CAUGHT ON TAPE: Thieves Steal 9 Laptops from Busy Wal-Mart

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Posted: 6:53 PM Nov 19, 2008
Last Updated: 3:23 AM Nov 20, 2008
Reporter: Mike Waterhouse
Email Address: mike.waterhouse@wsaz.com

57 comments

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SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Police in South Charleston are asking for the public's help to catch a couple bold men who stole nine laptop computers from a busy store.

Take a look at the surveillance video and still pictures below. It's from the Wal-Mart at the Southridge Shopping Center.

Police say two men pried open the computer case with a crow bar at about 7:30 Friday night, put the laptops in a plastic tote, and then smuggled them out of the store.

One of the pictures shows a very clear image of one of the suspects.

Detectives say the men were driving a maroon Dodge pickup truck with a big cab.

The computers that were stolen are worth about seven thousand dollars.

Call the South Charleston Police at (304) 744-5951 if you have any information about the suspects in the surveillance photos.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Angela on Nov 21, 2008 at 05:31 PM
They couldn't find a clerk to check them out or the lines were to long because they only have 2 clerks on duty. So they decided that it must be free. I usually have to check myself out which I think people that have to check themselves out should get a discount on the merchandice they purchase! WalMart you need more employees at the registers. I never wait in line at Target. That is why I shop at Target most of the time.

Posted by: David on Nov 21, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Where is the "Loss Prevention" of Wal-Mart? Are they "asleep" or having "coffee" with the girls? This is crazy!!!

Posted by: Lisa on Nov 21, 2008 at 03:56 PM
First let me say, sealing is wrong-plain and simple! But,I used to work for Wal-mart, and truth be told...there is alot of stealing going on that they do nothing about!! Loss Prevention (LP) has too few people, and if you spend anytime in a store, you figure out who they are-because they are usually walking around together! Also, if a manager doesn't see the "stealing" then it didn't happen! I have followed people around the store and watched them, called LP and mangement...and if management did not see the act...then "all we can do is watch"---funny how no one sees "stealing" on security cameras, but they sure do see which employee's are in their assigned department to know if you left the department to help a lost customer...

Posted by: Melinda on Nov 21, 2008 at 12:14 PM
IF YOU THING THAT SECURITY IS A JOKE YOU GO IN THERE AND DROP UR POSITION AS A FORMER CLERK TO SECURITY AND SEE HOW EASY IT IS TO STOP SOMEONE. SOME SECURITY'S MIGHT BE A JOKE BUT NOT ALL. I CAN TELL WHEN PEOPLE AREN'T ACTING RIGHT OR PEOPLE WILL TAKE THEIR ITEMS IN THE BATHROOM AND STEAL THEM, I WOULD STILL CHOOSE NOT TO DO THEIR JOB. TOO MUCH STRESS.

Posted by: Heather on Nov 21, 2008 at 11:13 AM
To Anon- you can't return electronic devices without a receipt and get cash, you will only get a gift card. But with the recent theifts of these laptops, they may say with receipt only from now on.

Posted by: gene on Nov 21, 2008 at 10:55 AM
it these laptops are like everything else i have bought at chinamart these laptops will not work for long

Posted by: Joanne on Nov 21, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Amen to you Disgusted. I can't stand a Liar or a Thief. If you'll do one, then you'll surely do the other. People need to quit acting like these guys, and all thiefs, are getting one over on the "MAN". The only thing they're doing is raising the prices for the honest men and women trying to set the moral examples for our children.

Posted by: MeAgain on Nov 21, 2008 at 08:47 AM
I dont know about anyone else..but it did look a little too easy to me. The whole thing looked like they were performing for the security camera...the guys taking the stuff..and the clerk looked a little fishy too.

Posted by: Rick on Nov 21, 2008 at 05:14 AM
Stealing is a sin and nothing makes it right. Thieves are accountable to God and will face Him one day. You fools who approve what these men did,then stop complaining about rising prices.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 21, 2008 at 02:11 AM
Sometimes people steal stuff and then take it to the next walmart and cash in for a refund. Its called burn and turn I think.

Posted by: po-po on Nov 20, 2008 at 08:46 PM
This is crazy.....I wonder how many times the thieves have commented? I hate thieves they are the most cowardly people in the world......GET A JOB AND EARN IT LIKE THE REST OF US.......I work 60 hours a week and can't afford 1 laptop.....Thats why everything costs the honest working person so much money.....Thanks to all you midnight locksmiths around the world......I have a job, that I get plenty of overtime at....

