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Police going overboard on firework explosion case

(Last updated: 11/08/09 10:11pm)

The recent exploitation of four MSU freshmen as felons has compelled me to write this letter. Over the past 48 hours these four students at MSU have had their names and faces plastered all over the news as criminals charged with several very serious crimes.

I feel that MSU police are utilizing a chance to exploit these students to give their department a greater sense of purpose, other than campus security.

Am I defending what these students did? Certainly not. I would not attempt to make the claim that throwing a commercial grade firework in somebody’s lawn is something the police should let happen.

The key word in that sentence, though, is firework.

I have been following this story through both television news and the newspaper, and have to wonder why each time the incident is explained the devices are described as commercial grade fireworks, yet the students are being charged with possession of bombs with unlawful intent.

Furthermore, East Lansing police Chief Tom Wibert was quoted as saying the bombs caused no damage, but the students are being charged with placing explosives and causing property damage. This statement clearly shows that the police departments in East Lansing are exaggerating this case to garner media attention and to show the community that they can do more then just arrest underage drinkers and drunken drivers.

I was pretty appalled today when I read the Detroit News and saw that the case had now received attention outside the local community.

I would like to reiterate my point that I am not saying that these students are innocent. However, perhaps a more suitable punishment in this case would be to levy a fine and perhaps make the students do community service.

Charging them with felonies certainly could alter their career opportunities in the future, and I for one think it would be tragic if this happened because of a “commercial grade” firework.

The MSU police, the East Lansing Police Department and the local news media should be embarrassed at the way this case has been handled and portrayed. To me this is certainly an instance in which the punishment does not fit the crime.

John Galligan
finance senior

Originally Published: 11/08/09 7:36pm




Commentary:

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you're an idiot

11/09/09 10:01am

who cares about if a conviction “alters their career opportunities in the future”? they should’ve thought about that before they did it. i hope, even if they cop a plea, they have permanent records.

Deja Vu

11/09/09 10:10am

The same thing happened to my son many years ago when he was in middle or high school. He set off fireworks (firecrackers, maybe bottle rockets) on a school playground (not during school hours) and was charged with having explosives. Could tell you several other ridiculous stories about the ELPD too, but I’ll stop. I’ve lost all respect for ELPD.

John Galligan is the biggest bitch I know

11/09/09 11:13am

This is all a bunch of bullshit. I have a class with John Galligan and I can say without a doubt that he is the biggest bitch I know

Harry Manback

11/09/09 11:46am

A common person would care if this alters their career opportunities in the future you moron. Myself as well as my friends have had far too much interaction with the East Lansing police charging students with BS crimes and then having to pay thousands of dollars to get them off of you’re record so that when we roll in with our top 1% GPA’s, Top Resumes, and represent the best this university has to offer when it comes to the real world we are getting the jobs we deserve. And yes i can assure you even people that screw up once deserve a second chance because its ignorant people like you that are bringing this university down.

John Clayton

11/09/09 11:51am

Also, while john galligan is correct in his opinion,i would have to agree with john galligan is the biggest bitch i know in stating that john galligan is the biggest bitch i know

davidbowieUB40

11/09/09 12:01pm

are you people serious? i mean i bet that you were the perfect child growing up and that you never did anything wrong. EVER! give them a break! they deserve punishment, dont get me wrong. but to plaster thisstory all over the place (also seen in the freep, chicago tribune, etc.) is just rediculous. the freep even had the guts to post their mugshots. but then again they must be terrorists so we might as well lock them up now. why did we even give bail?

D

11/09/09 12:12pm

Completely agree, 100% to this opinion article. ELPD is fuc**ng ridiculous. It definetly appals me too. And yes, they are not innocent of a crime. But those of you talking BS, do you understand how serious a felony is? They were stupid and made a dumb mistake. And Deja Vu, im with ya, I have plenty of just horsemonkey bs stories about the elpd.

you're an idiot is an idiot

11/09/09 12:15pm

If you honestly believe that these TEENAGERS deserve to have their entire lives changed due to PLAYING with fireworks than you are, in fact, an idiot. I am willing to bet, and admit, that this type of stupid, immature activity happens on a daily basis. Do fireworks really require half of the police force, and bomb squad, to show up to “disarm” a “bomb”?

Duuude I'm soooo smart

11/09/09 12:21pm

Let’s go over this:

Myself [You mean “I”] as well as my friends have had far too much interaction [far too many interactions] with the East Lansing police charging students with BS crimes and then having to pay thousands of dollars to get them off of you’re [“you’re”?] record [should be “our records”] so that when we roll in [how gangsta’] with our top 1% GPA’s [no apostrophe: it’s not a contraction or a posessive], Top Resumes [don’t capitalize random words to make them sound important], and represent the best this university has to offer when it comes to the real world we are getting the jobs we deserve.

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Another

11/09/09 12:23pm

_ And yes i can assure you even people that screw up once deserve a second chance because its ignorant people like you that are bringing this university down. _

So, what you’re saying is that screw-ups should get second chances because … ignorant people are ruining MSU? I’m really not following your logic here Harry.

