Saturday, October 25, 2014

Eureka - Did The City Find Its Soul?

When I saw this News Headline on Democracy Now this Thursday morning October 23, 2014, I thought about why the people of Eureka are not up in arms over the killing of Tommy McClain and are not supporting and participating en masse. It's been five weeks since Tommy McClain was gunned down and aside from a couple of news reports there has been absolutely nothing. When checking local blogs, a normal morning ritual, lo and behold I came across News Chanel Three's report: "Locals join national effort in protesting police brutality," including Tommy McClain.

It seems after five weeks since Tommy McClain was killed, not because he threatened or brought violence to anyone, but because he was violently assaulted by Eureka City Police officers for doing what everyone in Eureka has the legal right to do, someone in this community decided to speak up for him. I guess that is something in light of the fact that all everyone wants to talk about are the elections and the imposition on property owners to pay more taxes and eat GMOs. Yet, I don't see anything about the McClain killing from those running for office. Checked the local blogs, other than what's posted below, and the newspapers. Not even one letter - nothing. Not about the police, the killing of Tommy McClain or the demonstration about police brutality.

There was this disgusting diatribe from John Chiv: "Protest at the Courthouse, maybe this election distraction will work?" where he denigrates the the protesters and their protest of police brutality. Which clearly identifies him, his priorities and his position in the matter of police criminality. We wouldn't want anything like a police killing to interfere with the election of more gutless corrupt politicians and the smooth running of the money flow that props up his friends and their strongarm enforcers. So much for his lawful, moral and ethical pseudo standards he holds before this community like a trophy.

But for a small group of courageous people, the conduct of the majority of people in this community is a living indictment of irresponsibility and corruption. Impunity grants a sure judgment: "You reap what you sow" Eureka. Live and learn. Everyone that votes is responsible and ultimately accountable for the crimes committed in their names. Most people seem to believe, at least that is how they act, that "Good" will triumph over "Evil." Most everyone carries on like they have no say in that outcome. Personally, I don't think the good people, what few there are, will prevail. They've clearly abdicated that right. Not until they start enforcing law, which I don't see happening. Tragically it looks like Tommy McClain will end up just another casualty of a losing war.

This is the News Headline from Democracy Now:

"O22" Protests Against Police Brutality Held in Over 80 Cities

Protests against police brutality were held Wednesday in Ferguson, Missouri, and more than 80 other cities across the country. New York City residents joined the National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation.
Danette Chavis: "My name is Danette Chavis. I’m the mother of Gregory Chavis, who lost his life at the hands of NYPD in October 2004. I am convinced that nothing will change concerning this action until it is bought to the highest levels in government. We need nationwide action. We need the U.S. attorney general of the Department of Justice to deal with the issue of police brutality once and for all. Thousands of people are being murdered whose cases we know nothing about because they don’t have the ability to have their tragedy highlighted in the media." [Emphasis mine.]
This is the News Chanel Three's report:
EUREKA - Every October, protests are held nationwide to end police brutality. For 19 years, the annual event has taken place on October 22. But for protestors on the North Coast, one day is not enough. They continued their march through the night on October 22 and into the 23. 
“If a civilian accidentally kills someone, they're first arrested. And we're seeing this across America now, that when it's an officer that kills someone, even when it's an accident, there's no arrest,” one protestor said. 
The rain didn’t stop this local group from joining the national effort against police brutality and bringing justice on a local level. 
“Yesterday was the national days of protest and today we also protest in Eureka on October 23 because on October 23, 2006, Christopher Burgess, a 16 year old person in our community was shot and killed,” another protestor said. 
They protest for Burgess and also for Tommy McClain, another victim in an officer involved shooting in September. 
“We have to change this. We have to start holding the police accountable so that in the future, they will show restraint when dealing with members of the community rather than treating people like they're in a combat zone,” the protestor added. 
The protestors are carrying their message on posters starting in Arcata Wednesday morning, with an all night vigil at Cesar Chavez Park over the night, and finishing in Highland Park Thursday evening. 
“Living here long enough, I’ve seen this happen again and again and it keeps happening and keeps being perpetuated because there's no recourse. There's no accountability for the officers,” the protestor said. 
And they march with a mission. One stop along their way was at the coroner’s office to petition an inquest into the death of Tommy McClain. 
“We just want the judicial system to treat the police like they treat anyone else who was accused of a murder, especially if there is evidence proving that that person did murder someone,” the protestor said. 

eureka
exclamation
a cry of joy or satisfaction when one finds or discovers something.

