Comments on: Pinch A Drunk, Chomp A Pizza

By: erico49

erico49 — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:57:35 +0000

I have less of a problem with the pizza contest than I do with the appearance of Boise police on Cops. It’s a low-rent show and I don’t think it enhances their image. Also, with regard to James’ plea for neighborhood traffic enforcement.. Good Luck. Traffic enforcement in Boise is awful.. and everywhere, not just in neighborhoods.

By: DT

DT — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 04:04:43 +0000

People arrested for suspicion of DUI are always given the opportunity to prove they are not too impaired to drive by taking a breath test. Pass-you get a ride home/fail-go to jail. An incentive to get drunks off the street is great.

A pizza for making a bunch of DUI arrests is a small reward for the B.S. an officer usually gets in the process from the drunk (not counting all the paperwork). So if one were to get arrested and thought that the police were motivated not by possibly saving someone’s life but by a dinner, blow into the machine and prove them wrong.

EDITOR NOTE: This is getting old. We all love cops, they are heroes, they lay their ass on the line, they need a raise, they are all honest.

The PROBLEM with the contest is that it plants the seed of DOUBT with a jury or even a judge. Enforcing ANY law should not be part of a contest–even if they just get stickers for their report card.

By: Sisyphus

Sisyphus — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 19:21:39 +0000

Depends on the given facts of the case Cyclops. The jury is charged with finding the Defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Standing alone the fact that they are engaging in this contest means nothing. But coupled with a question of faulty calibration on a breathalyzer then things look a little fishy. It happens.

I wouldn’t call the problems with our justice system terminal. I’d still match it to any other country’s for fairness. But given all those pronounced guilty and penalized in our system now going free due to the advent of DNA testing, I would agree we still have significant problems. And for this I’m grateful for the reasonable doubt standard. I’m sure you would be too Cyclops if circumstances got you charged by the state.

By: CYCLOPS

CYCLOPS — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 04:19:24 +0000

I realize that you are not questioning the integrity of our police force. What I am questioning is whether such a defense is “viable”.

If it is, we have a terminal problem with the justice system.

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:57:30 +0000

I will buy a pizza, or whatever, each night for any law enforcement officer that arrests anyone breaking the law inside or surrounding the Oak Park Village apartment complex between Targee on the north, Cherry Street on the south, Broxon on the east and Shoshone on the west. Many laws are being broken outside of the apartments, let alone inside the apartments. It is getting like south central Los Angeles!!!!!!!!!! Bring your flak jackets, automatic weapons and put SWAT on alert!!!!! Email me at mehoff_45@hotmail.com to claim your pizza, or whatever.

By: CYCLOPS

CYCLOPS — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 02:28:51 +0000

Sisyphus and Mr. Logic. Do you actually believe that a member of the BPD would risk their career by falsifying a DUI arrest to get a PIZZA?
Please tell me your not serious.

EDITOR NOTE–You guys are all missing the point. Sis and Logic and the G are not questioning integrity of cops at all. They are saying that just the fact of a contest can be used AGAINST the cops who are doing a good job and creat REASONABLE DOUBT about the defendant’s guilt, hence giving cause for dismissal–guilty as the driver may be.

By: BrianTheDog

BrianTheDog — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 01:15:43 +0000

If I were a copper, the first thing I would find out is if the Pizza was Flying Pie. If it was Flying pie then I would tazer the driver and force feed them booze, just to eat a big ol pie. Get er done boys!!

By: dog

dog — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:40:09 +0000

I’m just thankful they don’t win those vagina bagels advertised in Boise’s weekly newspaper at that downtown bagel store last week. Can you imagine if our force had been eating those for the contest? Bless our Boise men in blue.

By: Nemo

Nemo — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:42:51 +0000

You know, little bits of friendly rivalry like this are things only some one in public safety would get, are harmless, and most of all, make the job a little bit more tolerable and fun.

I am sure there are those who think the last thing a cop should have is a little fun, but this is a thankless job, yet one which requires high standards and attention to detail.

Attributes you find in cops who love their job, and attributes you don’t find in any employee who doesn’t.

If little things like this help protect the public and make the job a bit more enjoyable, then it makes for a better police force.

Im OK with it!

By: Sisyphus

Sisyphus — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:49:52 +0000

Actually I think Mr. Logic is on to something. I don’t practice criminal law but if there is some questionable police gathered evidence used in making the case against a DUI driver the question from defense counsel on officers engaging in the contest would indicate a motive on the part of the police to falsify evidence in order to win the contest.

Thus introducing reasonable doubt into the proceedings. I don’t mind folks trying to make their jobs more interesting but this doesn’t seem to be a wise practice if the cops are looking for convictions.