Busted on Belle Isle

**Margarite** · May-02-14, 09:28 AM

I joined the ranks of the law breaking council people and mayor yesterday.

I was happily feeding the geese off the main road when the Park Police pulled up behind my van with their lights flashing. They politely pointed out the sign right behind my van that said "No Parking" and advised me that it was against city ordinance to feed the geese. I honestly had no idea that there was an ordinance and they said that there is a sign as you come on the Island to that effect. They took the time to explain why I shouldn't feed the geese and let me off with a warning.

**Honky Tonk** · May-02-14, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by margarite

i joined the ranks of the law breaking council people and mayor yesterday.

I was happily feeding the geese off the main road when the park police pulled up behind my van with their lights flashing. They politely pointed out the sign right behind my van that said "no parking" and advised me that it was against city ordinance to feed the geese. I honestly had no idea that there was an ordinance and they said that there is a sign as you come on the island to that effect. They took the time to explain why i shouldn't feed the geese and let me off with a warning.

goose feeder !!!!!!

**Hermod** · May-02-14, 10:04 AM

Sounds like they did it right. I hope you didn't respond with a DYKWTFIA.

**401don** · May-02-14, 10:04 AM

If you want a clean Belle Isle than definitely don't feed the geese. Not that a few people feeding them will make any difference, but they have ruined more parks than any [[not human) species.

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · May-02-14, 10:07 AM

I'm glad you didn't report getting arrested for numerous outstanding warrants.

**jt1** · May-02-14, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by Margarite

I joined the ranks of the law breaking council people and mayor yesterday.

I was happily feeding the geese off the main road when the Park Police pulled up behind my van with their lights flashing. They politely pointed out the sign right behind my van that said "No Parking" and advised me that it was against city ordinance to feed the geese. I honestly had no idea that there was an ordinance and they said that there is a sign as you come on the Island to that effect. They took the time to explain why I shouldn't feed the geese and let me off with a warning.

I heard the cop called you Riff Raff

**cla1945** · May-02-14, 10:48 AM

Going to the Island tomorrow morning for the Run With The Cops 5K. I'm actually looking forward to going and seeing what it looks like after the State took over.
The goose problem is terrible, their poop is sometimes bigger than my dogs poop and it's everywhere....grass, sidewalks, street. Please don't feed them, they've done fine for hundreds of years and will continue to do fine without human intervention. Also, getting around them when they are nesting could be downright dangerous!

**Margarite** · May-02-14, 11:21 AM

After the Officer explained why feeding the geese was a bad thing I saw the error of my ways and won't do it anymore. I just never thought about it before. It always seemed like a good way to recycle stale bread and baked goods without sending them to the land fill.

So, I guess you can chalk this one up as a plus for the state takeover. No one had ever stopped me or explained the logic to me before.

I'm curious to see if my "crime" will make it to the DNR weekly report.

**Honky Tonk** · May-02-14, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by Margarite

I'm curious to see if my "crime" will make it to the DNR weekly report.

Or your picture @ the Post Office.

**Motor City Sam** · May-02-14, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by cla1945

Going to the Island tomorrow morning for the Run With The Cops 5K. I'm actually looking forward to going and seeing what it looks like after the State took over.
The goose problem is terrible, their poop is sometimes bigger than my dogs poop and it's everywhere....grass, sidewalks, street. Please don't feed them, they've done fine for hundreds of years and will continue to do fine without human intervention. Also, getting around them when they are nesting could be downright dangerous!

I'll be down for the race, too. It's always a good time. It will also be my first trip since the State took over, so I am interested in getting a look and feel.

**sumas** · May-02-14, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by Margarite

I joined the ranks of the law breaking council people and mayor yesterday.

I was happily feeding the geese off the main road when the Park Police pulled up behind my van with their lights flashing. They politely pointed out the sign right behind my van that said "No Parking" and advised me that it was against city ordinance to feed the geese. I honestly had no idea that there was an ordinance and they said that there is a sign as you come on the Island to that effect. They took the time to explain why I shouldn't feed the geese and let me off with a warning.

Personally,I hate geese but do understand the compulsion to feed them.It is interesting to watch their behaviors. Interesting that police activity is so up now too.

**Detroitnerd** · May-02-14, 11:34 AM

Margritte: Were the officers representative of the community they are policing?

**Margarite** · May-02-14, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Margritte: Were the officers representative of the community they are policing?

