MO - Grand Jury Proceedings in the shooting case of teen Michael Brown

[Klood-N]

Setting aside for a moment the question of 'when,' HOW do you think the GJ results will be released? How do you think they SHOULD be released? What precautions would you take either way to ensure that reactions are as calm as possible whichever way the verdict goes?

What I hope is that LE will be given a heads up as things are wrapping up, then notified again when a decision is made when the announcement will be released. That way time off is managed, they have time to get in place, and can notify business owners, particularly those targeted. I'm thinking there will probably be a press blurb that a decision has been reached and will be announced at 2 PM, for example. I'm guessing National Guard will be given a lead time so if they prove necessary, personnel and gear is available. If I owned a business in Ferguson, I'd make sure my insurance and any riders were in place, that boards and helpers to get them hung ASAP are already in place, and have a bug out bag, and plan of how the family will assemble elsewhere, safely. I hope it's announced after school is let out for the day or on a weekend, so kids aren't stuck in school on lockdown. Barring a miracle, it may be a huge mess, although I do think the majority of residents won't riot. I can't imagine what will happen if rioters block roads and peaceful people can't flee.

ETA: I'm guessing all LE across St Louis will be on call, and their families away from their homes, given the dox'ing by Anonymous and death threats. If I were one of Wilson's neighbors, I'd stay elsewhere too when the verdict is in. IMO, the main thing is LE needs max lead time, biz owners need some lead time, and the law abiding public will need time too. Traffic out of areas could be an issue too.

 

[LambChop]

Police officers are part of the governmental system. They are in charge of enforcing the laws. Their badges demand respect regardless of what anyone's personal feelings are, we will not generalize them and make unsubstantiated remarks that have no basis in fact. It falls under personal political remarks. Keep to the facts and do not submit derogatory remarks that are personalized.

 

[reedus23]

I'd really like to know how a person can come to the conclusion that it's an "exorbitant" fee when a person doesn't know what their actual costs are.

Because it is a ton more than I have ever paid. If I bought a hamburger from 100 different restaurants for $5 and then was charged $50 for a similar burger from a new place, I think I would still be right to say that $50 for a burger seems exorbitant even though I don't know their actual costs. Maybe they hired Emeril to cook that burger and that explains why the price is so exorbitant, but it doesn't change the fact that it is still exorbitant.

 

[Dana]

It is sad. If they truly believed the cops were killers, and that the cops were the only ones firing shots, I don't think they'd bring their kids to riot at the FPD.

And that's what bothers me about these protesters. "It's bring your kid to a protest night" - WHAT?! Their thinking is unbelievable to me. 'the police won't attack with riot gear/ tear gas/ bean bags because there's children with us' thinking. Forget that the adult might go to jail, leaving the kids there. Forget that it's a school night and midnight or 2am. Forget that they're dangerously standing in the road with these kids. I watched as some of those cars raced by them.

 

[Minette]

What I hope is that LE will be given a heads up as things are wrapping up, then notified again when a decision is made when the announcement will be released. That way time off is managed, they have time to get in place, and can notify business owners, particularly those targeted. I'm thinking there will probably be a press blurb that a decision has been reached and will be announced at 2 PM, for example. I'm guessing National Guard will be given a lead time so if they prove necessary, personnel and gear is available. If I owned a business in Ferguson, I'd make sure my insurance and any riders were in place, that boards and helpers to get them hung ASAP are already in place, and have a bug out bag, and plan of how the family will assemble elsewhere, safely. I hope it's announced after school is let out for the day or on a weekend, so kids aren't stuck in school on lockdown. Barring a miracle, it may be a huge mess, although I do think the majority of residents won't riot. I can't imagine what will happen if rioters block roads and peaceful people can't flee.

I think that's a pretty sound plan, but I go back and forth on whether the announcement should be made during the day while kids are at school. I kind of hope it will, because I believe the children would be a lot safer there than out on the streets. Unfortunately, I don't see how they could give a head's up to businesses without alerting the protestors/rioters to something being afoot. I honestly think businesses would be safer keeping their windows boarded up and adding extra reinforcements to doors until after everything dies down. I know it looks bad, but I don't know if any commercial insurance plans even offer a rider for 'terrorism,' which I believe is how damage from rioting/civil unrest is classified. Does anyone know about that???

 

[reedus23]

As far as the fees go, I think it's much ado. Just helps advance the narrative that others proffered and many media outlets grasped ahold of quickly that Ferguson PD are bad. IMO, it was the least important story coming out yesterday, so I didn't dig into it much, but I think I recall one request wanted all of Wilson's and all of Jackson's communications. That's a very broad request and would take time to assemble, determine appropriate privacy and redaction, etc. There have been multiple lawsuits to obtain records, from ACLU and National Bar Association (affiliated with Crump and Parks) for example, that request items not available under Missouri Law, including reports from an open, active investigation. Plus, as we discussed some time ago FPD's phones and systems were hacked and taken down repeatedly by Anonymous, which has to make record keeping and verification far more involved than would normally be the case.

I would agree. Not one of the more important issues. Whatever the fees, the news outlets and groups can afford it. Hell, one could get it and just share the costs and then share the documents.

 

[Minette]

What I hope is that LE will be given a heads up as things are wrapping up, then notified again when a decision is made when the announcement will be released. That way time off is managed, they have time to get in place, and can notify business owners, particularly those targeted. I'm thinking there will probably be a press blurb that a decision has been reached and will be announced at 2 PM, for example. I'm guessing National Guard will be given a lead time so if they prove necessary, personnel and gear is available. If I owned a business in Ferguson, I'd make sure my insurance and any riders were in place, that boards and helpers to get them hung ASAP are already in place, and have a bug out bag, and plan of how the family will assemble elsewhere, safely. I hope it's announced after school is let out for the day or on a weekend, so kids aren't stuck in school on lockdown. Barring a miracle, it may be a huge mess, although I do think the majority of residents won't riot. I can't imagine what will happen if rioters block roads and peaceful people can't flee.

