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 A Union Pacific train crossed the railroad tracks on Central Avenue near the Le Mars Public Library Saturday. UP officials and local law enforcement officers worked together to ensure drivers' safety at train crossings throughout Le Mars. [Click to enlarge] |
In Iowa last year there were 81 grade crossing collisions between vehicles and trains resulting in 26 injuries and seven fatalities. Pedestrian collisions resulted in three injuries and four fatalities.
That's why local law enforcement agencies in cooperation with Union Pacific Railroad officials conducted a Special Traffic Enforcement Project (S.T.E.P.) Saturday.
Patrol cars waited at railroad crossings around Le Mars watching to ensure motorists and pedestrians were complying with the law and staying safe.
"Do we have a severe problem, no, but we do have a problem," said Captain Dennis Folkema, of the Le Mars Police Department. "Anytime you try to beat the train, you are putting your life and anyone else's in the car in danger."
In Le Mars there has been an increased number of close calls.
Allen Kleven, UP engineer, said Saturday that when a vehicle crosses the roadway in front of his train, it "makes your heart stop."
"You don't know if you are going to miss them," he added.
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"Sometimes we try to slow down if we anticipate a collision," Kleven said. "There's sometimes you swear you skin the paint off the car, and you don't know how they made it."
Nine law enforcement officers from the Le Mars Police Department, the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department and the Iowa State Police were involved in Saturday's S.T.E.P. Saturday.
Law enforcement observed 19 violators and conducted traffic stops on 15 of those. Eight ticket citations and seven warning citations were assessed, according to the Le Mars Police Department.
Education and awareness are the reasons for the S.T.E.P. or "Officer on a Train Railroad Crossing Compliance Traffic Project," which is used as part of UP's Operation Lifesaver Program.
"It's to enlighten public awareness," said Michael Hatfield, manager of operating practices for UP. "We want everybody safe on our property."
The worst train crossing intersection in Le Mars is the one by Hy-Vee off Business 75, said Brad Charkowske, manager of operations for UP.
Lenny Flack, senior patrol officer with the Le Mars Police Department, rode on the train Saturday.
He said when trains come through the city he sees a lot of people speeding up to beat the train or using evasive actions such as hurrying to make it through the next crossing before the train gets there.
On days when there is a high population of train traffic, possible tickets to drivers can be in the teens, Flack said.
There are two types of tickets drivers can incur: if they don't follow the obedience code, it could mean a $182 fine, and if they don't follow the imminent danger code it is a more costly and severe offense, Flack said.
The obedience law means when the crossing lights are flashing, drivers must stop before proceeding with caution if the train is a distance away.
"As soon as the light is activated, it becomes a regular stoplight," Flack said. "A lot of people don't understand it's an actual stoplight."
Violating the imminent danger law means when drivers cross the tracks in front of a train closer than 15 feet from their vehicle, Flack said.
And that could mean giving up your life.
It takes a matter of minutes to get through town.
"It's not worth leaving your family for,"Hatfield said.
Almost all newer UP trains now have cameras in them, which continuously record when they are stopped and traveling across cities and can pick up license plate numbers, Hatfield said.
"We call them the silent witness," he said. "It's the best evidence there is."
Most collisions occur with trains traveling under 30 mph and 64 percent of them happen during daylight hours, Resch said.
It's important, he said, for drivers especially with winter coming with its snowy, icy roads and reduced visibility to not overdrive the conditions because it takes a train traveling at 55 mph the length of 18 football fields or more to stop.
"The weather's changing, now we have to start thinking about our stopping distance," said Robert J. Resch, manager of public safety for Union Pacific (UP). "We need to rethink when we cross a railroad crossing."
It's not just motorists' safety, but also the train's crews' safety that is at risk when drivers don't follow the laws, Charkowske said.
"It's catastrophic for everybody involved," he said.
I wish I wouldn't have checked this string one last time..look who FINALLY shows up..tpottebaum..
Mr. Pottebaum did your computer lock up?..lol
You forget I'm not politically correct, I offend some people with the truth...
Ok..give me your definition of a police state..no never mind you won't do it...just look it up and send it to the hundreds of thousands of fellow Americans in jails and prisons accross the country (for victimless crimes) and tell them.
Oh..and don't offend any of them..
Maybe we live in a Krytocracy...
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." Mark Twain
Seriously...It's understandable to get a little fed up with the police once in a while, but I think to suggest that we live in a totalitarian/police state because of this excercise is ridiculous and offensive to anyone who really DOES live in such a state.
Wow... Don Roberts is seriously "out there" !! You don't even make sense. Sounds more like bragging about what you've been doing than anything that has to do with anything. So sophisticated with your theasaurus at hand. We don't care where you've traveled...glad your not here though thats for sure. I am 100% positive you don't know whats going on here. 4 years for you in Le Mars = Not a Clue. We ARE worried about "Big Brother"...thats why they call it "Big Brother." Its a term used for a totalitarian goverment. Obviously people don't want to be hit by a train... I think this whole coverstaion has been over your head.
My final words on this subject is, I just can't believe the narrow-mindedness of some of you, living in a cocoon. Get a life. the world does exist beyond your little tri-state area. It is a big world out there, a wonderful world and life is only a short ride and you lot are missing it because you are locked in a paranoid mindset.
