skycop

The guard belongs to the state, The internet makes everyone an expert. Supporting communities in their home state is a guard mission, these aircraft support other types of missions as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2zfrdu0xz0 NG OH-58 with Nightsun and FLIR, used to assist LE. Those have been retired and replaced by the UH-72 Lakota. All my time was in the OH-58, at the stroke of the millennium, I was sitting in the back of one running the Nightsun. We were ready for the Y2K doom, we ended up turning a lot of fuel into noise....... When one joins the guard you swear an oath to the state and governor as well as to the country and president. When a situation exceeds an agency's ability or a specific capability is needed, a request can bring in guard support. They don't enforce unless it's a declared emergency by city/county and the governor. Put the foil hat away, even the conspiracy guy in the bar was good with it, once I explained the rules. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Part of the guard mission is to support LE with equipment, training, and in limited situations personnel. Aviation assets fall into this category, the guard is funded by the state. In declared emergencies the National Guard have arrest powers. When looking for dope, they provided the platform, it was part of their mission. When supporting eradication efforts LE does the enforcement. We just happened to come across some while doing something else, but the pilot was very good at spotting it, it's what he did for most of the year. We used them for large events, large tactical situations, and major emergencies. I've been through the training, and I've done some dope spotting, but it's a perishable skill. Once during an airshow I was taking a Huey ride with my son, (a private Huey foundation). When we were flying over some farmland I spotted several grows hidden in large cornfields. It was in another state, so I just let the agency working the show know where it was. Never heard anything back. Grows are that prevalent in rural areas. I doubt the farmer knew they were there, all kinds of bad things can happen where it is grown. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

We did end up hovering IN a guys back yard at about 10 feet. The bucket was a tomato (we thought). I ended waving to someone taking video from their porch above where we were hovering. Good times. Then there were the 26 6ft plants we found right in the middle of a small wooded patch in the middle of a city, near a major highway. The near black helicopter hovering over the neighborhood was quite the stir. I just went in and cut it down, there were two guys with mullets who lived nearby that were very interested in what we were doing. It was in another jurisdiction, not sure if they ever charged anyone. The pilot spotted these plants as he was setting up to land and talking on the radio. The guy was amazing, we weren't even out looking for dope. His head snapped right and he said "there's 26 plants right there dude". The next day I was in a bar having a cold beer, when the guy next to me started talking about the black helicopter flying around. He said there was a guy in a blue shirt in the front seat. He was sure the blue shirt guy was a representative of the UN, plotting the future take over. I bought him a beer, let him rant a few more minutes, then told him I was the guy in the blue shirt. The look on his face was priceless..........needless to say we had a few more beers and a good laugh. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Our friends at the Washington Post being a bit melodramatic, what a surprise. Now a police K-9 Unit is heavily armed and the long arm of oppression? I would assume this was in a rural area, marijuana grows can be dangerous to the surrounding communities. Booby traps, pit bulls, armed growers guarding against "pirates". I've found large grows in small wooded areas in urban areas, while flying with the (gasp), National Guard. Growers also plant in unsuspecting farmers fields and public lands. The guard guys I flew with could spot one plant, in a bucket, from 500 feet. In our state illegal grows are a public safety problem. Imagine walking in a large park or wooded area, and ending up with a fish hook in your eye. That is just one type of booby trap grows can have. The legalization argument is valid, but with legalization comes regulation. I'd venture to say there will still be illegal grows even with legalization. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

All politics aside, Bristol Palin is hot.......

Shoot yourself in the face, then a through and through from the shoulder to the back. Let me know how serious those wounds are. I'm basing this on media reports, so who knows. Either way this is a serious escalation, but I'm sure it's all the cops fault, not a bunch of lawless rioters. This could have been prevented if order would have been maintained the first few nights. The feds and state backed down with disastrous results. If EVERYONE from the POTUS on down would have stated in no uncertain terms that they understood why they (the protesters) were angry, but lawlessness and looting would not be tolerated, the rioting would have lost momentum. Instead they did the opposite and it GAINED momentum. A large part of the blame goes to the inaction of Ferguson PD in not getting out, or even stonewalling information. The "militarization" aspect was overblown by the media and gained traction. They did not get ahead of the situation and paid dearly for it. The Chief of Police should have fallen on the sword for that a long time ago. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Not refusing the facts, I acknowledged them...... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

The DOJ had to have someone fall on the sword, imagine if they would have left there empty handed. Someone could have been hurt......(oh wait, nevermind)...... Before the flaming starts, if you'd like to talk about municipal courts and revenue neutral enforcement that is an entirely different topic. I think you and I would agree on that issue. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

