In 1999 Norm Stamper made international news in a most inglorious way, as the police chief of the Seattle Police Department during the WTO-related demonstrations. For this 34-year veteran police officer with a Ph.D. in behavioral psychology, it was not his proudest moment. Stamper now says that he made serious mistakes. Stamper’s resignation and retirement from the force followed shortly… return to article
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Reader Comments (7)Page 1 of 1 pagesI totally agree with this guy,and he’s a cop.Will wonders ever cease?
Posted by Dr.D on Nov 2, 2005 at 4:14 PM Norm Stamper is one of the latest additions to our Speakers Bureau at Law Enforcement Against Prohibition http://leap.cc/tbay
He joins other former police chiefs from San Antonio TX, San Jose CA and St Augustine CA. Not sure if it’s something about cities which begin with the letter “S” but we’re pleased to have them all on board. To see who else is willing to stand up in public and speak on the failed policy of drug Prohibition, see the Speakers Bureau link at LEAP. Inquiries about LEAP welcome by contacting me directly heath@leap.cc....Peace from Clearwater FL, Steve
Posted by SteveHeath on Nov 3, 2005 at 12:49 AM Isn’t it interesting,that after the long debate we have had over on the"liberalisms Brain on Drugs” thread,more and more Articles are popping up here at ‘In These Times” its as if their voices are rising to the question “where are all these Antiprohibitionist,the public support?"Well,it’s right here!In the voices of Norm Stamper and Garrison Keilor!! And possibily the web editor thought he’d add these articles to help fuel the debate,who knows?What I don’t see are very many public outcries for stricker laws and enforcement!Oh, of course there are a few.(they think they are in the majority),but are finding out quickly they are currently being marginalized to the fringes.
Posted by Kaw Valley Kid on Nov 3, 2005 at 5:11 PM Maybe it’s the start of a groundswell,it really would be fantastic if common sense finally started seeping into public forums.One can hope.
Posted by Dr.D on Nov 3, 2005 at 5:29 PM Chief Stamper, if you’re reading these comments:
I was among those arrested, under your orders, for peaceful protest on Wednesday morning at Westlake, and I spent 72 hours in lockdown at King County Jail. It was both the most miserable and the most inspirational experience of my life. And you’re quite right that it was a radicalizing experience; indeed, it changed the course of my life.
Prior to the WTO protests, I was a graphic designer by profession. In between freelance jobs, I headed up to Seattle not as a career activist but simply as a progressive American. Following my experience there, however, I returned to California and started work as an organizer for SEIU—a decision I made while in shackles on the bus transporting me from the processing base at the naval facility to the county jail. I’ve been a political activist by profession more or less ever since.
Your force’s deplorable and disastrous overreach was a disgrace, but I have a great deal of respect for the reflectiveness and candor you’ve shown here, and I hope you take solace in the fact that your decisions that day have helped to build a stronger, more committed and battle-tested cadre of progressive activists who are fighting for the values that you apparently now share with us.
Posted by Leighton Woodhouse on Nov 4, 2005 at 3:15 PM Yes to all of the above says the Rabbit. To think it.........A top Cop too.................the same thing happened in Denmark a few years back, but I think he was incumbent.
Not that this Cop is relevant to Rabbit, he is in West Oz. But the situatioin with Police Corruption is intense, the undercover police force has endemic corruption. Rabbit has had experience, up close and personal with these scum bags and has seen the slime in action. Knows many people, Rabbit gets around, and the stories mount up. So many bad bad things are done by the Police at the levels of serious Crime and it’s control. The Division here who do Most things, answer the phone, Organised Crime and whenever Rabbit has had call to ring the uglies, he is struck almost speechless a moment by the incongruity of them answering the phone so honestly and openly before the realisation of that being the name of their organisation.
George Orwell...............Who was it who mentioned his Coffin had been fitted with Bearings so he could roll over more freely? The constant turning was wearing out the tomb.
Posted by Rabbit on Nov 5, 2005 at 3:38 AM Before drug use and professionalized sex can be legalized and, maybe one day, de-stigmatized, there will have to be an acknowledgment that Privacy really is a right.
I recall the confirmation hearings of R. Bork when he was nominated for the Supreme Court, and at one point when he was responding to a question from the committee, he pointed out that there was no clear “right to privacy” delineated in the Constitution. That point he raised has stayed with me all these years.
It will be remembered by many that the issue of legalized abortion via Roe v. Wade had a connection to a supposed right of privacy; can’t recall specifically, but Bork may well have been answering a question about the Roe decision. The abortion debate may well cloud this issue of privacy as a legal right; I choose to discuss it in broader terms.
What the positive and negative outcomes of codifying privacy as a right might be, we can debate. Personally, I think any form of victimization would not be covered morally or legally by citing a right to privacy.
But eating, drinking, smoking, or fucking as I will, without having to ask permission or fear reprisal from neighbors or cops, certainly seems to me to be within the scope of my rights, if I have any rights at all that are worthy of the name.
And I do have!!!
And if I gain 1000 pounds and keel over, or thrash my liver with alcoholism, or tar up my lungs, or contract a virus sexually, I accept that the risks I choose to run as a free agent are mine to investigate and mine to either take or forego. I certainly don’t need a paternalistic society, or zealous do-gooder, or moralistic aggressor, or legislator, to dictate to me. I claim the right to privacy and I accept the consequent responsibility for whatever risks I decide to take.
But don’t worry, since I claim that right, I also grant it to you.
“The right to privacy”, that has a sweet sound.
Posted by Kuya on Nov 7, 2005 at 11:31 PM Page 1 of 1 pages -
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