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Police Presence
updated: Feb 06, 2013, 3:12 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

I drove by Garden and Micheltorena today approx. 2:30 PM and there were 4-5 S.B. police motorcycle cops, 2 CHP motorcycle officers and 1 patrol car all stopped for one male suspect seated on the sidewalk. So that is 7-9 officers for one non-combative suspect (from what I could tell). Does anyone else think this is overkill on the police reaction? Couldn't our tax dollars be spent a little wiser? I have seen this kind of reaction from the police dept. before. Once last year I was over at the Westside Boys and Girls club and four patrol cars showed up for one teenage boy sitting on the sidewalk who either was suspected of stealing a bicycle or getting his bicycle stolen. The times I have witnessed this the suspect has been a young male Hispanic.

Does anyone else think this is a bit over the top or am I just naïve?

Thank you,

Concerned Westside Neighborhood Resident.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 371512	2013-02-06 03:25 PM
YES. Your reaction is complete overkill.
COMMENT 371514P	2013-02-06 03:27 PM
I agree with 511P - there is no way for you or any of us to know what warranted this type of response - especially since you were just "driving by." Most likely, since there were CHP officers on scene, there was a traffic stop involved. This brings up a myriad of possible scenarios in which multiple units would be required - drugs, weapons, etc....
COMMENT 371517	2013-02-06 03:30 PM
From what I can see in normal SBPD operations, they do zero patrolling in their "patrol" cars. I certainly never have seen them in my neighborhood in the years I have lived here. They seem to all converge on any call, then slowly drift off as other calls come in.
COMMENT 371521P	2013-02-06 03:34 PM
Poster here. I drove by more than once. They were mostly standing around for 10 minutes or more. I agree I DON'T know the circumstances. My questioning is the manpower/financial resources being spent on this one stop esp. since we hear the city/county are strapped.
COMMENT 371524	2013-02-06 03:37 PM
Maybe the guy was selling donuts?
COMMENT 371526	2013-02-06 03:40 PM
Imagine showing up the movie theatre almost towards the end of the film... can you really make sense of what is happening before your eyes without any context? Likewise, even if you were a law enforcement expert, deciding what or how resources are best utilized in a situation you showed up late for is rather naive if not downright presumptuous.
COMMENT 371528P	2013-02-06 03:40 PM
521P - Again, it could have been anything from a murder suspect to an arms dealer. Even if you spent your afternoon driving back and forth in front of them, you'd probably never know....
COMMENT 371530	2013-02-06 03:46 PM
Also if more than one agency (ie CHP, PD) had interests in the arrest of this person then of course more than one agency would be there and would likely be represented by more than one person. They have their protocols just as you would for your job.
COMMENT 371532P	2013-02-06 03:47 PM
524-LOL. Poor guy just didn't have a licence to sell the donuts. . And yes, I wonder why every incident requires so many cops in attendence. Is it for training purposes? For example, on Coast Village Road this morning at the oven explosion, there were more cops than firefighters. Actually, I'd like to see more cops on foot walking around the neighborhoods getting to know the residents
COMMENT 371534	2013-02-06 03:49 PM
Why don't you call the PD's well-compensated PIO and ask?
COMMENT 371535P	2013-02-06 03:50 PM
OP, I agree with you. If it was a chase, the chase is over and the other units can go back to work. The truth is they would rather hang out and kill time.
COMMENT 371536P	2013-02-06 03:50 PM
I think it may be a form of shock-and-awe used in the interest of gaining compliance without resorting to action leading to injuries of either party(s). With the courts tendency to favor the supposed oppressed, using that strategy may well be a money-saver.
COMMENT 371538	2013-02-06 03:54 PM
I've seen the cops patrol my neighborhood (Oak Park) pretty frequently recently. Just chiming in so 517 knows they do patrol. If you're having issues in your area, call it in. Ask if they can cruise by on occasion. If you want to see it, ask. Personally, it sounds like overkill. But everyone else is correct - we don't know ANY of the details. Doesn't really matter what it seems like. Cops are doing their jobs, and that's what matters to me!
