Pax_Centurion_July_Aug_2006

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JULY/AUGUST 2006 PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 2226 Worcester, MA

Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, Inc. Boston Emergency Medical Technicians Nation’s First Police Department • Established 1854 • IUPA Local 16807, AFL-CIO

VOLUME 36 - NO. 4

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

The advertisers of the Pax Centurion do not necessarily endorse the opinions of the Pax Centurion/Boston Police Patrolmen's Association. The advertisers are in support of the BPPA Scholarship Fund and every patrolmen who risks his or her life to protect and serve the community.

Father’s Day protest attracts aging radical-bombers, Boston City Councilor Turner

Romney vetoes BPD Truck Team Bill for Truckers Assn.

But BPPA reverses Mitt’s veto, 190-1

By Jim Barry, BPPA Legislative Agent

A bill passed the legislature in June of this year which governed the conduct of commercial vehicle terminal audits. The legislation was required by federal code for conducting these truck terminal audits. But something was slipped into the statute which stripped the Boston Police Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit of it’s ability to “randomly” stop and inspect these carriers. The lobbyists and members of the truckers association misled legislative staff about who could do the random inspections. The staff were inadvertently led to believe that this language was required by the federal code. It was not and the truckers association knew it. The legislation on face value did not appear to harm

anyone. Even the title was benign, “an Act relative to terminal audits for commercial vehicles”. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.

The language inside the bill stopped random inspections by municipal police departments and allowed for only stops based on probable cause. Handcuffing the Boston Police from protecting the residents and visitors to the city from unsafe and dangerous cargo. You see up to this point truckers willfully careened with abandon through the streets of Boston. Nobody to really stop them or checked them to insure the public was safe. Oh and lets not forget the fines... because that is what this whole thing is all about for the truckers ascontinued on page A7

Mistrials, light sentences…

Mass. judges, juries show contempt for cops

By Jim Carnell, Pax Editor IN THE MOST RECENT display of judicial contempt for police officers, a judge sentenced a spoiled rich kid who shot BPD Officer Kevin Ford point-blank in the stomach to a ludicrous term of only 4-5 years in prison.

James Nolan, 27, the spoon-fed offspring of a Harvard-educated physician, shot Officer Ford with a stolen .45 caliber handgun on Feb. 11. 2004 as Ford entered the apartment to serve a search warrant. Ford was saved only by his bullet-resistant vest.

Judge Patrick Brady of the Suffolk Superior Court handed the privileged

scumbag the light sentence, which was far below the 15-year sentence the prosecutor wanted (Ed.-and which was far below the more appropriate attempted murder charge the worthless dirtbag should have been sentenced for). This sentence would be laughable were it not for the fact that Officer Ford would probably have been killed except for his vest. Why the judge thought that Ford’s vest was some sort of mitigating factor in what was obviously the attempted murder of a Boston Cop is infuriating. Nolan, who lived a life of continued on page A8

JULY/AUGUST 2006

City Councillor Chuck Turner stands with Richard Picariello, a convicted radicalterrorist bomber from the ‘70s, at a recent anti-Israel protest on Boston City Hall.

By Jim Carnell, Pax Editor

A RECENT ANTI-ISRAELI/ ANTI-U.S protest on Boston City Hall attracted the usual plethora of deranged nitwits from Cambridge, Brookline and Jamaica Plain along with City Councilor Chuck Turner standing next to convicted ‘70s-era courthouse bomber Richard Picariello.

The protest was held on Sunday, June 18th, Father’s day, and resulted in scores of Boston Police Officers laboring to keep the peace on mandatory overtime, away from their families and children on the holiday. (As our members are keenly aware, antiIsrael/ anti-U.S. protests have , over the past several years, been held on both Mother’s day and Father’s day, ruining those holidays for our members and their families and lending

further proof to the theory that insane liberals truly hate their parents which is the proximate cause of their mental illness.) In addition to the usual graying hippie/screaming meemie contingent were a variety of unrelated causes thrown together under the umbrella of liberal moronicism, such as “Workers of the World unite” (none of whom actually work for a living), pro-abortion protesters who also oppose the death penalty for convicted murderers (figure that oxymoron out if you can), the “Free Mumia AbuJamal” crowd (convicted killer of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner) and a smattering of unwashed, unshaven, odiferous anarchist-types and “college” students (HA) with an enormous amount of down-time courtesy of Mummy and Daddy’s trust funds paying for their alleged education at our local centers of higher learning (double- HA).

But for those who scratch their heads and wonder and why crime skyrockets out of control in some segments of our city, it was rather revealing when our intrepid photographer captured the endearing image of Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner, known hater of law-enforcement, standing side-by-side with Mr. Richard Picariello. Picariello, according to published reports in the Boston Globe (8-23-97, Ric Kahn, Page B-1) “In 1978…was sentenced to prison for helping to blow up a plane at Logan Airport, two National Guard trucks at the Dorchester Armory, and the Essex Superior Courthouse in Newburyport-all in the name of fighting US imperialism and oppression.” Picariello, after his release from prison, has continued his worthless existence on the planet by getting arrested at MIT for assault and batcontinued on page A7

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

From the President The View from Here Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, Inc. Boston Emergency Medical Technicians 9-11 Shetland Street Boston, Massachusetts 02119 Phone: 617-989-BPPA Readership 125,000

Nation’s First Police Dept.

Unity & Strength

VOLUME 35—NO. 4

JULY/AUGUST 2006

BOARD OF EDITORS Thomas J. Nee, Executive Director Ronald MacGillivray Vice President John Broderick, Jr., Secretary Daniel Fagan, Treasurer

Asst. Managing Editors: Mark Bruno, Fred Hirst, Pat Rose

Managing Editor: James Carnell

EMS Officers James Orsino, President Paul O’Brien, Vice President Robert Morley, Treasurer Matthew Carty, Secretary Len Shubitowski, Chief Steward

Bulk Mailing Postage Paid at Worcester, Mass., Permit #2226

BPPA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

AREA A

AREA B

AREA C

Brian Reaney • Tom Corbett John Bates • James Carnell Andrew West • Michael Leary Robert Anthony • Bob Luongo

Bernie Moore Charlie Hulme • David Fitzgerald Cynthia Beckford-Brewington Richard McCormack

Timothy Golden • Stephen Roe Bill Hogan • Chris Cunniff Mark Bruno • Patrick Rose

AREA D

AREA E

AREA F

Adam Mazzola Robert Butler • Greg Lynch Robert Boyle • Michael McManus

Michael Harrington • Paul Nee John Earley • Jean Pierre Ricard Lawrence Calderone Gerald Rautenberg • Steve Kelley Arthur McCarthy

IDENT. UNIT —Fred Hirst DRUG UNIT—Paul Quinn YVSF—Jeff Cecil Thomas Pratt

M.O.P.

RADIO SHOP/P.D.S.

TURRET

Richie Kelley • Richie Stanton

John Kundy PDS—Karen VanDyke

John Conway • Dave Stewart Richard Brennan

ACADEMY/RANGE

HARBOR

E.S.U.

Bill Cullinane

Hector Cabrera • Francis Deary

HEADQUARTERS

K-9/MOUNTED

MASTER AT ARMS

Rhethia Stewart

Ray Ramirez • Patrick Butler

Robert Lundbohm • Michael Doogan Timothy Stanton

EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT Paul Downey

BPPA COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AWARDS: Bob Butler; J. Broderick; J. Doris; G. Rautenberg GRIEVANCE: Bob Butler; Jim Carnell; Brian Reaney; Mike Leary; Tom Pratt; Dave Fitzgerald BUILDING: Dan Fagan BARGAINING: Tom Nee; Ron MacGillivray; Brian Reaney; Tom Pratt; Dave Fitzgerald LEGISLATIVE: Jim Barry MASSPULL: Jim Barry PUBLIC RELATIONS: Jim Barry PAX CENTURION: Jim Carnell, Mark Bruno, Fred Hirst, Pat Rose BYLAWS: Tom Nee HEALTH/SAFETY AND LABOR MANAGEMENT: John Kundy; M. Bruno ELECTIONS: John Kundy EDUCATION: Tom Nee DETAILS/OVERTIME: Brian Reaney; Patrick Rose

TO ADVERTISE IN THE PAX CENTURION Call the Pax Centurion staff at: PRIME ADVERTISING 781-848-8224 • FAX: 781-848-8041 EDITORIAL POLICY 1. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association.

2. No responsibility is assumed for unsolicited material.

3. Letters or articles submitted shall be limited to 350 words and must be accompanied by writer’s name, but may be reprinted without name or address at writer’s request.

4. Freedom of expression is recognized within the bounds of good taste and the limits of available space.

5. The B.P.P.A. reserves the right to edit submission and/or include Editor’s notes to any submitted materials.

6. The deadline for printed materials for the next issue is SEPTEMBER 15, 2006 7. Any article printed in this issue may be reprinted in future issues.

B.P.P.A. Tel. 617-989-2772 • Fax: 617-989-2779 web site: www.bppa.org Office Personnel: Annie Parolin • Annmarie Daly Published by Camera Graphics, Union Allied Trade 112

Editor’s Note: Reprinted from May/ June 2006 Pax due to editing errors. Tom Nee is also on a well-deserved vacation.

We have all had moments and opportunities in our lives that define our character, our principles and our future. Typically where we want to go depends on where we have been, where we are and how much we are willing to invest to achieve our desired goal. Looking forward “we” have a lot of challenges facing us in the near future. As the summer quickly approaches, there are a number of serious concerns for the membership of the BPPA. I take great comfort in knowing that the difference in this timeline for the BPPA going forward is our experience. We have been measured and challenged before and we are all the better for it, working together we can defend against any threat. You understand that sometimes you have to stand there and take the hits, if you believe in what you are doing. You don’t have to defend it.

You just have to believe in it, because it is the right thing to do. It has been said many times, that great are those who can dig down and summons something different, something greater than the others, something that truly distinguishes them and separates them from the rest. The Boston Police Patrolmen’s’ Association has come a very long way in a reasonably short period of time. It is not perfect; it has had its growing pains, but it is what it has to be and has done what it has had to do in its 41 years of existence. With that all being said I’m sure by now you’re asking yourself why the speech. Short answer, because there are extremely unsettling times ahead and they are not one dimensional.

Since becoming Police Commissioner on February 19, 2004 Police Commissioner O’Toole has certainly had to handle a fair of controversial issues. Every guardroom around the city has shared a story or two with me in recent weeks about why she is departing; those stories are simply that, stories. Just add up the numbers and I’m certain you will understand why we deem her exit as a loss to the membership of the BPPA and to the BPD. From day one the commissioner sought us out and readily admitted that she could not rewrite the history of her predecessor. She committed to giving us our proper place at the table, but she made it clear that she would not be disloyal or embarrass her boss the Mayor (little did she realize that it was not going to be a two way street).

She worked hard at finding the middle ground with us, as opposed to imposing her will, which was a clear departure from the way we had seen things done. We remedied many outstanding grievances and other issues, like opening the cell blocks and returning a booking officer to every single station, decentralizing the detail rooms and returning them to their respective districts. She worked with us to remedy the prioritization of details issue while still affording our membership the opportunity of choice. She committed to returning the identification unit to the professional reputation and status it once held, making it a desirable assignment that had guaranteed staffing levels, actual training and many other positive changes that caused numerous BPPA members to seek assignment in the unit. During one of her very first meetings with the BPPA Health, Safety and Joint Labor Management Committee meetings, she became so flabbergasted concerned by what was being reported she committed to visit every roll call in the city. Her conclusion after the visits was that she was charged with leading a very bright group of professional people who were demoralized and that had to change for us to be safe and successful in our mission. Little did she realize that the assets and resources she needed to field the department and realize her goals would never be delivered by the powerbrokers and bean counters at City Hall. Their answer to her when she asked for their assistance was; no new money, no new help, no new equipment (and to coin a phrase from Ronnie MacGillivray the only thing that she would be allowed to do is to rearrange the chairs on the deck of the Titanic – inevitably even an unsinkable ship will go down, all will be lost without the proper support).

Through the good times and the bad, the lines of communication were always open and dialogue between the BPPA and the Police Commissioner maintained. She wasn’t perfect, but she was fair. She respected us and trusted our input; some insiders have even reported to us that as a result of our working relationship, and her refusal to be quiet and drink the morning dose of Kool Aid, she lost the support of the Mayor. Fraternizing with the perceived enemy or collusion with the great unwashed at the BPPA is a mortal sin by their code, even worse thinking for yourself without permission or advancing the truth is a violacontinued on next page

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

Message from the Vice President Ron MacGillivray Health Insurance Not to any one’s surprise the number one issue on the bargaining table for the City is health insurance and getting the employees to pick up a larger piece of the pie through premiums, co-pays, deductibles or increases in out-of-network coverage. Recent years have seen doubledigit increases in the industry with premiums for employers rising rapidly…though future premiums are expected to level off. The average cost of a family plan is 16K and the City in a myriad of different configurations is looking for a greater employee subsidy.

Proposals include legislation creating a local option for municipalities to join the Group Insurance Commission “GIC” which is a state agency providing health insurance to employees and retirees. Main drawback is having benefits legislated and not bargained, a very attractive proposition for the City of Boston. Another option under Mass. General Law is “coalition bargaining”, a law that

View from Here continued from prior page

tion of the commandments of City Hall, the consequences are severe.

As she leaves us the end of the month, I would share with you the same comments that we recently shared with her, you can act responsible and professional serving the needs of the city by saying all the right things in the media during your departure, but we know the truth. Although we may not like it, we absolutely understand why you are moving on. Your departure leads us to wonder if we are not in worse shape than even we the skeptics, would be lead to believe. Good luck PC O’Toole, it is said that sometimes the farther away you go, the clearer you can see. Though you will sadly be missed, we believe you will see that you made the right decision.

As we move on with the rest of the pressing business

establishes rules for labor unions to bargain as one committee with the employer.

That method is based on a weighted vote equal to the proportion of employees in each bargaining unit. Any agreement would need 70% of the public employee committee. In this scenario retirees would have a 10% vote.

The proposals on their face appear to be less expensive initially and have more options but the foreseeable shift of funding to the employee is inevitable.

Presently state law does not give municipalities much flexibility in changing health insurance plan design and contribution rates aside from the bargaining table. In comparison with other local municipalities and the national average regarding health benefits, City of Boston employees presently fare quite well.

Health insurance is the number one topic being bargained across the country. Potential increases could neutralize any annual raise and the City is determined if not through bargaining then through leg-

islation to get those changes.

This legislative session has not provided the needed changes for the municipalities to make wholesale modifications to the bargaining process so the City will have a little more motivation at the table to influence change.

The retired population given the dramatic impact even the smallest change will have on their earnings should be given much consideration in any deliberation. All of us will be retired some day and if there is one group of individuals that is most affected but least represented, it is the retiree on a fixed income. A recent bill gained legislative approval that will allow retired public safety officers to use up to $3,000 annually from their pension funds to pay for qualified health insurance premiums without taxing those distributions. The bill awaits the President’s signature.

If there are savings to be had by our employer, the old City bargaining adage of “what’s mine is mine and what’s yours is mine” needs to be reevaluated. The City in

of the BPPA, after several meetings with the city bargaining team there is nothing productive to report. For those who maintain a sense of optimism that somehow this is going to be a quick or expeditious process, let me assure you it is not. I only wish this process could be as simple as the nearly 17% raises the mayor, council and city managers recently granted themselves. After nearly five meetings with the city we are finally in receipt of their initial proposals. After review and at first blush, we clearly have our work cut out for us.

Two topics of critical concern that the BPPA has warned about in the last few years have now seemingly arrived at our door. Our health care and pensions are on the radar and are susceptible to erosion if not protected. Health Care overhaul for public employees was considered and thwarted by legislature this past year. Our effective lobby and due dili-

gence by other public employee advocates helped the cause, no doubt the municipal managers will be back with a different scheme. We will be there to protect your interests.

Speaking of proposed threats to our benefits on Beacon Hill, and seemingly lost in the shuffle of a no contest Republican Party nomination is the recent promise by Lt. Governor Kerry Healy. Recently Healy suggested that if she were elected governor, she would change the pension system from the “defined benefit” pension system we currently enjoy, to a “defined contribution” plan that would only guarantee, you would know throughout your career what contribution you would make never knowing what monetary benefit you would enjoy at retirement, inside this type of 401k plan there is absolutely no certainty of a return on your investment, simply put it is very dangerous.

Employers like these types of continued on page A13

all their health care proposals figures to save millions and gain more flexibility. The status quo from the BPPA’s standpoint is not a bad position to be in. Whatever direction the City feels comfortable in pursuing, rest assured the strategy will be countered by our health care specialist, Carol Shandor, who is recognized across the state as a leader in the health care industry. The preservation of health benefits is just as important to the BPPA as the changes the city seeks.

Light Duty Practices An issue worth noting in Public Safety Labor News: light duty practices and the employer’s obligation to accommodate disabled officers…Baltimore had a light duty policy allowing officers to stay on the job. Eventually, 5% of the work force was not available to continue in a full duty capacity due to medical conditions of a permanent nature. The city implemented a new light duty policy, which after negotiation was amended to allow an officer up to 12 months to return to work from the date that the officer was deemed medically unqualified. The policy allowed an officer to be retained in the current classification until the officer qualified for a retirement benefit of 50 percent of his/her highest 18 month salary. Several officers sued the city alleging the policy violated the American’s with Disability Act. The litigation involved the city’s right to establish “the making of a forcible arrest” as an essential function of the job.

Under the ADA, an individual is not protected by the law unless the individual can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

The court found that the department was within its rights and did not exceed its bounds afforded it under the ADA in determining as an employer that being capable of making forcible arrests, driving vehicles under emergency conditions and firing weapons of deadly force are essential qualifications for

serving as a police officer.

Philadelphia officers had a similar lawsuit brought under the ADA. The city sought to dismiss the lawsuit contending that “patrol duties and the ability to physically combat crime are essential job functions required of all uniformed members of the PPD. The officers countered that “active patrol duties were not required in jobs they held prior to their termination and that they were performing all the essential functions of those positions - even the marginal functions – without accommodations. The federal trial court refused to dismiss the lawsuit questioning whether permitting the officers to remain on the job would constitute a ‘direct threat’ to public safety. Litigation is ongoing.

Many contracts across the country do not have language addressing partial police duty. The BPPA’s agreement does address particulars in that a neutral physician makes a final determination as to an officer’s fitness to return to duty in the event of the parties inability to agree; also the Department specifies the particular police duties to be performed before the officer’s return to partial duty and in addition the 3rd and subsequent officers on partial duty on a shift can be assigned to any work location determined by the Department though they remain on their district detail list.

At this point in time involuntary retirement is part of the process but has not become as volatile and contested an issue in Boston that it has in other cities. There is no doubt that the continued acknowledgement of light duty in the CBA gives an existing recognition that if involuntary retirement becomes an issue the current administrative positions and practice of filling those positions will be important factors in any future determination.

Stay safe and be vigilant and attentive in safeguarding the detail system.

Fraternally, Ron MacGillivray

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

Annual BPPA Awards Luncheon

By Jay Broderick, BPPA Secretary

On June 23rd, the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association held its second Awards luncheon. The event was held at the Phillips Old Colony House. An award luncheon gives the BPPA a chance to recognize the hard work performed by its members. I think that it’s significant that the incidents that are submitted to the Awards Board are done so by fellow police officers.

Twenty one members of the BPPA, most of whom were able to attend the luncheon, were presented with awards for actions taken in the performance of their duties. Many of those members in attendance were accompanied by their significant others and their children. The situations that these officers were honored for resulted in the seizure of over a dozen firearms and the arrests of four different suspects wanted for shootings and/or the discharge of firearms. In two other incidents, Officers immediately arrested suspects who had just committed shootings that ultimately resulted in homicides. One officer activated himself while off-duty and in his own vehicle and helped capture multiple suspects in a shooting.

Two other officers made dif-

BPPA President Tom Nee and Acting Commissioner Al Goslin with NAPO TOP COPS winners Ben Sealy and Al Young

ferent firearm arrests while performing paid details. Two officers pulled a man from a burning car.

The officers that received awards were Brian Ball, Dennis Medina, Michael Calabro, Omar Borges, Le Chau, Daniel Greene, Jason Ezekiel, James Lydon, Anthony Williams, Steve Fabiano, Edward Norton, Fred McDonald, Pat Creavin, Bruce Higgins, Rico Lucien, Richie Medina, Tim Golden, Pat Rogers, Sean Doherty, Ben Sealy, and Al Young.

Officers Al Young and Ben Sealy were also nominated by the BPPA for the TOP COPS Awards which is presented by the National Association of Police officers (NAPO). Officers Young and Sealy were

Jason Ezekial and Jimmy Lydon

chosen from hundreds of nominations nationwide and were selected as one of the ten TOP COPS Awards. They were honored at a ceremony held in Washington DC during Police Week.

Acting Police Commissioner Al Goslin and Deputy Superintendent Linskey attended the luncheon. Commissioner Goslin, during his remarks, commended the actions of the honorees while commenting that he realizes that 99 percent of the men and women on the patrol force do an outstanding job on a daily basis.

Boston City Councilors John Tobin and Jerry McDermott were also honored due to their continued dedication and efforts on be-

half of the membership of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association. Councilor Tobin was able to attend the luncheon despite the fact that his wife was about to go into labor at any minute. He expressed his thanks for the continued support of the BPPA and of its members. Councilor McDermott was unable to attend due to a prior commitment.

Most of our members are extremely humble and are not in the habit of self-promotion.

That being said, there are some incredibly brave actions that are performed on a daily basis by many of our members. More firearms are being taken off the street than ever before. This is all being done despite the fact that staffing

levels are down and resources are spread to the thinnest possible levels. These actions are seldom written about in the local newspapers yet they don’t hesitate to take shots when there’s an embarrassing story. Articles containing quotes from people in the community, about the police “not doing their jobs”, are everywhere but the media is silent with little to no coverage about the juries that fail to convict individuals who shoot police officers, despite overwhelming evidence.

What we’ll see in March though, is the stories about how much money police officers made last year. What won’t be included is how many of those “lucrative” overtime hours were made mandatory because of a lack of available officers.

Even the department has seemed to shy away from acknowledging exceptional acts of police work. I cannot remember the last department awards ceremony and the practice of awarding C Days to officers is frowned upon because of the overtime it creates.

Please keep sending us the reports that you think are deserving of recognition. You can fax it, mail it, or just drop it off at the BPPA offices.

Stay safe.

