Rant...Be Kind

[CMGUY89]

Yeah, I don't know if she got a good look at him but I know he ran. Maybe there was a tone-out with his description.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I hate to say it, but if you commit a crime in the US, you're likely to get away with it. Something this old and relatively minor (not to downplay it...It's terrible and I'm not trying to offend anyone, I'm just saying the cops might not care as much as we do), you'd have a hard time finding a lead let alone the criminal. I just have trouble believing the cops would invest much time looking for the little bastard.

On the other hand, I've had this same conversation about other minor infractions with my roommate and he has made the very valid point "how do you know there's nothing they can do until you at least *try* to pursue it?" So you're right, Grumpy, it should be reported, but I wouldn't get the girl's hopes up of the kid getting his due publicly.

I am sorry but I disagree very very much. That first part of the statement is a victims attitude! YOU do not know what the police know. The suspect may have committed similar crimes or is know for certain types of crimes, and sometimes a general description may help narrow the focus.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much TIME police would invest, this is a battery resulting in a death, period. You forget that those that investigate crime are just like everyone else, they have familys and are outraged when something like this happens. Dont let crime go unreported just because you think they can't do anything.

Sorry if I sound like I am on a soapbox, but I have interviewed victims "after the fact" and in some cases, had they come forward when the crime occurred, we could have PREVENTED that suspect from committing other crimes.

[Kwahati]

I am sorry but I disagree very very much. That first part of the statement is a victims attitude!

Um, no. It's a statistical truth. Just a quick search reveals an 85% success rate for solving murders in NY (that high recently as the crime rates fall) a 45% rate for solving "major crimes" in Detroit and only a 38% rate of the same in LA. Orlando does do better with solving homicides than the national average (Orlando solved 74% in 2005 as opposed to the national average is only 54%), but that only validates my point. If you, me, Wallaby, and Susi each kill somebody in Orlando, one of the four of us will get away!

And by the way, I partially supported what you were saying in my previous post. Don't attack my "attitude" as you don't know much about me and getting that presumptuous is just rude.

YOU do not know what the police know. The suspect may have committed similar crimes or is know for certain types of crimes, and sometimes a general description may help narrow the focus.

This isn't a Kevin Spacey movie. We can't just line up the usual suspects and know that one of them did it--if only we had a vague description. I would love it if you were right, but it's unlikely that the same guy is even from the area, (remember, we're talking about the biggest tourist destination in the world) so if he has committed similar crimes, it's unlikely that they were done in Orlando. Beyond that, you seem to have such a great knowledge of crimes and of victims, so why don't you start by telling me how many people who have crimes committed against them by a stranger, who they see for less than 30 seconds, can give an accurate description of the criminal at all... We both know that percentage isn't high.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much TIME police would invest, this is a battery resulting in a death, period. You forget that those that investigate crime are just like everyone else, they have familys and are outraged when something like this happens. Dont let crime go unreported just because you think they can't do anything.

Okay, I hate to break it to you, but not everybody is as staunchly conservative as you seem to be. As a result, there is very little consensus among states about whether this crime, legally, resulted in a "death." I'm sorry it happened and I'm not trying to start a Rowe v. Wade debate on SGT, but that's the way things are. I don't know if Florida or Orlando has a ruling on that, but I'm just saying, it's not like somebody was gunned down in cold blood on main street. This crime was a little more subtle than that. If it took security and the cops longer than a few minutes to get on top of this one, any "evidence" would probably be gone (with the possible exception of security tapes depending on whether there were any in the first place. As I'm sure you know with your vast knowledge of crime: often things happen, tapes aren't changed on time, tapes aren't loaded in the first place, the wrong tape is pulled, etc. I'm sure Disney is better than most, but I'm just being realistic here.)

Sorry if I sound like I am on a soapbox, but I have interviewed victims "after the fact" and in some cases, had they come forward when the crime occurred, we could have PREVENTED that suspect from committing other crimes.

Okay, you're right, everyone should report a crime committed against them. It'd be great if we had perfectly accurate statistics and every crime could be adequately investigate. The thing is, in the real world, it's just not that easy. For example here, I recently tried to report my windshield being busted out, apparently by a rock. It was quite difficult to pursue as the cops couldn't even agree on which PD I was supposed to be filing that with! Additionally I had a work schedule to contend with, so by the time they sent a cop out to me to talk about it, I had already had the windshield fixed! Further, there are crimes out there and circumstances surrounding crimes or witnesses that make it very uncomfortable for people to come forward.

I'm fine with soapboxes. I own a well used one myself. What I take issue with is you (a) attacking my "attitude" and (b) attacking the truth with unsubstantiated opinions. I was agreeing with you in the first place! She should have reported it! I was simply stating that encouraging her to do so this far after the fact could do more harm than good in her life.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Um, no. I'm fine with soapboxes. I own a well used one myself. What I take issue with is you (a) attacking my "attitude" and (b) attacking the truth with unsubstantiated opinions. I was agreeing with you in the first place! She should have reported it! I was simply stating that encouraging her to do so this far after the fact could do more harm than good in her life.

My opinions are not unsubstatiated, they are based on over 25 years of law enforcement experience in investigations.

I don't play silly games with satistics. the police can't solve a crime that is unreported, period.

[hobie16]

My opinions are not unsubstatiated, they are based on over 25 years of law enforcement experience in investigations.

They followed you around that long?!?! Which family do you belong to?

[Big Wallaby]

I went to school with a couple brothers, last name Gambino. In US History classes that made for some great fun.

[hobie16]

Did you ever see Growing Up Gotti? No wonder they got into crime.

[Big Wallaby]

Nope, I haven't yet. Is it good?

[hobie16]

Nope, I haven't yet. Is it good?

It really sucked. Surprisingly, it lasted at least two seasons. It made the Osborne's look like PhD candidates.

[CMGUY89]

Whoa, whoa, whoa people! Let's not forget the fact at hand, a CM was assaulted while doing her job. The key thing to remember is to protect yourself as much as possible and to watch each other's backs.