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Bulletin, Progressive, Record, Reporter
Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011 11B
COMMUNITY
PERSPECTIVE
Do we want CHP officers who act or react?
WHERE I STAND
KERI CAMERON
RETIRED CALIFORNIA
HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER
Maybe it will come as no
surprise to some of you that
I would write in support of
the California Highway Pa-
trol. I am not ignorant of
"bad cops," as I have worked
with more than one. I do not
believe that we have any
"bad cops" working for the
CHP in Plumas County.
There are officers who
were sent here, through lit-
tle choice of their own, who
may not have the finesse in
talking to people that they
will one day develop. Some
officers may be over-zealous
or see the law as more black
and white than others.
Officers have every right
to learn the job so that if
they were ever to transfer to
a larger area, they would be
safe. And to learn the job,
shouldn't they be able to en-
force any laws that our legis-
lators have enacted? Why,
because they came to a small
town, are they expected to
be limited in whom they
stop or why they stop them?
Should the California Ve-
hicle Code be highlighted
with the laws that can "actu-
ally" be enforced in Plumas
County? And why would
that be? What makes the
people here above the law?
To those who don't know, I
recently retired from the
CHP after 25 years of ser-
vice. More than half of that
time was spent in busy met-
ropolitan areas. I came here
because of my father's ill- .
ness.
I had never intended that
any of my career would be
spent in the small town
where I grew up. Once I
came home though, there
was something rewarding
about working in a town
where maybe we actually
made a difference, where the
laws we enforced, though
not always popular, benefit-
ed people that we cared
about.
When I was in the Bay
Area, death and injury of of-
ricers was not uncommon.
One incident, in particular,
touched me more deeply
than any other. An officer I
worked with made a routine
stop and was subsequently
shot in the head. He would
have been shot more than
once but the violator's gun
jammed. The man tried to
get the officer's gun away
from him but even though
he had suffered a near-fatal
injury he had the where.
withal to hang onto l~s gun,
saving his life.
This was a very difficult
time in our office and made
many officers question if
they had chosen the right
career, whether the good we
tried to do on a daily basis
was worth it.
I can only tell you how it
hit me personally. It oc-
curred to me that the man
shot the tan uniform and
what that uniform repre-
sented. Not the officer him-
self, because he didn't know
this officer or the man he
was or the good he did. He
shot any officer who hap-
pened to pull him over wear-
ing that uniform. He had a
deeply engrained hate for
law enforcement.
I called a friend here and I
tried to convey that she, too,
should be upset, not because
a man she had never known
had been shot, but that a
man she had never known
had been shot just doing his
job -- his job protecting her
and untold numbers of peo-
ple who would also never
know him or the important
work he was doing for them.
He didn't do the job because
he would get more money ff
he wrote more tickets, arrest-
ed more drunken drivers,
handled more accidents, but
because he had taken a job
toserve -- not to always be
liked or respected, but to
serve. He was shot because
he chose to serve.
I speak of that story from
my past because something
happ6ned Aug. 25 that
brought up similar feelings
/
for me. Officer Hymas was
on patrol on Highway 70 do-
ing a job that has become a
very }mpopular job in
Plum~s County. He was
nearl~ hit head-on by an ex-
tremqly intoxicated driver.
Th~nk God he was not
lookihg a't his radio, watch-
ing for deer or any of the
many things that will divert
a driver's attention. The on-
coming vehicle suddenly
drov~into his path and was
coming right at him.
H vlnas had the time to
swerCe-I to the right. The in-
toxicated driver's vehicle hit
the patrol car on the driver's
side, lessening the impact,
but caused the patrol car to
spin Out of control and col-
lide with a streetlight.
But here is what strikes
me: Suppose the intoxicated
driver had just driven
through Portola and he
passed a CHP officer, and in
the moment the officer en-
countered the car it had a
taillight or a license plate
light that was not working,
but that officer opted not to
make a traffic stop because
vocal people in the commu-
nity think that the CHP
should not be focusing on
things so petty.
And now supposethat it
was your son or daughter,
wife or husband who was hit
a short time later, who was
maybe not looking ahead at
that moment and was hit
head-on. Many times you
don't have the opportunity
to view a person's driving
for long periods .of time;
there is only that moment in
time to make a judgment
call that may save some-
one's life.
