Houston, You Have a Problem

The saying goes something like this. Everything’s bigger in Texas. What the Houston Police Department is facing right now is as big as Texas itself. It has been revealed that the Houston PD through its standard operating procedure has a written policy in place to “suspend” investigating as many as 264,000 criminal cases including sexual assault and other felony and misdemeanor cases since 2016. That figure represents about 10% of the 2,800,000 cases filed over the last 8 years. An elaborate coding system was put in place that a case could be marked as “SL” which means “Suspended Lack of Personnel.” Let’s drill down into this. I have always said that when in my opinion the police act properly and responsibly, I will go to the wall defending them and when in my opinion police conduct is questionable, I will say that as well. My credibility with the public is important to me. I won’t jump to a conclusion just yet, but this doesn’t pass the eye test upon initial review.

 As usual in this kind of disclosure, people who could face political fallout immediately begin to engage in CYA--short for cover your a$$.  The mayor says he had no idea of this practice. Plausible deniability can be given to him … for now. The chief of police, Troy Finner, repeatedly denied ever signing off on this policy and said that he ordered employees to stop using these codes years ago, but since the start of this practice it has been renewed into policy as recently as December 2023. This is going to cause a lot of finger-pointing internally as people in these situations scatter like roaches when the light is turned on. Survival is the first law of nature. Nobody wants their fingerprints on this.

 The problem for Chief Finner is that in his position, he is responsible for what goes on in his agency. The buck stops with him. Within any large city department, it is impossible for the agency head to know exactly what is going on every minute of every day. He has highly paid supervisory staff whose job is to keep their finger on the pulse of what goes on and keep the Chief briefed on the big stuff. I held that position as elected sheriff of Milwaukee County, an agency with 1,100 employees with divisions spread out all over the county. I know how difficult this can be.  I appointed all the higher-ranking officers in my agency and made it clear that they were to know what was going on in their divisions and to keep me informed and if they did not, they would be held accountable.  That, however, is why Finner is given a supervisory staff, to watch the day-to-day operations. If in this case they let him down by defying his order to cease and desist sweeping cases under the rug, then heads should roll. If all the higher-ups dump this on some front-line people to save themselves, shame on them. That isn’t leadership. If Finner determines that changes have been made to keep this from happening again or that miscommunication is to blame and that’s it? That isn’t accountability.

 The chief of police is one of the most high-profile positions in city government. A mayor’s administration could fall from a scandal emanating from within the police department. Whitmire will not hesitate to throw his police chief overboard to save himself. Fair or not, that is the way this works politically and when you take the position of chief of police, you know this going in. At worst, Finner has to be willing to fall on the sword, accept full responsibility and offer to resign.  The mayor is now calling for an outside independent investigation. He said, “I trust and believe that Chief Troy Finner is doing the best he can to manage the internal investigation, get to the bottom of it and hold people accountable. The independent panel will be people I also trust to review and validate the outcome and help bring closure to the victims.”

 It is my position that the mayor cannot allow the people who created this problem to investigate it. There must be an outside review.

 Drilling down even further, there is the issue of not investigating reported criminal cases. Everybody understands that police staffing shortages all across the country are having a profound effect on an agency’s ability to keep up with caseloads. The Houston Police Department currently has about 300 officer vacancies. Follow-up investigations will naturally lag. You can’t simply write them off as “suspended” especially felony cases including sexual assaults. That is intolerable. A better way is to sort them out by determining which cases have a higher solvability factor and giving those priority. You don’t write the rest off, but you get to those when time and staffing allow. Some misdemeanor property crime cases are a low priority. Many have no solvability favors and are only being reported by people because to make an insurance claim most insurers require that a police report be filed. It is acceptable to list those as suspended due to lack of personnel.

 After sorting these out, it is imperative for the chief to inform the city council and the public through the media of what he is doing due to lack of staffing. Most of the public will understand this. Simply wiping these off the board in the fashion they were is inexcusable. Mayors and city councils do not like surprises that they find out about through an explosive media investigation. The headlines in the Houston Chronicle newspaper about this were ugly. This revelation couldn’t be very comforting to the residents of the city of Houston. They have to feel victimized, first by the criminals and then again by the HPD after finding out that criminals are going unpunished. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott chimed in, calling for the state to impose consequences for what he labels as “neglect” by the HPD.

 There is a feeding frenzy going on right now in Houston, Texas. Chief Finner should be aware that sharks and piranha are circling in the water, and they smell blood.

Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is former Sheriff of Milwaukee Co, Wisconsin, President of America’s Sheriff LLC, President of Rise Up Wisconsin INC, Board member of the Crime Research Center, author of the book Cop Under Fire: Beyond Hashtags of Race Crime and Politics for a Better America. To learn more visit www.americassheriff.com

BEFORE THE DECLINE: REMEMBER WHEN?

