Most Dangerous City in U.S. to Lay Off Half It's Cops

In 2009, Camden, New Jersey, had the highest violent crime rate of all cities in the United States.  It's  violent crime rate was nearly five times that of the national average.  To compare, West Chester's violent crime rate is equal to or just slightly higher than the national average.   Coatesville, Chester County's most violent town, statistically speaking, has a violent crime rate just under two times the national average.  (1)  So, to be sure, Camden is in need of some help.

So what are law-makers planning to do to clean up the city?  They are planning to, and have received State approval, to lay off 180 of its police officers.  That number is half of the city's force.  And, since Camden had the highest arson rate of any other city I could find, they decided to lay off about 35% of its firefighters too.

I realize we are in a recession, and that we are in the middle of "tough economic times."  I'm also all for fiscal responsibility.  However, laying off one cop, let alone half of the city's force, just doesn't make any sense.  Once again, way to go politicians!  Congratulations, you're  making a dangerous city more dangerous.  I feel bad for the 180 cops in the city.  I feel even worse for any of the good citizens of Camden, who are being abandoned by their elected officials.

(1) source - http://www.cityrating.com, from data compiled by FBI Uniform Crime Reports

Philly Police Anti-Crime Tactics Under Fire...Again

The Philadelphia Police Department is being sued in Federal Court.  The ACLU (of course) is alleging that the Philly PD "stop and frisk" tactic has resulted in the unfair stopping of racial minorities.  Police leaders have argued that the tactic has reduced crime, and that it does not target any particular race.  To me, this seems to be another case that the ACLU has latched on that will eventually just make the streets less safe for law-abiding citizens.  At what cost, I wonder, does the ACLU do its business?

More coverage here

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you Squanto.

Pennsylvania Self Defense Law Sitting on Governor's Desk

Right next to a cheese steak with extra onions, an ashtray full of cigarette butts, and a glass of scotch sits a bill that has passed though the PA legislature and must be signed by the governor to be made law.  The bill would expand a citizens right to use deadly force in Pennsylvania.  Essentially, right now, current PA law requires that a citizen facing danger first retreat from any danger, if possible, before using deadly force.  The main exception would be in one's own home.  The new law, however, would eliminate the duty to retreat.

Those who appose the new law, which include most police leaders and prosecutors, worry that it would increase violence and promote violence among criminals, or at least make criminal acts of violence more defensible in court.   Outspoken and media-friendly Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman told The Philadelphia Inquirer that she worried about the "level of violence it would authorize on our streets." 

So where do I weigh in on the issue?  Its a tough one.  I do not think that we should pass any law that makes it easier for criminals to be criminals or that makes it easier for criminals to "get away" with crimes, especially crimes of violence.  However, I firmly believe that law abiding citizens should not be limited as to where they can defend themselves or their family.  I think that if the bill is signed into law by Good 'Ol Fast Eddie, and if its enforced properly, it will be a good thing for the good citizens of Pennsylvania. 

I wonder what others, including other members of the law enforcement community think?  I'm all ears...

Amidst Media Coverage, Philly DA Changes His Mind

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, and PA Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille have been fielding a lot of negative criticism after last weeks news that more than 20,000 cases have been dismissed to "un-clog" the system in Philly.  Some of the FUZZBUZZ readers may have read it here first.  Now, the DA is saying that "some" of the "serious" cases were thrown out mistakenly.  More likely, I think he's  surprised that the reporters found out about all of the cases and even more surprised that they found out about the many serious ones.

Suffice to say, he has changed his mind, and is now looking into re-instating charges against some of the defendants.  Read more here at the Philadelphia Inquirer.

What a huge waste of time!

Four Loko Alco-Energy Drink to be Discontinued

Four Loko is a highly caffeinated malt liquor beverage with the alcohol content of four 12 ounce beers and the caffeine content of four coffees.  It comes in a variety of fruity flavors.  The 23.5 ounce cans have become a favorite of young people.  I personally have seen it around for a little over a year.  Some of the people I've spoken to describe it as the closest thing to cocaine that they can get.  And the hangovers are reportedly the worst. The dangerous mix of caffeine, taurine, guarana, and alcohol has landed some in the hospital. 

