Terrorism as defined by Random House Dictionary: The use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce especially for political reasons.
Are Militia groups or its members a threat to law enforcement? This is an attempt to answer this question. This article is based on facts developed from four separate incidents, the Oklahoma City bombing, the Fort Davis Republic of Texas standoff, the Spokane Valley bombing and bank robberies, and the Justice Township, Montana standoff.
Each of these incidents is different. However, each incident has at least two common denominators, Militia and Law Enforcement. This article is a compilation of facts derives from the four incidents listed above and not a part of the media induced militia fever.
We travel first to Oklahoma City, the sight of the worst domestic terrorist event in the U.S. We all know the facts: 168 people killed, numerous injured and the Alfred P. Murrah Building blown to pieces. The bomber, Timothy McVeigh, is on trial facing 11 counts including 8 counts of murder of federal agents. The remaining 160 counts of murder are to be filed in state court. Timothy McVeigh is subsequently found guilty of all 11 counts and faces the death penalty.
During the trial they have introduced several pieces of evidence showing a relationship between McVeigh and Militia groups and ideals. In a letter written to The American Legion by McVeigh, he stated, “We, members of the Constitutional Militias do not bear our arms to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow those who PERVERT the Constitution; if and when they once again draw first blood (many believe the Waco incident was first blood)…The BATF is one such fascist federal group who is infamous for depriving Americans of their liberties.” He also called for a citizen’s Militia to take action stating, “Who else will come to the rescue of those innocent women and children of Waco? Surely not the local sheriff or the state police. Nor the army, who is used overseas to ‘restore democracy’ but are used to destroy it…at places like Waco.”
Although McVeigh claims no attachment to any particular Militia group, and no particular Militia group is jumping up to claim McVeigh, there is ample evidence to show that McVeigh considered himself part of the Militia movement. (Just a note about convicted bomber McVeigh. When he was stopped and arrested ninety minutes after the bombing, for a minor traffic violation, he was found in possession of a gun and a knife).
The second incident took place in Spokane, Washington. Four men; Robert S. Berry, Jay Merrell, Charles Barbee and Brian Ratigan are charged with robbing banks, setting off bombs at a bank, newspaper office and a planned parenthood clinic, and various other charges including illegal possession of firearms and explosives. The suspects have ties with militia organizations and separatist groups. One of the accused attackers, Charles Barbee, is quoted in a newspaper interview stating, “We have to be ready to conduct Guerrilla warfare, that’s how it will be won. If the federal government sends in their armies to put women and children to death again, (referring to Ruby Ridge), we will respond and put as many federal agents to death as possible.”
Barbee, Merrell, and Berry were found ‘guilty’ on four of the twelve charges facing them. There was a hung jury on the other charges. The hung jury consisted of eleven ‘guilty’ and one ‘not guilty’. They will retry the three men on the remaining eight counts. There is some speculation that the one not guilty voter was a sympathizer. Listed are the twelve counts and verdicts of the first trial.
Count 1: Conspiracy. GUILTY.
Count 2: Destruction of a building used in interstate commerce; i.e., bombing at the Spokesman-Review’s Valley office on April 1st. NO DECISION.
Count 3: Carrying a firearm (pipe bomb) during a crime of violence, i.e., the pipe bomb used during The Spokesman-Review bombing. NO DECISION.
Count 4: Use of force, violence, and intimidation during a robber, i.e., armed robbery of $72,010 from US Bank on April 1st. NO DECISION.
Count 5: Carrying a firearm (pipe bomb) during a crime of violence, i.e., bombing at US Bank on April 1st.
NO DECISION.
Count 6: Destruction of a building used in interstate commerce, i.e., bombing at Planned Parenthood. NO DECISION
Count 7: Carrying a firearm (pipe bomb) during a crime of violence, i.e., bombing at Planned Parenthood. NO DECISION.
Count 8: Use of force, violence, and intimidation during a robber, i.e., armed robbery of $36,666 from US Bank on July 12. NO DECISION.
Count 9: Carrying a firearm 9AK-47, Winchester shotgun, Ruger Vaquero pistol) during a crime of violence, i.e., robbery of US Bank on July 12. NO DECISION.
