Hattiesburg Police Officers Attitude

[XC9]

:smt070 I had the unpleasure of having to call the police for help on a disorderly person who was being verbally abusive and using profanity. I was impressed that it only took about ten minutes for him to arrive. I was unimpressed with him sitting in his car and blasting me for not waving him down. He never took into account that I was walking toward his car trying to get his attention. I believe when he was whistled at to get his attention this made him quite angry.
ALL rookies need to realize that dispatch (at times) can get their wires crossed. I specifically told the dispatcher that I would stay out on the parking lot to show the officer what vicinity he needed to go to. He obviously didn't get the message since I was chastised like I was a dog! Now I feel a little scared to call and ask for help since I was treated so rudely. I'm sorry to bother them but I thought since I pay taxes I should be able to make this call and be treated with a little respect-I AM NOT A CRIMINAL and do not appreciate being talked to in the manner I was spoken to. I was asked what I wanted HIM to do but I was never told that I could press charges. Although I know that disorderly and profanity could have been pressed. After dealing with this officer I was to intimidated to even bring it up. That's why crime stats are down. No arrest-no stat. God bless the law abiding citizens of our city because we really need his blessings right now.

[HubCityMan1912]

Sounds like this was one of the same HPD "rookies" that finally took that well-known violent criminal Scott Farris off our City streets last week!

Seriously: These type of disrespectful/unprofessional rookie cops need to be removed from our streets until they have completed significant remedial training...Same goes for some County law enforcement personel (just ask Charley Phillips), and MS Hwy Patrol--including some young "administrative" office clerks! It's critical that they have a much better working understanding of who their Friends & supporters are! [i.e. law-abiding, law enforcement-supporting, taxpaying citizens--much like themselves!]

[ynotme297]

don`t give up on the rookies, they are all gung ho at first. right now the are over worked and still learning. they get about a zillion b/s calls a day. give them time. most will change, but there will always be a few that won`t. thats anywhere you go.

[2002usmgrad]

In the HPD defense they don't have any veteran cops to put out on the street. With over 60 percent turnover over the last 4 years they have a good majority of rookie cops, kinda a catch 22, if they don't put them on the streets as soon as they are out of the academy the HPD gets flack for not having a reasonable response time, but when they do they have over worked rookies who aren't quite use to dealing with the situation. Maybe in their training they can have some type of extensive anger management/dealing with people class. They probably put up with so much crab that they have to build some pretty thick skin in a short amount of time. I'm not saying he has the right to be rude at all, but I could just imagine the amount of stress these officers are under at the time.

[MC69TA]

Sounds like this was one of the same HPD "rookies" that finally took that well-known violent criminal Scott Farris off our City streets last week!

Seriously: These type of disrespectful/unprofessional rookie cops need to be removed from our streets until they have completed significant remedial training...Same goes for some County law enforcement personel (just ask Charley Phillips), and MS Hwy Patrol--including some young "administrative" office clerks! It's critical that they have a much better working understanding of who their Friends & supporters are! [i.e. law-abiding, law enforcement-supporting, taxpaying citizens--much like themselves!]

Rudyard Kipling, Poet Laureate of England in the Victorian Days, said it best in his poem, “Tommy”:

"We aren’t no thin red heroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too,
But single men in barracks, most remarkable, like you;
An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barracks don’t grow into plaster saints;



While it’s Tommy this and Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, fall be’ind”



But it’s “Please to walk in front, sir,” when there’s trouble in the wind.


For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it’s “Saviour of his country” when the guns begin to shoot;
An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ Anything you please;
An’ Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool—you bet that Tommy sees!" "

[bartspoon]

Sometime guys who are into having power over people, people who love to bully people become cops. That is why screening is so important. To weed out these future problems. A cool head is so important in a job that is full of danger and stress. But when you need cops as bad as our department does im sure there is not much screening at all. Our police department needs a complete overhaul but i have serious doubts about this administration's ability to execute such an overhaul. As far as they are conserned everything is hunky dory. There is no excuse for bad manners. XC9 did you happen to get the name of this officer?

[ynotme297]

if i read your post right, you said charlie phillips and county in the same post. charlie was not ruffed by the county, it was the highway patrol. charlie works for the county as a reserve officer. i`ve never heard of any county deputy ever roughing onyone up. i`m sure ther my have been some at one time, but billy mcgee, insists that all his deputies treat folks with respect unless they give them cause to do otherwise.

