Cops prowl Detroit for guns

**jams** · June-06-10, 07:25 PM

I admit I have very mixed feelings about this issue, but I prefer fewer guns out there.

I've had more than my share of criminal attacks where even if I carried a weapon probably would have cost me my life.

The only way I see a weapon as a viable defense is to always keep it in your hand, with one in the chamber and the safety off. That is not a world I wish to live in.

http://www.freep.com/article/2010060...-hunt-for-guns

**Detroitej72** · June-07-10, 01:30 AM

Originally Posted by jams

I admit I have very mixed feelings about this issue, but I prefer fewer guns out there.

I'm glad to see these thugs get burned. They're getting a break by being caught and sent to an American court and prison.

Bottom line, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear, despite what Ron "my thug son was killed by Detroit Police for being a thug" Scott has to say.

If you ain't got the time,[[or life to spare) don't do the crime.

I'm sick and tired of these so-called activists hampering the cops from doing their jobs. They bitch when crime happens, then bitch when the police capture the perpetrators.

To all decent folks of Detroit: take back the city for yourselves tonight, take back the city tonight!

DC48080 · June-07-10, 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by Detroitej72

I'm glad to see these thugs get burned. They're getting a break by being caught and sent to an American court and prison.

Bottom line, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear, despite what Ron "my thug son was killed by Detroit Police for being a thug" Scott has to say.

If you ain't got the time,[[or life to spare) don't do the crime.

I'm sick and tired of these so-called activists hampering the cops from doing their jobs. They bitch when crime happens, then bitch when the police capture the perpetrators.

To all decent folks of Detroit: take back the city for yourselves tonight, take back the city tonight!

Well said Detroitej72. Ron Scott needs to shut the hell up. I'm sure his son didn't meet his end by being innocent and doing nothing wrong whatsoever. I am sick and tired of people like him making excuses for criminals and shifting the blame to the cops.

When Officer Huff was MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD last month that a**hole, Ron Scott, had the unbelievable gall to infer that he somehow deserved it because of other incidents of alleged police brutality.

People need to support the Police because they are doing a thankless job in Detroit and putting their lives on the line every day to defend people.

**jams** · June-07-10, 09:23 AM

Bottom line, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear

Yeppers, that is one way to excuse violating civil rights.

**RickBeall** · June-07-10, 11:03 AM

And God forbid they should find any illegal aliens. They would probably have to put them in a convertable and drive them up and down Woodward in a parade with floats and confetti.

**jams** · June-07-10, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by RickBeall

And God forbid they should find any illegal aliens. They would probably have to put them in a convertable and drive them up and down Woodward in a parade with floats and confetti.

Yeppers, I have to worry how "illegal aliens" might wash the dishes in the restaurants I eat in.

**Johnlodge** · June-07-10, 12:33 PM

Keep an eye out for civil liberty infractions, yes. But also understand this type of policing has been proven to work. Proven to reduce violence in the community. Like everything, you have to walk that fine line and watch things don't get carried away either way, but I would call this proactive policing and the results it has already shown to be a nice glimmer of hope.

**cman710** · June-07-10, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by Johnlodge

Keep an eye out for civil liberty infractions, yes. But also understand this type of policing has been proven to work. Proven to reduce violence in the community. Like everything, you have to walk that fine line and watch things don't get carried away either way, but I would call this proactive policing and the results it has already shown to be a nice glimmer of hope.

Johnlodge put it perfectly. In countless cities across the country, this approach has worked. And it is working in Detroit, with the number of shootings and homicides dramatically down from the year before. As Johnlodge stated, the police should not be allowed to run roughshod over people's rights, but we also have to recognize that police must take a more proactive approach if we are to reduce crime anytime soon. What other alternatives are there that are grounded in reality and produce results?

**Detroitnerd** · June-07-10, 12:43 PM

What's really important is that the police be able to stop you for jaywalking and try to take as many guns away from the people as possible? Um ...

