Witnesses who won't talk deny justice to all

The "Gangsta" ethic has fully permeated our society. It's a form of cultural rot. The "No Snitch" mentality dictates that one doesn't cooperate with the authorities no matter what. Not for arguably smaller matters like smoking weed, or holding of same, but for violent, wicked crimes like murder and rape and armed robberies where clerks get shot in the face or pizza delivery drivers get shot and killed for fun.(Think South Vallejo gas station and Beverly Hills/Round Table shooting). This "No Snitch" ethos is now printed on t-shirts and embedded into the thug culture. The police (Po-Po) are viewed as the enemy, an untrusted source, non longer just "The Man" of years past. The officer is now someone to be hassled, lied to, made fun of. Even worse, we now have a generation of Ghetto Parents who teach this twisted thinking to their children. These kids are being raised not aware the the Police Officer is someone who can help when Daddy gets loaded all day and slams Mommy into the wall, or starts playing with the guns. Let me be honest here. The record industry is a player in this cultural decline. Look closely at the posters advertising in the windows of your nearby mall record store. The message sent is: Guns, Thug Life, Bling, Bad Women, Fast Cars, Cash, More Cash. For impressionable young minds, these are seed thoughts planted into fertile young minds. No wonder we have a drop-out rate of embarrassing proportions. Education takes works and time. Thug Life is easy: Get a Gun and Get Started! Before I get lambasted for picking on Urban Youth disproportionately to white collar crime -- Let me state upfront that the Wall Street thieves who looted the big banks and insurance companies are every bit as bad and greedy, and deserve jail sentences just as long as any rapist or armed robber. Not in Club Fed, but in Corcoran, Walla Walla, Leavenworth, or any other vile prison you can think of, right next to the thug who robbed his 10th Pizza Parlor. But white-collar crime doesn't excuse this No-Snitch ethic. If people really want the Police to be effective in their community, folks need to come forward and provide information. If you're afraid to speak with officers in front of your drug-dealing neighbors, call the VPD and meet a detective downtown on Amador. Figure something out. Otherwise, this Gangsta mentality will continue to erode what's left of our community fabric, and like cancer, will continue to spread. It will spread until the entire community body has the disease, and begins to die. From what I've read, morale at the VPD is low. Perhaps by being a better community, we can help boost that a bit. We can't grow money on trees to buy our way out of this situation, but we, as a community, could be more cooperative, and get a better attitude. Like I said in the beginning; looking the other way can be your judgement call for smaller things -- weed, open container on the porch, jaywalking, etc...But when a violent crime has occurred, where physical harm has been done, please do the right thing. Drop a Dime. Participate. Do the Right Thing. You know what it is. Teach your kids the same. PS: This is my real name, not a hidden screen name to lurk behind. This is what I think, and I'm out front about it. If you don't like it, tough. I live here and care about this community, for all it's problems, and don't want to see it get any worse. I like the diversity, the variety of food, and it's generally friendly folks. We should work to those advantages, and clean house of the rest. Really, it's our job as members of this "Community"

Clarke Johnston all of this loving and huging of the VPD sound very nice in a perfect world. In a perfect world where the police are patrol your gang and drug infested street 24 hours a day. If one person get a clue that you are a snitch on the streets you are dead... No questions asked.. dead. It goes agaist human nature. I called the police one time about a fight that was occurring outside my apartment window. When the police arrived you could hear the dispatcher telling the officer my name and apartment number. Then the officer came and knocked at my door. If you really want to help Mr. Clarke you should go out to some of the hot spots in Vallejo and when you see a serious crime call. Or make a citzens arrest

dammm good point.

This is why we need guns in the hands of honest citizens and some good old fashioned assistance for the overworked police (i. e. vigilante committees). If society is going to "heck" in a handbasket and politicians just care about where their next bribe is coming from you better be ready to protect yourself

911 dispatch will usually ASK you if you want officer contact.

You can always just say no.

They will still respond.

They just won't come to your door.

