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Post by Sir Trevor on Aug 3, 2009 17:35:41 GMT -5
Do not blame the officers that are on the grounds serving these summons.
They are just doing their job.
I know at least some of them would much rather be doing something else, hell, anything else.
They are not the bad guys. They are just following orders.
We have all seen some of these officers around our faire for years now. They enjoy being there (when not forced to do this crap)
So, do not displace your anger.
It's not their fault.
It's the trustees fault.
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Post by Lady Catharine on Aug 3, 2009 17:54:40 GMT -5
thank you Trevor! I was very very angry yesterday- I looked @ Officer Bob, and said to myself-'how can u do this"? He had been escorting the walking pen. He made lite of the situation with me, guess it was that transparent  At that point I really give a rats backside....I walked it off,and shrugged it off.. Listen, It ain't Over TILL ITS OVER!!! AND KNOW U THIS>>>WE WILL HAVE A FAIRE IN the 10 season> Mark my words!!!! |
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Post by Dillasandra on Aug 3, 2009 21:19:58 GMT -5
Yeah, I really can't see poor Officer Bob enjoying this. He's a great guy, and has been at the Faire about as long as the Faire has been there! Sometimes 'just doing your job' really sucks!
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Post by Capt. Morgan on Aug 3, 2009 21:29:55 GMT -5
They do seem to be "pawns" in this game as much as playtrons and patrons and I think that's the thing that cheeses me off the most....that these people will abuse and misuse their power and turn us into playing pieces for their benifit against something we hold dear. Perhaps the "Chess Match" at Faire has taken on a whole different light....
The odd feeling when word spread thru the Faire that the cops were citing people and that Check point(s) had been set up kinda put a whole "Helms Deep" feeling about the place....that we were being held "prisoner" by people not even present...We had come to that place we love, for safety and for fellowship and that we had been "cornered". We were being used, judged and manipulated in hopes that we would prove "useful" in their fight against the very thing we would fight for. I just can't fathom nor do I appreciate being viewed as something to be used as "leverage" against people I consider my "family" and a place I go to to escape the very pettiness and arrogance they are now infusing in the Faire. Dear gods....are these small minded people so arrogant as to think that the law was put there for them to play demi-gods and make everyone live the life they choose and deem acceptable?
Yes, there is doing "your job"...and then there's doing "your job" within the law...if there is no precidence for the citations they were handing out, then I feel they needed to question the directive because I'm sure the Trustee's will throw them under the bus if things start getting iffy. Then again, maybe the cops knew exactly what they were doing and that was giving us "ammo" to present to the court.
Two sided coin...
As to how things run in a township...how do they run? Is there a Mayor? What power does the Chief of Police have? Is there a Chief of Police? (as a retired Aux. cop of 15 years I've seen Chief's back the Mayor AND the City Council down...but I guess I was just lucky to work under someone like that) Who, basically calls the shots or is this whole fiasco an answer and it's the trustee's? How "clued in" (clueless) are the residents to this and whom do they side with?
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Post by bunbun / Hank on Aug 3, 2009 22:27:35 GMT -5
Capt. Morgan. Having lived in a "Township" for the past 36 years maybe I can enlighten everyone how they work. First, there is no Mayor. You have a group of individuals known as the Township trustees who make the decisions.
As to a police chief....maybe, maybe not. In Russell Township where I lived for 30 years, we had our own police department. In Huntsburg township where I reside at present the County Sheriff's department is our law enforcement agency. I do not believe Trumbull Township has their own police department. If a disturbance occurs within the community they call upon the Ashtabula Co Sheriff's department.
Townships power is governed by the constitution of the state of Ohio. Townships for example cannot enact an income tax like a village or city can. Maybe some of you more computer literate folks can look up the Ohio Constitution and see just what powers a township has, as these Bozo's seem to be greatly overstepping their boundaries.
HANK.
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Post by Capt. Morgan on Aug 4, 2009 7:35:54 GMT -5
Hank, Thanks for the info!  |
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Post by SwordSchoolGroupie on Aug 4, 2009 10:31:17 GMT -5
our township trustees (farmington) are in charge of the roads in the town like making sure they are paved and stuff. if anything bad happens we have to call 911 and they send in the sherriff's deputy who ask if our town is actually in Trumbull County. Our trustees have a meeting once a month but I didn't think that they had a lot of power to do a whole lot. The village of W. Farmington has the mayor, council, police, city water, cemetary association, etc etc.
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Post by blueguy on Aug 4, 2009 17:35:02 GMT -5
The police are not hired to question laws, they are hired to enforce them. This does not always mean that things go the way they should. These officers are aware of that and I'm certain they are not happy with it. I have never met a cop that enjoyed handing out citations for business violations and I doubt I ever will.
As mentioned at the top, these guys are just doing their job. Their job is to enforce a township resolution in this case. Right or wrong that resolution is currently legally binding until some judge says otherwise. Until then, they have to do their job.