Tom Nee and Rico Lucien

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Brian Ball and Dennis Medina City Councilor John Tobin

Tom Nee and Bruce Higgins

Richie Medina

Omar Borges and Le Chau Anthony Williams and Steve Fabiano

Fred McDonald and Pat Creavin

Kevin Jones, Bobby England, and their assistants

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EATON VANCE IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF The Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association Scholarship Fund to Benefit Families of Police Officers

E AT O N VA N C E A L EADING F INANCIAL S ERVICES C OMPANY W ITH 80 Y EARS O F I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT E XPERIENCE © 2004 Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. • The Eaton Vance Building • 255 State Street • Boston, MA 02109 • www.eatonvance.com

JULY/AUGUST 2006

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Romney vetoes Truck Team Bill continued from page A1

sociation. The fines for being overweight or not having the right warning placards for dangerous cargo or for illegally traveling through a highly populated area of the city with a potential bomb strapped on 18 wheels.

Ahhh, those fines keep adding up for breaking the law. The only argument ever brought up to the BPPA by the truckers’ lobbyists was the fines. But fines don’t just fall from the sky. Fines are for breaking the law. Fines for defective equipment, for cargo that was dangerously leaking, for bringing hazardous materials through a neighborhood.

To the truckers association, they had to ask themselves ...what was this.... now we are being stopped on

Commercial Street? Now we are getting fined for breaking the law? Lets go back to the old way...when Boston Police didn’t inspect our trucks. Until local police departments started to look more closely at commercial carriers and conduct inspections this was not an issue for truckers. Cynical?

Perhaps.

Up until this point the Boston Police Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit had been conducting routine carrier inspections on a daily basis. The unit does not conduct terminal audits ever. Those audits have been and will continue to be conducted by the Mass.

State Police. The BPD unit (consisting of six Boston Police Officers and a Sergeant) has been trained and certified by the DOT on the Federal Motor

Protest attracts aging radical-bombers, Councilor Turner continued from page A1

tery on a police officer, disorderly conduct and trespassing. He attends antiwar rallies, pesters law-abiding, working citizens, and fantasizes that he is a victim of an oppressive society. He claims he is employed as a “political activist”. I wonder who pays his salary?…

Now, the causes of crime in the inner city are many (as we will discuss in the Pax in this issue), but one cannot dismiss the importance of an elected official from the inner-city standing with the likes of a scumbag coward who participated in bombing planes and courthouses in the tumultuous 70’s. As the old saying goes, “you’re known by the company you keep; lay down with dogs and you’ll wake up with fleas”. Councilor Turner is known for making outlandish, antipolice/ anti-military accusations. He once staged a press conference featuring images gleaned from a pornowebsite and attempted to present photos taken from that website as “proof” of military rapes in Iraq. He should have long ago been discredited and shown the door by the overwhelming majority of law-abiding citizens who unfortunately reside under his “counseling” (or whatever it is that he does), but somehow, he keeps getting elected.

Councilor Turner did return a phone call to his office, and stated that he sees no problem in his relationship with Mr. Picariello, whom he admits meeting and conversing with on prior occasions. Turner stated “that once a person serves their sentence, they have all the rights and freedoms of anybody else in society”. I pressed Turner on the issue of the propriety

of an elected official socializing with an individual such as Mr. Picariello. I asked Councilor Turner what his opinion would be of an elected official who, for example, associated with a convicted felon KKK member who had participated in the church bombings of the 1960’s. The councilor launched into a diatribe about constitutional rights, Christianity, Jesus, forgiveness ad nauseum and that is was “un-American” to shun people who had paid their debt to society. (Somehow, I can’t picture Councilor Turner holding hands with Bull Connors or David Duke and singing “Kumbaya”, but politics does make strange bedfellows.) Personally, I’d avoid Picariello and his ilk like the plague.

(I also avoid all known rapists, murderers, drug-dealers, pedophiles and assorted other dregs, maggots and scumbags, but that’s just me, “UnAmerican Jim”.)

When we see elected officials standing with convicted terrorist felons like Richard Picarellio, when said City Councilors do not quickly and adamantly disassociate themselves from such deplorable individuals, the message received is loud and clear: respect for law and order and common decency is diminished. Criminal, violent conduct is rationalized, excused and even acceptable. When crime is out of control in one’s own community, Councilor Turner should not look for excuses such as diminished federal funding, US imperialism, police brutality or the lack of a civilian review board. No, Councilor, take a look in the mirror. To paraphrase Shakespeare, “The fault lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.”

JULY/AUGUST 2006 Safety Act at the Mass. State Police Academy. The unit’s creation was an initiative of the Boston Police Department, Department of Homeland Security and the United States Department of Transportation.

The reversal of this law started immediately by the BPPA on July 9th with visits to both Chairmen of the Transportation Committee, Senator Steven Baddour and Representative Joe Wagner. The Chairmen could not be more helpful and empathic. Both agreed if this was something that impacted the BPD and Homeland Security then let’s fix it ASAP. But a huge roadblock was the clock for the end of this legislative year (July 31st) and there were not a lot of opportunities to push a corrective piece through both branches. But BPPA legislative friends in both branches started to search for a plan that could survive a governor’s veto.

On late Thursday evening, July 20, that vehicle was found within the deficiency budget. Pushed by the heroic efforts of Chairmen Baddour with Senators Steven Tolman, Senator Joan Menard and Ways and Means Chairwoman Therese Murray, all keeping it moving along on the Senate side, and the heroic efforts of Representatives Ron Mariano and Brian Dempsey on the House side. Let’s not forget the the blessings of Senate President Travaglini and House Speaker Sal DiMasi. We were tacked onto the budget as an amendment (squeezed in so tightly, we were Section 2 and 3/4 ) that corrected the language. The piece passed both branches that evening and was sent to Governor Mitt Romney. This was the equivalent of moving a mountain.

In final days with nothing moving and no appropriate vehicle we hooked into the only thing passing. Thanks to our friends, we moved that mountain.

Everything was moving along pretty well with this corrective piece passing both branches of the legislature and supported by the chairmen of the transportation committee and now just waiting for Governor Mitt Romney’s signature. A no-brainier right? A week before the timeline for him to sign the piece, I contacted and lobbied the Governor’s staff for passage. Piles of information supporting the issue from the BPD, BPPA and the city’s lobbyist poured into the Governor’s office. On Friday all indications were that the Governor’s own Administration and Finance Division was recommencing the Governor sign this. On the issue itself Homeland Security and public safety this is where the story should end.

On Friday, ( July 28) afternoon into the early evening, I waited in the House Clerk’s office for the Governor

to return the budget. Then at 6:00 p.m. what happened was something nobody could believe, Mitt Romney vetoed the corrective language. Against all advise from his own staff, Mitt sided with the truckers association and against a Homeland Security initiative for the capital city of his State.

The only day left to override Mitt’s veto was on Monday, (July 31st). The last formal session ending at midnight. This piece could not be corrected in the informal sessions that will continue until the end of the year, because the truckers would step in front of it every time. Now or never the mountain had to be moved again.

Once again our friends Representatives Brian Dempsey and Ron Mariano, along with Dave Nangle, John Rogers and Tom Petrolati stepped up for us. BPPA President Tom Nee and I went to see Speaker Sal DiMasi and were assured by him this was going to be overridden. The same thing on the Senate side with Senators Baddour, Tolman, Murray and Menard all pushing for override.

House voted first 154 - 0 and the Senate was next 36 - 1 to overwhelmingly override the governor’s veto, ending what could have been a disaster for Boston. The mountain moved twice and our friends stood tall with us.

The only legislator in the building that voted for upholding the veto was

As for Mitt Romney, the man who would like to be President, we can’t wait to let the National Association of Police Organizations (representing 375,000 police officers and all the major cities in the country).

Know what we think about his veto. Say good night Mitt, and keep on truckin’…

Republican Senator Scott Brown of Needham. I’m really not sure why Senator Scott Brown voted against this Homeland Security initiative, but maybe he can tell the many people living in his district that travel to and from Boston every day why. As for Mitt Romney, the man who would like to be President, we can’t wait to let the National Association of Police Organizations (representing 375,000 police officers and all the major cities in the country). Know what we think about his veto. Say good night Mitt, and keep on truckin’…

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Mistrials, light sentences… continued from page A1

upper-class privilege, expressed no remorse for shooting Officer Ford. He was also convicted previously of dealing marijuana and firearms violations.

The light sentence in the attempted murder of Officer Ford came on the heels of other instances of attempted murders of Boston police officers which have resulted in hung juries. Days before the Ford verdict, a Norfolk County Superior Court jury deadlocked on whether Horacio Mays “intended” to kill Boston Officer Scott O’Brien in January 2004, as O’Brien went to arrest him in Quincy while serving with the BPD’s entry/apprehension team. Mays shot Officer O’Brien in the jaw and forearm as he hid in an upstairs attic attempting to evade capture. Regardless, the braindead, indecisive members of the jury could not reach a decision as to “intent”, and so deadlocked. A retrial is expected sometime next year.

This case followed the infamous attempted murder of Officer Zenaida Flores, who was shot three times point-blank as she lay on the ground in Chinatown by a 400lb pig named James Gaines. Officer Flores survived, amazingly, but only to be forced to suffer through a second trial as a result of a mistrial in which a con-

spiracy-nut, cop-hating juror (identified by the Boston Globe as a Mr. Frank Shand, unemployed roofer from Jamaica Plain) refused to convict the behemoth because he didn’t believe the police version of events. The juror thought, among other things, that “there should have been video of the shooting, and since there wasn’t, that indicated a police cover-up or conspiracy”. The corpulent pig (no insult intended toward the fourlegged providers of tasty pork products) was eventually convicted and sentenced in a second trial. Officer Flores, however, was forced to retire as a result of her injuries and the trauma of having to go through a second trial.

Several other recent cases have highlighted judicial contempt for police officers while making it easier for violent criminals to ply their trade. In June, the Mass. Appeals court threw out the conviction of a man carrying a firearm on the crime-infested streets of Dorchester because the police did not have (according to the court) what amounted to a “reasonable suspicion” to stop the suspect in the first place.

The officers, John Conway and Dean Bickerton, had observed the suspect Michael DePeiza, walking down Delhi Street in Mattapan holding his

JULY/AUGUST 2006 hand rigidly against his body. When questioned, the suspect shifted his weight, kept his right side away from their view, and avoided eye contact.

More observations included the fact that his jacket tilted to the side, indicating a weighty object inside the pocket. The officers conducted a search, and (voila!) found a gun.

Despite this, the eunuchs in black robes occupying the high and mighty chairs of the Mass. Appeals Court indicated that the arrest was but another example of insidious “racial profiling”. “I can only hope that these practices will not degenerate into stops based upon “breathing while black”, wrote “Justice” Frederick L. Brown.

Judge Brown apparently doesn’t understand that gun-toting thugs sometimes try to hide things from police officers.

Undoubtedly, Judge Brown does not reside in the communities terrorized by these young thugs. But this is the sick, sad, pathetic state of affairs, which has been created largely by our overwhelmingly liberal, elitist judiciary who do not reside in the real world that the rest of us occupy. Many, if not most, of the judiciary reside in safe, secluded leafy enclaves, far removed from the terror-ridden streets of urban areas. Their interaction with the real world lies only in the antiseptic atmosphere of their courtroom,

they delight in the technical nuances of the law, and they take vicarious pleasure in discovering new and unique ways of handcuffing the police while freeing the criminals. In short, they are as responsible for the increase in crime as any of the myriad of phony social/environmental factors most often cited by criminologists and other “experts” who appear on the nightly news trying to explain away the recent surge in violent crime.

Obviously, the lives of police officers are cheap and expendable, if one looks at the light sentences meted out for those who attempt to kill cops and the indecisive, waffling “hung” juries who are all too willing to believe in police-conspiracy theories. (And we’re not even talking about the daily assaults upon police officers, which have (sadly) become routine, or as one brilliant jurist once said from the bench “police officers have to expect some “hurly-burly” out there”) As of press time, more judicial horror stories were pouring into the Pax, courtesy of our members and friends, and we’ll bring you those accounts in the next issue as we receive the documentation. (Surprise, surprise! Our good friend Judge Mark Summerville will be playing a starring role!) Violence is unleashed when the police are handcuffed. No surprise there…

THERMAL NORTH AMERICAN, INC

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

Thomas Drechsler, Esq.

FINNERAN, BYRNE & DRECHSLER, L.L.P. Counsel to Members of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association

LEGAL THOUGHTS I have received a number of inquiries recently about the new Federal law relating to the carrying of concealed firearms by law enforcement officers outside of their home states. In 2004 the United States Congress enacted a statute which some refer to as the “National Concealed Carry for Cops” bill, 18 U.S.C.A. §926B. This law basically allows any individual who is a “qualified law enforcement officer,” and who is carrying the appropriate identification, to carry a concealed firearm that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.

The statute, in subsection (c), defines “qualified law enforcement officer” as an employee of a governmental agency who (1) “is authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or the incarceration of any person for, any violation of law, and has statutory pow-

Thank You from Iraq I just wanted to send a thank you to all of the you at the BPPA. I received the care package and it was really too much. My platoon will be eating those snacks until we get home.

Everything over here is fine. I know that the other members, Terry Burke, Dan McMorrow, Joe Lee, Doc Williams, and Mike Fayles, all appreciate the support we have received from the members back in Boston.

The bulls’ eye bumper stickers are proudly displayed on my gun truck. The guys got a real kick out of it.

Take care.

Mike Brown

ers of arrest.” This would presumably apply to police officers and potentially others, including correction officers and, depending upon the laws of a particular state, deputy sheriffs. In order to be “qualified” a person would have to be authorized by the agency which employs him or her to carry the firearm.

The person may only carry a service firearm under this law out of state if the officer is “not the subject of any disciplinary action by the agency.” That particular provision is unclear and fraught with the possibility of misinterpretation. Until the statute is the subject of further clarification as to what is meant by “subject of any disciplinary action,” I would proceed with extreme caution in this area.

It would seem reasonable to assume though that any officer who is currently under suspension would not be able to carry a concealed firearm under this statutory provision. On the other hand, it really is not clear whether or not an officer who has disciplinary charges pending, for example, would fall within the provisions of this statute.

What about a past disciplinary record? What about an officer who is on some sort of disciplinary probation? These answers are unclear. I would argue that “subject to” would require at the very least that there must be a disciplinary suspension currently imposed. I would be reluctant, however, to advise anyone with pending discipline to rely upon the protections of this statute until there is further interpretation.

A qualified law enforcement officer, to meet the statutory criteria, must meet the standards required by his or her employing agency re-

garding regular qualification for the use of the firearm. The officer must also not be under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicating or hallucinatory drug or substance while carrying the firearm.

Finally, the officer must not be under any Federal legal prohibition from receiving a firearm. This would clearly apply to someone who has been convicted, for example, of a disqualifying crime such as a crime of domestic assault.

The statute also requires that the qualified law enforcement officer carry a particular type of identification. This identification must be a photographic I.D. issued by the agency which employees the law enforcement officer. Remember also that this statute is limited to firearms, the definition of which excludes machine guns, firearm silencers and any destructive devices as defined by 18 U.S.C. §921.

Thus it appears as if the right to carry out of state would be limited to an officer’s service weapon issued by or authorized by the employing agency.

Subsection (b) of the statute specifically states that this law does not supersede or limit the laws of any state which permit a private person or entity to prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms on their private property. Furthermore, the law does not override any restrictions imposed by any state or local government on the possession of firearms on any state or local government property, installation, building, base or park. For example, if the state in question prohibits possession of a firearm in a courthouse or any other public building, this Federal law would not act to legalize the possession by a law enforce-

ment officer of this firearm in such a location. The law likewise does not allow law enforcement officers to carry weapons in areas in which Federal law or regulation prohibits possession of firearms.

For example, you still cannot carry a firearm into an aircraft or into a Federal building or national park at least without express permission. The definition of a state under this law would include the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as well as other possessions of the United States.

This law was apparently passed to fulfill the objective of having as many eyes and ears of law enforcement as possible out everywhere in this country for the purposes of assisting in Homeland Security. There is even a statutory provision, 18 U.S.C. §926C, which authorizes the carrying of concealed firearms by qualified retired law enforcement officers. The provision for retired officers requires that the officers, to be qualified retired law enforcement officers, be retired in good standing from a public law enforcement agency for reasons other than mental instability. The law requires that before retirement the officer was fully authorized to act as a law enforcement officer as the term is defined earlier. The officer must have been employed before retirement for an aggregate of 15 years or more. If the officer retired due to a disability, it must have been after completion of any initial probationary employment period. To fall within the statute the retired officer must have a right to benefits under the retirement plan of the agency and must continue to qualify within every 12month period just as he or she

would under the state standards for active law enforcement officers. Again, when carrying the retired officer must not be under the influence of alcohol or any drugs and must not be prohibited by Federal law from receiving the firearm.

A word of warning: This is a complicated law. It has yet to be interpreted. Before I would advise anyone to carry a weapon into another state, particularly on any mode of public transportation, it would be best to check with the authorities which govern the venue as well as law enforcement authorities in the state to which you are traveling to determine the particular prohibitions and restrictions which might be applicable under this law. You would not want to end up as the first person prosecuted for a violation of this law. Remember also, however, that if you were to draw, aim or use the firearm in any way, your conduct would be governed by the law of the state in which that act occurred. If you are going to carry the firearm and you were ever to use it, it would be best to be familiar with the laws of the state in which you are carrying regarding self defense, defense of another, etc. Remember also that while you may be able to carry the firearm out of state you may not have the power of arrest beyond that of an ordinary citizen in that state. Again, I would emphasize proceeding cautiously if you are going to rely upon the protections of this law when carrying out of state. It would always be best to check with a law enforcement agency in the state which you are going to visit to be sure that you are in legal compliance.

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

John M. Becker, Esq., BPPA Labor Counsel

SANDULLI GRACE, P.C. Counsel to Members of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association

The rules of engagement: Collective bargaining basics Without a union, an individual employee is at the mercy of his or her employer’s whims: “You want a raise?

You’re lucky we don’t fire you!” Being part of a union doesn’t exactly even the odds—the employer is still the employer and the employees are still the employees—but a collective bargaining agreement with binding arbitration for grievances is a powerful tool in curbing employer excesses.

But where does the collective bargaining agreement, known colloquially as a “contract,” even though it is somewhat different from a run-of-the-mill contract, come from? With the BPPA and the City of Boston once again sitting down at the bargaining table to negotiate a new contract, this is as good a time as any to review the basics of public sector collective bargaining in Massachusetts.

1. Playing by the rules: Good faith bad faith bargaining Section 6 of Chapter 150E of the Massachusetts General Laws states that public employers and the unions representing their employees must: “meet at reasonable times, including meetings in advance of the employer’s budget-making process, and shall negotiate in good faith with respect to wages, hours, standards of productivity and performance, and any other terms and conditions of employment, … but such obligation shall not compel either party to agree to a proposal or make a concession.”

If either the union or the employer violates Section 6, the other party may file an unfair labor practice charge with the state Labor Relations Commission and seek various remedies.

But what does it mean to “negotiate in good faith”? The Labor Relations Commission and the courts have explored this concept in great depth since Chapter 150E went into effect in 1974. The Commission has decided that, in determining whether bargaining was done in good faith or bad faith, it will look at the ‘totality of the circumstances’ to determine whether each party has entered into discussion with an open and fair mind, has a sincere purpose to find agreement and is making reasonable efforts to compromise. One example of bad faith bargaining is ‘surface bargaining’, in which one party pretends to want to bargain seriously, but is in fact avoid-

ing a real attempt to reach a resolution.

What kinds of facts tend to indicate bad faith bargaining on the part of a public employer? One obvious example is the employer’s refusal to meet to negotiate. An employer also engages in bad faith bargaining when it attempts to bypass the union and bargain with employees directly regarding their working conditions, a tactic called ‘direct dealing.’ Such actions have the effect, intended or not, of weakening the union’s ability to speak with one voice in negotiations.

Another factor is the nature of the employer’s bargaining team. Is there someone on the team who has significant authority? If the employer’s representative is simply transmitting proposals back and forth and making nonbinding recommendations to the employer, that may be considered bad faith bargaining.

The substance of the negotiations may also reveal bad faith bargaining.

As discussed below, insistence on reaching agreement on certain topics, known as nonmandatory subjects of bargaining, can be considered bad faith bargaining. It is normally bad faith bargaining if one party requires the other to withdraw pending litigation, such as an unfair labor practice charge, as a condition of accepting a proposal. (This is not to say that parties cannot make agreements involving pending litigation, but neither party can insist on such agreements.)

The employer also has an ongoing duty to provide information that is relevant to bargaining to the union upon request. A failure to do so is almost always bad faith bargaining.

2. Know your rights: Mandatory and nonmandatory subjects of bargaining What do the parties bargain about? The basic subjects listed in Section 6 are: wages, hours, standards of productivity and performance, and ‘other terms and conditions of employment.’ These are mandatory subjects of bargaining, meaning that either party has the right to demand to negotiate over the topic, all the way until the parties reach either agreement or impasse. Topics that do not fit within the category of mandatory subjects are called nonmandatory subjects. The parties may not insist on bargaining over nonmandatory sub-

jects, or bargain to impasse, but they may agree to bargain over these subjects and include them in the contract.

The largest category of mandatory subjects is contained within Section 6’s phrase “other terms and conditions of employment.” A few of the mandatory subjects are: health insurance; work load; seniority; work assignments; job duties; assignment of unit work to nonunit employees; grooming standards; time off for union business; physical examinations; residency; paid leave; grievance procedures; union dues and agency fee payments; scheduled overtime; and drug testing.

Nonmandatory subjects include: core governmental decisions; hiring additional employees; unscheduled overtime; the right of assignment; wage parity clauses; bargaining ground rules; and minimum manning. Note that, even in the case of nonmandatory subjects, the employer is obligated to negotiate over the impacts of those decisions on mandatory subjects.

3. Bring it to the main table: unilateral changes during negotiation What happens if a new issue arises while the parties are bargaining?

When the employer seeks to make a unilateral change in a mandatory subject of bargaining (or that has an impact on a mandatory subject) during the term of the contract, the employer is supposed to notify the union before the change and give the union an opportunity to bargain. This is called ‘interim bargaining’ and has not been a consistent practice of the City of Boston and the Boston Police Department in the past, forcing the BPPA to file numerous unfair labor practice charges. During interim bargaining, when it does occur, the parties only discuss the specific change that is being contemplated. Give and take in such a situation is very limited and it is fairly easy to reach impasse. (Once the parties reach impasse, the employer may implement the change.)

But if the employer seeks to make a unilateral change during the period when the parties are in contract negotiations (or when they are usually in contract negotiations) either party can insist that the proposed change be put on the main table with all the other issues that are being discussed. This

gives the parties more leverage than in the typical one-issue interim bargaining negotiation scenario.

