February 21, 2008

Letter to DC Police Chief - Chief Lanier

After I ran the post about the vandalism of the recruting station at 14th and L, I waited a while to calm down and then I fired off an email to Chief Lanier, Chief of Police of the DC Police Department (Metropolitan Police Department). That email follows:

Chief Lanier,

This morning I ran a story [Link] about an act of violence that occurred on the evening of the 14th of February primarily the vandalism of the recruiting station located at 14th and L streets. While that in itself is not unusual what is unusual is that it has been reported that Metro DC Police officers stood by and allowed it to occur. Is this a new policy of the Metropolitan Police Officers to allow property to be vandalized as an act of civil disobedience?

Considering that the vandals have not only provided audio and visual evidence of their vandalism but are also bragging about their ability to roam at will and do as they wish within the limits of the District what can we expect the Metropolitan Police
Department to do about their violent acts?

It is also my understanding that sworn officer of the law who witnesses a crime being committed and decides not to act is in violation of not only DC law but also the Police Officers Oath of Office. The officers of the metropolitan Police Department have sworn an oath to defend not only the Constitution and laws of the District of Columbia but also the Constitution of the United States. How does allowing the property of another be destroyed by rampaging vandals defend any of those compacts?

Chief Lanier, are you going to take action against the officers who stood idly by and allowed the recruiting center to be vandalized?

Are you going to investigate this crime and arrest the culprits who conveniently have provided you with their photographs and audio of their vandalism?

Link to vandals web page: http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/142455/index.php

I await your reply.

David M
Editor: The Thunder Run


I will update if and when I receive a reply.

Related:
Berkeley and now D.C.!

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