Posted by: wow on Nov 20, 2008 at 06:19 PM
my kids have ask for a laptop hmmm....gonna be on the lookout on e-bay! sounds like an inside job to me bet they are gonna split the money with one of the employees,poor cop here in KY stole 22.00 worth of stuff and got caught,these guys took thousands!wow is all I can say!

Posted by: Kyle on Nov 20, 2008 at 05:25 PM
If they were able to do this... without being caught, good for them! WalMart is a bad bad place and they deserve this... the fact they did it how they did is hillarous!

Posted by: kimcoverdale on Nov 20, 2008 at 03:25 PM
whoo! hold it !! i spoke too fast. these guys are brilliant. all those peeps around an nobody did a thing to stop them. i have changed my mind. the managers at walmart are the idiots????? however, it was very wrong, those bad guys.

Posted by: kimcoverdale on Nov 20, 2008 at 03:22 PM
all i can say is what a couple of morons!!!!!!!

Posted by: Read & Compare Prices on Nov 20, 2008 at 02:56 PM
To:Ryan on Nov.19.08, You are so wrong about people being in an area for 5 minutes,putting up a red flag,how STUPID! My husband and I see people in the same areas while shoping in stores for longer than that.Old & young folks do that,and No we don't want to or feel the need to steal! Lot's of people take their time reading whats on the boxes,tags etc. We don't just pick up stuff and throw it in the buggy to buy,we want to know what we are buying and if it's worth the price! Now and then we run in to folks we haven't seen in quiet a while and talk a few minutes! I'm sure a lot of people do the same thing out there! I hope you don't work at Wal-Mart,sounds like they could lose customers over people like you! I think people are stupid to steal, when cameras can be on them anywhere,and when they get caught,it is not worth it! I don't understand how they get by with it,does anyone watch the cameras in the store? Repeated in in the same areas. 9 Lap-Tops! Sounds like an inside job,by several!

Posted by: Arron on Nov 20, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Here is how you catch them, record and note the ones missing and consequently they have a serial numbers, each computer has licensed software on it that has to be registered with microsoft in order for the computer to complete the installation of the software, each liccense is specific to each computer, when registed the theif will be the sending microsoft their IP address and can then with a court order be tracked to where they are. Boom ya got your thief. Tricky but can be done.

Posted by: Jennifer on Nov 20, 2008 at 02:40 PM
You can never find an employee at walmart when you need one. No wonder they got away with it.

Posted by: To Jeremy on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:55 PM
You talk bad about Walmart saying they only sell junk but I bet anything you shop at Walmart weekly! There's always kmart or Target pal!

Posted by: TO ANN on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Walmart is a big store! There are usually only 2 security people on the floor, and as for the workers some crooks have people come with them to ask the workers questions to distract them while they steal.

Posted by: Former clerk on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Security is a joke at Walmart,They are happy to stop a little old lady or man that has something the clerk forgot to scan, but when it's anyone else they just shrug their shoulders..

Posted by: Disgusted on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:13 PM
They came in through the auto door. Went to hardware got a crow bar. One occupied the cashier. Pried the case open and put the laptops in the totes. Brought them to the greenhouse emergency exit doors and set them down. They then left, and the third man went down the hall and turned off the exit alarms and opened the door. They came around with the truck and picked them up and sped away. An inside job....maybe. I have to buy everything I have and I am just slightly able to squeeze by. Why should I be happy for someone raising my prices and taking something that I can't afford to begin with. Be sure to thank these men when your prices go up and you are paying your hard earned money into taxes to care for them while them are in jail.

Posted by: Wonderin' on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:07 PM
I am curious as to how I can't leave a Wal Mart without the alarms going off?!?! Where are the security sensors? They are certainly on my 10 dollar bottle of foundation that I actually paid for...

Posted by: MELINDA on Nov 20, 2008 at 12:53 PM
TO ANN ON UR COMMENT ABOUT WHERE WERE THE EMPLOYEES THEY ONLY HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES ONE TO RING UP PEOPLE AND THE OTHER ONE TO STAIND AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE TAPE THEIR WAS AN EMPLOYEE PUTTING UP SOMETHING UNTIL SOMEONE ELSE DISTRACTED HER AND THESE TWO THIEVES WERE SCARED OF EVERYONE ELSE THEY STAYED IN THAT AREA UNTIL IT GOT BUSIER AND THEN THEY LEFT, THEIR NEED TO BE A COP THAT COMES IN FOR EXTRA PATROL AT NIGHT TIME. BECAUSE SOMEONE HAD TO HAVE LET HIM IN THE DOOR AT AUTOMOTIVE OR ELSE HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET OUT WITHOUT SOMEONE UNLOCKING THE DOOR PLUS HE PARKED AT AT THE CAR CENTER,I AGREE THIS WAS HANDLED WELL BUT I CANNOT RELEASE WHY I THINK THIS HAPPENED, I WILL HAVE TO TALK TO MY EMPLOYERS ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE IF YOUR NOT CATIOUS OF EVERYONE.TO MATTHIS SELF CHECKOUTS HAVE BEEN GONE ALONG TIME AGO WHERE HAVE U BEEN?

