance and no drivers license. But some how was here on a work permit or some BS. Him and his buddies were laughing when I went to pick my son up. I was fuming mad as you can imagine. I contacted an attorney the following week, he said don't waste your time and money. So I took his advice and got the car fixed on my dime. A couple weeks after the accident the county prosecutor contacted me. They wanted to know if I wanted to pursue the issue, I said **** yes. They took the guy to court, I didn't even have to show up, and they made him pay for the damage over the course of a few months. I got a check every month until it was paid for.

Glad I don't live in Tulsa

 

[kcflhrc]

Double post

 

[Bird]

oftentimes it is not a matter of what the officials want to do, but what they can afford to or are allowed.

Many things go on that people don't know about or understand, and I can't blame them. I only spent 15 months as a sergeant, during which time I had 6 detectives to supervise in a burglary and theft unit. Things are not the way they are shown on TV or in movies. I assigned each of those detectives an average of 3 new cases A DAY and they had to contact the victim and submit a handwritten supplement (follow-up report) on each case, even if the narrative was simply "no additional information". Now if they had a case in which they could get a search warrant or arrest warrant and prepare a case report to go to the prosecutors, it might take all day for ONE case. So now that detective has 2 left over and tomorrow I'm going to give him 3 more.

It was an incredibly frustrating 15 months, even with good detectives who were doing their best.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Glad I don't live in Tulsa

I have since moved

Actually, Tulsa is a W O N D E R F U L city. I just have a thing about the TPD. Geez, with the info we had in hand - they could have arrested and successfully prosecuted this case only days after it happened. We had done most of the work for them but ...... it was apparently too much to expect then to give a dxmn.

 

[meos1]

Some good some bad in all lots. I happened to get stopped one evening because my taillight was out. I had had a couple of beers over the course of three hours and 48 minutes. At my weight, I knew I was pretty close to completely metabolizing those two drinks. I happened to get the Barney Fife of the County, one W. Stiles. I did the jesus pose and perp walk. He even gave me the horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test and Im blind in the left eye. So he could not figure out what to do because "I smelled like beer" and "Statistically, your over the limit if you smell like beer." This guy was a walking statistician even though I was telling him I only had the two beers and at the amount of time he was simply wrong, regardless of what he memorized. Anyway, I consented to take the DataMaster because I figured that would be the end of it after I demonstrated my innocence. I blew a 0.01. That is seven hundredths below the legal limit for DUI in SC, and 4 below anyone could claim your impairment. Much to my suprise, he put me in jail. I got arraigned the next morning for DUI - 1rst offense. Following that, a high brass called me to tell me they would drop the charges for DUI but they would press charges for the tag light. They had previously had written a warning on the tag light and ommited it from my arraignment. To make a long story short The York County SC Sheriffs department wrote me a check. If you happen to come to York, SC I would think twice, because ole' Barney works for the City of York now. MADD recently honored him for more than 50 DUI arrests in a year. Its a racket.

 

[texasjohn]

It is great that they prosecute even the small crimes. Sends a message.

Hmmm...I've always heard about "sending a message," but I wonder if there has actually ever been a scientific study of how many people heard "the message" and therefore decided NOT to commit the crime when they otherwise WOULD have done so.

 

[davesl708]

I guess I will add my positive story because I believe for the most part law enforcement does the best they can.

My son got hit at an intersection by one of those south of the border folks. The guy had no insurance and no drivers license. But some how was here on a work permit or some BS. Him and his buddies were laughing when I went to pick my son up. I was fuming mad as you can imagine. I contacted an attorney the following week, he said don't waste your time and money. So I took his advice and got the car fixed on my dime. A couple weeks after the accident the county prosecutor contacted me. They wanted to know if I wanted to pursue the issue, I said **** yes. They took the guy to court, I didn't even have to show up, and they made him pay for the damage over the course of a few months. I got a check every month until it was paid for.

Glad I don't live in Tulsa

I have a very different story. My nephew was killed by and illegal alien who decided to run a stop sign on a clear day at noon with 1 mile viz. in all directions.
Several witnesses stated the IA would not get out of his vehicle and help my nephew. He let him burn on the road.
The Kansas Highway Patrol did not take the IA in to custody and let him go until they could determine what charges to place. During this time the IA crossed back across the border and was out of reach of law enforcement. When we tried to have the IA extradited back to Kansas to face the charges we were informed by the Mexican gov. that the guy died in a car wreck. We asked for a death certificate and they informed us none were available.
Had KHP held him there may have been some justice. My nephew left his 11yr old son with out a parent.
Had the IA been a citizen he would have been held at the scene according to the Prosecutor.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

I have a very different story. My nephew was killed by and illegal alien ......

