New day, same old crap.

[Craigb]

A couple of days ago,we were once again visited by vandals. For the sixth time, windows were once again shot out of my vehicle. After calling the Police, I asked them why they did not patrol in these high crime areas? And, why these little thugs who were out riding around in the wee hours of the morning, not stopped and checked? After some uncensored words that were of the nature of "VIOLENT", I was told that I might go to jail because this could be construed as terroristic threats! After picking my lower jaw up off of the floor, I stated that this could only be expected today due to the protection of criminals and not the citizens of this city/state/ country. I continued wanting to know why these types could not be pulled over and checked at these hours that crimes are being committed? I was told, that they (the PD) was unable to tell what they would be doing, for all they knew, they could be going to the store! I was so dazed by this remark, that blood no longer flowed in the direction of my brain! It took several moments to get myself back together and ask, WHAT? I was told that there were "LAWS" in place to prohibited them from just stopping someone without a reason. I then asked, what about checking of Ins or a DL? I was told that this was no longer allowed, and that they had to have a good reason to stop someone. I asked, what about CURFEW? That is no longer a law! After getting over my shock, we talked for a while longer, and the gist I got was that, they were very short of man power, and that the laws were the main problem. Ok, I asked then what could I do to stop this crap from happening, they told me that I could go to wal-mart and buy surveillance camera and put it up outside to tape during the hours that this was happening. And, I could go and attend the city commission meetings and voice a concern with them about the lack of protection in this city.
The main ideas that I got from this talk, was that more officers needed to be hired to be able to effectively do their job correctly. And, that the laws needed to be changed in the city, county, state and federal governments to stop protecting the illegal aliens, gang-bangers and the rest of those who think it is their right to break our laws, and get away with it without fear of punishment.
I would like to know what politicians came up with these laws, and too get these fools out of office. And, get those into office who have a little common sense and a sense of duty to the citizens of this country! I call those who came up with these "laws", nothing but traitors, and should be dealt with as such! I would appreciate any and all help in finding the fools who came up with laws that protect all this type of criminals and do whatever is needed to get them taken out of office and replaced! They have no right to hold any type of office in our governmental agencies when they care so little, if any at all when it comes to the citizens of this country and states! A complete house cleaning is far past due! I find all of this far to hard to even believe.

[Army_of_One]

No curfew? Are you kidding me? In a town like Dodge with all the little gang bangers running around the FIRST thing they should do is have a curfew...that would give them a reason to stop the little thugs.

The bottom line is that Dodge City is an ILLEGAL and CRIMINAL friendly town. They are understaffed and obviously whoever is in "charge" doesn't want to hassle the bad guys.....You can buy a camera at walmart but then if you take the video to the police what the hell will THEY do with it? The best thing you could do is MOVE...get the hell out of Dodge.

What do you see happening in the next 6-12 months to make the situation any better? Let me help you with that.........N O T H I N G.....

[The Drifter]

When did the curfew go away? They reinstated it in the summer of 2007. Did it only last a year?

[Anarchy]

