Is Hillman behind the police-state stuff?

[Gladiator]

Is Hillman behind the police-state stuff? - Orange Punch - OCRegister.com

Is Hillman behind the police-state stuff?
January 27th, 2009, 4:37 pm · 2 Comments · posted by Steven Greenhut

Assistant Sheriff Mike Hillman offers this analysis of the widely criticized sheriff’s department security tactics at the January 13 board meeting. The best part of the analysis was this line: “No ancillary groups appeared who wished to engage in First Amendment activity outside the Board meeting.” I like how Matt Cunningham put it at OCBlog: “First Amendment activity”? It’s interesting how the clipped style of police reports can make exercising one’s free speech sound sinister.” The whole Hutchens/Hillman approach to board security seems to be epitomized by that line. They made it feel and seem sinister to attend a board meeting and actually speak out against the sheriff’s anti-CCW policies.

A number of readers have suggested that these new tactics are standard operating procedure for Hillman, the former LAPD deputy chief.

Here is a column by the Times’ Steve Lopez called, “Iron Mike Needs to Forge a New Image As Part of LAPD’s Brass.” It includes this paragraph: “A snapshot of LAPD Deputy Chief Mike Hillman has been making the rounds among brass at Parker Center. In the photograph, taken at the demonstrations on the evening of the Academy Awards, Hillman has a bullhorn in one hand and a citizen’s neck in the other.”

Maybe that can be the new photo mascot for the OC Sheriff’s Department. And maybe a quotation from Hillman, found on a public radio Web site, captures the OC Sheriff’s Department’s new approach to civil liberties. Hillman is explaining how he deals with people at protests who he thinks might be potential troublemakers because they are wearing hoodies and have a backpack with them:

“Walking over to them and saying, ‘Hi, Mike Hillman, I’m going to be here with you. Want to make sure we protect your First Amendment rights. I’ll be with you the rest of the day.’ Now, it may sound hokey. But what it does is, it tells somebody that we’re watching.”

That seems to be the exact approach the OCSD took toward those troublemakers who showed up at the board meeting to speak out about CCW permits. Ominous. At least the past ethically challenged sheriff was too busy in petty pursuits of sex, booze and toys to try this sort of police-state nonsense!

[Harry Carry]

Nice imports from LA.

[Poogsdad]

Commented.

[glbtrottr]

Posted.

Seriously - why wasn't an OCSD sheriff hired to replace Carona?

Why did we have to hire the elderly,rejected, never-made-it-to-the-top retired leftovers from some other departments?

Wasn't there one competent OCSD person in the wings to prevent us from the madness Hutchens is bringing?

[Barky]

Posted

[sealbeach]

Originally Posted by glbtrottr

Posted.

Seriously - why wasn't an OCSD sheriff hired to replace Carona?

Why did we have to hire the elderly,rejected, never-made-it-to-the-top retired leftovers from some other departments?

Wasn't there one competent OCSD person in the wings to prevent us from the madness Hutchens is bringing?

I know this is a rhetorical question, BUT I fell the need to answer it:

YES! I am certain there were many qualified OCSD candidates, the BOS was scared of promoting them because they might be accused of being Carona's cronies. Instead they paid $37K to bring in Baca's cronies, and I love your description of them: "elderly,rejected, never-made-it-to-the-top retired leftovers from some other departments" that about sums it up.

[Dan M.]

Originally Posted by sealbeach

I know this is a rhetorical question, BUT I fell the need to answer it:

YES! I am certain there were many qualified OCSD candidates, the BOS was scared of promoting them because they might be accused of being Carona's cronies. Instead they paid $37K to bring in Baca's cronies, and I love your description of them: "elderly,rejected, never-made-it-to-the-top retired leftovers from some other departments" that about sums it up.