How limp to think people that don't live in your town can't grasp what is going on. You really are a sad lot but like I said previously, I have a great life and I gather even more pleasure from it, knowing that you moaners are spitting tacks because you are worried about Big Brother.
Now, be very careful crossing those railroad crossings. you don't want some poor train driver having to have counseling because you got wrapped around the cowling defending your right to ignore the laws the majority decided were made in your best interests.
Don Roberts: Why don't you stick to blogging on your own newspaper articles since you don't live in LeMars anymore. You don't know whats going on here just by reading one article, and if you think that LeMars is such a great town then why aren't you living here now???
Clear Thinker and LeMars Citizen: I agree with you 100%
My husband tells me I have big feet...so I have a very large shoe size thank you very much.
How do I debate a post like that? wow...
Le Mars Citizen should be grateful he isn't married to a domineering person like Clear Thinker. (But probably wishes he was). Faith in society is restored when one sees that the rantings do nothing to persuade the fair minded thinkers of Le Mars.
Trying to put words in my mouth, nice try buddy, keep your misguided assumptions to yourself, you are way off the mark (much in the way your whole approach to this discussion has been). I've been down the highway of life, lived in several countries, been to 32 States of your nation and been associated with many cultures around the world.
I may live in Australia and may have only been in Le Mars for four years but unlike you two, my IQ is higher than my shoe size and I am actually able to comprehend matters myself and not dependant on the rantings from the far left one minute and the far right the next. What a sad situation you both have ended up in. I have never seen more confused rantings, though I do aknowledge, they are swinging more to the right than the left and unfortunately, that's a dangerous trait.
On the bright side, the real citizens of Le Mars wont have to put up with the likes of you for long, you'll move on, just like the rest and end up in the foothills surrounding Kingman Az., plotting the way you are going to make the ignorant ones suffer and make the world a better place (well in your misguided minds anyway).
And no, I didn't vote in your recent elections. I voted in my own New Zealand election this month and am pleased I contributed to overturning a socialist government that has turned my beloved country from a great democracy to a banana republic in a mere 9 years.
It was interesting to note in the American elections that only two states south of the Mason-Dixon line voted Obama in. Adding to that, all the other States that have low Afro-American and Hispanic populations and, as an observer from afar it is quite evident that not all the country has embraced the speech of MLK forty years ago.
On the subject of Obama, he is not the first Afro-American President!!!!! Liberia has had several of them and I wont even go into what went on under their regimes but feel free to google it.
And finally, there are horses for courses, there are times to hold your cards and times to fold. Just as laws are regulaly updated and amended then so too, is the need for a Bill of Rights and a Constitution to be looked at. Both are works in progress. There are fundemental statements that will never need amendment, however there will always be areas that change through public opinion and the changing trends of society.
I shall sleep well tonight (as I do every night), knowing I am so happy in my chosen environment but sleep even better knowing there are paranoid individuals in my old home town terrified at what Big Brother has install for them!!!
Thats exactly what I was thinking Clear Thinker. If Don Roberts is in Australia, how would he know what is going on here ??????
Let me preface this again by saying I am not a "cop hater". We do need some police presence.
Don Roberts said:
"The reason you have SO many individuals incarcerated is due to the mere fact that as a nation you have SO MUCH FREEDOM."
Mr. Roberts:
You really wanted to say "TOO MUCH FREEDOM" didn't you…c'mon, you did didn't you…
You are one of those "war is peace", "hate is love", "slavery is freedom" newspeak type of individuals aren't you.
I do want to thank you though for letting us know in an earlier post that you are not an American. I can rest a little easier knowing you can't vote...or did you...
With your vast knowledge of American History, our Bill of Rights and your 4 whole years spent in Le Mars, Iowa, are there any other Amendments you think we should give up?
America was founded on the principle that the people will regulate the government not the other way around as it has become.
To All:
Does it surprise anyone that a foreigner and apparently a "cop worshipper" is recommending we give up another one of our rights?
Well said Don Roberts.
I think some things our law enforcement does is dumb, but you have to look into the mirror and realize we are not perfect either. So lighten up and relax. The things they see and go through on a daily basis have earned my respect for them. So we will just chalk this TRAIN thing up to something dumb and move on..
Below is a quote from Clear Thinker who quite frankly, is not living up to the monica bestowed upon itself.
"The United State of America has a larger percentage of its population in prison than any other country in the world. (Washington Post, Feb. 2008)..and numerous other sources...
With that fact alone I think a very credible argument could be made that we live in a Police State."
So easy to twist the so called facts to strengthen an argument. The reason you have SO many individuals incarcerated is due to the mere fact that as a nation you have SO MUCH FREEDOM.
In other countries you don't get the right to an attorney, a death sentence is imposed ahead of any prison sentence. Or, in the case of my sick homeland, a home detention sentence is imposed, but that's another story.
Unfortunately, too many want to buck the system and the freedoms bestowed upon them, and find themselves behind bars. And remember, a large percentage of those incarserated are not done so by the actual Police Department, but by other government agencies, IRS, INS, Internal Affairs etc., etc..
Then you have an outdated second amendment that gives all the right to bare arms. We are talking the 21st Century!!!! The right to bare arms!!!!!!!! Come on now, the Brits aren't going to invade again. Only your very own people!!!!
You have States like California that have a three strike policy because not all Americans are sweet, innocent little angels.
