Hello Mullica Township! I have moderated the Gadfly Blog since January, 2013 and I really need to say a few things.
This has been a week of insane, twilight zone national news coverage. All the highly charged, emotional rhetoric is meant to get you riled up and upset. There is a war of words going on that is meant to cause rifts between friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family members.
Take a rest from the news. Get your heads and emotions stable and clear.
No matter what your party affiliation may be, remember that this is still America and everyone has a right to free political speech. Don't let immature anger lead to stealing signs or vandalism of someones property because you hate their views.
Also remember, if you rant and rave about something you heard on TV, beware that there could be a boy or girl coloring that is tuning into your emotional state and absorbing everything you say.
We can't infect the children's minds with hatred and division. Our Mullica kids deserve the right to be innocent of this garbage. They need to be happy in our wonderful school. All of them need to play, learn, and co-operate with each other in a fun environment and not start singling out kids or snubbing kids because their parents views are different than their classmates parents. Kids always think their parents are right.
I guess that was an introduction that wasn't planned about my main topic for this letter but I find myself digressing once again.
There are still some people in town who have no idea who has been running the anonymous Gadfly for the last 6 1/2 years.
Well, my name is Louis Vitale. I've been a resident of Mullica for 20 years. I served in the Marine Corps, spent 1 year as a front line machine gunner in Viet Nam, joined the Military Police, and than became a North Jersey Police Officer when I left the service.
In Mullica, I'm known as the guy who has horses and is a pretty good cook.
Ok, here I go again. Another diversion from the point of this letter but I have to get something off my mind.
When you are in the middle of a horrific war, the men standing next to you are your brothers. Your lives depend on each other and the bonding that takes place is unimaginable. It doesn't matter if you are black, brown, yellow, grey or purple, gay or straight or even if you don't speak the same language, the bond is there.
Many times I held the broken, battered bodies of my friends as they took their last gurgled breath and my tears fell on their multicolored faces.
Right now, I have a Muslim Dr., a Peruvian Dr., a black woman Dr., 2 white women Drs. and actually a white male Dr. and I trust my very life to each one of them.
The point of this being, the posters who write in comments to the Gadfly and call me a "Racist"should be totally ashamed of themselves
That is the number one thing being seen in Blogs, Facebook, Twitter & YouTube right now. If some immature snowflake doesn't like what you say, they don't try to have an honest, intelligent debate on the subject. NO, they just go off on a rant calling you "Racist" and 25 other disgusting things just to label you and try to shut you down while they all sound like mind controlled robots.
It's getting very old now and people aren't falling for this BS anymore. It's just a shut down tactic.
An example of how ridiculous this method has become was seen just this week.
How strange that Nancy Pelosi's OWN people called her a "Racist" because they didn't like what she said. And even stranger, with all the bad blood between them, Trump defended Pelosi and said she was never a "Racist" and it was disgusting and disgraceful to even say such a thing about her.
This tactic has been way over used. It's not shocking any more and the people who are still spewing hate look like ignorant fools. The game is over.
I'm just typing away and maybe it's time I get to my main subject. THE MULLICA POLICE DEPT.
Ok, Ok, maybe you got a ticket on the Pike and you're not a complete fan. So what did you do? Were you speeding, driving erratic, talking on your cell phone while blowing a stop sign? Did you have too many drinks or drugs? Is you car falling apart? You did something to get pulled over and have to take some responsibility for your actions. It is the Officer's job to protect the rest of the law-abiding innocent drivers from the havoc and death you might cause by your actions.
As you sat there with the blinking lights behind your car, you were probably stressed out and cursing the officer in your head for catching you.
Now, look at the Officer's point of view and his stress level. First, he has no idea what's wrong with you. It's a blind stop. You could have AK-47's and bricks of cocaine and heroin in your car. You could be holding a small revolver lowered in your right hand just waiting for him to approach your car window. He has to cautiously assess the situation. He has split seconds to determine if his life is at risk. Believe me, the very last thing an Officer wants to do is pull his gun out of his holster.
You've read about all the local drug busts. Stashes of weapons and hard core ammunitions were also confiscated. One wrong move by the county men or our police force during these raids could have proved fatal.
We are in direct line from Atlantic City on the Pike. It's impossible to know how many drug transports are traveling through Mullica. NJ ranks 12th in the nation for opioids and hard core drugs and young, healthy people are dying from overdoses or tainted drugs in record numbers.
You might think that in a quiet, small town like Mullica, the police would have it easy. NO, everyday when they say goodbye to their wife and kids, there is no guarantee they will be coming home at night, especially with the national hatred and protests against police, sheriffs and ICE being organized by radical groups. Nowadays, a uniform and a badge has become a target.
Our Mullica police get called in for domestic disputes which involve raging tempers and very unstable conditions. Things could get deadly very fast without their correct judgement calls.
