JSO Sets up on Springfield Dog Park

[Hayley]

About 20 minutes ago, the JSO opened the Market Street gates at the dog park with no warning and started pulling in trucks with trailers.  Some are carrying porta-potties, and one large trailer was labeled "Emergency Preparedness."  I had to ask one officer to stop long enough to let me leash my dog before he ran out into the street.  He acted like he didn't even know it was a dog park, and said, "So leash him then."  I asked why, if they could wait; the officer just shrugged.  He wasn't in uniform, but was armed, so I didn't argue with him.

There have been no signs up to warn this was coming; they clearly plan to be here a while since they brought their own johns.

As you can see from the photos, the trucks are tearing up the turf at the dog park.  The ground is pretty wet right now.  From what I understand the Springfield Ladies Association spent a lot of money to give the city that grassy park.  Right now, its to be torn all to bits. 

After one of the drivers me saw taking photos, he made a big show about taking out a phone to take photos of me and my car.  I told him if he wanted my name and address, he was welcome to it.

This is not an anti-cop rant.  I know their job can be hard.  I spent 20 years in the military, and the better part of the last 10 was in Iraq and Afghanistan.  But it's completely unnecessary to be rude.  You're coming into MY neighborhood, you could show some courtesy and deference.  They're essentially commandeering OUR park for their use. At least pretend like I have a right to be there.

And I don't appreciate the damage they're doing the park.

Here's a link to the photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hayleyz/sets/72157633341192985/with/8683652990/

[02roadking]

May be this:
http://myspringfield.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=16810#p16810  and/or this 
http://myspringfield.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=16809#p16809

No reason to be rude though.

[Hayley]

One of my neighbors mentioned it was for the Relay for Life, so looks like you're right.

But... yup, no reason to be rude.

And no reason to drive the trucks over the full width of the dog park, tearing up the grass.  As a dog owner, that park is one of the biggest perks to living in Springfield, and one of the major reasons I'd eventually choose to buy here, if I decided to wade into the current restoration-vs-preservation battlefield.  The whole point is that it's a grassy expanse, not your normal dirt patch for dogs. 

Damaging turf that sees as much wear-and-tear as that dog park does will create more muddy holes.  It costs money to fix that, which why I assume the ones that are there now haven't been fixed.

Why not just park the vehicles in the adjacent parking lot???

[Debbie Thompson]

To confirm...it is for the Relay for Life.  We always allow people to drive into the park so they don't have to lug stuff from the adjacent parking.  Once they are unloaded, they move their cars to the lot.

As a member and past president of the Springfield Improvement Association (ladies assn) I can tell you that the Relay for Life was absolutely anticipated as an event to be held in the dog park.  In fact, that's why we asked them to install electrical outlets in the light poles.  We anticipated the park to be used for events as well, and Relay was one of them.  The SIA was instrumental in bringing Relay for Life to Springfield.  This year, a JSO officer is heading up the Relay.  JSO has had a big presence at the Springfield Relay for several years, and the Springfield Relay is thrilled about that.

The Relay for Life will be over tomorrow.  It's only 18 hours, plus set up and take down.  Everyone will pack up, and the dog park will be ready again tomorrow.  It's once a year, and for a good cause.  :-)

That said, too bad the grass is wet this year, and I can't speak for JSO and the attitude of that one officer.  Lesson learned that maybe next year the Relay team should post signs about the upcoming event a week or so prior.

[Hayley]

I'm not trying to be a noodge, and I appreciate the answer, but its still not okay.

It's not only 18 hours... I had to leave the park at 9am this morning until after takedown, with the cops are leaving the gates standing open.

Set up for regular folks, sure.  Four heavy duty police trucks?  With potta-potties?  And a long trailer?  In the park just for storage?  Swinging park wide donuts?  Flashing their guns when you ask them what's up and they won't answer you?  Three cheers for the JSO that they're working with you and on a good cause.  While I agree you can't be accountable for their behavior, you should care, since it kinda undermines what you're trying to do when in the name of your event they're bullying people, taking their photos, and being rude. 

They can't store that outside the fence today and tonight?  Really?  It was sunny this afternoon, they could have stored them in the ample parking lot and brought them in tomorrow and not torn the park all up.

Is it too much to ask that they'd just tried to be a polite, and said, "Oh, I"m sorry ma'am, we're setting up for a charity event.  We have permission from SIA, and we'll be gone by tomorrow.  If you'll just leash your dogs please and wait a few minutes, we'll be out of your way."

[duvaldude08]

^^ well it sounds like an issue with JSO, maybe your directing all this to the wrong people.

[Debbie Thompson]

Park doesn't belong to the SIA. We don't grant permission. COJ does. 