You have the Timothy Mc Veigh's of the world that want to instill as much terror upon the nation as Islamic extremists.
And where does it all start? By individuals that think nothing of running a red light, beating a train at a crossing, painting a message on the side of a building, slipping a fifth under their jacket in a liqor store, a DVD at Walmart, altering tax returns, false insurance claims, etc., etc..
So, embrace your freedoms, you have the most in the world, but also understand why you have a police force, why there are laws and just why, sometimes, it doesn't go your way!!!
Think of how many potential bad, bad, bad criminals were stopped by the early intervention of law enforcement agencies. And sometimes, the discretion to issue a warning is all that is needed.
The United State of America has a larger percentage of its population in prison than any other country in the world. (Washington Post, Feb. 2008)..and numerous other sources...
With that fact alone I think a very credible argument could be made that we live in a Police State.
Stop shaking your head and open your eyes.
To Fighting the Tide:
A wiser person who answered your wise person once said..and I quote.."What if the police are the criminals?"
To all:
I happened upon this site during some unrelated research a while back..
http://www.copswritingcops.com/
It looks like they are updating it..so save it and check it another time.
The site is basically cops around the country complaining about tickets they or their spouses received when cop knows you don't ticket another cop or his family!
They name the jurisdictions and the honest officers names...I guess for retaliation?
You really should read some of them...it makes your skin crawl.
Sorry I didn't like how the cop lovers were treating the cop haters..
Fighting the Tide sounds like a cop to me.
After reading all these posts, all I can gather is that the same people that support those drivers zipping across railroad crossing against the lights (cos the cops are corrupt and need to get a quota of fines) seem to be the same sort of person who argue the drink-drive levels, smoking in bars, gun laws, and the State eroding any other type of so-called civil liberty.
There is a word for such a person in the rest of the world.......Anarchist. In the USA I think they just refer to them as residents of Kingman, Arizona
Fighting the Tide:
That last blog isn't even worth a response besides to simply state that you must be the crazy one by convincing yourself that the LeMars police are in perfect harmony with everything else in this town. Its not, and I have the right to state why I think so.
hawk101:
Against my better judgement I'll take one more crack at it then I'll stop antagonizing you. We are at polar opposites on these issues and now we're just spinning our wheels.
Once upon a time .10 was the legal standard for intoxication in Iowa. Make no mistake, the standard for intoxication is now .08 and has been for several years. Someone at a .09 is legally drunk and inherently dangerous on the road if even to themselves.
The portable breath testers are not wrong and they are required to be calibrated once a month whether they need it or not to prove they are not wrong. In a drunk driving jury trial the portable breath tester results are generally not admissible. This was decided by judges years ago for reasons unknown to me.
You are flat out wrong about the DOT license revocations. Anyone whose license was revoked for drunk driving has the right to an administrative hearing. It is absolutely possible to be found not guilty of drunk driving and still lose your license because the criminal courts and the Iowa DOT are two seperate entities.(By the way, the portable breath test results are allowed in an administrative DOT hearing). I encourage anyone with doubts to check this out for themselves.
The number of officers per citizen ratio in LeMars is in line with other Iowa towns of similar size and well below the national average. Again, the numbers are available for anyone to check for themselves.
Finally, the obscene idea that the local police would knowingly arrest someone on a fake drug charge "just so they would have something to do" is text book paranoia and crazy. However, I can't argue this one with you because how can anyone effectively argue against that type of crazy?
Someone much wiser than the both of us once said "A society that makes enemies of its police had better make friends with its criminals".
A happy Thanksgiving to you.
Plus... I do believe that your rebuttal supports my three stories of unjustifiable arrests. The public intox. sounds like you agree. The OWI, this person was not in any danger or putting anyones elses lives in danger, and thank you for agreeing the breath analyzers can be wrong and have no weight in court. I have already mentioned the stand on the baggie in the previous comments. Your denial and being blind to these situations is disturbing...
Plus the DOT does not care if you were found innocent or not. They take your license away for the charge.. not for the conviction. If you know so much you'd probably would know that I would think
Some how I knew Fighting the Tide would try to make up whatever holes in the story that could possibly be found. Your not reading it for what it is worth.
Yes the guy had a beer an hour before he drove his car...but you didn't mention his .09 breath level which is .01 over the legal limit. Not very long ago it was .1 for a legal limit. There is no way you can tell me you've never ever driven a car after you had a beer or a glass of wine with dinner. I didn't say that the windows were tinted...I said they were "clear as day" which is no tint what so ever.
I am sure the cops can tell difference between bread crumbs and marijuana... but the point is they chose to ignore what they were just so they would have something to do..make an arrest in front of children.
No paranoia here... Just telling the facts. Maybe you should try to not twist these facts around to suit your own needs.
Ha..Ha..ha..ha..
I just read all 55 posts.
Two things stick out to me..
It looks like everyone agrees that they don't want to get hit by a train or see someone hit by a train.
That's good..
The other thing that is as obvious as the nose on your face:
There are a lot of people in this town who are unhappy with the Le Mars Police Dept. and I am guessing the Plymouth County Sherrif's office also.
That needs to be taken care of by those 2 agencies, immediatley. I mean yesterday.
There is a danger in both extreme sides of this debate.
To those who revile these 2 departments:
We do need some police presence. You agree I hope.
Do they have the ability to help you? Yes.
Do we have too many police in this town? Maybe.
