anderson community hospital

Caught in the Middle Between Two Evils By Shannon M. Cullin

We are no longer a country of the people and by the people, but a country where power and justice is bought and sold the highest bidder. No longer is the common person safe in their homes and on the streets; however, it is not external terrorists which are the greatest threat to us, but the out of control politicians and law enforcement agents who have seized power by using our own fears against us. The Bill of Rights is no longer an effective means of protecting the public as the Patriot Bill has nearly eliminated all our civil rights. In the name of national security, the politicians have given cart blanche to officers do what they will without proper restraints to prevent abuses, which has opened the door to blatant cruelty to the weaker of society. No longer is the motto of the police to serve and protect, but to intimidate and humiliate. District Attorneys are more concerned with their conviction record than protecting the public; the police have quotas to meet and don't care who they harm in the process. Not only they are they indifferent to the rights of the public, but also they are no longer held responsible for their abuses. Amy Lynn Ford was taken to Grand Traverse County jail in January 2002 for a having alcohol in her system, which was a parole violation. Ms Ford is an epileptic who has been prescribed Dilantin to control her attacks. The deputies withheld her medication and placed her in a cell where she was to occupy the top bunk. Ms Ford had a seizure and fell, fracturing her right hip and clavicle. With the aid attorney Fred Mackraz, Ms Ford sued both the county and the individual deputies. Although the county was found to be indifferent to Ms Ford's medical needs and awarded her $214,000, the deputies were not held responsible for their actions. The federal jury found the county had been indifferent to Ms Ford's medical needs, but that the four jail officials, who had actually denied her medication, were not at fault. "What I take away from the verdict is that the jury felt the policies and customs of the county were a moving force behind the constitutional violation," said Ford's attorney, Fred Mackraz. Mackraz told the jury the county policy and customs essentially allowed for the guards who checked Ford into the jail to decide whether she received her Dilantin medication to prevent seizures. Traverse City State Police Trooper David Meder was convicted of losing control of his SUV and crashed into a utility pole on May 18, 2006 after a night of drinking. He fled the scene, leaving his badge and gun behind, and falsely reported his vehicle stolen. He was not charged with drunk driving, but was allowed to plead guilty to a pair of misdemeanors for failing to report an accident. He was sentenced in June to 180 days of probation and $6,445 in restitution. An internal state police investigation determined Meder had violated the department's code of conduct. He was transferred to another county and allowed to remain on active patrol duty. Brian Bultema sued Benzie County's Sheriff Deputy Mark Ketz, Crystal Mountain Enterprises Inc. and security guard Thomas C. Anderson in federal court for assaulting him at the door of his chalet. The altercation started with a dispute between Bultema and Anderson. The security guard called the police and Ketz arrived, forcing his way into the chalet. Bultema claimed the officer pepper-sprayed and beaten while he was handcuffed. Mr. Butema sued; both Benzie Country and Crystal Mountain settled out of court. However, the officer involved was not disciplined and remains on duty. August 5, 2004, Debra Mead, a 51-year-old Three Rivers woman, was arrested by Three Rivers police for drunken driving. After arriving at the St Joseph County Jail, she claims that Sgt. Tim Schuler, former deputy Matt Stark, Deputy Thomas Harrington and Officer James Hasbrouck strip searched her, in violation of her civil rights. After refusing to remove a gold necklace, Mead was forcibly undressed by the officers and placed in a suicidal gown that was not complete, nor did it fit properly. Ms Mead was forced to appear partially nude in front of strangers until a representative from the Community Mental Health center arrived. She was then released. The criminal code of conduction states that a female officer should have been present for a strip search. However, the St. Joseph County Sheriff Department blames Ms. Mead for the incident, claiming she failed to obey the officers' orders, failed to follow safety and sanitary procedures and interfered with the officers. Ms Mead has filed a civil suit charging the corrections officers with two civil rights violations, assault and battery, civil conspiracy and gross negligence. The trauma caused her to suffer a relapse of pre-existing emotional problems. She was hospitalized and required further counseling. A trial date has not been set, however the officers involved remain on duty without sanctions. Eric Barrett filed a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union, along with an additional complaint against police at City Hall after Mount Pleasant Police Department used excessive force when arresting him for attending a nuisance party. "It was one thing just for being at the party -- another thing when I try to leave when asked to leave and four cops tackle me from behind," Barrett said. Barrett made a remark on his way out and was immediately seized by the officers. After which he spent 12 hours in the Isabella County Jail and was charged with a minor in possession and for attending a nuisance party. Barrett was the only person arrested at the house. Ryan Colagiovanni was standing on the porch while Barrett was speaking with an officer on the front lawn. He said it looked like Barrett and one of the officer was arguing, but he couldn't hear what was being said. "The cops were mean to everyone," Colagiovanni continued. "They were looking to get people in trouble. I didn't even know why the party was broken up." James Simons was diabetic and was having an episode. Catherine Locklear, Simons girlfriend called 911. She said, "He was going through hallucinations and when his kidneys shut down last time the doctor said that's what causes it." When the police arrived, they "started zapping him all over" with a taser, according the Locklear. Eventually, Simons was taken to the hospital. Dan Norman, Simon's uncle was the first family member to arrive. He is quote as saying, "I was the first one to meet with him in the hospital. They beat him in the head; he had two big gashes in his head." Simon's mother, Dorothy Simons, believes the Lincoln Park Police responsible for her son's death. "I think they used too much force and his death was unnecessary." In July, Victor Kittila, 55, of Eastpointe and Nancy Goedert, 73, of Ferndale, were ticketed for holding a sign with the word "honk". Joe Plambeck of Ferndale received ticketed for honking his car horn while passing the protesters. Monica Legg of Lewiston and her husband, Donald were arrested for not returning overdue videos. Legg admits the two VHS tapes were abnormally