Unrest in the Eureka Police Department was on display at Friday’s City Council meeting.
Chief Garr Nielsen, who took over the controversial dept. one year ago following a freakish string of police shootings in which several civilians were killed, was up for contract renewal before the Council.
In a strange twist of events, citizens praised the chief while longtime dept. employees raised serious allegations against him, including sexual harassment and vindictive punishment.
The allegations come as a surprise because Nielsen has been very supportive of the EPD for those shootings that occurred before he joined the force, a blanket approach with which this blogger doesn’t agree. Additionally, he stands by the officers associated with the (correct me if I’m wrong) one EPD-involved death since Nielsen came on board.
He has called for more openness, including the widely-supported plea for the release of the video of Martin Cotten in his jail cell before he died in police custody.
The Council renewed his contract despite requests from officers to postpone until completion of the investigation into the sexual harassment claim. Longtime EPD spokeswoman Suzie Owsley called incidents inside the department “vindictive, malicious and manipulative” and said the results have been “devastating and intolerable.”
These strong words stir empathy for those suffering these alleged conditions inside the dept. And after considering the malicious, devastating effect Eureka cops have had on the lives of citizens, we are left pondering the nature of authority, how easily it’s abused, and the people drawn to such positions.
So — is the EPD suffering “growing pains” as some said at the meeting? Or is it typical abuse of power that so often characterizes the policing industry?
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April 5, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Don’t you mean longtime former?
April 5, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Yes. She herself was recently transfered.
April 5, 2008 at 1:13 pm
“controversial, freakish, strange, vindictive, sexual harrasment, intolerable, abusive, malicious, manipulative”
You must overcome your obsession with Arkley Heraldo.
April 5, 2008 at 1:14 pm
You’re a nutter. Most of those words were quoted, but you knew that.
April 5, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Laird is the one obsessing over Arkley since Arkley wasn’t mentioned here.
April 5, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Thought I saw Owsley the other day sitting alone at the little police storefront at Eureka Mall. Guess it WAS her.
Funny though, the folks who stand up to “support” the police, like putting on blue porch lights, don’t seem so supportative of the chief when he’s an “outsider”. But like Rodoni support was explained to me, its all about endemic local xenophobia.
April 5, 2008 at 2:03 pm
That is what is so odd about this NAN. The chief is the outsider. His opposition was from his own force while his support was from the public.
April 5, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Peace be with you
I would hope cops with guns, tasers, clubs, chemical weapons, machine guns, full body armor, and a free hand to terrorize are already grown up. This is the abusive grown-up that is typical of the modern “law enforcer.” Garr is a goon. He was hired to be a goon. And his goon contract was signed in an emergency meeting when absolutely no emergency existed.
love eternal
tad
April 5, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Listening to Suzie Owsley, of all people, ramble on is almost as annoying as that buzzing sound you can’t find the origin of. Owsley was a disaster as PIO. It would have been nice if she had been as attentive when she was still the face the public/media turned to for accurate information.
April 5, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Maybe Tad can tell why Garr is a “goon.”
April 5, 2008 at 2:31 pm
First of all, it is the job of the police chief to back up his department and defend his officers. I cannot imagine a chief who would act in any other way than Nielson did with regards to the shootings and Martin death.
That being said, the guy is up against an ingrained culture at EPD that has festered for decades. Virtually EVERYONE at the department were there under the prior (Incompetent) chief and had a certain expectation of how a chief would operate. Maybe Garr didn’t back them up enough? Changes like the camera system are a major adjustment for a department that is not ready for them.
So I applaud him. This kind of friction is exactly the evidence that change is coming to the EPD. I’m glad to see that the City Council appears to understand this.
April 5, 2008 at 2:36 pm
“So I applaud him. This kind of friction is exactly the evidence that change is coming to the EPD. I’m glad to see that the City Council appears to understand this.”
Double ditto.
And its not the only city department that needs a good kick in the pants.
Change is good whether you like it or not.
April 5, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Let’s get straight what Ms. Owsley was and wasn’t. She was hired as a PSO & is now being made to do that job after years of not dirtying her hands with PSO work. EPD doesn’t need a full-time PIO, especially when the aren’t shooting anyone. She is jsut a big old sourpuss finally being made to do the job she was hired for.
April 5, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Peace be with you Ribeye
I would very much like to tell you why Garr is a goon. First goon is a jail term that refers to guards whos job it is to “control” (ruff-up) prisoners. Garr becoming Head Goon of a police force already famous for its cold blooded “control” (ie goon) tactics against poor people in Eureka. One day Garr’s goons arrest a young man named Martin. Shortly after Martin gets released from jail a group of Garr’s goons beat poor Martin to death.
Now this is where we tie Garr’s gooniness to the gooniness of the already known goons, so pay attention close. Garr in an attempt to cover-up for the goons refuses to release the names of the goons involved. Garr further proclaims “his” goons innocent by fact that Martin would be found to have been high on “Meth” or at least “PCP,” and in fact neither of those drugs are found in Martin’s system. Only a fellow goon (notice the goon gang banger colors they all wear) would know that no matter what bullshit intentional lie he told to the public that he and his fellow goons would be protected. The Garr goon knew he and his officers would be cleared by the goon protecting DA even before a so-called “fair” investigation was ever conducted.