Shouldn't the CHP be able
to use any lawful means to
check the status of any dri-
ver if the sole purpose is to
keep you and yours safe?
Again, this is not for in-
creased pay, more days off,
popularity, but simply for
the safety of the people in
the community.
I think many of you owe a
debt of gratitude to Hymas
and the other officers who
put their lives on the line for
you every day. Law enforce-
ment is a tough job when
everything is going right,
but imagine how much more
difficult it becomes in an
environment where people
are criticizing you and your
character. And imagine one
more thing: How would you
feel if Hymas had been
killed, his wife widowed and
his four small children left
without their dad, who is
their hero? Maybe he should
be yours!
Years ago I worked with
an officer who made it her
policy to never stop mechan-
ical violations after dark.
Her reasoning was that she
was not going to risk her life
for a minor violation. Conse-
quently, she was not taking
the number of intoxicated
drivers off the road that the
rest of the officers were.
Her role, as she saw it,
was reactive: If the call came
in, she would respond to it.
She arrested intoxicated dri-.
vers -- but it was after
they'd crashed. Is that w.hat
the people here want? Offi-
cers who languish waiting
for the next call, instead of
officers who are proactive,
who will look for the intoxi-
cated or otherwise unsafe
drivers before they hurt
themselves or ~omeone else?
If that is the ~esult of this
situation it will be the citi-
zens of this county, and
those who travel through it,
who will lose in the end.
LETTERS To THE EDITOR
Guidelines for Letters
All letters must contain an ad-
dress and a phone number.
We publish only one letter per
week, per person and only
one letter per person, per
month regarding the same
subject. We do not publish
third-party, anonymous, or
open letters. Letters must be
,limited .to a maximum~of,300~
words. The editor will cut any
letter in excess of 300 words.
The deadline is Friday at 3
p.m. (Deadlines may change
due to holidays.) Letters may
be taken to any of Feather
Publishing's offices, sent via
fax to 283-3952, or e-mailed to
mail@plumasnews.com.
RF2HEMBERING 9/11
Ten years ago doesn't
seem that long ago. That
morning I walked to my
computer and turned it on
and saw the news online and
I fell out of my chair crying,
The last time our country
was invaded was at Pearl
Harbor.
Later on I felt a need to do
something for myself so I
started going to the Church
of Christ. So I walked in
there one Wednesday
evening in Bible class and
by coincidence was baptized
nine days after the first an-
niversary of 9/11.
We can never forget the
2,977 who died that day, plus
the thousands of troops that
died in our wars. I'm glad
the wars are coming to an
end finally, but all we can do
is pray that this doesn't hap-
pen again.
Kenneth Green
Quincy
I will never forget that
morning or the hours that
followed it. I was up getting
ready for class at Feather
River College and even
though I really never watch
television something told me
to turn it on. What I saw was
a plane crashing into the
World Trade Center. I
thought, no way is this real;
I mean, come on. The next 30
minutes seemed like hours.
First I was scared not for me
-- I knew we would be safe
in Quincy -- but for my rela-
tives that lived in other big
cities. Then I was sad, I
could not believe someone
would do something like this
and hurt so many innocent
men, women and children.
Then just a numb feeling. I
won't say I think about this
date every day but I will say
that not many days go by
without thinking back to the
most horrific day in my life-
time.
Blaine Alexander
Keddie
The phone was ringing
"'Whefi we walked:int0 B~ii~r/es
and Noble in Reno for the 6
a.m. shelving shift. Our
manager was on the line,
calling to tell us a plane had
hit the World Trade Center.
He was a horrible practical
joker, and at first, we didn't
believe him. It took turning
on the radio in the receiving
room to believe, and watch.
ing the quiet, empty airport
visible from the second story
to understand that the world
had changed.
Amber McMichael
Quincy
I was watching the Today
Show when I heard that the
first plane flew into the
World Trade Center. Then I
was horrified to hear that
the second tower and the
Pentagon were hit by planes.
A few years ago I visited the
site of the Trade Center tow-
ers in New York City. A sad,
sad day.
Rhonda Chew
Lake Oswego, Ore.
