APF in Hardin, MT (live, law, stations)

[seven of nine]

Alright now you have my interest. Care to expand?

[Reziac]

Some of these scamsters think big. And they skirt around the edge of legit, close enough that they can't actually be prosecuted, at least not without making the municipality (or corporation) that hired them look like idiots -- so they get away with it, and sometimes even get paid to go away. Per the history posted on one of those links up above, this Michael Hilton reminds me very strongly of Ed Bochs, who has made a career of pulling similar schemes on big-city animal control departments. (Los Angeles recently got rid of him, but he made a killing in the process and cost the city millions of dollars and a big chunk of citizens' trust.)

Hardin appears to be to the stage of throwing good money after bad, closing fast on desperate. Desperate people do stupid things, especially if they're doing it with someone else's money (taxpayers' money, ultimately).

Seems to me that with some relatively minor refitting, a prison facility could be turned into a college, thus an asset -- most of the dorm and cafeteria stuff is already there, and I'm sure there must be enough space useful for classrooms and auditoriums. The small college in Browning seems to do all right -- why not make this into something the Crow can be proud of too?? Isn't "lack of educational opportunities" one of the things many tribes complain about??

Or lease it out to a private college that's interested in opening an ag, forestry, mining, or industrial teaching facility -- all of which would fit well with Montana, and over time would make the structure pay for itself. Maybe make part of the terms that MT residents pay tuition in line with the rest of the state university system, rather than typical private college rates ($$$$$). Since the facility is already mostly built, a private college wouldn't have a big upfront investment, which could be attractive.

Likewise, it could probably be converted into a live-in training and manufacturing facility, where room and board is part of your pay -- might be good for young folks who can't afford to buy or rent but need to make a living.

Back to the private prison thing, the state legislature really needs to consider a bill prohibiting the whole concept, much as they prohibited "traffic light revenuing" (redlight cameras). Justice must not be a profit center -- justice for profit is one of the most fundamental conflicts of interest that can affect citizens' rights.

[John1960]

When two brand new, shiny black Mercedes SUVs bearing a "Hardin Police Department" logo drove through the main thoroughfare of Hardin, Mont., last week, people took notice.

“How many police forces have Mercedes?” said Charlene Warren, a local business owner who has lived in Hardin for more than half a century. “That threw up a red flag.”

Mystery 'Police' Force Has Small Montana City on Edge - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

[seven of nine]

Mmmm, I can not remember the last time I saw a Mercedes.
That is saying alot coming from where I moved from.
This is just getting weird. How is your pay scale as our reporter?

[Reziac]

From the article:

But that contract is now on hold as the Montana State Attorney General’s Office investigates APF and the Big Horn County Sheriff's Department enters preliminary talks about incorporating a real police department in Hardin so a similar episode doesn’t occur in the future.

Another snippet:

“They just can’t give us any answers,” Warren told FOXNews.com. “People are afraid. This is a good little town, we got a nice people here, and I wouldn’t want to see some dishonest person, like this American Police Force, do any harm to our town.”

“They found us real vulnerable right now," Warren says, "and they are just taking advantage of a good thing.”

Sounds like Hardin, not to mention folks at the state level, are starting to catch on!!

What did y'all think of my notion of turning the already-built facility into a local college??

[mtlogger]

Originally Posted by seven of nine

Mmmm, I can not remember the last time I saw a Mercedes.

There's a lot of them everywhere, even back in the tree where I live. Now if they were H-1's I'd be nervous.

[ergohead]

'Ravenwood' Comes To America by Chuck Baldwin

[seven of nine]

Originally Posted by mtlogger

there's a lot of them everywhere, even back in the tree where i live. Now if they were h-1's i'd be nervous.

lol:d

[seven of nine]

Originally Posted by ergohead

'Ravenwood' Comes To America by Chuck Baldwin

Yep but do you have the "fast" car?

[ergohead]

Originally Posted by seven of nine

Yep but do you have the "fast" car?

I have A fast car.