politics and politicians
See other politics and politicians Articles
Title: Gov. blasts Stokes' call for violence against police
Source:
The Clarion-Ledger
URL Source: http://www.clarionledger.com/story/ ... hrowing-rocks-police/78172912/
Published: Jan 2, 2016
Author: Jimmie E. Gates
Post Date: 2016-01-03 07:51:11 by cranky
Keywords: None
Views: 1744
Comments: 13
Gov. Phil Bryant calls “reprehensible” Jackson Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes’ statements suggesting that rocks, bricks and bottles be thrown at police officers from other jurisdictions who chase misdemeanor suspects into Jackson. “Mr. Stokes’ remarks are reprehensible, particularly with the attacks we have seen against our men and women in law enforcement,” Bryant said in a statement late Friday. “I condemn any such remarks in the strongest possible manner. This is nothing short of an outright assault upon all who wear the badge. I will be asking Attorney General Jim Hood to investigate whether Mr. Stokes’ remarks represent criminal threats against law enforcement officers.” Stokes made the statements Thursday during a news conference condemning police chases from other jurisdictions into Jackson. He repeated the statements Friday in an interview with The Clarion-Ledger. “My position is this: When you have these police officers coming from other jurisdictions and they will not respect human life, then I said we should use rocks, bricks or bottles to try to get the message over: stop endangering our children,” Stokes said. “Now I have supported police officers in police departments all over this state from when I was a (Hinds County) supervisor when we voted for new cars and equipment for police officers. I opened and closed the last council meeting in honor of an officer who had died. I have named streets after officers in this city.” Those commenting on social media have blasted Stokes for his statement. One person suggested Stokes should be arrested for inciting violence against police. Another wrote: “Just thinking this cannot be true. Can it be possible that a sworn in official of a city would even think this much less make a statement of this nature. Outrageous!” Madison County Sheriff Randy Tucker said in a Facebook post to Stokes that law enforcement will not be intimidated by him. “Any Madison County law enforcement that is attacked because your ignorant statements, I will hold you responsible,” Tucker said. “I fully intend to contact the MS (Mississippi) attorney general and inquire if your statements constitute assaults on officers by threat.” Hood said Saturday in a Facebook statement that comments and actions that put law enforcement officers in harm’s way cannot be tolerated. “Frustration or dissatisfaction with police policies or procedures does not give any person, especially an elected official, the right to jeopardize the safety of officers,” Hood said. “We should instead be focused on cooperation and mutual respect between citizens and law enforcement. Certainly, the Office of Attorney General will investigate any complaint received in this or any other matter.” Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber said on Twitter that while there is a need to demand respect of jurisdictional boundaries, he could never condone violence against officers. UPDATED In a statement Saturday, other members of the City Council have also condemned Stokes' comments and said his comments didn't represent the council or the city. City Council President Melvin Priester Jr, said: “As president of the City Council I can say unequivocally that Councilman Stokes' comments are indefensible and do not represent the Jackson City Council or the City of Jackson. Following Councilman Stokes' comments, I have spoken personally with the other members of the council and we are in agreement that the Jackson City Council does not support any calls for acts of violence against those who serve as members of law enforcement." Councilman Priester stated further, “Moving forward, it is imperative that we renew our efforts to work with surrounding communities to find common ground regarding regional pursuits and the safety concerns posed by high speed chases in the metro area. I hope that Councilman Stokes’ unfortunate and unacceptable words do not prevent us from achieving an effective regional pursuit policy throughout the metro area." Priester said the safety of the citizens of Jackson and the safety of those who work tirelessly to serve and protect is of utmost importance. While concern may be voiced over high speed pursuits within city limits and the legitimate danger they pose to innocent by-standers, such concerns do not justify calling for violence against law enforcement, he said. Over the last several years, Jackson officials have raised concern about high-speed chases in the city involving law officers from surrounding police departments. Stokes said he was told by residents of a high speed chase on Mobile Avenue on Christmas Eve involving police officers from Flowood, Ridgeland, and perhaps Pearl. “There is no question of my love and respect for police officers; my first degree was in criminal justice,” Stokes said. “I almost became a police officer, but somewhere down the line, we have to draw a line between officers who put human beings safety in jeopardy versus using common sense. I don’t consider these police officers. I consider them thugs.” The Clarion-Ledger was unable to reach police chiefs from the three cities on Friday. “These kind of chases put children in danger,” Stokes said. “They said parents were trying to get their children out of harms way. Now, it is our position that if it is a misdemeanor, you shouldn’t be putting children and the elderly in danger.” “Now, if you are talking about a murderer or a bank robbery, then this is person who may be a little more dangerous to the community, but not a misdemeanor,” Stokes said. “We have had this discussion over and over again, but it looks like these jurisdictions have taken the position they don’t care. And that is the wrong position to take. What are you going to do — wait until someone is killed?” “The City Council must take steps to address this recurring problem,” Stokes said. “Outside jurisdictions chasing suspects around Jackson neighborhoods must not be allowed.” 
