Police

The Dumbest Criminal?

Is this man the dumbest criminal in Pennsylvania? There’s so much competition. Here’s the story in the BBC: Retired police chief John Comparetto was attending the meeting of 300 officers when he was allegedly held up at gunpoint in the men’s toilets. … He described the suspect as “probably the dumbest criminal in Pennsylvania”. The suspect said, “I’m smooth.”

Police

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.

Police

Harlem Shootings (III)

Seems like you’ve officially entered the blogosphere when you’re quoted in other blogs. More on the Harlem shootings at Gothamistand NYC The Blog and great pictures at Harlem Hybrid. Seems like my initial report of 14 guns and 7 shot was right on the mark (at the time I hedged the shooting number with “give or take one or two”).…

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Police

Harlem shootings (II)

I did find this buried in the Daily News. Maybe it’s all about location. Location, location, location. Or, as they said in The Wire, “wrong zip code.” The newspaper headline is “Fatal Gunfire on Westside.” One man was shot and killed. Then in the last paragraph it says this: The slaying came after a chaotic night in uptown Manhattan. Six…

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Police

7 shot in Harlem isn’t news

One of my students told me that police took 14 guns off the streets of Harlem last night. This after the annual African-American Day Parade. Seven people were shot (give or take one or two). This isn’t in any of today’s papers. Say what?! The parade ended in the afternoon. The tough kids come out at night. Between 11pm and…

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Police

Crime Platforms: Dems For Aiding Cops, GOP Tough Enforcement

Copied from Crime & Justice News: The Democratic Party platform includes a four- paragraph section on criminal justice focusing principally on support for local law enforcement and ending violence against women, says the National Criminal Justice Association, which represents states and localities in Washington, D.C. The platform says, “We will reverse the policy of cutting resources for the brave men…

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Police

My Take on Commissionar Ed Norris

Why beat around the bush? Here’s what I think about Ed Norris as commissioner. Like I already wrote: I think he was a good commissioner. Not as good a commissioner as hethinks he is, but then who is? I think he was better than the guy that came before and the guy that after him. When Norris came in, the…

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Police

Gun Control

If you really hate guns and can’t stand gun ownership (I hate guns but canunderstand gun ownership), then you should take some solace in the fact that guns are used in suicide more than homicide and accidents put together. About 55% of our 31,000 annual gun deaths are suicide.