Count 10: Transportation across state lines of a stolen vehicle; i.e., 1996 Chevrolet Suburban taken from Pocatello, Idaho, seized during arrest in Union Gap on Oct. 8th. GUILTY.
Count 11: Transportation across state lines of a stolen vehicle; i.e., 1996 Ford Aerostar van taken from Hood River, Ore., seized during arrest in Union Gap on Oct. 8th. GUILTY.
Count 12: Possession of unlawful firearms; i.e., six hand grenades (two in each vehicle) seized during Oct. 8th arrest. GUILTY.
In April 1997, members of the Republic of Texas Militia took two people hostage and demanded release of two of its members that police had arrested. This led to a standoff with local, state and federal agencies. The group claimed that the police had created the situation by arresting its members. They had arrested one of the members for filing false liens and fraud. They arrested the other on weapons charges. The standoff made national news and ended with the hostages being released and several members of the Militia being arrested. During the negotiations between state police and the Militia members, two members of the group escaped into the hills. A large manhunt took place, which ended in a gun battle between police and the Militia members. One Militia member was killed.
March 1996, two leaders of the Montana Militia group, The Freeman, were arrested on charges of mail fraud, threatening federal officials, and making a death threat against a judge. After the arrest, members of the Freeman Militia, also named in the fraud indictment, took refuge in a farmhouse 130 miles outside of Billings, Montana. Local, state and federal agencies surrounded the compound leading to a 72-day standoff. During the standoff, members of the Militia group patrolled the compound armed.
The incidents I wrote about are just a few of several. Local law enforcement face potential danger every time they are in contact with a member of a Militia group. Whether making a simple vehicle stop or conducting an investigation, the first level of contact could result in an armed or dangerous situation. The Militia’s philosophy about federal agencies is even more dangerous to local law enforcement. If a federal agency knows that it has to be called in to deal with a Militia group or member, they can prepare. The local law enforcement officer who just happens to stop a Militia member for a traffic violation and ends up with a Timothy McVeigh or the Spokane bombers is at a complete disadvantage.
IN SUMATION
While researching this article, it was clear to see that despite the views of a particular militia group, they are a danger to law enforcement by nature of their activities and philosophies. Even if a particular Militia group preaches nonviolence and claims no ties to any of the violent sects, it can draw more aggressive Militia groups or members to its ranks This is not to say that all Militia members are crooks or dangerous. The cases reviewed in this article are individual cases and do not necessarily represent the entire Militia movement. To characterize all Militia members by the events listed would be just as bad as characterizing all cops by the Rodney King incident. However, based on the basic philosophy of the Militia movement; local law enforcement, as well as federal agents, are going to continue to have contact with Militia members or groups and some of that contact is going to be dangerous.
NOTE: We sent e-mail to several Militia groups advising them that we writing an n article about them. We asked them to respond to the question, “Are Militias or its members a threat to law enforcement?” Here is one response.
Militia Response Letter
Thank you for inviting me to write about the militia and law enforcement issues. I was a police officer (Deputy Sheriff) for five years in NW Missouri and am now Lt. Col. for the 52nd Missouri Militia. Prior to law enforcement, I was a Navy Airman and trainer of Intel. gathering for Navy Seals students (SPOOK). I also taught law enforcement officers on such topics as Domestic Social/Political Terrorist Groups. I now teach computer Tecs for a fortune 200 computer company.
To answer your question “Is your group or its members a danger to law enforcement?” the answer is “NO”.
The 52nd Missouri Militia is a friend to law enforcement, militias and everyone else in the community. From what I can see, MOST militias are the same way; however, there ARE those who take “propaganda” to extremes (as in any social/political group, even law enforcement).
Although your question was directed towards the 52nd Missouri, I would like to talk about the relationships between militias and the law enforcement community as a whole…if I may.