Micheal Wright wrote:

Clarke Johnston all of this loving and huging of the VPD sound very nice in a perfect world. In a perfect world where the police are patrol your gang and drug infested street 24 hours a day. If one person get a clue that you are a snitch on the streets you are dead... No questions asked.. dead. It goes agaist human nature. I called the police one time about a fight that was occurring outside my apartment window. When the police arrived you could hear the dispatcher telling the officer my name and apartment number. Then the officer came and knocked at my door. If you really want to help Mr. Clarke you should go out to some of the hot spots in Vallejo and when you see a serious crime call. Or make a citzens arrest

In response: I have made citizens arrests, and have patrolled my neighborhoods, so I'm putting my money where my mouth is, and I've got the broken ribs to prove it. With regard to the VPD dispatching, one can ask to be anonymous when calling, and avoid contact in the street setting where the thugs can see that you are the respondent. I am not hugging and loving the VPD. There are many time where the dispatching department makes me crazy with their "don't bug us" approach, so I am by no means completely happy with the agency, and that starts from the top down, with the Chief. But I will now allow to be cowed by fear. If you do, they the thugs have won the mental battle and have you licked. Believe me, I've taken my knocks firsthand and not that it's not easy. BUT, I am not just sitting in my chair and closing the door and turning up the TV, either.

I was sat up for a slaughter by Courtney, Jesse, Elijah, their sister, Glen, an unnamed Caucasian man, and 2 other Hispanics. I thought I went there to help Courtney she said she needed me. She said she was being beaten and held hostage. I came to get her out of there. I was ambushed. I should have called the police. Instead I believed in the no snitching code of honor. I'd still be here alive if I would have sought their help but, because I didn’t it killed me. Today, I'd still be with my family. Now, they miss me immensely.
Andrew Jacla

www.myspace.com/AndrewJacla

These witnesses are scared to witness. The question is : Can the enforcer protect them in return???

How did they forget to post the murder of the barber? Wasn't that this year?

Witnesses that don't help have a special place in hell.

My Thanks to Jessica A. York for her thoughtful article. My condolences to the family's who are waiting to see that justice is done for the loss of their loved ones. I pray that the witnesses find it in their heart to help with further investigations. I am aware that many are afraid to come forward with information because of the streets code of ethics. As a relative of one of
these victims of violent crimes, I found that it is one of the worst emotions to watch the people who participated in killing your loved one, walk. Do what you feel is right in your heart. It will help everyone involved in the end. Believe That.

What a crock! Jessica, have you read any of the comments from the people we are suppose to be able to go to with a problem? Sorry, we don't live in Mayberry and Sheriff Andy isn't our chief of police. Between the so-called gangstas on the street and people like Trashman or Dirty Lincoln who post on the message boards - I have to ask - "whose the gangsta?" It's a sad state of affairs when the people we are suppose to trust - seemingly can't be trusted. And let me add here that I don't believe that for all police because I know some good ones who I would trust with my life. But many of our police have no sense of community and a lot of in Vallejo knows it; some have gotten on the TH message boards far too many times and told us so in a variety of ways. Personally, I have no problems reporting any crime that I see but then again I know how to advocate for myself. But imagine someone living in a crime-ridden neighborhood who reports a crime and nothing comes out of it? Do you think Trashman will be there to protect them? If our VPD really, really want people to step up and report criminal activity - they will need to step up too and make a stronger effort to be a part of our community.

My theory to this story is that maybe the witneses are probably the ones who had them killed. If,anything happen to their families they would want someone to come forward on the behalf.

They know who did this, and the day will come when they will need the public's help, just like the police are asking for their help.

These people do not come forward because the person responsible might just be their Momma or their Daddy, who ever he is?

Can we say what happens in the Hood stays in the Hood. Time to let these people know that when we find out who is committing this crap they might not have to call at all. Keep them oiled boys and girls. Or maybe just sent them out to a certain house on Rollingwood and get their little asse.... stomped like one did on Friday night. Little jerk.

Clarke Johnston wrote:

The "Gangsta" ethic has fully permeated our society. It's a form of cultural rot. The "No Snitch" mentality dictates that one doesn't cooperate with the authorities no matter what. Not for arguably smaller matters like smoking weed, or holding of same, but for violent, wicked crimes like murder and rape and armed robberies where clerks get shot in the face or pizza delivery drivers get shot and killed for fun.(Think South Vallejo gas station and Beverly Hills/Round Table shooting). This "No Snitch" ethos is now printed on t-shirts and embedded into the thug culture. The police (Po-Po) are viewed as the enemy, an untrusted source, non longer just "The Man" of years past. The officer is now someone to be hassled, lied to, made fun of. Even worse, we now have a generation of Ghetto Parents who teach this twisted thinking to their children. These kids are being raised not aware the the Police Officer is someone who can help when Daddy gets loaded all day and slams Mommy into the wall, or starts playing with the guns. Let me be honest here. The record industry is a player in this cultural decline. Look closely at the posters advertising in the windows of your nearby mall record store. The message sent is: Guns, Thug Life, Bling, Bad Women, Fast Cars, Cash, More Cash. For impressionable young minds, these are seed thoughts planted into fertile young minds. No wonder we have a drop-out rate of embarrassing proportions. Education takes works and time. Thug Life is easy: Get a Gun and Get Started! Before I get lambasted for picking on Urban Youth disproportionately to white collar crime -- Let me state upfront that the Wall Street thieves who looted the big banks and insurance companies are every bit as bad and greedy, and deserve jail sentences just as long as any rapist or armed robber. Not in Club Fed, but in Corcoran, Walla Walla, Leavenworth, or any other vile prison you can think of, right next to the thug who robbed his 10th Pizza Parlor. But white-collar crime doesn't excuse this No-Snitch ethic. If people really want the Police to be effective in their community, folks need to come forward and provide information. If you're afraid to speak with officers in front of your drug-dealing neighbors, call the VPD and meet a detective downtown on Amador. Figure something out. Otherwise, this Gangsta mentality will continue to erode what's left of our community fabric, and like cancer, will continue to spread. It will spread until the entire community body has the disease, and begins to die. From what I've read, morale at the VPD is low. Perhaps by being a better community, we can help boost that a bit. We can't grow money on trees to buy our way out of this situation, but we, as a community, could be more cooperative, and get a better attitude. Like I said in the beginning; looking the other way can be your judgement call for smaller things -- weed, open container on the porch, jaywalking, etc...But when a violent crime has occurred, where physical harm has been done, please do the right thing. Drop a Dime. Participate. Do the Right Thing. You know what it is. Teach your kids the same. PS: This is my real name, not a hidden screen name to lurk behind. This is what I think, and I'm out front about it. If you don't like it, tough. I live here and care about this community, for all it's problems, and don't want to see it get any worse. I like the diversity, the variety of food, and it's generally friendly folks. We should work to those advantages, and clean house of the rest. Really, it's our job as members of this "Community"

I for one thank you Clarke Johnston I feel the as you do. thank you

murder rate is way too low, there are still too many pant draggers around. :(

Please folks start snitchin' so we can put the low-lifes in prison where they belong. thanx

manila man wrote:

murder rate is way too low, there are still too many pant draggers around.:(

And based on this post you actually think people should give you information? Manilly-vanilly, you might want to lay off the sauce.

the low pants are actually causing the wearers to slowly cause a permanent bow legged gait, such as primates have, i believe.

Micheal Wright wrote:

Clarke Johnston all of this loving and huging of the VPD sound very nice in a perfect world. In a perfect world where the police are patrol your gang and drug infested street 24 hours a day. If one person get a clue that you are a snitch on the streets you are dead... No questions asked.. dead. It goes agaist human nature. I called the police one time about a fight that was occurring outside my apartment window. When the police arrived you could hear the dispatcher telling the officer my name and apartment number. Then the officer came and knocked at my door. If you really want to help Mr. Clarke you should go out to some of the hot spots in Vallejo and when you see a serious crime call. Or make a citzens arrest

Alot of BS. I've reported many an incident to Vallejo Police. That includes members of my family & the dispatchers not once reported my name. Rarely in my experience both at work or off duty have officers requested the name of the complainant or their personal phone numbers. Especially when they are in front of suspects. One one occasion the Vallejo Police Dispatcher asked me personally if I wanted to leave a name & call back number. The dispatcher at no time demanded it form me. As far as taking action on my own, I have on two occasions yelled out when I saw a physical fight in progress in front of my house. Believe it or not that alone can abeit a situation from getting worse. Now I don't encourage eveyone to go this route. However to discourage anyone from making a phone call to the police and based on your experience I find no merit to it. I encourage all to report crimes that they witness to authorities. How far you want to take it is up to the individual. For me I'm not afraid. Why? Because whether you are in the occupation or not, one has to take a stand and draw the fine line sooner or later. Sadlly most retalitory shootings or acts of revenge I've seen are more criminal on another criminal then on victim. Now to say this is the only case, I'd be lying to you if I said that it was. I will say this though. Keeping your mouth shut and not taking action period does not solve anything either!