Who had the bright idea to shut down the interstate system in Miami during rush hour Monday??
Yes, we understand two officers were being buried. And lest you think we disparage their memories, read our last posts on the issue. We have called them heroes who sacrificed their lives for our community. We have encouraged everyone to donate to funds set up for their families, although their loss is incalculable.
But the shutting down of all access ramps to I95 north and south bound; shutting down McCarthur Causeway; and shutting down numerous other routes right in the middle of rush hour was absurd if not down right dangerous.
What about the parent trying to get home to pick up their child?
What about the parent trying to get home to a sick child?
What about people trying to drive to hospitals or doctors?
What about the myriad of tens of thousands of reasons people commute starting at 4 pm or so?
This is not about a ten minute inconvenience. This is about a near total shutdown of the transportation system for at least an hour. It has nothing to do with the honor of the memory of the officers.
It has to do with common sense.
35 comments:
Could not agree with you more. If anything, this type of conduct by police will cause people to be ticked off by law enforcement, rather than to be sad and respectful for the loss of two officers.
What about the Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation officers who were late to work because of this, they couldn't help rehabiltate the offeders in jail today. They have failed us and no one speaks to this.
I could throw up from your disrespect for the heroic police officers who serve our community. Not only did we do the proper thing to honor Amanda and Roger but we also honored all law enforcement with today's ENTIRE tribute. Police processional and all.
Rumpy:
I'm glad you said it. I was trying to go to my kid's game and I left before the funeral procession had ended. Even that was not enough to be stuck on the highway for an hour and a half.
I grieve for the officers and their families but this was just abuse. They took the bodies form the funeral homes in Miami Lakes down to the A.A. and then back to Miami Lakes, closing the highways along the way. Couldn't they have at least done it on a Sunday like the annual motorcycle run to avoid screwing with everyone's commute?
What a way to change grief towards the police into outrage at the police!
I remember they did this one year for the funeral of a .... police dog!
I, for one am less sympathetic to police officers because of the disruption caused. Just a stupid idea that was poorly planned. What about parents killed in a home invasion? Does life stand still for them? No. A respectful funeral procession, respectful of the community, is appropriate.
I know that, like me, you realize that two hours of delay pales in comparison to the loss of the families of these slain officers, but I thought the same thing as you when I was trying to get home this evening.
There are those who have no connection to law enforcement who can only believe that the city itself was compelled to pay tacit homage to the fallen officers. Like everyone who works in this system ( I happen to be on the law enforcement side, but I know the defense pays tribute to the fallen officers also), I was shocked by the violence of last Thursday, and my heart goes out to all who lost friends or family. However, the service was not particularly well planned, and God forbid it should happen again, but if and when, please try not to hold the city hostage. Let those who wish to attend be granted easy access to the memorial, but let those who wish to continue with their lives be allowed to do so.
Rumpole or Captain ... The JNC met today to narrow down who would be interviewed for the 2 vacancies on Circuit and 1 in County. Can you give us the list? This way we can send our comments to the JNC members. thank you!
I was stuck in both directions, morning and afternoon and witnessed one accident caused by some assclown that decided to slow down in the middle of i95 to gawk at the procession. Couldn't this have been done during the weekend?? Also, on another note, just how much money did all this cost taxpayers? Imagine the fuel bill alone.
DS - your comment yesterday is ridiculous. Fines for drug sales? While we're at it - let's not make any arrest for domestic violence, file all battery charges (misdemeanor, felony, or agg) as misdemeanor and PTA everyone (wouldn't want to spend more money on that now). Also, let's make DUI legal and allow everyone to contract without a license. Let's make all trafficking weight a simple possession, and armed robberies don't count if it isn't a semi-automatic weapon.
On the flip side, if your office would train attorneys to take pleas when their clients are cooked instead of deposing every transport officer and K9 (yes, I've had a K9 set for depo because he was listed in the arrest form and per the rules, the Defense thought they were allowed to take it), then we wouldn't have such a high audit.
The point of the PDs office is numbers only, and 95% don't care about the client. People should work at the office because they want to defend the constitutional rights of the indigent, and instead, it is a win at all costs mentality. I rarely saw that attitude in a PD when I was with the SAO; the defense attorneys who I used to respect and speak with when I was an ASA pled out cases when they had fully investigated the constitutionality of the arrest and crime.
Now on a side note, who got selected to the 2010-2011 REGJB Pro Bowl which takes place in Hialeah this year (a departure from Hawaii)? I've heard rumors that Greg Gonzalez received a large vote from China which skewed the fan voting this year - however, he is deserving. Carlos Gonzalez and Quirantes are starting at corner this year, while I hear Quesada and Beckham are the starting safties. Rumors are that the offensive line of will play double duty and start on D as well and will consist of Robbins, Tunkey, Ross, Amsel, & Waxman (Raben is still nursing an injury he sustained while filing a pleading). Catalano is the head coach, and he will be wired for sound since this game is being featured on a new edition HBO's 24/7. Justice Hirsch is tossing the coin.
