San Jose "Ground Zero" for the Fight for America’s Core Values
(Published as written on June 3, 2016):
Yesterday during a Donald Trump political rally, my former city of San Jose became “Ground Zero” for what I will refer to as the battle for the soul of America. As a former police officer and detective with the City of San Jose from the 1970’s through the 1990’s, I have participated in any number of political protests as a peace keeper dressed in uniform, riot gear and even in plain clothes.
Yesterday’s protest was far different than those protests of the past for a singular reason. It wasn’t because people were protesting Republican candidate Donald Trump, as the naïve and uninformed Hillary Clinton surrogate and democratic city Mayor Sam Liccardo has stated. That notion is far too simplistic. No, this protest was different because it underscored that our nation has come to a critical turning point. We are in a battle for control of the destiny of our country and our core values as a people and as Americans.
Through our own fault, America has changed not for the better, but for the worse. We have become a nation of entitlements; where the sacrifices, civil rights and the riches of others who fought, endured, and died for them have been irresponsibly redistributed to and squandered by those who either have no standing in this nation; or have done absolutely nothing to earn the rights, privileges and treasures created and achieved by others.
What was once right, honorable and ethical; is now diminished and politically incorrect. Things that Americans once aspired to be, attain and emulate are now despised and frowned upon by the “everyone gets a trophy” entitled crowd. The core values of God, honor, country and family are slowly, but surely being replaced by secularists, flag burners, anti-government, anti-law enforcement Occupy and Black Lives Matter Marxist radicals.
American citizenship which was once a highly prized privilege that immigrants liked my parents once risked their lives to attain; has now been replaced by George Soros Open Society/Open Borders advocates and disrespectful illegal aliens who spit on the rule of law. Make no mistake about it.
We are in a serious battle over the direction this nation will take. Expedient and exploitive politicians Hillary Clinton and socialist Bernie Sanders simply represent the visible portion of the iceberg; but not the dangerous American Titanic sinking underbelly of it.
There has been no better demonstration of the dichotomy of the dissention of the ideological opposing forces than was observed at the intersection of N. First Street and San Carlos Avenue last night in Ground Zero San Jose.
As I watched my television screen in complete frustration, my alumni brothers and sisters in blue, dressed in riot gear, representing and supposedly protecting the Rule of Law stood idly by while illegal aliens and anarchists ambushed peaceful Trump supporters in cowardly acts of violence.
Police patience, restraint and a studied response to civil disobedience is one thing; but prioritizing damage to property to injury to people is quite another. Police Chief Eddie Garcia is wrong about his assessment of risk to the public. Any one of those Trump supports could have been violently attacked and seriously injured or killed in a heartbeat by this mob. Violence could have been avoided with better leadership, instead of bureaucratic “put up your finger and test the wind” political correctness. No wonder officers are leaving this department in droves in search of better leadership and professional support. Even San Jose Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio, Chair of the city’s Public Safety Committee remarked that police could have done more to enhance public safety. I wholeheartedly concur.
Returning to my theme; if the Silent Majority of honest, hard-working, ethical, country-loving Americans don’t rise up in defiance of the menace of posed by the uber-politically correct, the entitled, far-leftists, anarchists and illegal alien radicals; we are finished as a nation. We will have effectively become anemic and helpless Europe. In only a few short years America has transitioned from a country of greatness; to a nation without a homogeneous people, who produce nothing, stand for nothing and are untrustworthy and internationally disrespected. We allowed politicians to do this to us, enabled by the pseudo-entitled, “give me something for nothing” electorate.
We still have time to change our direction – but not much time. If we fail to restore America to its former greatness, that failure will be the lasting legacy we will have willed to our children. We should be ashamed.
If we fail this nation this November, I will never drive past the intersection of North First Street and San Carlos Avenue again without recalling that this was America’s Ground Zero in the battle for her heart and soul and we knew it, we saw it; and we did nothing.
About the Author
Ron Martinelli, Ph.D, is a nationally renowned Forensic Criminologist and a retired and decorated San Jose police officer. He is the author of the new best-selling book, “The Truth Behind the Black Lives Matter Movement and the War on Police.” (Amazon.com). His forensic site is at www.DrRonMartinelli.com.
References
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/donald-trump-rally-disturbance-1.3614121
http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/32129995/san-jose-california-police-under-fire-after-trump-rally
Dr. Ron Martinelli, Ph.D., B.C.F.T., C.F.A., C.L.S. | Author
Dr. Ron Martinelli, serves as our firm’s chief litigation consultant, police/corrections practices expert and trial specialist. Dr. Martinelli is Team Leader for the nation’s only civilian multidisciplinary Forensic Death Investigations and Independent Review Team comprised of forensic homicide investigators, scientists, physicians and forensic experts.
