I can't help but wonder what is going on when the Police Chiefs of the two largest cities in Central Oregon (Bend and Redmond) both resigned just this last week. The Chief of Bend is only in his early fifties and his explanation is that he just "needs a rest". I have a sneaking suspicion that they have not done anything to make sure their computers will keep working. Interestingly, the Sheriff's Department is increasing staff and the extent of its jurisdiction in what would appear to be preparation for a martial law situation. What scares me about this is that rather than the police department's policy of "to serve and protect", the sheriff's department policy seems to be more along the lines of "to opress and dominate".

-- Bender (now@risk.here), February 27, 1999

Answers

Bender,

I'll send an "e" to someone who might know.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), February 27, 1999.

P.S.

Have you also noticed how several U.S. Senators and Congresspeople have announced they will not be seeking re-election in 2000?

Curious? Or not.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), February 27, 1999.

Thanks Diane,

What I also forgot to mention is I've been noticing a very aggressive advertising campaign on T.V. lately for National Guard recruiting. This really doesn't suprise me that much since I think most of us are pretty convinced that they will be out there on the streets near the end of the year, but I wonder just how aggressive they are going to be. Has anybody else been seeing a lot of these commercials? I would imagine it would be happening pretty much throughout the country. I watch several hours of tube per day (3-4 hrs. average) and I usually see at least a couple ads each time.

-- Bender (now@risk.here), February 27, 1999.

Police officers used to be called "Peace Officers". Now they are called "Law Enforcement Officers".

-- Freddie the Freeloader (freddie@aol.com), February 27, 1999.

Bender,

I've noticed the TV ad campaign for the National Guard too.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), February 27, 1999.

Michigan update: Seen lots of of NG recruitment billboards as well.

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), February 27, 1999.

Bender, yes, we'll have martial law in Oregon and Washington. Knew it early last November and posted it here on this Forum then. See

Big Guns On A Little Bug

"Hamre said several states, including Washington and Oregon, "already have concluded detailed agreements regarding National Guard response during a Y2K-induced emergency." "

There's lots more plans than just National Guard response. But of course the Military isn't totally Y2K remediated yet, and will be spread thin. See

Canada's military is sent to stage possible Y2K scenario's beginning

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-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), February 27, 1999.

As the wife of a police officer in Oregon I would like answer Bender with some comforting insight. 25 years ago the police departments were not requiring a college degree to become a police officer. Some don't now but many do. But my point is that police officers were hired when they were very young. My husband started as a police officer when he was only 21. That means that by the time he has served 25 years he is only 46. You can't draw retirement until 50 so many of the officers who are now retiring have served their communities faithfully for quite some time. The retirements you are referring to are not Y2K related.

I am up on Y2K. I "get it." One of my biggest frustrations is that the State of Oregon has done a tremendous amount of work to get ready and they are not telling anyone about it. They are still trying to figure out how to tell people without creating panic. They also figure that if they say something too soon that people will discount what they are telling them. They are trying to strategically plan to get it right to benefit the most citizens. I am comforted to know of all their preparations. I think others will be too when they hear about it. As frustrated as I get that they have not said much yet, I understand their honest concern that they do it in the right manner at the right time.

There is a lot of misinformation. These forums are helpful because the "real" information can have a chance to be aired. May I add that the Sheriff's departments are adding on staff because communities in Oregon are growing. We also have many eligible to retire in the next few years both in the Sheriff's departments and State Police.

In regards to your concern about the Sheriff's seeming policy to oppress and dominate I would like to say that I do not understand how you have come to that conclusion. In the State of Oregon, our local officials are the first line of response. If they need help then they go to the State Police. Here in Oregon the State Police do not just do highway patrol. The office of Emergency Management, Fire Marshall, criminal investigations, etc are part of the State Police. If the National Guard was activiated in Oregon then the Superintendent of the State Police would be in charge of coordinating those efforts.

I read in a newspaper article about how the State of Oregon was behind in critical systems computer debugging. My brother-in-law called our family friend who was hired by the State of Oregon to play a major role in getting the State compliant. He stated that the article was false and that the systems the article listed were compliant. He said that their work was going well and on schedule. I know that we hear false statements like this but I know him to be a reliable source.

I hope this helps. Melinda++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

-- (melinda@noworries.org), February 27, 1999.

The Chief of Police of Charlotte, NC resigned last week, quite unexpectedly. He had an exemplary track record. He will not say why.

How odd...

R.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), February 27, 1999.

