An Occupying Army
“Officers Unleash Vitriol as Peers are Charged in Ticket Fixing” Headline, NY Times, page 1, October 29, 2011. Quotes from article in Italics]
I’ve been in an occupying army and know how it cuts you off from the population, even in Italy with charming friendly people. It must be hard in a country whose people hate you like in Iraq, Afghanistan... and the Bronx.
“As 16 police officers were arraigned... incensed colleagues organized by their union cursed and tormented prosecutors... chanting ‘Down with the D.A.’...a swarm of officers formed a cordon in the hallway...Members of the news media were prevented... from walking down the hallway...blocked cameras......grabbing lenses and shoving camera operators backward.” [Photo: police demonstrating in the Bronx] Police in the Bronx have taken on the mind-set of an occupying army, and believe they are exempt from local laws
"The case, troubling to many New Yorkers because of its implication the police officers believed they deserved special treatment... The indictments may jeopardize thousands of other cases in which implicated officers are important witnesses and may be seen as untrustworthy by Bronx juries.”
That police lie on the witness stand is not exactly a surprise. And from ticket fixing to much worse is evidently not so big a leap.
“...accusations that officers brought illegal firearms, slot machines, and black market cigarettes into New York City... that Officer [name withheld] allowed a friend... to sell drugs... .an officer caught in a sting transporting...heroin and stealing $20,000 from a hotel room.”
Professor Eugene J. O’Donnell, John Jay College if Criminal Justice: “The Police Department is a very angry work force.... it translates into hostile interactions with people.”
Mob-like behavior in the courthouse was rationalized by Chief Raymond W. Kelly, “I think it’s understandable that officers rally round when there’s a time of trouble.” He did not tell it like it is. It’s a crisis for which he is responsible. Police training evidently does not prepare them for their heavy responsibilities.
“All the officers charged... are either current or past union [Patrolmen’s Benevolent Asso] delegates or trustees... Prosecutors found ticket fixing to be so extensive that they considered charging the union under the state racketeering law as a criminal enterprise.”
To have a part of the U.S. policed by an occupying army makes it worse off than Iraq, for at least Iraq can look forward to the day when the occupying army leaves. The Bronx cannot.
To read the NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/29/nyregion/
“Officers Unleash Vitriol as Peers are Charged in Ticket Fixing” Headline, NY Times, page 1, October 29, 2011. Quotes from article in Italics]
I’ve been in an occupying army and know how it cuts you off from the population, even in Italy with charming friendly people. It must be hard in a country whose people hate you like in Iraq, Afghanistan... and the Bronx.
“As 16 police officers were arraigned... incensed colleagues organized by their union cursed and tormented prosecutors... chanting ‘Down with the D.A.’...a swarm of officers formed a cordon in the hallway...Members of the news media were prevented... from walking down the hallway...blocked cameras......grabbing lenses and shoving camera operators backward.” [Photo: police demonstrating in the Bronx] Police in the Bronx have taken on the mind-set of an occupying army, and believe they are exempt from local laws
"The case, troubling to many New Yorkers because of its implication the police officers believed they deserved special treatment... The indictments may jeopardize thousands of other cases in which implicated officers are important witnesses and may be seen as untrustworthy by Bronx juries.”
That police lie on the witness stand is not exactly a surprise. And from ticket fixing to much worse is evidently not so big a leap.
“...accusations that officers brought illegal firearms, slot machines, and black market cigarettes into New York City... that Officer [name withheld] allowed a friend... to sell drugs... .an officer caught in a sting transporting...heroin and stealing $20,000 from a hotel room.”
Professor Eugene J. O’Donnell, John Jay College if Criminal Justice: “The Police Department is a very angry work force.... it translates into hostile interactions with people.”
Mob-like behavior in the courthouse was rationalized by Chief Raymond W. Kelly, “I think it’s understandable that officers rally round when there’s a time of trouble.” He did not tell it like it is. It’s a crisis for which he is responsible. Police training evidently does not prepare them for their heavy responsibilities.
“All the officers charged... are either current or past union [Patrolmen’s Benevolent Asso] delegates or trustees... Prosecutors found ticket fixing to be so extensive that they considered charging the union under the state racketeering law as a criminal enterprise.”
To have a part of the U.S. policed by an occupying army makes it worse off than Iraq, for at least Iraq can look forward to the day when the occupying army leaves. The Bronx cannot.
To read the NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/29/nyregion/
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