In todays news, a San Marcos police officer who was the subject of national media attention for delaying a couple racing their dying dog to a emergency pet clinic, has been suspended for violation of police policy on the use of force. The officer is alleged to have used his baton on a woman and then lying by saying she had tripped and fell. Police Chief Howard Williams suspended officer Paul Stephens and said "The chain of command cannot depend on an officer who has a history of not telling the truth."

I ask the question in here, does anyone thinks the newspaper should not have printed this story, and if not, why?

The complete story can be found at:

http://www.statesman.com/news/content...

MZ Mizer,
That's a good suggestion we'll have to discuss. I agree we need more focus on keeping Victoria beautiful.

MBB3,
The police department just recognized the Advocate for its efforts to inform the public about safety issues. These stories about day-to-day crime perhaps don't attract as much attention. We have no desire to stir the pot. It boils plenty without any help from us.

Chris the Advocate only prints the 5% you refer to and what about the 95% aaaaahhhhhhh well thats to boring for your readers and wouldn't make it newsworthy.....after all stirring the pot is much juicier than a story that shows the good they do at the 95%. What the Advocate is doing is blatant and the Advocate DOES print what will stir the pot when it comes to the VPD.

Of course John!!!!

What the public thinks about the police and how they do their work is of concern to us all. If the public percieves alienation from the police, that is a sign that something is broken beyond a window. Most of the comments in this forum sound genuine to me. Will Rodgers kind of had a knack for putting things in perspective, "If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there."

I have had issues with the VPD and the way they handle things for a while now anyway, so this doesn't surprise me. I was shopping once and came outside of the store to find that one of my tail lights had been busted out. I still had to drive home, seeing as I wasn't going to call a wrecker to take my car away for a busted tail light. The store was 2 minutes from my house anyway. But as soon as I pulled out onto the street, a cop pulled me over. He told me he saw I had a tail light out, and I explained it just occurred in the parking lot I pulled out of. Keep in mind, I am always respectful and polite, and showed no sign of agitation for being pulled over. The officer then had me exit my vehicle and made me sit on my back bumper while he shined his flashlight in my car and walked all the way around it, leaving everyone passing on the street to assume I was being searched. I said nothing and let him do his business. Was this really necessary for a broken tail light? Honestly?? Then at the end of the humiliation, he wrote me a ticket that ended up costing $100 something. I was 2 MINUTES from my house and I can't exactly fix the tail light the moment it happens--I do sort of have to drive home first, hello. And why was I searched? This isn't even the only incident I've had with them. I witnessed a cop at the mall telling a teenager to turn down his music one time. The kid was 16 at the most. He did as the officer asked, and was about to ask a him a question just as the officer opened his mouth (classic case of both starting to speak at the same time, it happens) and the cop told him to "Shut the f*ck up while I'm talking you, you understand me?" What? The kid looked terrified. Was that necessary to speak to a teenager that way? VPD have some issues.

TNT...Headine: "Officer was issueing a ticket for an illegally parked car at 123 Wildwood St. while a home invasion robbery was occurring at 321 Wildwood St. While the officer was making Victoria safe from trucks parked with a bumper over the sidewalk, thieves tied up the family and stole several thousand dollars worth of stereo and television equipment from the house two blocks away. By the time police arrived at the scene of the break-in, the bandits had made good their escape. Kinda makes the officer issueing a parking ticket down the street seem like a waste of time and effort. This is not a far fetched scenario, but still something to think about.

TNT..."wayward, since you seem to have it all figured out, tell me what the city should do with our high crime areas?"

Okay. They can start by looking for REAL criminals comitting real crimes, not by handing out PARKING TICKETS. They can make their presence known without dinging honest people in their own yards and driveways. The police can saturate an area with frequent patrols. Cheap shot parking tickets don't make a neighborhood safe. Heck, maybe sergents can get off their backsides at the station and into a car and add some numbers to patrols. Perhaps this is the reason crime is prevalet in Victoria -- parking and traffic offenses generate fines; felonies don't.

Willie...""Recently police officers went down our street telling residents that we are now under a zero-tolerance policy," Andrea Clay said.