[HubCityMan1912]

Re the "ynotme297" posts above re the "rookies", HubCityMan say: "True dat!"

(Also: I did inadvertently infer that the Charley Phillips incident was via Forrest County Deps, when in fact it was indeed Miss Hwy Patrol...Speaking of which: Anyone have an update re MHP's internal investigation re the Phillips event and/or the status of any follow-up legal action by Mr. Phillips?)

[IGID]

Trial date set for Nov. or Dec.. Can't remember which. Everybody tight lipped since it's going to trial.

[XC9]

Bartspoon, I did get the officers name and p# from dispatch after the incident occurred. I called and asked that they have him call me so I could talk to him and he never returned my call. Reporting him will do no good. Who's going to care enough to do anything about it? Certainly not administration. Who can advise me of the current law in the state of Ms. as to taping a conversation over the phone? It used to be as long as one party of a two party conversation knew then it was legal. I really need to know the answer to this.:smt119 :p

[noway]

I could be wrong but I think if its 3 people, you can record covertly, if only 2 persons, the recorder must be acknowledged.
I think you are correct.... If you are wondering about HPD phones... everything in the building is recorded.. :smt070

[XC9]

I got my answer. I called the Attorney Generals office and ask them. I was advised that as long as 1 party knows this is being done it is ok. So that means the one who is answering his phone has the right to tape the conversation because this would be 1 of a 2 person call just as the person doing the calling can do. :smt038

[aaron]

Right along with this thread, anyone notice the article today in the American on Scott Farris's arrest? They posted these statistics:

Complaints against police employees

In 2004, 24 complaints were filed, containing 48 allegations. Of those,

# 16 were sustained

# 18 were not sustained

# 5 were unfounded

# 1 was exonerated

# 8 are pending*

In 2003, 37 complaints contained 45 allegations. Of those,

# 5 were sustained

# 22 were not sustained

# 4 were unfounded

# 13 were exonerated

# 1 is pending*

# Officers involved are on military leave.

That's a big jump for 2004 for sustained complaints .

Definitions of complaint findings:

Unfounded - allegation is false or alleged incident did not occur.
Exonerated - incident occurred but employee's actions were proper.
Not sustained - insufficient evidence to prove or disprove allegation.
Sustained - incident occurred as alleged and corrective measures taken. Measures could be counseling, retraining, reprimand, suspension or dismissal.
Other - alleged act was not misconduct; employee is no longer employed with department; complainant is uncooperative; allegation is true but policy or procedure changes not needed


Article Link (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050725/NEWS01/507250306/1002)

[noway]

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050803/OPINION03/508030324/1014/NEWS17

test test

[jmb]

How long do the tax-paying citizens have to put up with this before something is done? This should send a message to the powers that be. But...are they listening?

[Sgw]

I am going to stick up for the HPD, because over a month ago (july 1) I got in a traffic accident, and was very very pissed off not only did i yell at the other party I yelled at the officer to. He was very understanding and did a great job at calming me down. He was very help and nice to the situation espically after some of the things i said and did.

So i think they are doing a good job.

Sarah

[King Kong]

Kong Agrees! http://bestanimations.com/Careers/Law/Police/Police-01-june.gif

[Monkey]

I am going to stick up for the HPD, because over a month ago (july 1) I got in a traffic accident, and was very very pissed off not only did i yell at the other party I yelled at the officer to. He was very understanding and did a great job at calming me down. He was very help and nice to the situation espically after some of the things i said and did.

So i think they are doing a good job.

Sarah


You are right. . . earlier in the summer my parents were staying with me and saw someone out the guest bedroom window. . . it was about 2 a.m. and I got up and called the police. . . they responded very quickly and did a good job checking everything out. We were definitely glad they responded so quickly.
:smt038 :smt038 :smt038

[bartspoon]

The fact that some cops are good and some are bad, shows a lack of leadership. All of the county officers are polite and professional because they know that Billy will not put up with bad behavior. The county guys are tuff but only when it is called for. They have a good leader who they respect. You never know what your going to get when you call the HPD, or when your pulled over. You just have to hope you get a professional offcier. And that is the fault of the chief. But im preaching to the choir, we know wynn is not listening to our complaints and will not change his ways. This administration only listens to complaints so they can punnish the complainers.

[King Kong]

I will add to your rep in 24 hours Bart when I can get more rep points to give out for that post.

[ynotme297]

not only is billy bob strick with his people, he is also fair. he will talk to anyone anytime. all you have to do is call him, and if you have to leave him a message, i promise you he will do his best to get back to you. sure he has to be elected, and it makes for good public relations, but he really does care for the public.

