Comments on: Georgia Sheriff Pattons Up for the War on Drugs

By: Timothy

Timothy — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:03:58 +0000

Bay of Pigs? Maybe, but to me it’s more Gulf of Tonkin. Makes me wish somebody would finish what Sherman started.

By: UCrawford

UCrawford — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:36:19 +0000

You know, I thought that “The Wire” had the best comment about the militarization mentality of the police.

“This drug thing, this ain’t police work. No, it ain’t. I mean, I can send any fool with a badge and a gun up on them corners and jack a crew and grab vials. But policing? I mean, you call something a war and pretty soon everybody gonna be running around acting like warriors. They gonna be running around on a damn crusade, storming corners, slapping on cuffs, racking up body counts. And when you at war, you need a fucking enemy. And pretty soon, damn near everybody on every corner is your fucking enemy. And soon the neighborhood that you’re supposed to be policing, that’s just occupied territory.”

By: Ochressandro

Ochressandro — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:07:03 +0000

“I do not consent to a search of my person, my vehicle, or my belongings. Get a warrant.”

By: Matt Moore

Matt Moore — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:17:35 +0000

Wasn’t there a Supreme Court case a few years back that found it was constitutional to stop all cars at a roadblock ONLY if they’re ostensibly looking for impaired drivers? I’m guessing this guy will only get away with this if he claims he’s looking for people that are high or drunk… based on the article he’s not even claiming that, he’s just looking for drugs, which isn’t the same thing.

I’m guessing this won’t pass muster once someone sues.

By: Nick T

Nick T — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:46:27 +0000

Matt,

I’m a lawyer, I can answer your question:

(Here’s where, as a lawyer, I would typically go through a whole thing about how it depends on the specific facts because very few things are cut and dry in the legal world, yada yada…)

No. It is unequivocally unlawful to stop every car that enters an area and search it for drugs. That is all.

By: ZappaCrappa

ZappaCrappa — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:16:45 +0000

I think we should call them, “The Barney Fife Brigade.” Why is it that cops and local police forces are reminding me more and more of Reno 911 with a dash of mentally retarded Rambo thrown in?

By: OGRE

OGRE — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 04:19:04 +0000

This is absolutely disgusting.

By: FTP

FTP — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:19:15 +0000

“Hill said the conventional method of warrants and arrests are not working”

Yea, those pesky 4th and 5th amendments.

By: Will

Will — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:27:56 +0000

Anyone know where specifically (roads, neighborhoods) these roadblocks are being set up? Being in the greater Atlanta area myself I’d love to know…

By: Mike H

Mike H — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:22:34 +0000

Normandy my ass.
Sounds more like another Bay of Pigs.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:12:38 +0000

Is it legal for the police to search every vehicle for drugs without probable cause or consent?

The Normandy metaphor is troubling.

By: Jack

Jack — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:25:58 +0000

My history is a bit rusty. Didn’t we actually loose the Vietnam war (vice having “no clear win”)? And didn’t a whole hell of a lot of people die at Normandy? Our people? Fighting fascists? Such irony.

Aside from the unfortunate historical analogies, this makes perfect sense. After all, there are only 86,461 housing units in Clayton County. So, only 86,456 more possible drug homes to occupy.

Seriously, this is beyond my comprehension. Is it an election year in Clayton County or something? Is there really an expectation that the drug suppliers will remain completely static? That they won’t do what they do EVERY time you push down on one section of the balloon?

By: Mike Schneider

Mike Schneider — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:10:59 +0000

Coming soon: laser-pacification! http://www.i4u.com/article11725.html

But rest assured: when used “correctly” by the new professionals, you will not be blinded.

http://www.i4u.com/article14324.html