Eureka effect
From Wikipedia
The eureka effect, also known as the aha! moment, refers to the common human experience of suddenly understanding a previously incomprehensible problem or concept.

[Picture Source]
--Joe

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Police Chief Andrew Mills Pulls A Fast One On Eureka

Chief Mills commits Eureka to his planned method of operation for policing the city or, the whole thing was a ruse to make Eureka believe they had some say. Either way, the people of Eureka got a fast one pulled on them. At least, on the face of it, I'd say that's how it looks as recently reported by one of the participants. The North Coast Journal's Thadeus Greenson reports his austere opportunity to contribute to Eureka's betterment by accepting Chief Mills invitation to sit on and participate in the selection of and recommendations for promotion of captains from within the E.P.D. in his Saturday, October 18, 2014 "Police Promotions." A distinctive opportunity, in and of itself, that should not compromise anyone's integrity.

No mention in that article if that process involved the individual police officers or their involvement in the latest shooting death of Tommy McClain or even if that was an issue. Of note, neither was there a mention by the Tuluwaa Crybabies, Eureka's leading wannabe authority on all matters ethical, moral and just in their response: In A Deft Move, Mills Manages To Compromise The Only Reporter Questioning The Allard St Murder. They, as usual, miss the forest for the tree and managed to skew Thadeus Greenson for participating - totally missing the real issue of importance as they join Chief Mill's compromising of all Eureka residents as exposed by these people's fast one of their own. 

I've had Thadeus Greenson number for a long time. I've written about his contradictory, conflicted and compromised reporting for years. So, what's the problem with the Tuluwaa Crybabies that they are, admittedly, just now getting somewhat of a picture of his true nature? His hypocrisy rivals only theirs. Eureka's police problems have hardly anything to do with wouldbe ingratiated police captains or their buddy Thadeus Greenson. Either way Eureka, you're committed now. Whatever happens, it won't be Chief Andy Mills fault. Just as it is no one's fault but Tommy McClain's for what happened to him. Get the picture?
--Joe

Saturday, October 11, 2014

A Lesson In Hypocrisy - No Justice For Tommy McClain

[UPDATE :: Take a look at Eureka's morally & ethically corrupt - read the comments too.] NOTE: Be aware, the people that write this referenced blog are NOT champions of truth, transparency or law. Eureka Police Chief Andrew Mills is only a symptom of the disease. He merely represents the Eureka Elite's Imperialist Ways to control and dictate. The death of that boy was initiated by the thuggish bullying of those officers to enforce their legitimacy. While Chief Mill's EPD is waging war consistent with what his predecessors did for decades on: "So….be careful Eureka. Chief Mills has made it clear. The poor, the homeless, and the downtrodden will face the new wrath of Mills EPD" it is every person that lives, works and comes into or passes through Eureka that is in mortal danger. It is NOT about "Mills EPD is about getting rid of those who don’t fit in." "Those who don't fit in" are obviously no threat to the EPD or the Eureka Elite. It IS about forcing everyone to submit to their right to enforce the law as THEY want - the way that legitimizes and protects them.


Murder is a crime. It is as simple as that. Normally criminals are arrested, charged, judged, convicted and then sentenced, or not, if found innocent. That is, unless you are a police officer.

Once again the Tuluwaa Crier spouts the euphemistic needs to deal with the contradictions, and disparities of Eureka Police Chief Andrew Mill's responses to and resolution of the police killing of Tommy McClain as expounded in their latest post based upon the article written October 9, titled, "Unanswered" in the North Coast Journal: EXPERT: “IT’S A BAD SHOOTING, PERIOD”. (THE DEATH OF TOMMY MCCLAIN).

