.png)
Over the weekend officers Preston McGraw and Alex Marc of the Mobile Police department made a post on facebook that has since been deleted poking fun at the homeless population in Mobile during the holidays and the coldest months of the year. The post, made from McGraw's page tagging Marc & 2 others showed over a dozen cardboard signs taped together, signs presumably taken from those with whom they detained for being down on their luck and out on the street.
"Wanna wish everybody in the 4th precinct a Merry Christmas especially our captain. Hope you enjoy our homeless quilt! -Sincerely, Panhandler Patrol"
With big smiles on their faces and a sarcastic undertone in their post it would be easy for anyone to find a large level of disrespect toward the citizens of Mobile from the officers who are tasked with protecting them. "To serve and protect the community" doesn't seem to be at the front of these officers minds in making this post indicating their pride in arresting homeless individuals rather than directing them to resources that can help them better themselves. At the beginning of 2018, USICH.gov reported that the homeless statistic in Mobile Alabama to be just under 3,500 individuals.
Screenshots of the post went viral Monday morning when concerned citizens and empathetic human beings all over america gasped in disgust at what they were seeing. By noon eastern time, people had made so many negative reviews concerning the post to the Mobile Police Department Facebook page that it generated an auto response from the Facebook Team stating that they are "cleaning up the page" and have turned off commenting for the time being.
While facebook has proven time and time again to be an effective tool in communicating as indicated with this incident, it's important that people remember they still have the right to contact their elected representatives and police departments directly with complaints if they see an injustice at play. Contact information for The Mobile Police Department (click here) or any other local police departments can easily be found online with a quick search. As also very well displayed in this social media incident, the power of our voices as compassionate citizens is strong and not something to be taken lightly by any corporation or organization in America.
Keep in mind, many of these homeless "pan handler" arrests also include charges for minor "drug" possession. The word drug in this case and most meaning anything the government hasn't regulated but does not pose a threat to anyone except maybe... maybe the individual with whom it's in the possession of. In other words, a peaceful citizen is charged with a victimless "crime" and penalized in a way that neither aids in the progression of the individual or the community.
What if this were your local precinct? Would you voice your concern or sand by and allow the harassment of peaceful members of your community ? There's a comment feed here for a reason......