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Well we're all for safer driving but it looks like routine traffic stops on the streets of San Francisco are now under the purview of Homeland Security, as indicated by the blue sticker on the front fender of this police cruiser in letters two inches tall.
Is that a good thing?
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Yes, this is a good thing in my humble opinion. The San Francisco police traffic patrol is 50% staffed .... any additional help is much appreciated (and needed). Folks are driving their cars at excessive speeds in the City exactly because they have little to no concerns about being pulled over ... as a full-time pedestrian, I'd like to see folks mind the speed limits better.
As an aside, I hope these guys can sweep up trash too. The new Federal Building on 7th and Mission was looking pretty trashy last weekend.....
BAD...
our Founding Fathers had the foresight to make illegal the use of the military against the Citizens of the US. They fought a war against the very core values that Fatherland security stands for, a ferdal police force deployed against the citizens with NOTHING to check their powers.
All citizens should attack the enemy in our streets!
campers,
This is as bad a thing as you can imagine. These are not real cops. They are private security forces brought in and given Homeland Security decals and stamps.
Hey, I live at U.N. Plaza and I see them everyday. They hire reform-school kids from the Job Corps on Treasure Island and have them strut around the Farmer's Market in the Plaza in black uniforms with all this Homeland Security patches and stuff. Shit, they're teenagers with an attitude. Ask them what they're looking for amongst the grapes and eggs and they say: "Suspicious people."
You caught a shot of something that's lots worse than what you think. Those were not genuine federal officers.
h.
25% of US Muslims just said in big study (pew I think) they support terrorism. We don't have enough patrols out there. Between terrorists and bums it's time to take our country back in whatever way necessary...
Yes, they're actual Federal police officers. DHS keeps this part of its operation (well, probably all of what they do) deliberately labyrinthine so it's no wonder H is confused. But the ones in patrol cars are the real deal with actual law enforcement powers.
But I doubt they're performing routine traffic stops. I'm betting it's more likely the cited driver is learning the hard way that cutting off a patrol car of any stripe isn't a good idea.
83% of commenters in a big study that I just made up wear their underwear on their head.
It's a good thing. SFPD is horribly understaffed. And on what dantc said, probably had reason to pull that car over... oh well.
This is a really bad thing. In fact police in San Francisco are a really bad thing. I don't think we need them. We're all human right? We can easily police ourselves. Let's just legalize ALL drugs, get high together, sing cumbaya and have a group hug. What could be better?
Oh and these guys aren't real police. They work for a private security company called HOMELAND. They hire troubled youths from the mall and give them a badge and a gun and say "Go get 'em kid." I know cuz I saw it on TV. I don't think you're legally required to sign the tickets they issue either. The only ones worse than these guys are the UCLA police. All they do is go around breaking up parties and take away alcohol from us law abidding minors. I don't think they're real police either.
Do some of you realize how ignorant you sound? Let's see everyone police themselves? Please come back to reality! As far as the picture in concerned they are real police officers that pass background checks, psychological exams, and physical exams. They are Federal Police that have juristiction anywhere where there are federal buildings. There are two different levels of Officers. The one you see here is an actual Police Officer, the security officers you may be confusing them with are the Department of Homeland Security security officers that are more like security guards. Those folks guard the federal buildings and call the type of Officer in the above photo when there is a crime or something else which is better handled by a peace officer. This is not the governments way of oppressing us come on. It is their right to protect OUR federal buildings.
As far as San Francisco goes have you all been there lately? Crime is rampant, Police staffing is short and people drive like idiots. Any extra help SFPD and the citizens can get should be appreciated. And yes you legally have to sign the tickets. But if you don't believe me GO AHEAD miss your court date and see what happens or better yet refuse to sign the ticket then the Officer will be forced to take you to jail for refusing to sign. Something you probably deserve.
Some of you people complaining would be the first to complain if you needed help and it took an understaffed SFPD to get to you. So I guess as far as you are concerned the Federal Police Officer should just stand by and watch crime happen, well give them your names and addresses and if they see crime in your neighborhood they can just stand by and watch!
By the way Steve C have you ever seen the studies done on crime, violence and drug use? People who use drugs such as meth usually have criminal histories to support their habits including meth induced violent rages. Get educated before you open your mouth. Speaking without facts is like shooting without aiming.
I didn't know the Homeland Secruity had an official spokeswoman, on this website, in the form of "Goodcopjen." I'm sorry if I offended you but we San Franciscans don't need police here. My friend told me about this study he read from this professor at UC Berkley who said there is no connection between drug use and crime or violence. Drug use is merely a social problem or addiction with NO connection to crime. READ THE FACTS! Besides, professors don't lie or make things up. These are undisputed facts. You talk about facts on your comment but yet you lack sources to cite as "facts." It's a good thing our SF district attorney, in all her wisdom, doesn't file drug cases. San Francisco needs more drugs and less guns. Better yet, less police with guns.
Steve C
That UC Berkley professor was probably on drugs when he gave that opinion! You want facts here....
Overall 41% of violent crimes committed against college students and 38% of nonstudents were committed by an offender perceived to be using drugs, 1995-2000. About 2 in 5 of all rape/sexual assaults and about a quarter of all robberies against a college student were committed by an offender perceived to be using drugs.
Source: BJS, Violent Victimization of College Students, 1995-2000, NCJ 196143, December 2003.
In 1995 the first national survey of adults on probation reported --
nearly 70% of probationers reported past drug use
32% said they were using illegal drugs in the month before their offense.
Here you go..........
Even if that UC Berkley professor WAS on drugs it doesn't mean he was wrong. First of all I have several problems with your "facts."
1. Most of your numbers are over 10 years old. Things change. Society changes.
2. The percentages of offenders you cite are only "perceived" to be using drugs which begs the question, who is doing the perceiving? Abnormal behavior in society is all too often associated with drug use. If you see someone on the street talking to him or herself does that mean he or she is on drugs? Of course not. Maybe they suffer from some sort of mental problem or disorder. What if a person on the street is acting strange but NOT talking to himself or anyone else? Does this mean he's on drugs? Probably not. He's probably just a mime or some other street performer.
Do you see my point Goodcopjen? You see, drugs don't necessarily make people bad. Bad actions make people bad. They are just good people doing bad things. It's probably not their fault either. They are just victims of a society which forgot about them or didn't give them a chance.
So it's "society"'s fault, Steve? Let's see how you feel when "society" runs a stop sign and runs you over, or craps on your front porch.
Wow! That was an intellectual response Goodcopjen but you failed to answer my question. Who is doing the perceiving that these criminals, you cite as your facts, are on drugs?
Steve C