ConnieM91:

 This is absurd. Altho I'm not a resident, I have visited Galveston 2-3 times a year for the last 40 years. I have never had a problem.

I have no desire to go after reading this thread.

No offense, but what is "absurd" is that after 80-120 visits to Galveston in 40 years, you have decided to not attend the rally.  If you have never had a problem with GPD, and I have never had a problem with GPD, and 99% of the population have never had a problem with GPD, why would you think there would be a problem now, because of this incident?  I've gotten lost in the posts as to if anyone was actually there, and witnessed this first hand.  I certainly didn't, and while my posts may indicate a lean towards the side of the police, it is meant to actually open up minds for people to see both sides.  I'm quite sure there were faults on both sides.  Anyone that has worked with police (or as a commissioned law enforcement officer) knows that when someone asks for backup, the adrenelin shoots through the roof. 

You have to ask why that first officer (or was it security - big difference) had to ask for help.  Obviously there was a problem before everyone else arrived on scene.

Valerie:

>This sort of law less-ness is unacceptable. ...A Police Department should be respected, not feared.  This lack of leadership, poor judgment, and intimidation tactics have tarnished the name of GPD and I am humiliated as a citizen to see my tax dollars paying the salaries of persons who act like no more than thugs with a badge to do so.

>...Is this the manner of law in which we live?  With a police department like this, why have one?

This is my first post to this forum, but in light of the negative comments and lies about the police, I want to respond and tell a different version. I am dating one of the officers that responded and wanted to get his side of the story out. According to him, the people at the pool bar had it coming.

The police dept is tired of playing parents, social worker, and not being able to deliver a good beating to the deserving- usually the minority element of Galveston. These people were lucky they were not shot, since they were disrespectful and did not immediately do what they were told to by the police on scene. The officers showed amazing restraint since they used only non-lethal methods such as the taser and the pepper spray. The batons were only used on those who resisted by trying to wipe the spray out of their eyes, or who attempted to confuse the outnumbered officers by asking pointless questions in the middle of the melee. "Why am I being arrested?" "Here's why- because you are questioning the police!" They should have followed instructions and simply took their beatings, sprayings, and taserings like the criminals they were. Then it could be sorted out later by the courts and lawyers.

The police are there to enforce the law (however brutally they deem necessary at the time or how it looks to bystanders), not to serve the public or protect those who used poor judgement in drinking and partying late and are caught in the wrong place when a riot erupts. I applaud the quick and efficient response of the police and how they quickly beat the entire crowd into submission. A little blood, some teeth, and a few bruises is a small price to pay to teach residents to fear and obey the police. Most of these people should have been home asleep by then, getting ready for church the next day. If they had not been out partying and doing who knows what in public, then maybe they wouldn't all be sitting in jails or hospitals today. I wish I could use my real name, but since the police officer I am seeing is still married for now, I don't want to cause any problems for him or his family. He is already under enough job related stress from dealing with the destruction caused by Ike and the lawlessness that has gripped Galveston in the weeks following.

I know the judge and courts will side with the police and they will back each other up on testimony since they are already getting their stories straight for the media and lawyers. So my advice to anybody who was there is to take the lessons learned, and DO NOT try to cause trouble or bother talking to a lawyer. They will laugh at you and it will be your word against the Galveston Police Dept. Texas police are among the best in the nation, and the Galveston police are among the best in Texas! Please excuse any typos as I am very upset that people are blaming our police for doing their job. 

VG 

 Threats won't stop what's about to happen. You have admitted to being a homewrecking whore. And your cheating thug boyfriend is about to get what's coming to him.

According to him, the people at the pool bar had it coming

Oh my god, how dare him say ANYONE HAS IT COMING to them, no one deserves to be treated in-humanely

The police dept is tired of playing parents, social worker, and not being able to deliver a good beating to the deserving

Another absurd statement, how dare him, he should be fired and you need to ask yourself why would you want to date someone like him

These people were lucky they were not shot, since they were disrespectful and did not immediately do what they were told to by the police on scene

They didn't have weapons, why even think about shooting someone

The batons were only used on those who resisted by trying to wipe the spray out of their eyes,

How dare him hit someone when they knew they were trying to get the painful spray out of their eyes

 "Valerie" is full of ***, and only trying to get everyone riled up.  "Valerie" has control issues, obviously.

