|
ELECTIONS for Holly HIll - 2010
I decided this year to find out what my city (Holly Hill) and it's candidates felt about our right, freedoms and safety. I offered them three questions and solicited answers that woud help me decide who deserves my vote.
The offerings are: Arthur Byrnes, Jeanne Cullen, Roy Johnson, Maureen Monahan, Rocky Rivera, Steve Smith, and Roland Via.
The questions I posed were designed to be controversial and they were...
1. How do you feel bout the No-Chase policy of Holly Hill. As it stands now, unless it is a violent felony the police cannot chase a car at all.
(The reason I chose this question is that criminals have stolen more than fifty cars from Holly Hill this year. I've nearly been in an accident involving a person "playing," with the police... and what I mean is that they look for a police officer, attempt to (or do) hit their car, then speed off. It's a form of joy riding with a stolen car. Now, the officers are finding places to hide in bushes and between houses to try to give deserved tickets to those that WILL stop, but not be seen by those that are looking for a fight that the police are unable to win. Sources (county wide) estimate that as many as 150 cars a DAY run from police now that the criminals know that the officers are not allowed to arrest them and I’ve seen cars travelling in excess of 90 Miles per Hour on Daytona Avenue.)
2. How do you feel about abandoning our police force, laying off all the officers, and using county resources to police our community.
(It became clear to me that our new city manager has the police in her crosshairs during the last meeting. She says that she doesn't, but I saw differently in her eyes. If I were to hazard a guess, she plans to use the no-chase policy and red-light cameras as a way to generate funds to justify the added expense of using county services to police the city. Frankly I like our police, I think thye do a great job when they are allowed, and should stay and have their hands untied so that they can do thier jobs properly.)
3. Recently a number of individuals openly carried firearms while fishing in a public park, how do you feel about that.
(In two US Supreme Court cases, Heller and McDonald, it was held that the right to bear arms is a right afforded to all people unless that right is individually taken away from someone for legitimate reasons. The laws allow someone that is fishing, hunting, camping and going to and from one of these events to carry a firearm openly on his or her hip. Recently a group of men held an "Open Carry Fishing," rally in Port Orange and I (as owner of DGO) have proposed a similar trip to the park in our city. I wanted to see what hte candidates said and felt about this.)
Here are their answers.
Jeanne Cullen
(No Chase)
1. I think it's ridiculous! What message does that send? Do what you want in Holly Hill,the cops won't chase you. They should have full authority to chase criminals.
(Police)
2. In order for me to vote in favor of replacing Holly Hill Police Officers with County Sheriff Deputies there would have to be extremely overwhelming and compelling evidence that it would 1. Save money 2. provide better coverage 3. Improve response time 4. improve investigation/solve rate. I quite honestly don't see that happening. In my openion Holly Hill has one of the best Police Departments in Central Florida.
(Open Carry)
3.I am in favor of the right to bare arms. Those locations are fine ,but there should be more.
Roland Via
(No Chase)
As it stands now, unless it is a violent felony the police cannot chase a car at all. I support the No-chase policy as it stands. No life or limb is worth the chase.
(Police)
It has been explored and is far too costly and does not provide the individualized service our city requires.
(Open Carry)
It is State Statute 790.25 says that while fishing, camping, hunting and lawful target practise you may carry a firearm, also to and from said locations as long as firearm is not concealed. You must have a concealed weapons permit in order to conceal it. Though even the second amendment gives the right to bear arms, I have misgivings about being able to do so. Safety, exposure around children and other factors come to mind.
Roy Johnson
(No Chase)
1. If it does not put people in danger. I would love to see police catch them. What is sense of having a police cruiser if you can't use it
(Police)
2. I am for keeping Holly Hill Police. I don't want anyone to lose job
(Open Carry)
3. I don't know circumstances of fire arms in park
I am not against people carrying them if they are law abiding citizens
Arthur Byrnes
(No Chase)
1. I would be willing to examine the No-Chase policy. Changing it may not be as easy as it seems.
The policy was implemented after a horrible chase where David Hinson was killed by a Criminal who claimed that he was fleeing from Holly Hill Police. (Even though Holly Hill had called off the chase, and the deadly accident happened in Daytona, more than a mile after the chase had been called off.) Although you and I know that the suspect should be shouldered with the full responsibility of what happened, today's courts often blame police, and treat criminals like royalty.
(Police)
2. I fully support keeping our Police Force. As I understand it, the Police Union has been cooperating with the City Manager in her quest to reduce expenses. My basic belief is that having a Police Department is a basic part of being a city, if you get to the point where a city can't afford a PD then it may be time to just dissolve the city.
(Open Carry)
I support all our Constitutional Rights, including the Second Amendment Rights. I believe that any weapons should be carried in a safe and lawful manner.
Not knowing the full details of the incident, I cannot comment, only speculate.
If the police were called and did not take action, then I would assume that there were no laws broken.
If the Police did take action, I would assume that there was a legal reason for them to do so.
(DGO Note: The police assisted the event)
Maureen F. Monahan
(No Chase)
1. I would like the opportunity to discuss this matter with Chief Barker. I respect him and would stand behind what he thinks should stay in effect or chsnge.
(Police)
2. I know there are many changes being discussed in order to enhance our budget. That being said the safety and well being of our commiunity should not be one of the considerations in budget cuts. There may be ways to cut the budget regarding police issues and again that is another topic I would discuss with Chief Barker. His priority has always been prompt response and safety.
(Open Carry)
3. My question would be who are these folks openly carrying firearms in a public park and why. This is an issue that should not be tolerated and discussed and acted upon immediately by our Chief of police.
I am also curious as to why you did not ask Roland Via or Steve Smith for their opinions. I think these are issues that should be addressed immediately and our current Mayor should have some answer. I would like to know his response as well.
Donald Moore
(No Chase)
1. I agree with a no chase policy. History of chases will show the vast majority of police chases are for very minor infraction. Some of the answers given when ask why did you run? are "I didn't have insurance" or "I was scared". Having said that I will say I believe a mandatory life sentence should be the punishment for anyone involved in a police chase. Of course there would be exceptions to those that refused to stop but did not break any traffic laws. Such as someone continuing to drive to a safe place for due to heavy traffic or concerns as to if it is really an officer attempting to pull them over.
(Police)
2. In these tough economic times we have got to think outside of the box. If we can have another agency perform a core service "at the same level" of service and save money doing it we should look at that. I will caution anyone who simply looks at the initial cost and not the entire picture. I would not agree to any agency being handed a contract for services in Holly Hill without the concern of the current Holly Hill employees first. I would only support such take over of service if the current employees were hired by that agency and all avenues of salary and pensions have been agreed upon with all parties to include the bargaining units.
(Open Carry)
3. As for the people who were openly carrying firearms in a public park. I may be stepping out a bit for some however our constitution states very clearly in reference to our right to bear arms. My question to you is. What park? Sounds like a good safe place to fish.
Steve Smith
I would keep the police force and chase policy. People have the right to bear arms in the USA.
Based on these answers, I am putting my ticket in with Jeanne Cullen. She seems to be the one that cares about the citizens of the city the most.
|
Training
