Mar 10, 2009

NYPD NYFD Overtime: Well Done, Chaps!

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I suppose some of the police managers in the world might not like my attitude here (hell, some of you might not either) but I say “Nice Work!” to the men and women in New York for their recent accomplishments with overtime.  Are you joking me?  $1 BILLION???

Large or small, east or west, all of us are looking to cut costs these days.  I have a good idea for the Big Apple bean counters who will undoubtedly lament this grand figure.  Why don’t you pay those public servants a decent living wage?  Then they wouldn’t have to work so much overtime.  I suspect those very same politicians who will scream at this number like it just the way it is.  Why?

Because if a cop works double time and makes lots of OT cash, he or she still only gets ONE pension and ONE set of benefits.  Cheaper to pay cops 30K and work them into the ground.  So forgive me if I chuckle at those extra checks and how much they help a copper or a fireman with the family budget.  The city is getting what they want, too.

 

Mar 10, 2009

My Opinion On The Seattle Video

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Wow, this really worked out well. Last week I decided to let all of you comment on a video before I did. The response was wonderful: Lots of different opinions, and all well articulated. As promised, here is my take:

1. I never judge a video on its face. Never. I don’t care how good it looks, there could be some misconduct there. I don’t care how bad it looks, there are things we might not know.

2. Based only on the video, there are some good things and some bad things about the deputies’ actions.

GOOD: It seems like she kicked one shoe at them. No need to take a second one, so some sort of ballistic take down is probably okay.

ALSO GOOD: It seems like she is not compliant on the ground, so as bad as they look, the punches might be in policy in many large police agencies.

BAD: I have never understood picking someone up by the hair. If she is non-compliant there are wonderful techniques to do so. If she is violent, leave her on the floor for goodness sake. No reason for that, except anger and loss of temper.

ALSO BAD: I am not a custody expert, but have worked a bit in that environment. If, as the news said, this is a Sheriff’s department, I am guessing there were more deputies not that far away. Why not wait for help and do a proper “team” takedown and securing of this suspect? I know I always try and separate the officer who is angry from the suspect and let others deal with him or her.

So, while it is human nature to lose it once and a while, this was not a great video for the police. Take the suspect down for kicking the shoe (to protect from another such kick) and then cuff her. Call for backup once she is cuffed, and then have a new team lift her up.

Again, this is making a multitude of assumptions, such as the availability of backup, my guessing what preceded the video, etc.

Overall the most important thing is to remember never to judge completely based on what you see in one video clip. It simply cannot tell the whole story.

 

Mar 4, 2009

Lisker Will Be Free / A Lesson For Cops Everywhere

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I have spent some time doing investigations.  I learned that one of the risks in any investigative assignment is to “buy in” far too quickly.  What I mean by that is as a detective, there comes a point where we decide who we think committed the crime.  It has to be that way, or we could never solve a thing!

However, you can be too zealous, and risk missing some basic pieces to the puzzle.  And this story out of Los Angeles shows that the results can be tragic.  It is a bit wordy, but spend a minute and read it over.  There seems no dispute at this point that Lisker did not kill his mother.  He has been in prison for 25 years!  That means he has been in prison for 25 years knowing, each dark night and each lonely day, that he is not guilty.

I cannot think of a greater torture to the mind or the soul.  I hope he can forgive.  I doubt he can forget.  I demand that all of us in the law enforcement profession learn from the sloppy, careless, mindless mistakes made on this case.  I love to put people in jail, I really do.  But I would have trouble living with myself if this had been my case.  What do you think?

 

Mar 3, 2009

Seattle Police Use Force On Girl – What Do You Think?

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[17] Comments 

I have been waiting for a new controversial video to test out a theory of mine.  It struck me a while back that I always offer my opinion in a post about a “hot” topic, and then ask for yours.  Well that doesn’t seem fair.  If this is truly to be a conversation, then I figure you deserve the first, not just the last, word.  So, here goes.  What do you think of this video?