I don't think so. My friend was sitting in the van and one of the officers asked her where we lived. When she said Harper Woods he asked where that was. I know Harper Woods is a pretty small city so is not well known but most locals are at least familiar with the name.

**Wesley Mouch** · May-03-14, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by Margarite

I don't think so. My friend was sitting in the van and one of the officers asked her where we lived. When she said Harper Woods he asked where that was. I know Harper Woods is a pretty small city so is not well known but most locals are at least familiar with the name.

Sounds like the officer wants to know the community. That's the first step in becoming a member of the community. Great to hear.

**townonenorth** · May-02-14, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Margritte: Were the officers representative of the community they are policing?

Yes, they are humans, if you must ask.

**Detroitnerd** · May-02-14, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by townonenorth

Yes, they are humans, if you must ask.

Hey, adroit way to sidestep the issue of police being representative of the community. Unless you really don't care about the issue so much that you're happy to let Belle Isle become a monument to stop-and-frisk-style policing.

**jcole** · May-02-14, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Hey, adroit way to sidestep the issue of police being representative of the community. Unless you really don't care about the issue so much that you're happy to let Belle Isle become a monument to stop-and-frisk-style policing.

Did you ask Margarite is she was representative of the community she was in?
What in the hell does that mean anyway? Isn't any race representative of the community they serve as long as they are human? Do they need to be a certain % of Black, White, Hispanic and Asian with just a dash of "other"?

**EASTSIDE CAT 67-83** · May-02-14, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Hey, adroit way to sidestep the issue of police being representative of the community. Unless you really don't care about the issue so much that you're happy to let Belle Isle become a monument to stop-and-frisk-style policing.

Boy it didn't take long for someone to take State Policing of Belle Isle and wrap it around the race axle....Really?

**noise** · May-02-14, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Margritte: Were the officers representative of the community they are policing?

As a state park, do you mean representative of the state?

**Bill Simpson** · May-02-14, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Margritte: Were the officers representative of the community they are policing?

Is this question, "What color were they?" If so, why not just ask it that way?

**noise** · May-02-14, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by Bill Simpson

Is this question, "What color were they?" If so, why not just ask it that way?

Because, as I've learned in this thread, [[s)he's a "minor journalist" whose words are being read more than ever before.

**Detroitnerd** · May-02-14, 02:01 PM

But, hey, it's not just lone Detroitnerd who believes police forces should know their community, be embedded in their community, and be representative of their community. That's police forces all over the country. But maybe you guys know better than them. If so, don't yell at me; yell at them.

**Scottathew** · May-02-14, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Margritte: Were the officers representative of the community they are policing?

This is the kind of attitude that keeps Detroit in the past.

Who the f*ck cares if the cops were white or black. Did they do their job correctly? Were they enforcing laws properly?

In this case, regardless of race, I'd say the outcome was pretty good. The police were able to inform a well-intentioned user of the park that they were breaking a local ordinance that's designed to keep the park clean and usable.

However, you're not going to be happy unless the cops who are doing their jobs correctly are also black?

Where I live in Rochester Hills folks don't care about what race the police officers are. We only care that they do their job properly and fairly.

**Detroitnerd** · May-02-14, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by 48307

This is the kind of attitude that keeps Detroit in the past.
Who the f*ck cares if the cops were white or black. Did they do their job correctly? Were they enforcing laws properly?
In this case, regardless of race, I'd say the outcome was pretty good. The police were able to inform a well-intentioned user of the park that they were breaking a local ordinance that's designed to keep the park clean and usable.
However, you're not going to be happy unless the cops who are doing their jobs correctly are also black?
Where I live in Rochester Hills folks don't care about what race the police officers are. We only care that they do their job properly and fairly.

I didn't ask if the cops were white or black. I asked if they were representative of the community. I think I see what's going on here. Somebody jumped to a conclusion. Wasn't me. I was just asking a neutrally worded question.

**rjlj** · May-02-14, 02:54 PM

Strongly agree. Majority of people just want the job done, & done correctly. Apply this to any public service anywhere in the world.

Originally Posted by 48307

This is the kind of attitude that keeps Detroit in the past.

Who the f*ck cares if the cops were white or black. Did they do their job correctly? Were they enforcing laws properly?

In this case, regardless of race, I'd say the outcome was pretty good. The police were able to inform a well-intentioned user of the park that they were breaking a local ordinance that's designed to keep the park clean and usable.

However, you're not going to be happy unless the cops who are doing their jobs correctly are also black?

Where I live in Rochester Hills folks don't care about what race the police officers are. We only care that they do their job properly and fairly.