Right on the mark, Freddie. "Law Enforcement" officers enforce the law without regard as to whether the law is just or not, or whether it will 'keep the peace'. Examples of "law enforcement" officers can be seen most clearly in Hitler's SS and concentration camp guards. It was German "law" that Jews be rounded up, shipped to camps in cattle cars, and then gassed after being worked to death. The "law enforcement" officers there saw to that. Of course, at Nuremberg, they sang the song of "just following orders", but nobody wanted to hear it. You see, "law enforcement" officers just do what they are told; "peace" officers do what is right.

FWIW: Almost all states designate the police as peace officers, not law enforcement officers.

P.S. Do not tolerate Nazi-ism from anyone in authority... history shows where it will lead. Do what you know is right.

-- badlaws (copsare@not.god), February 27, 1999.

Bold off...

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous.com), February 27, 1999.

Badlaws thanks for reminding us of history.

Melinda, I have a brother who was an RCMP and just retired, and 2 solid nephews that are policemen, I trust what they teach me too.

I trust my heart and I question the heart of others.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), February 27, 1999.

Thanks everyone. I guess there isn't anything to be nervous about but it just seems sometimes that the government solution to problems is usually by way of force. A councilman in Portland recently said that he doesn't think money should be spent to help organize and prepare neighborhoods to work together in community spirit, but now it seems that there will be plenty of money to apply military-style control. If that money were given to FEMA and the Red Cross to make sure everyone will be taken care of I think a lot less people would get hurt.

-- Bender (now@risk.here), February 27, 1999.

Bender Maybe you missed it. FEMA , via Klintons EO's , now have right to: Carry weapon; command swat teams and black hawk helicoptors; AND, federal athority to take over BOTH local and state police departments where the " infrastructure is threatened " (?)and, of course , where a "terrorist" threat , foreign or LOCAL exists. After they bulldozed over the bodies of women and children in Waco and nothing was done , anything is possible now. Clue is, when ever they are going after some group , they first put labels on them , which the media plays up BIGTIME; then comes the orcastrated " something must be done to protect the .... " . Then the FBI, Federal Marshalls and now with the new laws tying the military into " civil unrest " senarios, you better have tanks and field artillery if you think your going to resist them. Got GUTS ?? Will send flowers ! Eagle (with old eyes ).

-- Harold Walker (e999eagle@freewwweb.com), February 27, 1999.

You think this is bad? Worse will happen!

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), February 27, 1999.

Hello. I asked around at the retirement dinner last night about the Police Chief in Redmond. He had been a police officer for 40 years! I would think that it is understandable why he would want to retire.

I would like to make a suggestion because there are some responses on this that seem quite escalating in nature. First, there are jerks in every organization. There are also organizations that make mistakes. Some of the mistakes are a product of the lack of unity in a response because different organizations are not used to working together. My suggestion is that we find people in these organizations that we trust. Then we make it a point to find out if information we are hearing is correct. We can also make a difference by helping them to know what is being said out there. When I was speaking to others last night at the retirement dinner it was mentioned that retirements can be helpful by bringing in new ideas. No one saw it as a negative thing. My husband had his best friend killed 1 1/2 years ago and several other friends killed this last year in the line of duty. I know a lot of officers and they really care about the community. I do too but I don't know about putting my life on the line like that.

from Melinda-Portland, Oregon+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

-- (melinda@noworries.org), February 28, 1999.

Ok, I've been reading this forum for a while and posting when I think I have something to say that might be helpful. I guess I sounded "addy". My last e-mail was meant to be an offer to look into questions that might come up. I'm a nurse but probably should have been a salesman! Sorry. Melinda+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

-- (melinda@noworries.org), February 28, 1999.

Good heavens, Melinda, you be ending up like the rest of us -- sleepless at the computer! A most noteworthy point here is the quest for reliable, accurate, trustworthy information. A person who tells the truth will be a rare asset. Many of us are jumpy because too many lies have led to cynicism, which can be a helpful survival trait in these times of Lies R USA.

We are always looking for people who have integrity and feel no compulsion to spin, wobble & weave. They are able to say "I don't know," or "I am not at liberty to discuss that aspect," rather than bluffing a tale of pseudo cockamamie.

Got the truth?
[ Not that we've found a good source, so we go to the Lord ]

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-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), February 28, 1999.

Melinda, that offer is very sweet of you!
The Yourdon Forum now has * * * * * --> -->
Ask-A-Nurse!

Now *that* is going to be very helpful. Thanks, Melinda :-)

There have been lots of questions about antibiotics and vaccinations ...

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-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), February 28, 1999.