Happy Memorial Day

It is the 
VETERAN, 
not the preacher, 
who has given us freedom of religion. 

It is 
the  VETERAN, 
not the reporter, 
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is 
the  VETERAN, 
not the poet, 
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is 
the  VETERAN, 
not the campus organizer, 
who has given us freedom to assemble. 


It is 
the VETERAN, 
not the lawyer, 
who has given us the right to a fair trial. 



It is 
the  VETERAN, 
not the politician, 
Who has given us the right to vote. 

It is the 
VETERAN who 
salutes the Flag, 

It is 
the 
VETERAN
who serves 
under the Flag,

My thanks go to all who have honorably served. 

RIP Gary Coleman

Child actor Gary Coleman, dead at 42. 

Eight Men Out

When I got home this morning after a long, boring, rainy night shift, I turned on the TV and saw that Eight Men Out, the movie about the 1919 Chicago "Black" Sox Baseball team that intentionally lost the World Series, was on.  Being a baseball fan, and not quite tired enough to sleep, I kept it on.  For those readers that are not familiar with the history, in 1919, gamblers persuaded eight members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox baseball team to throw the World Series.  These team members supposedly received payoffs to not play up to their capability.  Most famous among the eight men out was "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.  Jackson was reportedly paid $5000 to throw the series; however,  his batting average was the highest of all players in the series and he made no errors in the field.  Regardless, he was named as one of the eight players who participated in the conspiracy, and he, along with the other seven, was banned from baseball forever.

As soon as the movie was over, I checked the Daily Local's website, as I normally do once or twice a day.  I saw that the "Breaking News" was that a Kennett Square police officer was arrested on rape charges.  I couldn't help but draw parallels.   Let me say this:   If the officer is guilty, I make no excuses for him.  If he is not guilty, I hope that the imperfect system we put out trust in does him justice.  I also wish the best for the victim(s). 

Regardless of the final verdict, people will look at the Kennett Square Police and police in general as untrustworthy, corrupt, criminal, unprofessional, etc.  People will be angry, confused, disappointed, and upset.  I stress to whoever reads this blog that even if the worst is true in this particular case, that it is the EXCEPTION to the rule.  If the allegations are true, the officer in question did a great disservice to the 99.9% of officers that are good people.  Good police do not tolerate bad police.  The rotten apple does spoil the bunch.  We are aware of that.  When the rotten apples are identified, they are removed before the bunch spoils.  If any good comes from these instances, it is that people can see that good police do not tolerate bad police.

As bad a mark as the Black Sox scandal made on baseball, it is still America's Pastime.  Americans still delight in a night at the ballpark.  Likewise, as bad a mark as cases like these leave of the law enforcement profession, the profession can still be trusted.

Time For a Funny Story

A few weeks ago, I was giving a tour of the police station to a group of Cub Scouts.  There were 8 or 10 kids and some parents.  The tour starts at the front of the building, where the dispatch area is.   Most kids like the dispatch room because there are computer screens, radios, and tv screens all over. One of the jobs of the dispatcher is to monitor any prisoners that are locked up via closed circuit tv. As the group was filing into dispatch, an officer was lodging a prisoner in the cell block. I pointed out the tv screen that showed the prisoner and explained to the kids that the dispatcher had to watch the prisoner to make sure that the prisoner didn't damage anything or hurt himself. Just as the kids' attention turned to the screen, the prisoner unzipped his pants and began to urinate in the commode! Of course, the one loud kid in the group announced it to everybody and all of the kids were looking. The dispatcher turned bright red and did her best to cover the large screen with her hands.  The parents thought it was pretty funny too.

Let's Stop "Stop Snitching"

The "Stop Snitching" culture has gotten out of control.  Music videos, movies, television shows, and music have, over the last several years, fostered the myth that to tell truth is to be a snitch, and to be a snitch is the worst thing to be.  I  can quickly think of a dozen movies that strongly promote an "anti-snitch" ideal.  Today people who cooperate with police are snitches.  They used to be called rats, stool pigeons, or narcs.  All of these labels are meant to dishonor those who cooperate with police.  In fact, I can't think of much that is more honorable than cooperating with the law.  Its what we're supposed to do. 