They are the first responders to see broken bodies on the street from accidents and they try their best to keep people alive while waiting for the EMT's.to arrive.
If you or your child is sick or dying, they will rush to your aid. They don't care what political sign you have on your lawn or the color of you skin. They will be there to help you!
You have read about things that happened in Mullica. Our men will climb down a germ infested, slimy septic tank to drag you out. They will climb up a ladder and give you CPR while you lay unconscious on a roof. They will be the first on the scene if you're stuck in a burning building or happen to drive your car into the river. Heck, they will even hunt for alligators to keep you safe.
On top of all the emergency people problems, they have to investigate burglaries, vandalism, disorderly conduct and the list is endless and everything has to have mountains of paperwork and reports.
Then you have the animal problems. Our men are called in when horses are running the streets. One well placed kick by a panicked 1000 lb horse could be fatal or cause serious injury. I've experienced that myself and almost lost my manhood by 2 inches with a swift kick in the groin.
Our men pick up and care for all the stray, lost dogs they see roaming around and they try to find the owners before the dog has to go to a shelter. More judgement calls are involved went they have a scared, nasty pooch. Don't you think it hurts when they have to see someone's beloved pet flattened on the road? It would make life a lot easier if everyone bought a license and kept ID on their animals and fortified their yards to avoid escapes.
Our Officers have to patrol the dark, creepy, Jersey Devil infested Pinelands alone at night not knowing what's going to jump out in front of them or if some drunk is going to smash into their patrol car which happened recently. They respond to Blueberry patch knife fights which involve tons of blood and spit and language barriers.
I could sit here on this stormy night with my TV off & tell you more but I still haven't gotten to the main point of this letter.
SO HERE WE GO FINALLY!
Did you know that the events put on in Mullica for your kids, like Community Day, the Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween, Torch Run, National Night Out or Christmas at the school are NOT paid for out of the town's tax money?
Most of the money to put on these events comes from private donations from people like you. And despite the fact about what our Mullica police force does everyday, they so love our Mullican children that they, their wives and the Municipal Office Women bust their butts trying to get donated funding so your kids can get prizes, toys, games, bouncy houses, etc.. They want the kids to have wonderful memories of growing up here and have them develop a trusting ,caring attitude toward Police Officers.
National Night Out is on August, 8th at the REC fields. The Mullica Police are selling "Thank You Blue" signs and police support magnets to fund this event. They have been giving out free stuff to the town's children for years. There is a tremendous amount of work, planning, and preparations that our men put into these events.
I am asking that all residents that can spare a few bucks, please buy a sign or two, and some support magnets to show your support for our overworked, understaffed, and underpaid Mullica Police Officers. Your moral support of them with signs all over town would mean so much to our men. If they run out, place an order or give a donation to the event.
One quick personal story in closing. In 2016, I had a cardiac emergency. Our Officers were the first responders to arrive and handled the situation until the ambulance could get to my house. I was carried out in a bag by many men while going into seizures. Not an easy task considering my size. My heart stopped twice in the ambulance and once in the ER. I had emergency pacemaker surgery. The next day I was told by the Doctors that if it wasn't for the Mullica Police correctly handling the emergency and rushing me through all the road traffic, I would not have made it. My minutes were running out.
On top of all that, once I was safely in the ER, Chief Thompson went back to my house to offer any kind of support and help to my traumatized wife.
Our Mulllica Police will be there for you through anything. Now is the time to spend a few dollars and be there for them and your kids.
We are a special little community and we must all stick together under our Mullican sky and forget the craziness of the world. Love your neighbors and have peace. United we stand, divided we fall.
Please share and pass this letter around to everyone in Mullica. There are still some people who think the Blog died in 2008 with the infamous Larry Angel.
Thank you for spending a stormy night with me.
Lou Vitale
“Thank You Blue” signs for sale- $10 each
“Proud Supporter” magnets- $5 each
LIMITED SUPPLY
Stop by the Tax Office Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm for purchase. All proceeds will help fund National Night Out on August 8th, 2019.
Stop by the Tax Office Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm for purchase. All proceeds will help fund National Night Out on August 8th, 2019.
5 comments:
Lou, Thank you for your open letter to us. This country is on the verge of violent civil war being manipulated by groups which want to see this nation go down and many of us are standing by hoping they go away-they wont go away and will keep pushing until they either win or the silent majority pushes back but I dont see it happening we have gone too far to recover. You obviously were born in the 50s and if you really want to think about it you can get depressed with how much has changed in 60 plus years. Of course anyone who studies scripture knows this was all predicted and how its going to end. In national politics the left has been very successful in blocking Trumps agenda and folks may or may not want to hear it but the left will eventually win a presidential election . Say what you will about the Dems but they have one big advantage over the Rs and they have a solid bloc so far with few breaking ranks. Pelosi may be getting up there in years but she is tough and smart and at times nasty enough to get her position.
