Times Argus Letters to the Editor RE: The Vermont Cop & The Photos.

Times Argus (Vermont) ^ | May 7, 2003 | Letters to the Editor

[TankerKC]

Could citizens also take photos?

I wonder what would have happened to me if I “helped myself” to access at Spaulding by walking in an unlocked door at 1:30 a.m.? I bet I would need to seek my attorney’s advice about more than just pictures I took without permission.

Mr. Mott used his personal camera, but was he wearing his personal clothing, and gun, and did he drive his personal car to get there?

Lori Belding

Barre City

[TankerKC]

Interesting to see what the "locals" have to say about this. Hit the link, there are several letters.

[AbsoluteJustice]

Can you please fill me in on this incident?

[Zavien Doombringer]

I have mixed feelings on the matter. Legally though I believe the officer was wrong. He could have gone into that school, unannounced, go to the Office and told the clerk that he wanted to sit in a class, and he would probably allowed to do it. Parents are allowed to do this at any of our schools in this district. There could have been a better way.

[blanknoone]

Everyone is so concerned about the picture taker...I want to know what was in that classroom that spurred the controversy that inspired the (right or wrong) act of photo-documenting it.

[EllaMinnow]

History projects. One was of a papier-mache army boot, with an American flag stuffed in it, crushing a baby doll. Another was a poster of President Bush with duct tape over his mouth.
You know, the kind of juvenile political inanity that brings joy to the heart of a liberal social studies teacher.

[TankerKC]

Cop takes 'midnight photos' of teacher's classroom^
Vermont Cop Story: AP's Bias or America's?^

It seems that a cop went into a High School at 1:30 and had the janitor open a classroom so that he could take pictures of some of the posters and projects. The pictures he too showed some very anti-Bush material. Two questions have come up: 1) Should the police officer have done this? He was on break, in his uniform, and out of his jurisdiction. He did this on his own. and 2) Should a teacher have this kind of stuff in their class?

[TankerKC]

Click here to see pics on Rush’s Site

[AbsoluteJustice]

OMG!!!! LOL
My perspective.
1)The police officer should not have been there on his break. You are a police officer 24/7 even when on your day off. You do not bring politics into the workplace. By wearing the uniform you are stating that the department takes this political stand by the actions you committ. Much like a pro football player not allowed to do commercials without consent.

2)Let's not forget that the Janitor let him in. Whether or not he was coerced or intimidated remains to be seen but I suspect he not not being that the officer had worked there before. I believe he was given TOTAL access without complaint. Therefore I do not believe there is anything criminal here.

3)This teacher should be FIRED no ifs ands or buts about it and if not then federal funding should be pulled immediately until such action occurs. I imagine that the great MAJORITY of the tax paying citizens in that community would not approve of such a teacher and probably were not aware of what was in this classroom. This is apporable!!!

[TigersEye]

Pictures can be found on this thread. More pictures can be seen by clicking on the "Rush" link at the top of the thread.