4. Show me the money: Funding the agreement Assuming all goes well and the parties reach a voluntary agreement, they must reduce the agreement to writing and sign it. The agreement then becomes binding on the executive branch of government – in Boston, the Mayor and the various departments within the executive branch. The Mayor, Police Commissioner, and various other officials then are obligated to support the agreement before the legislative branch – in Boston, the City Council – by submitting a budget that funds the contract and publicly advocating for its adoption. The budget cannot be contingent on some other action, such as a Proposition 2-1/2 override.

Unfortunately, since Proposition 21/2, the parties’ agreement is not binding on the legislative branch, the City Council has the power to reject the cost items of the contract. In that case, the parties would have to return to the bargaining table. This rarely occurs. Once the legislative branch does fund the cost items of a contract’s first year, it is obligated to fund the other two years of the contract. (Normally, state law requires collective bargaining agreements to cover periods of three years or less.) There is an exception to this general rule: if the parties agree on a minimum manning clause, it must be funded year-byyear. Funding for the first year does not obligate the employer to provide funding for a minimum manning clause for the other years of the contract.

5. Stuck in the middle with you: How to deal with impasse It may be that, after a certain amount of bargaining, one or both parties believe that they have reached impasse. If the parties disagree, one may file an unfair labor practice charge, in which case the Commission will look at four factors in determining impasse: (1) good faith of the parties; (2) length of negotiations; (3) importance of the issues the parties disagree about; (4) the contemporaneous understanding of the parties about the state of the negotiations. If the Comcontinued on page A13

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

Remembering the Strike of 1919

By Mark A. Bruno Looking back on the 1919 Strike I cannot help but find some similarities almost 100 years later in how our current Mayor and Governor have managed to repeat history.

The only difference being is that these two current politicians are self-serving-opportunists who are only looking for the spotlight. The Governor, much like Calvin Coolidge is looking to catapult himself into the White House. If not for the Strike of 1919, Calvin Coolidge may

View from Here continued from page A3

plans because they relieve them of their obligation of guaranteeing a retirement benefit. It is not my intention to make this an issue of partisan politics, but this is clearly a Republican initiative that many of our colleagues have been tracking around the country. Recently in California, a similar initiative was thwarted when the police and fire unions commercialized the fact if the proposal were adopted, any police officer or firefighter who was permanently disabled, or survived as a result of a line of duty death would only receive as compensation for their sacri-

not have become President of the United States. His actions toward the strikers made him look like a national hero. All those officers who chose to walk off the job in support of having an organized union were fired and not allowed back on the job. The Storrow committee lead by James Storrow worked feverishly right up to the end to try and resolve the outstanding issues facing the patrolmen at the time and they were many.

James Storrow wrote to President McInnes (newly formed

Police Union leader), and in his opinion he felt that the officers did have a right to form an organization to address the issues at hand, but their affiliation with the AFL (organized labor union) would have to be severed. He felt that a conflict of interest would compromise officers who might have to control any strike brought on by any organized labor affiliated with the AFL. He also stated that he felt working conditions of officers needed to be addressed. Sound familiar?

fices the monies invested in the 401k by the employee. No disability pension, no death benefit.The governor put it on the ballot, thankfully the voters of California shot it down..

To our membership we must say that any politician running on this type of platform must not be considered for elected office under any circumstance. Even if they were to promise not to consider police or fire pensions under this type of initiative understand this that would simply be a half truth. Picking off everyone else first would only put us on an island by ourselves, extremely susceptible to being picked off in round two. Please educate yourself

to the platforms and proposals of the many candidates who seek your vote. Our legislative agent will keep you informed along the way.

As we get along into the dog days of summer I hope that you make the time to take a step back and enjoy some quality time with those who’s company you enjoy and that round out your life. It is very disturbing the number of idiots out there that have recently taken up arms against police officers. Please take the time if you can to get some rest and above all else please be safe out there.

Fraternally, TJ Nee

Collective bargaining basics continued from page A11

mission determines there is no impasse, it can order the parties to return to the bargaining table.

For fire and police unions in Massachusetts, state law provides a mechanism for situations in which the parties cannot reach agreement voluntarily. One or both parties may invoke the state’s Joint Labor-Management Committee for Police and Fire to intervene. The JLMC then assigns an investigator to determine if it should intervene. If the answer is yes, the JLMC will assign a mediator or mediators to attempt to broker a voluntary settlement. If the parties are still stuck after a reasonable time in mediation, the JLMC will usually assign a panel of three arbitrators – one a police officer, one a

municipal official and one a neutral – to resolve the case.

The JLMC usually restricts the number of issues that the parties can arbitrate. After the parties have put on their cases before the arbitrators, a decision is issued which is then binding on the parties. Both parties then have an obligation to support the agreement.

The City Council, however, is not obligated to fund the agreement, although in general the vast majority of contracts across the state are funded by the legislative branch.

6. Ageless and evergreen: The evergreen clause What happens if the contract expires without an agreement? It is often the case that the parties have not reached agreement by the time that the current collec-

tive bargaining agreement is due to expire. Fortunately for BPPA members, your contract contains and ‘evergreen clause.’ An evergreen clause states that the terms of the contract will continue in full force and effect until the parties negotiate another contract. So, even though the bargaining process can seem to proceed at a glacial pace sometimes, the evergreen clause preserves the status quo after the old contract expires.

Each set of negotiations takes its own shape and follows its own path, but knowing these basic concepts should help in following the ups and downs of the current struggle by your negotiators to improve your wages, hours and working conditions.

Now let us fast-forward to the Democratic National Convention and the BPPA along with other city unions that were without a contract. The Mayor managed to manipulate the Governor who manipulated the courts to render a six-page decision that put us into three days expedited binding arbitration process that was unprecedented. The only difference between now and then is that Mayor Peters and Governor Coolidge hated each other.

Governor Coolidge waited until the last possible moment to render assistance to Mayor Peters who at one point took a swipe at the governor. Governor Romney and Mayor Mennino have proven to be no friends of organized labor, although I’m sure the Mayor will be invited to the annual Labor Day breakfast, which confounds me. The current Mayor and the Governor are working on their next assault of the BPPA, which obviously is the Muni merger. Civil Service and the Human Resource Division have been loaded up with Republican appointees who are assigned to do only one thing and that is to blow up organized labor. When you are trying to play by the rules and you constantly find that the deck is being stacked against you how can you not get discouraged? Unfortunately for the Mayor and the Governor this only infuriates the members of this Union who undoubtedly will uncover the corruption and manipulation involved in this attempted merger. Not allowing our lawyers to make video copies of the corrupt proceedings that granted the fake civil service statuses to the Munis sounds a lot like the Watergate scandal that led to President Nixon’s resignation. Showing what corruption took place under the Romney administration to the national media will hopefully keep this empty (union hating) suit out of the White House.

It is unfortunate that personalities got in the way both now and then from what could have been easily resolved. When you deal with a bunch of zealots and mega-

lomaniacs that think they are bigger than anyone you usually find yourself in a headon confrontation. In both eras it appeared to be David versus Goliath with the outcome being not as good for David.

Back in 1919 these officers were striking for the right to unionize which laid the foundation for today’s BPPA. They were looking for better working conditions and fair pay.

Almost one century later and the battle-cry is still the same.

We owe these officers’ and their families a great debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they made.

Bringing notice to some of the subtle similarities almost a century later intrigued me, but make no mistake that the officers of today did not suffer the fate that our predecessors did back then. When these officers walked off the job most of them were met with violent mobs who were hellbent on revenge. These officers were assaulted with bottles, rocks, mud and fisticuffs by angry citizens who waited for them to walkout of their roll-calls’ and declare themselves on strike. The worst violence occurred in South Boston where rioters pillaged and destroyed just for the hell of it. None of these officers who walked off the job would be rehired. They held their ground in a futile attempt to right an injustice to those officers that were suspended for refusing to relinquish their affiliation with the AFL. Today we understand the implications of a police strike better. We also know from experience that having sand kicked in our faces constantly and items shoved down our throats will not rectify anything. Cooler heads and a sense of fair play are all the BPPA has ever asked for.

In closing I would like to thank the two leading historians of our union, James Carnell and Freddie Hirst, for their help with this article. I merely scratched the surface on this tumultuous event, but for those interested in reading up on this subject you may read “A City in Terror, 1919 The Boston Police Strike” by Francis Russell, The Viking Press New York.

PAX CENTURION

By P.O. John Mullen, Area A On August 12, 2006 at the reservetraining center Londonderry New Hampshire the roar of engines could be heard for miles. It was not coming from the Manchester-Boston Airport but from over 175 motorcycles that had arrived at the base in support of Bravo Co. 1/25th Marine Rifle Co. currently deployed to Iraq for operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Enforcers MC Clubs of Boston, New Hampshire and Cape Cod, a law enforcement motorcycle club, had joined forces with the Bravo Co. Key Volunteer Unit to raise funds for the Families of the deployed Marines by holding a Poker Run. The event was organized by John P. Mullan, a Boston Police Officer and Vice President of the Boston Enforcers. Officer Mullan’s son Patrick Mullan, is a member of Bravo Co. and is currently serving in Fallujah.

“I wanted to do something to raise some money and let them know that we care about them and we are thinking about them,” Mullan said.

The riders, some who came from as far as Syracuse, N.Y., Are “all very proud of the Marines and are pulling for them and we all understand what they are doing” Mullan said. “People who ride, if you give them a good cause and something to do where they can bring there bikes they will show up”

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Hitting the target for Marines

Bikers from Rolling Thunder, The Leather Necks, The Honorable Few, and The Nam Knights as well as over 25 Enforcers from three states and other veterans clubs all turned up in support.

Each rider and passenger traveled to five posts along a predetermined route to pick a card at each post and create a poker hand. The winner of the highest hand won $1000.00 dollars and the worst hand won $100.00 dollars.

“Anything to support the kids over there in what they are doing”, said James Davis, a Boston Police Officer and President of the New Hampshire Chapter of the Enforcers. “In Vietnam we didn’t get the support so here we have to show them we support them.” “And it’s a beautiful day,” he added. “The only thing more we could ask is that they all return home safe.”

Michelle Proulx, whose husband, Staff Sgt. Daniel Proulx, is deployed

with the unit, said “It’s great to see people come out and support our Marines and the people in the military”.

She said the money raised would assure the deployed Marines that their families are being taken care of while they are deployed. “They won’t have to worry about their families,” said Proulx, who is a member of the Key Volunteer Support Group. “We are all here to support their families”.

In most cases at the end of a poker run there is a cookout with burgers and hot dogs. At this event the Enforcers had the help of Kelly J. Murphy the proprietor of the Outback Steak House of Lowell. “Kelly and her crew did an outstanding job on the food,” said Mullan “Nobody expected steak and chicken for lunch”. The Outback provided food for 300 people, free of charge, to show their support.

“The event was a complete success, drawing more than 175 bikes and raising more then $10,000.00 for the Marines”, said Mullan. “And it is my hope that we can do it again next year”. “We intend to put all the photos we have taken plus the photos that the Marines have sent from Iraq into a video with music and send it to them so they can enjoy it also”. Any one wishing to contact the Enforcers MC may do so by going to the EnforcersMC.com or Law Enforcement biker.com

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3 Classrooms Classes start at $18/day Mass. Early Education License 291031 2 yr. 8 mo to 6 yrs.

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Compliments of

Novartis

JULY/AUGUST 2006

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association

With our compliments and deep appreciation

18 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108 275 Grove Street, Newton, MA 02466 www.unicco.com 617-527-5222

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Thanks For Being Nice To The Dorks In Our Office Who Keep Setting Off The Alarm.

The VIA Group is proud to support the Boston Police Scholarship Fund.

Because we can all benefit from higher intelligence.

www.vianow.com

JULY/AUGUST 2006

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

Conversations with Commitment

Summer Songs

By P.O. Joe Commitment This is first in a series of conversations with the movers, shakers and major players on the Boston police scene. My guest is Mayor Menino.

P.O. Joe Commitment: Is it true that your adamant stubbornness and hostility towards the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association rest on the guilty belief that the wrongs you have done to the police officers of Boston will not be forgiven, and that you have therefore no alternative but to finish off the BPPA, either by financial attrition through limitless litigation or by some wholesale civilianization of the Department?

Mayor Menino: Whaaa?

P.O. Joe Commitment: In labor relations, especially contract negotiations with the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, you have demonstrated treachery, mendacity, folly and vindictiveness. You have also shown an utter inability to learn by experience or to sympathize with any noble ambition of the members of the BPPA. It also seems that you have exhibited a readiness to follow mean-spirited counsel. Moreover, a dreadful lack of critical judgment and ingratitude towards Boston’s police officers appear to have eroded confidence in your ability to govern. Your comments?

Mayor Menino: Huh?

Concerns of Police Survivors Mid-Atlantic Police Motorcycle Safety Competition

continued on page A21

The 27th Annual Mid-Atlantic Police Motorcycle Safety Competition will be September 14-16 at WalMart Super Center in Fredricksburg, VA. There is also a raffle for a new Harley. Proceeds benefit “C.O.P.S. Kids/Teens”. For information, visit: www.mapmrc.com

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

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A police opera comes to life

By Carstairs Arbuthnot, Ph.D, Professor of Composition, Fields Corner Conservatory of Music

Several years ago a group of opera lovers from the ranks of our patrolmen’s association formed the BPPA Operatic Ensemble with the hope of creating its own opera based on a Boston theme.

The Boston Police Patrolmen’s Operatic Ensemble (BOPOPOE) contracted the services of an eminent Italian musician, Marcello Mondadori, from Milan to compose and conduct a debut opera.

Maestro Mondadori came to Boston to research a theme and came up with the brilliant idea of combining ancient and modern subject matter. He selected a legend of the mighty megalomaniac, Xerxes, king of ancient Persia. This potentate of yore was aboard his royal yacht with his limitless retinue of servile flatterers when suddenly a storm arose and the ship was in danger of sinking due to the weight of the numerous courtiers. King Xerxes ordered them to prove their devotion to him by jumping overboard to lighten the load of the vessel thereby enabling it to stay

afloat and bring the mighty monarch safely back to port.

Maestro Mondaori chose to depict Mayor Menino as the modern day Xerxes and the retinue of servile flatterers would be the then-Police Commissioner Evans leading a host of patronage appointees and assorted lickspittles. The maestro appropriately named his work “Il Mumblino” The scene would be onboard the mayoral yacht and the occasion would be to celebrate the two zeros included in the latest contract with the BPPA. A storm arises and the yacht is in danger of sinking due to the weight of the many passengers. The Mayor orders his patronage recipients to jump overboard so that he might be saved. This is done and as the yacht safely docks the Mayor discovers the Police Commissioner cowering behind a deckchair. The Mayor banishes the Police Commissioner and walks down the gangway to be greeted by a chorus of sycophantic supplicants beseeching him for the issuance of the unmarked departmental vehicles now made available owing to the demise of their previous drivers.

Although recognized as a stroke of genius, “Il Mumblino” presented several insurmountable prob-

lems for the production company. Maestro Mondadori insisted that the tenor playing the role of the Mayor sing with marbles in his mouth to accurately portray his character and that the part of the Police Commissioner be sung by a castrato. It was bought to the maestro’s attention that no self-respecting tenor could be found who would submit to singing with marbles in his mouth and that the last castrato singer died in 1906 in Paris at the age of 112. Moreover, the lavish scale of “Il Mumblino” was beyond the financial resources at hand. But the Maestro was adamant; his opera must be the way he created it or it would never be.

Thus the project was shelved until recently brought to life under a new guise by a rejuvenated BOPOPOE. The re-worked opera retained the basic story but certain key areas were changed: the Mayor’s character would sing in a normal voice; the castrato role of the Police Commissioner was eliminated as was the Chorus of Sycophantic Supplicants; the Retinue of Servile Flatterers was replaced by the socalled Municipal Police officers (Munis).

The revised scenario revolved around the Mayor and the Munis taking a cruise onboard the mayoral yacht to celebrate the unethical incorporation of the Municipal Police officers into the Boston Police Department and the subsequent erosion of Civil Service. The same storm arises endangering the vessel and the Mayor orders the Munis to jump overboard to enable the ship to weather the tempest. The Munis determine that since they have achieved their desire they no longer need the Mayor and promptly throw him overboard. The yacht safely returns to port amid much rejoicing by the Munis.

JULY/AUGUST 2006

Response to Massnews anti-cop banner From: James Carnell <JCarnell@bppa.org> Sent: August 17, 2006 9:37 AM To: letters@massnews.com Subject: Disgraceful broad brush campaign by Massnews against the Boston Police Department Dear Editor, As a 25-year veteran of the Boston Police Department and editor of my union’s newspaper Pax Centurion, I am appalled by your reprehensible words and deeds in regards to the Boston Police Department. Three individuals out of an estimated 2,300 sworn officers are alleged to have engaged in criminal conduct. If those charges are substantiated, no one will condemn them louder than I and my fellow officers. In any group of employees, whether teachers, lawyers or doctors, a small percentage will, unfortunately, fail to live up to high standards.

Massnews, however, has recently hired an airplane trailing a banner proclaiming the Boston Police Department to be corrupt. It seems that only police officers are subject to these broad-brush smears, as few would ever think of condemning, for example, all doctors because a few engaged in Medicaid fraud. As a social conservative, I once actually considered subscribing to your newspaper, as I truly believe that the major media is awash with liberal drivel. But kooks on the left are as bad as kooks on the right, and in many ways very similar. You obviously represent the far-right wingnuts, who concoct conspiracy theories and despise the police as much as your idiot relatives on the other end of the political spectrum.

I find your efforts to smear my entire department, comprised of hundreds of hardworking, beleaguered officers who put their necks on the line every day performing a thankless job for morons like yourself, utterly contemptible. Massnews should be ashamed of itself, but perhaps, as I suspect, you have no shame.

With sincere disgust, James W. Carnell Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association Editor, Pax Centurion

From: eric@massnews.com [mailto:eric@massnews.com] Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 3:13 PM To: ‘James Carnell’ Subject: RE: Disgraceful broad brush campaign

by Massnews against the Boston Police Department Hi Mr. Carnell, I have forwarded your letter to the editor. I suspect he will do a mea culpa a clarify that he did not intend on indicting the BP en masse. Your point is well taken and noted. I will either let you know how he responds, or he will publish a response with you letter, if that is okay.

Eric

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J.W. CHILDS ASSOCIATES IS PROUD TO SPONSOR THE BOSTON POLICE PATROLMEN’S ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION WWW.JWCHILDS.COM

J.W. CHILDS ASSOCIATES, L.P. 111 HUNTINGTON AVENUE SUITE 2900 BOSTON, MA 02199

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

THE VETERAN’S CORNER

By Pat Rose, C-11 Director Boston Police VFW Post #1018

As the ‘Dog’ days of summer approach, and the vacation days dwindle away, one can’t help but think about just how crazy the world seems to be lately. As if there isn’t enough going on, another war breaks out. Be assured that this current skirmish in the Middle East between Israel and the maggots that make up the group ‘hezbollah’, (no I didn’t show them the respect by capitalizing it, they: ‘hezbollah’, don’t deserve respect), will not end as in the past.

There will not be a quick end to the war with established ‘lines’ and or ‘zones’. This is a group of terrorists that have been allowed to grow and foster within a supposed legitimate country. This group has used Lebanon and the Lebanese people as shields and cover for their terrorist activities.

Shame on the Lebanese government for not seeking help sooner in ferreting out these rodents. I digress, the point being, I’m sure that the ‘Oh so important’ international community will soon demand United Nation Troops into the area to ensure peace, (in other words, protect the terrorists and condemn and threaten the sovereign nation of Israel for protecting itself). How does this effect us, well let me tell you, I’m sure that we, the United States of America, will be asked (or coerced into) by the United Nations to support this ‘New’ initiative. If not with troops, then with hundreds of millions of our tax payer dollars, that will most likely be stripped away from the defense budget. We will be forced to re-posture our troops in Middle East and South West Asia, to ensure we are ready to support another front. This requires more Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen. This country has already stretched the military beyond reasonable limits and is currently recalling Soldiers and Marines into active duty.

This practice has not been this prevalent since the Korean War in the 50’s.

We all know that when we raise our right hand and swear to Defend and Uphold the Constitution of The United States of America, and swear allegiance, that the military has us for eight years. Some of us chose voluntarily and willingly to make the service a career. Most of us go in figuring we’ll do three maybe four years active duty. Some of us get off of active duty and volunteer for an active reserve role, whether it be the Guard or Reserve. Others go to the IRR (the

individual ready reserve), which is the reserve for the reserve, maybe showing up once a year to ensure that you can still be found in case of ‘National Emergency’. Even during the Draft of the 60’s and 70’s, you were only expected to do two years active duty and then transferred into the IRR. The National Guard and the Military Reserve were just that, a reserve force for the ultimate emergency. The Guard was the ‘Militia’, there to help out the local government and peoples. To assist in times of disaster and of course be ready for active duty if and when, the absolute last line of defense. The Reserve Forces were in place to augment the Active Force. To provide the necessary assistance and help in those ‘rare’ occasions when an active force required their assistance or expertise.

Well many politicians have come and gone through the White House over the past three plus decades, and the ‘Mission’ of the National Guard and Military Reserve Force has been ‘Reorganized’ several times. We as a nation are now faced with a depleted military and virtually no reserve force to speak of. By utilizing the Reserves and Guard as an ‘Active Duty’ reserve force we have essentially put them out of business as we once knew them.

The recruiting is at the lowest level we have seen in years, and it’s not looking any better. The Army has already recalled approximately ten thousand troops in the past three to four years and now it seems the Marine Corps is contemplating recalling a few thousand Marines. This is a BAD POLICY for our country. An involuntary recall is just another way to draft people. If we need a draft then call for a draft.

To force Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen back into active duty status after they have gave of themselves and survived is unconscionable. To force young men and woman to return to life of active duty after they have made the life decision to leave active duty and start a civilian life is immoral. When it comes to those that have already served, remember “Some Gave All, but All Gave Some”.

If a Draft is needed, then call for it! It might not be popular, but at least it’ll be fair. Put enough troops, equipment and money into the current war, win it decisively, allow the troops to complete their mission without political interference and then get them out!

Call your representatives and ask them to put a stop to this new initia-

tive of ‘Recalling’ troops that have Earned the right to ETS (End Tour of Service).

Veterans educational oportunities I’m sure that all Massachusetts National Guard personnel are aware that they are eligible for free tuition at State Colleges and Universities.