By: Joel E. Gordon

Back when police were allowed to police, there was a time when on any call for service, no matter how frivolous a complaint or request for service seemed to be, police were dispatched to investigate the true nature of the complaint and the need for police or other governmental services or lack thereof.

What determinations can be made if a call comes in with a statement such as “I’ve been hit?” Is this a traffic accident or perhaps an assault and battery and is it in progress or not? The investigating officer should ascertain this information through response and firsthand knowledge. Is a complaining party being threatened to give false or misleading information by someone holding them hostage? An officer, or any first responder, can never take for granted that information given to a call taker and then forwarded is accurate, true or complete.

In recent times, the quality of police service has notably declined, leaving many communities feeling vulnerable and unprotected. The diminished presence of law enforcement officers has sparked concerns about public safety and the ability of the police to effectively uphold the law and combat crime.

In the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh police won't send officers to certain emergency calls but will redirect to a newly established telephone reporting unit. Based upon a directive by Pittsburgh Police Chief Larry Scirotto, the department will not respond to any calls that are not in progress; they will go to an enhanced telephone reporting unit and online reporting.

One significant factor contributing to the deterioration of police service is budget cuts and resource constraints. With limited funding, police departments struggle to maintain adequate staffing levels, provide necessary training and acquire essential equipment, leading to a decrease in overall effectiveness and response times.

Staffing shortages and high turnover rates further exacerbate the issue, as experienced officers leave for better opportunities, leaving behind inexperienced recruits who may lack the skills and knowledge needed to effectively address complex law enforcement challenges.

The increasing demands placed on police officers, coupled with rising crime rates in many communities, stretch resources thin and make it difficult for law enforcement agencies to keep up with the evolving nature of criminal activities.

The diminished police service erodes public trust and confidence in law enforcement, leading to strained relationships between officers and the communities they serve. In Pittsburgh, people are reacting to the new changes made by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. The prevailing sentiment is that the whole city of Pittsburgh is at risk.

In Houston, Texas, Police Chief Troy Finner apologized to victims and their families after an internal review revealed that about 264,000 criminal incident reports were suspended in the past eight years. In February of this year, it was announced that hundreds of thousands of incident reports were dropped because of a "lack of personnel." The number of reports, which included violent crimes, sexual assault, and property crimes, represents about 10% of the 2.8 million incident reports filed in the past eight years with the Houston PD.

The fact remains that without strong community partnerships and trust, police efforts to prevent and solve crimes are hindered. Residents in areas with diminished police service often experience delayed response times to real emergency calls and limited availability of officers for visible preventive patrols, further creating a sense of insecurity and unease among community members.

The inability of police to effectively address criminal activities often leads to an escalation of crime and disorder in neighborhoods, further jeopardizing the safety and well-being of residents.

Diminished police service poses significant challenges for a modern society, impacting public safety, community relations and the overall effectiveness of law enforcement efforts. Addressing the factors contributing to this decline is crucial to ensuring that police agencies can fulfill their mission of protecting and serving the public in a proficient and highly responsive manner.

If you ask me, it’s time to turn back the clock to the best practices of old. 

Joel E. Gordon, Managing Editor of BLUE Magazine, is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com

Oakland California, a Failed City by Design

Like just about every large urban city in America with a Democrat controlled political class, Oakland, California has disintegrated into chaos. It has become third world-like. Out of control crime, violence and disorder, homeless people defecating on sidewalks and public drug use have become part of the landscape. How did it get to this you ask?

 Oakland is one of those cities that has normalized criminal behavior. In fact, one news account of their predicament called crime one of the fastest growing businesses in Oakland. The column erroneously pinpoints the pandemic as the start of the city’s decline. In fact, George Floyd started the death spiral not just in Oakland but in every other Democrat controlled city. That is when the rioting, looting of businesses and arson went on unabated. Police were told to stand down as the city burned and lawlessness reigned supreme. The response from the state of California was to enact no bail reforms and to lower the threshold for prosecuting shoplifting thereby normalizing this otherwise criminal behavior. Retail stores were blamed or not taking more protective measures to make theft more difficult. Restaurant areas saw their customers being robbed on the streets. Signs were prominently placed in restaurant and shop windows for customer to not leave valuables inside their cars.  Office buildings saw their employees threatened to and from work.  The city’s largest employer warned workers not to leave the building to have lunch. Having their cars broken into became commonplace. These quality-of-life issues caused people to abandon these retail areas. When that happens, businesses are left with no other option than to close up shop after incurring millions of dollars in losses.

