Granite Falls Police Officers

[FedUp]

Before anyone tells me to shut up. I speak from first hand experience!

What has happened to the seasoned veteran officer who used to stop and talk to you on the sidewalk and get out and mingle. The young, cocky officers of today only go in the stores because they are required to do "walk-thrus'. The vets used to stop while you were working in your garden. These kids we have now never even had a garden! They don't have any traditional values, just book learning that makes them think since they have a certificate of somethingness they are really special. They could not care less about the people they come into contact with. It's a competition for bragging rights pure and simple. I'm sorry that it has come to this in Granite Falls. Ritch Bolick is a fine person...but he is looking out for number 1. Ask Linda Story about sending him to Quantico to the FBI school so he can just move on to bigger and better things!

[KitKat]

Most are young punks. My first husband was one of these young punks. He made statements like, "I am the law" when he was speeding. I know others, from first hand experience, by being family that are worse. He's a big man when he has his gun but scared on a bee, if you can believe it.

[GFhorseman]

FedUp wrote:

Before anyone tells me to shut up. I speak from first hand experience!
What has happened to the seasoned veteran officer who used to stop and talk to you on the sidewalk and get out and mingle. The young, cocky officers of today only go in the stores because they are required to do "walk-thrus'. The vets used to stop while you were working in your garden. These kids we have now never even had a garden! They don't have any traditional values, just book learning that makes them think since they have a certificate of somethingness they are really special. They could not care less about the people they come into contact with. It's a competition for bragging rights pure and simple. I'm sorry that it has come to this in Granite Falls. Ritch Bolick is a fine person...but he is looking out for number 1. Ask Linda Story about sending him to Quantico to the FBI school so he can just move on to bigger and better things!

I guess this is just another indication of what the world has come to. We see beatings of the populace by overzealous cops on the news all the time today, made more prevalent by the popular use of cell phones to capture those misdeeds. And I will agree, many of today's cops ARE 'punks." They put on a uniform, strap on a big gun, get in their patrol cars with all the lights, bells and whistles and their whole nature changes; they probably do this to compensate for other shortcomings in their anatomy. Respect of the uniform does not come with the uniform, it has to be earned! And yes, we do have some cops in Granite Falls, some of them non-native, who are the same way. I will agree Ritch Bolick is fine as a person, but he has his negatives as a police chief. Granite Falls' tradition is that the police always furnishes an escort in a funeral procession to the place of burial. When my mother passed away last year, we had no escort because all members of the police force were working an accident on Hwy 321, and we know the fire department always respond also. When I complained to the mayor and Bolick, I was told they had no one to use as an escort because of the accident. My response was they knew they would be needed a couple days before so why were not preparations made? Recently I was pulled by one of those new GF "barneymobiles" at 2 a.m. on the way to work. The cop's first satement was "Having it rough this morning?" to which I replies, "No, I'm on my way to work." He said he pulled me because I had crossed the "fog line." Unbelievable. There were so many lights on that car shining in the rear of my truck, I thought it was suddenly the second coming! There have already been a number of accidents and one fatality at the new intersection on HWY 321 for Walmart. Perhaps GF needs to build a police sub-station in that plaza for I fear there will be many more accidents to come. Perhaps putting these offices closer to the scene will change their mentality of halping people.

[nancy]

That's a shame what hometown poeple are saying about the police. I don't know any of the officers in GF, but it's got to be a bad sign of things to come.

That intersection on 321 at Walmart isn't the only problem, and it should not even be a problem because it's big and well lit. When Walmart opens, the gangs will hang out there, just like in Hickory. Fights in the parkinglot will spill over to the inside of Walmart. The police will be there all the time chasing shoplifters. GF will be spending more money just to police the area.

[Yep]

Sad thing is I went to school with many of the "cops" in Granite Falls and they are just that punks. Were asses in HS and are still are. Take the badge away and you have uneducated rednecks! Rich is a good guy but is has too many friends he has hired as officers.

[MsCannon]

I agree with you Yep. I too went to school with what now seems like half of the caldwell county law enforcement, from county to city. I had an experience with GFPD myself one morning. It was around 750 one morning and I had just about made it under the bridge getting onto 321 N. My car died in the middle of the curve. I was able to get to the side of the road safely. I had been there about 5 minutes with a totally dead battery. Here comes a GF "officer" going southbound under the bridge. They looked right at me and I was expecting them to show back up after they turned around. After 10 minutes I gave up on them. Thanks to some good samaritans that helped me jump the car I was finally on my way. Forty minutes after I was stalled. I was appalled that they didn't stop or even call someone to drive by and ensure I was okay. I guess they were on their morning coffee run and couldn't help me. It was one of their nice new black and white cars too. Guess they were too busy showing it off. The only problem I have with Rich is his age. I don't feel that someone that is 33 or so is experienced enough to be a chief. I don't care if you did enter the force when you were 21, I don't think 12 years qualifies you to lead a town safely. Guess I don't mind being in the Sawmills area relying on the deputies. They may have a slower response time, but at least they show up.