I will sort through the comments for a while and then offer my opinion later…

 

Mar 3, 2009

Not Everyone Is A Fan

Posted by philosophicalcop under police
[7] Comments 

I recently received the thoughtful verse below.  It is a good reminder that not everyone is a fan, and we should all be alert and remain vigilant.  If you want to see my response, check out the “about me” page.

I really do mean it when I say that all opinions are welcome…

Cops are anti-liberty, why else would they become pigs?
Pigs follow orders like the Concentration Camp prison guards.
Pigs are the enemy of freedom, this is why they prey on the helpless and try to intimidate to feeble-minded.
Pigs are called pigs because they act like pigs.
IF you want to play soldier, join up and go see what serving your nation is really all about. It’s really easy to dress in camo and bully an unarmed populace. Go to Iraq, Nazi pig. You have no clue what America is all about so quit your crying when we call you pigs. We’re just stating the facts.

 

Mar 2, 2009

Cops Who Blog

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[2] Comments 

I have posted in a few areas about cops and blogging.  I have also confessed to all of you that I do this as much for myself, as a form of therapy, as I do for the blogosphere.  That is okay, and I believe it makes my posts all the more honest. 

I just ran across an idea I should have thought of at this cool site.  Cops Who Blog is an online community of cop bloggers.  Any one is welcome to look around.  The company, NING, lets you set up your own community, too.  Communities could be formed for knitters, motorcycle owners, or cat lovers, each with a small niche on the net.  Pretty cool. 

Stop by and see what you think, then come back and let me know.

 

Mar 1, 2009

This Is Why I Became A Cop, Not A Web Developer

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I must confess that in the process of making a blog – any blog – you have to learn a bit about web development.   I even take some pride in knowing a tiny little morsel of HTML and CSS code.  Okay, I am a geek.  However, I did manage to completely screw up my subscriptions and RSS feed settings.  Please re-subscribe to either or both if you were previously enjoying PC by email or reader.  I think it is fixed now, but you may have been “un-subscribed.”  How barbaric.

With humble apologies…

 

Feb 26, 2009

I Just Can’t Get Off This Driving Kick

Posted by philosophicalcop under driving safely, line of duty death, police patrol | Tags: , , |
[6] Comments 

I have posted on this before.  If you are a cop (or even if you aren’t), please lord wear your seatbelt.  I just spent some time with the family of an officer killed in a crash.  I frankly don’t know – or want to know – whether he was buckled up.  It doesn’t matter now.  What does matter is that no one I have been partnered with (thank goodness) has been killed by gunfire, knife wounds, or a fight.  I have lost count of colleagues killed in traffic accidents.

I have heard the tactical arguments.  I have thought about how long it takes to get out of the car and start shooting.  I have tried various methods of taking off the belt in a hurry.  In the balance, I would rather live.  And you live by having your seatbelt on.  Period.

Put on your seatbelt.

 

Feb 13, 2009

Petersburg Cop Reunion With Dad – A Feel Good Moment

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It seems that sometimes we have nothing positive to discuss in this space.  Let’s face it, police work can be ugly (see my post on the Fresno arrest).  So I just had to show you this heartwarming reunion.

I mean really, what are the odds?  They happen to be 20 miles apart for years.  Then they happen to become cops.  Then they end up at the same department.  And then – my goodness they could be twins!  Great story…

 

Feb 12, 2009

Ask A Cop – Worth Its Own Blog?

Posted by philosophicalcop under police
[3] Comments 

I get lots and lots of “ask a cop” questions from folks in all sorts of situations.  They have run the gamut from desperate to hilarious.  I was wondering last night:  Is that worth its own blog?  There are some out there, but I guess I could do it with that Philosophical flair.

Do me a favor and leave a comment.  Do you think its worth a separate blog to “Ask the PC a question?”

Thanks…

 

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