MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

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October 12, 2009

THE PEOPLE SPEAK: Hire good cops for departing police

With the exodus of several members of the Fort Gibson Police Department, the citizens of my home town of Fort Gibson have the opportunity to upgrade and get a police force worth paying for and maybe, just maybe, be proud of — say for example, one that protects and serves instead of the usual dishonesty and harassment that has persevered for 35 years I know of.

My very first contact with a police officer was here in Fort Gibson at age 13. He confused me with someone else he had been running after, and after giving me a good cussing, took me downtown while calling me a liar the whole time and finally called my dad who set him straight.

I had done nothing wrong, and over the next five years I would encounter our finest being rude and hateful every time. I can recall about six occurrences before I graduated and lived elsewhere.

I wasn’t a troublemaker. I graduated at top of my class. I have never had an officer lie to my face until I moved back to Fort Gibson a few years ago. While living elsewhere I would sing Fort Gibson’s praises to any who asked, but avoid the cops, I added.

Well, folks, they got me real good this time. I’m moving and telling all to stay away from Fort Gibson. I got a DUI because we don’t require our officers to have the available training to tell the difference between a medical condition and induced impairment. The story is too long and ugly for this forum, but my family witnessed the underhanded dealings of not one or two, but all.

So I am celebrating with glee the turmoil at FGPD. I urge the citizens of Fort Gibson to demand a better service because it does exist. My own experience elsewhere proved it to me, except here in good old Fort Gibson.

Terry Walkingstick

Fort Gibson

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