Now if you are going to call me a cop-hater, let save some time and tell you to fuck-off right now. I don’t care who you are, ’cause these MURDERS are happening to MY CLASS! WE’RE the ones being stopped by these pigs with guns for no reason. WE’RE the ones filling up the jails, and courts, and probation rosters, and SWAP programs, and mental health detainments/forced druggings. You don’t get tasered while walking to the store. You don’t get stopped again and again for no reason. You don’t get targeted because your poor. The poor are not expendable!!!!!!!
To you it is just another day in the life of a privileged bigot, but to the poor people dying in the streets it is constant hell from a goon squad with Garr at the helm.
love eternal
tad
April 5, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I always thought it was strange how she was PIO, the Rep for the police association and campaign head for Worth Dikeman. And now she is publicly speaking out against Nielson.
Now its fine that she represents the union. It may even be ok if she simultaneously runs a campaign for District Attorney. But I always felt that those two alone conflicted with her role to represent the department to the media and to the public at large. From starring in infomercials with muppets and handling questions on shootings, that job doesn’t mix well with the other roles she has.
In other words, I never got the fuzzy “trust us”, “here is the truth”, “Let me tell your kids about strangers” side when compared to the “Vote Dikeman, he is competent”, “The shootings are justified already”, “Garr is toxic”
I guess the Chief didn’t get it either.
April 5, 2008 at 2:57 pm
perhaps Chief Nielsen had some expectation that his officers and dispatchers would not act antagonistically and with extreme dickishness towards the public. Its all too much for them to bear
April 5, 2008 at 3:03 pm
The PIO of any organization should be the pet of the executive or in this case the Chief. Thats just how it works. I’m actually surprised Owlsey lasted this long.
April 5, 2008 at 3:31 pm
She was Murl’s pet is why.
April 5, 2008 at 4:29 pm
PIO, PSO, help us out boys and girls, we are just plain citizens here and don’t know all the initials.
If PIO is Public Information Officer, what is PSO?
April 5, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Police Services Officer.
They just do paperwork. No fancy gunwork or television work required.
April 5, 2008 at 4:32 pm
The only people I have known in Eureka who got into trouble with the police, while I was standing right there, were people who abused the cops verbally. I was just as polite to the cops as I am to everybody else, and they never bothered me. I chaulk it up to human nature, tad. Cops are human, too. Or haven’t you noticed?
April 5, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Words alone cannot justify assault, not even by cops.
April 5, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Where can I watch this meeting if I don’t have cable? Eureka appears stuck in the 20th century – no webcast or archives to access.
April 5, 2008 at 4:41 pm
The cops did not assault anybody, you recless assumer! They engaged in increased questioning of the verbally abusive jerks. Generally, I have found that the guys who enjoy mouthing off to the police talk themselves into jail. No assault about it.
April 5, 2008 at 4:43 pm
I meant to write “you reckless assumer.” I just made up that phrase for this specific discussion.
April 5, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Verbally insulting a cop isn’t a crime.
April 5, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Neither is recording them with a cell phone camera. Unfortunately, a woman was allegedly threatened with arrest during the altercation between Martin Cotton and Eureka police when she attempted to do just that.
Thanks, Tad, for noting that Nielsen refused to release the names of the cops involved in that incident.
April 5, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Heraldo, I think you’re being a little hard on Nielson. Cotten pulled a knife on Mission staff and on police. Of course they will be rough with him. Where are the witnesses?
Now, I’m not saying he was beaten unjustly or not. But look at it from the Chiefs point of view. Does he prot
April 5, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Godammit…. 5:56 continued…
Does he protect his officers or not? It’s a tough situation. Doing anything else would be like putting a ’suspect’ label on his officers when frankly it sounds to me like the Sheriffs have a greater responsibility in his death, if anyone does.
Just trying to be realistic here.
April 5, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Being threatened to have their cell phones confiscated, apparently.
April 5, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Peace be with you
Where the fuck did this brand new fact come from? Did you just make that up to smear a dead man? Martin Cotton didn’t pull a knife on anyone! That’s fucked Anonymous!
I believe the question should be where was the investigation? I personally have talked to people who saw and know things that don’t add up. How long was the body dead when it arrived at the hospitable? How long did the cops say it was dead? What the jailhouse tape? Where is it? The witnesses are out there and if it had of been Mr. Larry “Eureka doesn’t recognize 215″ Glass being shoved by Robin “I want my way” Arkley then they would of been interviewed. But remember this poor brother was homeless, therefore less then human to cops. Cops dehumanize homeless people just like soldiers do enemies.
love eternal
tad
April 5, 2008 at 8:17 pm
People who enjoy insulting cops at the top of their lungs sometimes just can’t figure out when it is in their best interests to shut their mouths. I think interfering with an officer who is trying to do his job is some kind of infraction, though it probably doesn’t rise to the level of a “crime.”
April 5, 2008 at 8:29 pm
8:17,
are you referring to the cops that spoke out agaisnt thier boss at the meeting? if so, i agree. interfering with an officer is bad news, we shouldnt interfere with the Chief’s attempts to improve the EPD.
i also agree with your point about people not knowing when to shut thier mouths. can you believe that a few EPD officers had the nerve to publicly announce that they were angry for being made to DO THIER JOBS? they should have kept thier mouths shut. now those officers are known to the public as lazy whiners..