Sounds like a warning to me."

It sounds more like a threat to me. Look, I know the law says that ignorance of a law is no excuse, but nobody -- NOBODY -- can know all the laws. Taken together, felony and misdemeanor laws number in the thousands. Some are vastly more important than others. Several people on this forum, including myself, have admitted that they didn't know about this rather obscure one. If people are asking for help from the police for a problem with gangs or drug dealers or general thugs shooting up their neighborhood, I don't think they're expecting a rash of PARKING TICKETS to stop the problem.

Gabe and Chris,
After reading all the comments, I would like to see the Advocate do, is a story about what the most common law violations/city code violations complaints are. How does one report one and to what city department. From trailers parked in the street to high grass to illegal parking. What is the departments protocol after the complaint is made.

I think that would open lots of peoples eyes. Many people aren't aware of a law or just don't give a flip. For those who are complaining about their neighborhoods, they will know what city department to complain to & how a complaint is handled.

What's the saying, oh yea, Keep Victoria Beautiful.

How do we make our neighborhood 'zero tolerance'? Hell drive around and all you see is boats parked on the street or side of the house, 3 cars in the driveway parking into the street. AWFUL!!!!! Then look at the vehicles parked azz backwards facing against traffic. WHY???? Since some live in more affluent neighborhoods--we tend to look the other way! HHHHmmmm.....

One street in particular is Santa Fe in Cimarron/BellTower that road looks like a used car lot and you see jet skis, boats, RVs, numerous vehicles. WHY? I forgot, only the southside have criminals and need 'zero tolerance'. IMO, the City should give the Clay's back their money and use common sense and quit stereotyping the people due to location.

Did any of you stop to think that if the police write a few tickets for small violations, the word will spread that the police are patroling the area. Which will cut down on the crime.....They have their methods. I always find it funny the ones who bad mouth are usually the ones who call 911 everytime something small happens. You can bad mouth and call the police names, but they will always come to your aide if you need them, because that's what they do. If you think you can be a better cop then do so, otherwise be appreciative.

I would add to Gabe's comments that we certainly don't set out to make any public institution look good or bad. I'm not sure why this column would provoke such an online reaction, but I also would urge all involved to under-react to these comments. Many people have at some time in their lives received a ticket they thought was unfair. That doesn't make this particular ticket right or wrong.

As I've said to the police chief during our occasional talks, the media and the police work hand in hand at least 95 percent of the time to make the public aware of crime and ways to make their homes safer. It's only that 5 percent of the time where we run into conflict because the public expects us to check into their concerns about the police. Even that 5 percent doesn't have to be a conflict if both the police and the newspaper try to be fair and accountable.

Onlooker: Contrary to your post, the police chief e-mailed this morning and said he thought the story is fair. It's common for people we report on to let us know one way or the other how they feel about our reporting.

onlooker;

You hit the nail on the head.....The Advocate only promotes articles, blogs and breaking news that will shed a negative light at the VPD and they must need it like most TV stations need ratings. Shame on you Advocate remember "As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap" Why not in these hard times not put the GOOD things they do for Victoria. You only post what will create discord and like we need that now. Instead of promoting the paper to bring the community together you all use it to tear it apart even MORE!!! You all should be so proud at the Advocate. It shows how much you all really care for the community you live in and yes you have alot of control too bad discord is what the Advocate thrives on.

Semenza said "The purpose of this column and the online blog is to field questions and concerns from area readers, to open the topic to discussion, and to spotlight potential problems in our region".

What a bull crap line, the purpose was for the VA to stir controversy, by bringing all the Police haters on to this form anonomously bash the Police. It worked VA. You accomplished what you wanted.

If I were Chief Ure, I would totally cut off the VA. I would not even communicate with them, or allow Police staff to talk to them, as their obvious goal is to burn somebody whenever they can.
Let them get anything and EVERYTHING they think they need by the open records act, and by that way only.

This is whole thing is probably the best thing I have read on the Advocate....Ever. Keep blogging and whining citizens. BTW talking VS action, what makes changes?

