Policing in America 2020

Is it safe to police America's big cities?

A couple of days ago I borrowed a graphic I found posted on LinkedIn by another retired captain, "Get Out Of Jail Free" card. Those who are familar with the "Monopoly Game" will be familiar with this card from the popular board game.  It was funny at first and got a chuckle out of a number of people.  I posted the graphic on social media and everyone enjoyed how much this joke seriously reflected real life.

Yet New York Democrat legislators buoyed by the fact they just won a stinging majority in the NYS Senate, once the bastion of Republicans, gathered in jubilant victory in Albany to show all New Yorkers their radical progressive agenda.  You could laugh this off and say we told you so, but each of you needs to feel and hear the pain this causes for your fellow New Yorkers.  How New York State releases criminals only to be picked up by Federal authorities later on.  How New York State ignores the mental health crisis hitting our streets and how every member of society is at risk because of it.  Monsey, NY another example where the home of a jewish rabbi was invaded over the holiday and a very sick, mentally ill man who struck guests with a machete was in the making for years, but largely ignored by the NYS Legislature.  How a young boy in park playing basketball is shot and killed and it becomes just another number in the end of year homicide  count. How a young Laurelton man would be walking today if only the police enforced the noise code in the 105th Precinct.  Instead, a bullet found his spine after the police were rebuffed the first time and second radio run found this Laurelton man laying face down on the ground with a bullet in his back.  This victims dilemma was a policy change by the NYC Mayor.  Thank you Bill deBlasio.  The stories of the innocent and the fallen like Liu, Ramos, Moore, and others goes on and on.  They are all are victims of a political system where 75% of the voters couldn't give a damn.

This all started with Mark Weprin and the Community Safety Act.  Few will remember, but it was the moment when then City Councilman Weprin did a 180 on Law Enforcement and voted yes to usher in the progressive wing of the New York City Council.  A day some of us will never forget.

Police Officer Eddie Byrne gave his life for our city which was the turning point for crime control in NYC.  Just as New Yorkers reached beyond 2000 murders a year.  As one police officer after the next

was cut down in the streets crime, disorder and fear was aggressively addressed.  Some of us will never forget.  For Cuomo, deBlasio the City Council its the politics of the moment, for the families of the fallen its the story of their lives.  Mark Weprin left public service mid term to work for a Law Firm so he could pay for good schools for his children.  We wish him and his family well.  However, the stain of his time at the NYC Council will be never be forgotten and when New Yorkers tire of the bodies piling up again they too will call upon the NYPD and ask them once again to shoulder the responsibility of bringing crime, disorder and fear under control.  The price NYPD will pay for this effort will not come for free and not without more families shattered.

We vote Republican for many different reasons as individuals.  As a club we vote Republican because we understand broken windows works, the responsiblity of not only joining together with the community in unity to make our streets safe but also to hold residents accountable to a standard of behavior which makes us a free people.  Please remember voting matters and elections have consequences.

Intolerant NYC Council Successfully Handcuffs NYPD - resulting in the return of Crime, Disorder and Fear to the streets of NYC

What's surprising is the NYC Council members don't want to own the result of their actions in passing the NYC Community Safety Act of 2013. In our Queens District, City Council Member Mark Weprin needs to take ownership for a law he personally shepherded into NYC. He and others have now reintroduced Crime, Disorder and Fear on the streets of NYC. The City Council passed this law against the advice and experience of every level of Law Enforcement in NYC - 500 years of experience. But Mark Weprin and the City Council knew better and now they own the results.

Members of the police department have heard him and others in the City Council loud and clear. Police Officers in NYC will be sued personally, their families, homes and incomes placed in legal jeopardy should someone "feel" their rights have been violated.

As we stated in our campaign for City Council with historic low voter turnout and we'll state again here for the record: those least capable of representing themselves, protecting themselves would be hurt first, the poorest of NYC. It pains me greatly to see the crime stats and headlines come true. But it was a predictable reality.

Now the NYC Council needs to take ownership for a VERY BAD law who only lawyers could draw up under a crafty title of Community Safety Act. Very crafty, very tricky, but it is now a loss leader for all who live in NYC.

Stop, Question and Frisk was not a legal problem in NYC, it was very much a management issue. Now the City Council and Mark Weprin own the result. Yes, I'm pushing it because kids just don't deserve the harshness which City Council members just don't seem to get. I take no pleasure in being right, I am sick over the headlines and predictable results.

Shame on the NYC Council for failing to do the hard work in the first instance and that's hold NYPD to account for training and discipline in oversight and hearings. For failing to talk it out with borough and precinct level commanders. For failing to properly educate the public on the real issues.  For the poorer communities of NYC its not about the quality of life, its about surrivial.  

The next time you send the kids out to get ice cream remember the little boy in East New York.  Think hard about who you vote for, elections have consequences.  The security of the people is job one of any elected official.  Failure to provide that blanket of security not withstanding all of the problems should be a basis for forfeiture of office.

Sad, very, very sad, I am distressed for the parents who now have to bury their children. Just incredible....and yes very preventable.  This isn't a Police Department problem, its a failure of leadership by our elected officials right here in NYC.  Hell bent on doing anything they can to get re-elected.


LINKS:

Patrol Borough Brooklyn North

75th Precinct