Humpday Happenings...

And it's the middle of the week in the frozen tundra...otherwise known as the Heartland of America.
If you LIKE cold (and who really doesn't?) then you will love today.
The high today will only creep into the low 20s, but we WILL see some sun, and naturally, there is always the chance of some snow flurries.
Tonight, we're back into the deep freeze, but hey, it's STILL Winter, right?
Anyway, let's get busy with the "rest of the story"...
*** First out of the chute today is our Motto Of The Week, aka WHO SAID THAT?
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
So...who said that? The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back at the front...
*** A breaking story on possibly the 5th homicide of the year.
(and we can thank the FWPD for this one...think of it as "urban renewal")

Here's the latest story link:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/crime/armed-robbery-suspect-shot-and-killed-by-police
A robber (armed with an "assault-style" rifle, no less) hit the CVS in the 2800 block of E. State around 0230 hrs, and when police arrived, they saw a subject that fit the description of the robber and a foot pursuit followed. He was tracked to the Baldwin Creek Apartments complex (bldg F), and it was there that shots were fired in a stairwell. It has yet to be determined who fired first or how many rounds were discharged.
The suspect is now part of the recently-deceased.
That's pretty brazen to enter a store with a RIFLE, and NOT have any vehicle to use for a getaway.
I mean handguns are pretty EASY to toss, but a rifle?
Not so much, and who wants to throw away firearms these days, except those loons that believe "buybacks" actually work, and other wussified members of society?

I say damn good work to the officers involved, and I know MY radio chatter would consist of something inclusive like:
"Let's see you rob another store NOW, asshole."

And that's why I'm not as politically-correct as others would like.

You call 'em as you see 'em...period.
Moving on...

*** The FWPD has a new device on the patrol cars...a license tag SCANNER.

(wow, haven't agencies like the Philly PARKING AUTHORITY had them for YEARS already?)

Well, it takes a little more time out here in the Midwest to catch up, I suppose.

Here's the story link:

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130217/LOCAL/302179944/0/SEARCH
Just remember that whenever you are on the streets and roads TODAY, you will be "noticed", even behind that illegally darkened vehicle glass.

The ACLU says such things, while useful for law-enforcement, can (and would) track EVERYONE (even the law-abiding) which could lead to establishing patterns of behavior for ANY individual. Wow, the ACLU making sense? How dare they!
(BTW, Welcome to Orwell's 1984, people)
The scanners were made available through a $56K GRANT.
Which causes me to ask the question: "What happens when the grant goes away?"
Such systems usually come with some type of "support" i.e. technical people who repair hardware or software issues.
Guess THAT has yet to be addressed...until something breaks, right?
Then, the FWPD will have to PAY (more) to keep the damn things running...yeah, that makes sense.
And speaking of those (overloaded with tech) patrol cars...
*** City Council approved the purchase of some fleet vehicles.
A total of NINETY ONE vehicles will be bought by the city of Ft. Wayne, and that price tag on THIS will come to the neighborhood of around $1,997,835.
(that's a damn NICE neighborhood)

SEVENTY of the vehicles will be for the FWPD, because no vehicles were purchased last year in an effort to save money.

Here's the story link:

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130220/LOCAL/302209965/0/FRONTPAGE
The city fleet manager, Larry Campbell, also said that vehicles are lasting longer.

Tell that to the more than several patrol cars that got trashed in the last year, either due to officer inattentiveness OR the atrocious driving on behalf of the distracted PUBLIC!
I suppose one might refer to THAT as "accelerated depreciation"?

*** FWPD arrest a SECOND man in connection with those apartment robberies.
Here's the "4-1-1":
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130220/LOCAL07/302209963

Man, I thought Halloween was over...that perps got one ugly-ass mug.
Corey L. Harris, 21 is now the newest resident of the Allen County lockup, along with his "partner" Davonte M. Hamlet (Act II, scene III).
He didn't have much of a rap sheet...but NOW he does.
====RAP SHEET====
02D04-0910-IF-014176 540513 Harris, Corey L 10/09/2009
Allen Superior Court 5 IF - Infraction
Decided EXCEED MAX LAWFUL SPEEDS
02D04-1005-IF-004368 573589 Harris, Corey L 05/10/2010
Allen Superior Court 6 IF - Infraction
Decided DISREGARDING AUTOM SIGNAL
=====ADDRESSES====
903 Hamilton Ave
Fort Wayne, IN 46806
Harris is listed as having an address in the 1000 blk of McKinnie Ave, but here is says 903 Hamilton...someone vetting this thug needs to check their facts...or GPS...LOL.
Well, he's off to a wonderful life of crime in the Summit City, and he'll probably be back out in NO time, thanks to the incredibly blatant inefficiency of our local prosecutor.

Give that boy a revolving door to his cell.
*** Remember that ambulance that was shot up last year (and the two thugs busted for shooting it up)?

It would seem that someone (or FATE) doesn't want THAT particular ambulance on the streets.

And here's the reason why:

http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/local/traa-ambulance-hit-responding-to-a-call

A followup story completes the "picture":

http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/local/traa-paramedics-are-trained-to-handle-being-in-an-accident?ref=scroller&categoryId=20000&status=true

Watch the video and spot the number of the TRAA vehicle - 0396.

Yes, THIS was the SAME ambulance that has been listed as "totaled" when a drunk driver t-boned it this past weekend.

Garrett Wagner was the perp busted for DUI.
(and he'll be back out soon enough, too)
So, I guess the saga of TRAA ambulance 0396 has come to it's untimely end...
(oughta make the perp PAY for the vehicle...that'll keep him too busy to get drunk and cause chaos)
Cripes, this jerkoff doesn't even LIVE in Ft. Wayne - he just comes here to drive around drunk and smack into ambulances transporting REAL sick people to hospital.
*** Last back to the barn today, we have got us a pack of f$cked-up folks out there.

Didn't used to be that way, either. Least I don't recall seeing SO damn many of them causing all this sh*t all the damn time.
I suppose we could step back and see what all has changed to society over the last 30-40 years.
That might clue us in on some of the WHATS.
We might seek to find out the WHYS behind such behavior, too.
We could even refer back to today's quote...the whole "persistence" gig.
Why some people persist in BAD behavior or decline to persist in being a better person.
One might come to believe that all too often, the EASY way is the BEST way, and that's not always the case.
Every time you view one of the stories here about perps, thugs and crims, the ONE thing to note is that they are ALL guilty...not only of the crime they have committed, BUT for always taking the EASY way to achieve whatever they are desirous of at that moment.
Were they as persistent in doing something RIGHT for a change...

Now wouldn't THAT be a long overdue epiphany...for us ALL.

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...

Stay SAFE out there, America.