I realize disagreeing with you is being disingenuous, but please indulge me. Don't worry, I know he was being disingenuous.......... Who ever said it was data? It was merely a suggestion to ride with an officer for one shift. The vast majority of people who rode with me extrapolated that: "I rode with this guy for one shift, and he put up with all this shit for that shift. He does this everyday, and there are 799,000 more like him. I couldn't imagine what they put up with"..... Not all went like that, if it was a slow night, it was a slow night. Even then, the radio traffic alone was enough to peak their interest. But evidently we are masters at covering all the "bad" stuff up after being reviewed by our peers, supervision, administration, several layers of courts, and the media. AND we are offering to let our detractors see what we do unfiltered. If that's being disingenuous, then call me disingenuous. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Because constructive solutions to something we all have an interest in is a bad thing. He simply suggested someone actually do something to understand what LEO's face daily. A ride-along can be an eye opening experience, I've taken dozens of them. I really enjoyed getting letters from people starting "I had no idea........." If you go on one, and it sucks, then please continue on with your opinion. At least you'll have an actual experience to base those opinions on. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Ummm.......... I do, and there is political undercurrent to the article. That is my main point. I could lecture you on the Uniform Offense Reporting system the feds already have in place for crime reporting. All police shootings are reported using this system. IMHO all it would take is a specific criteria created for LEO involved shootings. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Of course that's the best you have, keep typing away. When lacking depth in an argument, one can always resort to over-dramatic moral relativism........ "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Nah, That would require time, effort, and an open mind. It's much easier to pound a keyboard and complain............ "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Well I stand corrected, so sue me. Anyone comparing US police shootings to unreported deaths in Syria and Guatemala is at the least a bit dramatic, at the most disingenuous. Police shootings are HEAVILY reported in all forms of media, in addition to being (eventually) subject to open records laws. It's a correlation and data collection problem, not some kind of cover-up. I don't dismiss reports, I just call bullshit when others won't. I'm the first to be critical when there is an actual incident that deserves it. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Well, There goes any objectivity, along with quoting Human Rights Watch. It should be relatively simple one would think. But then again, it is the federal government. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/a-new-estimate-of-killings-by-police-is-way-higher-and-still-too-low/ Clicky But it won't open. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

But a 30mm rotary bean bag gun would be soooooo much fun........... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

When that happened I remembered thinking to myself, who thought THAT would be a good idea................ "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

The paperwork is in, have to go pick it up and fly it back. Remember, it's FREE............. http://www.callthecops.net/police-to-get-a-10s-as-part-of-surplus-program-program/ "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Simply an opinion piece, Race is the third rail of American politics, anyone who throws the BS flag is immediately branded a racist or ill-informed. If there were unprofessional or racist e-mails, then those people deserve discipline. The traffic stop stats are subject to interpretation. Andy, At least people like donuts......... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

What results do you want? Again, if you assault/attack an armed police officer, you do so at your own peril. If the investigation proves the officer acted inappropriately, there is a litany of things that can happen. You seem to forget, there have been officers recently who were found to use deadly force inappropriately, then were criminally charged. Madison PD is a pretty straight up organization from what I've seen, their chief is a pretty plain spoken guy. There are videos of some of his interviews regarding the 1033 program, they are pretty entertaining. He also had an excellent written reply to "demands" of militarization protesters. http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/Madison-police-chief-tired-of-blame-for-racial-disparities-288293191.html "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

This is the absolute key, getting facts out QUICK. They absolutely failed at that in Ferguson. People may not like them, but facts are facts. I've seen some earlier interviews with Madison's Police Chief, he's well spoken and pretty candid. This will be a study of the exact opposite of what happened media wise from the PD in Ferguson. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Been doing a bit of reading, I've never been one to try to keep up with the Jones's, that why I jumped and still own a Dolphin container. I know CYPRES is a good product but I've always believed they gouged their customers a bit. If I do get back in, I think I'm going to buy an M2 because of the price and the solid reviews I've read. I've always been a low speed fun jumper, but I don't feel comfortable jumping without an AAD. Thanks for the input! Blue Skies "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Hmmm, again this was 100% preventable, fighting with an armed man is a VERY bad idea. Speaking of Germany, if you decide to fight the Polizei I would assure you there is not a good outcome. We'll see how the investigation plays out. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/030515-742174-holder-frames-ferguson-pd-with-bogus-stats.htm One could say there was some cherry picking of stats going on. Again, it's simply the politics of police work, it goes with putting on the funny outfit. When a small army of politically appointed lawyers come to town, political agendas can result............ "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"