 Wow "valerie" you are a real peach.  If your comments are true.....they are truly frightening. 

By Rhiannon Meyers
The Daily News

Published October 13, 2008

GALVESTON — Misdemeanor charges have been dropped against five people arrested and cited during what police called a riot at the San Luis Hotel’s H20 bar Oct. 4.

Joel Bennett, assistant district attorney in Galveston County, said all Class C misdemeanors — the equivalent of a traffic ticket — were transferred to municipal court and then dropped.

He did not say why because he said municipal court is not in his jurisdiction.

All others involved in the incident, including Houston Astros pitcher Brandon Backe, are still under investigation by the district attorney.

Eleven people, including a Federal Emergency Management Agency official, were charged in the melee at the hotel bar Oct. 4.

Most had just left a wedding reception at the San Luis Convention Center. Six officers were injured during the fight though none were hospitalized.

Police are continuing an internal investigation into officers’ actions during a hotel bar riot, but the district attorney’s office and the U.S. Department of Justice could join in on the probe, Police Chief Charles Wiley has said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Sunday that charges have been dropped against Jaime Forero, a regional federal coordinating officer with FEMA.

It’s not clear why since he was charged with a Class B misdemeanor of failure to obey an officer.

Ron Whittington, spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said the agency was notified Saturday of the dropped charges.

Forero was cited after he complained to two police supervisors about officers using excessive force during the fight and then refused to leave the bar.

Police took his FEMA credentials and claimed he threatened to get them fired, according to one officer’s reports.

Case still under review

Bennett, who was contacted at home Sunday, did not comment on Forero’s dropped charge.

When asked if the district attorney’s office filed charges against Galveston police officers involved in the brawl, Bennett would only say the case remained under review by the district attorney’s office.

“That’s the only comment I have,” he said.

District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk could not be reached for comment Saturday or Sunday.

The following people, once charged with public intoxication, are now cleared of all charges: Justin Matthew Packard, 24; Raymond Fred Guidry, 20; Matthew Goodson, 26; Michael McMillan, 36.

Charles Young, 28, has been cleared of public intoxication but remains charged with resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor.

--> 

 My response to 1citizen finally made it past the moderator. You have to go all the way back to 10-10-2008 3:59 PM to read it.

EyesOnYou:

Yeah... There are two sides buddy, but you know...

 

Connect the fucking dots!  This becoming a HUGE trend in Galveston. Happening way too much to the innocent citizens that live there as well.

Time to FIGHT BACK PEOPLE!

We have rights too. Know your constitutional rights Now.

UUUHHHHHH!!! he said the F word

AH.. Hahahahahahhahahahahahaha Gasp for air...hahahahahahaha!! Too Funny :)

Dixie:

EyesOnYou:

Yeah... There are two sides buddy, but you know...

 

Connect the fucking dots!  This becoming a HUGE trend in Galveston. Happening way too much to the innocent citizens that live there as well.

Time to FIGHT BACK PEOPLE!

We have rights too. Know your constitutional rights Now.

UUUHHHHHH!!! he said the F word

I'm sure glad he didn't mention a female dog.

old dawg:

I'm sure glad he didn't mention a female dog.

do you mean a ***?

Yeah, I meant a ***.   I mean, it's a real ***, ain't it? 

 God, I look forward to reading what you guys write. Ya'll crack me up! Hey, would one of you smarty pants please tell me how to get the little smiley guys to work? When I click on it and pick one out and click on that one , a number shows up instead of a face:(

chrismel:

 God, I look forward to reading what you guys write. Ya'll crack me up! Hey, would one of you smarty pants please tell me how to get the little smiley guys to work? When I click on it and pick one out and click on that one , a number shows up instead of a face:(

 "Look out guys, we are going to the materests"  (Quote from Godfather).  I think the police need some releif. Maybe some of the small cities across the causway could come and give them a break.  It seems like they are way to stressed out.

