Police official: Escort for toys left in Jackson's memory is 'unacceptable'

**irish_mafia** · July-17-09, 04:29 PM

What can you say? Detroit...the surreal life!

http://detnews.com/article/20090717/...-unacceptable-

Stosh · July-17-09, 04:42 PM

So police officials criticized the police officials that authorized the use of the police that provided the escort?

Talk about one hand not knowing what the other is doing. Wow.

lilpup · July-17-09, 05:11 PM

This is a good sign - higher ups might start demanding accountability.

EastSider · July-17-09, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by lilpup

This is a good sign - higher ups might start demanding accountability.

In other news, the DPD would like to announce an opening at the 2nd Deputy Chief level. Persons interested should forward their resume to Chief Warren Evans.

**rjk** · July-17-09, 06:00 PM

Any newly purchased stuffed animals should/could of been directly donated to Children's Hospital to brighten some sick child's day.
A short-handed police department has four cars escorting the stuffed animals to the cemetery?
Good decisions made by everyone involved. They should all be very proud of themselves.

If I didn't know better I'd swear that this story came out of The Onion.
Someone over there is probably pissed that they didn't think of this idea.

I bet you that this story makes some local newscasts throughout the country.

Stosh · July-17-09, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by rjk

Any newly purchased stuffed animals should/could of been directly donated to Children's Hospital to brighten some sick child's day.
A short-handed police department has four cars escorting the stuffed animals to the cemetery?
Good decisions made by everyone involved. They should all be very proud of themselves.

If I didn't know better I'd swear that this story came out of The Onion.
Someone over there is probably pissed that they didn't think of this idea.

I bet you that this story makes some local newscasts throughout the country.

I think that the stuffed animals were unsuitable for use after being left out in the elements for a few weeks.

For what it's worth, I think the prctice of memorializing someone by creating a shrine is not the best choice. I'd consider a donation to a charity. Any charity would welcome a donation, even as small as the sum of a stuffed animal, or as large as the donation of a carved headstone and 2 gravesites.

I'd think about this next time the urge hits to memorialize someone in this way.

**Pam** · July-17-09, 06:40 PM

Any newly purchased stuffed animals should/could of been directly donated to Children's Hospital to brighten some sick child's day

.

That was my thought when I heard this on the radio this morning.

After sitting outside for three weeks, the toys were not safe to donate to a children's museum or orphanage, museum CEO Audley Smith said.

They should have taken them in sooner. What a waste.

**gnome** · July-17-09, 07:12 PM

The Detroit Free Press doesn't even mention that 4 cop cars were taken out of service just so a bunch of stuffed animals could be buried.

Don't know if this belongs under Crap Journalism or Detroit: It's a D Thang
http://www.freep.com/article/2009071...ied-in-Detroit

The Freep writer does ask:
Contact CASSANDRA SPRATLING: 313-223-4580 or spratling@freepress.com.

MIRepublic · July-17-09, 07:46 PM

This is quite possibly one of the most ridiculous things I'd heard about in a very long time, and I'm won of those people that found MJ extremely talented and didn't have much of anything against him.

Given how long the toys had set out, I'm sorry, but they should have been trashed or some fan could have enshrined them him or herself without a police escort. I can't wait to find out who approved this.

**R8RBOB** · July-17-09, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by Stosh

So police officials criticized the police officials that authorized the use of the police that provided the escort?

Talk about one hand not knowing what the other is doing. Wow.

We the people need to understand that there has to be some autonomy even in the police force. That said, there is no need to bash the chiefs for questioning this unnecessary use of manpower for a silly procession of stuffed animals. The person in charge of the officers involved should have used better judgment in agreeing to participate in this event.

**Olddetroiter** · July-17-09, 10:46 PM

Their hearts were in the right place, but their brains weren't.

**Fnemecek** · July-17-09, 11:31 PM

Originally Posted by gnome

The Detroit Free Press doesn't even mention that 4 cop cars were taken out of service just so a bunch of stuffed animals could be buried.

