Armed task force to patrol streets (Paragould, Arkansas)

Paragould Daily Press ^ | December 15, 2012 | Ryan Saylor

[tje]

In response to a recent increase in crime, Paragould Mayor Mike Gaskill and Police Chief Todd Stovall offered residents at a town hall meeting Thursday night at West View Baptist Church what could be considered an extreme solution — armed officers patrolling the streets on foot.

Stovall told the group of almost 40 residents that beginning in 2013, the department would deploy a new street crimes unit to high crime areas on foot to take back the streets.

"[Police are] going to be in SWAT gear and have AR-15s around their neck," Stovall said. "If you're out walking, we're going to stop you, ask why you're out walking, check for your ID."

Stovall said while some people may be offended by the actions of his department, they should not be.

"We're going to do it to everybody," he said. "Criminals don't like being talked to."

[tje]

Not good. I wouldn't want to see this become the norm.

[Einherjar]

: Das Papieren, Bitte!

[unixfox]

[Police are] going to be in SWAT gear and have AR-15s around their neck," Stovall said. "If you're out walking, we're going to stop you, ask why you're out walking, check for your ID."

Just a little conditioning for the masses to accept the coming police state.

And it won't end in these "bad areas" it will be expanded into ALL areas. For our "safety" of course.

[SeminoleCounty]

Armed patrols will just move the criminals to other parts of town, or on to other towns.

An armed populace is the only real answer to growing crime problems. Nothing stops a criminal more than a bullet to the brain from an armed citizen defending themselves and their property

[OKSooner]

“Your papers.”

[Altura Ct.]

"We're going to do it to everybody," he said.

All in the name equality... I wonder if there is anything the American people won't accept?

[TheCPA]

Interesting. Paragould is my home town. Its slogan is “The Friendly City.” This program does not seem so friendly. Mike Gaskill was one year ahead of me at Paragould High School.

[Venturer]

It’s none of your fugging business why I am walking, and if you want my ID, arrest me, and we will see who wins the law suit.

It won’t be America long , but so far it is still a free country.

[tje]

How big is Paragould? Is crime really that rampant?

[Flick Lives]

Interesting. Paragould is my home town.

I googled to see what might warrant such an extreme police response and found nothing remarkable about this modest-sized town of about 25k people. What is going on? Can you provide some background?

[Kakaze]

"We're going to do it to everybody,"

No you won't, you'll harass normal citizens, those you know you can control.

The thugs will walk on by because because in the end, the guys dressed like this become bullies.

[VOR78]

I am from there as well. Still work there, but I commute. And I also know mike gaskill. Worked for him in high school back when he was a grocery store manager. Is this necessary? On the east side of town...maybe. I’d rather see this than for paragould to become blytheville.

[BillM]

The correct way to do this is by posse. Armed citizens from that area should form neighborhood patrols. They know the people and the town. Jack booted thugs are NEVER the answer. The first person stopped by the storm troopers should sue for civil rights violations and demand a jury of citizens.

[ConservativeInPA]

Jetzt beantworten Sie die Frage! Wir haben Weisen, Sie die Frage beantworten zu lassen.

[TheCPA]

I grew up on the East side of Paragould. I was back there in October for a visit. I did not see anything out of the ordinary. I always liked Mike Gaskill. He used to manage a grocery store, and my late father sold merchandise to grocery stores. Mike was always nice to my father.

[shove_it]

What’s wrong with getting cops back out on the streets patrolling again like they used to? That way they get to know who belongs on the street on their beat and who doesn’t.

[VOR78]

Huge drug problem and uptick lately in violent home invasion. We’ve had a recent influx of thugs it seems. The east side/lake street area is basically a slum for the most part and is getting exponentially worse with each passing year.

[TheCPA]

I have not lived there in years. I still have one uncle and some cousins who live there. I was back there in October for a brief visit. I did not see anything out of the ordinary.

[TomGuy]

How big is Paragould? Is crime really that rampant?

About 26,000.

I don't know specifically about their crime rate, but many smaller towns (under 100k) have been infiltrated with gangs, many hispanic, during the last 2 decades. Those communities were good targets for gang infiltration, as the locals didn't see them coming until they were entrenched in those communities.

I grew up near a town of about 1500. For many years, it had one night watchman. Now, the town had grown to nearly 3000 and had about 8 full time police. Things have changed in the last 40 years.

[xrmusn]

What’s wrong with getting cops back out on the streets patrolling again like they used to?
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Not a thing as long as you stick to Bumper Morgan and his ‘trick night stick’.

Dressing cops as Storm Troopers to patrol the streets of a relatively small city seems like a ‘test case’.

Of course we will get the ‘well look at Israel’ crowd.

While back someone had ‘mentioned’ why the US troops aren’t endeared to the locals in war torn countries like back in WWII - VN etc and one reason pointed out that back in WWII the people knew they were being liberated AND the GI’s had ‘treats’ for them.

Today’s Troop is no less friendly BUT they are forced (by necessity, I know) to run around looking like Space Men with layers of gear etc and once the ‘locals’ get wind of the ROE, all bets are off.