And absolutely porta potties are needed. Can you imagine hundreds of people at this fund raiser, up walking the track all night, without a way to go to the bathroom? :-)

[Springfielder]

I'm not trying to be a noodge, and I appreciate the answer, but its still not okay.

It's not only 18 hours... I had to leave the park at 9am this morning until after takedown, with the cops are leaving the gates standing open.

Set up for regular folks, sure.  Four heavy duty police trucks?  With potta-potties?  And a long trailer?  In the park just for storage?  Swinging park wide donuts?  Flashing their guns when you ask them what's up and they won't answer you?  Three cheers for the JSO that they're working with you and on a good cause.  While I agree you can't be accountable for their behavior, you should care, since it kinda undermines what you're trying to do when in the name of your event they're bullying people, taking their photos, and being rude. 

They can't store that outside the fence today and tonight?  Really?  It was sunny this afternoon, they could have stored them in the ample parking lot and brought them in tomorrow and not torn the park all up.

Is it too much to ask that they'd just tried to be a polite, and said, "Oh, I"m sorry ma'am, we're setting up for a charity event.  We have permission from SIA, and we'll be gone by tomorrow.  If you'll just leash your dogs please and wait a few minutes, we'll be out of your way."

So you're saying they pulled their guns and had them waving around? Sorry...don't buy it...that's total crap. As for them driving the equipment into the dog park, so what. I've seen the mowers tear up the grass. Sounds like you're the one who got pissed off, and of course, the taking photos to 'report' them...guess that would tick me off too. And you wanted them to run over to say, oh sorry, although we're doing our job and dedicating our own time to help raise money to fight cancer, along with providing a large first aid tent...but we're sorry you're so terribly inconvenienced and can't use the park today. Please, get over it...it sounds like you're the one with the issue and attitude.

Oh, and did you bother to attend the relay? I'm betting not

[TheCat]

Springfielder, please. Sounds like you have the attitude problem.

If police react negatively to citizens taking pictures then we have a much larger problem than grass in a dog park.

They shouldn't be afraid of being reported. They should welcome citizen engagement...so should you.

I'm not really sure how "guilting" Hayley for maybe not attending the relay justifies police possibly being rude.  Her credibility isn't diminished for not going. It was her perspective. Doing something nice is not a pass for being disrespectful. Being rude actually discredits the kind act.

They should have said sorry because it's a dog park and people use dog parks for their, well, dogs and I guess it was being converted into something else. It's a courtesy to say something like "sorry for the inconvenience but we are doing xyx for abc." It's not like they were securing the area for a "pile" of explosives.

I expect our police to be courteous. That's actually a huge deal to me.

[Springfielder]

I still don't buy into JSO pulling their guns and waving them around...because this person politely asked what was going on. I stick to what my response was...and sorry, Thecat, I haven't an attitude problem, except for when it comes to exaggerated stories.

I agree that had this person asked politely what was going on, then a polite response would've been in order. I have a sneaking suspicion that was not the case. As for them taking photos, I get the impression that the camera phone came whipping out and snapping off photos of the big bad JSO making tire marks in the dog park. I seriously doubt that the officers were 'afraid' of being reported, and when treated with respect, it's returned. When treated with an accusatory manner, people (JSO officers included) generally become defensive in response.

If it's a matter of a particular officer being rude, then report them...but again, I get the impression this was all blown out of proportion and laced with contempt. My opinion, I'm entitled to it and stand by it.

[TheCat]

I still don't buy into JSO pulling their guns and waving them around...because this person politely asked what was going on. I stick to what my response was...and sorry, Thecat, I haven't an attitude problem, except for when it comes to exaggerated stories.

No one said the cops were waiving their guns around. You're exaggerating OP's probably hyperbolic statement.

If it's a matter of a particular officer being rude, then report them...but again, I get the impression this was all blown out of proportion and laced with contempt. My opinion, I'm entitled to it and stand by it.

Pretty sure OP feels entitled to his/her opinion as well.

[Springfielder]

I still don't buy into JSO pulling their guns and waving them around...because this person politely asked what was going on. I stick to what my response was...and sorry, Thecat, I haven't an attitude problem, except for when it comes to exaggerated stories.

No one said the cops were waiving their guns around. You're exaggerating OP's probably hyperbolic statement.

I'm not trying to be a noodge, and I appreciate the answer, but its still not okay.

It's not only 18 hours... I had to leave the park at 9am this morning until after takedown, with the cops are leaving the gates standing open.

