RIP Frank Buckles

Frank Buckles, the last surviving World War I veteran, died on Sunday.  He was 110 years old.  While its not really on the topic of this blog, its the most interesting and compelling thing I've read lately so I decided to share it.  Click here to visit the Frank Buckles wikipedia page.

Thank you to Mr. Buckles and all other U.S. military veterans. 

Funny True Story

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> In briefing yesterday, another officer tells me this story. He's sitting at an intersection, watching traffic when he hears this car coming down the road, traveling about 20 miles per hour over the 25 mile per hour speed limit. Sure enough, the cars runs through the stop sign without even slowing down. The officer chases after and eventually gets the motorist stopped. When the officer approaches the driver window, the driver finishes scribbling a note and hands it to the officer. The note reads "I'm deaf". The officer asks, "are you blind?" The driver mutters, "good point" and graciously accepts his ticket.

Homeless West Chester Man Does " The Right Thing"

Click here for video.  John Kavanaugh, a homeless West Chester man, found $1500 in cash on the street, and turned it into police, rather than keeping it for himself.  Way to go Mr. Kavanaugh.  I commend your honesty.

Happy Presidents' Day

Happy Presidents' Day. Let's also not forget the Police Officers who gave their lives protecting our presidents. click here

Civics Leson One and a Half

For entertainment purposes only, click the link or press play.

Civics Lesson One: Your Right to a Phone Call

In the spirit of ranting, I decided to start a semi-regular theme here on the Fuzz Buzz.  I will give brief civics lessons, from the police officer's point of view.

Lesson number one:  You do NOT have the right to a phone call.  I don't know where this started - probably with TV cop shows.  After you are arrested, you do have certain rights.  You do have the right to remain silent. (also often misunderstood, we'll cover it in another post)  You do have the right to face your accusers (in court).  You do have the right to be represented by an attorney.  You DO NOT have an automatic right to "one phone call" immediately after you're arrested.  That said, 90% of the drunks that get arrested for public drunkenness, and related nuisance offenses, demand to be allowed to make their one phone call.  Almost without exception, they exclaim that they know their rights and will "have [my] badge" if I don't let them make a phone call.   They proclaim that a phone call is a constitutional right.  And the thing about drunk people is that they cannot be reasoned with.  When I try to explain that they are not entitled to a phone call, that it's 4 in the morning, and even the pope could not get them out of jail until they are sober, they don't listen.  They don't believe me when I tell them that the word telephone isn't even in the constitution or any of its amendments. They just get louder, more obnoxious, and claim to know more and more intimate details about my wife and family. Side note - while a criminal or a drunk insulting my family doesn't bother me, it certainly doesn't earn them any favors.  If you ever get locked up, or for that matter have any run in with the law, courtesy goes a long way.

What Took Years to Screw Up Can't be Fixed in Minutes...

What took years to screw up can't be fixed in minutes.  This statement is a truth known by most all police.  For example:

If you and your husband (or wife) have been married for 10 years and miserable for nine of those years, that's not my fault.  If you are both fall down drunks, and you beat each other up like you are competing on Ultimate Fighter, that's not my fault.  If you lost you job because you choose alcohol over alarm clocks, that's not my fault.  If you are upset that you 17 year old son (or daughter) is on the corner more that he's in school, that's not my fault.  If the last time you sat down and ate a meal with your child was when Bill Clinton was in office, that's not my fault.

Now, when you've "finally had enough" and call the cop on your "no good son, daughter, husband, wife," I cannot fix in five minutes what took you years to mess up.

I know the above does not apply to any of the Fuzz Buzz's loyal readers, I'm just venting.

Chester Twp. Mother Should be Strung Up

The title says it all; need I say more?  Click here to read the story of a Chester Township, Delaware County mother who duct taped her two-year old to a chair and then had her photo taken with the child.  Somehow, the photo was posted and the internet and discovered by police.  The mother, Caira Ferguson, was charged with Unlawful Restraint and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.  As I write, she is where she belongs - prison.

Philadelphia Man Apprehends NYC Murder Suspect

Joseph Lozito, a 40 year old Philadelphian, tackled and apprehended a man wanted for the stabbing deaths of three people.  Read more here at Philly.com.  I commend Lozito for his heroism.  He said that he used martial arts skills he saw on TV to take down the suspect.  While struggling with the suspect, Lozito suffered severe lacerations to his head and arm.  He was treated and released from a NYC hospital. 

Lozito appeared on Good Morning America this morning.  

Cold Weather, Steal My Car

Friendly reminder - a cold car is better that a stolen car.  Police in the area are reminding motorists not to leave their vehicles unattended with the engines running.   Leaving an idling vehicle, even for just a minute, makes it too easy for would be thieves.  In Philadelphia, 19 idling cars were stolen within a 5 day period. 

And as a side note - leaving an unattended vehicle idling on the street is illegal in Pennsylvania.