Waywird,

They catch people all the time doing just that. Not everything is in the paper silly The Advocate goes to sleep at night, you should know that.

wayward, since you seem to have it all figured out, tell me what the city should do with our high crime areas? Half of these people brought this on there self for requesting "help" from the VPD. They should ban together and take back their neighborhood, so law enforcement doesn't have to hang around and look busy. I hear complaints but no solution.

mom..."If a automobile is parked on it than you have people walking in the street."

Okay, if that's really your point, what are you gonna suggest the revenue agency do about people who habitually walk/jog IN the street three feet from the sidewalk?

Please don't make it a safety issue, either. A Suburban is, what, six feet wide? You can't walk six feet without getting run over? Puleeze! It's a money grubbing scam and we all know it.

Sweet58..."I did not know that you could get a ticket for type of violation. I think the Clays should have gotten a written warning first."

I didn't know a person could be ticketed for this, either. But a written warning is out of the question with the Victoria Revenue Agency. They're not gonna use any ink and not collect money -- ain't gonna happen.

TNT..."I'll bet the Clay's will not be upset the next time shots are fired and PD is close at hand to make it a safer place."

How long has it been since they caught anybody who was shooting at houses? I don't know about the Clays, but I'd be REAL upset if gang bangers were shooting up the neighborhood and the cops were issueing tickets to parked cars instead of trying to catch the thugs. Then, again, parked cars don't shoot, do they?

Willie...."Sounds like Ure heard the residence asking for more police presence of which an officer issued a simple parking ticket after the area was warned of stepped up patrolling"

I doubt if the residents were asking for stepped up enforcement of parking laws if there is a problem with gang activity or drug sales or other problems that lead to firearms being discharged in the neighborhood. The cop was acting in his capacity as revenue agent and nothing else.

Sweet58..."

From reading the posts in this forum today, it appears there is a disconnect between the public and VPD. If the intent of VPD was trying to get the message out that you can be ticketed for blocking the sidewalk, they have been successful. If on the other hand, VPD was trying to strengthen community involvement and collaboration in fighting crime, the ticket backfired. The chief should know by now that when you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'. From time to time, I see other chiefs of police all across the country stepping up and admitting that one of their officers used poor judgment and they move on. I cite the recent ticket issued in Dallas for a person not speaking English. Our chief seems determined to make lemonade out of lemons. Why? Is the chief really that tone deaf to public sentiment?

I wish I could get the VPD to do their job in BellTower. My street has nothing BUT cars sticking out past sidewalks and parked along the street. Don't even get me started on trailers that are left on the street for days and the VPD being notified and never taking action. How about some zero tolerance over here!

Okay Hicktoria, just curious. Still friends, right?

Headlines: Officer Hounddog was issuing a citation for an illegally parked vehicle, at 123 wildwood st, when he noticed some suspicious activity going on at the rear of the Clay's residents, upon further investigation he found armed thugs attempting to break into the home, a struggle with shots fired ensued, with all being taken into custody...Kinda makes the officer being there doing his job at that time all worth it. This is not a far fetched scenario, but still something to think about...

Hey John123 - What is good for the goose is good for the gander! If they can play that stupid bust everyday; I can talk about it everyday.

Bottom line here is our police force is a joke when they pull things like this. I am sure they do follow through with real police work sometimes. However, it just seems that lately it has been focused on the lesser of two evils. Agree or not, that is just how I see it. Or at least how VA wants me to see it...

Good job VPD! I would rather them be giving warning tickets for first time offenders. This should be a wake up call for people who do this. The city had to spend a lot of money to make these sidewalks handicap accessible and for good reason. Most people know they should not park and block sidewalks but do it anyway with boats,campers and non-working cars. In the Eagle creek subdivision is a good example of violations. Wake up America, clean out your garages and park your vehicles in there where they belong. Improve your neighborhood and this City.

omg!! this is all so stupid.. blocking the side walk...issue a ticket..sounds to me they couldnt find anything else to write up.. Come on people there are so many more important things to be fighting for. A simple warning or verbal communication could have solved that problem... I know the Clay and it would have been done with no damn problem.. It makes me so angry to hear that all this drama over NOTHING!!! I too would have gone to work rather than fight.. we all need our paychecks in full! some people just dont get it! I cant stand tickets being given for crap like this...