There is now an addendum being offered to the ‘Welcome Home Bill’ in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by Representative Verga. Representative Anthony J. Verga is a ten year veteran of the house of Representatives, he covers the 5th Essex District in Massachusetts. Representative Verga has established a ‘WEB’ site concerning this addendum and I invite all to please log on and lend your support to this important bill.

The site is: www.repverga.com, the link to the addendum is posted on the site. This proposal would include ALL Veterans in the program that allows free tuition and waiver of fees to State Colleges and Universities to include Community Colleges. This is the least we can do for our returning Veterans, please take a minute or two out of your busy day and lend your support to this legislation. Additional, this ‘WEB’ site is very informative as to all of the other benefits the ‘Welcome Home Bill’ offers our returning Veterans, to include the cash bonuses for duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

VFW E-board elections The Post annual open meeting and elections for the VFW Post #1018 E Board seats was conducted on July 11, 2006. The results were as follows: Patrick Rose as President, Jorge Castro as Vice President, Quartermaster James Saunders as Treasurer, Commander Chris Colby as Clerk, Attorney Matt McGrath as Legal advisor and board member, along with Adjutant Marty Columbo, Sr. Vice Commander Brendon McCarthy, Frank DeClement Sr., George Murray and last but definitely not least one of the ‘Founding Fathers’, Robert ‘Doc’ Sprague rounded out the elections for your Executive Board 2006-2007, congratulations & thank you one & all.

Flag burning ceremony The ceremony was conducted on June 19 with the dignity and reverence

deserved. Newly elected Commander Christopher Colby hosted the event and read a speech to the attendees about our flag, its’ origin and meaning. The Honor Guard from the William Doyle VFW Post assisted us in ensuring that the proper reverence was observed in the disposal of the abundant supply of worn and tattered flags. The flames were attended to by Adjutant Marty Columbo. Immediately following the ceremony, the post hosted an event for the attendees in our new back yard patio and recreation area. The food was great and the liquids were plentiful, special thanks (once again) to Bunny & Frank.

Upcoming events The annual Military Ball is scheduled for Saturday, September 9, from 7:00 p.m. until 12:00 midnight. This event is a casual affair, (despite the name), the cost is only a $2.00 donation, with tickets available at the bar.

We will have a short ceremony inducting the newly elected VFW Officers: Commander Chris Colby, Senior Vice Brendon McCarthy, Junior Vice Kennedy Semedo, along with other newly elected/appointed Post Officers. This event is always a good time, for only two bucks you get food, music and good company. Grab your wife, husband, or a friend and come on down and enjoy a dinner, dance and night at the post. (The tickets are numbered to ensure we have enough food, please swing by and purchase soon so we can order the proper amount).

Toys for Tots With support from the BPPA, our annual motorcycle run to raise funds for the “Toys for Tots” campaign is scheduled for Sunday, September 24.

This event has raised thousands of dollars over the past several years with every cent being donated to the United States Marine Corps Reserve charitable drive. Registration starts at 10:00 a.m. that day. The cost is only $10.00 per person or a non-violent unwrapped children’s gift worth at least $10.00. The run will kick off at 12:00 noon (sharp). The run will last approximately one hour and is followed by a terrific cookout and get together at the post, all included in the registration fee, (amber fluids are extra). This is one of the premier events held at the post annually, put it on continued on page A25

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What’s going on?

By Patrick Rose, C-11 Okay, let me see if I’ve got this correct: so a Sovereign Nation named ‘Israel’, endures an unprovoked attack by a group of thug terrorists called ‘hezbollah’, that just so happens to be funded by a couple of other Sovereign Nations, one being Iran and the other Syria (both outlaw states). (By the way, I don’t agree with the mainstream media or any group in the world, religious or otherwise, that believe a terrorist organization of murderous thugs,

Veterans Corner continued from page A23

your calendar, don’t miss the party. (P.S. You don’t have to ride to attend, all are welcome to enjoy the festivities of the day for the simple registration fee).

BPPA Golf Tournament The Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association annual golf tournament after party was held at the post on July 21. We had a great day, if you missed it this year, I would encourage you to plan accordingly for next year’s event.

Reminder VFW Post meetings are held on the third Monday of each month in the upper hall at 1930 hours. The E-Board meets at 1800 hours downstairs. The VFW meetings are open to all members, and we encourage active participation. The E-Board conducts its annual open meeting on the second Tuesday in July, (per the by-laws). Once again let me offer an invitation to visit the completely remodeled Post, inside and out. Enjoy a cheap, cold one with some old friends, or make some new friends. Enjoy the game tables, electronic game machine or lottery. The Post is open seven days a week from 1600 hours til closing around 0200 hours. If you are behind on your dues, come on down and we’ll figure something out. If you are still not a member, what are you waiting for?

The membership cost is only $25.00 per year.

As always, please Be safe out there!

rapists and thieves be accorded any respect such as recognizing them as a political organization or the respect that capitalizing a name would incur). These terrorists crossed an international border, thus invading this said Sovereign Nation, (an international border, similar to our border with Canada or Mexico), kidnapped by force; Soldiers of this Sovereign Nation Israel. Then these same terrorist fled back to the protection of their host nation (Lebanon) with captive Israeli citizens, to hide behind Lebanese civilians and elicit a response from the Sovereign Nation; Israel. All the while knowing that Israel has a policy of protecting her citizens and soldiers, and a past history of getting their citizens and or soldiers back no matter what the cost. (A lesson, I might add that the entire world should note and in my opinion follow!) The Israelis then demand the release of their citizens/soldiers. Only after their lawful demands are ignored, they decide to recover their citizens with force. The Israelis then fall into a well-planned choreographed trap, the Israelis respond to this unprovoked attacked with force.

The murderous thug terrorists then proceeded to wreak havoc on the country of Israel by littering the countryside with armed rockets that were previously provided by other Sovereign Nations of Arab decent, (Iran, Syria etc.) that

have called for the elimination and execution of all Jews world wide. The rockets of course are aimed indiscriminately into civilian neighborhoods within Israel with the intent on killing little ‘David’ or ‘Beth’ along with their families (not Military Targets). Israel then ratchets up the ‘fight’ by mobilizing an overwhelming force to defeat the hostile aggressor and recover their soldiers. Which I might add is the absolute right of any Sovereign Nation and in my opinion the Duty of any Nation! What are they met with; but an outcry that they used “Disproportionate” force. Let’s see, the dictionary defines ‘disproportionate’ as: being out of proportion. So now all of a sudden, the world community, backed by the almighty United Nations of course, decides that when defending oneself a Nation can only use a proportionate amount of response when attacked. Hhhhmmmm, so utilizing those standards and that thought process, a war would never end. Two fighting forces would use the same amount of force on each other and just attrite each other until No One was left. Ah yup, sounds ok if you were born in a mud hut some where, or were raised in a village in the Sahara, oh yah I forgot, all of the brain children running the U.N. were! Or maybe they meant, Israel should occupy a country next to Iran and just indiscriminately lob missiles into Iran’s civilian neighborhoods? No I don’t think so, that would mean some Mus-

Compliments of Michael Cronin

JULY/AUGUST 2006 lims would be killed, and we all know that in today’s world it’s only ok if Jews and Christians are slaughtered. Back to our world of today and the ultimate question of: What’s Going On? What the hell has happened in our lifetime to turn the world upside down?

When did we decide to be governed by the United Nations and a child of Ghana in the likes of Kofi Annan? It simply amazes me that when a sovereign nation decides to defend itself against terrorists, that the world community has the audacity to condemn them. But, the truth be told, it is not the world community or even a majority of the world community. It turns out that it is the mainstream media, who are puppets for the wanna be leaders that occupy the United Nations. The mainstream media that infects your every day thought process by publishing the thoughts and statements of societies that were brought up under the wings of Muslim Mullahs. These same people and societies that have been taught since the age of five that All Infidels, (that’s you and me and anyone that is not a Muslim), must Die! That only the Muslim is worthy to walk and rule the earth. The mainstream media is once again attempting to change the outcome of a war through slanted reporting. The mainstream media is attempting to twist the truth and direct the thought process of the average citizen against what is morally and fundamentally correct, which would be to support Israel’s efforts in crushing these terrorist scumbags. This reporting or the lack there of has been used by the mainstream media in the past and works quite effectively. I’m sad to say that the majority of people don’t research issues too much and rely on the mainstream media for their facts, and that my friend is a crime, a real crime.

The mainstream media will happily admit their role in the causing the end result in Vietnam, and actually believe that their role was just. President Johnson was once quoted, after hearing a speech from Walter Cronkite, “If I’ve lost Walter, then we’ve lost the war”. The president knew,

even back in the ‘60s, the effect that a slanted report from the mainstream media would have on the public. Today things are no different, today with the Internet, cable and satellite reporting, the public is awash with all of the negatives. The public is brain washed into believing that what they see and hear on the old boob tube is what is really happening. There’s an old saying “Never Let The Truth Get In The Way of a Good Story”. Believe me, the mainstream media practices that statement daily. Once again the media is at work trying to convince you that a sovereign nation has No Right to use what ever they have at their disposal to protect themselves. I would love to see what the French, (the naysayers of the world), would do if some terrorist group mounted an attack on them from, oh let’s say, Germany. Would they be yelling about “disproportionate responses” then or would they simply do what needed to be done to protect itself. France is a bad example you say, I guess you’re right, they don’t have a very good track record in defending themselves, we usually have to step in an save them! (Notice all of the thanks) Let’s use Russia as an example then, oh yah, they recently were attacked by terrorists crossing their borders and capturing their citizens, oh yah the Russians just gassed them all and executed the survivors, I don’t recall a very loud cry from the United Nations over that one or too many of the World community screaming then. Oh yah, that’s because they weren’t Jews, that’s because it wasn’t Israel, another Nation that has the guts to defend herself. The real problem is that Israel is a friend and ally of the United States of America. So the United Nations made up of Communist, Socialists and sheepherders from around the world decided to lead the fight against a “Disproportionate” use of force. I didn’t realize that the Marcus of Queensbury rules applied when dealing with scumbag, murderous terrorists. Be assured that this hue and cry will never be heard against a continued on page A27

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

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PAX CENTURION

What’s going on? continued from page A25

Muslim Nation or any group of terrorists that happen to be the enemy of the United States of America. The United Nations was founded in San Francisco after two world wars threatened to end our world. The charter is based on utopia. The governing bodies have grown in size to include nations that wouldn’t fill the state of Rhode Island and the mission statement has been readjusted so many times that I believe there are now over twenty-nine chapters and addendums. Let’s knock it off! What is going on with us,

PAGE A27 the only real super power left in the world? When did we decide to let sheepherders and students of Mullahs decide our collective fates. Israel is being blasted by the mainstream media and the United Nations for protecting herself, only because the nation is a friend of the United States.

This country should be taking lessons from Israel in world affairs and protecting ones’ citizens and soldiers! The United States is constantly bending to the will of foreign leaders and governments in order to ‘Play’ the game at the United Nations. The United Nations is broken, and I doubt

it can be fixed in our lifetime.

Stop playing the game, start demanding the right thing now. If the United Nations and the countries that make it up can’t deal with the fact that we are the real super power, then politely shut it down, kick them out, and use the concrete and steel from the building to construct a few good size bombs and blow these terrorist organizations and the countries that support them back into the stone age! These are not the ramblings of a madman, only the thoughts of someone that is fed up with What’s Going On.

1st Annual Cops for Kids with Cancer

“Flight of the Angels”

Motorcycle Run Sunday, September 24, 2006 Ride begins at Florian Hall in Dorchester and ends at the Hilltop Athletic Club in Kingston.

Registration begins at 9:30 Ride begins promptly at 11:00. $20 per motorcycle; $10 each additional rider First 400 riders receive Tee Shirts.

Hamburgers and Hotdogs served at the end of the ride.

For information: www.copsforkidswithcancer.org or Ret. Supt. Robert Faherty

JULY/AUGUST 2006

COPS grieves deaths of officers killed during cycling event It is with devastating sorrow that the Indiana Chapter and the national organization of Concerns of Police Survivors extends heartfelt sympathies to the surviving families of the two law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty on August 22, 2006, in the Indiana COPS Ride, a fundraising event for Indiana COPS. Indiana State Police Lt. Gary Dudley, who three years ago was a founder of the Indiana COPS ride, died in the incident. Retired Lake County Chief Gary Martin also died as a result of the tragic incident. Although retired from Lake County, Martin served Lake County as a sworn Special Deputy supervising school resource officers.

“These officers were riding to honor and remember our fallen spouses, fathers, children, and siblings,” said IN COPS President Emily Beall-Nelis. “They were among the best of the best. Each and every member of Indiana COPS knew them, had received tremendous support from them, and now we are all mourning the loss of two of the best friends any law enforcement survivor could ever have,” she said.

National COPS President Jean Hill, Houston, TX, said, “The entire COPS organization grieves the loss of these two exceptional men and our hearts break for their families.

Every member of our organization has experienced sud-

den loss, and we know their families will be devastated for a very long time. Knowing that, their deaths weigh heavily on the hearts of every law enforcement survivor nationwide. We share their families’ burden of grief.”

COPS Executive Director Suzie Sawyer met Lt. Dudley and Chief Martin last year when they were cycling near New Albany, IN, in the same event and she was at a conference in Louisville, KY. “These men are heroes of the profession. They are highly respected and they taught their officers by example.

They taught their officers the need to honor and remember the fallen, expected their officers to support the surviving families of fallen officers, and took time away from their own families to ride across Indiana to raise funds for our Indiana Chapter. Our entire organization is grieving the deaths of these two exceptionally strong supporters of COPS’ mission. They believed wholeheartedly that the surviving families need the support that COPS provides.

That’s why they started this ride,” said Sawyer.

COPS represents over 15,000 surviving families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty and is based in Camdenton, MO. For more information on COPS, visit: www.nationalcops.org

Adventures of the Love Ranger By the Love Ranger

When I first came on the job disco was all the rage and the hottest spot in Boston was a discotheque down on A Street. I did the detail there once in a while and the management loved it because when the shift was over I changed into my orange sharkskin suit and took to the dance floor where everyone knew me as “Snakehips”.

❤

One night I had the detail there when the reigning Queen of Disco was performing. I stationed myself outside her dressing room door to keep her adoring fans at bay. As I stood guard in the corridor, the disco diva’s door opened and a sultry voice beckoned me inside.

“Oh, officer – I feel so silly. I’m going out shopping and I forgot my sweater size. Could you read me the label from the sweater I’m wearing now?”

As I leaned forward to get a good look our eyes met and then my mouth came down ruthlessly on hers.

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Visit us at www.massgeneral.org Or call us at 617-726-2000

We are proud to support the hard work and dedication of the

Boston Police Patrolmenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association

U.S. News & World Report, Annual Guide to Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Hospitals consistently places Massachusetts General Hospital among the top hospitals in the country.

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Former Chief Bob Hayden seeks rank-and-file support in quest for BPD Commissioner position

By Jim Carnell, Pax Editor

Former Boston Police Deputy Supt. and former Lawrence Police Chief Robert Hayden has announced to the Pax his desire to seek the BPD’s top spot as its new Police Commissioner. And without reservation, unlike any of the other candidates for PC, Hayden has stated that he strongly desires the support of rank-and-file Boston Police Officers.

Hayden, 64, is a well-respected, tough, up-from-theranks leader (emphasis on the word leader) whose approach to policing could be simply described as “the police and the law-abiding citizens will own the streets, not the criminals”. As a former member of the BPD’s TPF (tactical patrol force) during the school busing crisis of the mid-70s, Hayden worked his way up through the ranks to command the city’s CWACU

(City-wide Anti-Crime Unit) during the crack epidemic in the mid-1980’s. During a period of time when crime had skyrocketed out of control and the city registered over 150 murders in one year, Hayden’s unit became famous for putting the fear of God into the gang-bangers and thieves who “owned” (or so they thought before Hayden’s squad informed them differently) blocks of inner-city Boston neighborhoods.

As commander of Area A from 1990-1994, comprising all of downtown Boston, Chinatown, the North End, Charlestown, Bay Village and the theatre district, Hayden was well-respected by the men and women under his command as well as a wide variety of community and interest groups, all of them vying for a share of limited police resources. Hayden always

No progress in bargaining “talks”

By Jim Carnell, Pax Editor

The BPPA bargaining committee, consisting of Pres.

Tom Nee, VP Ron MacGillivray, and members Brian Reaney (A-1), Dave Fitzgerald (B-2) and Tom Pratt (Gang), report no progress in the bargaining “talks” with the City for our contract which expired on July 1, 2006.

Health insurance is expected is to be a major bone of contention…

Contrary to the (usual and expected) rumors planted by the City’s agents-provocateurs, there is no- (repeat) NO- money on the table whatsoever. Zero-zip-nadanothing. Health insurance is expected is to be a major bone of contention, with the City expecting us to accept higher premiums/co-pays etc. and/ or reduced services while simultaneously offering no pay increase. (In layman’s lan-

guage, this is generally referred to as “a pay cut”.) To dispel another planted rumor, the city will not/has not discussed the issue of forced residency at this point. The best description of the current state of bargaining is to say that meetings are being held in order to say that the two sides have been meeting. All of Boston’s municipal unions are currently without contracts, even as the political establishment raises the banner of being “pro-worker/prounion” as it is politically advantageous at various times of the year, such as Labor Day and election time. The membership should fully expect and anticipate that the city leadership, through their established connections and consorts in the major media, will once again portray the BPPA and other labor unions as “greedy” “unrealistic” “holding the city hostage” and a host of other negativelycharged verbiage as the stalemate continues…

showed absolute respect for the patrol officers and linesupervisors, believing that they were the most important parts of the crime-fighting machine. As commander, Hayden supported his officers and was described as the kind of leader who “would stand in front of his troops as well as behind them.” Community leaders admired his tough, no-nonsense approach to ridding the streets of thugs and gang-bangers.

In 1995, Hayden became the Police Chief of Lawrence, Mass., a city which was being inundated with drugs and drug dealers. As Mary Claire Kennedy, former Mayor of Lawrence writes …“Actions speak louder than words, and Bob Hayden is a doer, not a talker….When Bob Hayden arrived in Lawrence, drugs, gangs and prostitution were ruining our quality of life. The police department suffered from poor morale, low expectations and was held in low esteem by the citizenry, especially our minority community…In a few short weeks, Bob Hayden turned the whole situation around…What impressed us about Bob Hayden was his reputation as a non-nonsense, tough-on-crime police officer, his compassion and caring for people who just want to feel safe and enjoy a quiet neighborhood and his proven ability to get the job done….” As a Boston Globe report of the time (May 12th, 1995, reporter Don Aucoin) quoted a former crack junkie: …[others said] “That new chief of police from Boston, he’s tough”. I said, “yeah, yeah”. “But then I started seeing a lot more cops around. He started beefing up the patrols and closing down the crack houses.” …Residents and businesspeople in this city of 81,462 excitedly describe a new vigor they say Hayden has brought to the daunting job of law enforcement in Lawrence…. “With Hayden, he’s out there,” said [community activist] Carrie Petzy. “He came on hard, with a hard-line stance, to lower crime. You see cops out there all the time now, busting pros-

titutes and drug dealers who’ve been operating in plain daylight.”….Hayden won support within the 125member Lawrence Police Department when he appeared before the City Council to urge that money be found for police raises…” .

Since 1998, Hayden has served as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Under-Secretary of Public Safety and as Assistant General Manager in charge of safety matters for the MBTA. He resides in Hingham and is married with four children.

Unique and alone among candidates for Boston Police Commissioner, Hayden has actively sought support from the BPD’s rank-and-file, a thought horrifying to the high-and-mighty power brokers who will recommend the new PC to Mayor Menino after a nationwide search (if you believe that one-let me knowI have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you…). In fact, before I decided to write this article I specifically asked him- “Are you sure it’s OK to write this?

You know that amongst the politically correct/liberal elite who now run this city, we (the BPPA) can be the kiss of death?” Deputy Hayden assured me that he would rather have the support of the rankand-file than the Boston Globe.

For sure, Bob Hayden is the dark horse in the race for Police Commissioner.

Whether he’ll be given the courtesy of an interview or even a chance to formally submit his resume’ is in serious doubt, as it seems the Mayor’s PC search committee is itself a huge state secret. You see, Bob Hayden would not be the type to genuflect before the ivory tower frauds of Morrissey Blvd. like former PC Paul Evans. Hayden isn’t a kiss-ass, touchy-feely type who panders to self-appointed activists and sucks up to big-feeling mucky-mucks.

Bob Hayden would end the reign of the criminal by restoring power to the police and the law-abiding residents.

The biggest problem now facing the beleaguered BPD is

that rank-and-file officers feel powerless to perform their jobs without being sued, criticized and second-guessed by politicians, the media, and community “activists”. Consequently, over the years the BPD has become emasculated and gun-shy. As I’ve said many times in the Pax (quoting the late, great Mike Royko of the Chicago Tribune) “When police are handcuffed, violence is unleashed”. But that simple truism falls on deaf ears when one tries to explain to liberal nitwits why crime is on the upswing and criminals are so brazen, without fear of the courts or the police. Bob Hayden would change the dynamics in the city of Boston- and within a matter of months. Cops who have been reluctant to aggressively perform police work for fear of lawsuits or criticism would eagerly flock to a call from Hayden to take back the streets from the scumbags and gang-bangers. I’m certain of it, because I’m one of them…

And unlike any and all other candidates for Commissioner of the oldest police department in the Unites States, Bob Hayden has actively sought the support and backing of the men and women he would love to command. Of course, all other candidates are welcome to present their case to us also; by all means, simply call and set up an appointment- we’d love to talk to you in earnest. But so far, only Hayden has asked for our support and pledged his respect for those who actually would perform the downand-dirty job of getting rid of crime and criminals. The rest, apparently, believe that cops should be treated like children: seen but not heard.

So what do you want Mr. Mayor? A pandering politician or a police commissioner? Is it more important to arrest the scumbags and remove them from the streets or would you rather march at yet another candelight vigil for the TV cameras? It’s ultimately your decision…

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Treasury Notes

By Daniel P. Fagan, BPPA Treasurer Editor Note: Dan Fagan is enjoying a well-earned vacation at press deadline. Hopefully he will tell us all about it next issue. This is a reprint of an earlier PAX submission.

Question: What do GM, IBM and Friendly’s Ice Cream have in common?

Answer: They, along with other “good” corporate citizens have been driving nails into the coffin of the American worker.

All three (amongst many others) have announced within the past few weeks changes detrimental to their employees. IBM, one of the last private sector employers to offer a pension to long time employees eliminated them in favor of 401K plans. Big Blue, say it isn’t so! Friendly’s, the Massachusetts icon eliminated or drastically reduced health insurance options for it’s employees. Not very Friendly, indeed. General Motors announced in November (Merry Christmas) that it was eliminating 30,000 jobs and closing 12 plants.

