Who You Gonna Call?

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Who You Gonna Call?

Submitted by Sarah on Thu, 11/02/2006 - 2:23pm.

We could hear the shouting from a distance away and we knew it was bad. Several of us called 911 and the police responded swiftly. I happened to catch the first part of the process as the responding officer ran into the apartment, into a volatile domestic violence event.

I think my jaw dropped. I had to think through what I had just seen. The cop had double timed it straight into that apartment, alone.

That was what we call a "defining moment" for me.

This was what I first thought of when I saw a sticker on a pole down in Sylvester Park. The sticker is from Crimethinc, you can make your own stickers up from designs online.

The sticker declares that the area is a Community Watch Area and Police Not Welcome.

We all have the right to our opinions, and sometimes there are many layers to what seems at first to be simple words. There is also a place for the subversive perhaps even humorous and tongue-in-cheek current of our world. So I know that it is just fine for me to join in and participate in the discussion. Feel free to join in also.

Me, it pissed me off that particular morning to see that sticker. Because truly, who do I call? Do I run straight into domestic violence infernos? Am I paid to do that, trained to do that, supported to do that, expected to do that?

I know who I'm gonna call when police aid is needed. Just as I'm quite willing to observe police at work and speak up if I see what I believe is not right.

I want those who serve us as police to be full members of our community. Community watch includes police, in my book.

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consider this

Submitted by Rob Richards on Thu, 11/02/2006 - 5:47pm.

You could have called a couple of neighbors and all went over to the house together and knocked on the door and explained that you could hear everything and it's not welcome in your neighborhood and that if it doesn't stop the police will be called. That's what the sticker means. We have power, and we're duped into believing that we NEED a police force to protect us when all we really need is each other. I'm not a huge fan of Crimethinc, their glitziness turns me off, but their message in this case was one that I can get behind: community.

"Living is never a single person's own affair." – Huo Yuanjia

I hear you

Submitted by Sarah on Fri, 11/03/2006 - 7:57am.

Rob, yeah, I agree with much of what you write here. And I didn't go into full detail about the context of that story so it isn't entirely balanced as to what readers would know. This happened to be an ongoing situation, the couple had been spoken to by family members, apartment management, and friends, over the course of at least a year or so, here and elsewhere. And there were two young children under the age of 5 in the home.

Also, the man involved was known as someone who was also publically belligerent in mannerisms and actions. So I suppose it can be truly said that the community was involved, had been doing whatever possible to communicate and even possibly aid them, nothing had worked.

I can get behind the message of community. But why can't our police force ultimately be part of that community? Just as with any good tool, they aren't needed for everything, they don't have to be the right tool for everything. But why can't they be part of the community tool chest?

We do have power, I myself don't know that I agree that we are all duped into believing something that is not true. Ten years or so, I would have fully agreed and most likely be putting out those stickers and msgs myself.

In this case, I wasn't able to do what needed to be done. Nor were any of our neighbors, nor were their families. The children needed to be made safe and the man was not going to go down easy.

I also want to really acknowledge the front line workers of whatever sort, who do what needs to be done. All of us cannot do everything. A community can be made up of all sorts of members who take on all sorts of roles and responsibilities.

Well knowing more of the

Submitted by Rob Richards on Fri, 11/03/2006 - 9:12am.

Well knowing more of the story, I see that quite a bit was done by the community.

I don't like cops, I'll be honest about that, I don't trust them. It's not an individual thing, OlyCop, I really like you and am glad to have met you and enjoy share ideas with you. I just don't like cops as a whole, I've never been given reason to. When younger, I lived in a neighborhood where a law was passed, and enforced violently by Portland Police, that said it was illegal to walk in a group of 5 or more. Now, I was not a gang member and neither were my friends. Which means we were a target for the gangs. We walked in groups of five or more all the time, to protect ourselves because cops wouldn't. So the cops would toss us around throw us up against their cars or onto the ground, search us without cause, search our belongings, it was as if we had no rights at all. Olympia is nothing like NE Portland was in the late 80's early 90's, but I get the same feeling from the cops, especially the young ones. They trample people's rights and they wait 3 hours before responding to a call from certain people or places, even if there is violence taking place.

Again, there are good cops out there, I just haven't been lucky enough to have had experiences with them yet.

My point is that people have power. We don't NEED police because if we all work together we will police ourselves.

"Living is never a single person's own affair." – Huo Yuanjia

I think there's a point to

Submitted by Norm on Thu, 11/02/2006 - 7:03pm.

I think there's a point to what Rob is saying, if I thought my neighbors were in trouble I'd certainly call 911 but I'd probably rush over there to see what I can do while they were on their way. With that in mind though I know if I choose to jump into that situation, there's always the possibility that I won't walk away from the situation. Domestic violence is not a pretty thing and throw a weapon into the fray and you could have a disaster. When in doubt call the cops, if you choose to try and help out realize that you could be the one in the most danger too. Just my thoughts.