Now, reportedly, The FDA will prohibit the sale of beverages that mix alcohol and caffeine.  Seeing the writing on the wall, Phusion Products, makers of Four Loko, announced this morning that they will no longer include caffeine, taurine and guarana in Four Loko.  The decision is shore to save a few horrible hangovers, at the very least.

The Libertarian in me wonders if the government should be waasting its time with more regulations.  The parent in me commends the FDA and, reluctantly, the makers of Four Loko, for their recent decisions.  The parent in me also wonders exactly who these drinks are marketed to.  With the colorful cans and fruity flavors, they are easily mistaken for one of many fruit or energy drinks we'd find in the supermarket.

Philadelphia DA Drops Charges Against More Than 20,000 Criminals

That's right, just when I figured it couldn't get much more unbelievable, the "system" surprises and disappoints me again.  In Philadelphia, our neighbor to the east, The District Attorney's Office dropped cased against approximately than 20,000 criminals.  All of the cases had reached "Fugitive Status" which means that the defendants had "skipped out" and not reported to court or to jail when required to.   Every case that was dropped was approved by a Judge.

These aren't  people who failed to pay parking tickets or speeding citations.  These are 20,000 criminals who committed actual CRIMES, including child molestation, aggravated assault, theft, and just about everything else.  One example is Indecent-assault charges against Douglas Gaines, who police said molested a 5-year-old girl in 1989.  Police and anyone else with Google know where Gaines is.  He lives free and presumably happy, in California.  In other examples, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports, they've found scores of people living in other states who are quite happy to hear that their criminal cases no longer exist.

The real injustice here is that no victims have been notified by the courts or by the DA's office that their cases are dismissed.  And the REASON for the cases being dropped: because the system was clogged.  In fact, the Inquirer reports, the dismissal came at the urging or Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille.


Talk about a get out of jail free!  This has to be the stupidest thing I've heard in my tenure in Criminal Justice.  Are we trying to tell criminals that if they hide long enough, they get away with whatever they've done?  If I were a victim of one of these crimes, I'd be at City Hall wanting answers; answers I'm sure I'd never get.

PA Game Commission Officer Murdered, Suspect Arrested

In a sad story from across the state, Conservation Officer David Grove was shot and killed while investigating illegal nighttime hunting near Gettysburg.  Hours after the murder, police arrested Christopher Lynn Johnson near the Pennsylvania / Maryland border.   My condolences tot he Grove Family.  Story here

My Balloon Just Lost Some More Air

The jury in Cop Killer Case didn't do their job.  Read the story here

More Money and Time Wasted on Another Murderer

Mumia Abu Jamal has still not been executed.  He was convicted and sentenced in 1982, but he still lives, breathes and rants, and makes headlines. 

I have to stop writing because I'm sick to my stomach.

Jury Deadlocks; Murderer's Life Spared

In a travesty of justice, a Philadelphia jury failed to vote unanimously in favor of the death penalty for Rasheed Scruggs, the filth that killed Philadelphia Police Officer John Pawlowski.  I can only hope Scruggs' remaining years on earth are miserable ones.  If this guy didn't deserve ther ultimate punishment, I don't know who does. Officer Pawlowski, pictured here, is a true here regardless..

California Will Have to Wait for Legal Reefer

Interesting article here on CNN.com about why Californians voted against legalizing marijuana.

Philadelphia Police Under Fire for Trying to Make City Safer

The Philadelphia Police are being sued by The ACLU, for violating citizens' rights by the implementation and use of their "Stop and Frisk" Policy.  The tactic, designed to reduce the amount of guns and other weapons being carried illegally on city streets, has been used in Philly and in other large American cities, including New York City.  Mayor Nutter promised to implement such a plan when he ran for office.  Commissioner Ramsey did indeed implement the policy when he took the lead of the department.  At issue with the ACLU is whether of not it is a violation of citizens' right to be secure and protected against unreasonable searches.