Last week citing decreasing market share and rising health insurance and pension costs they have halved their dividends and capped health insurance programs that benefit retirees hired prior to 1993, surviving spouses, and eligible dependent children. How nice. But it won’t be just the thousands of employees who worked their whole lives for GM who suffer. GM Chairman Wagoner, at the helm in 2005 when GM lost $8,500,000,000, will take a 50% pay cut in 2006, and not get any bonuses. In 2004 he made $9,957,000 in salary and stock options. (This figure does not include the additional $5,000,000 in unexercised stock options he has.) According to Executive pay watch (www.aflcio.org/corporatewatch/ paywatch/), I will have to work 148 YEARS to make what he made while losing $8.5 billion. I’ve already told the kids we can’t take another vacation until 2153 A.D. But this is the private sector. I have said repeatedly in this column that I abhor what corporate America has done to the American worker. Unfortunately I also see the writing on the wall. My friends in the private sector don’t express anger at their employers for screwing them; they express jealousy that public employees are at the trough; again. Health insurance and a pension after a lifetime of dedicated service used to be sacrosanct.

Now it is an object of derision? What is wrong with that picture?

We know that the momentum to

switch from Defined Benefit Plans (pensions) to Defined Contribution Plans (401Ks) is fixing to roll over public employees. In California it was only rejected after a vicious fight. Part of which included the publicity that 401K plans give people only what they managed to save. (Americans are notoriously poor savers). So a surviving spouse of an Officer killed in the line of duty would receive only what they had managed to save, the lump sum balance. A 30-year veteran may have saved quite a nice lump sum. A three-year veteran with two small kids, trying to save for a house while paying for private schools maybe not so much. As soon as the Governator figures out how to defeat that publicity issue, he’s said “I’ll be back.”

States, cities and towns across the USA are struggling under mountains of pension liabilities. Mostly due to underfunding or unrealistically high assumption rates. Add to this new federal GASB regulations requiring government entities to report future retiree health benefits as a current liability, and the problem is exacerbated. Fortunately for us the COB and the Commonwealth have been better fulfilling their obligations and are in relatively strong shape.

BPPA leadership recently attended a “Labor /Management Economic Forum” at Northeastern University, sponsored by the COB Office of Labor Relations. It was a chance to have all the city’s unions in one room, with the City’s financial people, to hear discussions of forecasts for the local, state, region and national economies.

While bargaining was not the stated purpose of the presentation, the COB was clearly spelling out their position. Ms. Lisa Signori gave a powerful presentation on COB expenses and revenues. Topics rightfully included the increasing dependence on property taxes, reduction of state aid, and the lack of the ability of the City to tap into various creative sources of revenue. (While the COB is clearly the economic engine of Massachusetts, we get only one dollar in return for every $8.50 we send to Beacon Hill.)

She gave her arguments for not spending city reserves, and what those reserves amounted to. Her frank discussion of spiraling health care costs, up 73% since 2001, pension costs up 46%; payment on debt up 12% were sobering. Compare this to other spending: schools up 13%; police and fire up 15%; and ALL other departments up 0.2%.

However where does that leave

us? I know it was only a matter of time before the subject of health insurance and pensions come onto the table. We are already fighting unlawful unilateral changes to our health insurance choices. Someone at the economic summit raised the suggestion of having new hires, our “unborn”, pay a higher rate for health care. The City did raise the point that the “state is able to save money on health insurance but the City cannot due to our contracts”. But what the state would like to do is not in any worker’s interest. Whether it was an innocent suggestion or a planted question by the city is unclear to me. I will accept the protestation that it was not. However I stick by my public comments during the question and answer period. I stated that I hoped the City was not intending to come to the BPPA or any union and ask for health insurance or pension obligation releases. Simply because Private corporate America has put the screws to the American workers, I would hope that our government would not. We will have to wait and see how this plays out at the bargaining table, but I will unequivocally state that I hope all the membership has the sense and the guts to reject any such proposals.

Conversely, I hope the membership will come out when asked to work for much needed changes in how our state treats the City. I believe there is common ground where the

Unions can work along side the City to achieve mutually beneficial changes. Also I hope our membership can be mobilized to do what it can to correct the health insurance debacle.

Instead of defending ourselves for having health insurance benefits from the “have nots”, we should all be fighting to guarantee that everyone in the Commonwealth, and the Nation, has good affordable health care.

Shifting gears a little, I want to personally thank those of our members who continually step forward when a fellow officer needs assistance.

Whether it is attending a funeral as a show of support for a devastated police family where ever they may be, or throwing in a donation for a “Time for a Friend” for a sick or hurting officer. Many, many officers came by the office to give desperately needed basic supplies to go to New Orleans.

Others loaded boxes and trucks, and still others actually drove them there.

The BPPA PAX Centurion gives a financial stipend to our members activated into the armed forces, but your financial donations to the Christmas time project was incredible. Through my activities with the Gaelic Column I see first hand, regularly, the effect that a supportive greater police family can have on a grieving family.

Thank you, BPPA members, for all you do.

As always, live life to the fullest, have fun, be safe.

Municipal Police obstacle course located

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Filene’s Basement is honored to support the

Boston Police Patrolmen’s Scholarship Fund

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EMS Division Unity & Strength

Thank you for the support!

After a month of personal donations and collection boxes around the city, the BEMS/BPD Relief Package Drive came to a close on Independence Day. The drive was organized in response to the deployments of a number of our union brothers fighting overseas in the Middle East.

On July 18th, about two weeks after collection efforts ceased, numerous members of the BPPA/EMS Division came together to pack up all materials collected and prepare them for shipment overseas.

In total, the Union was able to collect and send over 410 pounds of snacks and personal supplies to our troops currently stationed in Iraq.

For all of those who donated their time and money to this most worthy cause I would personally like to thank you. We can only hope and trust that the supplies find their recipients well.

Take care of yourselves. Unity and strength.

Gregory Bond, Paramedic #216

July 31, 2006 Dear BPPA, I just wanted to express my gratitude to all of our fellow brothers and sisters from the BPPA. I just received not one, but two care packages from the BPPA and I cannot say thank you enough. The thought of recieving a care package is a pleasent one indeed, but to double the pleasure is beyond what words can decsribe. I and everyone here appreciates the support and love shown buy everyone back home, and letting us know that we are not forgotten about. I have not seen any other police union, nor department, send anything to its members or employees. These include the MA State Police, Barnstable Police, and several others. Obviously a sense of pride and fidelity came over when I observed whom the carepackages were from. So one again from the Marines of Weapons Company, 1/25, Thank You and Semper Fidelis!!

Terry Burke

The Ambulance Guy Editor’s note: For those of you not old enough to remember, we have resurrected a classic tale from “The Ambulance Guy” series, befitting the dog days of summer. Enjoy.

Heat Truck Nobody WANTS to work the heat truck. The heat makes everything suck. People smell, trucks overheat.

Unlike snow, there’s no romance to the heat. New Englanders understand snow. When we have a storm we EXPECT power outages, long lines for bread, milk and Ring Dings. Long response times. “ Oh, that’s okay. We thought it would take hours in this snow. Would you boys like some hot cocoa?” In snow, everyone is nicer, more helpful, and more neighborly.

You’d almost forget you were in Boston. The heat truck is not glamorous.

It’s just a bad day, multiplied by the heat and living in damp underwear.

My plan was to ignore my pager and spend the evening with a friend in my air-conditioned bedroom studying hydraulics and fluid dynamics.

Unfortunately, I had left the pager on an end table in the hall. By the time we were done it had vibrated itself off the table and down the stairs like some high-tech slinky.

Three days into the heat wave and they were offering complete sets of Tupperware to anyone who volunteered for the heat truck. I have a weakness for (Or obsession with) Tupperware. I picked up the phone.

The Ambulance Guy doesn’t do much overtime. (None being considered much) My first two attempts were treated as prank calls and followed by hang-ups. (Whatever happened to always hang up last?) “This is not a joke, please don’t hang up. I want the OT on the day tour.” I said really fast. I was told to report to Bob’s Super Pre-owned and Used Ambulances at 07:00.

I hand a plan. I would get up early and shower, then apply medicated powder. A layer of “wicking” miracle fiber and then the uniform. For this day I chose the light brown shirt with the dark brown pants. I’m a traditionalist.

By the time I was out the door and in the car the powder had turned to paste, the miracle fiber was wicking nothing and my shirt had begun to stick to my back. Not a complete failure, the medicated powder in liquid form gave a frosty, not un-pleasant

chill to my nether regions.

“Oh yes, I am having many good ambulances today for sure!” said Sam. The accent being somewhere between a Minnesota bachelor farmer and a Moroccan camel-trader. Sam was lying. These were spares. The runts of the litter. Built on Friday the 13th on a long weekend. Beaten like baby seals, My expectations were low. Six wheels radio and AC. I settled for amb. 666. By the end of the shift, the front ac shit the bed; the radio locked on a country oldie station and the tailpipe became an EPA supersite.

I was supposed to be working with the Godfather of Overtime, so I was surprised to see Nikki (“Nikki with two Ks”) “Who you with?” I asked casually, trying not to show fear. Nikki with two Ks was tall, bleached-blonde and green eyed. Only the tall part was real.

Nikki had a reputation as being “difficult”. She was great with sick people, unfortunately we didn’t have many sick people.

“It’s you and me, cupcakes” she said. The Godfather of OT had taken a sweetheart deal in A7.

“Doing a shift to help the cause?”

I said.

“Doing a shift to help pay for the lipo this Christmas” said Nikki.

“Screw the cause. Let’s get this pathetic show on the road. Mind if I drive, I was at JJ’s last nite and I get carsick in the back, I also need coffee.

Come on, Chop chop!”

We headed for Cardio Coffee, near the BCH, where the coffee drinks were named for EKGs. I had a regular, the Sinus Tach. Nikki had the VTach. Four shots of espresso in 22 oz of French roast.

I thought Nikki’s driving was due to lack of caffeine. After the V tach, it got scarier.

“That was three red lights “I said, trying to keep my Sinus Tach in its cup and off the windshield.

“You gonna keep score or enjoy the ride?” she said.

Nikki was all about enjoying the ride. After the dispatcher had made continued on page B3

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Heat Truck continued from page B1

the usual threats to field-dress us and feed our entrails to wolverines, we reluctantly logged on.

We were at ED 126, not a good sign. ED 127, the unknown EMS, was ours. Nikki recognized the address as a rather notorious halfway house.

A former four-bedroom Victorian, it had been converted into a twelve bedroom “psychiatric Facility” by a for profit concern.

From the curb it looked like any other house on this residential street.

Well, except for the two thousand cigarette butts, the smell and the man on the porch dressed as Zorro.

The bold Renegade stepped aside to let us into the chaos. The ‘residents’ had the ‘staff’ cornered in the downstairs bedroom. The “staff” in this case consisted of one over-worked and under-paid grad student named Stu. “They’re all acting out and need to go to the hospital” said Stu. “You’re going to need more ambulances” “What’s all this about?” I said.

Zorro fessed up. The weekend staff let them have unlimited Popsicle’s in the summer. Stu said “the orders” were for Popsicle’s no earlier than 3 PM. Nikki sent Zorro to get the Popsicle’s and handed them out to the residents. ‘Save me a banana one, Zorro”. She yelled.

“No Popsicles before 3, these people need to go to the hospital, they’re out of control,” whined Stu. “Chill, Stu, no-ones going to the hospital, it’s too hot. Relax, have a Creamsicle, we’re leaving.”

The residents chanted “EMSEMS” and gave us sticky high fives as we exited. I was beginning to enjoy the ride.

There was an official heat emergency. The rules were changing. Too many calls, not enough ambulances.

The protocols were melting like Brighams Vanilla on a hot sidewalk.

ED 142, the syncope at Last Chance Junior College, on the practice field at Columbia Road, the front AC quit.

“Well, we can change trucks. We can open the windows and go deaf or we can shut the siren off. What’s your vote?” said Nikki.

“If we shut off the siren, how will people hear us coming?” I asked.

I screamed as the woman with the

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EMS Division stroller leapt back onto the sidewalk.

I had answered my own question.

We arrived at LCJC and drove around back to the practice field. The LCJC Pit Bulls were in full pads and running wind sprints. Actually only a few were in the actual act of running; the rest were falling down and throwing up.

The Coach met us on the sidelines.

“I got a couple of Mary’s that can’t handle the heat” he huffed. Coach was riding a golf cart and sipping a Mountain Dew Code Red. “Are you out of your mind?” screamed Nikki. “It’s way too hot for this!” ”They have to work if they expect to make the NFL” said Coach.

“NFL?” said Nikki “these kids will be lucky to see KFC after they graduate. I’m shutting this practice down” “You can’t do that,” shouted Coach.

“Public Health Commission, Official Heat Emergency. I’m shutting down this practice,” said Nikki. She had taken the coach’s bullhorn and had commandeered his golf cart.

“Everyone start drinking water, then strip down to your jocks and line up while I hose you down and cool you off…Now!” Nikki was on a roll.

She went up and down the line in the coaches golf cart, trailing 200 feet of hose, spraying the team.

“Couldn’t they just hit the showers?” I asked.

“Don’t mess with my fantasy. If we go to a lingerie model convention, you can do the honors,” she said, smiling for the first time all day.

We had cracked 200 on the ED list.

Dispatchers were offering sexual favors and Caribbean vacations to anyone who would come out of the hospitals. No takers.

ED 211 was a man down outside the shelter. On the way across town Nikki found that the black exhaust smoke could be used to amuse the ambulance driver and punish unsuspecting motorists and pedestrians.

We woke up seven men down before we found our patient. Blind Melon Dilantin, famous Hasidic bluesman and legendary man down.

He’d been drinking house brand Listerine and taking benzo’s before laying down on the blistering asphalt hours ago. “ Let’s get him in the truck, dude.

This guy’s a butterball,” said Nikki.

Blind Melon had suffered countless falls, hundreds of seizures and had been hit by, not one but two MBTA buses. His luck was running out.

Nikki flashed a twenty at one of the more sober men down and said “Get me all the ice at the 7-11, and a bottle of Mad Dog for yourself” He put the LCJC Pit-bulls to shame as he dashed up the street.

Getting Blind Melon undressed and cooled down was no easy task.

“Eleven”, I said to Nikki-“eleven layers of clothes” “Start cutting, you get the bottom,”she said. Story of my life.

“Son of a bitch! A down vest!” I heard her exclaim as a feather floated by. My scissors hand was beginning to cramp. The floor of the truck began to look like a mad tailor’s shop.

Too bad it didn’t smell like one. We finally got him down to his shorts.

Actually, they were Underroos. Under the layers Blind Melon Dilantin was not a large man.

Mad Dog had returned with the ice, complaining that the guy in the 711 had over-charged him. I made a mental note to deal with him later.

We lifted Blind Melon up, wrapped in a wet sheet and slid the transfer sheet (With six handles, not five) under him.

By the time we got him packed in ice, we were both dripping. “My miracle fiber boxers are soaked through” I said.

“Tell me about it. My thong is just plain evil. Thank God for Brazilian waxing.” Nikki returned.

“No more sharing, please” I told her. I thought I saw another smile.

Blind Melon Dilantin was on ice and ready to roll. He was still alive and had yet to seize both points in his favor.

Nikki handed me two instant ice packs. “Crack those for me, cupcake” she asked. I cracked the ice packs and handed them back. She turned modestly and unbuttoned her shirt, deftly slipping the ice packs inside.

“Don’t ask me how I know, but it actually works” she said, buttoning up.

“No more sharing” I yelled. She smiled and hopped up front and off we went. Me, Nikki with two K’s and Blind Melon Dilantin. All but one of us chillin!

By three o’clock we were up to ED

416 and ready to go home. The dispatchers were threatening to take people’s family members hostage if they did not clear the hospital. No takers.

We (Nikki and I) had shut down a drum and bugle competition, opened up a university pool to kids from a nearby housing project, shamed a wealthy doc from Duxbury into having AC installed in his elderly mom’s apartment and took care of several minor emergencies without taking anyone to the ER. In between we handled a couple more “hot” calls, pun intended. (a nasty head bleed in a thirtysomething stockbroker and a lower GI bleed of biblical proportions.)” Kind of makes me feel like a real EMT again” said Nikki.

Three trucks ended up on the hook and the A-15 crew ended up plugged in at the MGH after lugging a fat tourist with an MI down from the top of the Bunker Hill Monument.

Nobody crashed. Nobody died.

Nobody expired in the street waiting for an ambulance that never came.

Looks like we had survived another shift. No-one more surprised than ourselves.

The media was announcing that the heat wave was indeed over, as the temp at Logan would go “only” to 89 degrees that day.

“Logan’s in the middle of the harbor” said Nikki. “They should put that damn thermometer on a shopping cart in the parking lot outside Liquor Land.”

We were heading back to Bob’s Excellent Used and Pre-owned Ambulances. When ED 454 came in. Heat related illness at the Bayside Expo.

“Isn’t that the lingerie model convention?” I asked. Nikki had already started turning the truck around, much to the alarm of the other southbound travelers.

She cracked an ice pack and handed it to me as she cut off a soccer mom in a SUV. I slipped the ice pack into my shorts as we chased a tandem bike onto someone’s lawn.

“Remember, you get to hose them down this time. “Shouted Nikki.

“God, I’d forgotten how much I loved this job! I yelled.

TAG Christmas 2002

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Letters to/from the Editor Dear Councilor Arroyo, I have recently returned from vacation, and received your response to a Pax Centurion article (May-June-2006) relative to your Boston Globe Oped article calling for a civilian review board with subpoena powers. Please do not interpret my lateness in responding to your missive as anything other than catching up on delayed e-mail.

Councilor, as a 25-year veteran Boston Police Officer, I am alwaysamazed at the level of hypocrisy which you and your fellow liberals manage to attain. You begin your diatribe with condescending remarks about the number of relatives of yours who have been police officers. Councilor, inferring that “some of my best friends are police officers” does not impress me in the least. And as for the “great respect and admiration” you allegedly have for police officers, be aware I’ve heard that same tired canard from many a politician over the course of 25 years, so thanks, but no thanks. If any your relatives who are police officers are in favor of a civilian review board with subpoena powers, please have them document their remarks and I will gladly include them in the next issue of the Pax, so that their peers may review them also. I won’t hold my breath waiting....

Councilor Arroyo, if I may be so bold as to reintroduce to you to reality, it is not “building trust in the police” which is the problem. Nor is it the lack of a civilian review board with subpoena powers.

Perhaps you may not realize it, but such “review boards” actually cause rank-and-fil police officers to shy away from aggressive police work due to the ever-present fear of civil litigation. In this day and age, a police officer is more likely to be sued for alleged violations of civil rights than he/she is in danger of being killed or injured. Any police officer who has been put through the witch-trial atmosphere of a federal or state court will tell you that it is not an experience they would like to repeat. The result is (unfortunately for the general public) a gun-shy police department afraid to be proactive out of a legitimate fear of never-ending media scrutiny and potential civil liability.

Councilor Arroyo, you stated in your letter (see

below) that “what I am hoping for is an independent forum where grievances can be aired”. Councilor, may police officers who have been assaulted in the line of duty by civilians bring their complaints to your proposed civilian review board? (Now that I think of it, how about a “Police Review Board” wouldn’t that be a novel twist?) What rights would you afford our members who are unjustly and falsely accused of wrongdoing by self-serving complainants and their ambulance-chasing lawyers?

Would you support an imposition of severe fines and/or imprisonment against those who file false reports against the police and put officers through the crucible of a civilian review board?

I am sorry you are offended by my rather blunt language, Councilor Arroyo, but you are absolutely wrong when you state that “regardless of a person’s circumstances, with the right care and support anybody can become a dignified and successful member of their community”. Sorry to disagree with you, Father Flanagan, but there exists in today’s society an ever-growing subset of individuals whose very existence is predicated upon government largesse.

They know not the concept of work, regardless of its plentiful existence, and they have absolutely no intention of becoming contributing members of society, preferring instead to cloak themselves with the mantle of eternal victimhood, forever feeling they are entitled to live off of the hard work of others and blame somebody/something else for their own poor choices in life. That, Councilor, is a fact which I and my fellow officers encounter every working day, as we respond to government-subsidized apartments adorned with wall-mounted plasma TVs, encounter junkies with wads of food stamps and EBT welfare-debit cards, and end up diapering the failed results of years of liberal social experiments.

In closing, Councilor Arroyo, I will gladly print your letter (and this response) in the upcoming issue of the August, 06 Pax. You mention “misguided cops who could have a negative effect on the entire force.” I’m not sure, Councilor, whether you refer to me or to some of our officers who have been mentioned in alleged corruption scandals, but let me

assure you, the overwhelming majority of police officers feel exactly as I do about your proposed civilian review board. My opinions printed in the Pax under the protection of the first amendment have very little potential “negative impact” as opposed to those who may have abused the badge that I have proudly worn for the past 25 years, but then again, I heard nothing about this issue from you and Councilors Turner, Yancey, et al, and I wonder why?(Perhaps, maybe I don’t wonder why?). It is you, Councilor Arroyo, and your liberal colleagues who have sown the fields and made them fertile for crime and social decay. I never seem to hear from you, or from Councilors Turner or Yancey, when a cop is shot or assaulted. I never seem to hear from you a condemnation of the maggots who terrorize the law-abiding majority of your constituents, or of the social pathologies such as fatherlessness and welfare dependency which are the true root causes of crime. So let us not “embrace transparency” (as your letter states), “celebrate diversity” or engage in a Jesse-Jackson-esque dialogue about crime. Let us resolve, Councilor Arroyo, to un-handcuff the police. Let us instill in the violent youths who intimidate the law-abiding and destroy neighborhoods the notion that we, the police, own the streets and that their days of threatening people and violating the law is at an end. Let us, Councilor, make these scumbag maggots understand that the police are not there to play midnight basketball with them and talk about their hurt feelings, but that the police are there to kick their sorry butts from one end of the community to the other, to disarm them, and to put an end to their violent, anti-social conduct regardless of their perceived status as members of victim-nation.

But if you want to inhibit police officers from performing aggressive police work of any kind, Councilor Arroyo, then go right ahead with your plans for a civilian review board. Unfortunately, it will be your own constituents who will suffer the consequences.

Editor’s Note: The following letter was received from Councillor Arroyo, in response to the May/June Pax article criticizing his support of the citizen review board.

My father, two of my uncles, and five of my cousins have been police officers. I have great respect and admiration for the important work you perform.