 The frustration of these businesses spilled over as they fled. One business owner said, “Despite taking repeated steps to create safer conditions, our customers and associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft and armed robberies.” How much of this are people expected to put up with? Among the business who closed are, the popular In-N-Out burger citing the safety of workers and customers, Starbucks, and a Denny’s restaurant. One business owner according to the news story said it was not unusual to see 20 car break-ins a day. The owner said when the perps see a cop, they won’t come to the area but when the cops leave, the perps return. Even though crime is cited as the only reason for closing, Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley called the closing of a Boston area Walgreens a life-threatening act of racial and economic discrimination. One California sheriff called the businesses gut-less for not asking the California state legislature to reform the measures that lessen criminality of retail theft. Seriously? What has this gut-less sheriff done to petition the state legislature to change course? He’s blaming the victim. He has apparently forgotten that businesses pay the biggest portion of a city’s property taxes. Having them expect a reasonable amount of public safety to protect their business, employees and customers isn’t asking too much as far as I am concerned.

 With all of this as the backdrop, one important aspect of the story has been left out. I did something that the writers of these business closings failed to do. I went back and did what they easily could have done about Oakland. In doing a search of cities that defunded the police I found this interesting piece. In 2021, the Oakland city council defunded the Oakland police department, striping $18 million from the budget. The story pointed out that even back then this defund move came as the city saw an alarming spike in street violence. Instead they voted to use the money taken from public safety and use it for affordable housing. Only 2 of the council members out of 9 spoke out against the defund move. The move included not filling 50 vacant police positions in an already understaffed agency which resulted in longer response to 9-1-1 calls and preventive patrols around businesses experiencing crime and disorder causing business to close and leave in 2024. Recruitment of new officers has been problematic. A number of cop hating activists applauded the move in 2021. A picture of the city council after the vote accompanied the news story with the smiling council members holding up their fists after the vote. The move included moving $4 million from police to a Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland. The 2024 stories about the city of Oakland grappling with crime don’t indicate if this MACRO unit is being used in 2024 to patrol the business areas hit by crime and other quality of life issues.

 Crime in 2023 in Oakland was up 21% from the year before, and 29% since 2019. Robberies and motor vehicle thefts in 2023 were up a whopping 38% and 45% respectively.

 The most interesting aspect of the crime surge in 2024 Oakland are the entities who are asking for more police protection. The mayor says that, “the surge of crime and violence we are seeing in our streets is completely unacceptable”. Every time I hear some two-bit politician uttering those words, I want to vomit.  Even the local chapter of the NAACP is begging for more officers on what they now admit is an understaffed police department. I am sure they weren’t saying that during the defund move by the Oakland city council.

 So, this crime, violence and disorder epidemic in Oakland was caused by the elected political class there. They chose social justice nonsense over public safety. They are now reaping what they themselves have sown. I predicted this at the start of the war on police that began after the police justifiable use of force by a Ferguson, Missouri officer in 2014. Yes, a decade ago. These bad public policy decisions take time to set in and will take longer to reverse. Reversing it has to start with ending no bail catch and release policies and increasing prosecutions that lead to long prison sentences for unwanted behavior. Referring perpetrators with long criminal histories to the US Attorney’s office for prosecution will keep these creeps off the street for longer periods of time. Rebuilding police department staffing will take some time. These things will send a message to law abiding people and businesses that will instill confidence that things are going to change relative to more effective public safety. It has to once again become Oakland’s highest priority.

 Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is former Sheriff of Milwaukee Co, Wisconsin, President of America’s Sheriff LLC, President of Rise Up Wisconsin INC, Board member of the Crime Research Center, author of the book Cop Under Fire: Beyond Hashtags of Race Crime and Politics for a Better America. To learn more visit www.americassheriff.com

Blurred Lines: Favoritism in Law Enforcement

By: Joel E. Gordon

Nepotism in law enforcement refers to the practice of favoring relatives or close associates in hiring, promotions, or other employment opportunities within the law enforcement sector. This practice raises concerns about fairness, impartiality, and the overall effectiveness of law enforcement agencies.

Nepotism or favoritism in law enforcement can manifest in various forms, including the preferential treatment of family members or friends during the recruitment process, the promotion of individuals based on personal relationships or gender, racial or other criteria that overlooks merit, or the allocation of desirably advantageous assignments or duties to those with personal connections.

The prevalence of favoritism in law enforcement can negatively impact and undermine the professionalism and integrity of the entire organization. When individuals are hired or promoted based on personal connections rather than qualifications and experience, it diminishes the credibility of the institution and erodes public trust in law enforcement agencies.