COMMENT 371539	2013-02-06 03:56 PM
I would suggest that the OP try walking in the shoes of our local PD or CHP officers. Just because you drove by and saw officers 'standing around' in the brief glimpse you want to conclude that they aren't doing anything or needed? I wonder if you could spend a week dealing with the disease, sorrow, low-life, and anxiety that our officers endure every shift. I certainly couldn't and am ever grateful that there are those who can and choose to serve.
COMMENT 371540	2013-02-06 03:56 PM
I see patrol cars frequently-as I live near a Dario Pini property.
COMMENT 371541	2013-02-06 03:56 PM
Well, without knowing why the officers were contacting that person, the correct answer to your question is "I don't know." Law enforcement is a profession that everyone thinks they can do better than the people who are trained for it and actually do it every day.
COMMENT 371542	2013-02-06 03:58 PM
Probably, yes. Based on almost every encounter I have ever had or witnessed with the SBPD, there are regularly way more police present than are needed, wanted or helpful, and they tend to stand around talking and doing nothing way longer than they need to. It's a small town with low crime, so I don't blame the cops for wanting to get in on what little action there is. But I do blame them for constantly telling us that they don't have the resources to patrol State Street, write traffic tickets, investigate crimes (including the massive embezzlement in their own office) disseminate surveillance photos in a timely manner, or any of the other services we want or expect.
ROGER DODGER	2013-02-06 04:13 PM
Sounds like it was a pursuit to me especally with all the motor units there..I didn't hear the actual call but as I stated on anutter thread ..Police are looking for several subjects right now and it coulda been part of that..
COMMENT 371556	2013-02-06 04:15 PM
This is pretty common for SB police. A friend of mine crossed against a red light and 4 cars showed up, he was not drunk and there were no warrants for his arrest.
CHERIDIANE	2013-02-06 04:55 PM
Police patrol my area too. I was glad to read here the people that took the trouble to admonish the original poster for passing such judgement when nothing is known about the situation. How can we be so presumptuous as to know what the police should be doing without any facts or background or training.
COMMENT 371586	2013-02-06 05:02 PM
there has been alot of drug and gang activity im glad to see officers take time to investigate a person rather than not. let our officers do their job regardless of how many,, also we dont know what the circustances were.. in my opinion its not overkill..
COMMENT 371587	2013-02-06 05:06 PM
As others have said, nobody can tell if this is over the top since it's nothing that we know about. You don't know what the circumstances were. That said, I notice that smaller town cops, like ours, tend to go en masse to a scene sometimes. I think it appears to be a socializing event for them, sadly. But it could very well be with a reason and intent we're just not seeing.
PATRICK	2013-02-06 05:38 PM
I'm okay with the police using their judgement.
COMMENT 371604	2013-02-06 06:02 PM
Not more OTT than all the officers with assault rifles after the "transient" stabbing last week near Turnpike.
COMMENT 371609P	2013-02-06 06:08 PM
I agree w/overkill sometimes. True, we don't know. Poster was just raising an eyebrow and questioning. That's what aware citizens do to prevent police states. Sheesh. Lighten up.
COMMENT 371614	2013-02-06 06:14 PM
Wouldn't it be fun to judge by a snap shot in time all the negative Nellie's here judging the SBPD. "Look at him/her wasting all that time on the internet. They could be so productive if not sitting on their arses all day." "Wow, so much time judging others. What a waste!" "All they do is complain about helicopters all day, every day." See anyone can slant it their way.
ROGER DODGER	2013-02-06 06:20 PM
I would really love to see people who complain about the police try and do the job they do..I'd like to see how many after being barfed on pissed on, cussed out not get abusive with their prisoner..
COMMENT 371619	2013-02-06 06:21 PM
I was at a family BBQ last year and three cop cars showed up for a noise complaint. Apparently our kids were playing too loudly on the front lawn. So, yes, sometimes they do waste resources.
SBSWEETPEA	2013-02-06 06:26 PM
Thank you 609. We have the right to question our public servants i.e. city/county employees of all sorts. If this had been a public works issue and say 8-9-10 city plumbers (or what ever they might be because I am sure I will get some guff from someone because I don't have the right terminology here) had shown up for a broken pipe (not a gusher) I would be scratching my head and ask why we needed so many? I have the right to know how my tax dollars are being spent. If we don't question then we can and will end up in a police state. Lighten up ya'll.
