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Return to Article: Park Service defends handling of tractor standoff on Mall

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  I completely agree with the Arlington Taxpayer. Ms. Chambers needs to be fired. Why not lead by example, go out to the farmer (and he was a p---poor excuse for one) and tell him to move that tractor, or you will shoot his butt and drive it out yourself. If he blows it up...well you get hazard pay. You let one "turkey" jerk the whole of DC around for two days, SHAME!

  Homeland security is no excuse for Ms. Chambers' lack of action; let the next most qualified Park Police Man/Woman have that job NOW! Please stop wasting my tax dollars on incompetent people who are in positions of importance because of a flawed system.

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 28, 2003 4:39 PM
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  I wonder how the people in Oklahoma City would have reacted to evacuating their offices in '95 when there was an idiot sitting in front of their building with fuel oil & fertilizer. What's worse? Inconveniencing a bunch of people who should use public transit anyway or risking the lives of hundreds by going in with guns blazing?

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 18, 2003 11:44 AM
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  If the various law enforcement agencies involved really believed he had explosives then he should have been considered a terrorist. After all he held them and all of DC at bay for too long a period. This doesn't speak highly of their "homeland security," if they can't even take care of one person quicker than this.

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 16, 2003 5:27 AM
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  The handling of Tractor Man by Park Police and DC Police was poor in all respects. They should have arrested him the first night and it should have taken no more than two police to make the arrest. Even when the decision was made to negotiate, there was no reason to block off any streets and to require hundreds of police to participate.

  It is too bad that the bureaucrats have no concept or concern with the lives of regular people. Their thinking is we are going to be here for hours, so it is okay for others to be delayed for hours.

  Larry Groves Posted April 11, 2003 9:53 AM
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  This is a prime example of the ridiculous behavior of government employees to a situation they label homeland security and that then justifies any expense. This matter was handled in a totally incompetent manner - the road never should have been closed and the city was more than inconvenienced. The cost of the delays and the overuse of police cost me (tax payer) and not Ms. Chambers who actually was paid for this mess. Congress should determine what Ms. Chamber's decisions cost us and then provide a statement of whether they think the cost was worth the effort. Today we slap on the words homeland security and then cost is no consideration. This is crazy and we need our politicians to get back to reality!

  Tax Payer Posted April 11, 2003 6:54 AM