Moreover, nepotism can lead to a lack of diversity and inclusivity within law enforcement, as opportunities may be disproportionately allocated to a select group of individuals based on familial or social ties which may lack needed skills. An example might be a lack of beneficial communication skills with language abilities in speech, comprehension and expression beside those in American English. This can hinder the development of a well-rounded and merit-based representative law enforcement force, ultimately impacting its ability to effectively serve diverse communities.

To mitigate the detrimental effects of favoritism in law enforcement, organizations must prioritize transparency, accountability, and merit-based practices in their recruitment and promotion processes. Implementing clear and unbiased hiring criteria, establishing oversight mechanisms to monitor potential instances of nepotistic practices, and fostering a culture of fairness within the organization are essential steps in addressing this issue.

Furthermore, promoting ethical leadership and emphasizing the importance of professional conduct can help deter those nepotistic practices and uphold the integrity of law enforcement institutions. By fostering a culture of meritocracy and fairness, law enforcement agencies can work towards restoring public confidence and enhancing the overall professionalism of their workforce.

Favoritism in law enforcement poses significant challenges to the integrity and credibility of law enforcement agencies. By acknowledging the detrimental impact of nepotistic practices and actively working towards fostering a culture of fairness and meritocracy, organizations can strive to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and regain public trust. It is essential for law enforcement agencies to prioritize transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership in order to combat the issues associated with favoritism and ensures the delivery of impartial and effective law enforcement services.

Through hiring, promotion, and assigning the best individual to each and every position, police agencies will find themselves on a path to fulfilling their mission with fairness and integrity.

Joel E. Gordon, Managing Editor of BLUE Magazine, is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com

In Life as in Politics, Timing is Everything

At the start of the new school year right after Labor Day I wrote a column referencing how many large school districts across America were reversing their emotionally based policy of canceling contracts with police agencies to place officers into public schools. This reversal is based on an increase of disorder incidents some of which rose to the level of criminal behavior such as assaults against both students and teachers.

All of this started as a result of the war on police that included a defund police movement after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. It was a politically motivated decision and was led by anti-cop groups like Black Lives Matter and other leftist groups advocating for some inane idea of racial, gender and economic justice. These are the last people you want driving public policy decisions. Floyd’s death had nothing to do with school safety. The decision had everything to do with race politics based on a misapplication of statistics. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin public school system was one of many large urban school districts that did a “me-too” by making the ill-fated decision in 2020 to cancel police in schools. The claim was that black, Latino and Native American students were disproportionately referred to law enforcement that could lead to arrest and criminal charges or citations. Let’s forget about the reality that this behavior contributed to a threat to the personal safety of students and teachers or that it disrupted the learning environment. It was more important to engage in identity politics than protecting teachers and students in the classroom.

In a study by the Center for Public Integrity, the data revealed that after canceling the police contract, Milwaukee high schools called police more than 200 times. Leaders suggested that the district reverse course and bring officers back to patrol campuses. In Pamona, California, a school shooting near a school prompted the district to bring back school resource officers four months after canceling the contract. The Denver school system increased armed security, and in Des Moines, Iowa parents pleaded with school board members to bring back police.

That brings me to the point I made about timing in life and politics in the title of this column. There is enough of a sample pool of data to make some determinations about the effect of removing law enforcement officers from large urban public schools across America. The fact that more and more school districts are moving back to placing armed school resources back into schools should be enough to convince other school boards to move in the same direction. But then there is Chicago.

Recently the mayor of the city of Chicago made the decision cancel the Chicago Public School District contract with the Chicago police department. He was criticized for this decision, yet he stood by it saying, “there is an intergovernmental agreement between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department. To end that agreement, there’s no qualms from me there.” The news stories and data that other school districts are moving back to placing police in school must be traveling by carrier pigeon in the Windy City. I would think that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson did at least some due diligence before embarking down this path but then again it must have felt better to side with the anti-cop cabal. Johnson was elected less than a year ago. He replaced another Chicago police hating mayor Lori Lightfoot. This identity politics choice was a disaster as crime and violence rose through the roof under her reign. Chicago voters got a reprieve as residents of Chicago voted her out in the primary last spring. Johnson headed into the general election against an opponent who vowed to make public safety his number one priority. Voters choose the woke candidate Brandon Johnson.

Just one day after Mayor Johnson made the decision to cancel the contract to keep police in schools, the unimaginable happened. Three Chicago students were shot leaving one of them dead and one critically injured in a targeted school shooting. What followed was the typical empty rhetoric uttered by mindless politicians. Johnson stated, “A loss of life is horrific under all circumstances, but it is especially harsh when our young people are targeted. We do everything in our power to keep our children safe. So this hurt and I know our city is hurting.”

How can Brandon Johnson say this with a straight face just one day after callously saying that he, “had no qualms from me” with his decision to remove cops from schools? For him to make the statement that all of Chicago is hurting is appalling. The arrogance of this is breathtaking. That he lacked understanding of the moment demonstrates to me that he lacks the empathy required to be in a position of leadership. He might have gained some goodwill by announcing that he will reconsider his decision to remove police officers from Chicago public schools. That however would require political skills that Mayor Johnson appears not to not possess.

We always hear from school officials and politicians when it comes to school safety that we must do everything we can to secure the personal safety of the kids. Once again however when push comes to shove, politics wins out.

Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is former Sheriff of Milwaukee Co, Wisconsin, President of America’s Sheriff LLC, President of Rise Up Wisconsin INC, Board member of the Crime Research Center, author of the book Cop Under Fire: Beyond Hashtags of Race Crime and Politics for a Better America. To learn more visit www.americassheriff.com

Media Fails To tell The Whole Truth

Once again, the anti-cop cabal raises its ugly head. They never miss an opportunity to misuse statistics to smear the integrity of law enforcement officers. One of their favorite things to focus on is police use of in the performance of their job. They make use of what famed radical leftist community activist Saul Alinsky wrote in attacking a target. He wrote, identify a target, isolate it and then personalize it. This is exactly what the cop hating movement has done with the police officer. They have targeted and isolated police use of force in their crusade to destroy policing in America. They use bad data, they misinterpret statistics and come to conclusions about police use of force that no objective person interpreting data would agree with.

 I was at a hotel in New York recently and while at the front desk, I could help not seeing a stack of USA Today newspapers that just about every hotel in America gives away free of charge. At the top of the front-page above the fold and in big bold print that stood out like a neon sign, the headline read: 2023 was the deadliest year for killings by police in the US. Experts say this is why. Obviously, I picked up a copy to read and what I found in the story was more of the same garbage that this anti-cop newspaper is known to write.

 The drama created by the headline alone was intentionally designed to evoke emotion. Using words like “deadliest” and phrases like “killings by police” implies that the police did something wrong. In the opening paragraph the writer indicates that, “the US set another grim record last year as the number of people killed by police continued its steady increase”.The story points out that, there were only 14 days without a police killing last year and on average, law enforcement officers killed someone every 6.6 hours. What is that supposed to mean? And of course, the report points out that the victims, “include people of color, people with mental health problems”.

 The report reaches for old reliable when it comes to why these numbers continue to climb while crime slightly declined. What correlation those two things have? And predictably, the first thing that everybody reaches for is police training. In my view, training is so misunderstood. You can have police officers sit in a classroom all day at the police academy and train them on a particular subject but if those skills are not repeatedly applied in the field they diminish over time. For example, take any skill like hitting a golf shot. A golfer hits thousands of shots on the practice range but if they did not repeatedly hit those practiced shots their “training” would diminish over time. Cops do not get to repeatedly apply their training in the field. Ask yourself how many deadly force situations arise during a typical tour of duty. Seldom.

 So, we then expect them to immediately dial up their training and apply it during situations that are tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving. We are talking about split second decisions. Most of an officer's decision to use deadly force is instinctive. There is rarely time for a discussion with the person. The training is usually in the controlled environment of a classroom. The director of the Police Executive Research Forum Chuck Wexler, says that police agencies are, “working off of outdated antiquated training and that until the training changes and until the culture with it changes, that number is going to be way too high”. But he didn’t say what number of police deadly use of force incidents would be acceptable. Neither did the so-called research expert who was interviewed.

 This inflammatory news story was a big swing and a miss to use a baseball analogy. In fact, it failed miserable in terms of giving the reader information with which they could objectively on their own come to conclusions about police use of force. The most important information that was left out was that they failed to indicate what the victims were doing at the time of the police encounter. Were they armed or were they in the middle of the commission of a crime? If also failed to indicate what threat they posed to police? Did they refuse police lawful commands, and did they resist the officer’s attempt to take them into custody? This is pertinent information when analyzing data. But for this agenda driven newspaper, the total number of 1,329 who died by police use of force sounds more dramatic. In 2022, 1,250 people died by police use of force. That means the increase actually amounted to 79 more than the previous year. That is not way outside the average. Indicating that number would not capture people’s imaginations enough to even bother reading the story. Breaking down this data further might show that most of these were ruled justifiable and only a handful of these incidents even warrant further scrutiny but then it would not be a headline above the fold USA Today story.

 Here, in my view is why the police use of force cannot be reduced by some artificial intervention. Police officers don’t determine when to use force in a vacuum. It is determined by the actions of the person they are confronting. We can apply all the trining we want to police but we need to try a different model because people are working on the wrong thing. How about training the public what to do in these situations? How about reminding the public that they have a duty, an obligation to comply with police lawful commands. We cannot just train one side and expect outcomes to be different. Stop trying to fix the police. Fix society.

Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is former Sheriff of Milwaukee Co, Wisconsin, President of America’s Sheriff LLC, President of Rise Up Wisconsin INC, Board member of the Crime Research Center, author of the book Cop Under Fire: Beyond Hashtags of Race Crime and Politics for a Better America. To learn more visit www.americassheriff.com

Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics

By: Joel E. Gordon

Mark Twain famously popularized the saying, “there are 3 kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics” which is a phrase describing the persuasive power of statistics to bolster weak arguments. It is also sometimes used to doubt statistics used to prove an opponent's point.

It was over a decade ago that I was engaged in a conversation with a then University of Maryland college student over the validity of statistics. Based upon their studies and teachings the student insisted that quantitative statistics could simply be taken as absolute without any view toward methodology or the realization that statistics could be skewed with incomplete or inaccurate information. In effect garbage in, garbage out.

Deja Vu

When it comes to recent academic assertions that serious Part One crime in many categories based upon FBI Uniform Crime Reporting statistics is down over previous reports is this true? This is while in real time public perception is that serious crime is on the increase.

Is it lost on academia that the effect of police defunding results in less police to take reports of crime? That many have more recently given up on even calling the police due to a lack of confidence believing that appropriate actions or dispositions are unlikely?

This doesn’t even take into account political pressure to downgrade offenses for reporting purposes. Perhaps a burglary without known theft becomes a destruction of property due to point of entry damages?

Sometimes the opposite effect occurs due to interpretation of crime reporting criteria. Back in time, Baltimore City Police once categorized any assault involving a weapon to be reported as a Part One Aggravated Assault instead of a lesser Part Two Common (Simple) Assault. Of course, anything can be used as a weapon so in theory an unwanted touching by another with a piece of paper resulting in a small cut/laceration could be considered an Aggravated Assault? No wonder violent crime was considered to be escalated during a period of time in the 1980’s.

While quantitative and qualitative statistics have a place in analysis of crime, it is incumbent of all to realize that accuracy is not assured in reported interpretations or numbers. Even those with the best of intentions in the accuracy of reports for Uniform Crime Reporting data use are subject to inconsistencies or error.

For more detailed information on the nuances of determination of reported crime categories go to

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/offense-definitions

Joel E. Gordon, Managing Editor of BLUE Magazine, is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com

Depends On Whose Ox Is Being Gored

I sit in amazement as I read news stories about how crime rates are falling as if we should be thanking our lucky stars. First of all, I can’t think of a worse way to view crime than to do it through some static statistical lens. Second would be to use the pandemic as a marker or benchmark is wrongheaded. Nobody asks why crime rates are being separated by pre- and post-pandemic. Crime has steadily increased over the past decade, the pandemic notwithstanding. A better marker or benchmark would be pre- and post- War on Cops and the Defund Police movement. Another benchmark might be what was called by criminologists as, the Great Crime Decline of the 1990s. 

During the 1990s is when Broken Windows Policing along with order maintenance strategies was the crime prevention and control model adopted by police agencies all across America. The result was an unprecedented and historic low in crime and violence. Criminal prosecutors and judges got on board and started holding career criminals accountable for their unwanted and anti-social behavior. Citizens actually felt a difference. They were confident that government could actually be effective in making communities safer. Public spaces became livable again.

That all came to a crashing halt when a career criminal named Mike Brown attacked and tried to disarm a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer named Darren Wilson who was left with no other option than to use deadly force to save his own life. This local incident became a flashpoint that captured the nation’s attention. A sinister group masquerading as a civil rights movement was spawned. It was actually a Marxist movement called Black Lives Matter. Riots consumed major urban cities. The policing profession was in the crosshairs. In knee-jerk fashion, politicians and police executives ordered front line officers to “stand down” as rioters looted businesses and wide swaths of retail areas were burned to the ground. That sense of safety and security built up during the great crime decline of the nineties vanished. What was needed from these feckless police executives was courage and a backbone. What we got instead was a capitulation to the cop haters. That was the beginning of a surge in crime and violence to record levels, not the pandemic. 

I just made the case as to why using a January 1st to December 31st comparison or the COVID pandemic to fool people into thinking that crime and violence is dissipating are the wrong benchmarks. Any newspaper or mayor who is trying to convince you that crime incidents are falling is using a manipulation of statistics to fool you. The reality is that people are not safe, not in their homes, schools or other public places and they are justified in their thinking.

