Bomb Scare at the Vets home.

I can't think of anything more scary than this. Let me tell you what happened.

On November 24, 2014, around 6:30 in the evening, a suspicious package was discovered in the parking lot at the Home. Security and staff acted appropriately and took all steps necessary to insure the safety of the veterans and the staff. The actions of the staff at the Home were very appropriate and on behalf of the veterans and the families of the veterans, I want to thank the staff for keeping the safety of everybody their paramount concern.

Part of the protocol for this type of situation is to make a phone call to the Grand Rapids Police Department. If you aren't angry yet, this will send you over the top. It took the police 45 minutes to arrive. You read it correctly. 45 MINUTES for a bomb threat. A member of the security staff at the Home took a picture of the box and contents and when he showed the police officers that responded the picture, they decided to call in the bomb squad. It took at least, an additional 45 minutes for them to show up. UNBELIEVABLE.

The veterans are forced to stay in their rooms for at least 90 minutes while the police figure out what to do. I have no doubt that staff members were also frightened. I would be if I was working there that night.

Now. What to do about the men and women in blue who work for the Grand Rapids Police Department. Their actions combined with their response time was deplorable. Do they need more training? If this bomb threat was at a school, municipal building or hospital, you can bet their response time would hae been much less. It makes me wonder why the police consider the safety of our veterans less important than they consider the safety of our children, judges or patients in a hospital. The more I think about this, the angrier I get. How about you?

Just so you know, the suspicious packaged turned out to contain an empty gas can and a set of battery cables. Apparently, somebody had car trouble while visiting at the Home and left these items behind. The Home did not over-react. They did what they were suppose to do. The Grand Rapids Police should be ashamed of themselves for treating our veterans and the men and women who take care of them in such a haphazard way. They are people, no less or no more important than the children in our schools or the judges in our courtrooms. You all know this. Why don't the police feel this way?


The following is a memo written to the staff and members of the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Sara Dunne encourages you to call her with questions. I have a few for her. Why has this been such a hush hush matter for one. There has been nothing in the news about this. Another question I have for her is what is she going to do with the Grand Rapids Police who dragged their feet in what could have been a tragedy?
Don't get me wrong. I thank God this was nothing. The Grand Rapids Police Department has lost my respect because of how they handled this. Over 90 minutes of putting our veterans thru fear and hell doesn't deserve anybody's respect.