Why the second floor lunch room encounter could not have happened

[Drew Phipps]

I would normally agree with you, but in this case it actually took (what did we decide in that other thread???) wasn't it 15 minutes to seal off the building? Back in 1963, did officers have body mikes to call for assistance? Maybe Baker should have called it in before leaving his bike with a radio attached; but as I recall, someone's motorcycle microphone was stuck open, interfering with some radio communications. I agree that there was a notable lack of organization, (and perhaps panicky reactions) at the scene, but let's face it: Baker was right, and he was first.

I would submit that it was Sheriff Decker's stand down order: "Watch and observe," wasn't it? that most hampered the response of available manpower within running distance. At least until individual sheriffs deputies bravely ignored their orders and went to help.

(You brought up Canada. No disrespect intended. Well, maybe a little bit of cross-border ribbing was intended.)