[Jeffery]

Hey you all

[GFallsPD_Ptl]

Some of this hurts but then again as youth is raised up in schools these days its not common for them to teach people to go out of their way to help someone. As far as the business checks go we do as we are allowed. With the growth of Granite Falls and the new businesses openings we have even more to patrol and more to do, I'm not making excuses yea Wal-mart has caused a slight increase in shoplifting in Granite Falls but as far as gangs in the parking lot if i see a group of young people or teens in the parking lot anywhere in Granite Falls its a town ordinance that prohibits loitering outside of businesses (ie: call this in we'll respond to it.) Please accept my apologies on part of the department but there is normally only two officers on duty every shift with the exception being weekdays when the Chief and Detectives are in. And you can call us young punks we are young but just as any department you raise up your youth to match the experience around them we just have more youth on hand than experience but we will learn. May you all stay safe and prosperous.

[Wah]

Sounds like someone got a ticker or couldn't pass rookie school..LOL

[livein GF]

Wah wrote:

Sounds like someone got a ticker or couldn't pass rookie school..LOL

My thoughts exactly! The people complaining about the age of the GF police must be the "older" generation. I am 31 years old and have lived in GF for 10 years. ALL the PD are polite and on top of things. I DO feel safe in GF...and think Rich and the whole crew is great. Try walking a mile in their shoes..and accept the pay they get.

[GFallsPD_Ptl]

Thank you livein GF we do our best with what we have maybe as GF grows we can add more officers until then I look forward to learning with the other officers.

[HGR1]

GFallsPD_Ptl wrote:

Thank you livein GF we do our best with what we have maybe as GF grows we can add more officers until then I look forward to learning with the other officers.

I support my hometown cops very much , more than just about anyones else and I like ALL of you.... But I do have an issue with some of the patterns of patrol officers here lately. Seems like if I need one of you guys, All I have to do do is take a drive up he highway from wal-mart towards pizza hut and It will usually be a guarantee that I will run into one of you! We DON'T live on that highway. That is and actually should be Highway Patrol's area of enforcement (whether it's in the city limits or not)and shouldn't be much of your concern unless you are actually needed down there. It Used to be that I could ride through downtown and see at least one of you.....EVERY TIME! Now, every once in awhile, while driving in downtown, I MIGHT see one of you pulling out of the PD..........Headed towards the highway.

[HGR1]

livein GF wrote:

<quoted text>
Try walking a mile in their shoes..and accept the pay they get.

Walked more than a mile in those shoes and wouldn't do it again. You try to do whats right but everyone still looks at you like your "The Bad Guy". Got my ass whipped by 3 drunken college students while several hundred tourists looked on and refused to help. But yet, I was supposed to risk my life these same ungrateful assholes.... Not ever again.... 13 years into my career and After Three days in the hospital, Got my tee shirt, throwed the badge down and moved on to work in a little less stressful environment. Nothing but respect for our law enforcement teams from over here, it's a rough job.

[GFallsPD_Ptl]

HGR1 your comment is something I hear often from other citizens who complain about enforcing traffic laws in the city itself and not just on 321, I myself am not radar certified but the general reason among officers is that while on 321 we can and do catch people who are driving drunk as well as recklessly. And of course the same can be found on Main St. as well as Falls Ave. and other streets. We usually have a balance on the shifts of a person who likes to work traffic and one who does general patrol, but please if you need us call the dept. we have a dispatcher or patrol officer covering the dispatch terminal 24/7.

[GFPDSD]

Granite PD will beat you down like Rodney King at the drop of a hat and race has nothing to do with it I don't know if its out of boredom or what maybe they need better training maybe mommy didn't hug them enough just don't get caught speeding or in public after dark or farting in the wrong place cause our fearless leaders are watching!

[HGR1]

GFPDSD wrote:

Granite PD will beat you down like Rodney King at the drop of a hat and race has nothing to do with it I don't know if its out of boredom or what maybe they need better training maybe mommy didn't hug them enough just don't get caught speeding or in public after dark or farting in the wrong place cause our fearless leaders are watching!

Thats funny!! I almost thought you were serious for a minute, lmao! I have lived here all my life and have never heard of OR seen ANYTHING even close to what you described! Still roflmfao! If any of our officers were to actually...... "Beat you like Rodney King"..........Your drunk ass probably deserved it!
But really..... Rich, You have a great bunch of officers but please make the guys stay off the highway and work the town more. I live in an "Annexed" community and we NEVER see you guys anymore, unless we call, and then it takes a while, especially if they're on the other side of town,......... on the highway. We miss ya out here in the boondocks.

[GFPDSD]

Glad you got a good chuckle, but yes it does happen maybe you've never heard or seen it, Do you think they are gonna put it in the News Topic or something? I will say that there are some decent cops in Granite I grew up with a couple of them but I have seen the use of excessive force firsthand more than once and no it was not my (drunk ass). I guess all we can do is vote and pray for them.

[GFTrueBlue]

I think they're alright myself.

[mee]

Personally, I think the police need to pay more attention to murders, child molesters, and robbers.

[GFallsPD_Ptl]

HGR1 wrote:

<quoted text>
but please make the guys stay off the highway and work the town more. I live in an "Annexed" community and we NEVER see you guys anymore, unless we call, and then it takes a while, especially if they're on the other side of town,......... on the highway. We miss ya out here in the boondocks.

Ill pass it on to the other officers to patrol the annexed areas more but as you probably know theres normally only 2 guys working at night so we do what we can. But yea Ill pass it on to both shifts.