Rest of the story

Submitted by Sarah on Fri, 11/03/2006 - 8:02am.

Yes, ideally maybe that would have worked, with a different situation. In this case, knocking on their door would have been taking a immensely huge risk.

Also I've been thinking lately about how each individual of us doesn't need to do everything, cannot do everything, should not even do everything. Trying to over-caretake, over-protect and influence can be detrimental to both parties.

An example could be having a friend who is going through a tough time emotionally. As a friend we can help, a lot, to a certain degree, but ultimately our friend may really need to see a professional, someone just for them, someone trained.

Perhaps

Submitted by marie redshark on Thu, 11/02/2006 - 9:07pm.

It appears that much of our ailments as humans and society are due to the lack of community, openness, honesty, compassion and forgivenss. We have reached a point of despair evident in violence, selfishness, oppression, greed, and hard-heartedness. At times, as this despair rears its ugly head it is indeed beyond our abilities, power, and control. We may have to enlist help in order to pave the way to regain peace, community, healing, and oneness as human beings...then perhaps, we will not have the need for human forces like the police. I'm thinking that rejection of the idea of "the police" is really a projection of our disgust, sadness, and desperateness over the state of humanity. Maybe the police are needed in certain volitile and dangerous situations but the follow up with people is where the community steps in. Where was community when the sign of domestic violence began? Where was community when the red flags were waving frantically that these people needed support, guidance, and healing?

maybe?

Submitted by enpen on Fri, 11/03/2006 - 7:43am.

I always wish I could agree with this viewpoint, but anthropologically I don't know that it's true. When have we not been a violent, greedy and abusive species? I do believe that we should strive for everything positive to those negatives. Things like domestic abuse, though, used to be far more hidden affairs, so to say that it's occurring because of a lack of community is to ignore the fact that communities have a long history of hiding abuse in order to protect their members. Community is not a magic word for getting rid of human assholeness.

"If you are a dreamer, come in. If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, a hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer. If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire, for we have some flax-golden tales to spin. Come in! Come in!"

When one aspect of community isn't enough

Submitted by Sarah on Fri, 11/03/2006 - 8:09am.

In this case, community was there, and it wasn't able to provide all that was needed. This was an ongoing evolving situation - friends and family and health care folks had been involved for awhile.

Maybe I'm getting cynical in my old age, but also, ultimately, I have to wonder if support, guidance, and healing is always what is needed in each situation. I guess I feel that there is a time and place for everything. At that moment, that particular officer rushing in, risking his life, turned out to be what was needed.

I hear you on your idea of rejection of police possibly being a projection in action, I think in some cases I agree. Anytime an entire group of people is villified and seen universally as the enemy, something is up.

Wheat and Chaff

Submitted by Phil Owen on Fri, 11/03/2006 - 11:24am.

Community Watch Area= wheat. Community involvement=wheat. Community level DV/SA prevention work=high quality wheat.

Cops Not Welcome=chaff.

Community has real power, but I've also seen intentional communities behave very poorly around a variety of issues. Crimethink, black block, et al, are misguided in a lot of ways. I have a strong suspicion that if Crimethink succeeded in their "revolution", the poor, the mentally ill, and the people with chemical dependence would be up shit creek in a worse way than the current situation. This is because outfits like Crimethink are more about "tearing it down" than they are about responsibility to the community. Pisses me off sometimes.

I always find it amusing

Submitted by Norm on Fri, 11/03/2006 - 11:38am.

I always find it amusing when you get angry on the blog. One of these days at the broho I'm just gonna shout, "Anarchy is foolish!" just to see you angry in person! I just can't see you getting pissed off.

Psst, hey Norm

Submitted by Rob Richards on Fri, 11/03/2006 - 6:59pm.

Don't tell Phil I said this, but he's not a real anarchist.

"Living is never a single person's own affair." – Huo Yuanjia

Pthbthbpthbpthb

Submitted by Phil Owen on Sat, 11/04/2006 - 1:49pm.

Pthbthbpthbpthb

I Don't Know

Submitted by Ehver Green on Sat, 11/04/2006 - 2:41pm.

Phil personally, but I just read the top entry on his personal blog, http://canaanitescall.blogspot.com/ and was pleasantly surprised. Very nice, Phil!

Interesting discussion

Submitted by OlyCop on Fri, 11/03/2006 - 2:10pm.

Enjoying reading this thread, and will sit this one out. But to Rob R. I dislike most cops too.

I know this is gonna hurt some Rob, but see, we are more alike all the time.... :)

"The strongest reason to retain the right to keep and bear arms is to protect against tyranny in government." Thomas Jefferson.

STOP BEING SO DAMN

Submitted by Rob Richards on Fri, 11/03/2006 - 7:00pm.

STOP BEING SO DAMN REASONABLE!!!!!!!

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