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What's happened to Orland police?
Orland's Mayberry-ish charm is quickly rubbing off for this returnee. As a clean-cut, middle-aged professional who's involved in bettering Orland, I'm outraged that the police, for the third time in the last few years, pulled me over for a supposed traffic infraction.
During one of these bogus stops, for allegedly not coming to a complete stop, my 11-year-old son was quick to point out to the officer that if he gave me a ticket for not stopping, then he would be a liar. How am I supposed to teach my children the police are good and the criminals are bad when, during the time I've been back in Orland with my family, it's only been the police who've violated us?
Most recently, I was pulled over in a manner consistent with a felony stop. The officer positioned his car in a way that blocked traffic, lights blazing, and had me sit in my car with my hands on the steering wheel while he ran my papers. The hard-line tactics this officer used for such a minor infraction were totally uncalled for, frightening and highly embarrassing.
Apparently, I'm not the only one who's received this kind of treatment from our officers, because as people who saw me pulled over asked what happened, almost everyone conveyed their own story of themselves, or someone they knew, who had been stopped in Orland under the same false pretenses.
When I was growing up, honest people always considered a police officer to be a friend. Apparently, that time has come and gone in Orland.
Chris Roda, Orland
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| Maybe they need to get some kind of citizens' involvement going, where volunteers work alongside the police and the police are more available to get to know people on the street, something with a positive influence instead of all just busting people. Where I used to live they did that and it not only helped the police force not to get burned out, it brought better relations between the citizens and law enforcement. A lot of senior citizens got involved too with citizens' patrols being the eyes and ears for the police, and backed them up with administrative help, all volunteer. |
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| marsha - Jun 05, 2008 02:10:58 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Some of my friends have had the same problems with the police in town. Its ashame that in a small town the police treat the people they serve like criminals and not like tax-paying citizens. |
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| concerned citizen - Jun 05, 2008 07:58:44 AM | Remove Comment |
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| I read the police report which said Mr. Roda was passing a school bus stopped with red lights flashing. Every driver, especially a middle-aged professional one, knows that means you have to wait for the safety of kids getting off the bus. If Mr. Roda's son is allowed to speak to the officer like that, calling him a liar, how will he grow up learning any respect? If you truly are involved in the bettering of Orland Mr. Roda, then respect the laws, appeal your case if you need to, but support the officers you have instead of stirring people up against them. Their job is hard enough. |
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| Linda - Jun 03, 2008 10:02:56 PM | Remove Comment |
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| A few friends of mine have been in similar situations. It's saddening to see that law enforcement blows such situations out of proportion. I do understand that they have to be precautious in such conditions, but COME ON. |
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| anonymous - Jun 03, 2008 04:57:02 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Maybe it's one bad apple, or did your run-ins with Orland police involve a different officer each time? |
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| Frank - Jun 02, 2008 07:11:24 PM | Remove Comment |