[HubCityMan1912]

There are some really good law enforcement officers around here - Lamar County Sherriff's office too.

Two nights after moving into our new house last fall, our Golden Retriever started barking nonstop. We were a little shaken and I called the Sherriff's dept. A deputy came immediately.

Come to find out there was a possum sitting on the fence driving our dog nuts! Instead of leaving after the matter was assessed, the officer pushed the possum off the fence and told me if not to hesitate to call if we needed him again. DEFINITELY BEYOND HIS JOB DESCRIPTION AND THE "CALL OF DUTY!" I was so appreciative, I wrote a letter to Danny Riegel commending his officer.
:smt038 :smt038 :smt038
Queen Mother, I can't help but wonder if the fine LCS officer that you wrote Sheriff Regal about was Deputy Tim Lindsey? Tim has been in law enforcement some 24 years now and personifies what a great law enforcement officer should be! (He estimates that in those 24 years, he's had to pepper-spray maybe 10 people.)

[bartspoon]

Dave, ive lived in this town all my life, and i never remember a time when police didnt give tickets all over town. What are you talking about.

[dave06668]

i have lived here all my life too,and have owned a police scanner most of my life.i grew up across the street from the creels,you know alfred creel ? officer odem,bacon,keys,howell,dj arnet,i knew all the old school cops.what am i talking about?what are you talking about?
you say you have lived here all your life? have you ever read the newspaper?it is common knowledge that the police have written more tickets and made more arrests on the east side,these facts are on record for anyone who can read,can you read?take a trip to the library before you talk downto me.

[TheKingofPop]

:smt014 :smt062 :smt093

[CuriousGeorge]

Curious George wonders what the comparison/ratio is between East & West Hattiesburg concerning crackheads, prostitutes, drug deals, etc... :smt102

[dave06668]

again,read the hattiesburg american,watch the news,it is starting to even out.
hey!i have heard that crackheads like to talk about themselves in the third person,is that true?

[TheKingofPop]

I've heard crack heads like to be jerks to other people when they know that the other is correct to remove the attention from the facts.

[THERebelRouser05]

again,read the hattiesburg american,watch the news,it is starting to even out.
hey!i have heard that crackheads like to talk about themselves in the third person,is that true?

You sure seem to be taking up for the HA... maybe they give you a paycheck for working there?

[dave06668]

ya know what that white stuff is on the top of chicken crap ??????????????
chicken crap!

[dave06668]

I've heard crack heads like to be jerks to other people when they know that the other is correct to remove the attention from the facts.
i hate child molesters,dont you?

[TheKingofPop]

i hate child molesters,dont you?

Perfect example. Tell us something that requires some thought. Thanks!

:-D

[dave06668]

Perfect example. Tell us something that requires some thought. Thanks!

:-D
you really are in neverland!

[dave06668]

I'm trying to get a grip on your angle here, Dave. I grew up in the same neighborhood and know the old school team, myself. I still don't get your drift.
I agree that there are no longer any racial lines between crackheads and where they live but, especially, in the area (neighborhood) of which you speak, the crime rate was always been higher, there.

Can you get off the high-horse rant long enough to explain in lay terms (common language) what your beef is, exactly?
all i did was make a statement as to why i thought,the police are being given a hard time.
now i am on a high horse ranting,i must have really struck a sensitive nerve.wow!!!

[ynotme297]

there are more complaints against our police now, because they dont just give tickets on the east side anymore,like they did before dupree,if you are driving 60 mph down hardy st.you get a ticket,if you make 6,000 a year or 600,000 a year you still get a ticket.i think thats the way it should be,dont you?
i agree to a point. you must stop and think, in the past 2or 3 years the traffic on hardy street has increased big time, hence the amount of tickets has prolly gone up. but hpd still works the rest of the city pretty heavy when they have the manpower.

[dave06668]

Hey Dave, Calm down man, no enemies here. I asked you a straight, reasonable question regarding your beef. No need to play insult ping-pong. You've already given me enough ifo to peg your last name if I cared to, which I don't; that's your business. I'm just saying, if you want to be taken seriously here, it'd be nice if you explained you complaints with backup evidence and coherent content.

Cheers!
i was responding to the king of pop when i said ,you are in neverland,it wasnt to hawkeye.
i will be glad to send you my real name address or what other info you want .
i am perfectly calm.