I do remember a calm beautiful Sunday morning recently, on my drive across town to church, meeting 3 cruisers in different areas of the town. The cruisers didn't seem to be "on a call". Is that too many?
Maybe we have too many laws? Victimless crimes?
To those who appear to worship police:
Always remember..no totalitarian government or dictator ever succeeded without the help of the police. There is great mortal danger if you go down this road.
Have some of the police haters had run-ins with the law? Probably, but that doesn't mean they were treated fairly.
People usually know when they are wrong..they just want to be treated fairly.
My opinion on the R.R. STEP:
Headline grabber..marketing stunt..
Those 8 that were ticketed along with anybody else who is in a hurry will sneak in front of a train today if they think they can make it.
On those that weren't ticketed...they were either crying women with cleavage showing or the officers friend or family. Ha..Ha..Ha..
Seriously.
To hawk101:
Your arguments help make my case.
I agree with you that the police don't have to do what is arguably a thankless and sometimes crappy job but they choose to anyway.
I think it's insulting to the citizens of LeMars when you state that only bars are able to survive downtown.
Your first example of police misconduct is the person arrested for intoxication who you admit had been drinking. You don't deny the fact they may have been drunk but you "know positively" they weren't stumbling, interferring with traffic, and they didn't have a bad attitude. This makes me think that you were there and witnessed the arrest. That being the case I'm sure you appeared with them as a witness on their behalf when they plead not guilty, right??
Example number two is the person you admit was driving drunk. He may have beat the charge but thankfully the police were able to get him off the street. When a person is processed for drunk driving they are given paperwork to ask for a DOT administrative hearing regarding their drivers license revocation. The fact that your guy still lost his license tells me that he either didn't request a hearing or there was a hearing and he lost. You're correct that the portable breath testers the police carry aren't always admissible in some court hearings. The portable breath testers can be adjusted but that's because they are required to be checked and calibrated once a month to make sure they are reading properly. What would an officer gain by having an improperly reading breath tester which isn't always admissible in court anyway?? Your paranoia is disturbing.....
When you say "the means do not justify the end" this says to me that the person in your example beat the rap but it didn't "justify" driving drunk and endangering lives until the police stepped in. Some cars come off the dealer lots with windows dark enough to violate Iowa law. Police didn't make the window tint law and police don't build cars so don't blame them.
Your third example is the guy with the bread crumbs in the baggy. Give me a break! The police likely recognized him as someone with a drug history and they found a baggy with marijuana residue in the car. The chemical field test showed it was marijuana and the guy was arrested. Any officer with any time on the street can tell bread crumbs from marijuana residue. I'm certain the lab results didn't come back as bread crumbs. The lab doesn't have a "bread crumb" test. The lab results likely came back as inadequate sample or inconclusive if there was only residue left in the baggy.
One thing is clear to me... If the three people in your examples are associates of yours then you may want to find better friends.
Once again you make some irresponsible and inflammatory statements without concern for the facts.
Heres an example if you need proof...
I know positively that someone left our down town on a weekend after a couple drinks in a bar (and we all know there are bars in Le Mars, thats about the only business that can survive in our down town) and was put into jail for public intoxication because they crossed the intersection diagonally instead of using the cross walk. This person was not stumbling drunk, they did not give attitude to the officer, they were not holding up traffic because obviously there is no traffic to speak of down town in the evening. Yet they spent the night in jail. Got to make sure that person clearly knows to use the cross walk at all times. What ever happened to the term "unnecessary force?"
Heres another...
Someone getting pulled over because their windows "looked" tinted. They were factory windows..clear as day. This person did blow a .09 which is .01 over the legal limit...and the blower the cops use in a field sobriety test is not admissible in court...they can calibrate those blowers however they want. This person was found NOT GUILTY because the officer pulled them over with no probable cause. The person still had to pay a lawyer...the DOT still took their license away. Yes the person should not have been driving after having a half a beer...but the the means do not justify the end. The cop pulled them over purely on a made up insignificant cause. Again...unnecessary force.
I could go on and on and on with these kinds of stories. Yes they technically broke the law...but the discretion used is clearly clouded on the officers side. They will take advantage at any chance they get!!
And another:
How about the guy who was arrested in front of his kids because there was an empty sandwich plastic bag in the back seat. The field test clearly showed there was marijuana...oh but wait...when it was sent it to the Lab in Des Moines to be legally tested it came back that it was bread crumbs from the sandwich he ate. DUH !!
So where is your proof that these cops are only doing what is needed ???
Fighting the Tide...you can put all the stuff cops on do for their jobs all day long on this comments section...go out in bad weather, work on holidays, deal with the mentally ill...but those cops chose to do this job. No one forced them to work the holidays or go out in a storm...it is expected that they will have to deal with those situations in that line of work. Just because they deal with adverse conditions does not give them the right to "live above the law" The sherrifs department, state troopers, the merril and hinton police all can do their jobs without "putting the hammer down" on insignificant issues...its the Le Mars cops that use unnecessary force. No one has ever wrote that it is the entire system. It is and always has been the Le Mars Police Department.