Set up for regular folks, sure.  Four heavy duty police trucks?  With potta-potties?  And a long trailer?  In the park just for storage?  Swinging park wide donuts? Flashing their guns when you ask them what's up and they won't answer you? Three cheers for the JSO that they're working with you and on a good cause.  While I agree you can't be accountable for their behavior, you should care, since it kinda undermines what you're trying to do when in the name of your event they're bullying people, taking their photos, and being rude. 

They can't store that outside the fence today and tonight?  Really?  It was sunny this afternoon, they could have stored them in the ample parking lot and brought them in tomorrow and not torn the park all up.

Is it too much to ask that they'd just tried to be a polite, and said, "Oh, I"m sorry ma'am, we're setting up for a charity event.  We have permission from SIA, and we'll be gone by tomorrow.  If you'll just leash your dogs please and wait a few minutes, we'll be out of your way."

Oh really....just where did I get that from...hmmm

[ChriswUfGator]

I quit going to the Springfield dog park after a couple visits because, and this is coming from someone who is paid to fight with people all day for a living, half the people there there are just crazy-rude. Sure the other half are nice, normal, folks, but the first category ruins it. They feel like they own the place, and will yell at you if your dog tries to play with theirs (stupid me, I thought that was the point of a dog park), if you sit on 'their' bench, walk on the grass when it's mushy from rain, or whatever other random thing that you didn't even realize you did until some nutty lady or another is being nasty to you because you unwittingly interfered with their misguided sense of control over a public park.

FWIW I can name at least two or three other members of this forum who have had the exact same experience. At this point I'm just holding out for the completion of the riverside dog park. For kicks, ask Stephendare what happened to him there, one of these nutbag control freaks was threatening to beat him up over a parking space, or something like that, he'll remember the details.

People need to take it easy over that park, it's making it no fun for other people to use.

[TheCat]

I'm not trying to be a noodge, and I appreciate the answer, but its still not okay.

It's not only 18 hours... I had to leave the park at 9am this morning until after takedown, with the cops are leaving the gates standing open.

Set up for regular folks, sure.  Four heavy duty police trucks?  With potta-potties?  And a long trailer?  In the park just for storage?  Swinging park wide donuts? Flashing their guns when you ask them what's up and they won't answer you? Three cheers for the JSO that they're working with you and on a good cause.  While I agree you can't be accountable for their behavior, you should care, since it kinda undermines what you're trying to do when in the name of your event they're bullying people, taking their photos, and being rude. 

They can't store that outside the fence today and tonight?  Really?  It was sunny this afternoon, they could have stored them in the ample parking lot and brought them in tomorrow and not torn the park all up.

Is it too much to ask that they'd just tried to be a polite, and said, "Oh, I"m sorry ma'am, we're setting up for a charity event.  We have permission from SIA, and we'll be gone by tomorrow.  If you'll just leash your dogs please and wait a few minutes, we'll be out of your way."

Oh really....just where did I get that from...hmmm

Flashing a gun is little bit different than, as you interpreted it, "JSO pulling their guns and waving them around". Although, I did miss the statement you highlighted. Even if OP was being  dramatic you definitely added some exuberance to his/her statement.

[Springfielder]

I'm not trying to be a noodge, and I appreciate the answer, but its still not okay.

It's not only 18 hours... I had to leave the park at 9am this morning until after takedown, with the cops are leaving the gates standing open.

Set up for regular folks, sure.  Four heavy duty police trucks?  With potta-potties?  And a long trailer?  In the park just for storage?  Swinging park wide donuts? Flashing their guns when you ask them what's up and they won't answer you? Three cheers for the JSO that they're working with you and on a good cause.  While I agree you can't be accountable for their behavior, you should care, since it kinda undermines what you're trying to do when in the name of your event they're bullying people, taking their photos, and being rude. 

They can't store that outside the fence today and tonight?  Really?  It was sunny this afternoon, they could have stored them in the ample parking lot and brought them in tomorrow and not torn the park all up.

Is it too much to ask that they'd just tried to be a polite, and said, "Oh, I"m sorry ma'am, we're setting up for a charity event.  We have permission from SIA, and we'll be gone by tomorrow.  If you'll just leash your dogs please and wait a few minutes, we'll be out of your way."

Oh really....just where did I get that from...hmmm

Flashing a gun is little bit different than, as you interpreted it, "JSO pulling their guns and waving them around". Although, I did miss the statement you highlighted. Even if OP was being  dramatic you definitely added some exuberance to his/her statement.

I call it as I see it, and I'm not sure what you consider 'flashing' anything around...to me, it's a general waving it in the air. If anyone was being overly dramatic (which was my point about the issue) it was the person having issues with JSO pulling trailers into the dog park for an event. I envision a pissed off person and made a mountain out of a molehill.