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Santa Patrol Helping Police:
from
macon.com
on
December 22, 2008
Website:
http://www.macon.com/197/story/563630.html
View comments about this article!
Santa Patrol Helping Police:
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Santa Patrol Helping Police:
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by K1CJS on December 22, 2008
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Nice little story about community service here. I wonder how long it will be before someone comments on the guy in the picture and labels this with a less than complementary term that comes up here from time to time.
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Santa Patrol Helping Police:
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by N3YYL on December 22, 2008
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Neat idea. It is a good way for hams and the pd to work together in an non-emergancy roll.
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Santa Patrol Helping Police:
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by N3YYL on December 22, 2008
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Neat idea. It is a good way for hams and the pd to work together in an non-emergancy roll.
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Santa Patrol Helping Police:
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by K4RAF on December 22, 2008
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Gallery says: "Amateur radio enthusiasts PROTECTING shoppers during holidays"???
How is that?
- With their orange vests made of Kevlar?
- With their HTs used as a "blunt objects"?
- With their looks that scare the little children?
What I really like is how they stuck Joe Ham over in the corner, cause his vest was blinding the normal viewing of the CAD screens for all the REAL 911 operators...
Perpetuating the stereotypes, feel good people... Feel good wannabes...
Raf
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RE: Santa Patrol Helping Police:
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by WI7B on December 22, 2008
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"The Santa Patrol in Warner Robins is a group of amateur radio operators who work with police and 911 dispatchers to offer extra sets of eyes and ears to law enforcement.
“Santa Claus is watching you,” Louth said jokingly"
Hah, hah, hah...hmmm
"The Santa Patrol" as eyes and ears of law enforcement. Perhaps, "The Easter Bunny Patrol" as eyes and ears of law enforcement during Spring Break?
What else will those 'wastically wabbits' get into? Darn 'varmits'.
I'm guessing this is not the reason why most of us got into Amateur Radio or the image we like to portray.
73,
---* Ken
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RE: Santa Patrol Helping Police:
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by ERICG on December 22, 2008
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I really don't understand the animosity here. What I see are community members who are trying to help minimize crime by providing a presence in parking lots where burglaries are likely to happen.
They're not playing superhero, they're not pretending to be saviors of humanity. They're just members of their community trying to help out in some small way.
If they didn't have an HT in their hand you might even stop and say thanks to them, but since they're hams you're going to brand them as EMCOMM nuts and make snide remarks.
Please, do tell us what you've done to help out your community today.
If it's not the reason you got into Amateur Radio, that's fine but what in the world is wrong with being seen as a socially responsible group that's willing to pitch in and lend a hand to make our communities better.
Now I know there are those that go overboard in this kind of thing but this doesn't seem like it any more than having a neighborhood watch is going overboard.
Thanks
Eric
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Santa Patrol Helping Police:
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by N0YXB on December 22, 2008
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Kudos. It's good to see citizens constructively helping their communities. Too many people are complacent, which emboldens criminals. I see no reason to criticize these guys.
Vince
N0YXB
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RE: Santa Patrol Helping Police:
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by WI7B on December 22, 2008
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Well, my point is, if you are going to be the eyes and ears of law enforcement, don;t dress it up in names like "The Santa Patrol" and make jokingly dark comments about "Santa Claus is watching you."
He didn't say watching the criminals, he said "watching you."
That's not the image of hams I liked portrayed. Like a bunch of neighborhood spies.
73,
---* Ken
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eHam.net Helping Kooks
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by AI2IA on December 22, 2008
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If you visit this site often enough, you will see that it is the forum of last resort for the fringe hams, the handle users and anonymous deranged audience needers, among whom are, of course, the dyed in the wool emcomm bashers. They are isolated individuals who get no recognition for their wails and laments elsewhere, so they gather here to chant their tired old mantras. No one will ever convince them of the error or insanity of their ways. They come here not to discuss or to learn, but to bathe in the imagined glory of lecturing to what they imaging is a captive audience much in need of their negative messages.
It's really nothing new. Just laugh at them and move on.
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RE: eHam.net Helping Kooks
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by WI7B on December 22, 2008
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I'll respect those hams who use their casls AND subscribe to this website - eHAM.net.
Not to preaching freelaoders. If you are so concerned about community involved, why not HERE and NOW.
Subscribe to eHAM,
---* Ken
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More kooks
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by AI2IA on December 22, 2008
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Gee, sorry, I forgot to include those sanctimonius creeps who foolishly continue their subscription while eHam.net does nothing whatsoever about blocking anonymous contributors, and fattens their coffers not only with reasonable advertisers, but those who enjoy the adulteration of the site with harassers and low level types. Talk about respect? Respect from a worm is really an insult.
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RE: Santa Patrol Helping Police:
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by KG8L on December 22, 2008
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Well, smartypants, I happen to be a member of that group and I have to wonder what you've done for the community lately? Santa Patrol has been going on for about 30 years and the local PD's are thrilled to have us. Maybe you're Mr. Perfect 32" waist and handsome as can be... the rest of us are REAL people trying to give back to our community. Aside from keeping watch on the local shopping establishments, we also carry jumper cables, change tires, and do whatever we can to help out. Now... why don't you impress us with YOUR tales of heroism?