Militia members could be thought of as “Ultra-Patriots”, we really LOVE our country, its older values, communities and the laws and officers that protect all of the above. The WORKING words here are the “laws that protect”…We feel threatened more and more as the years progress and our “Liberties” decay along with them for no REAL reason but electoral politics. For that reason, when we see a siege on the news by agents enforcing laws that were once unheard of, we tend to become a little “paranoid” or (better stated), UNTRUSTFUL of certain agencies in the federal law enforcement community. This “paranoia” reciprocates towards local law enforcement agencies. Officers watch the news and are told (like the rest of America) what to think about militias and other controversial ideologues. Officers are also being given bogus information from (so-called) “EXPERTS” in a given field. These “EXPERTS” serve only themselves and their egos…most have never spoken with a member of the subject ideological group or at best, interviewed the EXTREAME morons of an idea and present that information as the truth about ALL or MOST followers of that idea. The end result is that law enforcement is “paranoid” too.
I would like to submit a true story about another former police officer and militia member named Mike Hill. I wrote this story for the 52nd Intelliger Magazine and am about to put it online at our site.
This story hits home very hard, as I’m sure it will your readers. It is written as a public service to the community, law enforcement and militia members as at the end, it gives some experienced advice and assurances for all.
I hope this helps your story, If I can do anything else for you, please let me know…
Yours…
Lt. Col. Moran 52nd Missouri Militia
http://www.wws.net/52ndmo
Police and Militia Hysteria, The TRAGEDY of Chaplain Mike Hill
By: Lt. Colonel Moran, 52nd Missouri Militia. Copyright © 1997 52nd INTELLIGER Magazine
“Ready on the LIIINE!?!?” came the voice over the PA system, “Ready RIGHT!”…”Ready LEFT!”…”FIRE!”, then the deafening sound of over twenty 357 mags blasting in rapid volleys of two…BOOM, BOOM…BOOM, BOOM…BOOM, BOOM…all weapons were now empty. So it was during the third week of April, 1985 as I found myself qualifying on the KCMO-PD’s pistol range winding off my state certification as a law enforcement officer for the Platte County Missouri Sheriff’s Department. My mind however was FAR removed from the focus of a great score. I had been a Deputy Sheriff for a year and a half already and a state certification of officers meant nothing more than an inconvenience to most agencies. I wanted back into the field, onto the streets for a very special reason. April 15th 1985 (just a week before), two Missouri State Highway Patrol Troopers stopped a van in southern Missouri that belonged to one David Tate, a routine vehicle check (not quite sure what that means but Trooper Linegar and all police officers seem to have that sixth dark sense, as well as Mike and I). Trooper Jimmy Linegar approached the van from the left (behind the driver), Trooper Allen Hines approached the van from the right rear along the shoulder of the road. Within seconds, Tate jumped out of his van and began shooting. Trooper Linegar took some rounds to his chest and under his vest, he fell to the asphalt dead. A short gun battle then occurred between Tate and Trooper Hines, shooting wildly both around and UNDER Tate’s van. Trooper Hines was wounded in the leg and fell to the ground just as Tate scampered off to the woods.
Thus began the biggest manhunt in Missouri state history. The buzz on the news was all about a neo-Nazi group called “The Order” to which Tate was a member. He was headed for a place called “The Covenant of the Sword and Arm of the Lord” (CSA, billed by the news media as an “armed neo-Nazi encampment” but were really a religious sect of Christian separatists & survivalists led by Jim Ellison), his van loaded down with fully-automatic weapons and explosives.
All officers on the range that day had “Tate Fever”, I was one of them and I was stuck at the academy…I wanted that SOB and all I could see at the range was Tate’s face on my target…I scored the second highest on the range that day. Even after Tate was captured, the media and law enforcement officers with egos and a career to promote, went on a “ultra-right-wing” feeding furry. Anything and everything that happened which was violent in nature HAD to be ties to the Order, KKK factions, neo-Nazis and Skinheads all the way up to the early 1990’s… until the bombing of the Federal building in Oklahoma City. You see, there always comes a point in time when even the bad press the KKK can sell just does not pan out…the more you shock and scare the public, the more papers and airtime you sell, for an officer of the law, the more socially correct “collars” you make the more chances to be noticed within, thus the more chances for promotion/career advancement. The KKK (and the likes) just were not a big seller anymore. With the Oklahoma City bombing and a SINGLE flyer found in one of the suspect’s homes, the media and law enforcement found a NEW “bad guy”…the MILITIA. For the rest, “Tate Fever” was dead, “Ultra-Right” fever was dying, “Militia Fever” is the new plague.
