Police

The Elusive Search for “Mr. Kingpin”

The LA Times reports that the ATF Director is expected to resign over the “Fast and Furious” gun program. It sure does seem a little strange for law enforcement to watch guns being sold to criminals and not acting. The operation marked a rare instance in which ATF agents allowed guns to “walk” into the hands of criminals, ostensibly with…

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Police

“Not enough room to swing a cat”

I just received an email with a subject line that baffled me: “Enough room to swing a cat.” I’ve actually heard that absurd expression, which as far as I knew, came (at least in print) from Mark Twain. I was introduced to the phrase by a Russian translator in Moscow circa 1991 who liked to show off his learned “colloquial”…

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Police

Drug Dealers vs. Business

[I just stumbled across this postfrom 2008 and rather liked it (if I do say so myself). I don’t really remember writing it. And since I don’t remember writing it, I figure you don’t remember reading it! So here it is again:] A liquor store in Baltimore is being forced to close because a man was killed there and drug…

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Police

In Salon

Here’s an interview about flogging featured in Salon.com.

Police

The Voices Grow Louder: End the Drug War

Jimmy Carter writes in the New York Times. And Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle tells it like it is. And before you dismiss a Cook County Board President, consider that Cook County (Chicago) is larger than some 30 states. And in the article there are some very good words from the new Chicago Police Superintendent, Garry McCarthy (whom I’ve…

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Police

Perpetual Peonage?

“I crave felicity…. I’m in a state of peonage that seems perpetual.” Whoa. Is this really how outlaw cowboys talk? Who doesn’t crave felicity? I’ve just never put it quite like that.

Police

Moskos is 1 and 0!

And he has a 0.79 ERA in 13 games! Moskos is young, but damn good. Daniel Moskos, that is (no relation).