Fair and ... Biased?
Headline on the left hand cover of the Slum-Times this morning:
"Cop probe backs Meeks claim"
Headline of the actual story on page 3 (read the linked story):
"Probe may back Meeks' claim"
Subtle differences, but differences none the less. One says that the investigation is complete and meeks' word is being taken. One implies that there may be wiggle room.
In any case, it's ridiculous that the Superintendent is commenting on an ongoing investigation, especially taking sides with a complainant over his supervisors. Hasn't anyone ever seen lawyers always declining to comment on ongoing investigations? It prejudices the outcome. Of course, if you are already TOLD what the outcome must be, then we guess it doesn't matter. But should this end up in an actual courtroom instead of the chain of command, the city taxpayers (of which WE are one) are on the hook for any damages.
The fact that yesterday an anonymous exempt leaked information that the sergeant appears to have done nothing wrong compared with today's story that the superintendent is backing meeks' claim over his own supervisor hints at a huge rift developing between HQ and actual street officers. If you can't count on downtown to back you, or at least not actively hurt you, we're about to have some serious morale and confidence issues here. That elevator ride to the bottom we spoke of earlier this week? Looks like we're at the bottom and downtown is starting to dig.
UPDATE: Did you notice that no one mentioned "racial profiling" at all in today's story? That's because Frank and Fran didn't write this one. Big surprise there ... NOT!
UPDATE II: We concede to "paladin" in the comments section that the rift isn't developing. It's been there for years and it's just getting wider. As more and more political animals ascend to command rank, the ties between them and the street coppers get more and more tenuous. It's a shame, really, but not unexpected.
"Cop probe backs Meeks claim"
Headline of the actual story on page 3 (read the linked story):
"Probe may back Meeks' claim"
Subtle differences, but differences none the less. One says that the investigation is complete and meeks' word is being taken. One implies that there may be wiggle room.
In any case, it's ridiculous that the Superintendent is commenting on an ongoing investigation, especially taking sides with a complainant over his supervisors. Hasn't anyone ever seen lawyers always declining to comment on ongoing investigations? It prejudices the outcome. Of course, if you are already TOLD what the outcome must be, then we guess it doesn't matter. But should this end up in an actual courtroom instead of the chain of command, the city taxpayers (of which WE are one) are on the hook for any damages.
The fact that yesterday an anonymous exempt leaked information that the sergeant appears to have done nothing wrong compared with today's story that the superintendent is backing meeks' claim over his own supervisor hints at a huge rift developing between HQ and actual street officers. If you can't count on downtown to back you, or at least not actively hurt you, we're about to have some serious morale and confidence issues here. That elevator ride to the bottom we spoke of earlier this week? Looks like we're at the bottom and downtown is starting to dig.
UPDATE: Did you notice that no one mentioned "racial profiling" at all in today's story? That's because Frank and Fran didn't write this one. Big surprise there ... NOT!
UPDATE II: We concede to "paladin" in the comments section that the rift isn't developing. It's been there for years and it's just getting wider. As more and more political animals ascend to command rank, the ties between them and the street coppers get more and more tenuous. It's a shame, really, but not unexpected.
posted by SCC at 8:00 AM
26 Comments:
Where is the outrage from our representation? The FOP should be mounting a media campaign. It has dropped the ball big-time on this one.
We need to have another march on City Hall like we had a few years ago. We have to stand up now before it gets worst, and it can get worst. Take a lesson from my brethen on the left, we need to cry out!!
Let's show the mayor we cannot be pushed around. Let's show the turncoat Cline he has let us down. Commenting on an investigation before is concluded is irresponsible. I think the sergeant has a good appeal there when Daley and Cline nail em and you know its coming.
I'll gladly take a position in front of the line even if it means blowing my cover. Anyone else game? Sweetbaby? BB? SCC?
SCC, u are usually right on but u missed one little thing. There is not a rift developing between HQ and those out in the District, the rift has been there, it is just going ever wider. I bet if those in District Law took a no confidence vote on Cline, Starks, and the others running the Department, over 70% would vote NO CONFIDENCE. Obviously, u couldn't include TRU or OCD, etc. where they love their jobs. (There are great coppers in specialized units, I don't want to insult them, but they surly wouldn't like to see a change at the top because they would loose their jobs).
MArching on City Hall doesn't work. I was there wprotested when Lec Walesa came to town and once at city hall. High profile opportunities need to be targeted. Like, a few months ago the mayors convention was in town. Daley won an award for being such a good mayor. U have to find spots where Daley or Cline and national press will be, then protest. Wasn't it New York where the coppers protested the Republican convention. That got national attention.
What about a march on Millenium Park? Now that the Bean is open.
Who were the two hater coppers working security for that animal Meeks? I bet the are hater coppers from 006 or 004 that would love to put a white copper in the trick bag.....I hope that SGt sues the shit out of Meeks for defamation or anything(include those two copper bodyguards too)
The anonymous poster at 1253 makes everyone here look bad. How do you know they are "haters"? What do you base that on?