Posted by: Melinda on Nov 20, 2008 at 12:34 PM
I WORK FOR WALMART AND BY THE LOOKS OF THIS VIDEO THIS HAD TO BE A FORMER EMPLOYEE. FOR ONE YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO HAVE SOMEONE IN ELECTRONICS AT ALL TIMES AND IF THEY WANTING A PURCHASE MADE IN ONE TRANSACTION THEY HAVE TO BRING THE STUFF TO THE CASHIER TO HOLD, HOW CAN THEY HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THE STORE BECAUSE YOU CANNOT GET OUT THE AUTOMOTIVE WITHOUT SOMEONE BUZZING YOU OUT, AND THE FRONT DOORS EVERYONE WHERE I WORK CHECKS ALL YOUR ITEMS WITHOUT BAGS, SUCH AS BINS. BECAUSE PEOPLE PUT THEIR STUFF IN THERE I TELL THEM ITS A REQUIREMENT TO PUT BAGS IN THERE AND KEEP YOUR RECEIPT AND THEIR SHOUDVE BEEN A DEVICE THAT SHOULD HAVE ALARMED THE GREETERS WHEN THEY WENT OUT UNLESS THEY KNEW HOW TO DO THAT TO, I THINK THESE PICTURES SHOULD BE BIGGER SO OTHER WALMART STORES CAN BE NOTIFIED, ALL PAWN SHOPS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED BECAUSE THEIR IS A SERIAL # ON EVERY ITEM PURCHASED. KNOWING THESE CRIINALS THEY WILL PROBABLY TRY TO PAWN THEM AND GET BUSTED. IF THEY HAVE UR PICTURE ITS ONLY A MATTER OF x.

Posted by: none ya on Nov 20, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Posted by: strappedforcash on Nov 20, 2008 at 07:40 AM wish i knew where they were selling them... i'd buy one probly much cheaper than what wal-mart was asking!! hahahahaha -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Me too! I want one! lol

Posted by: Jessica on Nov 20, 2008 at 11:41 AM
The problem is Walmart Security/Loss Prevention, whatever you want to call it, and Management are more cocerned with watching their employees on video. I worked at Walmart and they fired a stock guy because he opened his pop while waiting in line to pay for it. They fired him because he stole merchandise from them...come on people!!! That's a little crazy, don't you think? I also worked there and they watched a cashier take $100.00 from MY CASH DRAWER and they tried to pin it on me b/c it was my register...CSM sent me to lunch and told me to leave my till in the register, not to worry about locking it up. Walmart does stupid stuff like that...best advice, never work there!!

Posted by: wow on Nov 20, 2008 at 11:37 AM
and not one person noticed someone with a crow bar? Give me a break.

Posted by: UDONTNEETONO on Nov 20, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Those People got away with alot of thinngs.

Posted by: m on Nov 20, 2008 at 10:52 AM
I worked at a Wal-Mart & theives are a big problem, but if you don't have back-up from management or the company it's hard to stop. Things that are stolen are just writen off. If management or the company doesn't care what can we do. It's only going to get worse.

Posted by: dips on Nov 20, 2008 at 10:51 AM
That's a felony. Hope they get caught.

Posted by: Ann on Nov 20, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Where are all the employees while this is going on. Are they in on this. I had to buy my computer from Walmart............or did I? I don't understand where the security is and why the cameras caught all this on tape. Who's watching who? Someone better wake up and fast. Seems to me someone has a very good con game going on here, "from the inside." They had a clear shot of getting them out there without the first sales clerk being seen, and to go to automotives and get a crow bar yet. How dumb is the law, and walmart.

