What I Did On My Summer Vacation
Here's bounty hunter Bob Burton, who's having coffee a few tables away from me, with Gregg, while I'm working on my column:
My vacation only lasted for a part yesterday, really, because I have so much on my plate right now, but I had some great cred with evolutionary psychologist/NYU psych prof Scott Barry Kaufman when I told him I couldn't go meet him to write at a cafe because I was going to Santa Barbara on Wednesday to meet Gregg's crazy bounty hunter friend.
We had dinner with Bob last night, who seems to be friends with everyone in Santa Barbara and Montecito (including this amazingly glamorous older woman named Susan who had drinks with us and told us about her adventures in Africa), and we heard loads of amazing stories from Bob.
I also told him I'd love to freelance for him (as an "operative"), as I have a very good track record -- especially for somebody who's only a hobbyist Nancy Drew -- in tracking people down.(I gave Bob my book, I See Rude People, with my stories of tracking down my car thief and other criminals and miscreants).
Here's a bit on Bob by Diana Huynh on Freakonomics Radio:
Contrary to popular belief, bounty hunters aren't necessarily vigilante justice seekers who sport tattoos and long hair. Thinking about "Dog the Bounty Hunter"? This is what Bob Burton, who has been tracking down bail jumpers since the 1980s, has to say about the reality show:BURTON: It's grossly exaggerated. First of all, no one in the industry acts, or rather looks like that. We're dealing with cops, judges, district attorneys. We can't look the way he looks. Forget the long hair, you stand out, and it's pure television nonsense the way he looks.
Unlike what one might see on TV and the movies, bounty hunting hardly ever involves airborne high-speed chases or a hilarious reconciliation with an ex-spouse. These men and women approach their work like pros. And there are stats to prove it. Bounty hunters catch about 97 percent of all fugitives they pursue, making them significantly more successful than police.
Bob's book here. More on what Bob does here.
There is a new reality show I have seen called Manhunter you may enjoy. It may be Mantracker. It's two teams, one of law enforcement on horseback and the other team is on foot (playing escaped prisoners), and the escapees have to get to a certain point in the wilderness to win. It's one of those shows that really make you respect the cunning of the trackers, and by the end of the show you are at the edge of your seat.
Eric at September 15, 2011 2:57 PM
I believe you're talking about the Canadian show called Mantracker. I'm not usually a fan of cowboys, but Terry Grant is definately one hot man's man. It's too bad our hostess isn't "outdoorsey". It would be interesting to see her tenacity against Mantracker.
Niki at September 15, 2011 3:12 PM
The premise does not lead to the conclusion.
Hey Skipper at September 15, 2011 4:54 PM
Is our topic machismo?
Congratulations to Dakota Meyer. He deserves it! I hope his life is filled with the finest of American comfort and gratitude, all of it well-earned.
Full stop.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at September 15, 2011 7:12 PM
But still... Consider all the names on this list.
(It's notable that CSM has to pimp their pageview numbers by spreading them out each on their own page of the site, like one of those showbiz pieces... Twelve Firm-Titty Starlets Who've Had Their Cellphones Hacked. I want the Monitor to make money, but somehow this feels distasteful.)
As you look through those pages, you see that most if not all of the honors were rewarded for rescues or for sacrifice.
Nobody gets honored for killing people in today's military.
This makes me think that a lot of people, from the White House on down, suffer from what might most gently be described as "problems with the concept".
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at September 15, 2011 7:19 PM
I like the idea of private-sector bounty hunters.
Housing a larger fraction of our population in prisons has cut crime dramatically--the crime drop has little to do with police forces. Crime has dropped everywhere in the USA, from NYC to San Diego to Seattle. The constant is higher levels of incarceration. I think we have 5 males per 1000 in prison now vs 2 in the bad old days.
Increasing the size of the LAPD (or any town USA's) is an enormous waste of money, and they are so heavily unionized we practically get no additional street patrols as a result. They get pensions after 25 years and sink the economy under heavy taxes.
Big prisons work--and maybe private-sector bounty hunters to track down bad guys and put them behind bars.
We may wish to privatize prisons too.
BOTU at September 15, 2011 8:14 PM
They also have some other things going for them:
I bet if you look at law enforcement microcosms like the U.S. Marshal service percentages are comparable.
Jim P. at September 15, 2011 9:15 PM
Most fugitives the police don't even really go after so of course they are going to have a some what lower rate. They just figure someone will screw up and get caught - speeding or whatever. I heard/read that red light running is where a lot of fugitives get caught -as well as drunk drivers.
The Former Banker at September 15, 2011 11:25 PM
A cash incentive. No luck, no money
Seems to me most warrants you hear bout being served by cops these day are usually drug warrants with probable asset forfiture in the works, so it aint like the cops are better in that regard
lujlp at September 16, 2011 3:37 AM
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