Bellevue, NE, November 13, 2009/Operation Rescue --
The police department in Bellevue, Nebraska have announced that the city now pays nearly $1,000 to maintain security cameras at LeRoy Carhart's abortion clinic - money that is taken directly from the taxpayer coffers to spy on peaceful pro-life supporters.
"It is outrageous, at a time when Congress is in an uproar fighting abortion lobby efforts to use tax money to bail out failing abortion clinics, that the City of Bellevue would arbitrarily decide to force taxpayers to subsidize Carhart's abortion business," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "If Carhart wants extra security, he should have to pay for it himself, just like everybody else."
Bellevue police Chief John W. Stacey attempted to justify the $970 per month tax-funded camera system by saying it was "handy."
"This is yet another example of the gross lack of judgment shown by the City of Bellevue, which continues to cater to Carhart's whims," said Newman.
In August, Bellevue police overreacted to a visit by Operation Rescue by putting up snow fences, blocking off streets, marching out the SWAT teams, and making wild and unsubstantiated claims in the media about anticipated violence.
"We tried to tell them that we only expected 20-50 peaceful supporters praying quietly on the sidewalk, but they were bent on making a tempest in a teapot. They blew everything out of proportion and in doing so, unnecessarily wasted thousands of dollars of taxpayer money. Now they are doing it again," said Newman.
Carhart is currently under investigation by the Nebraska Attorney General's office for illegal conduct alleged when former Carhart employees came forward and said that workers with no medical background routinely assisted with surgeries, started IVs, and dispensed medication without the proper credentials. The women told of unclean conditions at the clinic and that Carhart rarely if ever washed his hands between patients. They also indicated that drugs were often missing and believed that Carhart was, at times, chemically impaired while on duty.
"It might be a better use to tax dollars to have the spy-cams inside the abortion mill. They are more likely to catch someone breaking the law inside the clinic than outside it," said Newman.
"We encourage those who are outraged that taxpayers are subsidizing spy-cams at Carhart's abortion business to contact the Bellevue police and let their concerns be known."
Contact:
Chief of Police John W. Stacey
Voice: (402) 293-3105
E-mail: john.stacey@bellevue.net
Peaceful? You people make me laugh! Vandolism attemps, shootings, how many murders of people, PEOPLE, living and breathing. Peaceful? How many hate letters has Carhart received with suspicious white powder?
Wow, if you don't want to pay the $1,000 tell your state to enact laws that prohibit these people from being outside the clinic and approaching people...our state has this law, our clinics are safe. And as far as spying goes, I take it this is suppossed to mean you feel like your privacy is being invaded...don't worry, we feel the way.