COMMENT 371632	2013-02-06 06:44 PM
It's protocol for gov workers kinda like those cal trans workers who all stand around while one guy does all the work
COMMENT 371636	2013-02-06 07:04 PM
I know the guy sitting on the sidewalk. He is a Jedi-Ninja with a blackbelt in Kung-Fu-rate. A very dangerous individual indeed.
YPYETR	2013-02-06 07:30 PM
Every on duty cop showing up for a transient call sounds pretty close to a police state to me. What ever happened to "Protect and Serve"?!? We have definitely moved from that to a "Monitor and Interrogate" state of mind. Worse yet, we allow and accept it.
COMMENT 371644	2013-02-06 07:48 PM
Its funny how people judge people working in the public eye. Caltrans police. ex.. I bet if we all were able to watch people at there desk job. We would see goofing off playing with there cell phones going on edhat. I would love to see some of you shovel anything for 8 hours and see if you would be standing around for a break, or resting. Don't knock it till you have tried it.
COMMENT 371652	2013-02-06 08:19 PM
Can you imagine what it's like to confront a party full of noisy kids, and their possibly drunk parents, alone? Are you going to shoot a tagger, because you had no backup? Obviously, backup is needed to stop a potentially violent situation, or chase down a fleeing suspect, peacefully. Otherwise, they would have to use more forceful means or let people go. Do you blame the police for protecting their own lives, as well as the suspect's?
REDTOP	2013-02-06 08:23 PM
Questioning how our tax dollars are spent is prudent. This is not, unfortunately, an isolated case in Santa Barbara of multiple numbers of black 'n whites showing up for whatever is happening, however minor. Accountability is a good thing. It will be interesting to see what effect the installation of 24/7 cameras in cop cars will have on day-to-day operations.
COMMENT 371657	2013-02-06 08:40 PM
Perhaps it would be wise, before you attack the PD you request a "ride along" with the PD. By doing so you will actually witness first hand what these fine men and women do on a daily basis to protect you & our city. Having done this in the past I guarantee you will really gain an accurate perspective & gain a new respect & insight into what these folks deal with on a daily basis. Hats off to the PD!!! Keep up the good work!! Most in our community (except for the offenders & would be offenders) very much appreciate what law enforcement does to perserve & protect our families & community.
NATURE BOY	2013-02-06 08:50 PM
Haven't read the other comments yet but i had to chime in right away: I live on that block and yes i saw about TEN motorcycle cops and THREE police cars; plus a suspect sitting on the curb; plus a few cops talking to a woman on the sidewalk. No idea what happened, but how can you assume that whatever happened was OVER-responded to?? What if it was a rape, or a murder?? Let's not assume that we, as private citizens, should determine how many officers should respond to an incident when we have NO idea what the incident actually was??
NATURE BOY	2013-02-06 08:55 PM
So, in reading the other posts, i'd say: DUH, of COURSE the response was probably warranted. Do you think they'd send twenty officers to some "drunk in public" or "driving through a stop sign" incident?
NATURE BOY	2013-02-06 08:57 PM
P.S. "Non-combative" doesn't mean that he was non-combative before you drove by and saw him.
COMMENT 371674P	2013-02-06 09:51 PM
I agree it was probably overkill by law enforcement, especially since they apparently already "had" their man. I suspect the first 6 commenters are cops or relatives of cops who closely monitor Edhat to spin every story in their direction. There were way too many strongly defensive comments within a matter of minutes to accurately represent the Edhat community. I'm happy the poster asked the very legitimate question, and I see no reason for the over the top response right out of the gate, other than agenda. All public servants should know the public is watching the quality of their work, and accept that as part of the careers they have decided to peruse. I'm sorry to say it but I think the trolls have overrun Edhat.
DLB0758	2013-02-06 11:11 PM
SBPD does not have 10 motorcycles. They have 6....and they work different days and different shifts with never more than 4 working at any given time (absent a special event/parade). Get your eyes checked. And they responded to the kids party because one of your neighbors called.....likely because your kids were being so loud and inconsiderate that your own neighbors were compelled to call police to get their peace restored (apple usually doesn't fall far from the tree). Do you really think three of them were cruising your neighborhood looking for 7 year olds to harass?? People call the cops so the cops have to go.
