Comments on: Putting Complaints in Perspective http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/03/putting-complaints-in-perspective/ Welcome to the beautiful life Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:32:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Adams Morgan http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/03/putting-complaints-in-perspective/#comment-101952 Adams Morgan Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:21:18 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=2110#comment-101952 Hmmmm, imagine that... CM Graham not offering any help when it actually comes to people...I'm shocked...SHOCKED (sarcasm intended). Hmmmm, imagine that… CM Graham not offering any help when it actually comes to people…I’m shocked…SHOCKED (sarcasm intended).

]]> By: Jay http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/03/putting-complaints-in-perspective/#comment-101951 Jay Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:26:10 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=2110#comment-101951 And don't let a patrol or desk officer tell you what the law is, because at least a third of them fly by the seat of their pants day to day. Research the law first, then gather your evidence (existing, or record new facts by video/camera/affadavits), put it all before the district commander, tell them you want to press charges, you want the police to enforce the law. If they don't, go higher. Go to the next public event at which Chief Lanier appears. But start with your own research on the law, and don't rely on patrol officers to tell you what they often simply do not know. And don’t let a patrol or desk officer tell you what the law is, because at least a third of them fly by the seat of their pants day to day. Research the law first, then gather your evidence (existing, or record new facts by video/camera/affadavits), put it all before the district commander, tell them you want to press charges, you want the police to enforce the law. If they don’t, go higher. Go to the next public event at which Chief Lanier appears. But start with your own research on the law, and don’t rely on patrol officers to tell you what they often simply do not know.

]]> By: Jay http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/03/putting-complaints-in-perspective/#comment-101950 Jay Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:21:01 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=2110#comment-101950 Spitting on/at someone is assault. Screaming obscenities at passersby can be harassment, terroristic threats, and disturbance of the peace. Emitting high levels of noise from a home, for extended periods of time, esp. at night, violates city noise ordinances. You simply have to get a number of neighbors to demand of your district commander that officers be sent to accept your collective evidence, and your willingness to press charges. It sounds harsh to press charges against a mentally ill person, but he is clearly dangerous, and you have the right to protect yourself and your family. If he were doing this in Georgetown, the police would have acted. Spitting on/at someone is assault. Screaming obscenities at passersby can be harassment, terroristic threats, and disturbance of the peace. Emitting high levels of noise from a home, for extended periods of time, esp. at night, violates city noise ordinances.

You simply have to get a number of neighbors to demand of your district commander that officers be sent to accept your collective evidence, and your willingness to press charges. It sounds harsh to press charges against a mentally ill person, but he is clearly dangerous, and you have the right to protect yourself and your family.

If he were doing this in Georgetown, the police would have acted.

]]> By: Petworth Princess http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/03/putting-complaints-in-perspective/#comment-101949 Petworth Princess Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:16:50 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=2110#comment-101949 This is sad for everyone involved. I'm sure he wants to feel better and obviously you need some relief. The friends can't do anything other than stop by with food? This is sad for everyone involved. I’m sure he wants to feel better and obviously you need some relief. The friends can’t do anything other than stop by with food?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/03/putting-complaints-in-perspective/#comment-101948 Anonymous Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:19:01 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=2110#comment-101948 Well, just wait for the Supremer Court exercise its supreme wisdom to allow hand guns in DC homes and your problem might be solved.. in the interim he or others may of course get killed, but hey, that the price of personal liberty and right to defend against militia, right? Well, just wait for the Supremer Court exercise its supreme wisdom to allow hand guns in DC homes and your problem might be solved.. in the interim he or others may of course get killed, but hey, that the price of personal liberty and right to defend against militia, right?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/03/putting-complaints-in-perspective/#comment-101947 Anonymous Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:59:02 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=2110#comment-101947 He owns his own home, which he paid off years ago, and has been retired for years. Friends bring him food and try to get him to 'behave'. I have no clue how he pays whatever other bills he has. I have called the police so many times I know some of the officers by now. The standard response is: unless he is a DIRECT threat to himself or others, they can not intervene, meaning he needs to be caught with a weapon in his hand. That is the law. If this happens to you, I suggest you start with the police and department of mental health. Document as much as you can and if nothing seems to be working, contact your councilmember. Thanks to Jim Graham's Office, he is now safely with the Department of Mental Health and I hope, getting the long-term help he needs. We'll see what happens when he returns home. He owns his own home, which he paid off years ago, and has been retired for years. Friends bring him food and try to get him to ‘behave’. I have no clue how he pays whatever other bills he has. I have called the police so many times I know some of the officers by now. The standard response is: unless he is a DIRECT threat to himself or others, they can not intervene, meaning he needs to be caught with a weapon in his hand. That is the law.

If this happens to you, I suggest you start with the police and department of mental health. Document as much as you can and if nothing seems to be working, contact your councilmember. Thanks to Jim Graham’s Office, he is now safely with the Department of Mental Health and I hope, getting the long-term help he needs. We’ll see what happens when he returns home.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/03/putting-complaints-in-perspective/#comment-101946 Anonymous Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:32:56 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=2110#comment-101946 Even if he's on his front porch, it sounds like he is making threats and committing assaults. When he does this, you should call the police and urge them to arrest him for these offenses. It sounds like he would be a good candidate for Mental Health Diversion in Superiour Court where he could obtain treatment. Even if he’s on his front porch, it sounds like he is making threats and committing assaults. When he does this, you should call the police and urge them to arrest him for these offenses. It sounds like he would be a good candidate for Mental Health Diversion in Superiour Court where he could obtain treatment.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/03/putting-complaints-in-perspective/#comment-101945 Anonymous Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:12:00 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=2110#comment-101945 how does this person get by? how does he make mortgage, utility, tax payments? how does he get food? It's not cheap to live in this city and as you describe, this person is not fit to hold any job that I could think of. how does this person get by? how does he make mortgage, utility, tax payments? how does he get food? It’s not cheap to live in this city and as you describe, this person is not fit to hold any job that I could think of.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/03/putting-complaints-in-perspective/#comment-101944 Anonymous Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:58:18 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=2110#comment-101944 Just because he is mentally ill does not exclude him from having to obey laws. This city makes it woefully inadequate for law abiding citizens to have a decent quality of life here. Just because he is mentally ill does not exclude him from having to obey laws. This city makes it woefully inadequate for law abiding citizens to have a decent quality of life here.

]]> By: Steve http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/03/putting-complaints-in-perspective/#comment-101943 Steve Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:07:27 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=2110#comment-101943 Access to mental health care in this city is woefully inadequate for people of means. I can only imagine what it is like for the poor or indigent! Access to mental health care in this city is woefully inadequate for people of means. I can only imagine what it is like for the poor or indigent!

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