EPD officers: Support your commanding officer or stand down. If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
April 5, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Tad, I’m sympathetic to your point of view on how the cops treat homeless folks, but it was hard not to notice that your 2:49 post didn’t even mention the fight with other mission residents and staff before the cops even arrived on the scene.
The cops may have screwed up bigtime (I think they probably did) but you’re not going to persuade anyone by giving a version of events that makes it seem as if they just randomly started beating him after he was released from jail the first time.
April 5, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Tad, I’m sympathetic to your point of view on how the cops treat homeless folks, but it was hard not to notice that your 2:49 post didn’t even mention the fight with other mission residents and staff before the cops even arrived on the scene.
The cops may have screwed up bigtime (I think they probably did) but you’re not going to persuade anyone by giving a version of events that makes it seem as if they just randomly started beating him after he was released from jail the first time.
April 5, 2008 at 8:36 pm
After reading this, T/S comments, and Above the Law Blog I keep hearing the theme to “Hill Street Blues” in my head.
The most disturbing aspect of Garr’s contract is that the City will pay for all legal costs as needed. The community has no idea what this is going to cost them in the long run.
Calling this so called emergency meeting to approve Garr’s contract smells like week old fish.
April 5, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Sorry about that, Thorn. I guess you were on this same computer before me. Just wanted you to know I wasn’t trying to impersonate you.
April 5, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Nasty rumors Suzy (or one of her colleagues).
April 5, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Tad, my understanding is that he did wield a knife at mission staff and possibly the cops. If I’m wrong, I apologize – I don’t want to smear dead people.
But the cops didnt get called to the mission for no reason.
And where is his responsibility for taking that much LSD, or where is the person who gave/sold him that much LSD?
As far as an investigation, Tad, witnesses need to come forward for an investigation to proceed. It’s everyones duty, and yes it puts you at risk, but thats true of any witness to a violent crime.
Getting back to Nielson, his hands are tied. He wasn’t there. I suspect this incident is a major reason he wants video cameras installed in the squad cars. Even if his officers killed this man, he really can’t do anything. Even if they did everything by the book, he can’t do anything but what he’s been doing.
I think the chief needs to be supported 100% right now. At the very worst, I see no effort on his part to cover up or otherwise aid illegal behavior on the part of his department. You may disagree, but the guy isn’t superman, he can’t be everywhere all the time. Positive change takes time, I hope people will be patient.
April 5, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Peace be with you thorn and/or Observatory 321!/?
I see the “mission residents” as less than credible in light of the poor vet who got beat up by “mission residents.” link
Plus the coroner found on the second round of drug tests that Martin had 10 times the lethal dose of LSD. Now I don’t know that there even is a “lethal dose” of LSD, but I do know there is a point at which a “fist fight” would be impossible. The mission goon beat-up a homeless vet for asking for help, and that squares pretty true with what I hear on the street.
Also the test that is run post mortum to test for PCP or Meth is not the same test run to test for LSD. When Garr couldn’t prove his “meth or PCP in Martin” theory a second test was run and the results were off the chart! Now this in and of its self is not proof of evidence tampering, but if a man could “fight” while “dying” of tripping to death, then I’m a monkeys fucking uncle. Either the fight never happened or the evidence was “spiked,” but either way it appears to be a cover up. And the DA’s office is now officially involved.
love eternal
tad
April 5, 2008 at 10:30 pm
But Tad, now you are lumping all “mission residents” together as lacking in credibility, just because SOME mission residents beat up a vet?
This surprises me because it seems like the same type of prejudice against marginalized people that you are opposed to? Am i missing something here?
Rather than berate you for this inconsistency, I’m going to just suggest that you might want to retract that part of your argument.
Anyway, are you suggesting that Cotton wasn’t involved in a fight at the mission before the cops arrived?
I think my earlier point stands.
April 5, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Peace be with you 10:17 pm
You seem to be forgetting the lady with the cell phone who was asked to turn it off. The man died and no witnesses were attempted to be located. I still believe the witness I talked to who claimed the time of death is questionable. Nobody gave a shit because it was poverty pimps and cops killing our brother.
I believe the witnesses I talked to and the people who talked to others I didn’t talk to. I’m sure a whole shit load of witnesses will come forth at the civil trial. The homeless who witnessed it knew Martin was dead and knew they might be next. Hard core street kids told me it was the worse beating they ever saw. Don’t tell me there aren’t witnesses out there. It’s just that they’re scared to go to the very law enforcers who are always ruling against them when their in the right. You don’t complain about the Gestapo to the Gestapo.
love eternal
tad
April 5, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Peace be with you
OK, then lets get Garr to release some facts like who were the cops and who were the mission residents? (remember the mission boss was standing watching cross armed as the mission resident beat up the vet).
Too little transparency to be anything less then a cover-up. You only cover-up wrong doing.
love eternal
tad
April 5, 2008 at 10:58 pm
“You don’t complain about the Gestapo to the Gestapo.”
Or, removing the excess hot air from this statement, you get:
“You don’t complain about the police to the police.”
Which is a pretty simple and persuasive argument for a civilian review board.
Throwing the “Gestapo” reference in does nothing to strengthen the argument, and in fact most likely will cause a lot of people to discount your otherwise legitimate point.
Being as strident as possible, especially with comparisons to nazis and fascists, is not always the best way to persuade the general public of your legitimate concerns about police abuses.
But, again, your underlying point is quite correct – do we really expect the police to police the police?
