What do you do when you are working for someone else?

     Yesterday October 22,2012 I went to one of our local HVAC wholesale houses and what do I see but 3 of out local deputy Sheriffs.  At first I thought maybe something had happened there, you know, like maybe someone tried to rob them or something.  That is what most people would think, right?  I mean they are Deputies and they are in uniform, on their cruisers for heaven sake. 

     I continued on about my business and went in because I am an Electrical contractor and HVAC tech, in which I own my own business.  When I get inside I see 3 Deputies sitting at the counter.  Still not really sure what is going on and of course I am not going to ask anybody while they sit there.  I went on and ordered my material and I notice that there is a gentleman in there trying to buy some R22 refrigerant.  I don't know this man, but I assuming that the people that work there either did or at least knows how to do their job, but before anybody had time to think about anything one of the Deputies yelled out "make sure he has CFC card on file or check to make sure he can purchase that".  OK, so in North Carolina or at least at this particular facility it is policy that before they can sell you any refrigerant you have to be certified in CFC and they have to have your information on file.  Not a big deal for someone who is legit in buying the stuff.  So then my thoughts were maybe they were there regulating this policy, but it still did not make any sense to me. 

     Finally as I am sitting there waiting for my material one of the Deputies goes out to his cruiser and comes back in with something.  He places it on the counter and I hear him ask, "what is this and how do I check to see if it is bad"?  My thoughts at this point are if you are servicing someones unit, shouldn't you know what you are doing?  The guys at the counter explained it to him, however I don't think he understood because he just said "Just give one, I think it is bad anyway".

     This brings me to the BIG question, When you are on the clock with your employer, are you working for them or are you doing side work for yourself?  I know for me I have to do my work at hand and if I have a side ob or a part time job they are performed once I clock out of the current position I am in.  I can't help but believe after I witnessed this that these gentlemen were servicing someones unit rather it be their own or getting paid to fix someone else while on duty.  They were on their cruisers and in uniform.  if you were employed by McDonald's and Burger King you wouldn't wear just one uniform to do both and you would not wear your uniform to work on your car either.

     What are your thoughts?  Am I wrong in feeling that my tax dollars that pays for their salary, the up keep of their car, and the fuel for that car?  I don't think so!

Where are our Taxes going?

     I was reading our local newspaper (The Goldsboro News Argus) the other day, and read about an accident.  It wasn't your typical car accident though.  This accident/crash involved a Wayne County Deputy!

     His story was that someone pulled out in front of him and he swerved to miss him!  Have you ever swerved to miss something or someone and ended up in an accident yourself?  I have and several people I know have.  You can receive a ticket for a number of things such as:  Failure to maintain your lane, crossing the center line, speeding, reckless and endangerment, and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.  So my question here is WHY wasn't this officer or deputy given a ticket?  He was the only car involved in the accident.   You tell me here is a picture of the damaged car, was he speeding?

     Our Sheriff said that this 2010 Charger was valued at $20,000.00, however if you do a little research you will find that a 2010 Charger without any Police equipment is worth about $30,000.00.  So are we being fooled?  Why was he not charged with anything, had it been anybody other than a Deputy they would have been.  They (Law Enforcement Officers) are to be held to a higher standard.  I know because I graduated and was an Officer for a short lived time.  When I took my Oath I swore to protect and serve, and to hold myself to a higher standard than the civilians.  I can't very ask you to wear your seat belt if I don't, right?

     Now because all of our Chargers are a year old the Sheriff has gone out and bought 8 brand new Camaro at a grand total of a little under $100,000.00.  Do our Deputies really need this vehicle.  I learned that our Law Enforcement Officers should not be driving anything more than the average car on the road!  Nobody I know drives a sports car, in fact most of what I see are Mini Vans!

     Even if you don't follow this blog, and don't want anyone to know who you are I am asking for comments here!  You can do this anonymous, but I would like to know how you feel about this.

Stripping on side of highway?

     Growing up our parents teach us to respect the law, the officers, and what they represent.  Even though sometimes we don't like the LAW still it is up to us to do as we are suppose to.  I know I was taught that if you have a problem, get lost, or scared you can find a Law Enforcement Officer and they will help you!  Where has the Ethics in our officers gone?  Where are the department ethics?

     On a partly sunny day in Goldsboro, NC on July 7,2011 I was watching our local news channel and seen where a young man by the name Brandon was asked to strip his clothes off. Huh?  You heard it right right.  He was told to pull his pants, and boxers down to his ankles or he would be tased.  I had many questions about this myself so I watched eagerly!  The young man was pulled over by not one but 2 Wayne County Sheriff Deputies for speeding. OK so he was breaking the law, a minor infraction if you ask me but it is the law!  The Deputies told Mr. Brandon that his windows were tinted too dark and asked if they could search his car, and the young man agreed to the search.  He obviously felt that there was nothing to hide in there or he would have never agreed to a search, right?  In the process of their search they dumped all of his work tools out on the floor and just throwed things around in the car.  Still he is angry or upset rather but he can deal with this.  While this is frustrating in mist cases it is what to expect!  At this point the officers then informed Brandon that they found a little baggy with marijuana in it!  Brandon denies having any marijuana in his vehicle but we all know that if it is his he isn't gonna say yep its mine!  When the Deputies finished searching the vehicle they then turned to Brandon to do a strip search on the side of the highway!  Brandon says he was like are you serious?  He was then told you either strip or be tased.  For the fear of being of being tased he done it.  Boxers, and pants down to the ankle!

     I have a lot of issues with this situation!  In the end there were NO charges filed for the marijuana in the car, there was NO speeding ticked issued, or NO citation for windows tinted too dark? WHY? And where is the drugs that the Officers claim they found in heis car?  Did they throw in public trash, on the ground, taken back to department? Where are they and why was there nothing else mentioned about this?   But yet this man was asked to get naked on the side of a very busy highway where he could be seen by children and adults alike!  The only shield he has is what the Department says they give with the Deputies car door!  If you think that is enough privacy then you go outside in your yard, open your car door, and strip.  Did you have enough privacy to even begin?  I don't think so.  If it is necessary to do a strip search of a person then they should be taken to the Jail, Department, or somewhere else that he can receive the needed privacy and I will have my rights read to me with my Attorney present!

  I welcome any comments for or against this post and only ask that you keep it clean, no foul language and if you use names please leave it to FIRST names ONLY!  Here is a link where you can see the news article yourself and then please come back let me know what is your opinion of this?  What would you do if it was you?
http://www.wral.com/news/local/wral_investigates/story/9831098/


Disclosure this is my opinion and not meant for anything other than my personal opinion!