[bartspoon]

Dave, I to know most of those cops you named. Especially Afred Creel, i dont think you could grow up here at that time and not know him. But i would like to ask if you think the cops are better now? Do you think the HPD is better now? Do yo think the HA is better now? Do you think the eastside of Hattiesburg is better now? I grew up and still live in the kamper park area, its not better, its much worse. I'm really interested in your coments. All of us are here to listen and learn about other peoples opinions. Especially those of us who have lived here all our lives. Because you grew up where you did you have a unique propective on the area, like i have on mine. So im interested in your coments and look forward to your responce to my questions.

[dave06668]

i feel that hattiesburg has always had a fine police force,all through the 70s the police knew everybody and everybody knew the police,they were known in all parts of the city.they did not concentrate on one tiny area just to mess with people.in the mid 80s this started to change they seemed to become uninterested in problem solving and more intrested in putting people in jail.they started patrolling certain areas much more than others,targeting the poor. i dont think it was the police fault,but there leaders.since dupree has been in office there is a feeling of mutual respect between citizens and police again,and i like it,i also live near kamper park and i think i live in a very fine neighborhood there is no crime on my street, and i have been living here for over a year now, i wouldnt have 6 or 7 years ago.i just cant understand where all this negativity is being generated,officers i have been around the last few years,have been very kind,helpful,thoughtful and courteous.god bless them all.

[R1ZOOM]

Thanks for the thorough response and post Dave, you do have some validity to your points, but I disagree with you to an extent. You are decribing how the "good old days" were. That was a time of more re-active policing. Today we live in much more of a pro-active policing age. This is in effort to prvent crime, instead of having to respond to so much of it after the fact. Call it harrassment, profiling, or whatever you want to, but pro-active policing should be done, especially in high crime areas, which I think is what you are experiencing. Don't misunderstand me, I don't think it's right to profile on race, I think good profiling involves profiling the criminal element, not the person himself. If something is out of place in a neighborhood, there's probably a reason for it. By targeting that unusual thing, whatever it is, then you are essentially profiling. For instance, if white kids are driving around in a prodominantly black or hispanic neighborhood known for drug trafficking in a $40,000 SUV they are probably up to no good, and they should be stopped for a valid reason, then more thoroughly investigated during the traffic stop. In doing this an officer would be profiling these white kids, but it's really just common sense policing IMHO, and is a big part in preventing crime.

[dave06668]

Thanks for the thorough response and post Dave, you do have some validity to your points, but I disagree with you to an extent. You are decribing how the "good old days" were. That was a time of more re-active policing. Today we live in much more of a pro-active policing age. This is in effort to prvent crime, instead of having to respond to so much of it after the fact. Call it harrassment, profiling, or whatever you want to, but pro-active policing should be done, especially in high crime areas, which I think is what you are experiencing. Don't misunderstand me, I don't think it's right to profile on race, I think good profiling involves profiling the criminal element, not the person himself. If something is out of place in a neighborhood, there's probably a reason for it. By targeting that unusual thing, whatever it is, then you are essentially profiling. For instance, if white kids are driving around in a prodominantly black or hispanic neighborhood known for drug trafficking in a $40,000 SUV they are probably up to no good, and they should be stopped for a valid reason, then more thoroughly investigated during the traffic stop. In doing this an officer would be profiling these white kids, but it's really just common sense policing IMHO, and is a big part in preventing crime.
i am sorry if i sound rude, i truly do not mean to be,but i have a question,i am about as white as a person can get,the other day when i was driving to palmers crossing in my boss 40.000 dollar car to buy some hubcaps from an old man i know,should i have been pulled over?

[dave06668]

This has been very educational.i will leave this site and not come back,i am afraid i have upset people.i wish now i hadnt said anything,i could have made a fortune on here selling white sheets and hoods :smt054

[R1ZOOM]

i am sorry if i sound rude, i truly do not mean to be,but i have a question,i am about as white as a person can get,the other day when i was driving to palmers crossing in my boss 40.000 dollar car to buy some hubcaps from an old man i know,should i have been pulled over?

No, probably not, it just depends. It was not night time, and that makes a big difference I think. Any one can have business anywhere in the daytime. At night though things become a little more suspicious, and there's a lot more that goes into it than just place and time, I think driver demeanor plays a role, frequency in area, etc. I don't propose to have a perfect solution either, I'm just making an observation. All that I'm saying is that law enforcement can't prevent crime by just sitting on their tails waiting for something to happen.