I think that's a pretty sound plan, but I go back and forth on whether the announcement should be made during the day while kids are at school. I kind of hope it will, because I believe the children would be a lot safer there than out on the streets. Unfortunately, I don't see how they could give a head's up to businesses without alerting the protestors/rioters to something being afoot. I honestly think businesses would be safer keeping their windows boarded up and adding extra reinforcements to doors until after everything dies down. I know it looks bad, but I don't know if any commercial insurance plans even offer a rider for 'terrorism,' which I believe is how damage from rioting/civil unrest is classified. Does anyone know about that???

 

[reedus23]

It is 10 cents a copy. So 1350 copies an hour is not unheard of. You are charged by the copy. In other words, 10 cents a copy at a rate of $135 an hour.

If that's how they calculate $135 an hour, I have no issues with it and that would not be exorbitant to me. If they're charging $135 an hour on top of the 10 cents a copy, different story IMO.

 

[popsicle]

I mean.. they were sitting in the road in front of the police station, sitting in their driveway blocking it too. Is LE suppose to just go inside or stand-by and do nothing?

 

[reedus23]

Setting aside for a moment the question of 'when,' HOW do you think the GJ results will be released? How do you think they SHOULD be released? What precautions would you take either way to ensure that reactions are as calm as possible whichever way the verdict goes?

Get the national guard up there and on the ready but not on the streets beforehand. I would assume McCulloch will hold a press conference.

 

[Klood-N]

I had to look to confirm, but Rev. Osagyefo Sekou, the "clergy" arrested last night, is an activist who has protested in Ferguson before. He actively tweets about Ferguson and encourages instigators. He blames police for confrontations and claims "battalions of military tanks" attacked in his writings. Much more about him available online.

 

[LambChop]

I mean.. they were sitting in the road in front of the police station, sitting in their driveway blocking it too. Is LE suppose to just go inside or stand-by and do nothing?

I think being in the middle of the road is part of their protest because that is where MB and DJ were when they were stopped by Officer Wilson. However, using a minor child at 1am in the morning when they have school the next day (home schooled or not) standing in the middle of a main road where some cars are flying by is wrong. Given the fact that a gun was fired and the children were not removed but were kept there as protection against the police is way more than wrong. jmo

 

[LambChop]

I mean.. they were sitting in the road in front of the police station, sitting in their driveway blocking it too. Is LE suppose to just go inside or stand-by and do nothing?

I think being in the middle of the road is part of their protest because that is where MB and DJ were when they were stopped by Officer Wilson. However, using a minor child at 1am in the morning when they have school the next day (home schooled or not) standing in the middle of a main road where some cars are flying by is wrong. Given the fact that a gun was fired and the children were not removed but were kept there as protection against the police is way more than wrong. jmo

 

[Dana]

I had to look to confirm, but Rev. Osagyefo Sekou, the "clergy" arrested last night, is an activist who has protested in Ferguson before. He actively tweets about Ferguson and encourages instigators. He blames police for confrontations and claims "battalions of military tanks" attacked in his writings. Much more about him available online.

And he's ok with the Death Chants? Wow

 

[Klood-N]

Here's another report about last night's protest.


Law enforcement from Ferguson, St. Louis County, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol were in the area keeping an eye on things. Capt. Ron Johnson with the MSHP was also in the area talking with protesters and answering questions.
http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/local/2014/09/30/ferguson-police-department-protests/16467377/

It's weird that death chants translate into "peaceful" in MSM reporting on Ferguson.

 

[CHERIE.T]

I mean.. they were sitting in the road in front of the police station, sitting in their driveway blocking it too. Is LE suppose to just go inside or stand-by and do nothing?

Like I said ^^^ there, the protesters want to (and have imo) taken over the city. From the outside looking in, the protesters will continute to taunt and sneer LE.

 

[Klood-N]

Is the site being weird for anyone else, or is it my internet?

 

[Klood-N]

I think that's a pretty sound plan, but I go back and forth on whether the announcement should be made during the day while kids are at school. I kind of hope it will, because I believe the children would be a lot safer there than out on the streets. Unfortunately, I don't see how they could give a head's up to businesses without alerting the protestors/rioters to something being afoot. I honestly think businesses would be safer keeping their windows boarded up and adding extra reinforcements to doors until after everything dies down. I know it looks bad, but I don't know if any commercial insurance plans even offer a rider for 'terrorism,' which I believe is how damage from rioting/civil unrest is classified. Does anyone know about that???

Looks like there is terrorism insurance, but idk the ins and outs.
http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcomplia...ombings-reshaping-terrorism-insurance-market/

Terrorism insurance covers property damage or business losses associated with terrorist acts. The Treasury Department is responsible for officially certifying whether an event is terrorism or not for insurance purposes. Nationally, 60 percent of businesses carry this type of coverage.
http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/why-many-businesses-skip-terrorism-insurance

 

[MyBelle]

I'd really like to know how a person can come to the conclusion that it's an "exorbitant" fee when a person doesn't know what their actual costs are.

ITA. Because it is what it is: a governmental fee. It is the same for everybody, very upfront. To the media, it is a business expense. To an individual, there is a choice in the matter as to whether the information being sought is worth the price to acquire it. The people who are complaining about it are probably the same people who don't want to pay their accumulated parking tickets, traffic tickets, court costs.

JMO

 

[CHERIE.T]

Is the site being weird for anyone else, or is it my internet?

ME... Im getting double post, post hanging up, a slew of things.

Keep forgetting that maybe it's admins doing backups.