April 5, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Good grief tad, do you ever shut up?
April 5, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Seems pretty simple to me.
Take away the SWAT team’s machine guns and disband them.
Ask the PSO to do her job.
Try to bring some competency into a screwed up dispatch office.
Result. Resistance.
These whiners will not be missed and the sooner they move on the sooner the Chief can hire come competent replacements.
I thought it was interesting that one of the whiners was the most trigger happy member of the police force.
April 5, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Peace be with you thorn and/or Observatory 321!/?
First a word to 10:58 – NO!
My “legitimate concerns about police abuses,” are that they are in fact nazi fascist tactics. That’s why I won’t shut-up about it. Martin Cotton was the “problem” in Garr’s “Problem Oriented Police” team, and the orientation is death. To you these cops are just “humans,” but to me and tens of thousands of other poor people these goons are getting worse and worse and worse and worse . . . We fear the cops more then anyone when worry about our loved ones. Almost everyone a poor person knows is in trouble with the law. It’s fucked up and I’m tired of excusing the heavy handed thugs killing our children. THEY’RE KILLERS!
love eternal
tad
April 5, 2008 at 11:44 pm
With regard to the woman with the razor cameraphone…
Who is she? Where is she on record about her experience?
See, the problem is talk is talk. What is a homeless person doing with a razor phone? I don’t have a razorphone.
Talk is talk and people have to step up. And if not with the police than through the newspapers. And if not through the newspapers, than through the documents they are handing out in old town. Why is nobodies name attached to any of these eyewitness accounts?
Why does cotten get a pass when he was obviously haveing a major acid trip? And I agree he didn’t die from an LSD overdose, but you still can have a bad trip and put yourself in danger or hurt yourself.
April 6, 2008 at 12:12 am
Tad, enough with the Nazi rants. Any valid points you may have are lost on us as you foam about the mouth.
April 6, 2008 at 12:56 am
The Nazi references do deflate tad’s credibility, but worse, his most recent post is a rant against cops I would expect to come only from a wannabe cop-killer.
Step back, tad. Whatever chemicals you may be hopped up on, cut back on them for a while. Turn off whatever is hyping you up, whether it’s too much blogging or too much 24 hour news. Look at the sky, or the bay, or some other part of nature and let it heal your wounded spirit. Take your byword seriously, tad, “love eternal.”
April 6, 2008 at 2:08 am
Wow, Tad and Terri Liles stand in agreement.
April 6, 2008 at 6:56 am
shirley valentine at 8:36,
are you suggesting that every police officer in eureka should have to pay to defend himself from legal action that occurs while on the job? do you think that douglas and zannotti should pay thier own legal fees, or are you just pissed off because the boss is making his employees WORK?
April 6, 2008 at 7:32 am
Hey, what if we had an independent review panel to look at all these complaints against the cops and come up with some better policies and practices?
Oops, but Heraldo wouldn’t like that, Kevin Hoover told him to be against police review.
April 6, 2008 at 7:34 am
its amazing the power that heraldo has……he/she controls elections, controls the fate of PALCO and is in charge of police conduct all at the same time…….
damn, i wish i had that much power……..i would take over the world!!!!
April 6, 2008 at 7:47 am
I get it, Heraldo is the man behind the curtain, pulling all the strings! It must be great to be so all powerful!
Nice edit on Shirley Valentine’s post, removing all that nasty libelous crap. Good job Heraldo.
April 6, 2008 at 8:21 am
Is Tad becoming the Stephen Lewis of this blog?
April 6, 2008 at 9:26 am
No, Tad is far worse.
April 6, 2008 at 9:27 am
Funny how the officers don’t seem to do well with authority. They don’t like a DA who polices the police and now they don’t like a chief who exercises his discretion to clean up the department.
They did seem to like that last chief. What happen to that guy? Oh, and they liked it when Harpam was in charge.
April 6, 2008 at 9:42 am
Her name is Shannon Flowers and she and her husband went on record with the Times-Standard. There was no mention of a “razor” phone. You must have made that part up.
From the T-S:
I blogged about it here.
April 6, 2008 at 9:47 am
Aside from a few disagreements, I do appreciate Chief Nielsen’s work to make the EPD a reputable organization.
April 6, 2008 at 9:48 am
If the rank and file weren’t complaining then I’d be worried. Since they are, it shows me that Garr is doing the job he was hired for. The children have been running the EPD show for years now. I’m glad we have an adult in there, one who calls them on their bullshit, demands professional behavior, and won’t roll over when they whine to the Council. You can’t change a decade or more of decay and mismanagement overnight. Personally, the feeling I’ve seen in the community after just a year is dramatically different. Garr was the right choice and people like Tad should just get a grip.
April 6, 2008 at 10:09 am
Peace be with you
I really don’t give a shit what you privileged fucks think (you know who you are). Everyone in my neighborhood knows those goose stepping mother fuckers are exactly like the Nazis except they call themselves EPD instead. You call the fucking cops and they do your rich-ass bidding! We get the cops called on us or just targeted against us even when we do nothing wrong. I won’t defend what I say because many others already know this. The truth is out there if you or the DA want it, but you’re afraid providing justice for ALL would mean an end to your privilege. What part of PEOPLE ARE DYING! don’t you understand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To you fascist fuck liar who accuses me of being on chemicals – go fuck yourself you fucking fuck. That’s a bullshit accusation to make and your a piece of shit for making it.
