LACP.org
 
.........
Ohio Judge tells residents to "Arm themselves"
advises citizens to carry guns amid cuts to sheriff's department
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   

Ashtabula County, Ohio: Judge tells residents to "Arm themselves"

JEFFERSON -- In the ongoing financial crisis in Ashtabula County, the Sheriff's Department has been cut from 112 to 49 deputies. With deputies assigned to transport prisoners, serve warrants and other duties, only one patrol car is assigned to patrol the entire county of 720 square miles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EDITOR'S NOTE: Take a look at the video, where a Judge in a rural Ohio county has suggested that in the wake of the decimation of the police force, citizens begin to arm themselves. It seems residents have responded, buying guns and attending firearms classes.

While this might seem a good idea to many in rural counties its our belief that law enforcement in urban settings is best left to the police officers.

Community based policing people rarely need to arm themselves while doing their routine work. Its always prerable to leave the pursuit of criminals to cops .. who are sworn, trained and equipped to handle these things. That's THEIR job, and we should support them by being their extra eyes and ears, informing officers of what we see, and by willing to testify as witnesses when called upon.

At least that's OUR position here at LA Community Policing. What do you think?

Judge advises citizens to carry guns amid cuts to sheriff's department in Ohio county

Associated Press

April 9th, 2010

Amid cuts, Ohio judge tells citizens to carry guns

JEFFERSON, Ohio — A judge in an Ohio county is urging citizens to be vigilant and carry firearms because of budget cuts to the sheriff's department.

Ashtabula (ash-tuh-BYOO'-luh) County Common Pleas Judge Alfred Mackey tells Cleveland's WKYC-TV that the cuts mean citizens should arm themselves and watch out for their neighbors.

The northeast Ohio county is the state's largest in area and is mostly rural. With deputies assigned to transport prisoners and serve warrants, one radio car is assigned to patrol 720 square miles.

Sheriff William Johnson has threatened to sue county commissioners to have some of his department's funding restored.