Enter Mike Hill, a clean cut family man, born in 1945, was a member of the Ohio National Guard and served his community from 1968 to 1973 as a police officer. He co-authored a book with Edward J. Grant called “I Was There”, the true eye witness account of the killings at Kent State. He was a COP…a good one, an honest one but left the profession for what he saw as corruption within the ranks (I left after 5 years for the same reasons, ATF corruption). After leaving law enforcement, Mike still had a yearning to serve his community so he joined his local militia. Able to use his training from the National Guard and law enforcement to teach others how to DEFEND themselves and to assist the community in disaster relief (i.e. tornadoes, floods and fire relief), in time he became the Ohio Unorganized Militia of Monroe County’s Brigade Commander.
He and his wife Arleen were raising a family on their Woodsfield, Ohio ranch where dog breeding was an income supplement to try and make their ends meet. Like all parents, Mike wanted the very best for his family but no matter how much he and Arleen worked at it, they always felt somehow more could be done for their little ones. Mike’s interest and love for God soon began to dominate his personal and public life, and as all things Mike touched, he assumed a leader’s role once again. This time ordained by God himself, he became the OUM’s Chaplain. Proud of his association, Mike has personalized tags on his car, which said “Ohio Militia, 3-13, Chaplain”. Mike was also known to wear a pistol in his belt in plain view to protect himself and his family while traveling. Mike spent a lot of time ministering the needs of others at patriot gatherings. He was a quick study and loved to learn about the many ideas this community has to offer. One such idea was a thing called the “Common Law” movement. On June 27th, 1995 Mike went to just such a study meeting in a nearby county.
Enter Sgt. Matt May of the Frazeysburg, Ohio Police Department. An officer of two years whose zeal for the job had gotten him in trouble at least once, Sgt. May, too, is a family man and just as human as all of us. Being a police officer, I feel that Sgt. May is a person that Mike and I would have little problem connecting with.
It is not difficult for me to visualize Matt’s significant other kissing him on the cheek as he exits the door of his home to begin patrol duty. She watches him drive away into the night and wonders (as most police wives do), if that was the last time she will see him alive, a nightmare that became all too real for Mrs. Jimmy Linegar ten years earlier. I’ve worked it many times, the midnight to eight shift is one lonely beat, especially in a small town. An officer can wear the breaks out on his cruiser for all the stop signs that shorten a stretch of the road and have to change them every three months. If you get a call, the folks an officer meets at that time of morning occupy the extremes, they are either damn glad to see you or damn pissed-off at you. It’s easy to get lost in your drink on your off time.
Matt, like the rest of America, has a small obstruction in his way of thinking however. Through no fault of his own he has been bombarded with militia hysteria blaring out of his television from the media ever since the Oklahoma City bombing. Not (perhaps) in front of his mind but pounded deep into it from this media onslaught. It’s simple to figure out, this volatile formula that embeds itself from the media… MILITIA=RACISTS+GUNS+IDEALOGS~FEAR. When Matt walked out of that door just before midnight June 27th 1995, the militia was the last thing on his mind…until he turned on his radio…that’s when Matt’s problems REALLY began. I’m sure that officer Matt was debriefed on the significant activities of the night, top on the list were reports of militias having a meeting nearby (Mike’s Common Law study group), and to be aware that militia folks on the road. Matt’s interest began to climb…”Militia Fever” was sitting in and before the dawn, it and other contributing circumstances would claim many victims and change forever many lives.
The stage is set, the players introduced…this play is a tragedy. 2:00 AM, June 28th, 1995: Matt finds himself monitoring the main “through” road in Frazeysburg. He’d been on duty for two hours, the night has been very quiet. 2:03 AM, June 28th, 1995. Mike Hill is on his way home to his family after spending the evening visiting with friends at the “Common Law” study group. He is tired but pumped full of fresh teachings about how constitutionally sovereign he is as an individual…it’s forefront on his mind as he drives down the darkened road. He sees the lights of Frazeysburg just ahead and notices a police car under a street lamp…he slows down to five miles an hour under the posted limit. He doesn’t want to get stopped; he just wants to get home.