I’m tired of the lies, the threats, the harassment, and murders of the poor people in Humboldt County. When people get killed the killers should be held accountable. When a kid sells a nug in old town or on the plaza the business owners get a major investigation, but when a homeless person gets obviously beat by a gang of cops and then dies from trauma injuries, nobody gives a flying fuck. Fuck-you that ain’t fair, that ain’t right, and that ain’t going to be forgotten!!!!!!!!!!!
I am not sorry for the above “table flipping.” It needed to be said, but when you realize how unfair you really are and change your way I’ll forgive you.
love eternal
tad
April 6, 2008 at 10:44 am
It seems to be human nature for people to see themselves as immune to the bad things that happen to others, Tad. So long as they can delude themselves into believing that it won’t happen to them, they justify what happens to the “others” by assuming they deserved it. Of course, if they find themselves in a situation where they are abused, they become “others” to those still in denial.
April 6, 2008 at 11:12 am
Tad is a hateful, mean person, and more than a little scary.
April 6, 2008 at 11:22 am
Tad is not the problem. He’s talking, not shooting, not beating. He’s mad because people would rather blame him than the people who shoot and beat, too often to death. I don’t blame him a bit for being savagely angry.
I’m in SoHum where we know the behaviors and the cop culture and the systematized lying that Tad’s complaining about. And I admit it, we’re pretty priviliged and lucky, yet a 70-year-old retired foreign service officer gets an automatic weapon pointed at his guts while he’s got his drawers dropped from his privy. At least we’re privileged enough that the sheriff didn’t shoot.
Tad, we have to learn not to sound angry when we educate people about routine behaviors that threaten and enrage us. That’s more class crap–but no less true for that. “He who gets mad first loses.” Total crap, totally true. Bless you, bud.
April 6, 2008 at 11:26 am
Like you can expect when dealing with an unstable person like tad calling him on his bs or making fun of him simply sends him into a tailspin Unless Heraldo chooses to block his rants I guess we just have to slog through his “stuff” to see if anyone else has anything meaningful to contribute.
April 6, 2008 at 11:29 am
Tad, you are sicker than I thought. The chemicals I was referring to were along the lines of the coffee I myself enjoy every day. Sometimes I drink too much and I get quite testy. My friends let me know when I have overdone it and they encourage me to climb down off the kitchen table and stop shouting about politics at the top of my lungs. Apparently your friends aren’t feeling up to the task. Your loss, buddy.
By the way, thanks for bringing a smile to my face this morning. Reading your description of me as something like a fucking Nazi fuck fuck gives me pleasure. That’s more sex than I have actually had in a week!
Peace be upon you, Tad. And Soon.
April 6, 2008 at 11:38 am
Tad, I hear your anger and frustration, and in fact I agree that some of the police tactics we have been seeing in the U.S. today are, indeed, tactics used by fascists (including torture, domestic spying, preventive detention, and rounding up “undesirables” like you and me under trumped-up pretexts).
My point, again, was that upping the rhetoric isn’t helping you make your case to the majority of folks who haven’t felt that boot heel on their necks (yet). But of course you don’t have to agree with me on that. This doesn’t make me your enemy.
In fairness to “Thorn,” we’re just using the same computer. I just forgot to clear the name field and put in my own moniker – the name field seems to “remember” the last name that was on it. Sorry for the confusion, Thorn and Tad.
April 6, 2008 at 11:42 am
I think the problem is Tad needs to adjust his meds, whatever they are.
April 6, 2008 at 11:49 am
Watch out. When I suggested that diplomatically earlier, he called me a Nazi.
April 6, 2008 at 11:56 am
Like most of the people tad is railing against, any economic privilege I have now was bought and paid for by a lifetime of working my ass off. Telling me I am a privileged character is a pretty good indicator of just how far from reality tad is.
I don’t wish you ill, tad. Just remember the words you use today when you are an old man. The memory may keep you from being too angry and mean to the young radicals of the future, who will probably accuse YOU of being a member of some privileged elite.
April 6, 2008 at 11:59 am
And remember, a person who is “hopped up” on something may simply be drinking a few beers. It doesn’t necessarily mean he is “high” on “reefer.”
April 6, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Most computers do seem to remember the last name used to comment on a particular site. Feel free to contact me to make a correction if you accidentally use the wrong name.
April 6, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Peace be with you
“Police officers who use weapons in carrying out their duties will be covered by me. Whoever misguidedly fails in this duty can expect disciplinary action.” – Order of Hermann Göring to Prussian Police, February 1933.
then:
FYI I gave up caffeine a while ago, but still nobody refers to coffee as “chemicals” or “them” for that matter. I don’t eat, drink, or smoke chemicals. In fact anyone who knows me probably feels about my campaign against chemicals the way you do about my campaign against tyranny. I don’t take your fluoride, your red number 40, your mono sodium glutamate, your aspartame, your pharmaceuticals, your pharmaceutical/CIA designed illegal drugs or any of your chemicals.
No my friend you were just trying to make me look like a crackhead so you could then point to some made-up drug induced reason why I am sick and fucking tired of the cops ruining the lives of 40% of our community.
