What's different between 1998 and 2002?
Posted on 06/17/2002 2:15:43 PM PDT by John Jorsett
SACRAMENTO - Gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon today won a major endorsement from the California Organization of Police and Sheriffs [COPS], an organization which had previously endorsed Gray Davis in his 1998 campaign.
The endorsement letter COPS sent to its membership reads in part:
"Four years ago we supported Gray Davis, but upon careful review of his record, we have become totally disenchanted with him and his policies. We feel Gray Davis has shown a lack of leadership."
The following are Bill Simon's remarks as prepared.
"Let me begin by saying I couldn't be more proud today to have earned the endorsement of the California Organization of Police and Sheriffs - an organization I greatly admire for who they represent and what they stand for.
"As some of you may know - COPS supported me in the primary and that meant a great deal to me. But they warned me at the time that the endorsement was for the primary only, and I would have to earn their support for the general election. Monty cautioned me that they had been long time supporters of Governor Davis, and my chances weren't great.
"In fact, as we speak here today, the Governor's website and campaign is still featuring his endorsement from COPS.
"Yet I did keep talking to the men and women of COPS about my plans and vision and priorities, and I did earn that endorsement!
"If I can be presumptuous, I'd like to talk a bit about why I think I earned this endorsement.
"Governor Davis views public safety as a crass, political issue. For him, being "tough-on-crime" is a poll-tested, calculated position to take to benefit his campaign. When he says things like "no one will get to the right of me on crime" and Singapore is his model for law-and-order, he's not speaking from his heart, he's reading from Garry South's strategy memo.
"And as I spent the last several months meeting with members of COPS, they saw, I hope, that I am different. For me, being tough on crime is just something I am. It comes from working with people like Rudy Giuliani, and getting to know FBI agents and police officers when I was an Assistant US Attorney. I draw on my firm belief that public safety is the first priority of government. And no matter what else government does well, if it does not protect its citizens, government has failed.
"As I have campaigned across California, I have talked about how Governor Davis has failed in areas such as energy, the budget, our economy and our schools.
"Today's announcement I believe reflects the fact that the governor has also failed us when it comes to public safety.
"We have seen our entire country rally together in the wake of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. And all across America, our people understand that it is local law enforcement and public safety officials who were the first responders after the attacks. These men and women, equal only to our troops overseas, deserve our honor, respect, and unwavering support.
"Across America, crime continues to drop towards historic lows. Yet here in California crime is rising, for two years running, on Gray Davis' watch.
"In the year 2000, crime rose in California by 3.5%, while it dropped in the rest of the country,
"In 2001, the rise in crime in California accelerated, rising 5.8%, while again dropping in the whole United States.
"When Governor Davis took office, he inherited budget surpluses, and decreasing crime rates. After four years of obsessive campaign fundraising - 12 hours per day in fact - and an almost complete neglect of his responsibilities as governor, he's managed to turn both of these trends upside down.
"We already know that Gray Davis neglected the budget, education, energy and the economy.
"It is one more sign of Gray Davis' failed leadership that crime is down nationwide, but on the rise for two straight years here in California.
"Crime is up and Gray Davis is cutting law enforcement. This is not leadership.
"Now, because of the governor's mismanagement of the state budget, he is cutting funds to local government. And since local governments spent two-thirds or more of their discretionary funds on public safety, these cuts are going to come right out of law enforcement- putting our citizens at greater risk even in the face of these rising crime statistics.
"And these very public safety officials - the brothers and sisters of the NYPD - the very same people who would serve us as well if the terrorists struck in California, have not received the support and training they need to fight the war on terrorism.
"Where Gray Davis has failed, I will lead. I will ensure that law enforcement and public safety officials have the resources they need to do the job. They know how to do it, as long as their elected leaders give them the tools.
"Again, I am honored to have received this endorsement."
Sounds like a major boondoggle. Anyone who has driven I-5 knows that trucks are not the major problem, not to mention that trucks don't go much above 110 MPH, and Camaros aren't the vehicle of choice for stopping trucks (spike strips are the implement of choice in many cases). Standard HiPo police interceptors (Crown Victorias and the like) will do 135-140 MPH, plus chase protocols often dictate stand-down for anything over 100 MPH unless there is a serious emergency. All that, plus Camaros are lousy for hauling suspects. The whole thing sounds like an expensive recruiting tool, not a prudent expenditure.
I will be very surprised if I see a truck pulled over.
Years ago when truckers got out of hand they put Mustangs on the road, all white or all black with a single red light on the spot light. They hammered the truckers who were doing 65 to 80 in 55 zones for trucks.
What is scary in your reply is the speed these Camaros are capable of doing, 160 MPH. If they are really going after trucks and 80 to 90 MPH chase car is all that is needed. Their target may be the Kamikaze motor cycle riders. Most motor cycle riders are safe and sane riders, but every trip I see at least one who has to be doing over 100 mph, by the time you see them in your rear view mirrors and realize that they are on speeding motorcycles, they are passing you and out of sight.
Let me know if you see one of these so called truck chasers actually pull over a speeding trucker.
They need something that fast to chase down trucks? Yikes!!
Exactly my feelings.
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