The increase in violence, as many of us know, is a very complex issue with various components.

A CRB would help build the relationship between the officers and people they need to comply with them during investigations and deter the exceedingly rare rights violations while protecting the members of the BPPA against unwarranted and unsubstantiated claims.

If the police are not building trust, it is more likely that they will not get tipped off by people in the community when they need it.

Unsolved crime in Boston is at one of the highest rates in the country.

Clearly if relations between the police and residents are bad, people are not going to talk and if they don’t talk we don’t take criminals off the street.

Any legislation I file is based on extensive conversations with my constituents and thorough re-

search into successful efforts in other cities. My request for a CRB would not mean that “police would be handcuffed” doing their job. In fact, most matters would likely be resolved through mediation and any more severe punishment would be entirely determined by the Police Commissioner.

What I am hoping for is an independent forum where grievances can be aired. Unsubstantiated claims would be dropped, protecting officers who are doing their jobs. Whatever the means, it is important that police officers and members of the community get along and the community has openly requested that we act to meet this need.

I also urge you to reconsider the way you depict my constituents. By using comments such as, “The little darlings need, at a minimum, a good size13 up their backsides that they’re obviously not getting at home... and Mom has a butt hanging out of one side of her mouth, a government check in one hand and a rent-subsidy in the other,” it becomes clear that a higher level of respect and trust is necessary to forge a stronger relationship between continued on facing page

Pax Centurion 9-11 Shetland St. Boston, MA 02119 Dear Editor: I write in response to the editorial “City Councillor Arroyo blames crime increase on ‘community mistrust,’ wants strong civilian review board” (May/ June 2006).

First of all, beginning with the title, the author entirely misinterpreted my view on police officers and my intentions surrounding the CRB. As chair of the City Council’s Committee on Youth Affairs, combating violence in Boston is one of my top priorities. I know that this cannot be done without confidence in the Boston Police Department.

Sincerely, James W. Carnell

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Letters to/from the Editor Letters to the Boston Globe and Heral Subject: Traffic Mess…

July 20, 2006 Dear Editor, As I and my fellow officers perform yet another mandatory-ordered overtime shift directing traffic as a result of the Big-dig debacle, I am reminded of your editorial advising the BPD to accept “help” from the State Police to fight crime in the inner-city.

Standing here in 95-degree heat working yet another 18-hour day suffering the wrath of irate, frustrated motorists, I wonder: where is Governor Romney’s offer of “help” from the

State Police? Where is the concern about Boston Police Officers being “overtired” that appeared in previous Globe editorials? Apparently, Boston’s Police officers are OK to work to death when the job involves down and dirty, unglamorous traffic duty and routine police work?

I fully expect that, par for the course, next year we’ll see another “salary review expose´” knocking us about “lucrative details and overtime assignments”?

James W. Carnell BPPA representative, Area A-1

Letter to the Boston Globe Subject: “Strengthen Police Drug Tests” (7-28-06) August 4, 2006 Dear Editor, As a longtime representative of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, the twisted logic which your editorial of July 28th (“Strengthen Police Drug Tests”) employed in a feeble attempt to connect my union to the (alleged) corruption scandal involving Robert Pullido was astounding.

The BPPA, like most other labor unions, has a reasonable duty to represent our members in employment matters. Currently, we await a decision as to whether the hair/drug test employed by the BPD disproportionately affects minorities; but that issue has not yet been resolved by medical science and/or pending litigation. As a 25-yr. veteran police officer, I’m not opposed to testing for other illegal substances such as steroids, but I would like to ensure that the City uses top-quality, fail-safe testing procedures. For the record, the BPPA is not currently representing Mr. Pullido in relation to the alleged corruption

charges. Nobody has “rushed to his aid” (to use your words) and if the charges are substantiated, no one will condemn him louder than the Boston Police Department, management and union alike. But attempting to connect our contractual obligation to represent our members to alleged instances of corruption is thoroughly unfair.

It is also unfair to call for a “zerotolerance” policy as it relates solely to police officers, especially when neither Boston’s firefighters nor teachers are subject to drug testing. There have been valid, recorded instances of “false-positive” drug tests and administrative errors that resulted in untold angst for the affected officer, but the Globe’s only alternative is immediate termination. Indeed, were the “one strike and you’re out” policy evenly applied regarding substance abuse, many a Massachusetts politician would have long ago been precluded from holding office.

James W. Carnell BPPA representative, Area A-1

Letter from Councillor Arroyo continued from facing page

certain members of the BPD and thecommunity. Regardless of a person’s circumstances, with the right care and support anybody can become a dignified and successful member of their community.

Know that in terms of combating violence, I am doing everything in my power to “pro-actively” improve the situation for Boston’s young people, whether it means increasing the amount summer jobs or hosting youth dialogs. My staff and I have been down in the neighborhoods on a very regular basis and we talk to many

people. We have even spoken with people living in the House of Correction to get feedback on crime prevention for our office.

While there are many great cops who are doing their job, sometimes a very small fraction of misguided officers could have a negative effect on the entire force. Let’s embrace transparency and give good cops a chance to do their job. I thank you all for the commitment you have made to make Boston a safe place to live.

Sincerely, Felix D. Arroyo, City Councillor

JULY/AUGUST 2006

Reflections of a beleaguered traffic cop

By Jim Carnell, Pax Editor …Fourth day in a row of man- Stupid Pedestrian: Do you know datory, ordered overtime assign- why people get hit by cars? BEment : up at 5 a.m., report at 6 a.m., CAUSE THEY WALK IN FRONT work till 4 p.m., then do your regu- OF THEM, YOU IDIOT! A 2-ton lar first half from 4 p.m.-11:45 p.m., motor vehicle always trump-cards go home for a few hours, get up flesh and bone. But then again, it’s and do it again… I wonder how always easier to “blame the police” long before the Globe and the Her- when there’s an accident… ald print their regular editorials ….I finally figured it out: The expressing “concern for our police are to blame for traffic conhealth” because we’re working so gestion for one of two reasons: eimany hours. More than likely, ther A.) because we’re there, or B.) they’ll be criticizing us for perbecause we’re not there. If we’re forming “lucrative overtime asthere directing traffic, we get signments”, wouldn’t you say?... blamed because the traffic is heavy. …Geez, before the TWT tunnel If we’re not there, we get blamed disaster, the Staties jealously because (guess why?) traffic is guarded the nighttime detail as- heavy! Some truths about traffic signments at the mouth of the are: You can’t put ten poundsof Callahan Tunnel and the X-way sh— in a five-pound bag: there is exit-entrance ramps. It was their absolutely nothing the police can jurisdiction, after all, right? But do about the volume of traffic, we now that there’s mundane, diffi- can only regulate flow and direccult traffic duty to be performed, tion. (Doesn’t matter, though, beup close and personal dealing with cause John Q. Public will still frustrated, angry motorists looking blame us for the delays). Take the to vent their anger on some author- intersection which converges at the ity figure, I guess it’s OK to have mouth of the Callahan tunnel, New the BPD’s grunts at what used to Chardon and Surface Rd. A total be “the Staties’ jurisdiction”… of about 8 (eight) separate lanes of traffic attempt to converge into one …Traffic duty is easy, isn’t it? lane and force themselves towards Just wave your arms, right? AnyLogan Airport. The laws of physone can do it? Wouldn’t you love ics say it can’t be done. But put the to grab some yuppie arse driving hapless patrolman there, and at his $60,000+ top-of-the-line least John Q. will have somebody Mercedes by the neck, throw a unito point a finger at and blame beform on him and force him to do cause he’s late for his flight! Small an hour’s worth of traffic in a busy wonder why many a cop has intersection? That’s my pipewalked away in utter frustration… dream. Or maybe to force some sniveling creature from the Globe’s …Remember a few weeks ago editorial office, who spends his/ when the temp neared 100 deher days criticizing cops from the grees? After pulling traffic for ivory towers of Morrissey Blvd. to hours, I stepped to the curb for don a uniform and try pulling traf- about 30 seconds to retrieve a fic through an intersection like At- (warm) bottle of water. As I was lantic and Summer when 3,000 ig- drinking it, a yuppie-bitch in a norant suburban pedestrians who BMW drove by, and I heard her can’t be bothered waiting to cross mutter something about “do-nothagainst the lights and in front of ing” cops… If anybody deserved moving traffic… the BPD medal of restraint for refraining from killing an ignorant, …There are two kinds of peprivileged fleabag driving destrians: idiots and morons. IdiDaddy’s trust-fund car, it was ots wait on the corner until the me…Where was the homeless police officer has issued them a bum when I needed one, to shove personal, engraved invitation to his grubby mitt through her wincross, and morons march across dow demanding compensation for intersections with the “pedestribreathing air and then to expel the ans-have-the-right-of-way” suicontents of his stomach upon the cide walk because the officer had windshield of this harridan’s carthe temerity to make them wait riage? Bums are never around them wait more than five seconds when you need one… while trying to move traffic through a busy intersection. Dear

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

Altria Group is Proud to Support the BPPA’s Scholarship Fund The Altria family of companies has been giving back to its communities for more than 45 years. We do it because it is the right thing to do.

Making a Difference

We are proud of our commitment to the arts and our efforts to foster educational opportunities for deserving students. We are—as a corporation and as employees—fighting hunger, helping victims end the cycle of domestic violence and providing humanitarian aid to those in need. We take pride in the diversity of our products, our communities and our most valuable asset—our people. And we support organizations that are working to make a difference in our communities.

That is why today, and everyday, we salute the BPPA’s Scholarship Fund.

© 2004 Altria Group, Inc. Paid for by Altria Corporate Services, Inc.

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

A Brother’s Pride

A Solemn Memorial Day

By Stephen Gaines son of Paul Gaines, retired BPPA, and Dep. Gladys Gaines, BPD Academy

By Mark A. Bruno I would like to apologize for this Day and explained how he was asked article being a little bit late, but be- not to mention it by Disney brass who cause it is a subject that is important felt some people by be offended by to so many people I felt it needed to this acknowledgment. He explained be mentioned. Memorial Day is a time that he was an Hispanic-American to reflect on our deceased veterans who appreciated the job our serviceboth recent and past. It is also a time men and women were doing and that to remember those soldiers who are if it were not for them we might not currently fighting the war on terror- get to enjoy our freedom. He exism all over the world. Most people plained that we are able to take vacadon’t give it a second thought, for tions and feel safe because of the job them it is just another holiday. Then our soldiers are doing, and that if there are those who understand what mentioning this may offend some he it means to be American and the ulti- was sorry they felt that way but he mate sacrifices that have been made had to say what he felt. I applaud this to keep this great nation of ours free gentleman for having the intestinal from tyranny and terrorism. These are fortitude to stand up and acknowltrue blue Americans who come in all edge the fine job our military is docolors, ethnicities and nationalities. It ing, and to honor those who have is a melting pot of Patriotism, which made the ultimate sacrifice. is felt deep within the hearts of these With that being said I would like individuals. The next few paragraphs to acknowledge a few of our veterans are dedicated to these individuals who are currently serving overseas or who deserve nothing short of our re- have just returned. I would ask that spect and gratitude. everyone please say a prayer for P.O. On Memorial Day I was down in Michael Fayles who sustained an inDisney World, Florida. I woke up and jury in the line of duty and as of this immediately thought of my father writing was still in the hospital recovwho was a WWII veteran and fought ering. Our prayers are with him and on a ship out in the Pacific Ocean. He his family and we wish him a speedy never spoke too much about it and I recovery. P.O. Terry Burke and Bryan know he lost a good friend which Dickson are currently serving their bothered him deeply. Every time he country and are in our thoughts daily. heard the song “My Buddy” he would Officers Chris Colby and Richie Litto get choked up. I guess everyone who have just returned safely from their has fought for our country has a story tours in Iraq and we are happy to have to tell. My dad always treated Memo- them back. Rick Moriarty also rerial Day with the respect and dignity turned safely. that is expected of a former serviceFor all our Officers who are curman. Honoring those who had given rently serving or have served I would their lives is something we all need to like to wish you all a Happy Fourth recognize whether we agree with poli- of July and to thank you for your outcies or not. standing courage and dedication.

I hopped on one of the buses that Without your Patriotism Freedom as takes you to the parks and had a seat. we know it would not be. Thank you The bus driver made his obligatory all for being true Americans and may announcements of which I had be- God watch over you and keep you come familiar. The bus driver then safe. wished everyone a solemn Memorial

Kevin Gaines, a 2004 graduate of Andover High School, is the son of Paul and Gladys Gaines, both of whom are long term employees of the Boston Police Department. Kevin’s father Paul is a recent retiree of the department and Gladys is a Deputy Superintendent and commander of the Police Academy. They have raised four children, three boys and a girl. The focus of this article is to portray the path of Kevin, the youngest of the three boys, who made the decision to enlist in the United States Army upon graduation in 2004. I, Stephen, will elaborate on the profound effect on his life and that of his family.

Writing this piece really hits home and close to my heart. To speak of my brother Kevin is to speak of the very essence that holds and keeps our family’s hope alive. We, like puzzles or art pieces, are not fully complete without that discrete piece that distinguishes them from other ordinary works of art. October 3, 2005 marked the day when we as a family finally had to muster up all our emotions to come to grips with reality that our youngest and in many eyes “our baby” was shipping out on his first tour to Iraq. A country that would force exposure of countless dangers and uncertainties upon him, uncertainties that many would never leave the comforts of their life for. Comforts that many times are overlooked because of our lack of appreciation to cherish things such as loved ones and liberties that are often taken for granted.

Kevin’s decision to join the Army came without a second thought or hesitation a decision of such magnitude in a time of crisis that can never fully be experienced by others unless made themselves. His decision embodies the very characteristics and values that many only aspire to live up to: sacrifice, honor, camaraderie, valor and loyalty. So for that reason we praise and admire his choice but a choice all families come to fear in a time of war. A member of the 101st Airborne Air Assault Division based out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Kevin was immediately pushed to the front lines of battle just outside the city of Baghdad, in a sector labeled “The Triangle of Hell”. A lot has been carried on his young shoulders having been

promoted to team leader only months into his tour to having his name requested by his commander to receive the Army Achievement Medal and Bronze Star, both highly decorated medals in the U.S Army for Heroism.

War is very unforgiving at times and in all cases life altering, but through it all Kevin has been that flame of inspiration that refuses to wither despite his circumstance. Through his nine months now served in Iraq, Kevin has encountered many traumatic events that have been both challenging emotionally, physically and spiritually. Having taken part in many of the missions televised on the world news, ranging from the past elections of a new Iraqi government in October to more current news the recent fall of Ayman al Zarquawi to missions of great loss and discouragement. He participated in the search effort for two of his fellow 101st brothers, both of whom were kidnapped and brutally murdered by an insurgent group, this past June.

Such a day-to-day struggle of dealing with not knowing what the next day will bring can distort reality.

Therefore, it is important that we at home realize the true sacrifices and sense of duty that are made each passing day by our sons and daughters all over the world that provide and sustain the very freedoms we enjoy. Let us remember those who’ve been lost along the way and not lose sight of our veterans on their way or who have made it safely home back to their families. It is the obligation of the American people to be sure all necessary aid and accommodations are available for our soldiers in terms of treatment, counseling and support for the affects of combat stress.

The many sacrifices endured by our brothers and sisters serving in the Armed Forces cannot be ignored, minimized nor forgotten. I beg each of you to keep these men and women in your prayers as well as their families. I ask this as a brother of a young man not yet 21 years of age, who in his short time has seen, experienced and sacrificed much more than any will or I in a lifetime. Let us all continue to stay strong, supportive and proud of our children and not allow their choices to serve go in vain. Till we meet again Kevin.

The U.S. Supreme Court

By Bill Carroll

1. Who was the last Democratic President to appoint the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court?

2. Who is the senior member of the United States Supreme Court?

3. What two cities were the first homes of the Supreme Court?

4. What Supreme Court Chief Justice persuaded Congress to appropriate funds to build a Supreme Court building?

5. What year did the Supreme Court move into its own building? answers on page B27

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Handcuffing police

By Mark A. Bruno With the summer upon us trian, especially elderly or it has become obvious that blind in a crosswalk that auour job as police officers will tomatically get a fine. I will only be getting harder. June 1, leave you with two thoughts 2006, the court ordered profil- on this subject. Remember the ing for motor vehicle stops state has mentioned that the commenced. The brief video profiling system is meant to officers were shown was discipline any problems. The minimal training at best. The courts also ruled that officers booklet of profiling forms are not bound by quotas. looks like an exam test answer Being short-staffed and sheet. Remember well what asked to do more with less is our union leaders were told not insulting enough for our when they quizzed the state esteemed city leaders, it and those who would gather seems now they would like a this information. Point blank civilian review board to scruour members were told that tinize how officers do their this information was meant to job. inform of where any probWho holds our city leadlems may be and to discipline ers accountable when they the problem. cross the threshold of what is inappropriate. Like when The individuals sorting Chuck Turner unleashed his venomous spiel on a bunch of out the data collected unsuspecting public school students who visited the City can easily skew figures Council chambers to resolve to make it look like an some issues. Telling kids we officer may be profiling. need to legalize drugs and that the war on drugs is a conspiracy contrived to lock up Boston is a very diverse every minority in the country city with many ethnic groups. is not being a responsible The individuals sorting out leader.

However, now we have the data collected can easily skew figures to make it look Councilor Arroyo, who like an officer may be profil- would like to have a civilian ing. It would be nice to know review board with subpoena how this information is being powers to keep our officers in disseminated and what for- check. Who was there when mula is being used to deter- the City Council voted themmine if there are in fact any selves and the Mayor a big fat improprieties. Everyone raise? I believe the vote took knows that certain sections of place after five when most Boston can be predominantly people were heading home. white or minority. If you are No advertisement for this a white officer working in B- vote was placed in the local 2 or B-3, chances are that most papers for our fine citizens to of the individuals pulled over see, nor did I hear Sam Tyler for traffic infractions will (Mr. Penny Pincher, I get my probably be minorities. If you check from the Mayor) object. are a minority officer working This is what is wrong with the Beacon Hill area chances our local government who are the individuals pulled much like big business only over for traffic infractions will likes to share the wealth at the probably be white. Officers top. The serfs have to beg for will tell you that it is the bla- crumbs and be subjected to tant infraction that draws inquisitions and ridicule their attention to the motor which are meant to keep them vehicle and not the race of the down. We are asked to do our driver. Most officers will also jobs while constantly being tell you that it is the disposi- scrutinized by these wolves in tion and honesty of the driver sheep’s clothing that vilify us which will determine for the sake of their own pubwhether they get a warning or lic acceptance. How can offica fine. There are infractions ers do their jobs if they are such as passing a school bus constantly being handcuffed or failing to yield to a pedes- in everything they do?

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What I did on my summer vacation I’m not usually the type of writer to get into the softer side of life but I thought I’d share a couple of highlights and low lights of a road trip to Wallyworld. In true Griswold fashion I bought the family a new-to-us minivan.

I say I bought, but in reality Honda Credit bought us a newer minivan with all the toys. Trying to make sense of the new navigation system, that wouldn’t shut up or off throughout the trip by the way, the clan and I shoved off for Florida at 0830 hours on Monday. I expected to take this trip in three days, so armed with plenty of kid friendly DVDs off we went. I was advised that taking Interstate 95 straight through would be a tedious and timeconsuming mistake so our route was the Pike to 84 to 81 to 77 and onto 95 some where in the Carolinas. The ride down took us through Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and then into Florida.

The ride from a scenic standpoint, went as such: most every state we drove through looked like Massachusetts with the exceptions of Pennsylvania and Virginia with their beautiful farms and fields. The most striking sight was the seven-mile descent down the mountains of Virginia into North Carolina. We were so high atop the mountain you’d have thought you were in an airplane as we drove along the edge of a mountain cliff overlooking Virginia. The ride going by way of this back route was all but traffic free except for about five minutes of delay in Hartford, Connecticut.

What I found odd though was the road width of two lanes for major highways and the roadside littered with dead deer. We must have seen 15 or 20 deer ocean frank with their legs straight out stiff as a board as if they were life size toys toppled over.

The other noticeable difference came when we crossed the Mason Dixon Line, almost like hitting a switch I quickly found out I

By Kevin Doogan was in NASCAR Country, almost every car had a NASCAR number on it. Positively everyone drove in the left lane and passed from the right lane. It was like they were spinning around a race track and if you dared to drive the speed limit in the right lane they’d try and push you off the shoulder.

Up in Massachusetts if you smash your car or sideswipe a vehicle it’s called an accident or a crash but down South it’s referred to as just trading paint. This was apparently the mentality of almost every southern driver I came into contact with. Thank goodness there wasn’t much traffic, as I said.

Driving down was smooth with the exception of an occasional crazed 18-wheel trucker forcing you off the road or a NASCAR wannabe sporting his favorite number drafting off us. We made great time the first day and spent the night in North Carolina watching the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup. We stayed at a Best Western, I hoped it would be a great western, but an inverted plunger should have tipped me off to the exploding toilet. But this motivated me into cutting the trip short and heading straight to Disney the following morning.

My copilot and the kids were great so we slid into Orlando at about 1900 and Disney hooked us up and put us up a day early. With the five of us settled in we got to watch the Miami Heat win the NBA Championship.

The next day marked the arrival of the other 20 family members of our party. That’s right 25 in all, my two brothers and two sisters, their spouses and all their children invaded Disney for 10 days.

This was a vacation of a lifetime for all of us, the oldest child was 20, the youngest was two and everyone had a blast.

After 11 days of sun, showers, amazing lightning storms, heated pools, and more entertainment and thrill rides than you could count on your hands we bid goodbye to the Magic Kingdom and all

the other parks Orlando and Disney had to offer. We shoved off for home at 0615 hours armed with our experience of the exploding toilet and just having watched a national news story on people being attacked by hotel bedbugs. My intention was to get as close to home as I could in the first day, no fooling around or adventuring.

What a horror show: 1285 miles, bumper-to-bumper with Bubba and the above-described NASCAR nitwits.

Because of the torrential rains up north while we were down south I couldn’t take the same route home, I was forced to stay on 95. What a horror show: 1285 miles, bumper-to-bumper with Bubba and the above-described NASCAR nitwits.

Driving home on 95 was like drive the Jamaica Way in rush hour at 80 mph the whole time dodging tractor trailers jamming their 18-wheeler into the space in front of us that would barely fit a VW bug. It was so bad coming home with these backward ass NASCAR nitwits that we came straight home, one shot, stopping only for gas and food. We pulled into the driveway at 0315 and collapsed in our own beds.

In retrospect I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I’m talking of course about the entire family vacation to Disney but if it means driving in the south again I’d suggest driving to Virginia and getting on the auto train and dodge the madness that is the south.

