Cmdr. Fricke opened his remarks with some impressive statistics about the low crime rate in St. Augustine. He added some anecdotal stories about some of his police friends who visit the city and have told him how safe they feel strolling the historic area without need to be 'carrying'.

The Commander said, addressing special events, "You don't have to worry about security, because we have already taken care of it". As for the City of St. Augustine, the Cmdr. Fricke held up a 16 page operations planner as a sample of the preparation taken by the City for an 'Event'; traffic flow, safety, rescue and a hundred other things that the public is not aware of and is taken for granted.

“The SATP can attest to the preparation which they did for the Tea Party Express event, last year at Francis field. Before getting the keys for the gates at Francis Field, there was an early morning, round table check off list of police, fire, emergency medical, trash, water and electric officials, etc. “Events are run like a well oiled machine”, said a SATP spokesman.

After the Commander opened the floor to a Q & A session there were a variety of questions, mostly consisting of constitutional issues. For instance, there was a question about disarming the city residents in a disaster case. An example illustrating the point was the flooding of New Orleans, where an elderly lady what thrown to the floor and dis-armed, as seen on u-tube at that time. Cmdr. Fricke said, “The police in New Orleans were too busy getting people off roof tops and out of flooded building to be occupied with disarming the public.” Some in attendance disagreed with his response. Regarding the second amendment rights, Cmdr. Fricke supported concealed carry, but expressed reservations about carrying a concealed weapon in to a bar with drinking a factor.         

There was another question about a recent assault at the Conch House complex where Mojo of the Jaguars punched and knocked out a security guard in an altercation on the site. It had been reported that Mojo, who had hung around the area partying, punched the guard, and left before the police arrived. Asked about how could he get away with this when any other person would be arrested and thrown in the 'slammer', Commander answered, "This was a 'simple misdemeanor'. A police officer was not present thus a complaint must be made by the victim to the district attorney and run through the normal channels.”

There was also discussion about the relationship between safety and liberty. The Tea Party audience, favored Liberty over safety. Regarding First Amendment issues, a Town Crier spokesman said, "In the 80 weekends that the Town Criers have walked down St. George Street we have always been appreciative of the way the police respect our 1st Amendment Right of Free Speech, and right of Assembly. This is not true on the federal property at the Castillo de San Marco. The Federal Park authorities routinely violate the First Amendment.”

Cmdr. Fricke concluded with,  “Four thousand people were arrested in St. Johns County last year, for a variety of reasons. A very low number for a vacation city were 5 million visitors come each year. This is a safe place to be and we are going to keep it that way.” St. Augustine is in the top ten small city designations, in the Country

"Give Me a Table to Hide Under"

Yes Folks, there is an anthem being sung at the City Hall Commissioners meeting entitled, ‘Give Me a Table to Hide Under'. Not kidding, Mayor Joe Boles and his choir of Commissioners voted to purchase a ‘bullet proof table’ for $8000. "That was the commissioners' idea," said St. Augustine Police Department Chief Loren Lueder. "They want an impact-resistant table so if something was to happen, they could actually get under the table and hide."

This tidbit of information was supplied by a lady who came to the Tea Party meeting where Chief Lueder was scheduled to speak. She wanted to ask him a few questions about this newest over-reach by the elected officials. Unfortunately, she couldn't ask him. One issue, for instance, why does one of the female commissioners get a police escort to walk her home after the meetings? The lady’s expression seemed to say, ‘Why her, and not me? Am I chopped liver?’

One post on WOKV.com, where this story was verified, sums it up, "They could stack sandbags around the table they have now for a lot less than that!” And another "WOW what's next bullet proof vests...."

Keep in mind that this waste of tax payers’ dollars is in one of the safest cities in the Country. It's time to attend the City's Commissioners meeting and express your opinion. Don't forget your helmet!