The Greensboro Police Department once again came under attack from the Greensboro City Council at the virtual Monday, Nov. 2 meeting.
The City Council has started allowing a select few people to speak during the public forum portion of the meeting, although the agenda still does not list speaking at the meeting as possible, much less give any directions on how it can be done.
Last December, when the City Council held real meetings, a speaker stated his concerns about a Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) from the US Department of Justice. The City Council ignored the assurances of Police Chief Brian James and Assistant City Manager Trey Davis and turned down the grant of about $250,000.
Monday, Hester Petty, who has been speaking on the death of Marcus Smith for two years, noted that the police directives did not specifically forbid hog tying someone being detained or arrested.
City ,councilmembers who apparently have not read the police directives, got upset.
Councilmember Michelle Kennedy said, “We have flat out been lied to again.”
Councilmember Tammi Thurm said, “It needs to be specific that there be no binding of hands and feet.”
She added, “I think we need to take some action.”
Councilmember Goldie Wells said, “We keep straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel.” She said, “The policy was changed. You can’t do the hog tying with the device that they have.”
Mayor Nancy Vaughan noted that the “Ripp Hobble,” the device that was used to “hog tie” people being detained, is no longer allowed. But added that an officer could use flexi cuffs to hog tie someone.
No action was taken, but those who have at least looked through the police directives know that generally the directives direct officers on what to do, not what not to do.
There are exceptions where certain procedures and activities are banned, but most of the directives deal with what to do. If officers follow the directives then they don’t have to worry about the host of things they shouldn’t do.
Petty is correct, the police directives on restraining those arrested or detained don’t specifically state that no one is to be “hog tied.”
But then should all the directives be rewritten to state what officers are not to do?
For instance, there are explicit instructions on where the detainee is to ride in the police car depending on how many officers are present and whether or not the police car is equipped with a shield. However there is no explicit directive that states, “the detainee may not drive the police car.” Nor is there a directive that states, “the detainee may not be placed in the trunk.”
There is no need for those directives because the directives inform the officers what they are to do, not what they should not do.
Evidently the City Council now feels the need to have the directives include all the things police officers should not ,do which is going to make the police directives extremely long and will probably have constant additions as more things police officers should not do come to light.
But they are good w what happened to the kid at Hinsons group home. Greensboro leaders are sick.
Slap a badge on that Band of Idiots and let them police one weekend.
Liberal loons! These are your elected officials. If you’re not filling up their mailboxes, voicemails, and email inbox with your concerns, welcome to the world you voted for. What a crock. I sincerely hope the Police go on strike and leave you to the mess you’ve created so that just maybe you will snap out of your own created reality where this is acceptable behavior. If someone breaks the law, they deserve humane treatment. If they disrespect & resist those who enforce the laws, they deserve whatever they get.
Drinking Reverend Dumbwright’s kool-aid.
Ol’ Thugalicious himself! Just think. This clown and more like him are doing this under the guise that they are carrying on Dr. MLK’s vision. Baloney! Dr. King would knock the hell out of these goons and pray for them to come to their senses.
Wake up Greensboro this mayor and city council is a liberal joke. Stop going after the police and let them do their job . This will be another Portland if you let. This keep going on. To the mayor and city council please resign!
No , it will not be an another Portland. That crap will not happen here, period.
Wonder if Kennedy has ridden with an officer on the 2nd or 3rd shift to see what “really” happens in the neighborhoods? Make sure it’s a Friday or Saturday night too. My guess is she’d need comfort bear to hold while on patrol.
The police are not social workers, but are expected to act as a social worker, referee, and many other roles while at the same time using their knowledge and experience to know when to draw a gun on someone. Wonder if Kennedy could put herself in their shoes for one shift?
No but the b!t(# did ride along all day June 7th as did Vaughn. They wanted to manipulate the Police in the midst of the “peaceful protests.” They allowed I-40 and Wendover Avenue to be blocked by thugs and ordered the Police to stand down. The did nothing more than assure the Police that they have absolutely no backing while this group of liberals are at the dais.
What is the procedure in Greensboro to have a “recall” of the council and mayor. Rhino, please find out and publish it. We need to know how to move forward to get rid of this bunch of idiots.
Spoken like a true American.
I want to know something. Can someone else learn it and tell it to me?
Figure it out yourself you lazy sac of shhhhhh
No need to get all upset about this. With the last riots and looting no one was held accountable. Just mirror that with all crimes in the future. Welcome to Portlandboro!
City officials are elected, you can unelect them in the next election but then the public would have to get involved. That will not happen and Queen Nancy and her minions know it.
Has everyone noticed that we didn’t get to vote anyone of the Greensboro City Council out of office this election?
They voted themselves another term in office, how is that illegal? How long is the citizens of Greensboro going to tolerate their behavior? This is criminal and WE deserve much much better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The City Council election is in 2021 and councilmembers are elected to four year terms.
You remember the days when our leaders were older, had testicles and morals? Real men who were leaders and not flacid little sheep controlled by the fake news and libtards who are offended by the social media hot topic of the day? Like it or not, the world wasn’t nearly the mess it is today. Anyone else missing those times yet?
Once again Mr. Hammer you seem to know little about the issue you are writing about. The GPD DOES prohibit some restraint methods. This is from the 2020 Directives: “An officer shall not deliberately strike another person with any impact weapon, whether an issued weapon or an environmental weapon, on the head, in the groin, solar plexus, throat, kidneys or on the spinal column unless the officer reasonably believes a situation exists in which deadly force would be appropriate to protect himself, or a third party. Officers are prohibited from using choke holds or any technique intended to restrict an individual’s airway, breathing or blood flow unless the officer reasonably believes a situation exists in which deadly force would be appropriate to protect himself, or a third party.” Police departments across the country have banned some practices in their written policies. i know you’re preaching to the choir in the Rhino Times so you don’t have to research before you write to make sure you have all the facts, but if you want to call yourself a journalist you really ought to.
I have read on the idiotnet that riots are planned for the 4th, all over the U.S. including GSO. Just in case Biden doesn’t get the most votes in the right places.
No wonder the City Council wants more police restrictions.
That is all the protesters have to do is collect welfare and protest. And what have the protesters accomplished? NOTHING!!!!! Maybe they got a new free TV. Protesting is a good way to let people know just how much they hate themselves.