Don't know if this belongs under Crap Journalism or Detroit: It's a D Thang
http://www.freep.com/article/2009071...ied-in-Detroit

Actually, the Freep did mention the police escort. The 9th paragraph from that article:

The James H. Cole Funeral Home, located next door to the museum on West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, donated two floral hearses, used to transport the tributes. The hearses were escorted by a Detroit police car and followed by nearly a dozen cars that were greeted by even more cars and people at the cemetery.

**gnome** · July-18-09, 05:21 AM

Thanx Frank, I must have missed that.

I probably missed it due to being distracted after being placed on hold by 911; or maybe it was because the serial rapist was knocking on my front door; or maybe it because I was so worried that the guy who shot me is going to get out of prison due to a rotten crime lab.

But it's nice to know there is a little place in heaven for stuffed animals.

**Meddle** · July-18-09, 06:40 AM

Does it say anywhere they were taken off active patrol? There are usually a few extra cars at each precinct and some that are used only for special details. The officers may have been volunteering their time which has been known to happen in certain cases.

Even so, it's not proper use of resources.

Buy American · July-18-09, 07:29 AM

For the record, the funeral home supplied "flower cars", not hearses. The police escort was a big mistake. They won't show up for a B&E but will supply 4 cars to stop traffic for a bunch of stuffed animals heading to a symbolic burial....ridiculous. Someone in the Department will most certainly suffer the consequences for this blunder.

**daddeeo** · July-18-09, 02:25 PM

And a lot of people wonder why the city gets such "bad
press" these days.

**reddog289** · July-19-09, 01:19 AM

Having had closure to the death of MJ., a few weeks ago. I love how a bunch of moldy stuffed animals can warrant a police escort.Hell it is Detroit Dads tax dollars at work.

**Pam** · July-19-09, 07:42 AM

I had another idea- they should have donated the toys to Tyree Guyton.

**edgewood** · July-19-09, 07:52 AM

Tyree Guyton has a habit of crucifying plushies.

diver1369 · July-19-09, 08:22 AM

There were two brothers killed in the train collision buried yesterday at a great burden to their family and loved ones. The graves used for Michael Jackson's memorial could have been used for them. There was a family that died in their home from carbon monoxide poisoning. I can't imagine what a relief it would be to the mother and surviving children to have their loved ones taken care of with as much care and concern as the stuffed toys were for Michael Jackson's memorial. I'd even go so far to say that Michael Jackson would likely rather see an expression of love for those less fortunate than to have any further resources expended on a millionaire.

**Crumbled_pavement** · July-19-09, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by diver1369

I'd even go so far to say that Michael Jackson would likely rather see an expression of love for those less fortunate than to have any further resources expended on a millionaire.

I'm not one to give gifts to the dead because personally I would rather have my flowers while I can still smell them, but there are three things that would especially stop me from giving toys to MJ.

1) Most important, he's dead. I can't do any good for him now.

2) He was 50 years old. What 50 y.o. needs toys? I think people forget those cute little pictures of MJ when he was a young teenager were from the 70's. He's not a kid now.

3) He was a millionaire. If he wanted toys, or anything else, he could buy it. He may have suffered great torment because of his success at the expense of his childhood, but he was well compensated for it and he could have walked away from it at any time.

I wish I could start a movement to give to the living as opposed to the dead. I'm not even supportive of the people who gave toys and stuffed animals to memorialize Nevaeh [[the Monroe girl that was kidnapped and killed). I would rather give those gifts in her behalf to girls just like her who may be unfortunate but are still alive.

The fact that an institution of the city co-signed this madness just makes this incident that much more insane.

Buy American · July-19-09, 10:22 AM

Crumbled....couldn't have said it better...right on.

**Fnemecek** · July-19-09, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by gnome

Thanx Frank, I must have missed that.

I probably missed it due to being distracted after being placed on hold by 911; or maybe it was because the serial rapist was knocking on my front door; or maybe it because I was so worried that the guy who shot me is going to get out of prison due to a rotten crime lab.

But it's nice to know there is a little place in heaven for stuffed animals.

LMAO! Well said, gnome.