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RE: Santa Patrol Helping Police:
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by KG8L on December 22, 2008
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So tell us Ken... why DID you become a ham? Community service is part of the deal... we owe the public a debt and this is one way to repay it. The local PD is happy to have us. What have YOU done lately?
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RE: eHam.net Helping Kooks
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by KG8L on December 22, 2008
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I can answer that. It's becasue a large number of the post here on eHam are nothing but trolls looking to get a rise out of somebody. If you need to get a rise, try Viagra.
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EYES NEEDED?
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by W4KVW on December 23, 2008
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I hear some of the SPRING BREAK "BEACH TOWNS" are looking for BIKINI PATROLS!BET there are PLENTY of willing HELPFUL HAMS to take that duty & they will work OVERTIME at NO CHARGE! }:>)
W4KVW
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Waiting for the Big One? Look Around You Lately?
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by K4RAF on December 24, 2008
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"we owe the public a debt"
The prevailing attitude in ham radio today looks at this totally opposite today. Look at all the press releases, just like this one... We are great, we got radios, we are all so 'fine business'.
Yet reality being what it is in 2009, anyone call hit 911 directly on any of some 200+ million cell phones. Many of them are in those same parking lots, in far greater numbers than any Santa Patrol. However, getting the numbskulls to be aware, get involved & report is a far different matter. Still, it only takes one call & how many hams carry cell phones today? Think about it, how many abductions & carjackings have some phone element to their reports? I never heard "his ham radio stayed keyed & the victim used landmarks to help..." I have also never known ham radios to "ping" geographically. I have heard many such cell stories over the past 10 years.
Our ability is to add 3 or more people to handling a single message, a net control & end-to-end hand holding while reciting 'special english'. We have become "cumbersome" in this role. We have a true issue of communication security here. Like "Hey RG8U, where are you right now?" Then add 60+ million FRS radios & the concept "patrols" face some stiff competition.
God's speed but not me... I'll use me cell if I need the 5-0, if my Colt jams. Ping us when you need secure surveillance, RF systems & interoperative methods like SMS, VoIP & camera platforms... "We" do that!!!
Sorry to notice this but the guy in the picture, at the little outpost, doesn't even have a pen in his hand... Prop photo or idle role?
I never wear anything orange, unless I am hunting but that's just me...
Raf
wifidx@gmail.com
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Santa Patrol Helping Police:
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by AI2IA on December 24, 2008
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Real hams are proud to wear an orange vest or any other color vest when called upon or inspired to serve.
97.1 Basis and Purpose. ...designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose ...to the public as a voluntary non commercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.
Paul M. Segal, W9EEA, in 1928:
...station and skill always ready for service to country and community.
To all you real hams, generous hams, sincere hams who give back, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in the very best spirit of amateur radio!
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RE: Santa Patrol Helping Police:
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by N2HBX on December 24, 2008
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RAF sez: "Gallery says: "Amateur radio enthusiasts PROTECTING shoppers during holidays"???"
I don't understand how you can villify the hams when they didn't write that caption. Nowhere in the article does it say they're actively intervening in situations. They are merely reporting them--no different from Halloween Pumpkin Patrols or the like.
Oh, now I remember. If you don't participate in a particular activity, it has no merit and is not a valid activity.
I'll bet you wouldn't want hams to do an Operation Santa Claus at a children's hospital either because you would accuse them of being elf wannabes.
Poor RAF....crappy childhood I guess.
73,
Larry, N2HBX
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RESPECT
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by PLANKEYE on December 24, 2008
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THIS IS A2AI:
Gee, sorry, I forgot to include those sanctimonius creeps who foolishly continue their subscription while eHam.net does nothing whatsoever about blocking anonymous contributors, and fattens their coffers not only with reasonable advertisers, but those who enjoy the adulteration of the site with harassers and low level types. Talk about respect? Respect from a worm is really an insult.
________________
PLANKEYE:
Merry Christmas Ray, and God Bless!!
PLANKEYE
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RE: RESPECT
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by W6EM on December 27, 2008
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Respect, just a little bit. Aretha's mantra.
Years back, an outfit called REACT did this sort of thing.
So, why not hams? 2M repeaters beat 27MHz simplex and 4 Watts to the coax.
The emergency communications role was codified in Part 97 many years ago, back when HF was primarily our em comm conduit.
With that thought, our greatest value is providing long range em comm when no other conduits remain operational. Using a radio when normal means like cell phones abound surely isn't the em comm the FCC intended.
Enter the ARRL and its thirst for government money. Em comm courses abound. Homeland security grants to train us how to squeeze the PTT bar on the HT. ARRL is fast at work promoting licensing of public safety people so ham radio can be a second channel, if needed. Trunked radio junk marketed by the big vendors and the FCC's desire to use up surplus UHF TV spectrum need a failure back up, so ham radio fits that need just fine.
We can do as we please, but please don't go around trying to make those of us who don't prefer to become REACTers feel as though we aren't fulfilling our duties as codified. If RAF hears a station in distress, I'm sure he'd respond and do what he could to help. Getting involved in law enforcement without training can be dangerous. Especially if the criminal has a retaliatory mindset......
73.
Lee
W6EM/4
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RE: RESPECT
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by N4CDB on December 31, 2008
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Found this interesting comment about raf from '04. Seems to be spot on 4 years later.
As far as K4RAF, he bitches and moans
about everything an organization that
he does not belong to, has no say in,
has no effect on him, etc does.
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