Guest Blogger - Patrolman Paladin - "police insight, like it or not"

Quick intro: I have been a police officer for 15+ years and in the field of Criminal Justice for 20+.  I too don't care what you call me, just don't call me late for dinner (or breakfast or lunch).  My close friend, at my job prior to being hired as a cop, asked me why I wanted to be 5-O and I told him "I just want to help people".  I hadn't thought about that answer to his question until he asked me, and I didn't remember that answer until he reminded me years later.  But I digress.

First things first.  When first approached by John Q Police in an email, I thought I would blog about current events.  But after much thought, I decided to offer insight in to the altered mind of a pig.  The things that we talk about, the things we complain about, the things we do on an every day basis, etc, etc.  The first subject is "what not say to PO-PO ".

When you get pulled over by the man, don't ask, "what did i do" or "why are you puling me over"?  Instead, put your hands on the steering wheel, be respectful, and know that 99.9% of the people pulled over in this great nation are pulled over because they broke a law.

When you see a flat foot meandering around and you have a chance to engage him/her, don't ask, "what are you guys carrying... 40's, 45's" or "do you know Officer Jones"?  Chances are we don't want to talk about our firearm with a complete stranger and we know the 10-50 guys we work with.  A "good morning" or a "how are you" is a fine greeting.  Chances are if you are not staring at us with a growl, or spitting at the ground when we look at you, or saying "I smell bacon" when you see us, we'll take the simple kind gesture.

When you have a question for a trooper or patrolman (trooper = state police/ patrolman = local police), don't say, "can I ask you a question?", because you just did.  It may sound minimal, but when you hear this question over and over and solve problems all day/week/month/year long, most times you don't have the option to say, "no, sorry, no questions today" because that's your job.

Lastly, when you see a lawman's car running with nobody in it, and get perturbed...there's something you don't know.  When we turn the car off... we shut off the computer/ camera/ speed timing device/ etc.. etc..  Do you shut your computer off every time you walk out of your office?  Do you go into your office in the summer and buckle down when it's 80-90 degrees, or in the winter take your jacket off and get comfortable in your chair in the 20's-30's?  Climate control people... we spend most of the day in that car/office.    

And before I sign off, Jason Q. Policehater, whether you're a criminal or close to one, I know one thing's for sure...  There are two types of people in this world, good and evil, and you are evil.  You are the reason why the fuzz were conceptualized in the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829.  I'm sure in a past life you got whacked by a truncheon or two.  AND, one day you'll eventually need one of us, and because we don't have the luxury to choose our clients, we'll help you despite your ignorance.

Anyway, I hope I didn't offend anyone (except Jason Q. Policehater), but this is just straight forward shop talk on a straight forward shop talk blog, from a beat cop, and it seems appropriate.  Stay tuned for more "Police insight, like it or not", if John Q Police will have me.    Thanks-  Ptlm. Paladin

Add This Guy to the Dumbest Criminal List

Time for a laugh...

A Connecticut man called 911 to ask how much time he could get for growing marijuana plants.  Surprise!  Police soon stopped by for a visit.  True Story, Click here for story and audio of original 911 call.

Guest Bloggers to be Featured.

A colleague of mine recently made a suggestion.  He thought that inviting a guest blogger to post would be a good idea.  I agreed so I'm putting him on the spot.  (you know who you are!) Beginning in a week or two, The Fuzz Buzz will be publishing a weekly guest blog (if there is enough interest). 

The rules are simple.  If you are interested in guest blogging, submit your post to me at copblogger@gmail.com.  I welcome any viewpoint, whether you agree with me or not.  I'll publish as many posts as possible and will not censor any submissions unless they are overtly offensive, advocate violence, or are potentially dangerous. 

I'm waiting...

Bullying is Serious Business

For years, law enforcement and school officials have realized that bullying is serious.  The harmful effects of bullying are real.  According to the U.S. government, children that are bullied are more likely to miss school, and that kids who bully are more likely that those who don't bully to be criminals once they are adults.  (click here for more info) 

Bullying, or being bullied, is not a rite of passage.  It is not something that any child should be subject to.  It does not build character.  Yet, even though we recognize these facts, kids still get bullied.  This weeks story from Upper Darby (click here) is a horrible example, but a real one.  It is so horrendous, it quickly made national headlines.  Evil exists.  It's unfortunate, but it's true.  In this case, a group of seven juveniles assaulted and terrorized another youth for sport.  Pure evil. 

The shame of the incident lies in my prediction:  The bullies, the seven teenagers who are charged with Aggravated Assault and Kidnapping, (among other charges) and then videotaping the assault for publication on the internet, will walk away from this incident without really paying for their crimes.  By exploiting the faults in the system, I predict that these young criminals will barely serve any time (any time served will not be in real prison - it will be in a camp-like juvenile facility), and when they are freed, their records will go on to be adult criminals.  All the while, their victim will be permanently scarred. 

My thoughts go to the victim and his family.