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Charlotte Police Department Responds

 
July 24, 2003

 Charlotte Police Department Responds
Letter from Chris A. Coatney

Here is a response by the Charlotte Police Department to an email sent from Chris Coatney. Chris writes so well of the concern for life and liberty while the Charlotte Police Department mocks. Below the police response is the original letter Chris sent regarding the arrests of Rev. Flip Benham and Rev. Mike Warren.

Response from Robert (Keith) Bridges, Public Affairs Manager, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

From: Bridges, Robert (Keith) rbridges@cmpd.ci.charlotte.nc.us
To: Chris A. Coatney
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2003 10:22:52 -0400
Subject: RE: OSA Arrests
Message-ID: BAD55D7A8B0AAE498C072EB6CBC5C67D05D36637@h3-exchange

Mr. Coatney,

It is illegal to burn anything within the city limits of Charlotte. That is why Mr. Benham and Mr. Warren were arrested.

Police officers take an oath to uphold all of the laws of the nation, state and municipality. Murder isn't the only crime officer's respond to. Illegal burning is one of them also.

I hope you enjoyed your stay in Charlotte. It is a beautiful city with a lot of wonderful activities and people.

Keith Bridges
Public Affairs Manager
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Dept.
(704) 336-3695
rbridges@cmpd.org

Chris Coatney’s original letter to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

From: Chris A. Coatney
To: rbridges@cmpd.org
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2003 10:06 AM
Subject: OSA Arrests

I was in your beautiful city last week as part of Operation Save America's efforts to keep our once beautiful nation from destroying itself. I was not at the Federal Courthouse when Rev. Benham and Pastor Warren were arrested because I was at the abortion mill on Latrobe St. singing Silent Night and other hymns and trying to convince parents and grandparents not to kill their children and grandchildren.

Since I was not a witness to the arrests I don't know exactly what happened but from what I've heard by word-of-mouth and read on OSA's website I think your police department over-reacted. Fire laws are meant to govern trash-burning and careless use of fire. It does not sound to me like Rev. Benham was careless in the least and went to great pains to make sure the fire he lit would not endanger anyone or anything.

We have a great tradition of free speech in America, guaranteed by our Constitution. The Supreme Court has even upheld the right of protestors to burn the American flag in public. I don't know if anyone has ever burned an American flag in Charlotte or how your local laws differ from those in other cities, but Rev. Benham's actions were clearly an act of symbolism, designed to make a crucial point related to the message that OSA has been bringing to your city all week, and posed no danger to life or property in any way, shape, or form.

In fact, Rev. Benham's actions could very conceivably result in greater protection for life, liberty, and the pursuit of true happiness in our nation. The Bible is full of warnings about what happens to nations who forget God, turn away from Him, and despise His commandments, shedding innocent blood and committing other despicable acts. The Old Testament prophets tell us that God will bring fire on our cities and a sword on our land for our disobedience (Isaiah 1 and many other references).

Your job as police officers is to stop murders in progress. We are killing more than 4000 innocent children every day in the abortion mills of this nation and God is going to hold us accountable. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Gal. 6:7) May the Lord of Heaven lead your police officers and citizens to repentance and may you take your place on the front lines in the battle for the lives of our children and the souls of mankind.

Stop organized crime; repeal Roe v. Wade!