Sweetbaby I think a march would give us the media attention and tell the mayor we will not take his crap any longer.
Funny Rev. Meeks is available daily for comments on his allegations against the CPD incident but can't be found when one of his own ministers is busted for Herione.
I think a major mistake was made by not searching the car that MEEKS was in at the time of the traffic stop. There MAY have been heavy weight of narcotics in it.
One doesn't build a 10 million dollar new church with money from the poor.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm
P.O. Shaver Longcock
Try HEROIN
The problem with police officers is that statistically we don't vote and city hall and other politicians know this. We can't even get po's to vote for their union officials. City hall knows we barely get 50% (if that) of ballets returned for the fop election spots. Why should they give a flying f what we think or want. My suggestion is that the fop starts a huge campaign to register coppers and there families to vote and on election day provide buses to polling spots and maybe a big party afterwards at bourbon street.
Or how about at all these fop events we have a representative who might be a election official register people and explain the process and how important it is to vote. (they do it concerts, why can't we) This is the only way we as police officers are going to be heard. Just think we could possibly have a voting force of 20,000 + with family and police friends. I guarantee we wouldn't be ignored on issues that are important to us.
S.B.R. you have a good idea with the letter maybe it could be posted a people could download it
I wonder if the Sgt.'s last name was Cline any exempts would be making statments prior to the investigation being fixed (completed)
What kind of bodygaurd trails five minutes behind the car of the person he is protecting anyway?
Why would Fat Phil protect a det. and not a sgt. That comment makes no sense. Sgt.'s are management (sorry Sgt. Ghetto and Northern, you seam like stand-up coppers) and Fatso and all other bosses have a vested interest in protecting management, unless its politically expedient of course. A sgt. will always be protected before a det. unless we start arguing clout, and then the game changes.
I hate to tell you all this, but where I work the black police are all on Meeks side. They actually claim that no police would treat the cardinal that way.
I find the last poster at best, questionable. The sargeant has a fine reputation for fairness among me and most of my fellow African-American officers. Could those that try to divide us also be on the computer?
I find the last poster at best, questionable. The sargeant has a fine reputation for fairness among me and most of my fellow African-American officers. Could those that try to divide us also be on the computer?
Most black Pos are haters dont be fooled. Not all though, some are good guys. Can some tell my the racial breakdown of thouse pos that piss hot? we just had one where i work and you can guess what he was.....
Meeks sure ain't the Cardinal!!!!
Can'nt even imagine the cardinal jumping out of the car to proclaim...that he's the cardinal............
let me point out something to most. as a black po i found that most other black PO's agree that Meeks should have stayed his ass in the car. Most truly important people in power would not have felt the need to proclaim who they are they just would have let the driver get the ticket and made the phone calls in the morning,however I and i'm sure most black PO's see the disrespect directed at black citizens. Dont get me wrong I am the police and I believe the most important thing for me and my partner is to go home but after situation is in control it doesn't hurt to treat people with dignity and I think thats what most people expect even after the have their feathers ruffled in the heat of the moment. A little civility goes a long way.
I just went to foxnews.com to look for a video suggested by another member.(Go to foxnews.com and click on the upper right labeled video) I was surprised to see a video titled "Reverse discrimination" This is a perverse misuse of a word that already exists to express actions of one against another based on color of skin, etc. it's called "Discrimination" Not reverse discrimination. That word does not only apply to alleged minorities. To think that when discrimination happened to this "White" family, the press labled it "Reverse discrimination" as if discrimination only applies to minorities. Police are victims daily of discrimination (especially under the guise of affirmitave action.) If you were hired with a test score in the upper 90's and the individual next to you was hired at 70's-80's, haven't we in fact at that point been allegedly equalized. Why later in somes careers, does the department feel compelled to once again force some form of equality. When I have 10-15 years on the job and so does another officer, we both have the same job experiences and same opportunity to study for the same exam, why then does the department still say that if I scored better, it must be a racial thing and once again, the great gift of affirmative action tales place, scores are manipulated and the upper populace of the test must have had some unfair advantage. What!! We all get the same general orders, how bout studying instead of waiting for a gift of the 30% rule. How demoralizing to see that the person who scored a 70 and was hired the same day with you in the top of the class is now a supervisor after getting a lower score on the same promotion test. When does the equalization take place? I say that after hiring, however they manipulate the numbers, we ALL should have an equal chance at advancement. That will never be, how unfortunate for those who study and actualy try to suceed based on job knowledge. Who can answer this question, You need a heart transplant and two Doctors are available. Do you want the most skilled and knowledgeable (whatever their race or creed) or do you want someone who got the job because he was friends with another surgeon and whined about how unfair the MD test was and was placated with a gift of a top job.
