Police News Roundup.
The Times has an interesting story about the rising cost of fighting crime. The article cites a 150% inflation adjusted increase in the cost of the criminal justice system over the last five years. Most of the increased cost, according to the article, was the drastic increase in the costs of prisons, itself due to the rising numbers of incarcerated individuals--a staggering 1.3 million in 2001. The article attributes this steep rise to the use of mandatory sentencing. Base10 thinks the use of mandatory sentencing has created exactly the situation that the taxpayers want--instead of a carousel, the criminal justice system is keeping criminals incarcerated. That's a good thing, in spite of the cost.

Also in the Times, a report that the UFT, PBA and UFA are all against applying the "pattern" of the new DC-37 pact to other labor negotiations. Chief among the complaints--and particularly appropriate in the case of teachers and police officers--the pact's use of reduced starting salaries to finance raises would harm the police and teacher's already limited ability to recruit.

In the Post, a good job by Bronx and Brooklyn cops in an operation targeting illegal street drag racing. Plainclothes officers infiltrated the crowds at two events, making several arrests and seizing several cars. In addition, the officers issued citations to the crowd for quality of life violations they observed waiting for the races. Good creative job!

Also in the Post, there are reports that the article appearing in Friday's Daily News may not be entirely accurate. In a Friday exclusive, the Daily News interviewed rogue ex-cop Michael Dowd who has been released from prison and is living in a half-way house. The Post reports the person appearing in the picture accompanying the article is not Michael Dowd. The News is sticking by its story and the veracity of its interview.

Elsewhere in the Daily News, Murray Weiss reports that a grand jury is investigating the 2003 fatal shooting of Ousmane Zongo in Chelsea warehouse. Police Officer Brian Conroy will reportedly testify the shooting occurred after a hand-to-hand battle over the officer's weapon.

Newsday's editors have a curious set of concerns for the NYPD. They believe the Department should not bother appealing last week's misguided decision by an administrative law judge with the City Commission on Human Rights that allows a Sikh Traffic Enforcement Agent to wear a turban in lieu of his uniform hat. The gist of their argument is that uniform regulations allowing such religious expressions are routinely allowed in Canada. Readers should note the failure in the piece to mention that no US jurisdiction allows this practice. With all due respect to our cousins in the Great White North, it would be one thing if this were a widely accepted practice within this country, but somehow Newsday and ALJ Donna Merris believe this city should be the first to extend such a right. Both the judge and Newsday give short shrift to the officer safety rational for wearing the uniform hat. Another thing they do not mention is the separation of church and state. A public official engaged in official business should not be clothed in symbolic religious attire. (In case you're wondering, a yarmulke is not allowed either, but will be if this ruling stands). Apparently a degree in journalism or law also confers on the bearer an automatic expertise in police operations. Who knew?

On the terrorism front, NY1 reports a disturbing story about five pieces of abandoned luggage found at the end of March and the beginning of April. The empty luggage was found by the MTA at several locations including Penn Station. While officials warned about jumping to conclusions, the worst case scenario is that the planting of these items was a dry run.

Also on NY1, there is a report that the NYPD is planning on installing a series of surveillance cameras throughout the city. The system will reportedly utilize facial recognition technology to identify terrorists. The price tag: $1billion.

And finally, in the "I wish I had that job" department, the Post reports that NYPD Detective Ann Marie Moloney has a rather special bit of off-duty employment. She is the new announcer for the New York State Lottery. An aspiring actress, this job may be Det. Moloney's big break. In the most positive sense, Base10 sincerely hopes that her number comes up.
- posted by Base10 @ 4:29 PM