And also, calling me names is not refuting what I claim. Read the history of Nazi Germany and think. It may be called some new fangled newspeak, but its results are the same old Nazi results. The rich (corporations) have the power to dictate behavior, and the cops (state) enforce it. This is not a democracy. Look at our 215 law, it was voted for, but Larry Glass proudly orates “Eureka doesn’t recognize 215.” Look at all the shit we never get to vote on, while all the polls say we would do it different if it was a democracy. You’re right we can just keep ignoring the truth until it bites us on the ass, but don’t expect that from me.
April 6, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Police Chiefs and police commissions in larger cities make reassignments regularly.
Anytime a new CEO, manager or Chief comes in.. it is expected that change will follow.
Also..the police are known to be a para-military organization. Members know that their orders can be changed anytime.. and that they are expected to follow them.
It is also very common in..and no news to anyone who closely follows police practices nationwide.. that anytime there is major reform in a department..and the public appreciates it and acknowledges it.. that you can bet your money that there will be a police union vote-of-no-confidence soon to follow.
Anthony Bouza and Joe McNamara, two nationally respected chiefs.. both faced votes of no confidence from their officers. Bouza, in Minneapolis for “ten” years.. started in a dept. that had 2 women officers..when he left there were 86. Both came from commands in NYPD..
McNamara went to Kansas then to SanJose.
Bouza publicly said…many of his officers hated him.
But he also said.. “When you take this job you have to make a decision…do you serve the interest of the police union..or the interest of the people?” He said he had to base every decision on what was best for the public.
He also said, “The first and most important decision a law enforcement leader {or politician} makes is whether they are going to serve the people or throw themselves into bed with the union. It will quickly be perceived that the people’s interests and the police union’s desires are usually in conflict.
THE MOST UNFORTUNATE OMEN..IS THAT THE POLICE UNION PRAISE HIM..or, heaven forbid, endorse his appointment or election.”
Garr Nielsen is in good company… he is responsive to the public. In time it is probable that as more Eurekans and other people in Humboldt County get to know him well, that he will be held in high regard by the public and by the political leaders in Eureka.
Interact with him..you will come to find that he is very communicative..and doesn’t seem to feel the need to always be defensive when facing criticism..or suggestions.
In the years preceding the hiring of Chief Nielsen..it was becoming obvious to many people that there was significant dysfunction in the department. There certainly often was a deep, deep chasm in the relationship between the police department and the public.
Who was in charge at the time..? and why did the chasm deepen until it became a raging rift..that seemed to pit the police “against” the public. I grew up in Arcata & Eureka.. There is one officer from Arcata that I often use as an example of what a “great” policeman can be.
My personal feeling is that sometimes I felt that I could use examples from Eureka to define what a police officer “should not be.”
That’s it from here… CIAO
George Shieman gshieman@aol.com
April 6, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Stop the BS for one second Tad and admit that you are part of the problem. In fact, you create your own problems.
April 6, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Heraldo still can’t explain why he tries to undermine police review at every turn, and now supports Lovelace who totally avoids the issue.
April 6, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Back it up, buttercup. You can’t.
April 6, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Peace be with you
Geheime Staats Polizei or Ge-Sta-Po; Gestapo means Secret State Police. The Nazi Gestapo law of 1936 said in part: “Neither the instructions nor the affairs of the Gestapo will be open to review by the administrative courts.”
“From the very beginning of Hitler’s regime, the ever-present threat of arrest and indefinite confinement in a concentration camp robbed the German people of their personal freedom and left them as inhibited, dutifully obedient subjects.”
“The Gestapo followed Hitler’s armies into every country during the conquest of Europe. By pitting neighbor against neighbor, Gestapo agents established the same kind of terror mechanism in each occupied country that had worked so well back in Germany.”
“One of his [Heydrich] main accomplishments was the reorganization and bureaucratic streamlining of the entire Nazi police state.”
“Himmler became Chief of the German Police in addition to his duties as SS leader. Heydrich, his number two man, proved to be something of a genius in creating a hugely efficient national intelligence system that kept tabs on everyone. No one was exempt from Gestapo snooping, no matter how high up in the Nazi hierarchy.”
“Justice in Hitler’s Germany was completely arbitrary, depending on the whim of the man in power, the man who had you in his grip. The legal policy as proclaimed by Hitler in 1938 was: “All means, even if they are not in conformity with existing laws and precedents, are legal if they subserve the will of the Führer.’”
“The Gestapo, during its tenure, operated without any restrictions by civil authority, meaning that its members could not be tried for any of their police practices. This unconditional authority added an elitist element to the Gestapo; its members knew that whatever actions they took, no consequences would arise.”
love eternal
tad
April 6, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Ok, tad, whatever you say is OK with me, because you have obviously taken my advice and cut back on whatever chemical was driving you out of your mind. You are writing in a much more effective manner now, and chances are good that people will read what you say and think about it, instead of recoiling in horror, as I believe they were doing in response to your earlier posts.
April 6, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Hey Tad. Good quote…where from?
April 6, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Heres an interesting take on the whole Chief Nielson/EPD controversy, From someone who works for the EPD
http://abovethelaweureka.blogspot.com/
April 6, 2008 at 10:27 pm
OK, I just looked at the “Abovethelaweureka” blog, linked above. Spent about 15 minutes surfing through the comments.
First, holy shit! Is the entire department commenting on this blog?? Guess they can’t claim to not be blogging anymore…
Wow, you guys have some anger issues. Not to mention, isn’t a police department run hierarchically? I mean, most places are, but holy shit, theres more dissension in EPD than at KFC!!
