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Author Topic: Are Gretna PD first responders?  (Read 321 times)

Offline BTW

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Are Gretna PD first responders?
« on: September 26, 2005, 03:25:31 PM »
Chairboy

>>My beef was specifically with the Gretna PD, who were not first responders, as they stayed in their town.<<

>>BTW, find a single reference in this entire BBS where I have lied and I'll give you $10. <<

The rest of your flame is edited so no one has to lock this thread.
I said you lied or "at best, misrepresented."

Stating the Gretna PD is not a first responder is a blatant misrepresentation or lie or untruth (take your pick). Gretna PD is a police department and a first responder in every sense of the idea, everyday and particularly during Katrina.

Lets have no personal insults  so this thread isn't closed.

Donate the $10  to the Katrina fund.
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Offline Chairboy

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Are Gretna PD first responders?
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2005, 03:45:35 PM »
Howdy!  I didnt' mean to flame, I just think it's mean spirited to call me a liar.  Please, give me a link where I lied, it ain't gonna happen.

To me, a first responder in this context was defined as someone who went into the flooded area to offer aid to the folks trapped there.  If the Gretna PD did this, then I take it back, but I'd like a citation please.

With respect, civility is a two person deal.  It won't work if I'm the only fella doing it.

Thanks!
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Offline BTW

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Are Gretna PD first responders?
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2005, 04:21:54 PM »
Could you possibly name any other city's primary police department that is not a first responder? Who would they send before the police? You did not see what the Gretna  PD did or did not do because no news agency has decided they wanted you to see.  

Here's an idea if you really want to find out and not perpetuate a story that is unsubstantiated. Go to the forum section of http://www.wwltv.com and look for the Jefferson Parish- West Bank forum in the forum list. Explain in that forum why you don't think Gretna Police department is a first responder. I'm sure many can answer your questions about the Gretna PD during hurricane Katrina. There's a grand place to fact check your bridge story.

Hope this is civil.
« Last Edit: September 26, 2005, 04:24:03 PM by BTW »
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Offline Chairboy

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Are Gretna PD first responders?
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2005, 04:43:11 PM »
Thankfully, the story continues to develop.  There's no argument that the confrontation on the bridge DID happen, as was reported before (and despite BTW's anxious assertions to the contrary), but there was definitely more to the story then we originally heard.

http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-oppag254440368sep25,0,4441443.story?coll=ny-viewpoints-headlines

According to this 9/25 story, Gretna was helping in the beginning, but as the rumors grew, they became wary, and then officials on the other side started sending people over in organized groups, which Gretna felt was an 'unfunded mandate'.  That's when they barricaded the bridge.  So, Gretna did a lot of good before things got bad, and I'm guessing race was not the driving issue, which I'm glad to hear.  The fact that they allowed people in cars (but not pedestrians) still saddens me, because there seems to be a definite class-ism issue here, but that's still socially acceptable.

For BTW, I have a request: wait a few minutes after reading this before you respond.  We can definitely have this conversation in a civil manner, and 'lightning rebuttals' seem to hurt that.

Regards,

cb
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Offline Flatbar

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Are Gretna PD first responders?
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2005, 05:05:43 PM »
IIRC, all sworn PD officers in the US have to have basic HAZWOPER tranining. That training, once completed, gives those who pass the final exam a rating of FRO, or First Responder Operational.

I very well could be wrong about this, but if I am it is my opinion that all PD officers should have at least a FRO rating.
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Offline Chairboy

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Are Gretna PD first responders?
« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2005, 05:15:26 PM »
Agreed, police are qualified to be first responders.  My assertion in the other thread was that the Gretna PD did not enter New Orleans, but I now realize that I have no evidence to back this assertion up other than what I've read in the news about Gretna's lock-down.  

It's very possible that they were over there helping the first few days, and that the story just hasn't made it out yet.