Shooting out windows is such a cowardly crime. It usually goes undetected as it does not make much noise and they are shooting bb's or pellets from moving cars which is a common occurence going down your street. Nothing unusal to catch a homeowners attention. Its not a whole lot different than tagging. Dark alley way or fence out view from homeowners or this usually occurs when most are asleep. Tagging usually only takes a minute or two to creates a large amount of property damage. Unless your in the right place at the right time your not going to catch this if your an officer. Cameras are really not that great unless they catch a tag on the vehicle or it is done in the daytime so the vehicle can be seen on the video. Neither really happens that often.
Drifter, I believe the city has a curfew ordinance but some prosecutors feel it is unconstitutional and refuse to prosecute it...
Law enforcement these days are fighting an uphill battle on stopping vehicles. You have to have reasonable suspicion a crime is, has, or about to be commited to perform a traffic stop. Although it is usually easy to stop a vehicle for some sort of traffic violation if you know all of Kansas' traffic ordinances. Then the courts are restricting officers on the traffic stop to keep the "investigation" centered on the reason for the stop. Its even getting to the point you really can't even speak to passengers unless, in the brief time speaking to driver you have something else to go on to need to inquire about something with the passengers. If an officer steps outside the lines the Kansas Court of Appeals have set on different traffic stop investigations, laws become even more restrictive.
Army, "illegal and criminally friendly town." The people in "charge", atleast at the PD do take steps everyday to combat problems like gangs and Identity Thefts. However as you may have noticed it is not a small problem and you can't just wave a magic wand and take care of all the problems at once. (I am no different than you, I wish we could)
Finally, the PD is a very, very young department these days. You wont find many officers on the street with more than a few years experience. With that being said though there are numerous officers that work diligently to combats gangs, property crimes, and even identity crimes because this is our community too. Our kids go to the same schools, we eat at the same places, and not to shock anyone we put our pants on the same way everyone else does....

[Army_of_One]

Army, "illegal and criminally friendly town." The people in "charge", atleast at the PD do take steps everyday to combat problems like gangs and Identity Thefts. However as you may have noticed it is not a small problem and you can't just wave a magic wand and take care of all the problems at once. (I am no different than you, I wish we could)
Finally, the PD is a very, very young department these days. You wont find many officers on the street with more than a few years experience. With that being said though there are numerous officers that work diligently to combats gangs, property crimes, and even identity crimes because this is our community too. Our kids go to the same schools, we eat at the same places, and not to shock anyone we put our pants on the same way everyone else does....

I'm not putting the problem on the police force. I understand that they are understaffed and don't have the judicial back up they need. If the law ties their hands as far as traffic stops and the curfew won't be enforced by the prosecutor then what can you do. Maybe the prosecutor needs a second look. If Dodge City is EVER going to be a safe or enjoyable place to live (it's not right now if you ask me) there has to be something done. People are paying high property taxes for what?

Having a young police force is because I heard the officers use the training in Dodge to move on elsewhere to make more money...so the dept spends the money to train them but doesn't keep them....not a good deal if you ask me.

[TexKan]

Craig - so sorry to hear this is going on once again to you. I'm actually with AOO - you might want to look for another house, go talk to the Cpt of the force, secruity lights, talk to the mayor, ask for additional drive by's from the PD, ask your neighbors if they are tired of the same thing? There is strength in numbers.

Lastly I guess my question is why your house, why 6 times, are you being targeted for a reason? This requires painfully honest comtemplation on your part, but 6 times just isn't normal. Of course my 78 yo sis has had her garage painted almost 6 times. It has nothing to do with her, she put up the secruity lights, to no avail. It has to do with the location of her "canvass" to the street for all to see.

She hasn't got the camera either, but was told the same thing. She gets so angry as well. No answer there either.

I think hanging out at the council meetings is a very good idea, get on the agenda and make them address the issues. When you just walk up and talk in the open forum part of the meeting I don't believe the council is allowed to respond. Get on the agenda, then you can have a conversation with them. Get with the clerk to find out the rules then make the effort to make the leaders address your concerns. Plan on about 6 more months of talking before any resolution comes out of it tho.

[Made in the USA]

Where is Charles Bronson when you need him? Oh yeah, he died, but his movie lives on! Buford Puser too--

[Army_of_One]

Where is Charles Bronson when you need him? Oh yeah, he died, but his movie lives on! Buford Puser too--

Those guys were LONG before the days of political correctness....now a days the ACLU would be all over old Buford.

[Bubba]

I installed cameras and leave my front and back porch lights on 24/7.

[357 mag]

Maybe the prosecutor needs a second look.

AOO you are exactly right, however he was also voted into office for CA so nothing will change on either side.... This 4 years won't be any different than the last 4 were in my opinion...