While their observation about local interest and media coverage is spot on and works for a police chief working to absolve his officers of any crimes, they leave the serious, concerned reader rather empty. They would have the reader believe they are the only ones in Eureka that really care. Yet, while they tout the need for justice and truth this is the best they can come up with:
The only way for at least some of the truth of this murder to be brought to light is for the McClain family to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the City. Even though this Chief and the officers involved in this tragedy may never face consequences within EPD, maybe some justice can be brought forth in the civil court system. [Emphasis mine]
What happened to truth and justice through criminal prosecution of the law? Did they forget about the law? What nonsense is this, "never face consequences within EPD"? Like never get fired? Taking the matter to civil court, providing they are successful, forces the tax-paying people of Eureka to pay for this crime. Once again reinforcing police impunity in Eureka, guaranteeing more killings of innocent people. This dodge is nothing more than tacit support for Andrew Mills, the Eureka Police Department and the Eureka Status Quo. They are slick. The Tuluwaa Crier are as two-faced hypocrites as you can get.
--Joe

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Sad Day - Sad People In Eureka

[UPDATE :: Really Sad & Sick] Classic bully tactic: Blame the Victim, compliments of EPD Chief Mills. (I just love it when I'm right - and I usually always am.)

Where is the outrage? Where are the demonstrations? Where is the demand for justice? Where are the hard questions? When it comes to the death of 22 year old Tommy McClain over a toy gun the whole population has gone off hiding in the hills. The newspapers say nothing, no one writes letters to the newspapers, or expresses any outrage on the local blogs. Aside from the straight-line “press release” reporting of a couple of local blogs duplicating the Times-Standard newspaper rendition, I've only found a couple of rather blasé, if not status quo postings, their names are listed in previous postings. A goodly portion of the comments on those blogs explains why there is no outrage. One calloused and differential commentor summed it up like this: “Sometimes bad things happen.” And that's that... 

Yesterday, after reading the headline report in the Times-Standard newspaper, “Chief: Facts Support Officers' Actions,” I easily formulated what I wanted to write. To say the least, I was angry – angry at the sickness that permeates this town – and I'm not talking about the Eureka Police Department or the new Police Chief, Andrew Mills. I'm talking about the people of Eureka embracing the previous Police Chief Murl Harpham's philosophy of “tough cop” thuggery that motivates and permeates almost all police action as a matter of standard policy. And that is just REALLY sad.

Sad, because these are the visible symptoms of a form of cancer or ebola that is devouring the life of this community and threatens us all. Yeah! “Sometimes bad things (do) happen.” And when you do not enforce justice and eradicate the lawless corruption and the “incompetence” bad things happen to you and your family, not to mention, everyone else. Apparently, that's okay with most everyone.

I received a query from Tommy McClain's family the other day, before Andrew Mill's Wednesday, October 1, 2014 farce. For me, my comment in response just about says it all. Here are the two postings:
Nikki: thank you for following this we are angry and want answers for tommy. please feel free to message me with your ideas about what we should do. no one seems to really know what to do. Nikki Mottern

Me: Nikki, appreciate your post. An email address would have helped. 
I know what I would do, what I've done, but that's me. The first thing you must do to get control is accept reality for what it is. I know you believe in and trust our system of government, respect its authority and hope, in the end, justice will prevail. The “answers” you seek are NOT for Tommy, they are for everyone. That's what I mean by accepting reality. Until then, the criminals have the upper hand. 
The problem is, there may be nothing that you can do about “answers.” You can fight for justice and see that the law is enforced. In so doing, hopefully, you will have a lot of community support. I know you have mine. Where is the District Attorney, the State and Federal Attorneys General? Where are the people of Eureka? Everyone needs transparency; we need to know what is happening. Make available to the newspapers what is and is not forthcoming from the EPD and Mills.  
We, the people of America and this planet are at war. Not some bogus war on terror in a far away land, but with the One Percent that owns and controls the Governments and their militarized police that have abrogated all law with their impunity. In war people, good people, die. Accept that fact and you will adjust your thinking and actions accordingly; in other words, you will know what to do. I wish you much success.

[UPDATE :: NO Outrage Here]

Why Eureka is sick, socially, morally, ethically, religiously and politically. This empty thesis from a commenter, while somewhat valid, is a poor excuse for a socially and ethically driven blog. These people, the so-called Examiner "staff" and their cadre of commenters exhibit the same characteristics that caused that boys death. They summarily execute anyone they want that has the misfortune to comment on their blog and does not do or say what they want no matter the reason, just like those cops did that night to Tommy McClain. They enforce the same egotistical, arrogant Imperialistic mentality as the EPD - Immediately do what you are told or die. That's why this posting by “Not a native” is mostly a sham: THE KILLING OF TOMMY MCCLAIN; NO, WE WON’T BE QUIET and in its own way justifies what I said. Couldn't be any more explicit than in the comments. Where is the OUTRAGE? What some of these people say is OUTRAGEOUS!
Joe says: The only actual, real "threat" the boy posed is the one that existed solely in the minds of those paranoid police officers. He had no deadly weapon in his hand. He did not demonstrate any intent to threaten; he wasn't pointing a toy gun at anyone. He was shot, NOT for what he DID, but for what those sick cops thought or believed; their worthless opinions conjured up in their minds. And that is the danger we are all threatened with. Not what you are actually doing, but what these cops "think" you are doing.
So, now you know the sick reason why the boy was really killed and what's really going on in Eureka. If you are not scared to death of these people, you should be. Your life hangs in the balance.
--Joe