Hey Dream it> yea, you take that picture and maybe you should have a breathelizer on hand too, and maybe you should make a citizens arrest, would that make you feel better? You know, you dont know squat about how the department is run, you have no idea what they do, what it all entails, all you can do is bash bash bash. An off duty officer got into a car drunk & swerved, PLEASE!! I know them all & I highly doubt that. Try going to Storm Lake and live, and see how bad you have it here. And yes I know officers in Sioux City & Storm Lake>so you go pick up the phone and call if you have a problem, but no that wouldnt allow you to rant and rave like a lunatic on here would it? RUN FORREST RUN.............
I'll take a picture next time of the officer, the vehicle as well as a picture of the car driving away. Then I'll post it somewhere, maybe then the point some of us are trying to make will be seen. Good Grief! LMPD aren't Gods in this town, many people have family they won't be able to spend the holidays with because of jobs! :)
Nice to see a bit of sanity coming in through the last few posts. I spent four wonderful years in Le Mars, the only time I met Law Enforcement Officials was socially. I frequently drove in the wee hours of the morning (amongst all the drunks) and was never pulled over, harassed or otherwise ill-treated.
You are lucky that you have a society that is structured to handle complaints against officials and if all you can come up with is unsubstantiated anecdotes then you don't even deserve to be heard on this forum.
Put up or Shut up!!!!!
To the Le Mars Police, Plymouth County Sheriffs Dept, State Troopers, Merrill, Hinton Police, I for one was glad you were around when I was around. I admire the work you do, keep it up and don't let the paranoid conspiracy theorists affect you aims and objectives.
"Fighting the Tide", I congratulate you on your eloquent delivery. Neither I nor any of the other posts could compare to your summing up of the subject.
Sorry to digress, but as I post this, in the early hours of the morning, this site indicates it is 7 degrees in Le Mars. I'm sitting on my deck overlooking the Swan River in Perth, Australia at 9.30pm and it's 72 degrees, and still only spring. But I'd exchange it for a fall night in LeMars anytime.
Pardon me but I need to vent for a moment.
A few of the people on this forum automatically operate under the assumption that the local police are crooked liars who do nothing all day but harass people.
These same people are like little dogs who never stop yapping but they have no bite. Anyone can make wild, vague, general accusations with no proof. If evidence of wrong doing on behalf of the police exists then please put the proof where your mouth is.
Even in pleasant LeMars Iowa the police routinely respond to situations that the public never hears about. The police deal with chaos on a weekly if not daily basis. They frequently have contact with the emotionally disturbed or mentally ill. They handle property disputes, child custody issues, domestic situations, and the list goes on and on.
When a tornado warning is issued and almost everyone else is taking cover the police actually get called away from home to help track the storm, warn people, and render aid when neccessary.
Since the police operate 24 hours a day they are almost always the first ones to respond to fire and ambulance calls. These same officers you hold in contempt also work nights, weekends, and in the worst weather conditions. Emergencies don't wait because of a lightning storm, blinding rain, or a blizzard.
While you're spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with your loved ones there will be officers on the street thinking of their families while they handle the traffic accidents and the drunken disputes.
Over the course of a career police officers see horrible things and take care of things that the average citizen wouldn't or couldn't do.
The officers willingly take the good with the bad or they could choose to work in another field. To make them sound lazy or over staffed because you don't read about "the big bust" everyday is ignorant.
As usual the finger pointers have no proof of there accusations and once again show that they have little idea of what they're talking about.
Some day you may need to dial 911 and the police you despise so much will be the first ones on scene to handle the mess.
hawk101... I guess everyone needs to agree to disagree. I'm also an upstanding citizen with a good education, a good job, and a good record, but I DON'T think the Police department is out of control! Like I said before, If someone has a problem with any city, county, or state employee they should go to their boss. Not complain that the whole organization is to blame.
I couldn't help but notice how everyone that has been supporting the police are doing all the name calling and everyone that are fed up with the cops are just trying to get their point across. I also couldn't help but notice that everyone keeps comparing Le Mars to Sioux City, there is no comparison. Le Mars has 10,000 people and Sioux City has 90,000, so of course Sioux City is going to have more crime. I'm an upstanding citizen with a good education, a good job, and a good record and I still know that our police department is out of control.
redwhiteblue... I couldn't agree with you more!
When I said your sorry life earlier all of your answers prove what I meant. I didn't realize there are so many of you out there, that's scary.
Get a life for God's sake.
Le Mars citizen.. I couldn't agree with you more! :)
Actually, I don't think I can participate in the converstaion anymore. I fear retaliation from the police. Any excuse they can get....
How could it just be coffee shop talk? This is a small town and word travels fast. I seriously doubt people are up all night thinking of fictonal stories of discrimination and harrasment they can tell their friends and family the next day. There are never any opportunities to tell the other side of the story. The cops do a press release and say whatever they want to and a person has no chance publically to say what really happened. Has anyone read anything about someone being found "not guilty" and that the cops made a mistake...NO i am willing to bet you have not. Thats not news worthy. People read public annoucements like its "gospel" and automatically assume thats the way it is. The only way the truth comes out is when people get a chance to tell others what really happened...not just what the cops have over exaggerated to make it look as incriminating as possible. LETS FACE IT...MOST PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN ARE NOT SCARED OF CRIMINALS...THEY ARE SCARED OF THE POLICE !!
Le Mars Citizen
You say you have heard many stories about the cops harassing others. As I see it you have nothing but coffee shop talk to offer. And we all know how far that goes. And you talk about stating the facts. If these stories come from someone else, it means nothing here. If someone has a problem with an officer, they should report it to the Chief of Police, not bash the whole system.
