I have witnessed the Mountain View police harass people without just cause on several occasions. They make up their own rules as they go. They do not go by the book. There must be some kind of merit or status received for making an arrest because they will really reach far to make one whether it's justified or not. What happened that night fits their m.o. totally!!

dear anonymous,

As a graduate of the MVPD Citizen Police Academy, I beg to differ with your opinion (which you are of course entitled to) and would hope that you sign up for a free "ride-along" with a patrol officer so you can get a first hand look, from another point of view, at how our police department operates.

Thanks for quoting our President Mrs. Wheeler when you said this should be a "teachable moment." But unlike our President would suggest--the MVPD and those drunken partygoers are not going to meet and have a beer--or more beers, in the case of the drunk partygoers.

The teachable moment shall come from learning to respect other neighbors on Bush street. Check out Penal Code 415 for more details on disturbing the peace. Another teachable moment will come from learning about Penal Code 647(f) for Public Intoxication.

Yes, police usually issue warnings for first visits, like the majority of the partygoers received on Bush street that night, since the police did not arrest everyone present at the party. The police do NOT issue warnings to those who refuse to comply with lawful orders and are in violation of the above listed Penal Codes. If those three partygoers can 't behave when the police are present, do you think they're going to behave after the police "warn" them and leave? Please....

The fact is that the vast majority of people who are arrested for public intoxication are not band members, so don't think they were piked on just because they were, "Raising the Dead."

Something to think about.....How many drunk people have you seen who become more obnoxious or aggressive than they are when they are sober? How many people have you seen that, when in trouble, twist the situation to a perspective that better benefits them. And finally, who doesn't minimize the truth when explaining bad behavior to their mother (Ellen)?

Funny how the MVPD are never around the Monte Carlo when the drunks there raise hell on Castro Street.

While I enjoy all the commotion in downtown, but some drunk people sometimes get too noisy and unlawful specially after bars close and they take their parties to parking lots - which of course is illegal.

Read the comment by Carol above. I totally agree with her. When MVPD asks noisy people to disperse and they do not comply, what do you expect? MVDP should let them keep partying and so let things to get beyond control? If you have any doubts about the behavior of MVPD, just give it a shot in downtown San Jose.

You are mistaken about police presence at the Monte Carlo "Old Ben." The police haunt that place, especially around closing time to disperse the loitering patrons, and prevent skirmishes. If you are still skeptical you can go to the MVPD and request the arrest stats for that location. I did this for a school project once and the MVPD was helpful in obtaining the statistics for my report.

When cop order you to kiss you ass and you'll refuse, will he arrest you, too?

With ultimate disrespect to uniformed blackguards, Max.

P.S. Previous comment was about cops who bark "sit!" at you.

But they are no where near as abusive as the San Jose Police department! Especially the bitter, troubled ones that sit in the little cubby hole across from the E.R. at San Jose Regional; dangerously, in a position too big for his little pea brain. Obviously hates his job and people. God help him.

So much bickering,

Respect police officer, they are here to protect and serve, if a bunch of drunk people was disturbing you, you would be glad to have an officer to help you. It is hard to punish everyone, but the select few that are more disruptive should be punished.
When I am drunk, I follow instruction, and go home quietly walking. People need to get a hold of their limit and behave when needs be.

If you get arrested you most likely deserve it.

No one is arguing about the arrests. We are just trying to let "people" know that the police statements aren't quite the truth. If you are okay with police saying what they need to, and not the truth, then I don't know what to say. If you do want the police to tell the whole truth all the time, then shout it from the mountain top.

By the way, My mother, Ellen Wheeler met with us for coffee. That is all.

The point here is that whether the MVPD is arresting someone who is in the wrong or not, the manner and lack of correct protocol in which most of them handle situations is idiocy.
Most of them have a egomaniac, controlling, immature personality, and they feed those issues with doing what they want; not what is right.
I don't mind having the police support and I appreciate it when the people that are breaking the law are arrested, but I know that some officers antagonize people and they know how to get them to be so angry to be resistant, and therefore arrestable. So, innocent people get arrested, and hurt and killed.
The saying, 'good enuff for government work', is now a deadly cliche'.

"How many people have you seen that, when in trouble, twist the situation to a perspective that better benefits them."