Sergeant Matt May looks up the road and sees headlights heading his way. He gets his radar gun ready and takes a reading…”Hummm…five miles below the limit,” Matt must have thought, “He’s seen me or he’s a local”. As Mike’s car passes by, Matt does not recognize the car or the driver as a local. He gets behind Mike and runs the license plate…Mike’s personalized militia tags… “MILITIA! I’d better check this guy out!” Matt perhaps thought to himself (“MILITIA FEVER/ FEAR” had set in).
He was unaware that the car following Mike was also returning from the same meeting. Matt is now between the two vehicles. 2:06 AM, June 28th, 1995 The city limits were fast creeping upon Matt even at the slow pace, he knew he’d better still this car while he still can. He turns on his overhead lights, pops the siren a second and Mike pulls over. As Matt waits for NCIC computers to respond to the dispatcher, Mike (just wanting to get home, pumped up with freedom, exits the vehicle and stands by it awaiting Officer May. Nothing in his hands; however, Mike has his pistol in his belt and in plain view. I am sure Matt still did not notice this or he would have reacted then and there (I would have).
Also understand, Mike looked at an officer the same way I do, here is a brother, not someone to be afraid of but someone you ”know” without ever having to have met them before. He knows their heart and what it takes to do their job. But I can picture Mike standing there “matter-of-factly” awaiting Officer May’s instructions. Officer May, excited about the stop, pumped up with “Militia Fever” and adrenaline flowing like a waterfall, now realizes that he is slowly loosing control of this car stop. Mike acted in a way that surprised him. “Get on back in your car…” shouted Matt. With this order, Mike got back into his car. Mike may have interpreted “Get on back in your car” to mean the stop was over and he may continue on his way. Please realize that the motives here are speculative on my part.
2:15 AM, June 28th, 1995: Now angry and fearful, Matt got behind Mike again, and again pulled him over. Mike, not afraid of police officers but angry about this “stop, go re-stop” that was going on, exited the vehicle again and proceeded to walk towards Officer May to ask some heated questions about this officer’s conduct. Mike’s friends who were following him from the meeting saw officer May taking cover behind his cruiser (more than likely NOW noticing Mike’s pistol in his belt), at least two shots were fired into Mike’s chest and face without warning (as reported by these witnesses). Believing he was dead and fearful for their own lives, they sped away to seek shelter at a “safe house”. Upon arriving there, they all made a sworn written statement as to what they had seen. They also reported that Mike’s hands were empty when the shooting began.
The rest is kind of vague as to what happened AFTER the shooting. Officer May says Mike drew a gun on him. Mike’s pistol WAS found in his hand…however the gun was found in Mike’s “off-hand”. It’s as though Officer May (or other officers who arrived at the scene) had placed it there to display a “self-defense” argument later. An independent autopsy shows that Mike was also shot in that “off-hand” at point-blank range…powder burns and asphalt in the flesh. In a private Muskingum County Grand Jury investigation about the matter, the testimonies of witnesses (Mike’s friends) were not admitted, nor were the independent autopsy results. The Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department even came up with a “surprise” witness…they NOW say that an off-duty firefighter was in Officer May’s Cruiser as a ride-along. This information was never in the original report…The Ohio Grand Jury bought it and Sgt. Matt May walked. A civil case is now pending in court against Officer May and the Muskingum Sheriff’s Department concerning Mike’s death and the cover-up that followed. The OUM is going to great strides to assist Mrs. Hill and her (now fatherless) family constructing a large kennel for the Hill’s dog breeding business. It’s quite a read and can be found at OUM’s web page. Thank you guys.
Arleen, I hope only the best for you and your family, and I hope justice will someday be done for Mike. Matt, I can understand the frame of mind that caused you to panic and pull the trigger. I think Mike (being a Christian and former police officer himself), would also see this and understand. I think he would forgive you for that but if a cover-up at the scene is true (and from what I have been told, the evidence indicates this), I feel that such actions of an officer of the law are inexcusable. For his work with militias from all parts, Mike was awarded the “Militia Defense” medal and the “Pointman Bronze Star” by the 52nd Missouri Militia. We also gave him the “Purple Heart” as he was stopped by the officer simply because his tags represented the militia and it ultimately cost Mike his life.