**ejames01** · June-07-10, 02:07 PM

I have carried [[with CCW) since March and have never been stopped while driving or walking in Detroit. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know who the thugs are. The police need to be stopping those idiots any time they can.

**jams** · June-07-10, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by ejames01

I have carried [[with CCW) since March and have never been stopped while driving or walking in Detroit. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know who the thugs are. The police need to be stopping those idiots any time they can.

So tell us, how you know who the thugs are.

**ejames01** · June-07-10, 02:32 PM

I know how they talk, walk, dress, carry themselves, etc. Anyone that has actually spent any time with them should be able to figure it out.

Originally Posted by jams

So tell us, how you know who the thugs are.

**jams** · June-07-10, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by ejames01

I know how they talk, walk, dress, carry themselves, etc. Anyone that has actually spent any time with them should be able to figure it out.

You mean the guy I hang with, that has lots of tattoos, 250 lbs, wears a tam and overalls.

Let me ask his wife and daughter if he is a thug, or a good provider.

**donpablo** · June-07-10, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by ejames01

I know how they talk, walk, dress, carry themselves, etc. Anyone that has actually spent any time with them should be able to figure it out.

There is no way in hell you can tell someone is a criminal by how they talk, walk, dress and carry themselves.

Everybody knows your talking about hip hop culture, please dont try to deny it. A good percentage of young black males participate in that culture and they are not criminals.

This is why I have a big problem with suburbanites who have never spent time with black people becoming Detroit cops. I see them all the time searching kids cars, everyone in cuffs, violating these kids rights and then they send them on their way.

**Fnemecek** · June-08-10, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by jams

So tell us, how you know who the thugs are.

Easy. If he is doing something that is criminal, he is someone that the police should stop and talk to.

neighbor · June-08-10, 04:03 PM

I think the point that needs to be taken away from this story is that people need to know that the police are watching.

Detroit is a haven for crime big and small. Smoking joints out in the open and general disregard for any traffic law are things that need to be enforced and can often turn in to bigger busts.

If enough dummies get busted for carrying a weapon or carrying weed because they got stopped for jaywalking hopefully they will learn not to do anything dumb and if they don't maybe their kid will.

**Detroitnerd** · June-07-10, 03:13 PM

That's funny. Here's an old tale like that, as best as I can remember it. One time a man in Detroit shot a policeman. He was hauled into Edward Jeffries' court. Jeffries said to the cop, "What happened?"

The cop said, "I found this man looking suspicious and I addressed him. He ran down an alley. When I chased him, he shot me!"

"Why did you question this man?"

The cop answered, "He looked suspicious."

Jeffries said, "How did you know he had a gun?"

The cop said, "I didn't know he had a gun until he pulled it out and shot me."

Jeffries said the cop had no reasonable grounds to question the man. "You didn't know he was armed. You didn't know he was doing anything wrong!"

"But he ran away! He shot me!"

Jeffries, unmoved by the testimony, had the charges dismissed, the man released, and his gun returned to him.

My kind of judge, actually.

**jams** · June-07-10, 04:05 PM

Golly gee, that man is wearing a suit and tie. He would never commit a crime.

**ejames01** · June-07-10, 04:30 PM

I was referring to thugs, not criminals.

Originally Posted by jams

Golly gee, that man is wearing a suit and tie. He would never commit a crime.

**ScienceFair** · June-07-10, 05:43 PM

A couple years back I was photographing houses along Second St. just south of Highland Park with my silver digital camera. A squad car pulled up behind me and I was told to put my hands up. I explained that it was indeed a camera and not a gun and they said, "ok" and left me alone.

I had nothing to hide and wasn't looking for trouble, maybe looked suspicious, but I had no problem with the cops. These are the same guys that put their life on the line every day in this city, why make their jobs any harder than they already are?

**Umbound** · June-07-10, 04:19 PM

Even though I have a little bit of an issue with this, I DO AGREE with it because [[someone can correct me appropriately if wrong) what other option can the police do about this? I personally have seen this type policing in the city lately and if that means the city be safer overall, so be it.