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Sad Day In Eureka

CHIEF: FACTS SUPPORT OFFICERS ACTION - So they say...

EPD Chief: Shooting Appears Justified - So says the Journal...


What justifies the use of deadly force, the killing of Tommy McClain is his legitimate and viable threat to the officer's lives. Where was that threat in a toy BB gun?

They did not even know it was a "gun" or anything else until they confronted him at gunpoint. Why, then, did they confront him at gunpoint? He demonstrated or posed no actual physical threat to anyone. The toy gun was still in his belt when they shot him - all he did was supposedly "lower" his arms, not grab for some mythical gun. If he had his arms in the air as reported, then told to "drop the gun" he would have to drop his arms to remove it from his belt. Did he get killed for doing what he was told to do? Even so, in everything reported, where is the actual demonstrated "threat to life" or person in what the boy did? The only demonstrated "threat" to anyone came from the police. I see no reasonable justification for confronting the boy in the first place.

The only actual, real "threat" the boy posed is the one that existed solely in the minds of those paranoid police officers. He had no deadly weapon in his hand. He did not demonstrate any intent to threaten; he wasn't pointing a toy gun at anyone. He was shot, NOT for what he DID, but for what those sick cops thought or believed; their worthless opinions conjured up in their minds. And that is the danger we are all threatened with. Not what you are actually doing, but what these cops "think" you are doing.

The people of Eureka should by real proud of their new police chief, Andy Mills. He has solidified Murl Harpham's legacy police department by making it an ISIL style terrorist organization. If this boy's death is actually "justified," then everyone in Eureka lives here at their own peril. Know this, every time you have need for police protection, or call on them for help for any reason, you run the risk of dying. If you are stopped or confronted for any reason, a bitchy neighbor complains about you or you run a stop sign, you run the risk of dying. You don't have to take my word for it either. Forget the outrage. Just bury your dead.

So, good luck neighbors. You wanted tyranny. Well, now you got it.


[UPDATE]
AN UNLOADED BB PISTOL….REALLY! THAT’S ALL THEY GOT? - Some thought from the Tuluwat worth considering. Read the comments, specially the moronic response that is so typical of Eureka from Mitch. Since when did Tommy McClain BECOME an "armed suspect"? When did he become a "suspect" of anything? If fellow officers have the "suspect" at gunpoint, why did he feel he needed to intercede with deadly force? Why did those officers have Tommy McClain at gunpoint in the first place?
--Joe

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Outrageous Nonsense


[UPDATE :: Boy killed over a BB gun

Then there is this inconsistent, contradictory and convoluted nonsense coming from the Eureka Police Department and the Times-Standard today: Autopsy finds man was killed by gunfire; police chief to release more info on Wednesday. This is the same kind of reporting used at all past similar killings.

Here's just one example, "McClain was fatally shot by a Eureka police officer at around 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 17 as officers were searching the area for two suspects wanted on felony arrest warrants." This statement is factually incorrect based upon subsequent reports, detailing where Mills says at least two were directly involved and possibly four officers - ALL of them firing their weapons. The above quote is also misleading in that the boy had nothing to do with why (felony arrest warrants) the officer called for backup as detailed in the press release.

The press release states he was shot because he made a grab for the gun. ("As officers gave commands to the man with the gun which was now visible, the subject grabbed for the gun. ") Now they say he was ordered to "drop the gun." You can't grab and drop a gun at the same time. These are just two examples.

When I first read the article I thought Thadeus Greenson had written the article. It seems the newspaper replaced him with another incompetent nincompoop named Will Houston. Lets see what kind of a convoluted story they can come up with today to bias the public and defend the police officers.
--Joe