HomeMy WebLinkAbout9-29-14 Eiholzer-Support of the BearCatFrom:Cheryl Eiholzer
To:Agenda
Subject:Support of the BearCat
Date:Friday, September 26, 2014 9:47:58 PM
Dear Mayor and City Commissioners,
I support the Bozeman Police Department having the BearCat. The BearCat is to protect our police
and innocent citizens from the dangers of today like anti-government militia and school shootings.
Montana is known for anti-government militia organizations, some of which are heavily armed, and
anti-government people. Bozeman and Gallatin County is not immune to anti-government people.
This year a small group of people held a meeting where they concluded to form a Common Law
Grand Jury. The Gallatin County courts had Mr. Ernie terTelgte who claimed he is a natural man
bound only by universal laws and the county is part of an international banking scheme.
The language used by these people reminds me of the Montana Freemen and standoffs. The
Montana Freeman standoff resulted in a peaceful resolution. If a standoff situation develops here, I
believe that the Bozeman Police do what every they could for a peaceful resolution. However, not
all standoffs are resolved peacefully. Think about the Weaver family at Ruby Ridge, Idaho and the
Branch Davidians in Waco Texas. Our police would be protected by the BearCat in armed situations.
The BearCat could also be used in a shooting at a local school including Montana State University.
The vehicle could be used to get students/teachers to safety and to keep our officers safe. We liked
to believe that school shootings would never happen in Bozeman. I am sure that citizens of
Littleton, Colorado (Columbine); Newtown, Connecticut (Sandy Hook); and Blacksburg ,Virginia
(Virginia Tech) thought killings at their school would never happen. The probability that a school
shooting would happen here may be small. However, we cannot say "never" especially in an area
with a large gun culture.
I could see the BearCat being used to assist other city/county law enforcement units when
requested. The Bozeman Police Department could aid or lead a regional emergency response
team similar to the Bozeman Fire Department housing one of six regional hazardous materials
response teams.
To me, the problem that should be addressed is why procedure was not followed by the City
Manager and how to correct the mistake.
In conclusion, the City needs to live in today's world and not in a Pollyanna world we would like it to
be. Having conflicts with armed people and groups is a reality. There is a higher probability such
conflicts will happen anywhere in Montana due the anti-government presences and large gun
culture in the state. I support the Bozeman Police Department having the BearCat.
Yours truly,
Cheryl Eiholzer
3514 Fieldstone Dr W, Bozeman, MT