The big police news of the week is probably the police-involved shooting of 22-year-old Oscar Grant (a black man) at a Bart Station in Oakland. Riotshave followed. I hate riots and those who justify them. Like there’s any justification to bust up a hair salon called “African Braids”. And here’s to Oscar Grant’s mother, Wanda Johnson. She is quotedas saying:…
Category: Police
Robbery suspect shot dead
I think the most amazing thing is that he kept the cigarette in his mouth the whole time! Pictures are here.
I’m back!
After a pleasant tour of Santa Cruz, San Francisco, a long and nice train ride to Chicago. 55 hours, but in a sleeper car. After all, what could be finer than dinner in the diner (actually 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts, and 3 lunches)? The train through Colorado is beautiful. But rural Illinois makes me the Chicago snob in me shudder.…
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…
Will Obama Legalize Marijuana?
No. But still, read this piece by John H. Richardson from Esquire.com.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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…