Being the end of the year, news stories are appearing that are saying that crime is falling. They are using FBI Uniform Crime statistics to do it. The problem with FBI UCR numbers is that they rely on self-reporting by police agencies. In other words, a burglary can be reported as a theft from dwelling, a strong-armed robbery could be reported as a theft from person. It also doesn’t account for people who haven’t reported a crime where they were the victim because they didn’t think police would investigate it properly or just file a report. My point is that these stats can be unreliable. The next and more important point is that using calendar years for calculating crime is meaningless. Agencies reset the counting every January 1st to zero as if the crime figures from the year before don’t matter or didn’t happen. They simply start at zero. It begs the question as to who came up with that and why? A more meaningful look at crime is to examine it from a continual calendar month to month. In other words, from January 2023 to January 2024, from February 2023 to February 2024 and so on. Then we would get a more accurate look at the trend over a continual period of time, not from zero. This is how businesses look at trends.

The other aspect of reporting that crime is down is that it may be comforting to those who have not been victimized, but it is not if your home was burglarized, or you were carjacked at gunpoint or worse if your friend or family member was sexually assaulted, shot or murdered. A reported drop in crime of 6% doesn’t mean anything to most people or insurance companies who have to cover the loss. Too many people are still being victimized by crime and their quality of life is being altered by it. My tolerance for incidents of crime is zero. No crime is insignificant to me.

Before any city mayor or police executive takes a victory lap for some minuscule drop in violent crime, keep in mind it was not the result of anything you did. De-policing is rampant. There are no pro-active strategies being deployed. How do I know? Police vacancies are at an all-time high. Delays in time responding to calls for service are increasing. This includes for 911 calls. There is no time dedicated to preventive patrols in high-crime areas as police are just trying to keep up going from radio call to radio call. It also causes people to not bother calling after being on hold for an excessive period of time.

Let’s be honest with the public. We are nowhere near getting back to where crime rates were during the crime declines of the nineties and I don’t know that we ever will. It is becoming baked into the pie and part of the urban landscape.

Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is former Sheriff of Milwaukee Co, Wisconsin, President of America’s Sheriff LLC, President of Rise Up Wisconsin INC, Board member of the Crime Research Center, author of the book Cop Under Fire: Beyond Hashtags of Race Crime and Politics for a Better America. To learn more visit www.americassheriff.com

STEM THE TIDE: Oppression, Oppressors and Prejudice

By: Joel E. Gordon

Oppression occurs when one group, known as the oppressors, systematically discriminates against another group, recognized as the oppressed. The dynamics of this relationship are complex and can manifest in various forms, including social, political, economic, and cultural oppression.

At the core of this dynamic is a power imbalance, where the oppressors seemingly hold the majority of power and resources, while the oppressed are marginalized and deprived of equal opportunities and rights.

When opinion deems Israel and Jews as oppressors the response begins to manifest itself as empowering those who side with or identify as the oppressed to become the oppressors via calls for restricting response to acts of terror and attempts to eradicate terrorists.

The same has been occurring with law enforcement. As certain groups have identified as being oppressed by law enforcement and government authority to maintain law and order, the powers that be have worked to restrict law enforcement response and authority over lawlessness and have become oppressors of law enforcement growth and efforts for the greater and common good.

Perhaps the ‘root cause’ of the oppressor/oppressed phenomenon is prejudice. In a world of identity politics where prejudice is often falsely accused or overstated in the pre-judgment of others beliefs or motives, prejudice or the belief of it, continues as a motivational force in ideology and action in large measure.

Prejudice, the deeply ingrained bias against individuals based on their race, gender, religion, level of authority, socioeconomic standing or other characteristics, has been a perennial scourge afflicting humanity. It runs deep within society, often manifesting in subtle yet influential ways.

The ramifications of prejudice reverberate across every aspect of society, seeping into educational institutions, workplaces, and even shaping public policies. Its corrosive nature not only stymies individual growth but also hampers the collective progress towards a more understanding and harmonious world.

Eradicating prejudice necessitates a concerted effort towards education and awareness. By fostering understanding and empathy, we can challenge ingrained biases and dismantle the foundations of prejudice. Embracing diverse perspectives and histories can pave the way for a more inclusive society. Attempts at indoctrination or erasing history and historical perspectives through the rewriting of history or removing historical markers thusly are counterproductive to learning from  both triumphs and past mistakes which otherwise facilitate moving forward with greater knowledge toward improvement with increasingly peaceful and harmonious relationships.

Celebrating diversity and recognizing the inherent worth of every individual serves as a potent antidote to prejudice. It is through acknowledging the richness of varied cultures, traditions, and experiences that we can break down the walls of intolerance and build bridges of unity.

Empathy and compassion form the bedrock of a prejudice-free society. By walking not only in our own shoes but in the shoes of others and extending understanding, we can unravel the complexities of bias and sow the seeds of a true and genuine connection.