I have never been arrested, never seen the inside of the jail and never been in any kind of trouble. I used to live in Sioux City, in fact, grew up there. My grandfather was a railroad conductor, who lived on the West side of Sioux City. He was a hard working family man who also never got in trouble, didn't drink, smoke or take any kind of drugs. I don't think you have any idea what your's talking about when you spout things about Sioux City. You don't know what is happening out there. You really need to get your head out of the sand. Proudbulldogfan is right about one thing though. There might be some ill will when people who are innocent are harrassed repeatedly for no reason at all. I've heard many times about the reputation LeMars has for the backwards good ol boy network. That's what others are saying about LeMars. But I guess if you don't get out of this town you wouldn't know that. I've heard that from business people who have traveled through the town, just trying to get their work done. They have been stopped and questioned just because they sat at a stop sign too long, trying to figure out directions. It's just that we have too many cops and they don't have anything to do. It's not "bashing the cops and being negative, it's stating the facts.
"Personally I think all of you who are saying cops are doing there job and blah blah blah, probably are the ones with the money or that "name" who get off easy and have nothing to worry about so why wouldn't you back the cops, it's discusting! And that's my word for the day! :)" ---------------I back the cops 100% and I am poor and have no well known name to get off. so i believe you are wrong in that sense.
"Give the cops a break, they're trying to save your sorry life." Incredible! My life is far from sorry and it being saved by a cop, I laugh in your face! (That's all I have to say about that)
"You guys are all idiots. Go back to your no job, food stamps & sitting all day in the bar, and quit bashing a great town!" First off, I am not an idiot, I have a great job, no food stamps, and I do NOT sit in a bar all day, nor do I sit in there at night, or on the weekends for that matter! A great town Le Mars can be! But, you tell me the fairness here.. now this is an actual event that I witnessed with my own eyes months ago... It's a Saturday night and we are eating at a local resturant where alcohol is being served to those of age. The night goes on and people continue to drink including officers of the law, off duty of course. I set outside with a few others to have a cigarette and enjoy company of others while out walks a police officer, stumbling may I add and you'll never guess what happened next... (well maybe you will).. the car doors were unlocked, the very intoxicated person crawled into the DRIVER'S seat of the car and drove away, while swerving I may add!... Now you tell what's unfair here.. would it have been okay for myself to get into my own car, intoxicated, and drive away.. Gosh, it might as welll have! All I am saying is that this town is a great place with great potential to be an even greater place.. that out some of the police officers, because they're not needed they obviously don't do there job, unless it's going to benefit them, like getting money for railraods and what not, otherwise more and more people are going to continue to leave because they are sick of the way this town is run. I don't want to see people leave personally I would like to see more people choosing Le Mars as a place to call "home" but things need to change before that can happen. Personally I think all of you who are saying cops are doing there job and blah blah blah, probably are the ones with the money or that "name" who get off easy and have nothing to worry about so why wouldn't you back the cops, it's discusting! And that's my word for the day! :)
Its funny how some posts on here bash the cops. Lets just hope they never have a home invasion, there child gets into a car accident, they need any kind of police assistance in the future. If you are so disgusted with the law enforcement in this town, try Sioux City. Believe me you would be thanking your lucky stars for the officers here. I am betting that the negative posts probably got picked up for an offense, maybe DUI, theft etc? Harboring ill will doesnt come out of the blue, there is usually a reason. You guys are all idiots. Go back to your no job, food stamps & sitting all day in the bar, and quit bashing a great town!
Anyone notice how this routine awareness program coincides with the city needing funding to fix the rail road crossing?....hmmm ?
LeMars Citizen
How could you disagree with the tactics? The police told everyone where and when this would happen. You said you read about it. What does something that happened in Arizona have anything to do with this? Using your logic, there were a couple teachers in Florida that sexually assaulted their students, should I take my kid out of school here? Stick to the topic, these are traffic citations.
Guess what? I read the article telling people that the roalroads would be patrolled for violators. I have never, ever, tried to beat a train and I think it's dangerous to do so. I didn't get a ticket and my life is far from sorry. But what I am concerrned about is spending tax payers money for things that aren't necessary and harrassing people for no real reason. There have been many good points posted on this site from good citizens, not morons or ignorant people, but responsable people that disagree with the way the cops are allowed to take away a persons constitutional right to due process and the right to be assumed innocent until proven guilty. That is the issue. I just don't think you understand what is being said here. Have you read about the 8 year old boy from Azizona who was interagated by the cops until he confessed to killing his father? Do you think that's ok? What if they do it to your child. You will undoutedly change your tune. It's the tactics that I disagree with, not the purpose behind it.
People, the police had this on the local radio station and in the newspaper, time, date and place. If you got caught you must have been breaking the law. No difference than setting up roadblocks and checking for drunk drivers. Give the cops a break, they're trying to save your sorry life. When I get caught speeding or whatever I always think of all the times I did speed without getting caught, comes out to be a small fine if you average it out. Grow up and get a life.
One more thing, how does one go about disputing a ticket? Obviously if you said you did it then your guilty. Let's say your not guilty and the cop gave you a ticket anyway. Theres still no defense. We are relying on honesty thats not there. Maybe if you pay a lawyer thousands of dollars to argue for you....then maybe....just maybe you might have a chance. Its not just as simple as just going to the judge to dispute.