The smiley faces, are probably not working because of your computer settings.  Mine are working, but I do have many things that don't.  If it requires a pop up, then mine won't do it.  I have my settings so high to prevent viruses, bugs, and worms, thatI have problems with things like that.  Not much of an answer, but come to think of it??? I really don't know why they DO work.

I have many things that don't work too, Virgie. 

But, as for the smiley faces, your answers were right on the button I think.  Both of them.  It's the computer settings.  And come to think of it we don't really know why they DO work.  That covered the bases purty good.

Anyway, you can go to "edit profile", click on the "site options" tab, and go down the list to "enable emoticons" and choose the "yes" option.

Or as Virgie says, it's the computer settings, but we don't know why it works.

Lurker:

 Military police doesn't count. Military personnel aren't protected by the Bill of Rights. DA police?

What do you mean it does not count.. I have the same training as a City cop... As a matter of fact I can transfer from the DA Police into the EPPD with out any further training. DA Police = Department of the Army Police.

Everything you pointed out about the 60s cops is true. And except for the beating and killing of civil rights workers is still happening today. You forgot to include the beatings and killings of war protesters. You forgot the 1968 Chicago Police Riot.

I did not know I had to site every case from the period?

Today, you see the gang mentality at the end of high-speed chases. Vice and narcotics officers use entrapment all of the time now. The War on Drugs/War on Terror have been used and are being used to deprive Americans of our constitutional rights. We are closer now to being a police state then we have been at anytime in my life.

The militarization of police departments is a dangerous thing. It scares me when I see those bastards wearing combat gear. Whenever cops gang up, you have a dangerous situation -- they feed on each other's frustration, anger and fear.

I respect the fact you served as a cop... But like I said I dont know all the facts of this case.. so I am trying to figure it out based on what I have read here and a short 20 second video. You live there and know more than I on the subject.. So I will have to trust your view on it.

 Military police experience is not the same as civil police experience. Military personnel do not have the right to remain silent, they do not have the right to have an attorney present during questioning, they are not protected against search and seizure. The military police operate within a police state.

It's getting bad out here in the real world, but it not as bad as the military ... yet.

old dawg:

Anyway, you can go to "edit profile", click on the "site options" tab, and go down the list to "enable emoticons" and choose the "yes" option

But before you get to the edit profile , you need to be at your home page

Dixie:

old dawg:

Anyway, you can go to "edit profile", click on the "site options" tab, and go down the list to "enable emoticons" and choose the "yes" option

But before you get to the edit profile , you need to be at your home page

Also you should be awake and have already had your first cup of coffee.   And if that doesn't work, you should reboot, and sing the Aggie War Hymn three times.

Okie dokie...Home page...check, awake...check, coffee...check, no need to reboot, I'm on a roll, Hullaballoo 3x...check, I'm cool like ya'll now!

chrismel:

Okie dokie...Home page...check, awake...check, coffee...check, no need to reboot, I'm on a roll, Hullaballoo 3x...check, I'm cool like ya'll now!

Saw Varsitie's horns off. 

Gig 'em.

Yikes. Send that to the Chronicle. 

Lurker:

It's getting bad out here in the real world, but it not as bad as the military ... yet.

I agree , military folks are idiots that allow themselves to be brain-washed , cops are just idiots.

 Has anyone seen a picture of the officer that initially started this.

We too had an altercation with an officer at the bar a few months back. I would be very curious if it is the same one.

And if it is, I know why that first officer had to ask for help.

R

According to Police Reports, Christopher Sanderson was the officer and a security guard named Carlos Gonzales, Christopher has a facebook site, type in his name and Galveston and although listed in Houston, Its him. Heard the facebook site is alarmingly VIOLENT ??? WONDER WHY ? Good Luck>

 Thank you.

 Anybody besides me completely disgusted by the GPD's involvement in the Dymond Milbrun case?  Why are we subsidizing police-inflicted child abuse on the island?

 We need a civilian review board with investigative and subpoena powers, not a toothless citizens' advisory board made up of cop groupies.

Lurker:

 We need a civilian review board with investigative and subpoena powers, not a toothless citizens' advisory board made up of cop groupies.

I couldn't agree with you more.