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 9.
#1. To: cranky (#0)
Stokes has a point. This is a political witch hunt. If there was no prior history of these other jurisdictions conducting dangerous pursuits of suspects, this would never come up. I think Stokes should double-down and call for residents to open fire on alien police elements who are deliberately endangering their community. You can easily make a self-defense argument.
Nah. When the residents hear the sound of approaching sirens, they should prepare to throw rocks and bricks and open fire on the car the police are chasing. Doesn't that make more sense? I mean, if they prohibit outside cops from chasing the bad guys while in Jackson, all the bad guys will speed to Jackson to avoid pursuit. Who wants that?
There seems to be two issues here. The community doesn't like outside PDs doing chases in their community recklessly, not for misdemeanors. I posited these pursuits are for thugs in cars but the outside PDs will pursue over minor traffic infractions, it seems. At least, misdemeanors are mentioned as the real point in contention. Again, the article indicates this is a longstanding problem. And this is far from the first fight over high-speed chases; we seem to get these stories a couple of times a year from around the country. Most likely, these towns need a single PD to cover their entire metro area. You'd have better results and enforcement. We would really need to know some specifics about the chases that have already happened. How you feel if police were chasing some kid over a traffic ticket and drove through a downtown area at 110mph? And an outside PD, not even your own PD. It's still just a local news story. Not national.
Once the individual flees in a vehicle it's a felony, no matter the initial reason. So they're chasing a felon. "How you feel if police were chasing some kid over a traffic ticket and drove through a downtown area at 110mph?" How do you know, how is the cop supposed to know, that the "kid" is only fleeing a traffic ticket? What percentage of people speed away from the cops for "failure to use a turn signal"? .00000001? So why is he really running? Now the "kid" can be charged with felony reckless evading -- prison time plus thousands of dollars in fines.
Even so, if it is your child who is killed or crippled because they chased someone they were going to write a misdemeanor ticket to but they fled because there was a serious warrant out for their arrest, you wouldn't feel any better. This may come down to a perception that the locals feels these outside PDs are unaccountable and out of control when operating outside their authorized zone of police duties. You seem to think that any local PD is authorized to do anything in pursuit and may cross any number of jurisdictional boundaries. This isn't true. A local PD generally won't go into a metro area. They don't usually cross state borders, certainly don't cross the borders into Canada or Mexico, etc. So no one imagines that every police department has some unlimited zone of operation, whether they are in pursuit of someone fleeing a misdemeanor ticket or not.
My initial comment dealt with the subject of the article -- violence against the police. I said the violence should be directed towards the perp. Now you're going down a whole different path.
There are no replies to Comment # 9. End Trace Mode for Comment # 9.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#3. To: TooConservative (#1)
"I think Stokes should double-down and call for residents to open fire on alien police elements who are deliberately endangering their community."
#5. To: misterwhite (#3)
Doesn't that make more sense? I mean, if they prohibit outside cops from chasing the bad guys while in Jackson, all the bad guys will speed to Jackson to avoid pursuit. Who wants that?
#6. To: TooConservative (#5)
"The community doesn't like outside PDs doing chases in their community recklessly, not for misdemeanors."
#7. To: misterwhite (#6)
How do you know, how is the cop supposed to know, that the "kid" is only fleeing a traffic ticket? What percentage of people speed away from the cops for "failure to use a turn signal"? .00000001? So why is he really running?
#9. To: TooConservative (#7)
"You seem to think that any local PD is authorized to do anything in pursuit and may cross any number of jurisdictional boundaries."
Replies to Comment # 9.
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]