They talk about Boston drivers, these clowns make us look like driving instructors.

Here’s hoping everyone has a safe and fun filled vacation.

I should also note I saw the thin blue line in almost every state I drove through, not that it was needed.

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Blue: It’s our favorite color.

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BEFORE I EXPLODE….

Sports Trivia

Collected ramblings of frustrated cops

By Bill Carroll

Compiled by Jim Carnell, Pax Editor

1. What former Patriots head coach is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

2. Who was the first “pure” place kicker to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

3. What NFL team has the most players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

4. What year did the Pro Football Hall of Fame induct its first members?

5. Boston College has two alumni enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, can you name them?

6. What two colleges have the most former players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

7. How many players in the Hall of Fame won the Heisman Trophy while playing in college?

8. Who were the first two Heisman Trophy winners to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

9. What state were the most members of Pro Football Hall born in?

10. Who has served as a Pro Football Hall of Fame presenter the most times? answers on page B13

THE BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP Proudly supports the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association Scholarship Fund

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“REVEREND” RIVER$$$$...Yes, the right Reverend River$ rides again…he of the Holy Tabernacle Church of the Federal and State Grant.

Frustrated that his “request” for a $500,000.00 taxpayer grant was turned down, the holy man turned his anger on (who else?) the police (what a novel idea, Rev.!) As it was reported in the Boston Globe of 8/11, Rivers was quoted as saying that “better collaboration was needed to ensure that none of the young people we work with bump into inadvertently a corrupt police officer that wants to sell them heroin”- an obvious swipe at the recent arrests of three individuals on drug conspiracy charges. Yes, the whole 2,400–man BPD department was tainted with the same broad brush by the angry Rev. River$ because his plan to give $40,000 per year “mentoring jobs” to ex-cons was deep-sixed. Now let me get this straight: the utter hypocrite who always screams about “positive role models” was going to give “jobs” (pardon me while I puke…) to scumbag maggots who were just released from prison for violent crimes at around $40K a year. They’re “role models” but the entire BPD is guilty because of the alleged actions of a very few?? Yeah, Rev. River$, you really are a disgrace. And speaking of “positive role models”…

STATE SENATOR DIANNE WILKERSON, COME ON DOWN!…

Yes, the solon from Roxbury who couldn’t even compile enough valid signatures to get on the ballot, she who was convicted of tax fraud, and failed to pay student loans and mortgages; she who never fails to raise the red herring of “racism” (a la deposed Georgia rep. Cynthia McKinney) when she’s caught with her hand in the cookie jar…HAS DONE IT AGAIN! Lady Di recently alleged that possible perjury charges against herself were conjured up to divert attention from “cokehead cops” (another reference to Pullido, Carrasquillo et al). Dianne alleged that she was physically present at a homicide interrogation involving her nephew back in 1994, and that the detectives “turned off the tape recorder” during supposedly exculpatory statements which may have cleared her little darling relative. Now, why in the name of God would any homicide investigator with an IQ above 10 allow ANYBODY- and certainly not someone like Lady Di— to be physically present during an interrogation into a homicide? Does that

make any sense? And to top it off, an aide of Dianne’s, a man who now refers to himself as “Minister Branch,” (move over Rev, River$) stated to the media that he remembers also being present “in enemy territory” (AKA

“Minister Branch,”(move over Rev, River$) stated to the media that he remembers also being present “in enemy territory” (AKA South Boston) back in ‘94 along with Lady Di… South Boston) back in ‘94 along with Lady Di… Wow. What would happen if, for example, Councilor Jimmy Kelly had said that he was in “enemy territory” while at Area B-2 in Roxbury? What do you think would have happened? Mr. Kelly would have (rightfully) been drummed from office in disgrace. But Lady Di and her “minister” aide? Barely mentioned in the major media…talk about the double standard!...

HOW LONG BEFORE THE MEDIA SPOTLIGHTS “LUCRATIVE OVERTIME” money earned by BPD officers ordered to work mandatory overtime shifts because of short staffing? We can’t win, can we?...

HAVE YOU HEARD THAT SEVERAL BPD OFFICERS ARE LEAVING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT??? Seems that several officers have taken and passed the BFD exam and some are in the process of leaving this job—others may be in the pipeline…Is anybody leaving the fire department to come to the BPD? No?—Geez, I wonder why…

BARGAINING… Always irks me when I hear people ask with Pollyanna-ish “Mr. Smith goes to Washington” naiveté “So why doesn’t [the union] demand [fill in the blank] from the city during negotiations?...

Look, if you think that bargaining with the City of Boston is a regular give-and-take, across the table, earnest process, then you deceive yourself. Bargaining is like going to a barn dance and being forced to dance with the fat, ugly girl—and then finding out that the fat, ugly girl doesn’t want to dance. A contract can be done in an hour if there’s the political will to do it. But that’s what’s missing, boys and girls…

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Tensions Flare Between Council, Chief Bratton Lawmakers are seeking an investigation after his recent “unprofessional and unnecessary” public criticism of them.

By Patrick McGreevy - Friday, July 14th, 2006 ‘The Los Angeles Times’ / Los Angeles, CA

Long-simmering friction between Los Angeles’ current and former police chiefs boiled into public view Thursday, as the Police Commission met to consider a new report on the Rampart Division corruption scandal.

The flashpoint was not over misconduct within the Los Angeles Police Department but over the agency’s hiring practices. And before the day was out, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was taking steps to intercede and reduce tensions.

A group of five Los Angeles City Council members — led by former Police Chief Bernard C. Parks — requested that the Police Commission launch an investigation into what they called “unprofessional and unnecessary” public comments made by current Chief William J. Bratton.

In a pointed three-page letter, the lawmakers questioned Bratton’s ability to lead the department after hav-

ing made several comments critical of council members.

The council members said they were especially miffed that Bratton had said in a July 6 KTLA-TV Channel 5 appearance that two council members “do not know what the hell they’re talking about” after they complained about a recent change in LAPD hiring practices.

Parks and Councilman Dennis P. Zine, two of the letter signers, had criticized the chief during a council committee meeting for hiring some new police officers who admitted to having used drugs in their distant pasts. Council members Jan Perry, Jose Huizar and Tony Cardenas also signed the letter.

In calling for an investigation, the council members said the chief once instructed two councilmen — again Parks and Zine, a former LAPD officer — to “mind their own business.” They

Sports Trivia Answers 1. Former Pat’s head coach Raymond Berry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973.

2. The first “pure” place kicker to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame was Jan Stenerud who played for the Chiefs, Packers, and Vikings.

3. The Chicago Bears have had 26 of their players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with 21 of them playing their entire career with the Bears.

4. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined its first members on September 7, 1963.

5. The two former Boston College football players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame are Art Donovan and Ernie Stautner.

6. Notre Dame and the University of Southern Cal each have ten former players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

7. There are eight Heisman Trophy winners in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Doak Walker, Tony Dorsett, O.J. Simpson, Earl Campbell, Roger Staubach, Paul Hornung, Barry Sanders, and Marcus Allen.

8. The first two Heisman Trophy winners inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame were Roger Staubach and O.J. Simpson in 1985.

9. The state in which the most Pro Football Hall of Famers were born is Pennsylvania with 26, Texas is second with 24.

10. Raiders managing general partner Al Davis has been a presenter at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony nine times.

also cited a Bratton comment that the council was “missing in action” because some members had raised questions about funding requests for the LAPD and suggesting they “start attending some of the funerals of the victims of crime.”

They also cited his refusal to heed a request by council members for records of money spent by the Police Foundation, a private group that uses donations to help pay for LAPD projects and initiatives.

The council members also complained that Bratton had at various times made “negative references to large segments of the community or individuals,” citing a 2004 Times story headlined “Chief says he didn’t mean to offend blacks.” In the article, Bratton said he was apologizing for using the word “nitwit” when referring to Najee Ali, an African American community activist. Two of the letter-signers, Parks and Perry, are African American.

“We are now formally voicing our extreme displeasure with the chief’s recent comments and requesting that the Police Commission formally investigate them,” the letter said.

The council members said the commission should look at whether Bratton’s “ongoing actions and attitude impact his ability to discipline LAPD personnel for similar behavior.”

They also suggested he be forced to undergo training in the separation of powers between the City Council and department heads.

“Chief Bratton’s poor judgment is significant because he is a high-ranking representative of our city, his duties call for him to come into contact with countless numbers of people and, most disturbingly, since his arrival, he has routinely made public comments that could be described as insensitive or just plan rude,” the letter said. “These types of comments are definitely not befitting a general manager.”

“Quite obviously we have agreed to disagree on the issue of how effective the department hiring policies are, particularly as it relates to drug screening,” Bratton said, smiling. “Basically it will now go through the appropriate forum. The Police Commission will accept it as a personnel complaint and do their investigation.”

Parks presided over the LAPD during much of the Rampart scandal investigation, but his tenure was not renewed by the Police Commission in 2003 and he was eventually replaced

by Bratton.

The two men have sparred on other occasions but never as forcefully as Thursday.

Late in the day, Villaraigosa issued a statement that said he was trying to bring the sides together.

“I spoke with Chief Bratton about his comments during my weekly meeting with him,” the mayor said.

“I will also be speaking with council members Parks and Zine.

“My hope is that this matter can be resolved as quickly as possible so that we can move forward together taking on the public safety challenges we face as a city.”

The letter from the council members created a buzz as it circulated among city officials at the Police Commission hearing on the Blue Ribbon Rampart Review Panel, which recommended significant changes to address problems raised seven years ago by the Rampart Division scandal.

The commission ended up asking Bratton to report back next week on the panel’s review, noting the reforms he believes should be pursued and his plan to implement them.

The blue ribbon panel called for a major expansion of the police force — even as the city is already attempting to hire 1,000 additional officers over the next five years.

Police Commission President John Mack said he had not seen the letter but that the commission would take it seriously.

In his first public remarks on the Rampart report, Bratton said he took issue with some of its findings, but told the commission he supported its general proposition that the department must be expanded and move fully into community-based policing.

Bratton said he had no plans to apologize for past comments and did not believe he needed to undergo training over the dispute.

“In sum, while we have worked hard to get where we are, we are still not where we have to be,” Bratton said.

PAX CENTURION

The long hot summer

By Joe the Boss, retired BPPA Hello again boys and girls. seen quite a few going back Here it is the beginning of to the Williams, DiMaggio, August and the Red Sox and Musial, Aaron, Mays, Mantle, the Yankees are neck and Reggie and yes Barry (until neck. Sounds familiar eh! The something comes up to nuldog days of August are upon lify him), eras and Big Papi is us. This is when we separate very much in the forefront as the men from the boys, the far as clutch goes. I don’t contenders from the pretend- mean to disparage the year ers. he’s having up to this point.

The teams have had four As I’m penning this article months to get their act to- (Yes, I’m actually writing in gether. In this area there are long hand and have a lot of only two teams that matter, help getting it into print right the Yankees and the Red Sox. A.P. and J.C.?) Big Papi has 40 The Yankees have had their homers, 109 RBIs and about injuries and disappointments 290 something B.A. which is but they are starting to get a very good year for most healthy. They have also made players and we still have one some acquisitions, like we third of the year left. I forget didn’t expect “George the how or who engineered the Boss,” (not the real one, that’s deal for Mr. Ortiz, but my hat me!) to sit still while our Red is off to him or her.

Sox were slightly ahead of Now another plus for the them. George gets a little ner- big guy is that he genuinely vous when he’s not leading seems like a nice happy-gothe pack. lucky guy. He lends his time Our beloved Red Sox (I and money to many local say our and I’ll get a little flack charities and hospitals. And for that but I’ll explain later I’m glad somebody had the on) were coasting along but good sense to look ahead and lately have had their share of sign him for another five or injuries. They are too numer- six years without all the stallous to mention but that’s the ing and posturing that goes nature of the game and life on with some of these congoes on. The Sox didn’t pick tracts. Gee it sounds like I’m up anybody worthwhile. looking to be a secondary What’s up with that Theo? Is agent for Mr. Ortiz, but not to he getting a little gun-shy be- worry you agents I’m into cause of all that happened the past year? So the faithful will have to carry on with what they have. The current roster of 25 will have to pick it up a notch until we get all the troops back.

Speaking of picking it up I’m going to mention one name, David Ortiz, better known as Big Papi. If he picks it up anymore he’ll be out of sight. I’ve been around a long time and I can’t remember one player on any team who has come through in the clutch as often as Big Papi has.

He had a couple of great years here and this one appears to be the best of them all. Last year wasn’t too shabby when he was truly the MVP but some third baseman from our sworn enemy was given the award. Going back through the years I can’t recall any player who has gotten the big hit at the end, the big hit in the middle of the game to get them back in it or the big bit early to give them a lead. I’ve

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

another sport and a game of chance.

This is not to say Big Papi is doing it all by himself. He has a very good cast around him. Manny is having, well, a Manny year which is usually very good. The pitching is good and other players are stepping up and contributing but Big Papi is still the MVP. Lately, I’ve been reading the New York papers (remember a few articles back I remarked how the rag on Morrissey Blvd. refused to print some sport that I was interested in so I had to resort to the New York papers for them) and to get back to the point I was trying to make which is that they, the New York papers, were starting to make some noise about the MVP and trying to make a case for a shortstop of theirs.

Let me tell you that shortstop is very good but he is just a single hitter. I know he gets a lot of clutch hits to keep a rally going and does a lot of the little things that add up to a nice result. Yes, I know he plays in the field everyday and all that but at last look he is well compensated for that.

Also, he is surrounded by many good ball players when they are all healthy. The boss has tried for years and is still trying to get an all star at every position. This he thinks is

the key to success. But you need a mix of big and small players all on the same page trying to accomplish the goal of winning the ultimate prize.

This works to a certain degree but not always. You need players who look at the team standings not their BA’s. Now getting back to the original point which is in the late innings down by a couple of runs and a couple of men on base, you as the manager, who would you like striding to the plate, Big Papi or a nice well-rounded/player shortstop. I rest my case.

Now getting back to my calling the Red Sox my team let me explain. I am a native New Yorker, born there, and came to Boston as an infant, and continued to reside here to the present. I had family in New York City and as a youngster I used to spend my entire summer there. Naturally, the Yankees were always a big deal. Always winning and having the big names. So I began as a Yankees fan.

Throughout the later years things changed. I didn’t go to New York except for an occasional visit. Free agency came in and everyone started moving around. People were jumping ship all the time. Not that free agency was a bad thing but players moved on and heroes moved on. Other

things in life became more important and I usually didn’t get too interested until the playoffs or World Series started. Being bombarded by the local press and TV about the Red Sox I started following them and there a small bonding developed. So lately, I have been rooting for the home team and was glad to see they broke their jinx by winning the World Series. You noticed I didn’t say reversed the curse or something like that. I had never heard of that before. I think it’s a latter day thing. So there I said it and I’ll take the heat from some people. I know about riding the coattail of a winner, doesn’t everyone?

I’m sure if I made any factual errors regarding statistics Mr. B.C. will let me know.

Before I forget, it’s that time of the year for the annual pilgrimage to the Spa. I’ll let you know how that turns out.

I have a new system and that is to remove some of the cash that I left up there on previous visits. The track said they would keep it in a stack, put a rubber band around it with my name on it and I can take it anytime.

In closing remember to take care of yourself. And where have you gone Modestino?

Joe the Boss

Thank You! The Golf Committee would like to thank everyone who participated in making the 2006 Annual Tournament a great success.

this event a reality along with our gracious sponsors with whom we should reciprocate in kind by frequenting their place of business.

This year’s tournament was held at Franklin Park Golf Course with the reception held at the Boston Police Post. The food was catered by Porto Bello restaurant in South Boston.

Special thanks to: Fred Stevens, Jay Broderick, Joe Vannelli, Pat Rose, Marty Columbo and Mark Bruno the many others who help with the set up work and preparation…

The Committee would also like to acknowledge the many, while behind the scenes, who make

Thank you one and all, The Golf Committee

2006 Sponsors Porto Bello Restaurant, South Boston Image Benefits Membership Benefits Insurance Agency Finneran, Byran & Drechsler, L.L.P JJ Foley’s, E. Berkely St. James M. Higgins, Esq. State Rep. Vince Pedone Rep. Tom Kennedy Senator James E. Timilty Doyle’s Who’s on First? – Fenway Park, Boston Rep. Peter J. Koutoujian

Higs/Cityside Tickets Senate President Robert E. Travaglini Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein The Beachcomber – Wollaston Beach The Fours Restaurant – Boston & Quincy Optimum Mortgage Corporation Trinity Bar Sandulli, Grace, P.C. State Rep. Kevin G. Honan City of Boston Credit Union City Councilor Mike Ross

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Another Internet Gem: What’s the Fuss? ”Are we fighting a war on terror or aren’t we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001? Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation’s capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania? Did nearly 3,000 men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn’t they?

And I’m supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was “desecrated” when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet? Well, I don’t. I don’t care at all. I’ll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11. I’ll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia.

I’ll care when Abu Musab alZarqawi tells the world he is sorry for hacking off Nick Berg’s head while Berg screamed through his gurgling, slashed throat. I’ll care when the cowardly so-called “insurgents” in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques. I’ll care when the

mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I’ll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from International law instead of the United States Constitution’s Bill of Rights.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don’t care. When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college hazing incident, rest assured that I don’t care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank that I don’t care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed “special” food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being “mishandled,” you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts that I don’t care. And oh, by the way, I’ve noticed that sometimes it’s spelled “Koran” and other times “Quran.” Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and —you guessed it —I don’t care!

JULY/AUGUST 2006

To bring back or not to bring back We as police officers intimately know the definition of probable cause as it was drilled into us in the Academy. As active police officers we readily recognize probable cause when we encounter it in our dealings and investigations with suspects, witnesses and victims on the street.

However the courts, attorneys and the second-guessing media have drilled a false belief or doubt into some officers and attorneys that before an arrest can be made, proof beyond a reasonable doubt is necessary. Time and again I have heard attorneys joust over why, how and when an officer had probable cause to do what they had done. I have also been privy to discussions about whether or not to go forward with an arrest warrant or a prosecution, painstakingly taking into consideration the amount of incriminating evidence and how it relates to successful prosecution. Although the Courts and the District Attorney’s Office live in the land of proof beyond a reasonable doubt we

By Kevin Doogan as police officers can’t forget we live in the land of probable cause. This is a huge difference and we can’t cloud our actions by bowing or yielding to the much higher standards of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Remember we live in the land of 51 percent, is it more probable the suspect committed the crime in question or not. Does the evidence tip the scale of justice towards the suspect or not. In our quest to be thorough, we sometimes jeopardize a case by trying to do too much instead of too little. I mention this regarding the use of bring-backs or show-ups. The courts and juries have begun to take a long hard look and tough stance when they believe a suggestive show-up or bring-back identification is used. As police officers, we have all used show-ups and bring-backs as the vital tools they are. But we are all aware that allowing a potential suspect to stand unaccompanied isn’t feasible, let alone safe or prudent. So avoiding making the show-up or bring-back

identification suggestive is a tricky feat. I am personally against show-ups or bring backs unless they are absolutely necessary. If probable cause exists prior to a bringback and arrest is an option, then I believe that arrest should be the preferred course of action. Understandably an eye witness or victim identification is very reassuring but if not absolutely necessary to attain probable cause then I believe it should be avoided and a fresh photo array be used instead. I’d rather explain to a jury why I didn’t want to have an overly suggestive identification than to lose a case because one was made. I also don’t want to risk that a victim or witness may get cold feet when immediately confronted by the same suspect that just victimized them. Why cave in and hold ourselves to such a stringent standard as proof beyond a reasonable doubt when we can accomplish the same identification through a double blind photo array?

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

They Served With Dignity and Honor We Shall Not Forget Them

photo unavailable

Richard D. Martin 4-15-06 Active

Det. Frederick L. Thompson, Jr. 5-22-06

Sgt. Irving Miller 7-1-06

Sgt. Edward P. Kelley 5-23-06

Joseph C. McCarthy, Jr. 7-2-06

Det. William J. Murphy 5-25-06

Det. Ernesto (Tito) Wittington 7-8-06 Active

We apologize for any errors or omissions

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Off the Top of my Head

By Kevin Doogan

It’s nice to see the Feds are back in form, recovering from their well-publicized protection of murderers, racketeers, drug dealers, arsonists, rapists and like. I personally don’t think there is any place in law enforcement for dirty cops. I’m sure the Feds didn’t just find a dirty little cop and turn him into a great big dirty cop by affording this waste of a uniform ample opportunity to explore new and exciting forays into crime. The Feds wouldn’t have found this disgrace to the badge and then led him down the primrose path by prompting him into committing more sensational and news worthy crimes. In the end I have no sympathy for those who betray their badge and oath, those that chose to be above the law should now have to face the law, good riddance.

Keeping current I am appalled by the Texas insanity verdict for that mother who drowned her five children. Of course she’s insane and mentally challenged but she knew

exactly what she was doing and that it was wrong. Not only should she have been convicted but so should the father/husband who knew all too well that his wife was more than a half a bubble off of plum and possessed a violent murderous suicidal tendency and left those poor children in her care.

The Herald article, expressing outrage that one of our brother officers had taken a beating while arresting a suspect that ran through a children’s birthday party, was well received. But make no mistake this happens more often than not all across the city and is rarely reported.

The police are just the convenient whipping boy for crime both on the street and in the news. It’s always the cop’s fault, never the criminal’s fault nor is it the public that harbors, enables, excuses and hides the criminal’s fault.

When it comes to crime and the public, it is an us against them attitude and I mean it’s the public against the cops. It

JULY/AUGUST 2006

was never more evident then when those party-goers instinctively attacked this lone cop and tried to free the suspect. And you wonder why crime is on the rise, juries won’t convict, murders are becoming more blatant.

That’s right it’s the cop’s fault.

Keep jamming your head in the sand like an ostrich.

Has anyone seen the chunky horseman riding from city hall to Hyde Park chanting “The Munies are coming, the Munies are coming”? It’s clear that the mayor is hell bent on filling Boston Police vacancies with political appointees. The administration can spin it anyway they want but this move will come back to bite them in the ass and cost this city millions of dollars in the long run. Someone should remind this administration not to believe their own hype. The answer to the shortage of cops isn’t hacks and appointees, the answer is young fresh recruits from the best of what civil service has to offer statewide not just city wide, by the looks of things the pickings are getting pretty slim around Boston.

COPS store news COPS store summer specials include 50% off custom laser-engraved Italian Charms. Blue Ribbon charms are reduced also. Check the COPSstore website for COPS t-shirts for less than $10.00.