Hicktoria,

Why do you bring up channel 15 all the time? Let it go already. And the video was actually on "Most Shocking" on tru tv along with several other chases. So what? Oh wait they shouldn't be chasing peope either!

the Clay's should have gotten a warning ticket first or a notice from the City Atty Office. While on City Codes what about these well-to-do real estate folks or business owner who let their grass get extremely high. DO they continuously pay their ticket. Yeah, right they never get one! I know its OK to cut a strip around the lot along the curb but that is only for 5 acres or more. 12" is 12" where is the Code Enforcement Officer doing now. Its even on Ch.15 like giving the Owners a 'headup' notice, do the same service for all other tacky ordinance.

I would fight it....where is the picture from PD as proof just for evidence? Since it probably won't go to court for several wks and all would have forgotten the exact spot. But for $188....

I wake up at night worried that someone somewhere is parked on a sidewalk. Come to think of it, I think it must have been the sound of gun fire. According to Crimereports.com Victoria has quite a few every month. Maybe a little investigative reporting to look and crime involving guns will tell us where our public safety tax dollars are being spent.

Zorro,
You said.........To now attempt in here to compare the Clays to a "crackhouse" is being disingenious.

The Clays live on Wildwood street as stated in the article. Read my thread, I said downtown area off Navarro. NO WHERE NEAR THE CLAY'S EVEN LIVE!!
I WAS NOT calling the Clay's residence a "Crackhouse" or even comparing it to one. Therefore, I was not being disingenious to the Clay's.
I was just stating our neighborhood problems and how VPD handled them and thanking them.

jhnsn283 - For the record I said, "Would you walk around it?" Not, Step over it. Could you not walk around the bumper? Heaven forbid its ok to step over dog poop, but not walk around a bumper... You say abide by the rules. I was simply suggesting that there may be a rule for dog poop as well. You better follow your own protocol and report that dog poop. After all it may make channel 15 along with their other notorious bust!! HA

continued...

§ 545.302. STOPPING, STANDING, OR PARKING PROHIBITED IN
CERTAIN PLACES.
(b) An operator may not, except momentarily to pick up or
discharge a passenger, stand or park an occupied or unoccupied
vehicle:
(1) in front of a public or private driveway;
(2) within 15 feet of a fire hydrant;
(3) within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection;
(4) within 30 feet on the approach to a flashing
signal, stop sign, yield sign, or traffic-control signal located at
the side of a roadway;
(5) within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to a fire
station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to a fire
station within 75 feet of the entrance, if the entrance is properly
marked with a sign; or
(6) where an official sign prohibits standing.
(c) An operator may not, except temporarily to load or
unload merchandise or passengers, park an occupied or unoccupied
vehicle:
(1) within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad
crossing; or
(2) where an official sign prohibits parking.
(d) A person may stop, stand, or park a bicycle on a sidewalk
if the bicycle does not impede the normal and reasonable movement of
pedestrian or other traffic on the sidewalk.
(e) A municipality may adopt an ordinance exempting a
private vehicle operated by an elevator constructor responding to
an elevator emergency from Subsections (a)(1), (a)(5), (a)(6),
(a)(9), (b), and (c).
(f) Subsections (a), (b), and (c) do not apply if the
avoidance of conflict with other traffic is necessary or if the
operator is complying with the law or the directions of a police
officer or official traffic-control device.
(g) If the governing body of a municipality determines that
it is necessary to improve the economic development of the
municipality's central business district and that it will not
adversely affect public safety, the governing body may adopt an
ordinance regulating the standing, stopping, or parking of a
vehicle at a place described by Subsection (a)(1), other than a road
or highway in the state highway system, in the central business
district of the municipality as defined in the ordinance. To the
extent of any conflict between the ordinance and Subsection (a)(1),
the ordinance controls.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended
by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 814, § 1, eff. June 18, 1999.

Suzy (anonymous) says...
ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law. Here are the rules, which makes all infractions equal under the law. You can't pick and choose which ones are more important than the others.

