While Carhart is under criminal investigation, taxpayers foot the bill for "spy-cams"

Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue, info@operationrescue.org  

BELLEVUE, Neb., Nov. 13 /Standard Newswire/ -- 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 of 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
 
About Operation Rescue®
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006.  From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates.