“Law enforcement officers are never ‘off duty.’ They are dedicated public servants who are sworn to protect public safety at any time and place the peace is threatened. They need all the help that they can get.” - Barbara Boxer
It’s easy to get annoyed with or angry at the police. They do things we don’t like, such as give us traffic tickets and drive the speed limit – which means when they’re around, we have to drive the speed limit, too. Unlike firefighters and paramedics, police get a bum rap because they have duties, a lot of duties, that don’t involve direct, obvious heroism. It’s easy to give the guy running into the burning building a pat on the back. And, in the middle of a medical emergency, who doesn’t welcome the sight of an EMT? Police - well, we aren’t always so glad to see them.
The other night I got annoyed with the Winder Police. It was late; my house was dark and quiet; I was watching a movie. Suddenly, there were blue lights flashing in my windows and my dogs were barking at the traffic stop on the street outside. Those lights kept flashing for what seemed like a long time and when I looked out to see what was going on, the officer and the woman he stopped appeared to be chatting – not discussing a traffic ticket, simply chatting. So, I called the WPD to see what was going on. If no one’s getting a ticket, then please, take those bright lights on down the street away from my house was my message.
The dispatcher said they were waiting for the drug dog to come inspect the vehicle and it would be awhile because the dog and her officer/handler were off tonight, but they were on their way. Great! blue lights all night…so much for my quiet evening.
I decided to go out and take some pictures of the big drug bust in hopes of getting a couple of useful shots for the paper. As I was photographing (wearing a hoody and some very stylish pajama pants) one of the officers on the scene started describing me on the radio, “white woman, wearing a hoody and pajama pants photographing the scene, identifies herself as….” That set me off; as a member of the press or as a private citizen I am allowed to photograph a “scene” from my property or a public right of way. Now my hackles were way up.
Just then the drug dog and her officer arrived. They looked so excited and professional that I took a chill pill, calmed down and decided to watch them work. After all, those would be better shots for the paper anyway…The dog’s name is Maya and she was very good at her job. She circled the car once, then again, then promptly sat down – a quick, abrupt movement. I wondered what the deal was, as she and her officer went right back to their car. So much for the big drug bust and I didn’t even get a good shot of the dog.
The blue lights stayed on, however, and they placed the woman under arrest. It didn’t look to me like the dog found anything, but it turns out she did. Maya found enough drugs - prescription pills - for a felony arrest. After the smoke cleared and the blue lights went off, the canine officer and another officer came to talk with me. They heard that I’d been upset and wanted to explain why they had done things the way they did. They were both very nice and shared what they could about the arrest.
It turns out Maya’s “alert” isn’t to scratch, claw or bark the way some drug dogs do. Her “alert” is to simply sit, quickly and abruptly, just as she did. So, what I had witnessed was a big drug bust after all. And, with the problem we have in this community with prescription drug abuse, what an excellent arrest. Shame on this cranky white female in pajama pants, being rude to those officers. They were just doing their job and instead of grumbling at them, I should’ve have been telling them thanks.
The next day Chief Dorsey stopped by; he, too, had heard I was upset and wanted to see if I had any questions. I explained that it was all good and apologized for being such a cantankerous citizen. Talking with him made me remember the first time I met him, years ago. He was Officer Dorsey back then and I did a story on him because he was one of the school system’s first SROs (School Resource Officers.)
He was a young cop, full of ideas and concern for the community. His love for his job and kids was obvious. He clearly wanted to make a difference and the Dennis Dorsey I talked to as chief is the same man. Soft spoken, a careful listener, not so much into bravado as results – and the light he has always had in his eyes for law enforcement and this community, well, it’s still burning bright.
So, thank you Chief Dorsey and all of the WPD officers, for making Winder a safer place. We appreciate what you’re doing day in and day out, even when we grumble at you. Stay safe!
Lorin Sinn-Clark is features editor of the Barrow Journal. She can be reached at lorin@barrowjournal.com
We should all be greatful that we live in a police state with a corrupt jutice system.
Remember folks it is not about justice, guilt or innocence....its about the MONEY$$$.
I'm sure when the Officer stopped this car he was thinking about how much extra money he was going to get. Do you suggest that everyone should be able to transport drugs, and openly break the law? I see knowing wrong with the actions of this police action. I have lived and worked in Winder my entire life and have never been made to feel like it is a "Police State." Have you been arrested and felt you were wronged? Tell me how this traffic stop is about being in a Police State and about MONEY. Tell me how this article is about Police Propaganda. This was the observation of a citizen of the City of Winder.
Prohibition did not work in the US from 1920 to 1930.
Corruption was rampent then through-out law enforcement and politics, and so it continues.
Its all about the money$$...always will be.
If you cannot see that then you need to wake up.
-Woton
No, I do not have to answer your inane questions.
-Hropt
I thought the Police welcomed citizens photos or is it only when the photos are expected.
Or maybe thanks for detaining person probably with no cause other then they refused consent?
I dont know not having the incident report but from what is in the story the motorist refused consent to search,
The officer detained motorist longer then required to write Original Citation.
Only after what sounds like about half an hour drug officer arrives and then formal arrest, but the detainment seems from what is reported UNREASONABLE.
the fishing trips for those who refuse consent are mostly only reported when arrest is made not the many many times when nothing is found.
I hope this person gets this case dismissed for the officer violating the Constitution.
Yes even if this horrible person had drugs, I still dont think any means required is ok !!!!!
sorry you have trouble if every detail isn't proper.
I think maybe being English professor is more important to some then learning if there are other issues related to story.???
Standing up for your rights as well as your fellow citzens is a great thing.
To many people in this town are willing to give up their constitutional rights for a false belief that they are being protected.
Law enforcement should and will be held accountable when they circumvent the rights of the citzens all in the name of a failed war.
-Wodon
However, a seizure that is justified at its inception may become unreasonable if it is unreasonably prolonged in duration meaning longer then it is reasonable to write the citation.
now if in the past this officer normally takes half hour to stop and write each car or the average winds up being half hour, then I guess that would be the states get around tactic, but what Police dept allows on regular basis Officers spending average half hour to write a ticket??
Give me a break you know the case law!
like you know the Constitution , unless it involved people not blindly obeying.
Pretty amazing you can tell everyone what happened on this stop by reading it in the paper.
just cause someone is on probation a Deputy doesnt have right to search them more then a non probation person, now a Probation officer has different rules.
You seem to claim to know the law!!!!
udge M and Judge B I am sure both could point you to the Constition, Ihear Hillsdale College is giving Free course on the Constition.
see how simple that is.
You may want to ride with me to Hillsdale College, I'll drop you off at the English department. By googling Constitutional Law and proper traffic stop procedures DOES NOT make you a pro at the Law Enforcement field, all it does is proves you know NOTHING about LE Procedures and only know how to find an answer on the computer. Shoot, I can be a NASA scientist on the computer , but when it's time to show the real me, I am in trouble.
I guess you missed those parts.
since you seem to think its ok to detian persons just cause they are on Probation, glad the court judges here dont hold your beliefs.
and as I pointed out right here yes in Barrow county Judges have ruled to dismiss charges based on the violation of the fourth amendment.
and this was also after 2005, I am so glad there are some judges who dont feel arrest at all cost are ok,
and take action to release persons from custody in these cases.
sadly I feel the action taken violating the law by officers is one reason in Georgia 1 in 8 persons is involved in criminal justice system more then traffic violations.
the fact that most arrestee plea out dors not mean they are guilty or that LE hasnt violated or circumvented the law.
I would like the drive to Hillsdale would be nice pick me up Sunday after Church.
Stopping a Vehicle for a Different Reason than the Officer Claims
Occasionally, the reason an officer claims for making a traffic stop was not the real reason. lawyers have encountered cases where an officer will claim to have received a call from dispatch, but there was no such call. they have seen cases where the officer will claim that dispatch gave him a vehicle description that simply was not given. Without the actual dispatch recordings and dispatch logs one would never be able to win those cases. With a little extra digging they do.
The law of search and seizure is constantly changing. decisions from the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court in order to keep abreast of breaking developments. In order to protect us and our rights,
Heres the real thing why cant Police do the right thing and have the courage to uphold the oath they took to uphold the constitution,
UNREASONABLE is longer then is REASONABLE, like the courts have held just because the K-9 is in TN doesnt mean the motorist can be held till the k_0 arrives, or if the k-9 is in Commerce, reasonable is TEN minutes or the average time that officers dept takes to write citations not involving other issues!
if your trying to say it is reasonable to hold a motorist for forty minutes to write a ticket then for sure the rest of us should hope that like the officers in Cary IL the dept of justice gets held like that and launches an investigation and arrests those officers and sends them to Federal prison.
yes unreasonable is more then the time to write a citation. and for sure more time then one waits to see a Dr at the time an appointment is set. Whats unreasonable you are not the sharpest knife in the drawer if you expect a judge and JURY to but more then ten minutes let alone more then 45 is reasonable!!!!!!
and if this was the stop i refered to based on the radio calls yes it was unreasonable amount of time, and yes combined with what the reporter noted UNREASONABLE!
people have jobs families and life going on and if we allow maybe guilty people to be detained in unreasonable manner then at some point we become detained in UNREASONABLE manner.
that is why people are upset because we dont believe in at all costs, we dont like roadblocks that keep us ten minutes late for work. etc we live in what is supposed to be a free country where if we follow the law we shouldnt be held up from what we normally do, I realize Police are in the car and drive around at work, but for the people that have jobs that produce goods and services and make real things other the money for the County or city we get bothered by being held up when we havent done anything wrong in the hopes you officers find someone who has.
and sometimes if do speed or change lanes without signaling or have a burnt out headlight or taillight yes we would find being stopped for more the TEN minutes unreasonable, sorry the bulb burnt out sorry the turn signal quit working but that doesnt mean we have to spend 1/48 of the day trying to explainor wait for the ticket just give us the ticket and move on....... not wait to see if the drug dog shows up and my aunt sadie forgot to take her Zanax out of the car when i dropped her off, cause guess what her Zanax in my car is against the law, but that doesnt mean I or even that she is doing something criminal.
so please how about protecting and serving when people are doing crimes that dont require more time to discover then it takes to get a haircut, and these ccrimes are only hurting them and their stupid selfs.
So I have given supreme court case law in other threads here on the journal, also go to Superior court where people plead not guilty and the judges there dismiss cases that is in Barrow banks and jackson county here in Georgia some of the cases are dismiss on thier face soon as the officers make their statements, no comment required from defense, thats here in the state superior courts this court!!!
THERE IS MORE TO POLICE WORK THAN TRAFFIC STOPS AND WE WANT THIS OVER HERE STOPPED!!!!!!!!!!
Deputies don't put up with the ctrap the city officerrs are expected to.
my UPS pakcages dont not get delivered in the rain, and dont get soaking wet, then agoan the UPS company fires workers that dont do good by customers
POLICE of today view mototrist as revenue not as people to protect.
They try not to infringe on each other's territory, but the City of Winder is in Barrow County and a deputy has full authority by law to do what he needs to do within this county.