Thank You, Kevlar

In the city that just had its 300th homicide, there's a bright side.  Two Police Officer's lives were saved by the protective equipment they're issued.  A Kevlar vest and helmet allowed two officers to walk away from what would have otherwise been fatal gunshots after a shootout with a criminal who had already shot and wounded another Philadelphia Officer.

Coverage here

Philly "Gun Court" Judge is Failing

According to FBI statistics, Philadelphia has the highest rate of gun-related homicides of all the large cities in the United States.  Previous posts on this blog have cited the Philadelphia Police Department's commitment to making the streets safer by getting guns off of the streets and by arresting people with illegal guns.  Some have criticized the police for being too aggressive and for being too intrusive.  Quite a small price to pay, if you ask me, for safe streets.  Unfortunately, it appears that Philadelphia's "Gun Court" judge, Paula Patrick, would disagree with me.  She has thrown out dozens of apparently good gun cases, and therefore, set free dozens of criminals.

In Philadelphia, Gun Court is designed to handle cases that involve defendants charged with crimes, where the most serious charge is a gun charge.  The idea is to streamline the process, and provide education and rehabilitation to those offenders who are amiable, but to also "provide direct and immediate response to...recidivists".  (see gun court fact sheet)

In this case, Judge Paula Patrick, a former civil and criminal defense attorney, appears to be furthering her own personal agenda.  In turn, the streets of the City of Brotherly Love will surely get more dangerous.  Sam Stretton, the West Chester Attorney who represents Judge Patrick, has represented other judges.  This representation includes when other judges are accused of violating the law or the  Code of Judicial Conduct.  (click here to see this case, where Stretton represented another Philadelphia judge who was accused of and found to have used his position as judge to issue illegal orders for friends)

If you are religious, pray for Philadelphia.  With judges like this, the city needs help.

A Rare Example of Someone Doing the Right Thing

Bernard Madoff, the architect of the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, is a total jerk.  He destroyed peoples lives.  Some people's entire life savings, millions of dollars for some people, have been lost.  In a recent development, one of the scheme's largest beneficiaries, one of its earliest investors, is making good.  Barbara Picower, whose husband invested with Madoff for 35 years, is returning more that $7 Billion, yes BILLION to victims.  The justice department announced the news recently.

Full story here.

Philadelphia Police Hunting Serial Killer?

Police in the City of Brotherly Love are investigating a series of strangulations in the Kensington section of the city.  Just in time for the holidays, some criminal is terrorizing people in the city.  Fully story here.

N.J. One Step Closer to Government Marijuana

photo courtesy Larry McDevitt

Only a few months ago, Lawmakers in New Jersey have approved the "medical" use of marijuana.  (Medical in quotes because I cannot imagine anyone abusing a doctor's prescription for marijuana)  But now, the governor, the legislature, and the government health officials can't agree on the rules and regulations that will attach to the new marijuana laws.  Now, months after marijuana was "legalized" in New Jersey, not a single legal joint has been smoked.  And I've scoured the internet to try to find out how much money has been wasted debating the issue, to no avail.  So, in a state that is home to the second most violent city in The United States, police officers and firefighters are being laid-off, but government officials are spending time trying to iron-out a plan to make weed available for those who need it.   I'm sure people won't have a hard time finding it on the streets of Camden in January. 

Maybe the government should not waste its time or the people's money.  Instead of debating marijuana, figure out a way to save the City of Camden by not firing half of it's public servants.

More here at Philly.com

More Parking Meters in Borough, Let the Boo-Hooing Begin

West Chester Borough Council, faced with an upcoming $1.5million shortfall, has decided to increase revenue by adding  about 150 parking meters to areas that were otherwise "free parking" areas.  I congratulate council for this action.  However, after reading the story and all of the readers' comments at DailyLocal.com I am definitely in the minority.  While I don't think increasing parking rates or adding meters is the only way to increase revenue, I do think its a good start.

Either way, I'm reminded of the opening scene from Cool Hand Luke.  While not a Paul Newman fan, (mumia abu Jamal supporter) the scene is apropos.  Do yourself a favor and watch the first two minutes of this video.

Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner Murdered 29 Years Ago Today

REMINDER:  29 Years ago a member of the Black Panther Party, Mumia Abu Jamal, murdered Officer Faulkner.  Abu Jamal has been convicted and sentenced to death, but he still lives and breathes. 

Rest in Peace Officer Faulkner, and thank you for your service.

H. Paul Fitzpatrick, Former W.C. Borough Council President, Dies

Rest in peace, Mr. Fitzpatrick.

I've had the pleasure to sit on a board or two with Mr. Fitzpatrick, during his tenure on Borough Council.  It was always a pleasure working with him.  My kindest thoughts are with the family. 

Link to full Obituary in DailyLocal.

Delaware County Man, 88, Admits Killing Wife

This has to be one of the most unfortunate new stories I've read this year.  In Delaware County, Ernest Rayfield, 88 years old, has admitted that he stabbed his 87 year old wife, who had advanced Alzheimer's Disease.  Full story here at DelcoTimes.com

What Will the Ecnonomy Do to the Crime Rate?

As we already know, the City of Camden, NJ, is laying off half of its police officers and almost half of its firefighters.  Newark, NJ, has already laid off more than 160 police officers this year.  Other towns across cash-strapped New Jersey have already laid off cops and firemen, or are planning on doing it soon.  Here in Pennsylvania, we are feeling the crunch too.  Philadelphia's mayor made noise this year when he closed Fire Houses across the city.  The Borough of West Chester, home to such festivities as the Old Fashioned Christmas Parade and the Chester County Restaurant Festival, is facing a 1.5 million dollar budget gap next year.  The borough that has enjoyed so much economic prosperity, so much 'revitalization' in the past two decades, will be faced with some tough choices in the coming years.

Who or what is blame?  Is it the economy?  Is it politicians? Unions? The federal government?  Bad Investments?  Who knows.  Probably a mix of all the above and then some.  The question I have is, what will the reduction of police officer, firefighters and other important public-service jobs cause?  What will happen to towns like Camden, Philadelphia and maybe even West Chester if the the politicians continue on the trend they're on and continue to reduce police, fire, and EMS services?  How long will it take a "great town" like West Chester to regress into the town it was years ago?  Who will really suffer in cities like Camden and Newark?  How long will it take for business owners to pull out all together, and for criminals to expand? 

In my opinion, all too often, politicians campaign on the backs, and at the expense of, the true public servants.  When crime is high, they say they'll fight to lower it.  But who lowers crime?  Do politicians lower crime.  I don't think so.  I think communities, in partnership with police, are the ones to fight crime.  I think its the politicians who like to take the credit.  Then, when crime is low, it's the politicians who think we can do with less police.  They look to "save money" by eliminating jobs.  Or they promise that services will not be cut, and the police will magically be able to do more with less.  But the reality is that crime tends to increase when the economy is in a downturn.  basically, more people turn to crime to get by.  Couple that trend with less cops and firemen, and I think its a recipe for disaster.  The quality of life across the country will decrease, one town at a time. 

So what is the solution?