Dr. Martinelli has an impressive and diverse law enforcement and forensic background in police, corrections, probation and private security practices and training. He also has a diverse background and expertise in psychophysiology, human factors, mental health disorders and serious psychomedical presentations leading to in-custody death. Among Dr. Martinelli’s many qualifications include:
- Federal/State Courts qualified expert – Police/Corrections practices since 1993 (See areas below)
- Over 35 years of active law enforcement training and consulting experience to over 300 law enforcement agencies, criminal justice training centers, social service agencies, public safety agencies and municipalities
- Over 22 years experience as active police officer and detective
- Team Leader – Multidisciplinary Forensic Death Investigations Team
- Certified Force Analyst (CFA), Officer-Involved Shootings, Force Science Institute®, Minnesota State University
- Certified Force Investigator, Los Angeles Police Department, Force Investigations Division
- AELE – Certified Litigation Specialist in Police and Corrections Practices (CLS)
- NCCM – AAETS – Board Certified in Forensic Traumatology (BCFT)
- Diplomate, National Center for Crisis Management and American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
- Fellow – American College of Forcesic Examiners (ACFEI), National Presenter (FACFEI)
- IPICD – Certified Forensic Analyst and Instructor, Sudden In-Custody Death
- Member – International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners
- Member – Association of Security and Investigative Specialists International (ASIS) No. 306956
- CA State Bar Approved Instructor, Firearms, Self-Defense & Deadly Force, 2014
- Distinguished Faculty – Lorman Educational Services, Police Practices, Civil Rights, Forensic Investigations, Use of Force/Excessive Force, TASER related injuries, Psychomedical Issues
- Instructor, Excited/Agitated Delirium & Sudden In-Custody Death, Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Death
- 35 year state approved law enforcement instructor in all areas of weaponized and non-weaponized uses of force: firearms, less lethal munitions, TASER, chemical agents/OC pepper spray, impact weapons/baton, Arrest & Control Tactics (ACT), Unarmed Defensive Tactics (UDT) and weaponless defense
- Instructor and subject matter expert in over 30 separate police/corrections practice methodologies
- Former Special Investigator (retained), City of Riverside, CA – Officer-Involved Shootings and In-Custody Death
- Attorney General Offices’ Forensic Police Practices Expert, AK, NV, NM, NE, ILL, WV
- Police and Corrections Practices Expert – for a number of law enforcement municipal and state agencies in CA, AK, NV, CO, NM, NE, WV, FL, ILL, OH, NY
- Law Enforcement Practices Expert – Judge Advocate General, United States Marine Corps
- Expert/Consultant – Riverside County (CA); Modoc County (CA) District Attorney’s Office
- Active Member – California District Attorneys Association
- Former CA POST accredited police/corrections academy director
- Former Division Dean of Criminal Justice, CA Criminal Justice Training Center
- Adjunct Professor – Forensic Science, Masters degree program, National University
- Former Professor – Forensic Psychology, Masters degree program, Argosy University
- Former Professor – Criminology, California Polytechnic State Univ. – San Luis Obispo
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- 90%+ success rate in law enforcement and civil rights litigation cases involved in as expert
Dr. Martinelli is an experienced police and corrections practices expert qualified in Federal and State Courts and is skilled in criminal investigations, forensics, forensic interviewing, incident reconstruction, evidence gathering, discovery and event analysis. He also analyzes and experts on cases involving premises liability and security.
Dr. Martinelli has an excellent track record of successfully experting for law enforcement agencies, states, municipalities; and civilian plaintiffs and accused parties during all stages of litigation or trial. He is an articulate author of forensic reports, and a skilled orator in the courtroom who is able to explain complex issues in ways that juries and jurists find easy to understand. Dr. Martinelli possesses a unique combination of field experience and academic credentials that attorneys, courtroom and media audiences find impressive.
Recognized and respected by attorneys, judges and his expert witness peers as an impartial and ethical fact finder, Dr. Martinelli has significant experience experting for advocates from civil defense, plaintiff, prosecution and criminal defense positions. As his resume indicates and his many clients can attest, Dr. Martinelli is fully engaged on a daily basis in all aspects of the field of law enforcement, forensics, and corporate security, as well as achieving and maintaining the highest levels of education and certifications within his fields of expertise.
Additional biographical information and copies of Dr. Martinelli’s forensic articles and commentaries can be found by linking with him at www.LinkedIn.com/ronmartinelli.