Texas Transportation Code - Section 545.302. Stopping, Standing, Or Parking Prohibited In Certain Places

§ 545.302. STOPPING, STANDING, OR PARKING PROHIBITED IN
CERTAIN PLACES. (a) An operator may not stop, stand, or park a
vehicle:
(1) on the roadway side of a vehicle stopped or parked
at the edge or curb of a street;
(2) on a sidewalk;
(3) in an intersection;
(4) on a crosswalk;
(5) between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or
within 30 feet of a place on the curb immediately opposite the ends
of a safety zone, unless the governing body of a municipality
designates a different length by signs or markings;
(6) alongside or opposite a street excavation or
obstruction if stopping, standing, or parking the vehicle would
obstruct traffic;
(7) on a bridge or other elevated structure on a
highway or in a highway tunnel;
(8) on a railroad track; or
(9) where an official sign prohibits stopping.

mbb3
mzmizer

The chief of police set the tone to the debate in this thread when he deliberately used the "broken window" theory to explain that he was sending a message to the Clays neighborhood by making an example out them. Thats on the record, so to speak. To now attempt in here to compare the Clays to a "crackhouse" is being disingenious. It has also been insuiated in here that speaking out about a perceived injustice is "making the Victoria PD the bad guys" and privacy laws somehow keep VPD from telling the whole story. If their is more to the story, and these people have truly done something wrong or illegal, to use your own words chief, "remedy lies in the judicial system." You can't have it both ways or it sounds like you are just making it up as you go along.

I am a bit confused, if the police warned that the neighborhood is under zero tolerance now what does that say for the rest of the city? Maybe I am wrong, but shouldn't there always be zero tolerance for everyone and every neighborhood? There should be the smae rules for everybody...that way everyone always knows how to play the game of life.

Hicktoria - that was absolutely the most unnecessary and immature comment I have read on this thread so far. There is no relevance and all your being is arrogant,childish, and unnecessary. You are another example of those who would choose to do illegal things rather than what the law clearly states. BTW, just to give some humor to your humorless comment. I would STEP OVER IT. However, if it was a vehicle I could not just STEP OVER IT. Your talking DOG S!#T vs a VEHICLE. COME ON!

In our downtown neighborhood, we had the problem of the neighborhood "crackhouse" guests parking on the wrong side of the road, blocking driveways, leaving beer cans in neighbors yards, just to mention a few of the things these fine upstanding crackheads do. Might not be a problem in some neighborhoods but being right off Navarro, it presented a safety/traffic hazard.
I talked to Chief Ure and we had a police present in our neighborhood, drove out the crackheads.
Also, found out several neighbors also made complaints about the same things.

You have to take the good with the bad.
We got the crackheads out, the neighbors banned together and watched and looked out after each other and their property. If we did the same violations that we were complaining about we were subjected to the same scrutiny.

Thank you Chief Ure and VPD for making our neighborhood safe again.

I don't get it! Advocate you guys love making the Victoria Pd the bad guys and you always know just how to put a play on words or blogs or whatever. To me this is the same as the DWI's alot of people have driven drunk but only a few get caught this is the same thing. The Victoria PD is full of hardworking men and women and if they gave the ticket and the Clays don't like it then they should have taken the time off to fight it if not quit crying or maybe their privacy is protected by the Victoria Pd and the REST of the story won't come out. Either way I respect what they do for the pay they get. The good stories never come out like when they remove a child from a meth house and treat them as if they were their own while they wait for CPS to come or how they comfort the families during a death or accident. They are human its time they get the respect they deserve. You all will complain about them and then turn and be the ones thanking God they were there when you needed them.........Yes please go ahead and post like crazy if you want to my post I don't care I know the truth.

It's a PUBLIC sidewalk people, what if your child had to go around it and was hit by some thug high on crack, which is why they have stepped up patrols in this area.I believe the neighborhood was warned..

I would have fought the ticket. Could someone please LEGALLY define where the sidewalk ends and where the driveway begins? If the sidewalk does not end and goes through the driveway, then many people are guilty on a daily basis for driving ON the sidewalk!

jhnsn283 - if you saw some dog poop on a sidewalk you were walking down; would you walk around it? Or, would you call VPD and have them call in a forensics team to have them analyze it to possibly find a matching dog in the area leading ultimately to the owner so a proper ticket could be given...

