Police News Roundup.
Police Officer Bryan Conroy was indicted for second-degree manslaughter in the 2003 shooting death of Ousmane Zongo in a Chelsea warehouse. Officer Conroy pleaded not guilty and was released on bond.

State Supreme Court Justice/Jackass Laura Blackburne was responsible for the escape of a violent felon from her courtroom. It seems that Derek Sterling, a defendant appearing before Justice/Jackass Blackburne on unrelated drug charges was being sought for a violent robbery by NYPD detectives. A detective who was waiting outside Justice/Jackass Blackburne's courtroom found to his surprise that the defendant had been allowed to use a side door through the Justice/Jackass's chambers to leave the courthouse. Here's the story in the Post, the Daily News and Newsday.

Commissioner Kelly suggested that Justice/Jackass Blackburne be investigated for judicial misconduct. (Not in quite those words, of course). Base10 suggests she be arrested for obstruction of justice (in NYS it's called "Obstructing Governmental Administration"). It is common practice to arrest a defendant after he has made an unrelated appearance. It's generally even in the defendant's best interest since he'll have counsel present who will invoke his sixth amendment rights--as happened in this case. There is no state law that precludes a police officer from making an arrest in a courtroom. It's done this way to allow the judge to do his or her work without disruption. Does the Police Department have to surround the courtroom now and send armed men into a judge's chambers because the judge is actively having the suspect elude police? In Ms. Blackburne's case, apparently yes!

New Yorkers should remember Laura Blackburne. Back when she was the Chairperson/Jackass of the Housing Authority, she spent $3000 of public money on a leather couch for her office. After her stint as Chairperson/Jackass, she became a judge. She most recently became emerged in controversy when she released William Hodges who was awaiting trial in the shooting of a police officer.

The Times had an interesting thought piece on the MTA's proposed ban on photographs in the subway and how when coupled with the Mayor's proposed crackdown on noise. The new police would allow officers to use their judgment about whether noise was too loud and not objective criteria such as a sound meter. The writer predicts it will have a negative effect on police/community relations. Base10 predicts that the proposal is unconstitutionally vague and will be quickly struck down.

Heroes:

• Ray Charles, who passed away at 73 and brought happiness to millions of people with his music.
  
• Ronald Reagan, whose funeral is going on as Base10 writes this.

Goats:

• Rochester public school teacher Lori Thomas, who was suspended with pay (how is that being suspended?) for literally washing a 10 year-old boy's mouth out with soap after the boy yelled an obscenity at a classmate.
  
• The parents of three month-old Colesvinton Florestal who beat and starved the little girl to death while living on public assistance in a city shelter (and maybe the ACS investigators who were aware of it).
  
• "Son of Sam" David Berkowitz for having a blog. Newsday also notes that Berkowitz was again denied parole.
  
• Police Officer Luis Delgado, who was arrested and suspended for sodomizing a 13 year-old boy.

And finally, in the "did America give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" department, the AP is reporting that seven middle school students were arrested for engaging in a food fight in Waterbury Connecticut. The fight resulted in minor injuries to a detective and two teachers. We all know of the dangers of cafeteria food, but my God, that must have been some rotten fruit cup!
- posted by Base10 @ 11:29 AM