A recent news story detailed how police departments across the nation (including Boise's) are acquiring surplus military equipment to use as a resource in protecting citizens and officers. The story also raised the question: Are we are seeing the militarization of local police? I think the answer lies not in the symbolism of a free vehicle, but in the substance of a police department's actions every day. I have a great deal of respect for our nation's military, but our roles are clearly different: The military fights threats from outside of our country; police protect and serve citizens in our local communities. Our traditions, uniforms, and titles are superficially similar, and we both pledge our allegiance to our nation and take oaths to serve our citizens. [continues 467 words]
David McElyea met Madison County Sheriff Ralph Baker while staring into the barrel of the since deceased lawman's revolver. He claims the encounter quickly evolved into a long-running and lucrative partnership in the marijuana business. It's all in a forthcoming book that details a relationship of renegades bound by greed, fear and respect. Writing under the name David Macthat's how he's best known-McElyea, who served time for marijuana-related convictions dating back to 1981, had help on the 490-page tome from a respected former daily newspaper reporter in Northwest Arkansas who used the pseudonym J. Burton. "When Money Grew on Trees: The True Tale of a Marijuana Moonshiner and the Outlaw Sheriff of Madison County" is scheduled to be published later this month by 1 st Books. In the book, McElyea claims that for years he and Baker produced enormous amounts of marijuana together after McElyea moved from Michigan to the Madison County farm he purchased in 1980. "Ralph was likable most of the time" the steely-eyed McElyea, 46, said in an exclusive interview last week. "But he did have a temper and I saw it from time to time. In the book, I characterize him as an outlaw who was elected sheriff rather than a sheriff who became an outlaw. [continues 545 words]