Obviously our right to not be subject to Unreasonable Search (or Seizure) has some history.  The 4th Amendment to The Constitution gives us this right.  When the amendment, and the rest of the Bill or Rights were ratified, our country was fresh off the heels of independence.  Just a few years before the Bill of Rights, we were British subjects.   British troops (Law Enforcement) commonly searched people private property for evidence.  The soldiers needed no reason, no "probable cause", no justification whatsoever.  They pretty much did what they wanted.  This pissed off Americans, who decided that one of the protections they would provide to the citzens of their new country would be this freedom from unreasonable search and seizure.  (see Amendments one through 10 for a full list of what pissed off our forefathers)

Anyway, the ACLU must have been tired of trying to tear down war memorials, supporting Nazi rallies, fighting to free terrorists  from U.S. prisons, and freeing murderers.  Now they are trying to make city streets more dangerous.  By doing so, somehow, they'd say that they are "protecting us".

The bottom line is this: We live in a violent world.  Although that is unfortunate, it is also reality.  In order for the government to establish some sort of safety, we have to give something back.  I, personally, have nothing (ok very little) to hide.  If I happen to be walking down the street in North Philadelphia (probably won't ever happen) I have no issue with a police officer stopping me and checking me for weapons.  But apparently, city residents, including a buffoon of a state legislator, does take issue with it.   (read article in Phila Inquirer here)

more to come. .

A Message to the Newly-Elected

Like a good citizen, I voted yesterday. I say this not because I expect a congratulations. I realize that voting is something we all should do. At the very least I think it gives me the right to complain when the people I don't vote for do things I don't agree with. The problem is, I seem to disagree with the people I do vote for just as regularly. But anyway, I voted yesterday. And after having voted, I came into work today and, since I had recently voted, talked politics for 10 or fifteen minutes.
So anyway, here's all I want out of this election, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Corbett, Mr. Truitt, Mr. Meehan, Mr. Barrar, and everyone else:
1) Lower taxes
2) More Crime Control
That's all. I figure, I'll give you two years (or 4 or 6, depending on your position) after that, if my taxes are lower and so is crime, I'll vote for you again and ask you to move onto two new issues. But, if my taxes are higher and so is crime, I'll have to give someone else a try.
So good luck, I'm hoping you do well.

Murderer Apologizes, So What

Officer John Pawlowski's mother will never see him again.  His wife will never see him come home.  All because a disgusting waste-of-space chose to cowardly shoot and kill him.  Rasheed Scrugs has pleaded guilty to the February 2009 shooting of Pawlowski.  Scruggs, in a most cowardly manner, shot the Police Officer while holding his gun in his pocket.  Neither the Officer, nor anyone else, ever saw the gun in the cowardly killer's hand before the shots were fired.  This is a striking reminder of the danger every Officer faces. 

Well, since this is America, the land of second chances, the killer's mother apologized to the surviving members of Officer Pawlowski's family.  Of course, she did it in court, in an attempt to convince the jury to spare her murderer-son's life and sentence him to life in prison, instead of the death sentence.  (Story here at Philly.com)  Oh, and the killer's defense attorneys will also show the jury this note  pictured above.  The killer's lawyers plan to argue that it is evidence of his sorrow.  (story here) And of course he had a difficult childhood, so his life should be spared.  Oh, and also, he was high on PCP, so he definitely shouldn't be execute, according to defense lawyers.  Apparently, being high on drugs at least partially excused the killing of a police officer.  Sarcasm italicized for anyone who couldn't tell. 

I understand that the death penalty has its flaws.  I think I may have even blogged about it.  I understand all of the common reasons to not support the death penalty.  But to me, it has its place.  This case is as clear cut a case there ever was for Capital Punishment.  To think that the killer's life could be spared, and tax-payers, including The Police Officer's Family, would have to pay for the killer to eat, sleep, watch TV, lift weights, get a GED, is sickening.