Posted on 08/31/2005 12:20:28 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
GULFPORT, MISS. - Looters are taking whatever their hands can find, creating a sense of lawlessness that has overwhelmed local police.
Water, food, cigarettes and beer are some of the most sought-after items, but even kids' piggy banks aren't safe. In unconfirmed reports, looters have hit homes on Hardy Avenue in West Gulfport where residents reported piggy banks had been broken and robbed.
Officers from every available state and federal agency continue to arrive here to help the manpower-stretched Gulfport Police Department protect property that wasn't destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
The city's police force, about 195 strong, has dwindled since the storm, with an undetermined number affected by the same devastation as the residents they're sworn to serve and protect.
The hurricane demolished the main police station, a long-time downtown fixture.
"We are very overwhelmed, but looters are our main concern," said Gulfport Police Commander Alfred Sexton. "We've caught so many people looting that keeping track of the numbers is the least of our concerns."
Sexton lost his own set of handcuffs. Officers used them to restrain a looting suspect being driven to the over-crowded Harrison County Jail.
It wasn't immediately clear how the increase in arrests is affecting the jail. The aging structure can safely hold 750 inmates, according to a federal court ruling that has hung over the jail for more than 10 years. The jail's average daily population under normally circumstances is about 1,000.
Harrison County is under a 24-hour curfew, but it hasn't stopped many people from venturing out. Officials this morning announced that police will arrest anyone caught on the street after 6 p.m.
Officers from a number of state and federal law enforcement agencies and the Mississippi National Guard have joined forces to help police maintain order. Police and deptuties from other areas of the state and parts of Florida and Alabama have been sworn in to have the same arrest powers as local officers.
Police are operating from a command post on U.S. 49 in Gulfport's Orange Grove area. They are using the Harrison County School District's administrative building and alternative school. Police dispatchers now occupy the main building's boardroom.
Police still have no access to cell phones, but are relying on their radios for communciation.
Having said the above my disgust can hardly be contained. I have watched what has occurred in the NO area and I find no words for such actions.
Folks stealing. For what reason? They cannot use it and if they think they can well guess what .... not a chance. I would love to see a company use facial recognition and compile the faces of those brazen on film and steal from drug stores, clothes stores, liquor stores the list is endless. They need to be held accountable. But there was no plan to handle crime. No way to house those that break the law and they know it. Dave said he had heard some of the looters are banning together with snipers helping them take the stuff and defend themselves against WHO the cops.
Are these the fellow American's I have defended. To loot their fellow neighbors. I have no use for such folks.
I understand the need for food. I understand the need for clothing. I understand that many have nothing, but, these looters, these thieves, these ingrates are taking as if entitled and I am sickened by it. Not one says, I need this but I sorry for taking the items. I use to recall in storms past folks giving an IOU and letting the merchant know of their taking of items but now and the more I see the angrier I become.
Sorry if this seems unkind, uncompassionate to my fellow neighbors but so many worked so hard for what they have and I am sure would give their items freely if needed but from what I have seen they care little of where they get the stuff only that they get it and take it and do so in front of the cameras and in front of law enforcement.
Lock and load!
....nor should rounds in police weapons be contained!
Doesn't seem unkind to me, but then, my mother mated with a scorpion. You have to admit though, looting makes GREAT television.
Dealing with looters is not a police matter at this point.
Only National Guard Units with fixed bayonets and shoot to kill orders are adequate for this kind of emergency.
My cousins in Ocean Springs came home last night and their house was still up but suffered major structural damage. He said the other 8 houses on their street were gone. These were brick houses. He said the surge came 7 feet up into his first floor. All the left over furniture from the remants of the neighborhood is in his yard.
He said when they ran they took all their weapons and such with them and brought them back to stand guard.
Broad public announcements need to be made that anyone caught looting will be shot on the spot. Questions later.
The looters are low lifes.
Water and food I can understand. Not condone, but at least understand. What I can't understand is looting televisions, radios, jewelery, etc.
looters need to be shot on sight.
Seeing a few looters become Dead Right There would make even BETTER television, IMHO.
It is time to dust off "War Plan White".
As I stated on a similar thread, if the order was given to shoot looters on sight there wouldn't be more than two killed.
Shoot to kill! I saw a group of black kids with maybe a mom stealing armloads of t-shirts & clothes-one of the kids was wearing baggy jean shorts and he was holding them up runnig with his arm full of clothes and then they had a shot of some black guys with a grocery cart full running down a street! It was awful. You would think people would band together during this time and help each other not steal! It was a disgusting scene to be sure.
the actions of a few, while despicable, do not speak for the whole state...let's hope they slam these creeps in jail where they belong...
My wife and I watched these cretins with shopping carts full of Nikes scurrying off like rats with their new found wealth to ... where ?
And no matter how loud are the screams to send in the Guard, imagine what happens when the first shooting happens. You will see the media turn on a dime and start to savage the troopers.
I should have added when I said "maybe a mom" because the person was in the back of the group and couldn't tell if a large guy or a mom.
I should have added when I said "maybe a mom" because the person was in the back of the group and couldn't tell if a large guy or a mom.
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