Mar 10 2010
Bar Crusader?
I have received many e-mails of late, concerning our bar compliance checks and also the closing of some bars. I would love to tell you all of it has been positive and supportive, but it has not. One writer asked me if I was on some type of “prohibition crusader” and questioned if I was in fact, anti bar, anti alcohol. Most of the time, the names I am called are of the four letter variety and the meaning is well known. I had to look up “crusade” in the dictionary to make sure I knew the meaning before responding. Crusade - any vigorous, or aggressive movement for the defense or advancement of an idea, cause, etc.: a crusade against child abuse.
My response: I have been a law enforcement officer all of my adult life. I well understand that the typical corner bar ( Cheer’s variety) sometimes presents challenges to local law enforcement. There is the intoxicated subject that wants to take a swing at another patron, the domestic fights that occurs when the intoxicated person gets home, often without their paycheck, (most of which they have left at the bar) and of course the drunk driver. While I don’t approve of any of these situations, and I acknowledge that they sometimes they cost the city precious police resources, I believe that we can handle these associated problems. What I do not have the resources to handle, is the associated costs that come to our city when a bar allow, caters, and even imports gang members from other cities to come to their bar, fight, sell drugs, and exchange gunshots with other patrons. These are the calls that tax your overworked Saturday night patrol officers, aggravate residents, and create a bad reputation for a city that is trying to clean itself up.
You may ask, Chief, how do you determine which bars are a nuisance? It’s relatively simple. First, I check the call history for our local bars. If they have weekly, (or nightly) calls for fights, gang activity, and especially shots fired, you can bet you have a problem bar. Second, I talk with my patrol officers, they are a wealth of information. Many of them have been working in the same patrol district for many years. They well know the problems and can easily determine where additional police resources may be needed. This year, I have received several supplemental reports, generated by my patrol officers, that have documented “problem bars” and detail lengthy call histories and additional problems ( owners that fail to cooperate with responding officers) that they have observed. My gang unit officers are well aware of the bars in this city that have become ‘gang hangouts”. They will often tell me by name, which gangs and well known members hang out at which bars. Lastly, I rely on citizens tips and my own observations that I make when we perform bar compliance checks. This past weekend, I walked into one of our bars and quickly observed a motorcycle gang member dressed in his colors, bellied up to the bar. This, along with the fact that this bar had a shooting incident (no one was injured) the previous weekend, quickly allowed me to surmise there may be a problem.
When we determine that a bar is becoming a ‘nuisance” we make contact with the owner and talk with them about ways that they can improve the situation at their respective bars. We often suggest extra lighting, metal detectors, Id scanners, and dress codes that don’t allow gang apparel. We suggest, we do not mandate changes. However; we inform the owners that if the problem is not addressed by them, we will be attending liquor board hearings in an attempt to have their license suspended or revoked.
It is not my intention to close businesses. We have enough boarded up businesses and I do not wish to see more. I will help any business that is complying with state and local laws. However; I absolutely will not stand idle, and allow a bar or business to allow, entice, and even cater to criminal gang members.
Many years ago I took an oath to protect and serve. I believe with all my heart that strict bar compliance is a positive direction for the Hammond Police Department, and ultimately the citizens of Hammond.
Chief Brian Miller