COM 0369.002 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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JUN-~~ 7U'__al_'97 11~,DS HPD„CID_KONR, ~?6„-423~._g-~_-- 'G_ ~,atl TG:~;UiiA CIS P.14_„ NH aE u2 One day on patrol, I came across an accident where khe dr'~ver, an 16 year old male was thrown out of the vehicle, He had MaYi~uar.a on him and I suspected that He was high. He or, the other hand knew that he was hurt bad. He reached out for my hand and begged me tq help hirn, Fielp came too late for him and h® died alone begging me to help him. I kncw a woman who committed suicide leaving everything she had to her husband aria in the suicide note, begged him Lo refrain from growing Marijuana as it had ruined their lives, !w friend of mine was clsari_ng some of his land when he came across a marijuana patch, Not wanting to be Lhe recipient of sabotage, he worked around the patch, Three weeks later, he had to clear the area and move on so he did. The next day, there wag thousands of dollars worth of damage done ko his equipment, tie was afraid to report xt tc the police for fear of retaliation. For years as a single custodial parent pf two children, I volunteered fqr Green Harvest missions. I did it not for the glamcur or aggression but ber.ause I was physically better equipped and oriented t0 do the fob, I believed in the eradication effort because I saw what it did to others. I was also trained by the Police Department to Yake the necessary precautionary measures that would assure my safe return, It was aot until one day at the dinner table when my daughter asked me, "Dad, what would happen Lo us if something happened to you in Green Harvest that it. dawned on me just how dangerous these missions were, Z never went back to another missieri, air now retired and sti1J. am concerned for those who yo on these mi5Slgt76, Mdny Of these Officers Nava children and I am sure that they, like me, have seen the harm that the mari7uar.a curse has brought to our Ssland. Like me, these men risk tha.r lives so that otheYS may enjoy the freedom to roam the forest in safety. I suspect that every time you, the County Council d.splay some doubt as ko the need or effectiveness of the eradication program, you increase the danger to those who carry out the job. To refuse Federal funds for the eradication program will cost our County dearly. That cost will be measured in dollars, liability and lives. Let me tell you a true story of a near tragedy that I was personally involved in. One day at the Waimea police Station, we received a report of an abduction from some vary scared students. They reported that. khey went into the water shed area above Waimea to rip some marijuana from a patch in the area. In the process, the planter chased them and caught them. At gun point, he demanded that Lhe; drop their trousers, underwear included. He then made th®m bend foreword. Standing in back of them, he took aim at their dangling testicles and mould had shot at it when