HR
Sorry to change the subject, But
DS
Sentence reform could save state money
.A Texas lawmaker came to Tallahassee to give lawmakers advice about prison reform -- help those with addictions stay out of prison.
BY JANET ZINK
Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau
TALLAHASSEE -- Both Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders have pledged to offset the state's nearly $4 billion budget shortfall with cuts to the prison system.
With that in mind, Florida lawmakers heard testimony Monday from Texas state Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Plano, who sponsored prison reform legislation in his home state.
The overriding message: Save money by keeping people out of prison with programs that address drug addiction, alcoholism and mental illness.
Madden said prisoners can largely be divided into three categories: Those who will never return, those who are guaranteed to return, and those who won't return if they are enrolled in the right programs. It's the third category that gives you the most bang for your buck, he said, so it's worth it to invest in drug and alcohol treatment programs
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/25/2032271/sentence-reform-could-save-state.html#ixzz1C2y301C2
The whole thing was nothing more than a huge effort to "show off" by law enforcement. You could have sworn that the President or the Pope had passed away. Look, we get it, two police officers passed. We didn't need the ENTIRE day to be about this. We really didn't. A soldier passes away abroad, he gets a uniformed escort back home. It's a solemn and dignified gesture and the silence with which it is done marks that soldier's passing even more. But whatever, who cares right? It's a police officer and as we know the police rule Miami.
You guys are heartless! Had the killer of the officers survived, you all would have been writing about some defenses and possibly take pride if you got the case dismissed on a technicality, and yet you take up the time to write up a post because you were irritated that it caused traffic? You are all part of the problem with this city...you've lost the ability to tell right from wrong and definitely lack any sign of respect.
The law enforcement takeover of the highways serves two purposes: (1) to let us know who is really in charge of our community; and (2) as a deterrent to any future cop killers, who must certainly think twice about shooting a cop if it means inconveniencing every driver in the county during the funeral proceedings.
If we cannot "show off" at times like this then, what kind of community are we?
I am a criminal defense lawyer but, I am also a citizen and I am sick to my stomach about what happened to 4 cops recently who were just trying to pick up a guy with a warrant.
It was worth the delay.
Wow! A sceptic at heart I thought all this idiotic comments would take at least 24 hours after internment; however, it seems our selfish Miami/Broward maggots couldn't wait for the real maggots to start eating away at the bodies & tribute to the fallen heroes.
Rump. On this one, you are 100% correct. Remember the old adage, funerals are not for the dead, they are for the living. This spectacle will now become the norm in this town. Every cop who gives up his life in the line of duty will be sent off in a manner befitting royalty.
I agree with all of you. Is every high-profile death going to get the "Gabrielle Giffords treatment" from now on? If you're going to try to make this a South Florida holiday, at least inform the schools and courts first so they can close for the day. This was tragic but thousands of people die everyday.
Now brace for all the ad hominem attacks.
Your two posts preceding "rant" make clear your position regarding the two officers.
But....
YOU DON'T APPRECIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THIS LOSS!
YOU SUPPORT THE COP KILLER!
YOU'RE A STUPID DEFENSE ATTORNEY!
YOU SUPPORT TERRORISTS!
YOU'RE UN-AMERICAN!
Ridiculous
I can tell you that my law firm (right on Biscayne) benefitted from the poorly planned funeral. Because at 7PM Biscayne Blvd. (both north and southbound and I-95 access) were completely gridlocked, we couldn't get out of our parking garage so most attorneys stuck it out at the office until 7:30-8:30, resulting in an extra hour of billables, multiplied by 75-80 people. At a daily increase of $22K-$30K, by my guesstimate. To add insult to injury, I didn't get home until after 8:30 p.m.
On a more solemn note, we did hear the cacaphony of hundreds of police car sirens between 8-10 am headed toward the AA arena, and the sight of it (and pedestrians saluting) was quite moving. So all in all, I didn't complain about getting home late.
There is something seriously wrong with you all when the closing down of a highway incoveniences you all so much you have to rant about it. Seriously? You really couldn't make alternate plans or take a different route. The closing had been announced since Saturday. Do you rant about road closings for meanigless events such as movie or TV shoots? Two officers who gave their lives to serve and protect callous people such as yourselves are dead. I, for one, think they deserved all the pomp and circumstance and then some. But I guess there are others who will always have something to complain about. Shameful!
Its like the blue wall of silence. Bottom line is police treat themselves differently than others.
Always have and always will. Every murder victim in Miami is important. Every victim in Miami is important.
1:05
I do not believe in making or keeping drugs illegal. I have a right to intox or impair myself as long as I dont drive ( boat or fly) . So Yes all drug cases would disappear. Without the Drug Prohibition drug crimes and violence would disappear. When is the last time you saw Liqour Stores shooting it out ( Prohibition is when) Making it ilegal only makes everytday people into felons AND increases cost of crime. It serves no good NOR VALID perpose in a FREE society. I am not saying make DUI legal only drug use .