Posted by: leo on Nov 20, 2008 at 09:27 AM
people all of are nuts you can not catch all the crooks but if they steal off you it would tick you offi hope and know they will be caught

Posted by: MeAgain on Nov 20, 2008 at 09:02 AM
To Anonymous on Nov 20 @ 112 AM. You need to have your eyes checked and watch the video again. You can clearly see them puttig something in a blue tote in the buggy..watch again..guy sticking stuff in tote...it is clear.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 20, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Take a look at the first picture. It appears to me, they had an audience.

Posted by: Matthias on Nov 20, 2008 at 08:36 AM
Yeah, here is Walmart, the largest company in the world, getting robbed again. It seems they don't like having employees, the cashiers are all but gone with the new self check out computers, and they rely solely on cameras instead of security guards...human beings patroling their stores.

Posted by: Scott on Nov 20, 2008 at 07:54 AM
The one guy picked up two red boxes they could have got some finger print off the two boxes that he picked up.... you would think.

Posted by: strappedforcash on Nov 20, 2008 at 07:40 AM
wish i knew where they were selling them... i'd buy one probly much cheaper than what wal-mart was asking!! hahahahaha

Posted by: bonn on Nov 20, 2008 at 07:37 AM
How sad that people think this is funny. This kind of thing hurts us all by driving up prices to cover losses. They will get these guys, though. But whether they recover the items in a condition that they can still be sold is doubtful. What is wrong with this world?

Posted by: Beth on Nov 20, 2008 at 07:34 AM
Looks like they were parked out back, so they must have went out the back doors.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 20, 2008 at 07:26 AM
I don't guess they bought the tote either? Everytime I have every bought any containers like that the clerk checks the inside. It looks like they went out the auta parts door, but one would think there would still be a clerk or someone there that would stop someone from walking out the door with a buggy and a giant tote. Wonder if they were smart enough to leave the tailgate down to cover the license plate or it just happened to be that way?

Posted by: melissa on Nov 20, 2008 at 07:18 AM
Did they use a crow bar from inside the store or bring one with them? Sounds like maybe somebody who works at Walmart was involved to not notice them prying open a secure area.

Posted by: BillB on Nov 20, 2008 at 06:43 AM
To Jeremy 11/20 at 2:42 AM:I'm not a big Wal-Mart fan but that is no excuse for stealing. I don't like the Flying-J but if we didn't have it and Wal-Mart no telling what we would be paying for gas and food. Can you explain what you mean by that's what they get?

Posted by: jeremy on Nov 20, 2008 at 02:42 AM
that's what walmart gets for robbing normal people like me everyday with the junk they sell. usually gotta return it within a week.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:12 AM
In the video i didnt see em steal anything... hahaha Robin Hood thats funny

Posted by: WhatEconomicCrisis? on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:08 AM
HA! this isnt even newsworthy! you wanna see some REAL thieves? copy/paste this link: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6120163.html

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 20, 2008 at 12:23 AM
i bet they go to the flea market of a pawn shop

Posted by: Good Pictures on Nov 19, 2008 at 10:50 PM
What are you guys talking about. Those are good pictures and if you care to look a bit closer you'll see that they reveal much more than you might think. Note the little smirk on his face as though to say "I'm entiltled to these laptops". I'm sure he's already justified it in that big complex brain of his that Walmart should be willing to share their fortunes (spread the wealth) with the rest of us. Why, if you think about it, he's a regular modern day Robin Hood!

Posted by: curious on Nov 19, 2008 at 10:19 PM
what was security doing? sleeping on the job?

Posted by: MrObvious on Nov 19, 2008 at 10:02 PM
WSAZ, you need to make the pictures BIGGER, we do not have microscopic vision. These pictures are usesless even when you "click pictures to enlarge".

Posted by: booger on Nov 19, 2008 at 09:45 PM
if the cameras were better we might be able to see the thieves

Posted by: bev on Nov 19, 2008 at 08:51 PM
Where was the camera guy??? If there are cameras shouldn't there be someone watching them???

Posted by: concerned on Nov 19, 2008 at 07:59 PM
The video never shows them loading anything into the cart! And how in the world did no alarm go off when 9 laptops left the building??? It went off on me on a CD they didnt run over the thing at the register..lol

Posted by: Ryan on Nov 19, 2008 at 07:25 PM
First of all, there was 3 involved not two, the first person got the attention of the clerk. LP where were they ? You have a high dollar item in a glass area, you are asking for people to take them. Also LP should had been right next to them, 5 minutes in one area should had caused a red flag, I worked LP and no way that would had happened. So your attention needs to also be concerned with the first person taking the sales clerk away.

Posted by: anonymous on Nov 19, 2008 at 07:22 PM
Dee dee dee!!!