I felt that BTW was turning my specific criticism of Gretna's PD into a general attack against police and firefighters, which was definately not my intention, and I thought was clear by my posts, but it's worth saying again if, despite what I've written before, there's still any confusion.
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Offline BTW

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Are Gretna PD first responders?
« Reply #6 on: September 26, 2005, 05:36:44 PM »
If there were no post stating Gretna Police fired over the heads of refugees and turned back children who were tired and thirsty, I'd say they would have be no argument. That was the argument. I said it didn't happen. I also stated the press was responsible for wild rumors circulating. I said that Gretna Police transported evacuees on buses to the airport and the Alario Center. That's what I said, and I said it 2 weeks ago. I said an NOPD police officer was shot in the head by looters and valiant Gretna Police officers apprehended the 4 suspects and the gun. I also gave you a link where you could find very local information on what the Gretna Police dept did and is still doing in this disaster. I have no problem with my defense of the Gretna Police nor anything I've posted.

Now you post the story that started this may be wrong.

I have no response for you:(
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Offline Chairboy

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Are Gretna PD first responders?
« Reply #7 on: September 26, 2005, 06:08:19 PM »
I apologize if my post wasn't clear.  The police DID turn people back on the bridge, and that really isn't up for argument as they have agreed themselves that this is true.  Please explain why you keep arguing this, I'm lost.

The post just says that they were doing good stuff for three days BEFORE they blocked the bridge for refugees and fired over peoples heads.

With respect, I feel that you are misrepresenting my post, and in the interest of civility, I ask that you cease.

Regards,

cb
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Offline Holden McGroin

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Are Gretna PD first responders?
« Reply #8 on: September 26, 2005, 06:42:26 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Chairboy
My assertion in the other thread was that the Gretna PD did not enter New Orleans...


As the hurricane also went through Gretna,  I would assume that Gretna has some public safety issues as well.  It would be my assumption that the Gretna police are paid by the taxpayers of Gretna to be first responders in Gretna.
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Offline Chairboy

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Are Gretna PD first responders?
« Reply #9 on: September 26, 2005, 06:45:38 PM »
I agree, and that's fine.  My criticism has been of Gretna PDs turning back of people on the bridge, and I BTW has been interpreting that to suggest that I have a problem with the first responders in New Orleans.

Hope this helps!
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Offline Holden McGroin

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Are Gretna PD first responders?
« Reply #10 on: September 26, 2005, 06:51:44 PM »
Quote
first posted in locked thread by Chairboy
It looks like rumors spread out of control, and a lot of people heard what they wanted to hear, which is itself awful sad.  


Are you at all sure they closed off the bridge?
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Offline Chairboy

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Are Gretna PD first responders?
« Reply #11 on: September 26, 2005, 06:54:21 PM »
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Offline Holden McGroin

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Are Gretna PD first responders?
« Reply #12 on: September 26, 2005, 07:06:41 PM »
Wow... sorry, didn't mean to hit a nerve, but news stories were written about this also...  

Quote
from your locked thread
In interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Compass reported rapes of "babies," and Mayor Ray Nagin spoke of "hundreds of armed gang members" killing and raping people inside the Dome. Unidentified evacuees told of children stepping over so many bodies, "we couldn't count."


The New York (I think it was) Post erroneously reported 10,000 deaths within a few days of Chernobyl.

Even if the basic fact is correct that the bridge was blocked, and I am not arguing that, the msnbc article you linked said

Quote
Blockading the bridge “wasn’t a unilateral decision by the city of Gretna,” Harris said, “but by a joint decision between the Jefferson Parish sheriff’s office, the city of Gretna and the Crescent City Connection police, which is a division of the state department of transportation.”  


So the thought that the decision was somehow an evil or underhanded decision by the GPD may be misguided.
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Offline BTW

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Are Gretna PD first responders?
« Reply #13 on: September 26, 2005, 07:06:59 PM »
Yea, I get it. The looters may have been photographed or captioned wrong. But the Gretna police was definitely acting with malice. Yea I get it. I'd post about those awful Gretna police officers at the link I gave you. Here- hardly anyone knows them so you can say anything. At the link I gave you, the people live and work with them. I'm just not sure what you are doing.

Where I live, police officers try to save lives. You seem to think they are involved in scandal but have no proof of it. Its really sad if you had any idea of their sacrifice over the last month.

I gave you the best way I know to find real answers if you have legitimate questions. But if you just want to hammer on the Gretna PD here, where only one person is close enough to take you to task, well go ahead. I'm sure there's not a policeman out there you haven't made friends with. Yea, giving your all is never enough. You have to deal with reporters trying to out sell the next tabloid rag. Weeeee, its America- land of opportunity and filth.
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