DS
1:05
What you dont get is that we tell the client to plea out these cases where the evidence is against them, but the CLIENTS reject the pleas not the PDs.
Also if we did not take the depos how can we tell the Client they are cooked.
AS an Aside I have told a few clents to take a reasonable plea in the last month and unfortunately some have rejected my advise and will go to trial and likely get Life. BUT its THEIR call not MINE!
DS
Any word on how many of these grieving officers put in for overtime for attending the funeral?
Gun control would have prevented the Tucson AZ killings because he bought his gun legally with no gun control laws to prevent a nut job (whom the store clerk did want to sell the gun too but was forced) from buying a gun.
Gun control would not have stopped the killing of these two hero's here in Miami.
What would have saved these two officers is min mandatory jail time for violent crimes like his past events.
Given these events maybe Broward is correct is saying "Let the jury decide" at least I would say I agree to this in all violent felony crimes in which the facts are just not clear on guilt or innocence. Start arresting witnesses and bring them before the court to testify, start holding witnesses in contempt of court and prosecute those who clearly fabricate testimony with perjury. If this is what it takes to lock up cop killers so be it.
It's time to stop spending resources on prosecuting pain pill users and dedicating more resources at going after these violent criminals and those witnesses who just can't get there story right.
Get that rear in gear!
MDP R.I.P I THINK MPD DID A GOOD JOB IAM NOT MAD AT ALL GIVE ME A BREAK U MIGHT NEED THEM ONE DAY
sissleman in your usual zeal to defend the system and suck up you miss the point. first of all this case was in ROC court where the case load is lower than in a division. there are no BS cases pending there. second the dude had a pvh, it would have taken all of 1 hour for jimenez to try the pvh given the dude a real sentence. instead he just wanted to clear a case off his audit and did what all the ringmasters at the mjb do every day--they offered a plea just to pray to the low audit god.
and because of that two cops are dead and a bunch of kids dont have a dad or mom.
2 things;
1) Is Officer Castillo's wife the
ultra-nice extradition
detective? I thought I saw her
on TV sitting with the sons. If
so, then this terrible tragedy
touches the justice building
even more.
2) Quit blaming the system for the
shootings. Most of these judges
try to do the right thing. We
live in a major metropolitan
area so all cases cannot result
in litigation. Julio Jiminez
hardly gives the court house away. For the most part,
most resolutions represent the
value that case had (taking
into consideration degree of
proof, how the case was
prepared, guidelines, etc.)
Usually,nobody is getting
something for nothing.
To blame the system for the action of a heartless, cold-blooded killer is absurd. To all the players in the criminal justice system, you have got to be a complete idiot to not recognize that there exists, out there, a dangerous subculture that hardly thinks about "tomorrow". Why do you think some of these people turn down seemingly rational dispositions?!
The only thing to prevent this horrible tragedy would have been a different tactical approach...which is looking at the situation in hindsight.
This killing, tragically, will be celebrated by the growing underworld in our community.
The only thing to be done to prevent something like this is to ban handguns, and modify existing laws regarding gun crimes. And, some of these communities must take responsibilty and demonstrate a complete intoleration to harmful behavior, rather than relying on the police.
When it comes to morality, despite our titles, most of us are on the same side.
To all the anonymous people that feel that they need to assess blame to professionals doing their job, why don't you just blame the mother, after all she gave the murderer birth?!
8:21
I was responding to 1:05's comment. I was not talking about Simms. But the State offered and the Defendant took a reesolution so move on.
It is not relevant to my position that getting rid of DRug use laws , NOT DUIs et.al., is a benufit to the system and a unrightous set of laws in a free society. So Tea Partiers may not like the Gov't telling them they need regulation to build a development and I dont want the Gov't telling me what to injest, or punishing me for it; nevertheless clogging the system , jails , prison and eating up budgets, like the WAR on DRUGS.
Dont just say no, SAy It aint any of your business unless I'm driving, boating or flying.
DS
to s. saul:
who wrote: "Is Officer Castillo's wife the
ultra-nice extradition
detective? I thought I saw her
on TV sitting with the sons. If
so, then this terrible tragedy
touches the justice building
even more."
Does it matter?? What could touch the Justice Building more than the police officer killed in the line of duty??? Police, no matter the sign of the equation, are the heart of our professional life. To rock the core of that, to roke the core of our democracy is to rock us all. It doesn't matter where Ofc. castillo's wife works. Understood?
Is Officer Castillo's wife the
ultra-nice extradition
detective? I thought I saw her
on TV sitting with the sons. If
so, then this terrible tragedy
touches the justice building
even more.
"Any word on how many of these grieving officers put in for overtime for attending the funeral?"
-Ouch!
I agree 100% with Rumpole on this.
There is nothing "shameful" about this position.
Sorry people getting yourself killed does not make a person an automatic hero.
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