After all that poop would be a tripping/slipping hazard...

What "dollysdad" is saying is he doesn't care about his fellow residents and just wants his way and no other way matters. My "CHOICE" to have a truck that doesn't fit properly in my drivway is what's most important..not peoples safety and the "RIGHT" to have an unblocked sidewalk! Reasoning and the law are not in his capabilities. People like this are one BIG issue with society these days. And yes, this may be a little thing compared to other bigger issues, but it's all in the grand scheme of things like those who are incapable of being a courteous, caring, law abiding citizen.

"I’m fairly certain the intent of this "state code" is on busy commercial type areas where pedestrian traffic is widespread. One would have to dig way deep into the code book to find such.
To enforce it in a residential area is ridiculous."

Your right sidewalk nazi, to suggest kids would play on a sidewalk in a residential area is ridiculous, or to have the audacity to walk on a sidewalk on their way to school?

OMG!

“The issuance of this ticket was more akin to the military doctrine of deploying the use of overwhelming force.”

Parking ticket = overwhelming force

LOL

Did the Clays pay the fine? Or are the going to fight the ticket?

Anyone know the answer to this one?

APPLAUSE!!! dollysdad

Zorro...

The people in this area asked for a larger police presence to help them restore order their neighborhood. Before enforcement, a warning was given to residence. The Clays were issued a citation for a parking violation.

Sounds like Ure heard the residence asking for more police presence of which an officer issued a simple parking ticket after the area was warned of stepped up patrolling.

Your soap box is awfully small on this one.

This is misapplication of the broken window theory. A warning ticket would have accomplished the stated goal of Ure to fix the broken window. The issuance of this ticket was more akin to the military doctrine of deploying the use of overwhelming force. I can only assume it was done at the direction of the chief of police. Public trust in the fairness of police is far more important than being technically right. This might be a case of being penny wise and pound foolish. Chief Ure values being technically right over being righteous.

Small town cops with big town attitudes...

Chalk up another "amazing bust" for VPD. I hope that it also makes the Extreme Videos so we can all watch it over and over again on channel 15... Oh and do not forget the year plus stake out on the internet cafe. I am still amazed that it took them a year to prove that they were gambling for 5 bucks...

All the while we paid God knows how many of their salaries for this World breaking crime.

Hey VPD, why not start cracking down on people who walk their dogs and let them defaecate on peoples lawns...

I can see the blotter now... VPD stakes out local area resident and charges them with Doggie Doo Doo...

I did not know that law existed.. In my many years of being a home owner, I have probably violated that law many times, intentionally, unintentionally, or for a brief period of time...I think a knock on the door would've been sufficient but a warning ticket would not have been out of line.... As for the Giuliani, apples and oranges comparison,I don't think we need to go down that road; civil rights violations will eat into the city budget.

A lot of posters are suggesting that the Clays should have had a warning first.

"Recently police officers went down our street telling residents that we are now under a zero-tolerance policy," Andrea Clay said.

Sounds like a warning to me.

TNT,

Good post buddy. Still waiting on the tacos.

Either you want the police to do their job,or you don't.Some of you guys want it both ways, help me if I'm in trouble but look the other way if I do something wrong!

Has anyone ever thought that there were complaints made repeatedly? Sidewalks are there for a purpose and shouldn't be restricted. People in wheelchairs and mechanical chairs use them, people with strollers use them. A ticket was probably warranted.

Exresident: "For what it's worth, at least Ure admits he's going Guiliani on the good people of Victoria."

For what it's worth, crime rates dropped under Giuliani because of increased law enforcement.

Okay I just have to say this, PUBLIC SIDE WALK means that the public is to walk on the side walk. If a automobile is parked on it than you have people walking in the street.

Hello People!! You want a Bigger..better city??? You got it, with bigger better fines!!! Thats what happens. Sorry but read the news in all bigger cities.. tickets are easy way to make the city more money..People are always complaining ,but thats just life. I am not saying it is fair, but I am saying thats just what happens. So don't think the police are racial profiling either.It has nothing to do with race people..