[HubCityMan1912]

i feel that hattiesburg has always had a fine police force,all through the 70s the police knew everybody and everybody knew the police,they were known in all parts of the city.they did not concentrate on one tiny area just to mess with people.in the mid 80s this started to change they seemed to become uninterested in problem solving and more intrested in putting people in jail.they started patrolling certain areas much more than others,targeting the poor. i dont think it was the police fault,but there leaders.since dupree has been in office there is a feeling of mutual respect between citizens and police again,and i like it,i also live near kamper park and i think i live in a very fine neighborhood there is no crime on my street, and i have been living here for over a year now, i wouldnt have 6 or 7 years ago.i just cant understand where all this negativity is being generated,officers i have been around the last few years,have been very kind,helpful,thoughtful and courteous.god bless them all.

HubCityMan disagrees! Obviously you haven't yet run across the likes of [former HPD officer] Jon Brister! (Now with Lamar County Sheriff's Dept.)

[ynotme297]

HubCityMan disagrees! Obviously you haven't yet run across the likes of [former HPD officer] Jon Brister! (Now with Lamar County Sheriff's Dept.)
sir, have you had a bad encounter with jon brister, or you just listening to hearsay. just curious.

[HubCityMan1912]

YNotMe 297: Madame or Sir, in answer to your question, I can assure you that it is indeed the former and not the latter...

[bartspoon]

dave, in your comment about white sheets and robes, you have revealed to me exactly how ignorant you are. I tried very hard to be civil with you, and i see that civility in the case of a person like you is impossible. I for one will not miss you one tiny bit, you are part of the problem in our town. People who still believe we are living in jim crow times. Stop living in the past. there are no robe or sheet wearing folks in here. And im thinkin that you feel the way you do out of somekind of guilt for times you must have worn them yourself. Your way of coming in here and talking out your A_ _ , makes me think of the racist rednecks of long ago. And there are crack dealers in the kamper neighborhood. Now you make look at that as progress but i dont. And a girl was murdered by one on Mamie st. three blocks from the park in her on house she just bought. Shot fives times in the face in her kitchen. And the net team is gone for all practical purposes. And if you care so much about police officers seems like you might be remotely conserned about the mass exodus of them from our police department. And the fact that our chief is punishing the ones who serve our country in the guard. And to answer your question as to whether or not you should have been arrested, Im not in law enforcement but i say yes you should have been and you should have been sent away to a school to learn how to be polite when talking with folks who are here to try to make our town better, instead of lookin like a jackass. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[dave06668]

I lied, i cant leave, you guys are too much fun, i am going to stay till i am kicked off,everybody likes a villain,dont they? some one who everybody loves to hate.
ok here we go,i may have to start wearing a bullit proof vest after this statement but here goes,Dupree is our major for the next 4 years and there is not one thing anybody in here can do about it,NOTHING HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!

[HillaryC]

Dave, I feel your pain. Some people are open minded on here, and other like (those who won't respond to PM) are not. Even if I don't agree, this is a democracy and I respect others opinions.

[dave06668]

Dave, I feel your pain. Some people are open minded on here, and other like (those who won't respond to PM) are not. Even if I don't agree, this is a democracy and I respect others opinions.
i thank you.

[citygirl]

I tell ya what, this is getting better than going home for lunch to watch that stupid soap. I'm addicted to the site...

[reality]

Citygirl, I think a lot of people feel the same as you. :smt023

[dave06668]

I had that feeling Dave, thus my one-liner bait. Glad to see you back. Now, you can get down to business. It's a free press. Have at it and don't hold back!
hey! whats going on here? i admit to being a villain,and now people are starting to be nice to me?i am going to have to start a new thread :smt096

[Kimberly]

hahaha

Welcome to insanity Dave!!!:-D

[HubCityMan1912]

Dave: The State Auditor and the Attorney General may very well disagree with your "...there is not one thing anybody can do about it..." statement...Only time will tell. (So just relax, sit back, and watch, look, and listen...You've got a little while yet before the fun begins--but it most likely wont be any 4 more years!)

I lied, i cant leave, you guys are too much fun, i am going to stay till i am kicked off,everybody likes a villain,dont they? some one who everybody loves to hate.

ok here we go,i may have to start wearing a bullit proof vest after this statement but here goes,Dupree is our major for the next 4 years and there is not one thing anybody in here can do about it,NOTHING HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!

[ynotme297]

hawk just used some of that thar reverse fiz a cology on him. welcome back dave, or should we now call you SUPER DAVE?