Be safe and alert. DaWolf
140/750
bite me...I've seen more black Pos treat people like shit specially if someone dares get in their face...dignity my ass
you need to read what i said i made no mention of the color of the officer i'm talking about THE POLICE black and white its no secret that we"serve and protect" some and "police" others
I'll bet you serve and protect some desk and go on lunch runs for the co............its no secret we police some and serve and protect others...fuck your retoric...I read you right the first time...
CHECK THIS LATEST POLE ON NBC REGARDING MEEKS.
Judging by what you've heard about the case so far, do you think a police sergeant acted appropriately in the traffic stop involving Sen. James Meeks?
Choice Votes Percentage of 831 Votes
Yes 579 70%
No 252 30%
Thanks for participating in our survey.
close window
okay 4:55 dont get your panties in abunch. that's my opinion just like you have yours. and by the way i work on the street and have for 15 so i'm entitled to my opinion but i will still be the first one there when there is a 10-1 cause i am the police
Panties in a bunch??Last time I heard that expression was from my Irish Grandmother...Could you be an outsider...on a fishing expedition??
The White Rodney King
By Michael P. Tremoglie
FrontPageMagazine.com | May 17, 2005
A suspect is assaulted by a police officer after a car chase in Philadelphia on April 28, 2005. A local TV news helicopter crew videotaped the incident.
Normally this is the type of thing becomes a mainstream media frenzy. Normally this is the lead report on every network national and local telecast. Rodney King was. So were the incidents in Inglewood and Cincinnati. This also proved true nearly five years ago, when a similar incident occurred just before the Republican convention in Philadelphia.
This time there is no saturation coverage in the national media.
Charles Baum, who is white and a resident of the Kensington section of Philadelphia, had been paroled last August. He served four months less than the four- to eight-year sentence he received after being convicted of burglary, theft, criminal mischief and conspiracy in December 2000.
The video showed Officer Michael Collins, who is black, striking Baum eight times during the arrest – even after he had handcuffed his white charge. As is the standard procedure Collins was transferred to desk duty pending an investigation.
Police brutality stories are red meat to the mainstream media; this would seem to be perfect for them. If this were a white cop using excessive force to arrest a black suspect, it would be on television round-the-clock. That is always national news – especially if it is on videotape –and especially if the video is taken by the NBC network affiliate of a major city like Philadelphia. Yet the silence from the mainstream media has been deafening. Only the local Philadelphia media reported this in depth. The Washington Post gave the incident all of 177 words in their May 2 online edition.
Why was there no ad nauseum reporting by the national news network broadcast or front page New York Times, L.A. Times articles? Why no righteous indignation and outrage by columnists and editorials?
Because this incident did not involve a white cop and a black suspect. This time the cop was black and the suspect white – and that does not fit the template of the liberal mainstream media, just as the shootings of black suspects by black cops do not fit their "police brutality" mold.
A September 2, 2002, article, I wrote for Front Page magazine detailed the differences of reporting by the media regarding incidents where police shot a black person. One example I used was that of LaTanya Haggerty. Haggerty, who was a black woman, was shot and killed by Chicago Police Officer Serena Daniels, a black woman. The shooting took place after the police pursued a car in which Haggerty was a passenger.
Daniels ordered Haggerty to stop talking on her cell phone and exit the vehicle. She was shot after refusing the command. Daniels said she saw Haggerty grab a silver object. Thinking it was a gun, the officer fired.
A subsequent investigation could not locate a gun; instead, officers found a silver padlock.
This incident occurred in 1999. Yet, it is doubtful that one-in-ten people ever heard of this incident. Contrast this to the Amadou Diallo shooting, which also occurred in 1999 and was a staple of the mainsteam media for months.
There were no cartoons about the Haggerty shooting, though there were countless cartoons about the Diallo case. The Diallo cartoons contained illustrations such as one which said, "NYPD weapons training: Sawed off hankie, 38mm house key, semi-automatic lipstick, 45 caliber wallet."
The reason for this disparity is the fact that many journalists believe their purpose is not to communicate information about events to people but to right society’s wrongs. The more righteous indignation they can provoke, the greater audience they can attract for their advertizers – which is their real purpose. It is an added benefit that they get to indulge their left-wing ideologies in the process. Naturally, this contrasts sharply with their self-portrayal as hard-working go-getters looking out for the public interest.
Somewhere during their journalism school education, they are taught they are unbiased, rational examiners, and moral arbiters of the human situation. They are taught that they are omniscient and sagacious – when actually they are ignorant and bigoted.
The bias of the mainstream media is never so apparent as it is when it comes to law enforcement. Their exploitation of race and law enforcement is unconscionable – so much so that I made it part of the plot of my soon to be published novel. I depict a journalist manipulating the events of a racially charged police shooting alongside a local civil rights leader whose career has waned.
Far-fetched? I would say not.
It is an issue that the mainstream media deny exists. Yet, the evidence of a racial double standard by the mainstream media concerning law enforcement issues is irrefutable. Just ask Charles Baum.
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