Police Officer Saves 100 Baby Sea Turtles from Certain Death

[MoonRiver]

http://www.care2.com/causes/police-officer-saves-100-baby-sea-turtles-from-certain-death.html

[raccoon]

1. A story about a good cop! recd. nt

[theHandpuppet]

2. There's another important message in that article, too

"Turtles have been in the news recently: it turns out that many of them are dying because they are chewing on discarded plastic bags, which they mistake for jellyfish."

Please folks, find yourselves an alternative to plastic bags. And sometimes there's really no need for a bag at all. Does anyone really need a plastic bag for a candy bar or a loaf of bread?

Lastly, I'm sick of boaters whose idea of garbage disposal is to simply dump their garbage overboard.

[rurallib]

5. you should turn this into an thread

[Island Blue]

6. This is true.

I live in a coastal area of northeastern NC, and about 5 years ago plastic bags were banned in our county for all stores over a certain size (i.e. K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, chain grocery stores, etc.) This of course was when our local state senator was a Democrat, and when the Democrats controlled all three branches of NC government. Now that Republicans are in control, they would very much like to reverse this ban. (They don't want big gub'ment curtailing their god given right to pollute, damn it.)

[obxhead]

9. I just got back from a trip to the OBX last week

Even the gas stations only had paper bags.

I was wondering if there was a law that forced them to avoid plastic.

[Island Blue]

11. Yes. Mom & Pop stores are exempt.

All others (including places like Subway) are required to use paper. I've participated in many beach clean-ups throughout the years, and there is a noticeable difference in the amount of plastic bag trash on the beach since the law took effect.

[obxhead]

19. I stopped at a few mom and pop stores and

they are even using only paper.

[MoonRiver]

7. I agree with rurrilad.

This is an extremely important topic, not just for turtles, but sea mammals like dolphins and whales.

[Neoma]

10. Someone forced me to have a plastic bag once "for security reasons."

[Liberal_in_LA]

20. i use plastic bags for disposing of pet poop. i am careful to dispose of properly though

[KittyWampus]

21. My father did a volunteer stint w/sea turtles. Femaies lay eggs and tourists like to get close

& snap pictures with their flashes on… which disturbs the females.

So volunteers cordone off area and keep tourists away.

Once male turtles make it to the ocean they never come ashore again.

[life long demo]

3. Thank you MoonRiver, I needed this story

I was ready to go back to bed and start over again, but you posted this, and I thank you. And a big thank you to Officer Conley.

[MoonRiver]

8. I felt the same way when I read it.

[stonecutter357]

4. K&R

There is nothing like fishing in the gulf and a sea Turtle come check you out.They are so graceful, it's like they are flying in the water.

[marble falls]

12. To keep this cop love thing fair and balanced and rooted in reality:

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/cops-shoot-family-dog-just-because

Cops Shoot Family Dog Just Because
Police officers in a Chicago suburb sat in front of a home for 20 minutes, then without any provocation shot the family dog.
June 28, 2013 |





Police officers in a Chicago suburb sat in front of a home for 20 minutes, then without any provocation shot the family dog, who had been calmly sitting on the front porch, the dog's owner claims in court.

Randy Green sued the Village of South Holland, police Officer Chad Barden and other unknown officers, in Federal Court.

South Holland, pop. 21,000, is a southern suburb of Chicago.

"On Sunday, July 22, 2012, two South Holland Police Officers arrived in separate vehicles at the home of Randy Green between 9-10 am, to investigate a purported dog off-leash (at large)," the complaint states.

"Upon information and belief, a caller had identified the dog at large as 'a big old gray dog runnin' around.' The caller made no mention of the dog being dangerous, vicious, or aggressive. ...

"The two South Holland officers arrived while plaintiff Randy Green and his family were asleep inside of their home, and where Mr. Green's Cane Corso dog, Grady, was sitting on the front porch.

"Upon information and belief, the chain holding Grady in the Green family backyard had popped, allowing Grady to be off leash on and around Mr. Green's residence.

"Both South Holland officers were equipped with dog-catching poles in the trunks of their vehicles, but neither attempted to use the dog-catching poles to capture the purported dog at large.

"South Holland officer Chad Barden stood, with his gun drawn, near the Green family home while the dog Grady sat on the front porch.

"The accompanying South Holland officer stood, leaning against his own police vehicle, approximately 100 feet away from Officer Chad Barden.

"The dog Grady walked past both officers on more than one occasion without incident, thereafter lazily returning to the front porch of the Green residence.

"At no time did the dog Grady make physical contact with either officer.

"The South Holland police officers stood outside the Green family home for approximately twenty minutes.

"At this time, the dog Grady approached Officer Barden again as he was standing nearest the Green family home.

"Shortly thereafter, Officer Barden shot the dog Grady three times for no reason."

Grady, wounded, ran into the back yard and Green "rushed outside" to help him and take him to a vet.

Citing an "Expert Report," Green claims that "video surveillance footage from the Green family residence revealed the absence of any charging, lunging or showing of teeth by the dog Grady and instead showed the dog Grady seeking 'greater distance between the officer and himself,' displaying 'calming [body] signals' by 'looking away from the officers and showing his [Grady's] flank,' and moving in a 'trot.'" (Brackets in complaint.)

The family immediately "took Grady to an emergency veterinary facility where Grady was treated," the complaint states.

Meanwhile, "South Holland police officers walked onto the residential property of Randy Green, including his backyard and other private areas near his home," Green claims.

A month later, South Holland police delivered a letter accusing Green of having a dangerous dog.

Green seeks damages for unreasonable seizure, trespass, intentional infliction of emotional distress, violation of the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act, and malicious prosecution.

He is represented by Anna Morrison-Ricordati.

[leftyladyfrommo]

15. I hope they sue the hell out of them. n/t

[Bay Boy]

13. Did the nice policeman bring them a gallon of milk?

Somebody had to ask

[marble falls]

16. And a box of Orios? They were just too little to taze, I guess.

[petronius]

14. Good work, and it must have been a memorable experience for

everyone who helped! I also hope the hotel is taking steps to find out whether there are ways to prevent future occurrences - perhaps the outside lighting or landscaping confused the little critters in a way that can be fixed...

[TransitJohn]

17. They're still far in the negative with all the dogs they shoot. eom

n/t

[BOG PERSON]

18. save the wee turtles!