Justin Fenton reportsin the Sun: A city police commander has been reinstated for active duty after being cleared of wrongdoing in a probe into text messages he exchanged with a community activist who was being sought on a warrant and later allegedly stabbed his wife to death. … The Police Department intends to address “procedural issues” with how the warrant…
The End of a Glorious Tradition?
Now I haven’t witnessed this first hand, but it’s no great secret in the police world that every now and then somebody very troublesome may be picked up and dropped off far from home. Alas, this glorious police tradition may be on the way out, at least in Baltimore. Such is the usual fate in the light of media publicity.…
Another gun prevents another crime
This time in New York. The fallacy of gun-control (and I say this as a supporter of gun control) is that it never answers the question: how do you get the gun out of the hands of the criminal? Passing more feel-good laws is not the answer. Laws don’t make you safer. You need observanceof laws. And criminals are not…
In the Weezee Heezee
Can I just say I can’t believe that we have a president of the United States who dares to say, even in jest:, “In the Heezee. Waz’ up!” I love it. And if you think Obama is “unpresidential,” go back and look at Bush looking under the table [at 5:10 and 5:55] for non-existent weapons of mass destruction. Still think…
Gun Prevents Crime
Sometimes they do. Hey, I’m just trying to be fair and balanced. It’s one of those nasty character flaws of liberals like me–the desire to see all sides of a issue even if it doesn’t support their position. The story from WSBTV in College Park, Georgia: Bailey said he thought it was the end of his life and the lives…
Drug Decriminalization in Portugal
If you have an hour-plus to spare, listen to Glenn Greenwald talk about Portugal’s experience with drug decriminalization since 2001. Here’s a link to the video and also a downloadable audio podcast. Under Portugal’s new regime, people found guilty of possessing small amounts of drugs are sent to a panel consisting of a psychologist, social worker and legal adviser for…
Tasing Naked Man
A man at a concert, probably tripping, is naked. He ends of getting tased. I’m generally against the use of tasers. And I particularly oppose the use of tasers as a compliance device. Especially when the suspect is unarmed. Even more so when the suspect is unarmed, naked, and there are three burly officers involved. And yet, I think this…
Judge Rules L.A. Police Must Be Paid For Dressing Time
I think all employees should be paid to put on work clothes, if it’s part of the job. Here’s the story in the L.A. Times. I wonder if I’m eligible for back pay from my time in Baltimore?
Maximum Enjoyment
I just finished reading Maximum City by Suketu Mehta. Best book I’ve read in a while. Non-fiction book about the city of Bombay. Great arm-chair traveling. But some good deep insight, too (and a fair amount about the Mumbai police, too). I loved it.
This Stephen Morgan is not a murderer!
This mild-mannered Stephen Morgan lives a quiet professorial life in Ithaca with his wife and kids (at least that is what he tells me). This Stephen Morgan is a grad-school friend of mine and was nice enough to invite me to speak at Cornell University last month. Some of his best friends are Jews. And I saw no homicidal tendencies.…