So says Steven Levitt (of Freakonomics fame) about me and my book in his Freakonomics blog in the New York Times. And for that, I can only thank God. But I’m pleased that Levitt liked my book. Much less scintillating than a book by Whitey Bulger’s right-hand man? I should hope so. I was just a poor beat cop in…
Still more police killed in Mexico drug raid
Duncan Kennedy writes in the BBC: Seven policemen have been killed and four injured in Mexico’s latest incident of drug-related violence. The officers were killed during a raid on a home in Culiacan, in north-west Mexico, police said. Arriving at the house to search for weapons and drugs, police were fired upon and a grenade was thrown at them.
Officer Pete says (rule 15):
If you’re going to get arrested, try and wear warm clothes. It’s cold in jail. And no, you can’t bring your cigarettes.
More on the Mexican drug war
Despite obvious failure, the Mexican president has vowed to “stay the course” of drug prohibition. As if he were standing in front of a “Mission Accomplished” banner, President Calderón says the murder of Police Commissioner Millán, is a sign of government success against the drug cartel. He’s full of shit. James McKinley Jr. writes the story in the New York…
Officer Pete says (rule 16):
I know he says he loves you, but he says that to all his girlfriends.
Officer Pete says (rule 17):
I know she says she loves you, but you have a job and a paycheck.
Is foot patrol right for you?
Foot patrol may not be right for everyone. How do you know if foot patrol is right for you and your neighborhood? Ask your mailman. If your mail is delivered in a cart pushed by a walking mailman or woman, police should be on foot. If your mail is delivered by truck, foot patrol may not be right for you.…
Policing Green
Cops want more money. Citizens want more foot patrol. We can have both. I call it “Policing Green.” Give cops the gas money for their shift if they agree to patrol without a car for that shift. The environmental link is mostly just a clever title to sell the idea, but it really would be green and save gas. At…
Overdose deaths
In 2007, 235 Baltimore residents overdosed. The story in the Sunis here. Interestingly (and surprisingly), 74 of those were from methadone. I don’t quite understand the point of methadone. If it’s addictive and you can die from it, why not just give junkies heroin?