Posted by: sue on Nov 19, 2008 at 07:18 PM
where were the employees at 7:30 at night sounds fishy to me

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The Yell: Comments for the Week of 1/4

Posted By: Fixed that for you: Any one who is paid by the general public, us, should have no problem taking urine tests. After all they are in the pubic debt for paying them. Its simple NO TEST, NO CHECK. This is not an attempt to violate rights, it is an attempt to enforce the publics right for our money to go to people in government and on welfare who can be TRUSTED.
Posted By: Chris to WSAZ: To all the workers and employees of WSAZ: Thank you for being there and allowing comments about the news.Our family watch only WSAZ news and enjoy each of you. I know that the recognition that you receive is little to none,but you deserve better.This goes out to the producers,cameramen,to everyone behind the scenes and the ones that are seen too. Thank you for having the best news program available to the public. God Bless Each and Everyone of You. Chris
Posted By: redbaron: in response to pablo on comment dated 01/06 - EXCUSE ME!! I do believe FIREFIGHTERS also risk their lives for total strangers and no they are NOT law enforcement!
Posted By: omg: I am so sick and tired of hearing how public school teachers are indebted to the public for their salary. Many of you are so freakin nosey that if your neighbor stopped too fast, you'd have to get a crane to remove your head from their rear. I am so tired of this drug test line. Teachers deserve to pee in peace and so do you. Why should teachers be forced to have their personal lives paraded all over the news? That is exactly what would happen. If a typical joe blow got fired from the coal mines for drugs, it wouldn't make front page news. A teacher being fired for drugs would. You people expect teachers to be the mother, father, grandparent, clergyman, counselor, as well as the teacher. You don't do anything with your kids but expect the teacher to fix all the problem you create. Some of them probably need drugs by the time they are done raising your spoiled kids who think the world owes them something on a silver platter. Take your own drug test before you get pregnant.
Posted By: Sophie: Re: The student (Hinzman?) being expelled for using foul language after being bullied & beaten on school grounds; you should not have been expelled for expressing your hurt, anger & disgust. You were a victim and did nothing. It is unreasonable to punish the victim - so what if he cussed - I'd cuss too if someone beat the beegeebers out of me. The kid who beat you should receive jail time & counciling; the kid who filmed you & released it on U-Tube should too. It has often been said that television is desensitizing our children so badly they have no empathy for others. This is a prime example. I hope the school board will have enough common sense to clear this victims school record of the incident as he should not have been expelled, and get him counciling also as such a trauma will surly have an effect on a young life.
Posted By: Boyd: Any one who is employed and gets paid by the general public, us, should have no problem taking urine tests. After all they are in the pubic debt for paying them for their work. Its simple NO TEST, NO JOB. This is not an attempt to violate rights, it is an attempt to enforce the publics right for federal, state and municipal employees who can be TRUSTED.
Posted By: George: As a parent I have no problem being drug tested. I'll stand in line right behind Katy.
Posted By: goodorbad: I look at it like this-if you dont have anything to hide, shut up and do the test!
Posted By: Rick: I think all teachers should be drug tested, I drive a transit bus for our county and I want the public to know I am drug free and teachers should want everyone to know the same, that their children are not in the care of people on drugs,if you have nothing to hide why object to random testing I know I don't
Posted By: Tea: I can't even imagine that our teachers have not been drug tested up until this time. Anyone who refuses should be fired. These are our children!!! People take drug test when they don't even work with people, let alone children. These are government jobs and we should have a say in what they have to do.
Posted By: Ari: Cheers to Rob-I feel ya!
Posted By: joe: I have worked for companies all over this nation and have had to take drug tests. Why should teachers be exempt from this practice? It is now common to be randomly tested(and I have been) so what makes a teacher any different than a steel worker. I can say proudly that I passed but I have seen those who didn't. They chose to use drugs and lost their jobs I didn't.
Posted By: Katy: As a teacher, I have no problem being randomly drug tested...as long as you agree to drug test the parents who enter the doors of my school as well. Most teachers deal with students who are exposed to/use more drugs and alcohol than any of the teachers. If these students or parents who are using drugs (and are not drug tested) enter our schools, the safety of the teachers and students are at risk. Since children spend more time with them, let's randomly drug test PARENTS, too!!!