late. However, state trooper from the Gaylord Post arrested her same day a picture of her with the protesters at Nine Mile Road and Woodward Avenue appeared in the Detroit Free Press. "I wonder if I'm being paranoid," Ms Legg said at the Monday night protest Sept. 4. After all, she said, how often are folks arrested for not returning videos?" After four years of holding up signs asking people to "Honk if you want Bush out" these protesters say they believe police don't agree with their political leanings and have noticed public opinion swaying against President George W. Bush; they don't like it. When Kittla was stopped by an officer the protest was over . He was simply carrying his sign on his way to get ice cream with his wife, daughter and two female protesters. The group had been warned about inciting drivers to honk, so he had changed his sign from, "Honk if you want Bush out," to, "Ferndale cops say: Don't Honk if you want Bush out." He said it was a warning to drivers that they could be ticketed for honking. Lt. Blake Davis, the commander at the Gaylord Post, said the Leggs arrest and the same-day newspaper photo was coincidental. While, Capt. Timothy Collins of Ferndale claimed it was a safety issue. However, his department continued to look for an excuse to harass the protestors after the city attorney told him that the protesters were within their First Amendment rights; they find two laws that would help them silence them. Drivers cannot honk unless they are giving warning or there is an emergency. The second law states that a horn or bell cannot disturb the peace and it's illegal to cause or entice another person to do it. Plambeck beeped his Honda Civic horn three times and received a $110 ticket. He went home and and Googled Kittila online. After contacting Kittila, he decided to fight the ticket. "I thought I could beep my horn," Plambeck said. "It was my display of support." As for the experience, "It's forced me to open my eyes," Plambeck said. In Pontiac, Officer Ed Lasseigne and Officer Joe Brown were caught on a surveillance video roughing up a prisoner inside the Pontiac Police elevator, however they will not be charged. They both will pay $150 fine, but will soon be reinstated. The unnamed prisoner was not seriously hurt nor was he given the opportunity to file charges. Spouse abuse is common among law enforcement officers; what is uncommon is that the officers receive the same punishment as the public. Michael Harvey, a former Antrim County Deputy pled guilty to threatening his wife with his service revolver while on duty. While the sentencing for others would be much stiffer, Michael Harvey, will most likely spend less than a year in jail for felonious assault and domestic violence. Former Lt. Aaron Sweeney was charged with domestic violence in Emmet County District Court. The details were not made available. While on duty, Antrim County Deputy Michael Harvey went home and threatened his wife with a gun and pointed a taser gun at his two year old son. In August, Harvey pled guilty to felonious assault and domestic violence. He was sentenced to two to four years. Deputy Justin Revnell of Grand Traverse County Sheriff Department, was charged with one count of domestic assault after a night of drinking at the Long Lake Township Bar. Revnell, who's also the nephew of Sheriff Scott Fewins, allegedly assaulting his girlfriend while intoxicated. Fewins immediately defended his nephew who admitted to drinking in excess at times, but denied the assault claims. When his girlfriend attempted to talk to Revnell about his drinking and driving, he allegedly grabbed her and threw her to the ground. She called 911. At 5:20 am, police contacted Revnell and he denied the incident. However, Revnell's blood-alcohol was .08 at around 6 am. His girlfriend also told police that he had assaulted her previously. Revnell was placed on administrative leave. However, the Grand Traverse prosecutor dismissed the domestic assault charge after the girlfriend suddenly left the area and couldn't be located. Erin House, an assistant state attorney general who handles domestic violence cases in Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Antrim counties, said the woman has taken "extraordinary" measures to avoid testifying in the case, and that authorities have been unable to locate her to serve a subpoena compelling her to testify. It's concerning ... because she's taken steps that go well beyond what a domestic violence victim would normally do in a case like this," House said. "She stopped speaking to a lot of people that she's been close with over the years." The sheriff continues to be supportive of his nephew and denies the rumors that Revnell was responsible for the girl fleeing the area. Revnell was reimbursed for almost two months of back pay and was reassigned to the department's detective bureau instead of returning to his work as a school liaison officer at Traverse City West Junior High School. In Michigan as in many other states, the clock has been turned back to a time when civil rights were not applied equally. The freedoms our brave soldiers are shedding their blood to give other nations are rapidly being taken away from our own people. We are no longer safe in our homes, our cars or on the street as the public is caught between two evils--the criminals and the police; the only difference between them is the later is state sanctioned. If we allow our fears to keep us silent, how many more rights will we lose? How long will it before the police no longer need just cause or warrants to search our person or processions? How long will it be before a person can be held indefinitely without being charged? How long will free speech be legal? It is time to take a stand and hold the police responsible for their actions. Most sheriffs are elected officials; if he or she cannot insure the public's civil rights, he or she should be recalled or voted out. If you know of abuses, file complaints with the local authorities and the Attorney General. Nearly every state has its own civil liberty watch agencies. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights phone number is 517-335-3164. The FBI also investigates civil rights abuses. Each state has their own office; the Detroit FBI violation of Federal Civil rights phone number is 313-965-2323. The ACLU and the Lady Liberty League are national organizations who investigate civil rights abuses and will take cases on an individual basis. Contacting the media, both the local and national, will draw attention to bad situations and help bring about justice. In short, the old saying is so true; all evil needs to succeed is for good people to do nothing. There are good officers out there; but if they remain silent, they are no better than the corrupt ones. When the light of justice shines brightly, everyone is protected and the corrupt are held responsible.

About the Author

Shannon Cullin became politically active when she found she had no other option. After her civil right were violated by the local sheriff department, she made a promise to herself that she would not back down and would demand justice for herself and others.