Florida Sheriff's Office Checking for Warrants at Hurricane Shelters

This is presented as a topic because I cannot decide which side of the debate I would fall. I know others will have very strong feelings one way or another.

Hurricane Irma: Florida sheriff threatens to arrest fugitives at shelters - Orlando Sentinel

Weather (pun intended) you agree or not this is an opportunistic strategy. Essentially Florida is giving fugitives the choice, turn themselves in or try to survive the storm on their own. Some may claim this is cruel and unusual punishment and others may say this will be a form of racism (some shelters will have more security than others). Another argument might center on chasing criminals to the neighboring states. Regardless, I doubt we will see protesters lining the streets demonstrating their displeasure of this strategy during the hurricane.

Now that you have decided which side of the fence you are on, should this strategy be used to arrest illegal immigrants, fathers owing alimony or child support, individuals owing parking tickets, and the list could go on forever. Regardless another national tragedy will become a political battleground before it is over.

For me the question is, what kind of warrant is worth forcing potentially deadly conditions upon someone? Unless someone didn't show for a sentencing hearing or skip probation/parole check-ins then the persons in question haven't even been found guilty yet. Seems like a helluva thing to do to someone just trying to not die. Protecting life should be the priority. There'll be time for crime and punishment and all other accountings when the storm is passed.

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Originally Posted by Patriot76

This is presented as a topic because I cannot decide which side of the debate I would fall. I know others will have very strong feelings one way or another.

Hurricane Irma: Florida sheriff threatens to arrest fugitives at shelters - Orlando Sentinel

Weather (pun intended) you agree or not this is an opportunistic strategy. Essentially Florida is giving fugitives the choice, turn themselves in or try to survive the storm on their own. Some may claim this is cruel and unusual punishment and others may say this will be a form of racism (some shelters will have more security than others). Another argument might center on chasing criminals to the neighboring states. Regardless, I doubt we will see protesters lining the streets demonstrating their displeasure of this strategy during the hurricane.

Now that you have decided which side of the fence you are on, should this strategy be used to arrest illegal immigrants, fathers owing alimony or child support, individuals owing parking tickets, and the list could go on forever. Regardless another national tragedy will become a political battleground before it is over.

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Would like to hear from some of our female members on child support.

As for how the dead beats are brought to justice all is fair in love an war.

Well it is a way to free up space in the shelters since the felons will take shelter in the jail. Most jails I expect are build to withstand hurricane conditions. I feel the new jail in our coastal community is. Also it would be nice if the shelters are reasonably free of wanted felons.

In my opinion just one more reason not to be a wanted felon. 73, Mike

I think it should all depend on the warrant. If it's a CHO-MO, Rapist, or Murder then yes. But if not then I think the resources would be better spent elsewhere.
Thanks my 2 cents.

a sad state of affairs
sometimes when it comes to things like this- u dont know which way to look at it.

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Originally Posted by Patriot76

This is presented as a topic because I cannot decide which side of the debate I would fall. I know others will have very strong feelings one way or another.

Hurricane Irma: Florida sheriff threatens to arrest fugitives at shelters - Orlando Sentinel

Weather (pun intended) you agree or not this is an opportunistic strategy. Essentially Florida is giving fugitives the choice, turn themselves in or try to survive the storm on their own. Some may claim this is cruel and unusual punishment and others may say this will be a form of racism (some shelters will have more security than others). Another argument might center on chasing criminals to the neighboring states. Regardless, I doubt we will see protesters lining the streets demonstrating their displeasure of this strategy during the hurricane.

Now that you have decided which side of the fence you are on, should this strategy be used to arrest illegal immigrants, fathers owing alimony or child support, individuals owing parking tickets, and the list could go on forever. Regardless another national tragedy will become a political battleground before it is over.

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They have already said that they won't be hassling illegal immigrants. The others? Don't really care. Round them up and put them in a shelter with bars.

Group shelter problems can be many different things. If you check people for warrants then you must not let them in, If you don't and something happens in the shelter that would not be good as well. What if you have no id where would they send you? What is the security like in these shelters you have all walks of life from the homeless on up. Health related issues, people living in close quarters spreading germs and diseases to each other... Do you check to make sure the people have had all there shots? I feel it may be better to check no one until after the storm has passed. Just make sure you have the security in place to keep the shelter as safe as it can be. I would not want to have to go to one.

I served at a couple of shelters during hurricanes. I am a ham radio operator and the local ham club supplies qualified operators for communication.

One of the hurricanes I went through all the officials were walking around with their newly acquired government supplies cell phones. Convinced that there would never again have a need for the ham radio operators. That time all the cell towers went down so no cell service in the county.

Funny thing was at one shelter the pay phone just outside the front door worked throughout the storm and were able to call in to the emergency center. Don't assume your cell phone will work.

The folks who are staying at the shelter want one thing above all else, to know what is going on. The last time I served was before digital broadcast tv so the the antenna was very simple to construct which I did. I connected it to the tv located in the school cafeteria and we were able to get 2 tv stations. I told one of the mom's that they, the moms, were in charge of the tv. Soon after watching the progress of the storm they all seems to calm down and relax. At least they know what was happening.

In addition to the ham radio operator there was the shelter director, a psychiatric nurse, a food service employee and a janitor. This is interesting the only unpaid positions was the shelter director(Red Cross volunteer) and myself, the ham radio operator. Hams are by law not allowed to accept any pay for services you provide.

I hope for those who have not been in a shelter for a hurricane might want to hear my thoughts on being there. 73, Mike

Would you want your kids in the same shelter as some one who is wanted for serious crimes?

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Originally Posted by RLS0812

Would you want your kids in the same shelter as some one who is wanted for serious crimes?

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Yes. I'd want their kids to be there and safe too. Otherwise it's an extrajudicial execution. It's not only those with warrants who are placed in danger but their families too.

I would not let my family leave my side while we were in there

Could law enforcement reach their goal without announcing their intentions causing panic and putting numerous lives in jeopardy?. Just a thought.

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Originally Posted by Patriot76

Could law enforcement reach their goal without announcing their intentions causing panic and putting numerous lives in jeopardy?. Just a thought.

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I think this is there is two ways to answer that. Keeping it a secret would catch more letting out the secret eliminate most of them showing up.

So it could be just a way to keep some of the more dangerous folks out of the shelters. I hope those in charge have considered both sides and are correct in their decision. 73, Mike