Cedar Rapids, IA police entering homes during flood inspections

[Brent71]

Yesterday Cedar Rapids police chief Graham make it perfectly clear that no officers would be entering homes during flood inspections. Today a video showed up on YouTube that was shot by one of the reporters from the Cedar Rapids Gazette that clearly shows a CRPD officer entering a home. This disturbs me because of what happened after hurricane Katrina where cops confiscated firearms illegally and Greensburg, KS where many firearms came up missing after the area was sealed off by law enforcement. I thought I'd bring this to everyones attention.

Here's the vid of the press conference from yesterday where Chief Graham says "Firefighters are entering homes through unlocked doors and windows, where possible. Law enforcement officers are not entering homes." http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/19958...?video=pop&t=a

Here's the YouTube vid clearly showing a CRPD officer entering a home: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ONAudPPhum8

[Shung]

note for later: in case of flooding, pack everything you can !



We've seen those flooding on TV this week. quite impressive.

[Solo Flyer]

Brent71,I understand your concern.
But is there any evidence of possible gun confiscation?

[Treo]

Whoa up guys.
no one said ANYONE was thievin'
they said the had a video of a cop entering a home

[ilbob]

Why does it surprise people that firemen and police would stoop to common thievery when the opportunity presents it self?

I thought Katrina would have dispelled any halo they had.

I think it is unfair to compare the employees of a government like NO, LA, where corruption is rampant and long standing, with most other government employees.

I do agree it is not surprising that someone with access to valuable property who perceives zero risk for stealing said property, might well steal it. I don't think such a temptation is limited to government employees. We just have an unrealistic expectation that they won't succumb to temptation despite undeniable evidence that some of them do indeed succumb.

Anytime you leave unsecured valuable property just laying around it is vulnerable to theft.

I am also completely unsurprised that a police chief might make a promise that he is not able to keep. There might even have been a good reason for the cops entering the homes.

The sad part is that the response from the chief will be to crack down on video taping, and threatening of homeowners in the area who object (as the very end of the snippet showed).

OTOH, its pretty important to go through and look for bodies and survivors. Disasters are a tough row to hoe for everyone involved.

[Eric F]

hey can we please leave firefighters out of this?

[sacp81170a]

Why does it surprise people that firemen and police would stoop to common thievery when the opportunity presents it self?

Pray tell, what evidence do you have for your assertion? It's not really a surprise that RESCUERS would ENTER HOMES to SEARCH for PEOPLE in NEED of HELP. There, is that clear enough for ya?

What would you have them do, wait for someone to call 911? Isn't it far more likely that LE and fire have a list of those who might possibly need assistance to escape? My PD, our street department and our fire department has a list that people with special needs can sign up on so that they'll be assured of the assistance that they need in case of severe weather. One lady that I've personally helped is in her 70's and has to drive her husband in for dialysis 2-3 times a week. We make sure their street gets cleared first in the winter and they get the help they need. Sheesh, you trust us to come clear your house in case a burglar has broken in, but you don't trust us any other time.

I'm not making the assertion that police don't do bad things, we're human like everyone else. You've made a huge jump to a conclusion unwarranted by anything but bias. Oh well, let the typical cop bashing begin. I give this thread a couple more pages...

[Brent71]

Brent71,I understand your concern.
But is there any evidence of possible gun confiscation?

No not yet. That shouldn't matter though. Yesterday the police chief made it clear that CRPD would not be entering homes.

From the press conference vid yesterday:

Chief Graham: Firefighters are entering homes through unlocked doors and windows where possible. Law enforcement officers are not entering homes. There's citizens out there that are concerned about law enforcement going in their houses. We're not doing that, firefighters are. In some cases doors must be broken down to allow entry. After we gain entry and we're out of the homes we're securing them as best as possible.

Now today a video shows up on YouTube clearly showing a CRPD officer entering a home. I've called The Gazette and left a message for the reporter that taped the video asking if he has any more footage of cops entering homes.

[doc2rn]

How about any more like the last 30 seconds. Typical of what happens when they get caught breaking the law, they threaten the law abiding citizen.
Break into my house even with a badge you will get one hell of a surprise.

[Nate C.]

If they are trying to find people who are unaccounted for in the flooding, I don't understand all of the outcry over whether it is a firefighter or a patrol officer that makes the entry into the homes? It's a humanitarian mission, not a search for evidence of wrongdoing.

[sacp81170a]

hey can we please leave firefighters out of this?

Heck, you can't trust firefighters, didn't ya know that? Why, they'll break down your door and enter your house if they see smoke and flames coming from it. Won't even wait to get a warrant, no sir. I've seen 'em do it. And I've seen them report evidence of a crime, too. Yes sir, if you're running a meth lab and it catches on fire, you're not even safe from the firemen.
[/SARCASM]

Guys, the chief is evidently mistaken. His officers ARE going into houses. NO, that doesn't mean they're confiscating guns and silverware and valuable paintings. My guess is that they're trying to make sure everyone got out. It's a good thing. What do you think the public would say if the government failed to search for victims while the crisis was ongoing? There'd be another field day in the media, great big headlines: "Government fails to help, just like in Katrina".

'Course, that doesn't mean anything to some of you guys. If you ain't there, there's no reason to get all worked up and outraged about it. Save your ire for something productive, like the VPC.

[JohnBT]

A lot of big talk and a lack of evidence of any wrongdoing in this thread.

John

[ZMP_CTR]

Thanks to the 99.9999 % of LEOs that do it right.

[JohnBT]

"Today a video showed up on YouTube that was shot by one of the reporters from the Cedar Rapids Gazette that clearly shows a CRPD officer entering a home."

Was it his home? Was he asked to check it out by the owner?

Why do the accusations always preceed the facts?

[ZMP_CTR]

Why do the accusations always preceed the facts?

Because that is the best way for the uninformed to get in the conversation.

[Brent71]

Originally Posted by JohnBT

Was it his home? Was he asked to check it out by the owner?

Why do the accusations always preceed the facts?

It was not the reporters home. How is it an accusation when there's video proof that the chief of police said no officers would enter homes and then a new video pops up showing officers entering homes?

[TxState101]

What do you think the public would say if the government failed to search for victims while the crisis was ongoing? There'd be another field day in the media, great big headlines: "Government fails to help, just like in Katrina".

Seems to me that people rely on the government too damn much as it is. They aren't there to bail you out when you screw up. Even though this isn't any citizen's fault, I don't see why everybody runs to the government at the first sign of trouble. Self-sufficiency is the best way.

[ilbob]

It was not the reporters home. How is it an accusation when there's video proof that the chief of police said no officers would enter homes and then a new video pops up showing officers entering homes?

all it really proves is the chief made a promise he couldn't keep. not an unusual situation with government employees.

[Blacksmoke]

Was anyone able to determine why he entered the house? Why is it assumed his purpose was criminal? Maybe there were donuts?

[Jeff White]

No gun related...not on topic. Try this over at http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/

But before you start the thread up over there...look up Exigent Circumstances.

Jeff