But where does "stop snitching" leave law enforcement?  The bottom line is that when the police investigate crimes, we need witnesses.  That's how the system works.  When witnesses refuse to cooperate, bad guys get away with their bad doings.  When witnesses don't cooperate, whether due to a threat, perceived threat, or simply fear of cooperating, the cycle continues.  To me, those who intimidate witnesses and those who promote the "stop snitching" myth are cowards, plain and simple.   

Upper Darby Police Officer Shot

Story here at The Daily Local News:  Local Police Officer Shot

My best wishes go to Officer Raymond Blohm of the Upper Darby Police Department and his family.  According to the news reports and the press release from UDPD, Ray Blohm was shot by a coward after Officer Blohm stopped him for smoking pot and drinking in public.  Rather than face the consequences, this guy chooses to pull out a gun and shoot the police officer 4 times.  The heroics of the officer can't be over-emphasized.  After being shot multiple times and after his police radio was destroyed by an errant bullet, he shot the bad guy back, chased him down, and called for assistance via his own cell phone.  My thanks and admiration go to Raymond Blohm.

My utter disgust goes out to the as of now nameless waste of space and air that chose to assault the officer.  Unfortunately, instances like these are a reminder to me, my family, and the law enforcement family at large of this simple fact: There are evil people in this world.  These people play by different rules, and they put good people in danger. The pessimist in me wonders how many thousands of dollars the government will waste paying for medical treatment, rehabilitation, etc. for this ne'er-do-well, who will undoubtedly spend months in treatment at a first rate hospital followed by years at a prison that is far too comfortable, and far less punitive.

Oh, and before we have to hear the stories of how bad this person's childhood was, and what emotional syndrome, disease, condition or whatever that he suffers from, I ask this of my readers:  Does any of it matter?  If the facts reported in the paper are accurate, there is nothing that you can say to me that will minimize the shooter's culpability or responsibility.   He shot a police officer who was confronting him about smoking weed and drinking in public.  End of story.

The citizens of Upper Darby should be proud of Officer Raymond Blohm.  I know I am.

What Being A Police Officer Has Taught Me

I've been desperately searching the headlines for a topic for my next post, but I've been striking out.  I mean, who wants to hear my opinion on oil leaks in the Gulf of Mexico or what I think Arlen Specter's odds or re-election are.  So, with that in mind, I've decided to give my readers (both of them!) insight into the mind of this police officer.  I've been a police officer for slightly over a decade.  (sounds better than ten years, right?)  In that time, here are some of my opinions that have changed.

• I am no longer an opponent of The Death Penalty.  Through college and for my first several years in law enforcement I could cite any one of a number of reasons why I thought capital punishment should be abolished.  Now, I need look no further than the City of Philadelphia to find four or five good reasons to support the death penalty.  It's become a no brainer to me - murder a police officer -- death penalty.

• I don't think it society's job to "rehabilitate" criminals.  If someone chooses to commit a crime, why should taxpayers be burdened with 1) picking up the bill for their incarceration, 2) picking up the bill for a prisoner's GED or other training, and 3) suffer the victimization again when the prisoner gets released, because yes, most prisoners, regardless of what "training" they received in prison, go on to commit more crimes.

• Police officers are just people.  We are not perfect.  We are capable of making mistakes.  When Bob the builder makes an honest mistake, your new roof leaks.  You get it repaired, Bob the builder stands up for his work and fixes the repair, and you move on.  When the dry cleaner makes a mistake, he loses your shirt, he apologizes,  you get a 10 free dry cleanings, and you move on.  But when the police officer makes a mistake, he's a liar, a cheat, and corrupt.  

But, not all that I've learned is negative and pessimistic.  I've learned that most people are genuinely good.  While there are truly evil people in the world, they are the minority.  I've also learned what melatonin supplements are for.  I've learned how to function on 2 hours of sleep.  I've learned how to eat an entire meal in three minutes.  I've learned how to really appreciate good coffee.  I've learned the importance of seatbelts.  I could go on but I won't.

That's all I got for now...

Thank you PO John Pawlowski, Sgt Timothy Simpson, Sgt Patrick McDonald, PO Isabel Nazario, Sgt Steven Liczbinski, PO Chuck Cassidy, PO Walter Barclay Jr, PO Gary Skerski, and all the other men and women who have given their lives in the line of duty.