**FerndaleDamon** · June-07-10, 07:34 PM

Guys, this has been discussed every which way but sunday, ad nauseum. This is not a police issue, but a social/cultural issue. The police need to take an agressive/ pro-active approach, but I think we all know what the "root" cause is. As long as you have a city where the people embrace a hip-hop culture, where you live for today, take what you want & have no regard for life, then NOTHING will change. It ain't rocket science. And it isn't about the money, either. If there is money, it gets pissed away on lottery tickets, trying to get rich quick. The "residents" need to make the change- period. Change always comes from within. If this pisses off certain people, then so be it. Nevermind the p.o.c. bullshit!

**cman710** · June-07-10, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by FerndaleDamon

Guys, this has been discussed every which way but sunday, ad nauseum. This is not a police issue, but a social/cultural issue. The police need to take an agressive/ pro-active approach, but I think we all know what the "root" cause is. As long as you have a city where the people embrace a hip-hop culture, where you live for today, take what you want & have no regard for life, then NOTHING will change. It ain't rocket science. And it isn't about the money, either. If there is money, it gets pissed away on lottery tickets, trying to get rich quick. The "residents" need to make the change- period. Change always comes from within. If this pisses off certain people, then so be it. Nevermind the p.o.c. bullshit!

While this issue is a social and cultural one, it is also a police issue. In the 1990s, crime did not suddenly drop in New York City because people started to parent better and because people suddenly became less predisposed towards crime. Rather, the NYPD's more proactive approach [[1) resulted in more arrests of criminals who may have engaged in a potential violent crime, and [[2) over time, demonstrated the fact that criminals will get caught.

Homicides are down 25% this year in Detroit. Did the culture of the city change in such a short time and so quickly? Nope. The proactive policing has made the difference, by increasing police present in "hot" areas, decreasing the amount of illegal guns on the street, and by deterring potential crime.

One problem in Detroit is that criminals know they will not get caught. Chief Evans has so much as said that he does not have sufficient manpower to address less serious crimes. By taking guns off the street and catching more violent criminals, the police deter all kinds of crimes, but especially violent crimes. Policing really does matter.

**English** · June-07-10, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by cman710

While this issue is a social and cultural one, it is also a police issue. In the 1990s, crime did not suddenly drop in New York City because people started to parent better and because people suddenly became less predisposed towards crime. Rather, the NYPD's more proactive approach [[1) resulted in more arrests of criminals who may have engaged in a potential violent crime, and [[2) over time, demonstrated the fact that criminals will get caught.

Homicides are down 25% this year in Detroit. Did the culture of the city change in such a short time and so quickly? Nope. The proactive policing has made the difference, by increasing police present in "hot" areas, decreasing the amount of illegal guns on the street, and by deterring potential crime.

One problem in Detroit is that criminals know they will not get caught. Chief Evans has so much as said that he does not have sufficient manpower to address less serious crimes. By taking guns off the street and catching more violent criminals, the police deter all kinds of crimes, but especially violent crimes. Policing really does matter.

What a great post. Thanks for the perspective.

The reduction in homicide is great news. I'm hoping that soon there will be a similar reduction in B&Es and home invasions. In order for that to happen, we need both more police manpower and alternatives for would-be criminals.

**ejames01** · June-07-10, 10:42 PM

WTF is a hip-hop culture?

Originally Posted by FerndaleDamon

Guys, this has been discussed every which way but sunday, ad nauseum. This is not a police issue, but a social/cultural issue. The police need to take an agressive/ pro-active approach, but I think we all know what the "root" cause is. As long as you have a city where the people embrace a hip-hop culture, where you live for today, take what you want & have no regard for life, then NOTHING will change. It ain't rocket science. And it isn't about the money, either. If there is money, it gets pissed away on lottery tickets, trying to get rich quick. The "residents" need to make the change- period. Change always comes from within. If this pisses off certain people, then so be it. Nevermind the p.o.c. bullshit!