Roll Call items from National Police Week 2006 (with the 2005 Roll Call) are still available so it might be time to stock up on fall apparel such as long sleeve t-shirts and sweatshirts.

All items are available at: www.COPSstore.com

Supreme Court Answers 1. The last Democratic President to appoint the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was Harry Truman who named Fred Moore Vinson Chief Justice on June 24, 1946.

2. The senior member of the Supreme Court is Associate Justice John Paul Stevens who was appointed to the court on December 19, 1975.

3. The two cities that were the first homes for the Supreme Court were New York 1789, and Philadelphia 1790-1800.

4. Former President of the United States and Supreme Court Chief Justice William Howard Taft persuaded Congress to appropriate funds for a new Supreme Court building in 1929.

5. The United States Supreme Court moved into its own new building in 1935.

Compliments of

Compliments of

MB Associates

Regiment Capital

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

Houghton Mifflin salutes the Boston Police Patrolmenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association for its long-standing dedication and service to our community.

For more than 170 years, Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Company has been a trusted partner in lifelong learning, providing textbooks, educational resources, assessments, award-winning fiction and nonfiction, and reference materials to readers of all ages.We proudly sponsor the BPPA Scholarship Fund, and congratulate the association on its many successful programs.

www.hmco.com

Š Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Read between the lines

By Mark A. Bruno The recent merger plan between is a bitter pill to swallow. I won’t bore the BPD and the Municipal Police has you with the history of how this came caused quite a firestorm. It is most about, but I will say there are many unfortunate that the City chose to ram including the Mayor and several BPD this proposition down our throats. It leaders that were staunchly against has caused much bitterness and an- this merger and all of a sudden they ger on both sides of the coin. The bot- are now for it. What could have postom line in all of this is that the BPPA sibly changed to make these politidoes not wish to make this personal, cians and BPD brass turn two-faced? it is business, period. There are some Why don’t people stand by their conMunicipal officers who in all likeli- victions? This merger is wrong for hood would get left behind as a re- many reasons. I would not be able to sult of this merger. Who is speaking live with myself if I knew I took the for them? I understand there is much place of a veteran without lifting a dissension on this issue and all feel it pen. Those veterans who are currently

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JULY/AUGUST 2006 serving our country and are waiting on a Civil Service list for this job deserve to get the job.

What has become apparent and is most disturbing is that the one place that was always on the forefront of protecting our rights as civil servants has now become a paper-tiger under the Romney administration. The oncefeared Civil Service Commission has turned into a bunch of political hacks appointed by Mitt Romney, who has no love for any unions whatsoever.

His one mission before he vacates the Governor’s office is to abolish Civil Service. Those that serve now on this board are merely puppets who shake their heads and do nothing for those people they are supposed to represent. They should all bow their heads in shame for the frauds they have become. What was once an honorable board has become a bought-and-paidfor disgrace. We know of the collusion between the IBPO (Mr. Holloway) and Mr.(take me to dinner and buy me a watch) Hartnett. How dare Mr. Holloway call for the resignation of Tommy Nee. The members of the IBPO should not have elected Mr. Holloway because he was never a cop, where as all the elected members of the BPPA are police officers.

To hand out a golden apple and get nothing in return is foolish. The city had an obligation and a chance to

place something on the table for any unilateral changes, but instead they opted to take the low road once again and force our union to take them to court to file for an injunction. Tolerance is the key word in all of this mess.

Could the members of the BPPA tolerate a merger through the collective bargaining process if there were a fair and equitable solution? Could an issue like residency and a decent wage proposal over the next three years have satisfied the members of the BPPA in regards to this merger?

Maybe, but we will never know because the City as usual refuses to bargain in good faith. I would ask that any candidates who apply for this unilateral transfer at least take the civil service test and achieve a passing grade as part of their requirement. I know that BHA candidates were required to take a test prior to there being appointed. Municipal police should also have to take a test if they desire to be one of Boston’s Finest. No one should get in for free while others are working hard to attain these coveted positions. When diplomacy is no longer a viable option and all the lines of communication have been stifled, all that is left is bitterness and contempt. The BPPA has never stopped talking, it is the city who has not begun.

Thank you for all you do.

We appreciate all the good work of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association.

Shawmut Design and Construction 560 Harrison Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts shawmut.com

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

Why is it?

By PO Mike Kane, Academy â?&#x2013; A great guy and dedicated Po- understand â&#x20AC;&#x153;Up Chuckâ&#x20AC;? Turner, he lice Officer like Tito Whittington is has a long documented history of suptaken from us so suddenly? The Bos- porting scumbag criminals and their ton Police Department and the citi- causes. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a complete idiot. He zens of this great city have suffered a probably owns some of Gaynorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arthuge loss that will be hard to fill and work. But Arroyo? Wilkerson? What will be felt for many years. Read onâ&#x20AC;Ś is your excuse? Afraid of what your â?&#x2013; Trooper Paul Barry is taken so supporters and neighbors might think quickly and leaves a family, friends, of you if you back the police? Whose and his department so devastated? side are you on anyway? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t anâ?&#x2013; Some officers are so willing to swer we already knowâ&#x20AC;ŚThanks for throw their career, freedom, reputa- all the support. tion, friends and co-workers away in â?&#x2013; That I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be surprised to see order to make a quick buck? the media in this city research all of â?&#x2013; The Boston Herald feels itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the forced Big Dig overtime for Bosnewsworthy to conduct a poll and ton and State Police Officers who were two-day story (July 19-20, 2006) on forced to work the detours set up whether or not anyone would want around the city because of the tragic to live in the Hopkinton home that tunnel collapse? Then they will have was occupied by the double murderer a story that will last at least three days!

Neil Entwistle? No one wants to live â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boston Police Profit Off Tunnel Tragthere! edyâ&#x20AC;?. Now thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quality journalism â?&#x2013; Serial murderer Alfred Gaynor folks. And you know theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do itâ&#x20AC;Ś is allowed to sell a lock of his dirty â?&#x2013; That any politician feels that he hair on the Internet for $25.00? (Bos- or she should have ANYTHING ton Herald, July 21 st , 2006). This named after them? In a recent story scumbag raped and strangled four in the Boston Herald the idea was women! The Legislature has failed to floated to name the convention cenact on a proposed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Son of Samâ&#x20AC;? law ter after Mayor Menino? I think a betfiled by Rep. Peter Koutoujian (D- ter idea would be to name public Waltham) that would block criminals buildings or locations after those city from profiting in any way off their employees who deserve it. The crimes. Get it passed! This monster Whittington Convention Center has already sold a crayon drawing of sounds nice. Or how about a park Jesus Christ for $250â&#x20AC;Śwhatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next? named after Wayne Anderson? These Autographs for $15 each? And who politicians think like the Kings of Enin their right mind would buy this gland. Although we shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t totally garbage? ignore the politicians, I suppose if a â?&#x2013; The gun buy-back program isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t dump needs a nameâ&#x20AC;Ś still being funded? What happened to â?&#x2013; The Mayor thinks itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good our â&#x20AC;&#x153;partners in the private sectorâ&#x20AC;?? idea to now have drug testing for steI guess when thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no profit margin roids for Boston Police Officers? Noth(even less murders!) for themâ&#x20AC;Śthey ing but a knee jerk, â&#x20AC;?I have to say apparently donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see the need to con- somethingâ&#x20AC;? to the media response. tinue to contribute. â?&#x2013; The Herald believes that BPPA â?&#x2013; You hear nothing from the so- has no right to fight the merger of the called community activists, loser poli- municipal police by seeking an injuncticians (Arroyo, Turner, Wilkinson and tion from the courts? When did our the rest), or regular citizens when a union throw away itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right to seek rookie police officer is beaten by a relief from the courts? The Herald has crowd as he attempted to make an done it in the pastâ&#x20AC;Śbut we arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t alarrest in Roxbury? (Boston Herald lowed? A bunch of frauds!

July 19th, 2006- Joe Fitzgerald). I can Stay Safe

?

Weston Presidio

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

Finneran, Byrne, & Drechsler, L.L.P. Attorneys at Law JAMES E. BYRNE THOMAS DRECHSLER KENNETH H. ANDERSON ERIC S. GOLDMAN

RICHARD P. MAZZOCCA SAMUEL P. MCDERMOTT

THOMAS M. FINNERAN, of Counsel

Eastern Harbor Office Park 50 Redfield Street Boston, Massachusetts 02122 A GENERAL PRACTICE OF LAW WITH AN EMPHASIS IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LITIGATION Including personal injury law involving auto/motorcycle accidents, construction site accidents, slip and fall accidents, premises liability, defective products, medical malpractice, head and burn injuries, liquor liability and workerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compensation.

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A conspiracy of imbeciles

By Patrick Carnell, Canisius College, Buffalo NY, class of 2008 Silly me. All this time I thought it self (including me writing this article). was al-Qaeda and its nineteen hijack- Don’t take this the wrong way: a ers who killed nearly 3,000 people on healthy dose of skepticism is good, 9/11. Thanks to the “truth-seekers” of and necessary, for a democratic state the “9/11 Truth Movement,” however, and one’s own well-being. However, I realize my mistake: how could I not to not only deny the obvious in the see, even with all the opportunities to face of concrete evidence, but to also stretch reality and quote out of con- invent and support a different (and text right before me, that it was really improbable) scenario based on very some combination of the Bush admin- flimsy proof…well, that takes a speistration, Halliburton, the CIA, the cial kind of moron (to paraphrase Mossad, the Pentagon, and the Jews Penn and Teller). who pulled off such a stunt? Okay, so none of the “proof” provided by these …a healthy dose of skepticism noble, tin-foil patriots actually stands under a basic check to verify them, but is good, and necessary, lo!: it’s another conspiracy!…a confor a democratic state and spiracy to disprove the conspiracy theories using “facts” and “rationalone’s own well-being. ity” to make the brave, enlightened seekers of truth appear as raving, unhinged neurotics! I mean, you’d have to be some sort of idiot to actually beHow baseless are the arguments lieve Osama bin Laden had anything for the conspiracy delusions (not theoto do with 9/11. ries; theories tend to have supporting That, of course, is how the raging evidence)? Well, according to one (and undiagnosed) psychotics of the “claim,” four-thousand Israelis or 9/11 “Truth” Movement view the vast Jews didn’t show up to work on 9/ majority of Americans who don’t suf- 11, having received warning from the fer from various schizoid mental con- Mossad or the Elders of Zion (needditions. Typically, such specimens less to say, this theory is popular in suppose themselves to be particularly the Muslim world). The problem with avant-garde, and come to the assump- that anti-Semitic libel: there were no tion that they are part of an elite more than two hundred Israelis in the nomenklatura, privy to knowledge un- two buildings at the time of attack, available to the bourgeois. They alone and besides that, more than one hun“know” forbidden information, and dred Jews are confirmed to have perany attempt to disprove their inane ished in the World Trade Center—in(lack of) reasoning is a conspiracy it- cluding eleven Israeli citizens. In an-

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JULY/AUGUST 2006 other fantasy, the WTC was brought down not by aircraft, but by controlled demolitions—because the buildings fell “just like” a demolition exercise, employees at the WTC reported hearing explosions, and steel doesn’t melt until at least 2000 degrees; jet fuel only burns at 900. Only thing is, it would take a huge number of people and lots of time to plant explosives at every column, stairwell, and structural support, in buildings that were occupied twenty four hours a day…yet no one saw a thing. Also, steel does not need to melt to weaken; at 800 degrees, a steel beam has already lost half its structural strength, and the jet fuel was burning at 900 within minutes of the crash. The fires were additionally fueled by flammable material within the WTC, not to mention that the structural supports at the points of impact had been either incinerated or severely damaged (oops, forgot that little factor, eh?). As the tops of the buildings fell and pushed pressure down, dust and material were explosively ejected out of the windows. As for the “explosion-like sounds” reported by workers at the WTC, they are not unusual; electrical blow-outs, collapsing structures, pipelines bursting, and their resultant racket echoing through stairwells and elevator shafts would sound “explosive” to anyone not deaf. And not stupid, for that matter.

The attacks in New York seem to have a monopoly on the 9/11 conspiracies, ranging from remote-controlled planes and missiles disguised as planes, to the whole attack being a hologram and there not being any victims, as well as every other implausible concept resulting from a bad trip—all of which have been thoroughly debunked over and over by mechanics, engineers, architects, firefighters, police, intelligence officers, construction workers, explosives experts, the black boxes and cockpit recordings, emergency personnel, and several tens of thousands of witnesses, victims, and relatives.

Oh, but don’t think that the X-Files crowd’s (kind of) researched, coherent, and completely non-contradictory hypotheses are limited to just the WTC; there’s also the memory of the Pentagon to corrupt! In spite of witness testimony, calls made from aboard the plane, the recovery of the black boxes, and the identification of remains of the passengers, there persists the claim that it was a missile, not a jet, which crashed into the Pentagon, based on the alleged lack of plane debris, “inconsistencies” in witness testimony, and the impact hole being too small for 757. Except that, um, there was plane debris retrieved within the Pentagon and in a large radius sur-

rounding the impact zone, which were photographed by several news agencies. The alleged witness “inconsistencies” were based upon how much of the attack different individuals saw or heard and their positions and angles relative to the impact zone….nothing more. The “hole is too small” claim relies upon pictures taken in the immediate aftermath of the crash, in which black smoke and raging fires almost completely obscure the image; later photographs reveal that the gaping hole at the impact was consistent with the height and diameter of a Boeing 757, and the damage inside consistent with burning jet fuel. The photos also clearly show straight black lines diagonally across the hole, exposing where the wings hit before snapping off and disintegrating. Of course, it’s to be expected that no conspiracy theorist has ever bothered to do some simple research or publish said photos of plane debris and collision. Honesty just gets in the way of the (pre-determined) “truth.”

BS like this is usually so illogical and packed with lies that they don’t even deserve rebuttal, but I’m irritated enough to finally give in. You may have heard the Carl Sagan phrase, “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence,” before. Well, 9/11 conspiracy theories don’t even fulfill the “ordinary” criteria. Does anyone honestly believe that the US government murdered 3,000 people on 9/11, and no one, absolutely no one, who knew hasn’t felt enough guilt and remorse to be a whistle-blower on the whole plot by now? Doesn’t the fact that Osama bin Laden and a number of his colleagues have admitted to plotting the attacks and vocally praised them, or the fact that it is know that al-Qaeda had been wanting to pull off such an attack for years, mean anything? Doesn’t the idea of having multiple government agencies, branches, and groups that were so incompetent they couldn’t even kill a Cuban dictator over a period of decades, set up such an elaborate plot, then spend countless man-hours forging documents and planting evidence, seem a little bit impractical? Well, obviously, but the conspiracy con-artists don’t want you to use common sense or see any evidence which contradicts their delusions. If any potential conspirazoids are out there reading this, try doing some honest, thorough research instead of logging on to whatreallyhappened.com and other insane, radical “sources.” It might not be as fun, but it’ll have a better impact on your intelligence, plus, you won’t look like a hysterical lunatic to others! Think before you believe!

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A convenient denial

By Patrick Carnell, Canisius College, Buffalo NY, class of 2008 “Anti-semitism is the socialism of Semitic undertone. fools.” Well, even though socialism Now, if someone, say, a random also happens to be the socialism of person hanging around Harvard stafools, August Bebel nonetheless suc- tion (go on, try and guess what they cinctly evaluated two-thousand years might look like) were to tell me that of history: there are lots of people who the Arab-Israeli-conflict is the “root don’t like Jews, and they’re all cause” (a staple phrase of the left since idiots…especially those not honest 9/12/01), and if only those war-monenough to admit anti-Semitism, gering Zio-Nazis would give into evwithin themselves and those like ery demand the Palestinians can conthem. The radical left has been largely ceive of, then anti-Semitism would accommodating to anti-Semitism un- vanish like a toke from the bong, der the guise of being supportive of would I believe them? Maybe I’d conthe Palestinians and critical of Israeli sider it if they weren’t so keen on the policy, 100% in both directions—you idea that Israel was behind 9/11 to will never hear from them a single goad America into war with Israel’s word of reproach towards the Pales- enemies. The Arab-Israeli conflict isn’t tinians (in fact, you’re likely to hear a cause of “the new anti-Semitism,” praise and plaudits for Hamas, nor is it the basis for all of the antiHezbollah, and Islamic Jihad), nor a Jewish slander poisoning our politiconceivably positive mumble towards cal debate these days. If the AI conIsrael. You may have heard the excuse flict were really the sole reason for the before: “I’m not anti-Semitic, I’m just left’s infatuation with Jew-hatred, and anti-Zionist.” Famously pro-Israel and their grievances purely “anti-Zionist” philo-Semitic Martin Luther King, Jr., in nature, would they be regurgitatsaid it best in 1968 at Harvard: “When ing the Blood Libel (in the form of Ispeople say ‘Zionist,’ they really mean raeli soldiers collecting the blood and Jew. When people criticize Zionists, organs of Palestinian children for they mean Jews, you’re talking anti- Passover rituals) as casually as a NeoSemitism.”

Nazi or Jihadist, as if it were fact?

When one needs to maintain a Would they be peddling out modern (largely undeserved) reputation for variations of the “Jew-Poisoning-a“tolerance” and “acceptance,” it helps Well” (Mossad agents infecting Arab to have a politically-correct pillar to children with HIV) slander? Would hide behind when the other side fires they resort to justifying anti-Semitic back, hence, “anti-Zionism” is the per- conspiracy theories, or voice support fect euphemism for the blatant hatred of pogroms? A quick plunge into the surging on the left: it allows one to radical left’s signature “media” repeatedly express pure hostility and groups and forums (Indymedia, revulsion towards Israel, to refer to all Counterpunch, Truthout, Democratic Israelis contemptuously, to hint at Underground, etc.) or favorite rally shadowy “Zionist” influence on US points (universities, Berkeley and San policy, and even peddle outright lies, Francisco) unearths a deep cesspool and still claim, “Anti-Israel doesn’t of hatred and vitriol, and proves bemean anti-Semitic.” The past six years yond any doubt their true intentions of violence and war in Israel have and ideology. It makes it a bit harder been the perfect excuse for the rise in to claim to be the bearers of “peace” “radical anti-Zionism” that has fueled and “tolerance” when some of your anti-Semitic attitudes and convic- numbers are chanting to re-open the tions—the radical right certainly gas chambers, and makes it damn hasn’t failed to capitalize upon this. near impossible to have anyone take This isn’t to say that the political state you seriously while you look the other of Israel is free from criticism; far from way, hoping for the problem to go it. But when Israel is criticized dispro- away or actively trying to defend or portionate to its actions, or criticized justify what is indefensible. for taking any action; when no critiIf someone comes up to me and cism is directed towards the Palestin- says we should really give the Protoians or Arab powers; when Israel is cols of the Elders of Zion a second look, held to a higher standard than other or that we should “see how many democratic countries, or is criticized Jews we can fit in an ashtray again,” for “violations” which other demo- I’m going to assume he’s anti-Semitic, cratic, and undemocratic, countries not just “anti-Israel,” as would you. commit without penalty; when Why should we condemn one person Israel’s actions are blown way out of for saying this, however, while giving proportion, or grossly exaggerated; another who says the same exact things when Israel is compared to Nazi Ger- the benefit of a doubt because his pomany, or its very existence criticized litical causes are more acceptable? and contested—its really not unrea- After the Holocaust, it became unfashsonable for others to assume an anti- ionable to be anti-Semitic, and left-

JULY/AUGUST 2006 wing support for the founding of Jewish state was strong: after all, other countries had proven they had no interest in defending their Jewish populations, and the “Sorry we turned you into the Gestapo and your family died in the camps” spiel didn’t quite cut it for the survivors. Within less than a decade, however, Jew-bashing had made a comeback, especially with ul-

timate leftist-despot Josef Stalin preparing to launch a purge against Soviet Jewry…yet no one ever called him out as anti-Semitic. All it takes is a careful choice of words, a knack for manipulation, and the “right” political pet causes, and you, too, can get a free pass for espousing otherwise detestable, appalling drivel and slander.

It hasn’t failed them yet.

Media-Speak Glossary: Submitted by Pat Carnell

Armed Resistance: Any attack by a Palestinian terrorist against Israeli civilians or the IDF; any Arab attack on Israel Disproportionate Response: Any time Israel attempts to defend civilians or territory against Arab attackers; Israeli targeting of individual terrorists with the intention to avoid Arab civilian casualties Peace-keeping: Done by UN forces in between two hostile parties; includes UN-approved forced-prostitution, child-abuse, civilianabuse, rape.

War-mongering: Done by US forces, who are completely represented by tiny minority of abusers, in spite of overwhelming good done by the vast majority of armed forces Militant: A terrorist, usually radical-Islamist or Communist in origin Terrorist: May or may not be a terrorist; always a Christian, Jew, Hindu, Nationalist, or otherwise non-Muslim or Communist, regardless of their motivation or cause War criminal: Any American, Coalition, or Israeli soldier or officer who may or may not have been involved with or been in proximity to a media-designated “atrocity.”

Defendant: War criminal, such as Saddam Hussein or Slobodon Milosevic, who is standing trial Atrocity: Any action undertaken by American or Israeli forces Casualties: Term referring to any dead bodies seen on ground, regardless of whether a given body is in uniform, equipped with battle gear, or holding weapon Unilateralism: Undertaken by United States, working with several dozen allied-nations Multilateralism: Undertaken by UN, France, China, Russia, or other approved nations Diplomacy: Ineffective “negotiations” or “resolutions” passed without resolve to enforce them or back them up Sabre-rattling: Promising to take action to enforce said “negotiations” or “resolutions” Activist: Political lobbyist supported by media Lobbyist: Political lobbyist disfavored by media De-Classified Document: Classified document a media agency believes will make a good story Geneva Convention: Applies to foreign terrorists without national affiliation; does not apply to American or Israeli soldiers Peace: As dictated only by America’s and Israel’s enemies, or by any non-democratic leader, entity, or ideology Justice: Only for certain people, usually those sympathetic to totalitarianism; never for people that USA intends to liberate or rescue Justice (2): Abolition of private property

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

“TO PROTECT AND SERVE”

It’s a promise and a commitment that Prudential Financial understands well.

That’s why we’re proud to support the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association Scholarship Fund. And to recognize the protection you bring to our communities every day.

1-800-THE-ROCK

ANNUITIES

www.prudential.com

LIFE INSURANCE

RETIREMENT

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© 1/2006 The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, NJ and its affiliates. Securities offered through Pruco Securities, LLC, member SIPC. Both are Prudential Financial companies.

PAX CENTURION

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JULY/AUGUST 2006

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