COMMENT 371702	2013-02-07 06:53 AM
How many is too many? Some posters seem to suggest that there should be no limit and, worse, no criticism. I hope they are cops. The saddest thing to see is a blind faith in police. It infects the administration of justice. They are handsomely paid for their level of education and do not face a high degree of risk given the local demographic. Stop coddling them. They are our employees and need to be accountable for their wasteful conduct. Two officers, with all their training, devices, etc. is plenty to keep one average strength person under control. It's obvious.
COMMENT 371704P	2013-02-07 07:12 AM
OP. To: 0758. I said there were 4-5 S.B. motorcycle officers (not 10) there were 2 CHP motorcycle officers, and 1 cruiser. You need to get your READING skills checked. This was not an exercise in police bashing it was merely a question on how our resources are being used/spent. It was an observation. I respect our police and firefighters and believe they earn every penny they make and in my book deserve more. They have a tough job and see things every day of they lives we will never see some good more bad. I ADMITTED I did not know the circumstances but did make some observations such as the suspect was not cuffed.
COMMENT 371714	2013-02-07 07:23 AM
I am glad to know the cops show up when called now. Used to be, 4am call would take 45 min. If they are on the street,'they aren't having latt'es and croissants, they are paid the same regardless. Sounds like the OP feels truly safe in his/her westside neighborhood, if he is concerned about too much police presence. Guess there is less crime there than we are led to believe.
COMMENT 371726	2013-02-07 07:42 AM
It is amazing how many posters seize upon the opportunity to make fun of police officers protecting them. Discounting the inevitable wize cracks about donuts, it is still remarkable there are those willing to draw conclusions about the number of officers present without knowing a thing about the reasons for it. Obviously it was multi-jurisdictional so not a run of the mill investigation. Secondly one of the methods employed by officers where there is a possibility of a problem (belligerent subject, liklihood of attempted escape, report of a gun or other weapon, additional suspects involved, etc.) then sufficient assistance is there as a back up. Sufficient numbers of officers are often a deterrent to problems reducing the liklihood officers might be required to use force during the course of contact with a suspect. Edhat needs to provide a forum just for police haters so that they can vent all of their hostility without injecting it into unrelated forums as often happens.
COMMENT 371727	2013-02-07 07:42 AM
The mind your own business mentality of some posters is frightening. Law enforcement officers in this country work for the citizens, are paid by the citizens and are under the control and scrutiny of the citizens. The ARE our business. The MYOB mentality in Nazi Germany was a prevailing attitude at that time in that country and led to unspeakable horrors. I'm glad the OP asked the question (and did so in an intelligent and respectful way). I completely agree that the spanking he/she immediately received was an attempt by law enforcement trolls at retaliation and was a blast of intimidation intended to shut him/her down from further questions about cops. Schoolyard bullying tactics. Lets keep watching, asking and thinking about the conduct of law enforcement in this community. Thank you OP.
COMMENT 371733	2013-02-07 07:52 AM
YES it's overkill and when you really see a fight or something going down, no cops to be found. The first few posts were so negative, lighten up, are we not allowed to ask questions? Isn't that the point? It's like we can't say bad things about them or else we get into trouble!!
BECKY	2013-02-07 09:25 AM
Please imagine the opposite. Not enough officers there to handle a problematic, potentially lethal situation. If you put yourself in their shoes, that's how you have to react to almost every unknown encounter -- this could be a deranged or desperate criminal, willing to kill to get away. It is better to respond with more than enough trained officers to handle a problem, than too few.
RESIDENT	2013-02-07 09:32 AM
To OP. I agree with your point about "overkill" or how our resources are used. Probably one of the best examples of overkill was the recent attempted suicide on N. Jameson. If you recall, there were over 2 dozen officers from several agencies, many with full body armor and automatic weapons drawn and the City armored tank - all for a potential suicide armed with a knife! (http://www.noozhawk.com/article/Montecito_news_deputies _in_stand-off_with_suicidal_man/)
AUNTIE S.	2013-02-07 02:56 PM
I, for one, am glad we have a lot of law enforcement officers on the streets. For one thing it lets anyone who wants to cause troubleknow that they're aound. I've always felt the police in this town should have ZERO tolerance for lawbreakers (and I mean zero) and I'm glad o see them out and about.

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