No one is disputing the fact that the railroad asked for assistance in their awareness program. No one is disputing that people should not be trying to beat the train...thats common sense. No one is disputing that these kids and their pranks of spray paint and breaking windows should go left unpunished. I believe most are just wondering why the police in town walk that fine line of harrasment and actually doing a service for the community. Sure they are competent enough to to the job, but is there really a job to do? Too many cops and not enough to do if you ask me. Make sure you teach those big time criminals with the spray paint a lesson! The crime in this town is right up their with the major cities of this country...please. Paddle those kids on the bottom and tell them "NO!" Isn't that the parents job?
Why don't you bloggers with all of the negative things to say about your police department stop down to their office and give them your wonderful suggestions. Apparently you all have ESP and know when and where the crimes are going to happen, what buildings our local "artists" will target next, what church or business will be broken into, and who will shoot at someone next. I am sure the police would love to have this information so they know where to patrol while on duty. hawk101 would rather have the criminals out of control like in Sioux City than the police dept.
And by the way if a train hits a car it's not just the people in the car that are injured. The conductor of the train and his/her crew may not be physically injured but the emotional toll is overwhelming. So to those of you who try to beat out train next time-remember that.
I completely agree...
Well said Fighting the Tide
Well said Fighting the Tide
Several posters on this site never pass an opportunity to take a swing at the police. Unfortunately these people either don't check the facts for they choose to ignore them.
These train projects are put on by the railroad and law enforcement is requested to assist. The sheriffs office and Iowa State Patrol also took part and the entire project only took a few hours. Also advance notice of the project was given so people knew it was coming.
If a train is approaching and the crossing lights are going and a driver blows through the light and then gets pulled over that's not entrapment that's an impatient driver taking an unneccessary risk.
If there were 19 violators observed and only 15 were stopped that means the officers were too busy with the 15 to get to the four that got away.
Every law enforcement officer in the country has some descretion on how they choose to handle a minor traffic violation. If a minor traffic violation is observed the officer may not stop the violator at all if the officer is on his way to another call, etc. The officer may stop the violator and depending on the violation, the persons driving history, and the persons attitude the officer will issue either a warning or a citation. The officer could also decide to take the violator to jail (yes, you can be jailed on a minor traffic violation).
Anyone who thinks they were unfairly ticketed is welcome to appear in court and explain to a judge. However, you probably won't get very far with a defense of "Yes I did it but how come I got a ticket and they didnt'"?
When railroad lights are malfunctioning the police notify the railroad. It then becomes the railroads responsibility. The police are not railroad signal repairmen.
The police are doing exactly what they should be doing and they are professional and competent enough to handle traffic violations and criminal investigations both.
The plain fact of the matter is that some cops are honest, hard working and truely do a wonderful job protecting the citizens, but some do not. It seems to me that a few of our law inforcement officers are more interested in making a name for themselves. I know personally of some people who have had some dealings with our police and they were harrassed for mistakes they made when they were teenagers. Kids make mistakes and they pay the price,as they should, but there is no need to try and ruin their lives even after they try hard to become good citizens. If you have never had an experience like this, I'm sure it's hard to imagine but just consider what you would feel like if it happened to you. There is no need for name calling or hostility, but just consider that there may some valid points being brought out here. Just another concerned LeMars citizen.
I'm for equal enforcement as well, but I can see where some situations might be too close to call. Like lights come on just as you cross and cannot stop, etc. In that case someone might deserve a warning. The three agencies, Sheriff, State Police and LMPD did a good job.
If your last name doesn't equate with $$$$$$ dollars signs behind it or in front of it. You are just another schmuck. Live on a street where we have a young well known $$$$$$$$ dollar sign baby that flies twice the 25 mph speed. Have complained, people on the street know it, and yet they are more concerned about someone beating a train instead of slowing this person down and not killing some little kid that crosses the street while driving 50 in a 25. It says it all at the stats in this article. 19 violators then 19 should have been ticketed.
Everyone has to remember. A blinking red light means STOP and then proceed with caution. Whether the lights are malfunctioning or not, it still means STOP.
Take a look around... I wasn't the only one using the word "moron"
Oh and its so grown up of you to put down the police of our great town.
I couldn't agree more with most of the people in this blog. This is to "Happy in LeMars". I lived in Le Mars for most of my life, I am very well educated and I work full time on the west side of Sioux City and currently live in LeMars and my family and I are planning to relocate. The cops are definitely out of control in this town and I'm tired of putting up with it. Just think of all the money LeMars is missing out on when people do move out of town... a ghost town is right.
Yes Forest, I don't have a problem with the "Protect and Serve" policeman. The problem is there are a couple of policemen with the "Seek and Destroy" attitude employed by the city of LeMars.
To "happy in LeMars." Maybe we will move to Sioux City. Can't be much worse than the name calling you've come up with. How respectful for a fellow member of the community. Why would we ever leave with a great citizen such as yourself around. I'm sure everyone will take your comment seriously.
Let see 19 violators 15 stopped 8 cited and 7 warned. The 4 that weren't stopped must have been pretty important. Cops couldn't catch them? I see we have the same issue as out on the bypass STEP program. Some cited , some left go, and some never stopped. Step up and please someone explain how you have 19 viloators yet only 8 cited. We all know the answer Police, just want to hear it. If I were one of the 8 cited I would file a discrimination suit.
