DO YOU HAVE ANY RIGHTS WHEN METRO SHOWS UP AT YOUR DOOR?

   That is the 64 dollar question. This past week a neighbor opened his door to be confronted by a Metro officer who questioned him if he had kidnapped his mother in law and was holding her in the house. This is a very tough charge to be made and not one you would ever expect to be charged for. In most cases you would think if anything you would be charged with not letting your mother in law in the house. This charge is made by a daughter living in Arizona. It started by the charge being made in Arizona where she has a home and property. When the officers came to the door in Arizona they were going to break the door in but the pool person told them that the lady of the house wasn’t there but in Las Vegas with her daughter and son-in-law. So then the police notified Metro about it and that is how Metro in Las Vegas got into the act. When the officer came to the door and notified the son-in-law who said give me a minute and I will have her come down stairs and talk to you. Then the officer called for another officer for back up. The neighbor asked the officer to stay at the entrance in the porch while he went to get the mother-in-law. The officer did not react well to this request but did wait, but at the same time advised the neighbor that he could come inside if he wanted to. That is where there seems to be a dispute. If you remember we have all heard that our home is our castle. Well it seems like to a degree our castle is still our home but only if we work around some of the things our legislators have made into law. In cases with us older folks it seems there are laws which allow the police to even break into our homes under such circumstances. If this were my situation I would think that I had the right to keep the officers outside while I went for the mother-in-law but that might be wrong given what the legislators have done. I did talk to an officer and he tried to explain to me how the situation was lawful for the police to enter uninvited. His advice was to go to the Metro office and read the policies they operate under in such a situation. Now how do I get to the Metro office to see what is lawful under the circumstances? Even if I wanted to, Metro does not have a convenient web page to even find out what their policies are under the circumstances. Now a second issue came up when the second officer showed up he began to walk into the house and nose around to look at some interesting things the neighbor had as photographs on the wall. Again the neighbor ask this officer to step out of the living room and stand back at the door way. I told my neighbor that took a lot of guts under the circumstances with two officers with guns and clubs at the ready to take him out if they had a mind to do so. I know we old timers appreciate any help we get from the legislators but given all of the crime and who knows but what some would have the guts to even dress like officers and play that off on you to get into your house. We put a steel mesh door over our regular door so at least one does have a little better chance of the options one has when such a situation comes up. I’m sure this could lead to a some what heated discussion but it could be handled. Folks I am frightened of any officer who carries a gun because they have the upper hand and how do I know what kind of a night that officer had when they stopped me. Until recent years I never had such thoughts and I am sure they would tell me I had no reason to be concerned. But if one remembers all of the police killings one can’t help but think about such a possibility.

 THIS BRINGS THE QUESTION WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE POLICE QUARTER CENT SALES TAX?

   If you remember several years back we were asked to vote on a quarter cent sales tax that started about two years ago with another one quarter percent to be added about in 2009. Have any of you heard anything about the issue other than a few words when it was started. As I recall there was also to be legislative oversight on the tax but again I have heard nothing from the legislature. Maybe it is time that we ask the questions from our city and county governments as well as from the legislative oversight committee and see what is happening with our money. I for one have seen no more police service by Metro in our neighborhood. It would be nice for a change to have a black and white go thru the neighborhood slow enough that you could flag them down and talk to them if you had need to