I am so sorry to hear this. Your story evokes anger and outrage on so many levels. Illegals - ALL OF THEM - should be taken into custody, prosecuted when possible, deported ALWAYS. Our country is committing cultural suicide! Nobody in government seems to give a rat's A__!

Stories like this are why I have simply given up on our survival as a nation.

 

[edkemper]

Boy this turned political quickly.

Just want to add, the only major problem I've ever had with LEOs is when I was young and was an ***.

On the other hand, my sister (with 3 tenant preteen children) was hit broadside across the lanes while pulling out of the train station by a marked unit driving 80-100mph down a 45mph main street and came around a sweeping corner. He only had his rear facing amber lights on. Not involved in a chase. Sis had a 6 foot "fluid trail" on the pavement. The other arriving officers spent their time high fiveing the officer that was driving and basically unhurt. He sued my sister for his minor personal injuries. She spent 4 months in a coma and the next 8 years in what one might call a warehouse for severely injured patients. She never regained her ability to communicate. The city didn't initially fire the offending officer. The city paid millions. After a couple more screw-ups, the officer was fired.

There are good and bad in every group. By far, the majority of the LEOs I've known in my long life have been good people. Where I live now? I am lucky to have the department we have.

I should add that in 60+ years on the west coast from southern CA to Southern OR, I've never been wronged by an illegal immigrant. However I have been a victim of legal residents more times than I can count.

 

[sodamo]

Years ago, my wife was hit head on by an 18yo returning home from a rave party one Sunday morning. He admitted having not recollection other than leaving the party and waking up in the hospital even though the accident occurred about 30 minutes from the party site and about 1/2 mile from his parents home. Even though he had surgery, there were no blood tests for alcohol or drugs. My wife spent 5 months in the hospital and is permanently disabled, but the law didn't see any reason to find fault. He did go to court and his parents paid his fine for failure to maintain his lane.

David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet

 

[bertsmobile]

Happens every where.
One of my drivers stepped 1/2 out of his van to get a better light on his stret directory.
He got rear ended and that shunted the van over a cliff.
The car drove off after.
When the police eventually came & took details one keen counstable stod on the raod and said were you about here ?
there was a puddle of oil & water on the road plus some glass.
He followed the tail about 1/2 mile to a garage door but the owners would not open their front door so he had to get a warrant.
Once inside he found the vehicle with damage & missing lights so all occupant s of the house were arrested.
Evntually we went to court.
I was hoping to recover some of the $22,000 it cost me to get the van removed from the gully.
However no joy.
They were charged with drunk driving, driving unlisences, driving unregistered vehicle neglegent driving causing accident, dangerious driving & leaving the scene of a collision. and all 4 were found guilty.
the magistrate simply added another 12 month to their existing 18 months good behaviour bond with a default of 2 years gaol.
The prosecution objected saying they should do their 2 years default on the original good behaviour bond and the magistrate then rduced the sentice to a 6 month addition.

 

[texasjohn]

Happens everywhere...people bang into people....whatever the reasons, methods and results....and, then it begins
pain, suffering, cause, effect, responsibility, identification, perceptions of justice, so many sides to the story
and, so many stories...across human history...wherever people are, or have been.

Where to turn for solace....self, family/friends, religion, law, government...

Ed Ames - Who Will Answer lyrics | LyricsMode.com

And, here, the mystery continues where an older Ed Ames discusses past and current events... who/what is the answer???
The outcome never truly satisfies, whether on the school yard, courtroom or battlefield.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdUejD99KuM

 

[Sprinklerman]

We will see how my very recent experience will turn out . Friday a week ago I came home and stumbled on 2 guys breaking in my house . I saw the look out in the car , gave chase and they got away . But , I got a great description of the car , tag included . I know the cops have their hands full , so I made some calls pulled in some favors ( a good friend of mine national franchise that works on cars , he ran the tag and BINGO ) Within 48 hours I handed the cops 6 pages of info on the guys . Basically the detective got the case monday morning at 8 am and at 9 am I handed him almost everything on a silver platter . They got all my wifes jewlery , looked for drugs in the medicine cabinet , and went thru the night stands ( no guns ) they would have ransacked the house but I showed up . Now I am just waiting for the little crack head to get locked up ........