There seems to be lots of morons in this town and I am not talking about the police. They wouldn't have to make such testing if we didn't have so many that raced to beat the train. They are protecting our community. Obviously there is a problem. I believe it was money well spent... better than the bricks the city laid at a busy intersection!!! I am guessing those given tickets... more than likely had a history of offenses and didn't deserve a warning. I am sure had there been an emergency in town... they would have went. So I think all you morons maybe should pack up and move to Sioux City on the West side and then see how fast you pack up and come back to good old LeMars...
I agree with Forest and the other positive residents.
I am a LeMars citizen and have lived here all of my life by the railroad tracks for over twenty years and there is many things about this that are terribly messed up. If one was ticketed they should have all been ticketed! That is only fair, and some of it in my opinion is like yours, it does depend a lot on you last name. You are all quick to relieve how soon we forget the shooting and graffiti, but does anyone commenting here remember 11 years ago on April first when Davey was hit on the tracks? It is a horrible thing to see. As for the lights not working properly there is a number to call into the railroad on the crossing signs. I feel that if it only taught one person a lesson to save only one life then the money spent on operation life saver was well worth it.
I was a LeMars resident my whole life until I got married. LeMars police have been a nuisance in my life and many others that I know of- guilty or not. They do have some fine gentlemen on their force but they get their heads pulled under water with the ones that are out to make a name for themselves everytime they put on their uniform. It is sad you hear of the same cops names over and over { the one[s] that give them a bad name} again but they have residents scared of retaliation against them because if their voices are heard it might come back to haunt them. I for one don't care for 2 of them and know them personally. Those 2 are not the smartest but are the ones I see i public breaking a law and getting away with it. I have much more but it's time for bed. GOODNIGHT!
you all need to calm down.! NOW!
wow, im glad to see so many hold my same point of view about the police of LeMars. perhaps voices will be heard someday
It's very true that people shouldn't try and beat the trains but the sad truth is that many times the accident is caused by a malfunction of the signals or other reasons. Some hit the side of a train and not even near the engine so it makes you wonder what the problem really is. I believe that we are fed inaccurate information for political purposes, making it look like we have a problem when really that's not the issue at all. I believe it's just an excuse to pull people over and ticket them. It used to be called entrapment. I guess it's legal now. And as for whether you get a warning or ticket? It might make a difference what your last name is.
Here's the problem. The cops in this town are out of control. The medical community is in shambles, Well's Dairy is on the skids, our down-town is a ghost town, and anyone who is trying to stick around here are being run out by the cops. They built a by-pass around this town, not that anyone would want to travel through anyway, they'd get pulled over. Did anyone ask how much it cost to run that train back and forth through town? How much these brand new patrol cars cost? How much are the salaries for the ridiculous amount of police to citizen ratio? The education system is asking for more money because student attendance is low. Where do you think all those kids went? They left town, thats where they went. God forbid your a kid trying to grow up around here. How many people live here between the ages of 20 to 40?...Hardly any. I know i would never raise kids in this town. There is no "protect and serve," these police nit pick at every little thing but what matters. Hey LMPD did you guys catch that Bank Robber yet? didn't think so. WAKE UP LE MARS, THE COPS ARE DRIVING THIS COMMUNITY INTO THE GROUND !!
I agree with Forest, this type of enforcement is important. Also, I'm quite sure the police are working on the other investigations mentioned in earlier posts. As far as the "elder man" that Dream it mentions, If I recall, he was arrested.
How many times have you gone past a crossing with the lights flashing and not a train in sight? I have seen broken train crossing signals go unrepaired for days. About the time you think it's another broken signal, BAM! There's a train as part of your car. Better RXR maintenance may also be part of the problem. Who will enforce that?
Got to disagree. The police are doing what needs to be done. Serve and protect. Sometimes it is making sure people don't do the dumb thing of trying to beat the train. They were upholding a law. If it saves a life, it is worth it.
You may forget the time when an elder man shot at a young boy so.. that's when! All us "morons" are saying is that maybe the police should be concerned about other issues rather than taking a few hours out of their oh so busy day to concentrate on bigger issues at hand. And I don't appreciate being called pathetic, maybe look at yourself in the mirror.
If any of you morons read the story, and read the press release in last weeks paper it was a joint project to stop people violating the law and the project only lasted a couple hours, the police are doing a fine job, you people should really take a good look at yourself because you are pathetic.
One more thing, if someone is willing to speed up and get past the train then they are probably aware that they are putting their own life in danger. I would never wish bad things upon those who do it because I am guilty. Maybe lets think about the innocent who are being shot at or who could be shot at, etc. Wake up LMPD!
I couldn't agree more with "areyoukidding" and Le Mars Citizen! I guess I'll be able to sleep better tonight knowing that the railroad crossings are being patrolled, ridiculous!! It is interesting to me that 8 were ticketed and 7 were given warnings. What is the significance of that? If everyone was violating the law why not ticket everyone or give everyone a warning, doesn't seem very fair to me!
I agree with "areyoukidding" The police in this town have nothing better to do than patrol those crossings. Talk about scrapping the bottom of the barrel. I'm willing to bet that over half the people stopped weren't even near a rail-road crossing. The LMPD motto should be "guitly unil proven innocent."