HOW TO SURVIVE A CAR STOP: A THREE POINT LESSON FROM MIKE. Lots of mistakes were made here people. I cannot honestly talk about Officer May’s actions concerning the shooting itself, but I CAN talk about mistakes Mike made…mistakes that contributed greatly to his death…mistakes that (being a former police officer), he should have known better. Had he survived this, I think Mike would have wanted to tell you the following.
1…NEVER, NEVER, NEVER exit your vehicle during a car stop unless the officer asks you to. Let the officer have COMPLETE CONTROL of his and your environment; that’s what he gets paid to do and that is what he/she expects to have happen. If you act in a way that is unexpected, the situation could deteriorate very fast. Let the Officers come to you. Don’t go to him/her even if you just want to say “Howdy”, there will be time for pleasantries soon enough.
2…KEEP YOUR HANDS on the wheel and in plain view. Gun laws differ from state to state but regardless of the law you are under, if you HAVE A WEAPON in PLAIN VIEW or NOT… PLACE YOUR PALMS ON THE UNDERSIDE of the ROOF of your vehicle. This lets the officer know that you are willing to cooperate BEYOND his/her expectation. When the officer walks up and asks for your license and registration, keep your palms in place and tell the officer you have a weapon in your car that you carry for protection. Don’t move until he/she asks you to at that point and follow their instructions to the letter. Yes, (depending upon state laws), this could lead to the confiscation of your weapon, even arrest but folks, a CAR STOP IS NOT THE TIME OR PLACE to TEST AND OFFICER’S KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONSTITUTION nor to MAKE A POLITICAL STATEMENT. Your main concern should be both yours and the officer’s safety. The rest can be argued in courts, but you must live long enough to do that. If your gun IS taken and/or you ARE arrested, your behavior at the scene will play a major role in how this plays out later… that’s just the facts, it sets the emotional foundation of the case in court.
3…NEVER DRIVE AWAY from a car stop until there is NO DOUBT that the officer has relinquished his/her detainment. Mike may have misinterpreted Matt’s command, a way to avoid that is to WAIT until the officer walks up to you and tells you face-to-face you can go. If you are stopped by an un-professional officer that yells at you from sitting in their car that you can go, STAY THERE…make that officer get off his/her ass and tell you up close and personal. Doing this, there can be NO mistake when it’s over.
Folks…Listen up, until this “Militia Fever” slows and ends, let’s keep the bumper stickers and personal tags about our convictions OFF our vehicles. If Mike’s tags were standard issue, I feel he would be alive today, he would not have been stopped to begin with. I know it’s hard not to display your patriotism publicly in that way and we should not have to fear for our lives doing so, but the reality is painfully clear to see. The “Militia Fever” will be with us for some time to come. Last night I watched a program on “The Learning Channel” called “Survivalists: Gun Militias in America”. Guess what folks…it was ten-year old film footage of Jim Ellison and the CSA with new narration dubbed over it talking about Okalahoma City and now calling the CSA a “militia” and not the “neo-Nazi encampment” as reported to us so many years ago. With that, this windy article has come full circle.
Mike, I hope I’ve said what you would have wanted me to say, I love you man. Sleep well.
Today you asked me if our group or its members were a threat to law enforcement officers. I am glad to say that I feel we are not. We have taken several steps to work alongside law enforcement officials instead of against them. I am a criminal justice student at Haywood Community College and have another member of my unit who is an officer with the Department of Corrections. An officer with the Waynesville Police Department helped out tremendously with our annual Christmas drive last year and all of the local law enforcement departments have been notified that we will be happy to help them out in any way that is constitutionally prudent. We are not that different in reality. We are here to help the people and so are they. They take oaths to defend the Constitution and the people and so do we. People have got to breakdown this wall that the national news media has built and start working towards building bridges. Our newsletter the Carolina Free Press has printed several articles on how we should work to support the law enforcement in our state. So in answer to your question, no, I do not feel as if the North Carolina Citizens Militia is of any threat to law enforcement personnel.
Thank You
Jeremy B. Davis N.C.C.M.
1-704-648-8709
PO Box 994 Canton, NC 28716