How does giving a ticket for a non moving vehicle, no one inside, parked too far over the sidewalk making us any safer? I don't see Ure's point at all, All I see is the city wanting more and more money from us in this very hard time. They really need to out weigh serious from rediculious!

why are my comments always removed? come on Advocate..quit being so protective of your audience

VPD lacks common sense, a warning should have been given. Let's be fair across the board, go to upscale neighborhoods and start issuing tickets to those that can afford it, I mean safety is safety everywhere right?

Chief Ure is tone deaf to the public and incapable of accepting the fact that a police officer might make an error in judgment. His attitude seems to be that all citizens should suffer in silence any percieved misapplication of justice rendered by the police or to hire a lawyer and contest the ticket in court. How realistic is that? Chief Ure seems to be saying, in no uncertain terms, to not complain or question what a police office does, including himself, I would assume.

The truly troubling part of the statement from Chief Ure is his admonition to both the press and the people, to toe the line, and not complain.

Is there a reason why none of the police officers are patroling Cimarron or Downtown for "Parking Violators"?? Those places are DANGER ZONES.

I understand the reason for the ticket, but do not agree with it. It could have been worse, I almost went to jail for an overdue library book....

Honestly, a lot of people do not know that that parking that way is actually a violation. I lived in Houston for a few years and that was a big no no and a lot of people in the neighborhood really would get annoyed when people would park that way. If you think about why its a violation for second its all to obvious.

1. It blocks access to walkers to where they are unable have a safe place to walk. 2. It makes it very difficult or nearly impossible for other neighboring neighbors to back out of their driveway when the sidewalk is blocked in that way. And I can say with 100% certainly that this is a huge issue all the time with my particular neighbors. I have even gone as far as to nicely ask them to move because it is too dangerous for me to be backing out(with my children) on the busy road that we live on, as I cant see because there vehicle is parked illegally! Bottom line is, it is illegal to park like that.

On the other hand I do agree they could of just had a warning. And P.D. could of kindly let them know as it is obvious they had no idea that they were parked illegally. And then maybe the Clays would of been able to relay the message to fellow neighbors. Just my opinion.

This was the officer's choice to enforce this violation at this point. Was he having a bad day? It is a violation of a city code whice is punishable by a stiff fine. Why? Ask the city! A warning was probably the best way to go. If you don't like the laws, change them! You voted for those that make the laws.

Feeling caught in the crossfire of a concerted police effort to make the neighborhood safer, the Clays say they were unjustifiably punished with an expensive ticket. If you live in a neighborhood where crime is high, including bullets flying, then PD is going to be casing the place and looking for anything. I'll bet the Clay's will not be upset the next time shots are fired and PD is close at hand to make it a safer place. I'll bet the kids can't even play outside! I would welcome the PD. Maybe residents need to get off their butts and have a community awareness program including warning people of parking violations. Take your streets back and quite whining!

Revenue must be down or why else would the Police busy themselves with petty problems such as a bumper of a truck reaching over a sidewalk? Come on people there aren't more important things for you to be doing?

"State transportation code forbids parking over a public sidewalk as the Clays did - but police don't make the offense a citywide priority, Ure said."

So you only enforce the law when and where you want to? Yea that will get you a lot of points with the citizens.

Now they need to go after all the idiots that park on the wrong side of the road, ignorance is no excuse for not knowing the law.....maybe if they ticket every car that is parked on the wrong side of the road, maybe our taxes could drop, yea right

I did not know that you could get a ticket for type of violation. I think the Clays should have gotten a written warning first.

they need to go down town and ticket though that park over 2 hour.

WOW the PD is now profiling neighborhoods. I see it on the highway when they have a person pulled over and they are serching the vehical. Guess what the person 99.9999 percent of the time is a minority. HMMMM I know white men can't jump but they sure as hell haul dope. SO come on get real with this profiling have profiling for all make it city wide get color blind and treat everyone the same.

ok come on VPD solve the real crimes---couldnt a warning be first