Evaluating the Meeting

Well, it's been a day since the meeting. We've been reading the comments very closely to get a feel for what people thought, what people liked (and disliked), and what needed to be addressed. We're going to comment on some of the issues we saw come up.

States Attorneys: they seems to have decided not to play ball with the Police Department anymore. They're operating under a lame duck and no one is going to stick their necks out for anything and jeopardize support from the "reverends" and the Machine prior to a new regime. All they care about is their conviction rate so they can run for mayor on it in three years. This doesn't strike us as something J-Fed can control.

"Merit" promotions: Hooray if they're going to release the "merit" picks - it's a step in the right direction. We know the FOP has a list so they can make sure the City is following rank order, we just never believed in their bullshit excuse that they couldn't reveal the "merit" because the City wouldn't let them see the list ever again if they did. That's so much horse shit. A government agency giving a test with taxpayer money and they won't release the list? We're sure an FOIA request and a couple of Federal lawsuits would open up that list pretty quick. We understand New York publishes the list in every precinct by rank order so everyone can keep an eye on it. What would really make the difference is seeing what constitutes "merit" and who the person is who recommended the individual.

Callback POW's: Settle these cases and get the people involved either fired or back on the street, plain and simple. Criminal defendants get a trial in 180 days or less unless continued by agreement - coppers deserve the same thing. If the Department has a case, make it. Otherwise, get off the pot. If the City wants to have some provision to reinstate charges later, negotiate it into the process.

Rule 15 violations: J-Fed says he isn't looking for drinkers unless they break the law. We interpret this to mean if you get caught, your ass is grass and J-Fed is the lawnmower. Everyone is over 21 here so everyone knows what's what. We still wonder why J-Fed is taking input on Rule 15 enforcement from his staff when a certain member was pretty much in charge of making sure over half the Command Staff from years ago never had an empty glass.

Miscellaneous:

• work schedule - subject of negotiation;
• hiring to fix shortages - City Hall, not J-Fed;
• testing locations - J-Fed had nothing to do with where the City schedules exams;
• demanding J-Fed's phone number for a ride - silly to the point of inanity.

These questions were a waste of time.

And what was the bit about J-Fed having to get home to his family since he was up since 0530? You think there weren't guys and gals who gave up time with their families to be there? After midnight shifts, court, side jobs? And J-Fed has to go home to his cats? Does the FBI even have a night shift or are they pretty much a 9-to-5 operation?

So it was the dog and pony show everyone though it would be except for one thing. We address that in the post below.