Good statement Carol Smith. It works for our side of the argument. Thanks.

I don't want to defend anyone here. I think the Police Chief needs to appoint an independeny body to investigate this and publish a report to the entire public so that everyone is satisified that the Police dept is an honest agency. Persoanlly I never had any issue with the Police and in fact they were nice and polite to me when there were few incidents in the past decade or so. one officer was nice to enough to drive behind me to make sure my home was safe and secure enough when I saw bunch of people walking around with baseball clubs. it is possible an Officer from a big city who recently moved to Mountain view may have some issues. Who knows. So let us all be mindful of the fact that these officers are risking their lives when they are on duty. It is every citizen's interest to obey when they are told to do something by an officer. getting drunk and rude behaviour are not acceptable norms.

In case anyone didn't read the other comments attached to the original posting. The event happened on Sept. 4, not the 11th. We , the occupants of the building(s) will be installing video cameras and microphones. That way if something like this happens again, the police and public will have no choice but to listen to what we have to say.
I am collecting written statements from witnesses. In case you think that everyone at the party was "DRUNK", that is not the case. Some attendees didn't drink at all. Try drinking four beers, in the period of three hours, and tell me how drunk and out of control you are.
P.S.- Part of the public intoxication law says that one must be obstructing a public way, street, sidewalk, etc.
It is up to the officers to tell you if you are intoxicated, no breathalyzer is required, and being in your front yard isn't considered private property.

Wylie said arrestees were taken in because they had not complied with orders to sit down.
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When cops will get fist in the face for that kind of "order" maybe they'll understand they insulting people.

Not all cops are honest, or have good intentions. They too can be criminals. They twist the truth and the law. They too can be liars. They are not all of the mindset to 'protect and serve'.

How about finding out which one of your neighbors complained? Seems like a better solution than installing cameras and getting statements and all the other nonsense.

Then again, maybe it will keep you busy for a while, which is probably a good thing.

The part of the public intoxication law (Penal Code 647(f)) about a person obstructing a public way/street/sidewalk has an OR clause, not an AND. The only requirement is that the person be in a condition in which they're unable to care for their safety or others' safety, in the opinion of the officer, OR they are obstructing a public way.

Section 148(a)(1) deals with failing to obey an officer's lawful order, since it's considered a form of resisting an officer.

Here's one web link where you can find the text of these laws: Web Link

Officer #71 who showed up on the scene for this call seemed to be the majority of the problem. He seemed more interested in enticing people into fights so that he could arrest them than in keeping the peace. I think as a police officer, you should be able to keep your cool when dealing with standard noise complaints. I would suggest that the city of Mountain View should look into #71's conduct from this and previous incidents and based on the information, decide whether he should be retrained. As someone who was not drinking at this event, it was pathetic to watch his conduct - it was worse than those who were arrested.

This incident occured on Friday September 4, 2009 not September 11, 2009.

According to an email ,only 2 police showed up originally and everything was fine but eventually broke down and more officers were called. Those that did not comply and were drunk were arrested. You have a lot of people drinking and a situation like this can easily get out of hand.
as is typical a few loud mouths raise the risk level and the officers first concern is their own safety. Not everyone was arrested and this will be a he said she said story.

I think these guys and gals do the best they can with what they have but I think they are guilty of selective harassment. There are many public places that deserve attention, including clubs downtown. I honestly feel they don't like conflict, and they seem put out when they are called to check out any given situation. I don't feel confident in their abilities and judgments overall. This is a classic example of over reacting. Did they ever find the police car that was taken in plain sight?

SFG: "According to an email"? I was there... the first group of cops to walk up was a lot more than two. "According to an email" is meaningless.

"Oppression and harassment are a small price to pay to live in the land of the free." -- C. Montgomery Burns

Today's lesson class, is that *cops lie*. And a phalanx was a Greek military formation. Rome had *legions*, Tommy.

Oh, yeah - the thought occurred to me that since September 11th is the quasi-official "cops are heroes" day, this may simply have been their way of celebrating the anniversary of our glorious police state. What could be more heroic than roustng a bunch of hippy headbangers?

I have just read the police reports about the incident. They are entertaining to read, but entirely false. Police lying is a bad and scary thing.