Posted By: stephen: Why the heavy emphasis ont he damage to property and life Israel is doing . Where was the media uproar for years that Hamas was rocketing Israel irespective of innocent israelis.. Hamas is actualykilling their own citizens by firing rockets from UN schools and residents. Why does UN allow Hamas to use facilities for attacking Israel, then complain when Israel responds to protect their territory and citizens. Israel targets military targets, respons to from whence rockets or gun fire comes. What would we fire at if Huntington was attacked?Why does the media not put bla,e where balame belongs, and give moral support to the aggreived.What would America do if attacked? to whom would we listen? Russia, Saudi Arabia,Iran?.Media get REAL! Who has given Hamas and the Palestinians millions with which they could buy weapons---American taxpayers money!
Posted By: Robert: Although I feel for the employees that lost their positions at Cabell Huntington Hospital, at least more nurses were hired. I recently had a relative in the cardiac unit at Kings Daughters, in Ashland, and I was told that the nursing staff had been cut back and that no overtime was being given. This seems to be a drastic cut in patient care for a facility that spends thousands advertising that they are in the top 5% of cardiac hospitals in the country. I would be willing to wager that the Cleveland Clinic has not cut hours of those giving patient care.
Posted By: Boyd: If the state's budget is doing so well, why don't we use some of this money to help towns and cities in the state who are in trouble with their budget, or will this just become another pay raise for politicians?
Posted By: Rob: Why does everyone have to be so into using the term "racist" and have that kind of attitude. I know what my heritage is and who my ancestors were but you want to know what I consider myself? I AM AN AMERICAN! I was born and raised in this country and that's how I feel it should be. Born here, raised here.....then by God you are an American. Not an African American, not an Asian American etc. etc. You are an AMERICAN!
Posted By: Chris: To Ex-Officer: I agree with you 100% about the pay of police dept and the drug testing. I was formerly involved with the BCPD and had multiple ride alongs with the BCSO. I am probably one of their biggest critics due to having watch some of the bad side of the department for a long time. I wish that I could tell everything that I have seen officers do,which would put most of them behind bars or they'll lose their sheild, But retalliation is bad in our area. To the cops that do their job and do it with the best intentions, I proud of you and don't mean any disrespect. To the ones who I personally watch being more currupt then the "badguys" here,your day will be coming.
Posted By: Pablo: Teachers aren't the only ones underpaid. Law enforcement officers are underpaid also. And I'd like to speak about them. For example, I'm sure any parent would sacrifice their live for thier children. And several may give thier live to save their spouse. A few individuals may even do it for a close friend. But, I only know of 3 types of beings who will sacrifice thier lives for complete strangers; indeed even for people who hate them. The first would be our men and women in our armed forces. The second would be our law enforcement officers. And of course, third would be our Savior, Jesus Christ. Others are killed in the line of their employment, but not in order to save a complete stranger. Everytime a cop puts on his/her uniform, they can be a target for anyone upset about something. Even though it doesn't involve the cop personally, that very cop will give his life to save yours when a problem arises. We need to give our cops not only a wage, but a living wage and a great big THANKS.
Posted By: Craig: If what I am hearing is correct that Kanawha County teachers accepted a pay raise in return for submitting to drug testing, and then sued successfully so they do not have to be subject to testing, then why shouldn't we the taxpayers demand they return the raise?
Posted By: teresa: racist lmao i am one cherokee,german,irish,german,and who knows what else TIRED of hearing of racist comments u are either GOOD OR BAD k no skin color needed just evil or NOT
Posted By: Ex-Officer: I agree with Robert 100% I worked in law enforcement and loved the job but try to rise a family on less than 10.00 an hour (out of that pay for your own duty gear and gun). I believe that all public safety workers should be drug tested but i also believe that they should be paid for the job that they do. Not many people understand what a public safty worker goes through. Would you put your life on the line for this kind of pay? Remember the saying that you get what you pay for. I see this in several new officers in my area. Don't get me wrong there are still very good officers in law enforcement. Something really needs to be done about the low pay for these jobs.
Posted By: Garland: What's the difference between teachers and other workers(coal mineers, bus drivers, state employees,etc.)? Teachers aren't any better are they?
Posted By: : This is not a comment, but I would like comments on it please. What do you think of Poca High School? Racist or not?
Posted By: Robert: We the people, through our own self centeredness and apathy, have allowed our teachers and police officials to be some of the most underpaid people in the United States. We are trusting our childrens education and our public safety to the very people that are some of the most underpaid profesions in the U.S.. If I could change this, I would. However, I do believe that these people should be randomly drug tested. I work in the construction industry and I have no problem being drug tested. I have nothing to hide. I also believe that any person who is intrusted with the safety of others should have nothing to hide. This includes plitical officials up to and including the president.

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