John Galligan is their friend...

11/09/09 1:02pm

oh hey John,

what’s that? you are really good friends with Darby, Sasha, and Olivia? AND with Darby’s older sister and Sasha’s older brother? Oh, that’s right.

No wonder you are defending them.

Who cares if John Galligan is their friend

11/09/09 1:17pm

It doesn’t matter if John is their friend or not. The attention and punishment they are facing is completely ridiculous. The press is making the kids sound like terrorists with the headlines and mug shots. Give it up. For once the ELPD have other things to worry about than MIPS? No way. This is completely unncessary. They deserve punishment, community service, fines..but the publicity, jail time and attacks against them are ridiculous. Dont ruin 4 18 year old kids lives over this. I have known 3 of them for years, had differences with them, so it doesnt matter if anyone is friends with them or not, the subject is way out of hand at this point.

J.G. is a hero not a bitch

11/09/09 2:13pm

J.G. and these girls all get high every weekend and drink underage. It’s not a surprise they were caught for something that would undermine their future career. Their future careers were already in the can before they were caught. Although I am glad John was sober enough to string together a few sentences to write this nice letter in their defense but he has tried to get in all of their pants (maybe this letter will help his game) so his defense of them is just ridiculous. People who commit stupid actions should be prepared to accept the consequences.

Been There

11/09/09 3:29pm

I agree one hundred percent with John. I myself have been through the east lansing court systems and dealt with the east lansing police and they are after one thing and one thing only, money. I seen kids get arrested for drinking while walking home peacefully, and seen another drop his phone and pick it up, and then get arrested for underage drinking. It is absolutely ridiculous, you can go to any other campus and the police will walk through kids drinking and not even think to card them, because lets face it, it’s college, everyone drinks at some point.

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been there is a tool

11/09/09 3:40pm

You are an idiot. JG is some deluded pervert who pounds his pud to GIRL’S Lacrosse games. That’s why he’s trying to nail these chicks. Anyway, I say give them all permanent records and put them on a terrorist registry to restrict their lifetime travel. They are CLEARLY a menace!

All comments above

11/09/09 4:09pm

The most amusing part to all of this pointless banter, is that this is an OPINION article, and it is therefore an OPINION. Perhaps your COM100 homework was to comment on a State News article? I am also willing to bet that your communication skills inhibit your ability to create a logical and respectable objection to another persons OPINION. I think using real words such as “PUD” is a viable option.

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You're all pathetic

11/09/09 5:04pm

You guys are all a riot. Instead of concerning yourself with Galligan’s actual point (WHICH IS VALID) you attack him for “being friends” with the girls and trying to “get in their pants”.

Tell me you honestly don’t think that the MSUPD and ELPD are completely sane in any so-called “law enforcement” they provide, and are not just continuously abusing their power out of sheer boredom.

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Proof your arguments don't work

11/09/09 5:09pm

For everyone suggesting that John Galligan wants to simply get in the girls pants your all wrong.

That argument could never work because those that know John Galligan (like myeslf) kno that he is incredibly gay and would never commit any such hetero acts with girls, only dudes.

SO YOUR ENTIRE SLAMS AGAINST HIM ARE WRONG

Your Pathetic ditto

11/09/09 5:35pm

All of you who have commented using profanity and comments about John’s sexuallity must feel important. Rather than make constructive comments you have made it clear how ignorant you are…Your contribution to society hopefully will is more than your pathetic comments. I am suprised the State News allows this this deragatory and profane commentary…

You are sick and pathetic

11/09/09 6:22pm

Ignorant stupid people don’t deserve acknowledgement. John article is over their heads if they have one.

Stewart Blumpkin

11/09/09 7:34pm

I am neither acquainted with John Galligan nor any of the suspects in this case.

Mr. Galligan’s opinion article was well written and poignant. The officers of the ELPD should be, and are, ashamed of themselves.

Most East Lansing police officers generally cry themselves to sleep every night after handing out a few MIPs and jerking off to old crime scene photos so there’s really not much worse we can make them feel by commenting about them on the internet, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.

Really BLOWING things out of proportion

11/09/09 7:49pm

I agree with “You’re all pathetic” in saying that the media has really blown this out of proportion. Personally I have a short fuse when it comes to the Michigan State Police as they always seem to go nuclear and blow up at students over the smallest of affairs.

In this scenario I feel the MSU police and media acted inappropriately to defuse the situation and bombarded the girls with way too much bad press for a stupid prank.

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Jeff Beck

11/09/09 10:11pm

At least Johnny had the balls to put his name on his opinion.

MSUAlum2001

11/10/09 11:59am

This will get banged down the misdemeanor that it really should be. Upping the ante from a firework to an explosive is just stupid on the ELPD’s part.

I Googled the law and the charge for illegally having and/or using a Class B firework is a misdemeanor.

John Galligan has streaks in his underwear

11/10/09 4:24pm

John Galligan has no place to talk to here he is very uncreditable, I would rather let Michael J Fox perform surgery on my appendix rather than credit John Galligan’s opinion.


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