October 30, 1998---At a time when we think that no one really cares if a cop lives or dies (except the politicians, but for different reasons), it nice to see something in print that puts a cop's job in the proper prospective and takes the current headlines and shows them for what they are.The John Glenn "payback-for-helping-Clinton" flight into outer space is compared to something we are all to familiar with, by a previously referred to Jonah Goldberg of National Review:
"Even considering his age, this trip is a bus ride compared to his truly heroic accomplishment last time. Sure, this launch involves personal bravery and all that stuff. But far less so than what a fireman musters every time he goes into a burning building or a policeman into a dark alley."It's nice to hear that sometimes the job is acknowledged for what it really is.
October 25, 1998---Well-known TV host, Clinton apologist, and former East Harlem gang member and spokesman, Geraldo Rivera, hosted a "police brutality" special on NBC tonight. In this particular show, Rivera told both sides of specific alledged brutality incidents in the City of Philadelphia. One story of an officer's being dragged at high-speed while his hand was caught in the back door of a fleeing car, neccessitating the firing of shots by the cop and the death of one of the occupants, was particularly horrific. And, of course, everyone that did battle with the cops was an altar boy at one time, and a pillar of the community. Rivera also rode with some of the cops he interviewed to a few gun runs. This show was intermingled with interviews with the un-constitutional head (having never been confirmed by the US Senate, as required by the Constitution) of the United States Justice Department Civil Rights Division, Bill Lan Lee, who tried to justify the Justice Department "takeover" of the Philadelphia PD because of the complaints by the relatives of those who dragged cops with their cars, and other assaults on police. Ironically, at the same time on the cable Discovery Channel, an in-depth story about Police SWAT Team Members was very good. However, Prosay found this overdose of reality a little too much, and elected to watch the Simpson's Holloween Special on the Fox Network instead.
October 20, 1998---Would the PBA please read the papers and find out just who is on whose side? Today, there are two stories out that make the PBA legal staff look like Prime Minister Chamberlain of England before WWII. "Peace in our time..." crowed the Prime Minister, just before Hitler aimed his bombs at London. In the column, "One Police Plaza" there is a story of how ACLU Executive Director Norman Siegel is befriended by PBA lawyer Greg Longworth at a class taught by Siegel at his alma mater, New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn. All that is needed here is for Longworth and Siegel to join hands and sing, "We Are The World." Then, in a story by the Associated Press on the same day, Siegel calls the NYPD "confrontational" in regards to the illegal demonstration in Midtown Manhattan at the height of rush hour by gay rights supporters. What would have happened if Siegel had used those words about the NYPD in the class with Longworth standing there? Would Greg become "confrontational" and defend the actions of his clients, or would he nod his head up and down to show how "non-confrontational" he could be? Let's not be fooled into believing that the ACLU took Joe Locurto's case out of the goodness of their hearts. There is an obvious political benefit to the ACLU whether or not Joe ever goes back to the job. Prosay knows the ties between lawyers are tight (tighter than they are with cops---afterall, you don't see lawyers turning in other lawyers to the Bar Association for malfeasance), but would someone tell Longworth just what side his bread is buttered on, please?
October 16, 1998---Amnesty International's report on police brutality in the USA is out. It can be found at their Web Site. Prosay started to read it, but finally realized that most, if not all, of this report is taken from newspaper reports of the few incidents cited. A.I. conveniently left out information and evidence for some of the incidents that would have explained the actions of the police officers involved...much like the press does when it needs a quote from Al Sharpton. But if memory serves Prosay right, this isn't the first attempt by A.I. at making US law enforcement look like a bunch of Third World lunatics. They tried to do one specifically on the NYPD. That last attempt was laughed at and ignored by police bosses and most politicians. Let's hope they do the same with this one.
October 13, 1998---Our "favorite" ex-mayor, Ed Koch came out on his radio program today, trying to explain why it's important to have special laws covering so-called "hate" crimes, which requires the prosecution to determine what a perp was thinking when he stole the pocketbook of a (gay, black, Jewish--pick one, or all of the above) old lady. One caller told Koch that there seemed to be a violation of the US Constitution with these "hate" crimes (which Prosay agrees with), in that it gave greater "protection under the law" to selected groups. Koch then went on to say that it was in "the best interests of society" to have some people treated more equal than others, by saying, "How can a black mother protect her child from a RACIST COP..." if there weren't special laws? Koch immediately realized his stupidity, and began explaining that, "not all cops are racists; I'm a supporter of the cops; I'm a friend of the cops...etc." But, according to "Mr. Ed," special Federal laws are needed to protect ALL black children from a handful of admitted racist cops, and to show that any cop that gets involved with a minority person maybe, in fact, a racist (like they tried to make ex-Detective MARK FUHRMAN of the LAPD out to be). On each program, Koch shows how big his ego is, and his wish that he was still mayor, and tries to be the best politician around. Unfortunately for Ed, it don't work. Remember Ed, as they say in Texas political circles, "The only things you see in the 'middle of the road' are yellow lines and dead armadillos." (To see what others think of "hate crimes," read "I Hate 'Hate Crimes'" by Jonah Goldberg in National Review)
October 5, 1998---Today's issue of "One Police Plaza" has a follow-up to its story about Brooklyn DA Charles "Joe" Hynes' "declining prosecution" of a politically heavy member of the Jewish community in Brooklyn, ostensibly because Hynes didn't want to alienate the Jewish community during Hynes' failed run for Governor (see "Previous Newsnotes" below). It turns out that maybe our Detective Ryan's many witnesses are more valid now that Hynes lost the Democrat primary. According to the "1 PP" column, Hynes has the troops out looking for the same perp now to be rearrested on the same charges Ryan brought the perp in for. Needless to say, the perp is in the wind...
