For most of you that are regular visitors to my site, you know that today, Friday the 13th, was the day I was scheduled to meet with Police Chief Cruess. I went to the Police Station (to get my fair share of abuse) NO ONLY KIDDING!!!
I arrived around 10 a.m. and the Chief came out to greet me a few minutes later. We spoke for a little over an hour and touched on many subjects very openly and honestly. So, it was a good meeting, but to be honest, I felt very drained after I left.
I am not going to touch on specifics as promised. The meeting was PRIVATE and will stay that way for me.
The bottom line, there have been a lot of misunderstandings, I believe, on both sides regarding what both sides intentions were or are. I have been wrong on many occasions, MANY TIMES. I know some times I overreact and it is not right. But I believe the other side has misunderstood my intention with Underground Town Hall.
It is very upsetting for me to write these words because I REALLY in my heart never intended to cause discord in this town and especially with the Police Department. I feel bad because I don’t want these people to think I am out there following them around, trying to get them in a situation. I AM NOT.
When I was a reporter, I REPORTED NEWS. If some of it was bad or compromising I tried to get the FACTS. I will admit, I did try to get a photo of that Gas Guzzler SUV the Police Department has because I did not like the fact that it was being driven around. But when the Chief explained why, then I understood.
This is the reason why I initially wanted to attend the Citizen’s Police Academy–to find out what really goes on at the Police Department. NOT to snoop around and dig up things!! First of all, as the Chief said, I am pretty crummy at snooping or being silent–you know when I am around that is for sure. But you see, I felt the same thing was happening to me when I went to the first Citizens Police Academy class. I felt an air of mistrust. I felt they were WATCHING my every move. I stayed behind a bit in the dispatch center because I wanted to hear some of the calls. I was interested in it. Look, I am not perfect, please don’t believe all the HYPE I sometimes engage in about myself. I like to tease–I like to push things a bit. But in all honesty, I like to joke around. You know when I am serious believe me.
Then when i was scheduled for the ride along, I was looking forward to it. I wanted to see how everything out in the streets operated because as I stated before, I may have had misconceptions and may have thought wrongly. Unfortunately, that mishap with the ticket occurred, but I did remove the Post. And again, I really did not have bad intentions even with that. I was angry at a system that would allow someone in state employment, i.e. in the criminal justice system, to think they could show a “badge” and get away with driving an unregistered car. That is what really angered me.
My husband has a “badge” his car is registered!! He drives around for the state of Connecticut also using his OWN VEHICLE. He is afforded no special treatment, DOESN’T ASK FOR ANY and NEVER HAS. As I have stated in the past, my husband has been pulled over by Cheshire and other police departments for traffic issues and has not EVER ONCE asked for favoritism–EVER!!
But, on the other hand, I will watch–and I will say things I believe are wrong. Even if I am wrong, if I believe in my heart something isn’t right, I will say it because I firmly believe in open government and authority acting tough but with professionalism. I am not on a witch hunt and I never ever intended Underground Town Hall to be that and I still don’t. I believed several years ago, that I was not treated right in a motor vehicle incident and I also believed that the local papers were falling asleep at the wheel when it came to openly addressing issues in this town. That was the reason for UTH. It gave me a creative outlet.
Do I feel good about the Town Government all the time-NO!! But UTH gives me that outlet. As I have stated before, I always did not do the right thing and may have based actions on misconceptions, mistrust or emotions, but I have had to address these issues with myself and I am.
There are issues the Chief and I will probably not agree on and do not agree on to this day, but that is how life is and that is a good thing. One balances out the other. I always have said how I felt, and when I did, it was really how I felt and how I believed. So hopefully, the air has been cleared a little here.
I have to respect the other side, I hope they will do the same and we will learn from each other.
Now the question remains: Do Motor Vehicle Stops Cut Down on Crime?