As far as police the locals are pretty good compared to incidents Ive had in other towns like a ticket for an ornament hanging from my rear view mirror and a serious dress down for emptying water from my coffee cup on the road. I dont know anything about whats going on in our local department and that goes fro everything else because there are no more comcast broadcast-some of us work nights and no Larry Angel who despite his nastiness and personal attacks and language did bring stuff out.All I know is waht I read in the Press and Gadfly.I can say though that its only the thin blue line which protects us from what could be total anarchy.
Thanks for your letter and your service to our country and as you Marines say "Semper Fi to you"
Thank you very much for your comment. I have great faith that in the next 6 months a lot of information will be revealed that will shock people back into sanity. Antifa and other radical groups will be dealt with and the money sources stopped. Hang-in there and don't get discouraged. Scripture also speaks of labor pains and a new birth.
Everybody should just sit back, stay calm and watch what happens in the near future.
7/21/19
Hi poster 8:07AM,
Yesterday you got me thinking about the sentence you wrote, "I don"t know anything about what's going on in our local department". I'm starting to wonder if the majority of our Mullica residents feel the same way.
Most people get their kids ready for school, rush to work, rush home to cook supper,
do homework with the kids or take them to outside activities, then there's laundry, cleaning, bathtime, bedtime and get ready for the next day.
The only time they even notice a police car is in passing on the Pike or if there's an accident.
I am really hoping that my letter will give them some insight about what our Officers go through during their shifts.
All they really see is their tax bill and think all the cops are just sleeping in the woods at night.
First, let me tell you that the tax revaluation was required by the County. The Committee had no choice but to do it. I'm pretty sure that the last revaluation was done in 1995. The new tax assessments should have been done every 5 - 7 years but past Committees just kept putting it off trying to keep the taxes down and the people happy. Now, we are being hit with new values based on the last assessment 24 years ago. If I'm wrong, please someone from the office write in and correct me.
Second, our police force in understaffed in an effort to keep the taxes down. It costs a lot of money to hire a new officer. I personally think we need 2 more full time cops. I can't even imagine what the scheduling nightmare must be with such a tight staff. Then you have to fit in illness sick time, accidents, vacation time, personal time, Holiday time, etc.. Whoever is scheduling the shifts must be a mathematical genius.
Third, by entire New Jersey standards, our guys are way underpayed but they are performing the same work, enduring the same stress level and have the same danger to their lives as a North Jersey Officer. We've lost a lot of good officers to towns that pay better.
Fourth, being so short staffed might require extra hours to be put in by our force which could result in fatigue and brain fog. An officer has to be alert and ready for anything at all times.
Fifth, don't blame your tax bills on the police. They are working under barebone minimum required by law to keep this town running and the people safe. Without this crew, we have no town. There has been talk of shared services with Egg Harbor City or Hammonton or a county force but that is a such a big can of worms it might take years to work out, if ever.
Sixth, I tried to put in the letter just some of the things our police force goes through. I could of kept going but the letter would have been 3 foot long.
Please scrape up a few bucks for a "Thank You Blue" sign for your house. Just think of a tired, discouraged cop paroling the dark woods at night all alone. He is probably wondering to himself why he is even doing such work.
He would see your sign, smile, get refreshed, and know that he is not alone and he has the moral support, gratitude, and backing of all of us.
Thanks,
Lou
Hi Lou, Will do. I never have had a problem with our police and I always thought John Thompson was a good man.I KNOW that what you say about the revals are true and both the company and Jerry listened to me and did give me a fair shake. What I am curious about from your posts it seems there is a situation with our police that is causing some turmoil. I hope its not true and that you are talking about the nationwide situation. In closing if I ever have a situation with the police and I needed them Id have complete confidence in John Thompson and would want him on the scene. Hope your post drum up the support they need.
Hi poster 5:47 PM
My letter contains things the Mullica Police have gone through in the past. The Nationwide things are the bad drug epidemic which has infected Atlantic County and the disgusting radical groups that are targeting cops all over this country.
I've read in the paper, like everyone else, about some internal turmoil going on in the police dept.. I have absolutely no insider knowledge of the events taking place.
Whatever is done or said in the Executive Sessions of the Committee Meetings is sealed from the public for personnel privacy until the matter is resolved and the minutes can eventually be released.
I always thought John Thompson was a good man,too. He always seemed to keep on top of things. I gained a whole lot more of respect and gratitude toward him when he and his force saved my live.
No matter what is going on, I wish him a long and happy retirement and the opportunity to move on to things he enjoys in the future.
Brian Zeck is an excellent Officer and will be a great Police Chief. We are in good hands.
Lou
Post a Comment