Sept. 11 will never be for-
gotten in this country. It was
an extremely horrible thing
that happened in our nation.
I try my best to find the best
in all people but most of the
time I am disappointed in
how people behave or ex-
press themselves. Please
keep all of God's children in
your prayers daily. We all
can use a little help to be a
kinder, loving and a non-
judgmental human race.
Ei leen "Beth" Fowler
Greenville
I was still working as a po-
lice officer and 911 supervi.
• sor in the San Francisco Bay
Area. I was just getting up to
go to work and saw my son
watching the news of the
first crash into the WTC. I
said "terrorist attack." He
said the news was reporting
an accident. Just then the
second airliner struck. I re-
peated "terrorist attack" and
immediately left for work.
We were. on 12 hours on and
12 off shifts for the next two
weeks. God bless those who
perished and those who
responded to help.
Bill Powell
Graeagle
That morning I was at UPS
in Quincy and glanced at a
TV and asked what was go-
ing on. The UPS man said a
plane had hit the World
Trade Tower. Staring at the
TVin shock for a few mo-
ments, I then had to rush to
FRC to teach my Art Appre-
ciation class. Needless to
say there was no art taught
that day. We watched the
events unfold on TV, and in
the middle of everything a
student raised his hand and
said, "Mr. Kimble, do you
think this is the start of
World War III?" That ques-
tion absolutely stunned me
and to this day has been syn-
onymous with any mention
of 9/11.
I don't remember what my
answer was because soon
the towers started to come
down and we were glued to
the TV in shocked amaze-
ment until the class period
was over.
Bob Kimble
Meadow Valley
Rest stop access
I have had the pleasure
twice in the past month to
stop at the new rest stop out-
side of Portola on the way to
Reno.
It is a nice place and very
pretty, but what a shame it
is not accessible for the
handicapped.
If I had not had my hus.
band with me I could not
have used it.
All the money that was
spent and it cannot be used
by all.
Velda Krafft
Taylorsville
Jefferson on taxes
I should like to express
myself regarding Thomas
Jefferson's views on taxes. I
think much of what he says
can be explained by the cir-
cumstances in which he
states his views.
When he is writing about
the British practice of taxing
"Americans without repre-
sentation, he is justly, in my
opinion, very critical. I be-
lieve that practice was vile.
In answer, Samuel Johnson,
a British conservative, de-
fends the right of Britain to
tax its colonial subjects in a
long-winded paper published
in 1775 entitled "Taxation no
Tyranny."
When Jefferson is writing
about the unreasonable taxa-
tion of the French king on a
people for whom a loaf of
bread was a luxury, he is in-
censed. Jefferson was" in
France at the request of
President Washingtondur-
ing the French Revolution•
When he is writing about
taxes in the United States for
the good of the American
people, he is very practical.
If the government has to
spend money for a cause
such as defense, it should
levy a tax to pay for that ex-
penditure. When, however,
the government has suffi-
cient funds, it should sus-
pend taxation. Also, the
practice of taxation should
be monitored constantly, ei-
ther twice a year or yearly
to make sure that money so
raised is being used as it
should be. He does not say
that taxation should be abol-
ished altogether.
Salvatore Catalano
Taylorsville
Display
Again this year we en-
joyed being in the local pa-
rade and attending the fair.
Especially enjoyable was the
display in the Mineral Build-
ing of the late Don Johns'
items, including his Marine
uniform and the many pic-
tures of historical items Of
the area that he had taken
over the years, including
buildings, mines and other
items of interest.
We spend several days
working on a home in the
area besides going to the fair
and parade. On the way
down the canyon on High-
way 70 after dark, I got a lit-
tle too close to the side of the
Tobin bridge after making
the curve and a lower
guardrail reached out and
struck the side of my truck.
Later, in the daylight, I no-
ticed that there were several
marks where others had the
same misfortune. Guess I
just have to be more careful
driving the canyon at night.
