Police unions demand Obama and Patrick to apologize to "all law enforcement personnel"

[tj2001]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/07/police_unions_c.html

CAMBRIDGE -- Police unions today called on President Obama and Governor Deval Patrick to apologize to "all law enforcement personnel," saying they "deeply resent the implication" of their comments about racial profiling and the arrest of an African-American scholar last week at his home near Harvard Square.

Speaking at a press conference at the Hotel Marlowe packed with local and national media, the union officials also said that the disorderly conduct charge should not have been dropped against professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. The move earlier this week to drop the charges, "was a decision made without our input," said Alan J. McDonald, a lawyer for one of the unions.

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apology should be cc Rush for prior approval

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. HFPS calls on police union members to arrest Officer Crowley.

Or resign.

[bluestateguy]

2. I hope they get laid off in the next round of budget cuts

Too many cops, too many prisons draining our state budgets.

[backtoblue]

17. I agree.

And too many cops and police stations thinking that they themselves are above the law.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. So how's this going to play out next time there's an election

and these two seek the support of police unions?

NOT GOOD.

Both will regret their remarks down the road.

[redqueen]

5. It just says 'unions'... it doesnt' say how many.

This is going to test the Blue Wall... and I'm glad of it.

[imdjh]

8. They are digging in- the issue has changed.

For the police, the issue here isn't race now. It's civilian trying to pull rank using important connections.

Think about it now in terms of someone yelling at a police officer, "I pay your salary! I'll have your badge! You don't know who you're dealing with!" and then the President backing that person up. The "blue wall" here isn't police protecting a bad officer, it's them protecting their day to day authority to do their job without regard for the social, economic, or political connections of the person being dealt with.

[redqueen]

9. It's them standing behind a guy who fucked up.

It's that simple.

[imdjh]

11. I make numerous arguments against police culture.

Especially the police culture which regards Contempt Of Cop as law. However, I also realize that the police are grounded in the existing law in making arrests for what I see as simple belligerence.

As the law stands, it doesn't appear that this officer "fucked up". People are arrested every day in much the same way that Henry Gates was. We can object to that law, but that doesn't mean that this officer fucked up.

And as I said, the issue for the police has now changed. They are digging in because they aren't going to let political connections intimidate them. Their limited autonomy in doing their job requires that the status or connections of the subject not be a concern to the officer, because the next thing you know they are being accused of giving special treatment to those who are politically connected.

[glitch]

14. It only mentions one Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association

when I googled it pretty much came up with results on the Crowley topic. Could be more of a "club" than a "union".

[bluestateguy]

10. Some unions are bad and deserve to be broken

Police unions, prison guard unions and the MLB players union.

[Political Heretic]

4. No. I don't support that. His statements today were enough.

And frankly, the Police department owes an apology to Gates, whether he behaved obnoxiously or not. Arguing with a cop on your own property, having done nothing wrong shouldn't be a crime.

[imdjh]

6. President Obama is very good, but he stepped in it this time.

Not so much because of the particular pile of shit he stepped in, but because he stepped at all. He's president now, and presidents aren't supposed to get personally involved because a friend is in the mix.

[FiveGoodMen]

7. Well, then...in that spirit, I say: FUCK ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL!

[glitch]

12. Why in hell would anyone ask the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association's input on whether

or not to drop charges? And are they a "union" like the Fraternal Order of Police (who spent money donated for widows and orphans on Bush campaign) is a "union"?

Agree on the cc Rush. This is so bogus.

[redqueen]

13. The Fraternal Order of Police spent 9/11 donations on the Bush campaign?!

:wtf:

[glitch]

15. Not 9/11 donations, widows and orphans. They used to solicit every year, before 9/11

When I found out they contributed 3 million dollars to Bush I stopped donating to them.

[redqueen]

18. Gah, sorry... I don't know why my mind read 9/11 widows and orphans.

:crazy:

That's still way past awful though. I'd think it'd be illegal, as well.

[KamaAina]

But "all law enforcement personnel" didn't trample on Gates' rights

only Officer Crowley did. :eyes:

[gratuitous]

16. Emperor's courtiers demand apology

LALALAND -- The courtiers of Emperor Haughtius Maximus today called on a precocious little boy, his parents, and the citizens of Lalaland to apologize to "all courtiers in the Imperial Court," saying they "deeply resent the implication" of their comments about the Emperor's recent public nudity and his promenade in his new clothes last week down the Main Street of Lalaland.

Speaking at a press conference at the Hotel Royale packed with local and national media, the courtiers also said that the allegation that the Emperor's new clothes were not the acme of haut couture should not have been withdrawn. The statement earlier this week to acknowledge that the Emperor was actually buck naked "was a decision made without our input," said Oglesby Oglethorpe, High Duke of Muttonhead, a mouthpiece for the courtiers.