OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state senator says he's concerned about the Oklahoma Insurance Department's purchase of police vehicles, shotguns and other law enforcement equipment, and plans to introduce a bill to stop what he described as the agency's "police-like posture."
Republican Sen. Harry Coates of Seminole said Monday he believes Insurance Commissioner John Doak is engaging in "government overreach." Coates says the department shouldn't give the public the impression that the agency's anti-fraud investigators are a police force.
The Associated Press reported last week that the agency had spent more than $180,000 on seven police-package vehicles, shotguns with mountable lights and bulletproof vests.
Doak defended the purchases, saying the items were needed to keep his fraud investigators safe and citing a Louisiana case in which two insurance department agents were shot and killed.
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Kenny, really man, you need to slow down with the I hate cops theme. We get it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe open up an I hate cops.com site and post that shit there.
Pointing out that human beings, human beings in the form of cops are flawed, is hardly newsworthy. We've all known that.
A year or two ago, I hardly ever saw a piece like that. Nowadays it is a weekly, sometimes daily occurrence. What's that all about?
This piece wasn't about cops, it was about wanna-be cops.
ReplyDeleteI don't hate cops as individuals - I believe that most policemen start out honestly wanting to serve and protect but become jaded because they deal with the dregs of society on a regular basis.
I do hate police departments that have become militarized and look at all citizens in one of two ways: You're either a victim or a criminal, no such thing as an honest law-abiding citizen.
The reason you're seeing more and more of it on my blog is because I'm seeing more and more of it in the news. I do not go out of my way to look for these stories.
Also, if you'll look at the post a couple below this one you'll see that I actually had something nice to say about my local PD and will continue to think so until proven different.
ReplyDeleteTime to get a life, Brian.
ReplyDeleteWhen you can't tell the difference between posting about the militarization of government agencies that have no reason to do so (their investigators can arm themselves for self-defense just like any other citizen can) and "hatred for cops", you need to take a long hard look at yourself.
I'm a former San Diego police officer who also put in over ten years with the California Highway Patrol, and I approve this message.
Thank you, Reg. May I also state that I've had more negative interaction (tickets) with the CHP than any other police agency and I do not have one bad thing to say about them. They've always been courteous and extremely professional in dealing with me, even as they were handing me my ticket, which I deserved in every instance. You get back what you give.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to give props to the Michigan State Police Force as well. They have been a fairly professional police force across the board.
ReplyDeleteWirecutter, I take all local LEOs on a case-by-case basis. Feds... well, they are corrupt across the board and need to prove otherwise on a case-by-case basis.
N Hale - check out my latest post concerning these comments. I pretty much just said the same thing.
ReplyDeleteRegT,
ReplyDeleteI gotta life but thanks for your advice. If I need any help along those lines I'll be sure and as you.
Brian
As a private detective, I gotta agree with Kenny, they're misrepresenting themselves. It's the same reason I don't use a Crown Vic or a 'Burban or Yukon as a surveillance vehicle. As an insurance fraud investigator it's ILLEGAL as hell to impersonate or even LOOK like the damn fuzz. Now I do carry a heater as well as body armor (I do work in Detroit) But this is a bit to blatant even for me.
ReplyDelete-SingingDetective
When this news came out, I had some questions:
ReplyDeleteAre these insurance investigators state-certified LE officers, trained to carry a sidearm on duty? If not, what the hell are they going to do with the shotguns?
As Doaks is buying pursuit-package LE vehicles, are these investigators EVO-trained? If not, why the hell are you getting these?
Do they participate in/plan on high-speed pursuits? If so, see question above; if not, why the bleep do they need these vehicles instead of a high-mpg commutermobile?
He whined that the money didn't come out of the public pocket; question he either doesn't like or doesn't see is "It isn't where the money came from, it's WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH IT."
Brian,
ReplyDeleteYou are quite welcome, but please - warn me before you "as " me, OK? I don't swing that way.