John H. Babcock
Paradise and Quincy
Culture of respect
In response to Ms. Almond
and Ms. DuBoard's recent
"Confused" letter to the edi;
tor, SB48, the FAIR Educa-
tion Act, is a Senate Bill that
amends the Education Code
to include social sciences
instruction on the contribu-
tions of lesbian, gay, bisexu-
al and transgender (LGBT)
people. It further prohibits
discriminatory instruction
and discriminatory materi-
als from being adopted by
the State Board of Educa-
tion. Essentially, this bill
dictators, etc., have often
usurped parents' rights to
"parent" their children. To-
day in America, it seems
parents have inadvertently
surrendered this right by
simply not paying close
enough attention.
Why have we allowed
adds LGBT peot}£1e to the ex- schobIs to take over the so-
isting list of Uriderreprese~t:!~ &ai]zati0n: SeX education
ed cultural and ethnic
groups, which are already
covered under law.
Personally, I say hallelu-
jah! Why would we not want
our children to learn about
our diverse world, including
people of various back-
grounds? As a mother of two
young children, one nearing
the start of kindergarten, I
am pleased to see such an
initiative come forward in
California law. This act will
bring classroom instruction
into alignment with non-dis-
crimination laws already
passed by California. We
need to promote and foster a
culture of respect. The com-
ments in your "Confused"
letter are one step backward
from an inclusive society.
Jamie Cannon
Quincy
Petition
Governments, monarchs,
and general civilization of
our children? Aren't those
parents' responsibilities?
Shouldn't teachers instead
be teaching the essentials
that parents aren't experts
in so our children can be
competitive in this techno-
logical age?
SB 48 is the new law re-
quiring schools to instruct K
- 12 children in the sexual
orientation of people who
made noteworthy contribu-
tions to our history. This in-
cludes lesbians, gays; bisex.
uals and transvestites, with
all the details and graphics
necessary to explain the dif-
ferences to your children.
California textbooks will not
be available for a while, but
programs online can be in-
stituted in January 2012. Are
you and your children
ready?
See Letters, page 12B
o tact your elected officmls...
PLUMAS COUNTY SUPERVISORS - 520 Main Street, Room 309, Quincy,
CA 95971; (530) 283-6170; FAX: (530) 283-6288; E-Mail:
pcbs@countyofplumas.con~ Individual supervisors can also be
e-mailed from links on the county website, countyofplumas.com
PRESIDENT - Barack Obama, the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW Washington, D.C. 20500. (202) 456-1414. Fax: 202456-2461.
E-mail: whitehouse.gov/contact /
U.S. SENATOR - Dianne Feinstein (D), 331 Hart Senate Office Bldg.,
Washington, D.C. 20510. (202) 224-3841; FAX: 202-228-3954; TTY/TD~ (202
224-2501. District Office: One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (415) 393-0707; Fax: (415) 393-0710 Website: feinstein.senate.gov.
U.S. SENATOR - Barbara Boxer (D). District Office: 501 [ St., Suite 7-600
Sacramento, CA 95814. (916) 448=2787; FAX (916) 448-2563; OR 112 Har
Bldg7 Washington, D.C. 20510. (202) 224-35,53. FAX (202) 228-0454.
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, 4TH DIST. - Tom McClintock. 508 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515. (202) 225-2511; FAX (202) 225-5444.
mcclintockahouse.gov. DISTRICT OFFICE: 8.700 Auburn Folson Rd., Suit{
#100, Granite Ba)~ CA 95746; (916) 786-5560, FAX: (916) 786-6364.
STATE SENATOR, 1st DIST. - Ted Gaines. State Capitol, Room 3056,
Sacramento, CA 95814. (916) 651-4001, FAX: (916) 324-2680. Roseville office:
2140 Professional Dr, #140, Roseville, CA, 95661. (916) 783-8232, FAX (916)
783-5487; Jackson office: 33 C Broadwa)b Jackson, CA 95642, (209) 223-9140.
STATE ASSEMBLYMAN, 3RD DIST. - Dan Logue, State Capitol,
Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 319-2003; FAX {916) 319-2103.
District Office, 1550 Humboldt Rd., Ste. #4, Chico, CA 95928; (530) 895-4217,
FAX (530) 895-4219.
GOVERNOR Jerry Brown, office of the Governor, State
Capitol, Suite t173, Sacramento, CA 95814. Website: gov.ca.gov/
(916) 445-2841 FAX: (916) 558-3160.