Police

The Company of Others

When I was a cop in Baltimore, I kind of assumed I was the only active police officer going for a PhD at one fo them fancy graduate schools. I wasn’t. I’ve also assumed I’m the only former Baltimore police officer to write a book based on time in the Eastern District. I’m not. I’m not certain why I only…

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Police

Embrace the Right

At the closing of Obama’s inauguration, Joseph Lowery said these controversial words: “We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right.” Often, I…

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Police

Undercover danger

The Sunreportsthat the wounded officer arrested the same defendant in 2007. That’s scary. It’s much harder for a police officer to remember everybody he’s arrested than it is for a criminal to remember the person who arrested him. It’s just a question of numbers, like it’s easier for students to remember their teacher’s name than vice versa. It’s also why…

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Police

Murder Factory

Now here’s some good investigating journalism from Tony Rizzo and the Kansas City Star. Local zip code 64130 is featured in a series called “Murder Factory.” These eight square miles were home to 101 convicted murderers incarcerated in Missouri prisons.

Police

No Sh*t

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports: “New Orleans breeds bold killers: half of murders occur in daytime.” Duh. Three ace reporters have bylines on this story. Didn’t it occur to one of them to compare their stats with other cities? They report: “About half of last year’s 179 murders in New Orleans occurred in daylight,” which is defined as between 6am…

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Police

Real Money

According the Harvard Economist Jeffrey Miron, legalizing drugs could inject$76.8 billionper year into the US economy. Oh well, maybe it’s better to keep spending that money on courts and prisons. It’s not like the economy needs a boost or anything. Read Miron’s report here.

Police

Decriminalization versus regulation

There tends to more talk about drug “decriminalization” than legalization. What’s the difference? Decriminalization is “safer.” But it’s not enough. It can even do harm. I talk about this a bit in my book. In general, legalization involves regulation while decriminalization is set up around lessgovernment control. I believe that many drugs are too dangerous to remain unregulated. Hence I…

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Police

On backup

Check the Sun for the latest update on the shot Baltimore City police officer. This has got me thinking about when things go bad. If an officer needs backup, well first he or she shouldn’t have to askfor backup, because, well, that’s what being police is all about. You’ve got each others’ back. But if you would actually like an…

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Police

Update on shot cop

Here’s the latest form the Sun: The officer was shot in the jaw and cheek when he tried to make an undercover purchase, Bealefeld said. His partner returned fire and hit at least one of the suspects, according to police. As the suspects fled, the second officer helped his wounded partner, who was conscious and speaking after the shooting. He…

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