Does it really help to call names? Or to talk about other officers in such a junior high fashion?
This only reaffirms my belief the department needs an outside touch, and to shake some of you out of your entitled attitudes. Very weird, and totally unexpected.
April 6, 2008 at 11:04 pm
And these are the folks we give guns and badges? Scary.
The impression you get on that blog is not so much nazi storm troopers or gestopo as something from “lord of the flies.” They definitely need serious adult supervision, and perhaps some anger management therapy.
And maybe back off a little bit on the steroids, and those little pick-me-ups from the evidence room? Couldn’t hurt…
April 7, 2008 at 12:44 am
At first I thought this was a joke, a cophater with WAY too much time on his hands… But it seems like these are real people who really work for EPD. I don’t even know what to say. Other than, we are all fucked. If this is how the police department operates, how are they a model to anyone?
April 7, 2008 at 1:11 am
For the sake of clarity, let me state that I wrote my note on 6:59 PM without realizing tad was posting (only one minute beforehand) a long statement written by some Nazi sixty or seventy years ago.
April 7, 2008 at 1:59 am
I visited the “Above The Law” link and now I am confused. Are the police department employees saying that the Chief of Police is Above the Law, or are they saying they think that THEY are “Above the Law?”
April 7, 2008 at 6:44 am
I don’t think they intended the title to be ironic.
the freak show speaks for itself..
April 7, 2008 at 7:15 am
Wow! There are serious problems at EPD, not the least of which is that some of the disgruntled don’t know the meaning of sexual harrassment. Reverse sexual harrassment?
April 7, 2008 at 10:34 am
Actually, it is more like a half dozen or so disgruntled epd’ers who get on & try to change the way they sound from post to post. Let’s see how their vote of no confidence goes, IF they follow through with it. Let’s see all the lawsuits & complaints they claim they have. It’s a few big talkers with little minds, too much time on their hands & too much invested in their little corner of the epd world, whether it was swat or dispatch or pio or overtime. Their toys are being taken away & the blog is their tantrum. And the city council & community folks who spoke up in support of changes can see that quite clearly.
April 7, 2008 at 10:44 am
Yeah, besides smearing their whole department they are making themselves look pretty bad. It’s probably not a stretch for the chief or anyone else to figure out who they are, so ya kinda feel sorry for them knowing he is gonna be there awhile now & they made that bed they gotta sleep in.
April 7, 2008 at 11:28 am
Gotta love the homophobic innuendo and absolute obsession (To the point of stalking) with the boss’ personal life.
Also, these guys are horrible spellers!
And it’s quite comical that they’re convinced without question that they have the high ground and they just need to get the story out into the media to bring the Chief down.
Also, does anyone remember back when Garr Nielsens name was published by the media, there was anonymous rantings that Garr was gay (Of course now he’s practically a heterosexual philanderer) and liked to go on cruises alone. That his own department in Oregon loathed him so much they tried to help him get the job so they could be rid of him? Somebody had it out for this guy long before he was even chosen.
April 7, 2008 at 11:42 am
Tad, yes, you are one stupid lazy worthless fuck. Get off your fucking ass and pull your own fucking weight. If you don’t like humboldt Co get the fuck out, we managed many years with out your leaching whining fuckiing ass. Try taking a tip from nature, feed and take care of yourself or go crawl in a hole and die. Quite wasting food and air productive people could be using. And no I would not even blink if you and your ilk disapeared tomorrow. And yes it pisses me off to listen to his crap after working hard 30 years for everything I have, and most of what you have. And for your info I do environmental stuff, like keep the rivers and air clean, and clean-up of road side dumping and illegal camping.
April 7, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Just so there is no confusion, I, Anonymous, did NOT write the piece above which was signed by “ex-Republican.” Tad calls me bad names and I have worked hard for what I have, but I do not wish for anything bad to happen to tad. I think he will be happier when he grows up and gets a job and pulls his weight and stops whining. And stops calling me bad names.
April 7, 2008 at 6:08 pm
ive tried to post numerous times now on “abovethelaw”. postive comments about the chief arent being posted, my name is nowhere to be found….
April 7, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I’ve had the same problem theo.
April 7, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I totally think all of those guys should be fired. Even if the cheif is doing everything they are saying, it doesnt matter! It’s his ship to run. And the personally vindictive manner they go about it is creepy. If these are the people who are supposed to “Serve and Protect” the citizens of Eureka, ADIOS.
When has an agency ever had such a rotten bunch spreading their bullshit like this? I have never heard of it. But problems with management in public agencies happen all the time.
April 7, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Theo,
It states on their page that it is “moderated” and posts go to the moderator before being (possibly) posted.
The hilarious thing is that this is how foolish they look even WITH the aggressive editing!
Looking at the childish stuff that DOES make the grade, can you imagine all the other seething venom that doesn’t get published? I almost feel bad for their moderator “frank” if that’s the best of what they get from the disgruntled ones.
April 7, 2008 at 7:10 pm
if we don’t see liles,owsley etc in the unemployment line soon, i guess that takes the wind out of their argument that the chief is vengeful and back-stabbing.
April 7, 2008 at 7:58 pm
I think if I were the Cowardly Lion (aka “Frank”— “Bucky Grace” can be Toto) I would start to worry a bit. Looks like the pitiful blog isn’t getting much posting anymore & secrets have a way of getting out, especially in a small town.