Outside of that is the issue of the sobriety checkpoints. If you leave the faire behind the wheel and intoxicated, do you deserve to get busted for that and taken off the road? Yes, you actually do deserve that. It's safer for everybody that way. However, setting up these checkpoints NOW after years of not doing anything really makes it look like an intimidation tactic reserved for driving away our more casual guests.
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Post by Raini on Aug 5, 2009 9:18:30 GMT -5
Re: I agree check points do make the roads safer for all... and i do agree with the last statement
"However, setting up these checkpoints NOW after years of not doing anything really makes it look like an intimidation tactic reserved for driving away our more casual guests"
I attended on Sat and Sunday (Pirates Weekend) and no patrol car outside of faire (on main road) usually the car is positioned with lights on... used for safety or assuming to assist faire goers exiting/entering--- merging with traffic and to alert other drives coming over the hill to be careful.
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Post by Capt. Morgan on Aug 5, 2009 9:46:43 GMT -5
I agree as well...you drink you drive, you lose...and don't forget to use your seatbelt...but as I noted, since going to this Faire from Day 1...I have never been openly notified that there were Check points set up during the run of the Faire...and I know the volunteer Fire/EMT/Sherriff’s there…and yes, the Cop car outside of the Faire in the morning I am sure, is there to alert drivers not only about the Faire entrance but also to be aware of those turning into the Faire entrance. I’ve seen them at Michigan, ORF and Maryland…nothing unusual about that.
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Post by Kustom F/X on Aug 5, 2009 10:39:08 GMT -5
My father, grandfather, and great grandfather were all cops. Most of my friends are cops, and I can tell you for fact. Not a single one of them is enjoying this, I would bet they are all cussing the Trustees, and are pissed off. Who wants to walk around a fair, in a DARK BLUE, & Kevlar in that heat, giving citations to people who are only trying to make a buck? What they are doing is wasting even MORE tax money, that is a point someone needs to make at the town meeting. The average Officer makes $38k a year or roughly $18.50 an hour. Add the amount of hours they are spending at the Faire, and back at the station doing the paper work coupled with the cost of vehicle usage, and your talking some serious money. I know I don't post on here a lot, but I am friend with Hank & Bunny and I feel their passion for this, things like this are an abuse of power and make me insane. Just wanted my .02 Thanks for reading.
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Post by cheryl wagner on Aug 5, 2009 16:24:23 GMT -5
You are exactly right!
Now, I need to clarify something. First of all I apologize for writing so much and not breaking it down. My computer is down and I'm using the library and I'm on a 30 minute time limit and have had to type things more than once so tried to get as much in as possible. Breath and Slow Down, and make each subject a new thread.
Thank you for reminding me of this.
Next, I need to clarify that it is not 75 votes, as that would be illegal, it is 75 signatures on the form to file to run for Trumbull Trustees. I'm pretty sure this problem is solved and we will have TWO FIREMAN RUNNING to take back our fire department. I can't get into the details, just trust me on this on. I know there are millions more votes, but this is Board of Elections policy and they will throw it out and that will not do us any good.
Also, just a reminder, it would not be good for any of us to be in costume, NO ONE, it just sends the wrong message that we are a bunch of freaks and want more attention than the cause we are fighting for. I know you all mean well, and I love to dress up also, and all of you deserve awards for just being in costume. We hear your thoughts and agree for the good of what we are trying to do, PLEASE DON'T! We can't take it personal. However, it is about job security so it is personal and that is why we are doing all we are doing to help.
Thanks again to everyone! We are all hear for the same cause and you all deserve a trophey, so pat yourself on the back and each other for a job well done.
OK, I didn't confirm the hat thing yet, or the signs of the performers, this may be a personal thing and some performers may not want to be public as they may feel the publicity may do more harm than good. We can talk about this more.Talk amongst yourselves and I'll check my sources.
Thanks again for everything!
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Post by cheryl wagner on Aug 5, 2009 16:35:41 GMT -5
Ok, one more thing I forgot.
I did send a thank you card to the Sheriff Department and told them we appreciate their help, they really are on our sides and just doing their jobs. They will be out that evening helping to direct traffic and keep the peace. We are lucky to have these guys. They are not allowed to choose sides or make judgements , but many of them if not all are on our sides people. You have to believe that and give them a break.
So if someone gives you any info, make sure you follow up with a thank you card or box of chocolates. They will be much more willing to help you the next time. And also give Larry and Cindy our love as this mayhem has to be stressful on these guys, and don't forget the girls in the office who answer all the calls and do so much more. I love you guys and really appreciate all of you!
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Post by Sir Trevor on Aug 5, 2009 17:23:42 GMT -5
since going to this Faire from Day 1...I have never been openly notified that there were Check points set up during the run of the Faire... That is because it is something new. Either started this year, or towards the end of last year. It is being funded by some kind of grant that makes it possible. And it is being done all over the county. I know for a fact they have been done in Conneaut, Ashtabula City, Andover, and Geneva in the past. |
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Post by Sir Trevor on Aug 5, 2009 17:25:28 GMT -5
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