Police

Baltimore To End Year With Fewest Murders In Two Decades

Justin Fenton writes in the Sun. This is great news. But one thing is very curious: The city’s Western District, for example, where nearly 90 people were killed in 1992, recorded 23 homicides in 2008. It has not recorded fewer than 32 homicides in a year since at least 1970. But the Western District is also emblematic of the past…

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Police

The Best Christmas Present Ever

Cop in the Hood, naturally. (Did you expect me to say anything different?) I’ll be on vacation for two weeks. There may be post or two… but don’t hold your breath. More in 2009… Till then, stay safe.

Police

That Christmas Spirit

I’m not one to give dumb crime fighting tips, but keep this in mind: even criminals need to buy presents. The week before Christmas is always a busy time for police, with extra muggings and robberies.

Police

Getting away with murder

A jury in Brooklyn on Wednesday night acquitted one of three mencharged in the fatal shooting of Police Officer Russel Timoshenko of murder charges.

Police

Work Dreams (II)

I went through my field notes. My first dream in which I was in uniform happened about four months into the police academy. But it wasn’t a bad dream. But then about a year after that, after about 10 months on the streets of the Eastern, I wrote this: Had another bad cop dream. Somebody told me that this guy…

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Police

Work dreams

One thing I hated about being a cop was having work dreams. I mean, I still have them. Don’t we all? But now my dreams are occasionally about being late for class, or unable to get my things together and leave home (the latter happens quite often in real life as well). Whatever, dude. So I’m late. Teaching dreams aren’t…

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Police

Here’s to Officer Walter Fahey

The Boston Globehad a nice tribute to Boston Police Officer Walter Fahey, who died in October. [Update: I just received a very gracious email from Walter Fahey’s son. He mentions this piece in particular as capturing the spirit of his father. As my father wrote before he recently passed away: We shall never see their likes again.]

Police

Guns and violence

I’m too swamped with final papers right now to give this the justice it deserves (But I will give this link to other posts on gun control). I’m sure some of you might have some thoughts on this email I just received. Please comment and discuss. I live in VT which has very liberal (ha ha) gun laws. I’m not…

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