April 7, 2008 at 8:05 pm
I also tried to post something defending the Chief on abovethelaw and it never showed up. I think this is the work of just a very few people who are pissed the Chief took away their machine guns. There is nothing on there very credible. Hey tad, why don’t you try to post over there and see if they will publish your psychobabble?
April 7, 2008 at 8:29 pm
You know, you’d think these guys would take a look in the mirror and say, “hmmmmmmm, maybe it IS me” when virtually the entire community is in support of the Council with regards to this situation…
It is a rare harmonic convergence (again) when I find myself largely in agreement with Robash, but for crying out loud, these guys are coming off as a bunch of whiners…I dont think the Chief has been there long enough to have caused the kind of damage they are alleging.
As far as the hostile workforce allegations, lets see the results of any investigations before we toss the Chief…
April 7, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I have to agree with Yo again. UGH!
April 7, 2008 at 11:17 pm
I enjoy reading AboveTheLaw.com, in which the authors discredit themselves inadvertently.
April 8, 2008 at 6:50 am
Apparently the authors of this blog are becoming uncomfortable with the increased public scrutiny.
their last posting from last night includes what appears to be a veiled threat that they will come after people who disagree with them..
This blog would be hilarious in a juvenile Beavis and Butthead sort of way
except for the fact that this particular Beavis and Butthead have ready access to automatic weapons and a license to kick just about anyone’s ass with impunity.
That I don’t find very funny
April 8, 2008 at 9:41 am
Beavis and Butthead MUST be uncomfortable because they took the post off already. What did it say ? They must be remembering where they live and work and that secrets don’t stay secret very long around here.
April 8, 2008 at 10:29 am
Yes, and now they are encouraging lawsuits to fulfill their prophecy. Who knew our police force had such vindictive and immature people on their staff? It’s time to clean house Nielsen.
April 8, 2008 at 10:58 am
I think if there were lawsuits to be filed, we would have seen those by now, instead of the “lets-smear-the-chief-because-we’re-too-stupid-to-think-of-anything-else” blog. Rumor has it even DD’s complaint is gonna turn out to be a big nuthin.
April 8, 2008 at 11:30 am
Direct quote from the blog: “EPOA members receive some legal representation benefits, financed through their union dues…Imagine we’re playing poker. White chips are $10, red are $50, and blue are $100. But what if you pay these prices for the chips, but I pay a flat $2 per chip? I can play the game much more cheaply than you, and the cost differential will build as the game goes on. Eventually you’re out of the game, because of this differential.”
Wow– I guess they had to dumb down their message for their target audience at epd!
April 8, 2008 at 11:31 am
is it just my CPU, or did the Times Standard take its “comments section down on the article about “police anger at chief surfaces”?…
http://www.times-standard.com/ci_8821084?source=most_viewed
April 8, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Yes Puma. At least one of them can’t even spell chief correctly. Guess they don’t teach the i before e rule at the police academy. loi
April 8, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Looks that way Theo. The rest of the articles still have the comments up so this looks like a targeted closure. They probably didn’t appreciate all the libelous crap and threats being posted.
April 8, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Theo, I couldn’t access the comments section for that article in the T-S this morning, and I still can’t. You at least now you know you are Not the Only One!
April 8, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Did you see this over at Above The Law, referring to the TS article about EPD being upset, posted by “Frank Serpico” one of the blog owners? “1) Frank wouldn’t post a comment in such a toxic forum. The adage of pearls before swine never seemed so apt.”
In essence he is calling the readers of the TS swine.
April 8, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I hope we swine won’t be paying his salary much longer.
April 8, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I was trying to find the comments section from the TS online, which I had saved. I wanted to share it with you. But when I went to open that file, I could not open it. The system seems to prevent saving the thread. Does anybody here know if that is the way Topix has designed their system?
April 8, 2008 at 9:23 pm
From the blog: “.. I have it on good authority that he [the chief] has been told to fix what he has broken at the department.”
No doubt, but it looks like what is broken are the ew epd employees having diffculty wrapping their tiny brains around the positive changes that the community & council have applauded. And I am sure those employees will get “fixed” 1 way or the other.
What’s that you say? It’s not a few employees? Then how come the union didn’t even bring up taking a no-confidence vote in the chief? Lack of support maybe?
April 23, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Humboldt County is truly the only place where this kind of madness occurs.
And by madness, I mean the endless cop-hating bile that spews from the marijuana-stinking-mouth of every stupid crazy-left liberal who resides here.
Don’t think you know what goes on at EPD until you can see from the inside, which I do.
April 23, 2008 at 3:37 pm
So, wanting the police to be held accountable to the public they are supposed to serve, that is somehow considered “madness?”
Interesting point of view, and indicative of how the local “law enforcement community” believes they should be treated with kid gloves, while everyone else should be policed & prosecuted fully. What a bunch of hypocrites.
April 23, 2008 at 3:40 pm
What refreshing insight into the biases of the EPD. Who knew?
April 23, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Yeah, and they view everyone else as suspects. You don’t have to read much on that cop blog or in the newspaper to understand that. Their bunker mentality and covering each other’s asses is why things have gotten this bad.
June 30, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Yes Non Hippie, there are a lot of cop-haters in Eureka & especially Arcata and they have a lot of time to spread their bile on the internet posting sites.
You’re just now noticing ?