May have gone a bit to far........

[capmaj]

http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/10/13/2443494/civil-air-patrol-to-withhold-services.html?storylink=addthis

[RADIOMAN015]

http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/10/13/2443494/civil-air-patrol-to-withhold-services.html?storylink=addthis

I don't blame that senior member for getting angry.  HOWEVER, he has NO right to go on private property and take an item away from anyone.  He should have dialed 911 immediately when the laser was pointed/shinned at him.   Also as far as the statements made to the press on withholding CAP services, I highly doubt he has that authority to do that.  Not sure why CAP was even pulled into this by the member.  Also "no comment" from the wing is terrible public relations.   It looks to me like he has put his continued CAP membership in danger.

BTW we recently had an incident locally with a red laser being pointed at a state police helicopter on patrol.  The helo, stopped went back to the area, turned on it's surveillance system and video taped the individual.  Called the local PD to respond to the exact address and ID the subject, and also notified the local airport control tower of the incident that was also going to be reported to the FAA (federal offense).
RM     

[Chappie]

You think a bit too far?     This has all the makings of an IG investigation and a change of command ceremony for the squadron.

[davidsinn]

You think a bit too far?      This has all the makings of an IG investigation and a change of command ceremony for the squadron.

There was stupidity all around in this case.

[Flying Pig]

So this incident actually had nothing to do with CAP correct?  It just so happens that the person involved is a member?

So you get charged by your local LE agency for a crime (whether legit or not) and then as a CAP commander, you can say "Well, -------- County, Im not letting you use my CAP planes anymore".  Sorry dude, as a former SqCC with aircraft under my charge, Id say thats, oh, I dunno, a conflict of interest?

Your now going to try and use CAP assets as a way to get back at the county government that arrested you?  Nope.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

I don't think this joker has the authority to deny assets.  There are people further up the food chain who make that decision.  He's a squadron commander (?).  There will be Group, Wing, Region and National people with more brass on their epaulettes and farts and darts on their caps who make those decisions.

Captain Sinn said there was stupidity all round on this - firmly agreed.

Act One - The kid pointing the laser at anyone.  Ask almost any LEO how s/he would react to that, given how many weapons have laser sights.

Act Two - CAP guy is (rightfully) P.O.'d and (wrongfully) goes on private property.  Better course of action: take cell phone, call police and report.

Act Three - P.O.'d CAP guy lays hands on minor child forcefully, takes laser "toy" and absconds with it.

Act Four - P.O.'d CAP guy makes statement to LEO about "withholding CAP services" that he has no right to make.

2B or not 2B?

[Major Lord]

The report does make the CAP member sound as if he handled the situation poorly. If you find it necessary to seize an item from a person by force, you should 1) Make sure that what the person did was a crime. ( Is blinding drivers with a LASER a violation of Law in Florida?) and 2) if you use any force against a person for nearly any reason, you had better be prepared to make a citizens arrest, otherwise, you are just a thief, a batterer, and a person committing false arrest/ false imprisonment. Arrest do yes,Arrest do no, no Arrest do so-so! ( to borrow a saying from Mr Miyagi)

Point a laser at me and the last thing you are likely to see is a muzzle flash, since light goes faster than lead. If it was obviously a kid with a LASER pointer, actively lighting up drivers, I would be inclined to call the PD or detain the little brat. ( Kids in California can't commit crimes generally, they are just " Minors in danger of leading an idle, dissolute, or immoral life", to paraphrase the Welfare and Institutions code.

Is there bad blood between the S.O. and CAP in this area? ( this happens a lot, for reasons just like the one described, and many other boneheaded CAP member brouhahas. ( A brouhaha is much worse than a simple "shenanigan") It is usually the Sheriff that makes us personae non gratae, not the other way around. if the S.O. has a burr under their blanket about CAP, and takes it out on members, taking a step back and waiting to see if they still think we are needed would be prudent. If this is the typical CAP member "Commander" drunk with his godlike powers, it may be time to send him out to take inventory of the spoons, or other vitally important task. I would love to hear the full story before assuming that a CAP member was an idiot and the S.O ( and media) was right. One vital rule I remember from the police academy was that every story you read in the media is 100% accurate....except for those you have personal knowledge of! ( They don't care about ending sentence with prepositions in the police academy)

Major Lord

[N Harmon]

Commander or no commander, if I were to do this, I would not expect to be a CAP member for very much longer.

[ZigZag911]

This had no direct bearing on CAP.

Eventually it could affect CAP aircraft, if the kid took to shining his laser point in the sky.

A phone call to local LE would have been the appropriate course of action.

This unit CC should not have mentioned CAP at all, it reflects poorly on all of us...I hope FL WG is looking into this matter and addresses it.

[Larry Mangum]

South Carolina not Florida

[ZigZag911]

SC, of course, forgive me for a geographically challenged "Yankee"!

[lordmonar]

Anyone key on the fact that there are only 3 pilots in this unit?

SCWG needs to look real hard at this unit.

[tsrup]

Anyone key on the fact that there are only 3 pilots in this unit?

SCWG needs to look real hard at this unit.

why? 

sometimes that 3 more pilots than other squadrons.


Now it's very possible that he was just a tool bag and drove off a number of prospects.  One can do a lot of damage in that 11 year span as commander....

[jpizzo127]

Anyone key on the fact that there are only 3 pilots in this unit?

SCWG needs to look real hard at this unit.

why? 

sometimes that 3 more pilots than other squadrons.


Now it's very possible that he was just a tool bag and drove off a number of prospects.  One can do a lot of damage in that 11 year span as commander....

A poor commander can drive a squadron into the ground in 1 year, much less 11.

No term limits on squadron commander in South East Region?

If the story is accurate, and that's a BIG IF, this is an IG investigation and possible 2B.

Poor move on this commander's part if story is true. CAP should never have been brought into it. PERIOD.

But now that we are, the Wing needs to take action immedietly.

Just my humble opinion as a former squadron commander, thanks to term limits.

[AngelWings]

This guy is an idiot. No more, no less.

[SARDOC]

You think a bit too far?     This has all the makings of an IG investigation and a change of command ceremony for the squadron.

I'm thinking that there isn't time to plan a ceremony.  This is one of those change of command situations that occur over the phone.

[SARDOC]

Anyone key on the fact that there are only 3 pilots in this unit?

SCWG needs to look real hard at this unit.

Mine only has one pilot but over 75 members...why would the wing need to "look" at us?

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

I'm thinking that there isn't time to plan a ceremony.  This is one of those change of command situations that occur over the phone.

As in a boot in the empennage with a 2B attached to it.

[lordmonar]

Anyone key on the fact that there are only 3 pilots in this unit?

SCWG needs to look real hard at this unit.

Mine only has one pilot but over 75 members...why would the wing need to "look" at us?

Do you have a plane?

[JeffDG]

No term limits on squadron commander in South East Region?

No, in SER Wing Commanders appoint good squadron CCs, regardless of how long they've held the job.  Amazing actually trusting Wing/CCs to make decisions.

That said, it has no bearing on this, as SC is not part of SER anyway.