Advocating for true justice can act as a beacon in the pursuit of eradicating prejudice. By dismantling systemic barriers and seeking greater fairness for all, we can lay the groundwork for a society where prejudice holds no dominion.

Eradicating prejudice requires a collective endeavor that demands unwavering commitment and a resolute spirit. Through education, empathy, and the pursuit of justice, we can forge a future where prejudice is but a distant memory, and unity and understanding reign supreme. Maybe we can stop the victimization mentality through a view less toward oppression and oppressors but rather simply humanity seeking our best lives through merit, understanding and encouragement for opportunity for all.

Joel E. Gordon, Managing Editor of BLUE Magazine, is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com

The War Rages On

The attacks by politically motivated prosecutors against police officers are showing no signs of abating.

What might appear to be a pause is only due to the fact that the news accounts of officers being criminally charged have lost their appeal at being reported as breaking news. These incidents have returned to their rightful place as local stories. No longer do waves of reporters from around the country descend on locations to do nonstop reporting of an officer or officers being criminally indicted.

They try to squeeze as much juice out of the orange as they can. They look under every sewer cover, inside every dumpster to find some cop-hating advocate to interview. A sobbing mother sitting next to ambulance-chasing attorney Benjamin Crump who parachutes into the city involved always makes for great TV. We have to listen to how the deceased was a good boy or girl who was just on the cusp of getting their life back together even though they were a career criminal involved in a criminal act that contributed to their demise. A photo of the crook as a smiling 5-year old, even though they are now an adult, is priceless. The more emotion and anger the media can stoke up the better.

Rioting that breaks out, including looting of businesses and arsons, are reported as “mainly peaceful protests”. Most of the people who have a camera and a microphone shoved in their face have no knowledge about the incident that led to the indictment, but who cares? Why not let these uninformed take a few whacks at the local police agency as if it is some sort of sport. Any source who witnessed the incident and might add balance to the media coverage is conveniently ignored.

One of the signature cases in the police use of force that led to criminal indictments occurred in Kentucky in 2020, where officers from the Louisville Police Department working on a narcotics trafficking case obtained a search warrant for an apartment. I find this case to have had its share of problems from the onset. The search warrant appears to have been faulty. There seemed to be a lack of proper supervision over the case which may have lent some objectivity and guidance about what officers were doing. I want to be fair, here. I did multiple TV and radio news interviews on this case at the time and pointed out that in a perfect world, the police could have performed better. But, I said, this is not a perfect world and policing is not an exact science. Next, let’s review a few of the facts.

Police approached the apartment and knocked and announced. They had approval, however, from the court for a no-knock entry. For non-police readers here, this is for the safety of the officers and to prevent the destruction of evidence, which often happens in these incidents. It gives officers an advantage of the element of surprise. It is also common for occupants of the residence to jump out of windows in order to escape, so police had the perimeter secured by officers outside. When officers breached the door, they were fired upon by Kenneth Walker, a known drug dealer. His shot struck one of the officers in the leg requiring surgery. Officers returned fire after being fired upon. Walker’s girlfriend, Breonna Taylor, whose name was on the apartment lease, was was killed by shots fired by officers after they were fired upon. She died as a result. An officer with outside perimeter containment, Brett Hankison, heard the shots and believed that his colleagues were being shot at and he fired shots into the apartment he believed the shots came from. In fact, he fired into an apartment that wasn’t involved but his shots struck no one. So, now let’s look at the aftermath.

There is a lot of conflicting information involved in this case. As a trained investigator and having investigated numerous police uses of deadly force as a member of the Milwaukee Police Department before I became sheriff, I can tell you that this conflicting information is normal. Everybody sees and interprets things according to their own experiences. Police officers are trained observers. Everyday citizens are not. So, the fact that these post incident statements by everybody who was there are in conflict should only be problematic for the prosecutor reviewing the case for a potential indictment and court trial. In the pre-Ferguson, Missouri days, most prosecutors realized that it would be difficult to obtain a conviction and objectively gave the benefit of the doubt to the officers finding the actions of officers using Supreme Court landmark decisions as a guide to be justifiable under the circumstances based on the reasonable officer doctrine. That was then, however, and this is now. Now these incidents are judged through the lens of 20/20 hindsight, politics and mob mentality.

A criminal indictment against the officer with outside containment responsibility was handed down in a Louisville state court against one officer. A jury acquitted the officer of wanton endangerment for firing into an apartment without knowing what he was firing at. Four officers were terminated after an internal investigation. This prosecution should have ended there. But it didn’t. Prosecutors weren’t looking for justice. They were looking for revenge against police. They were trying to appease an angry mob. It failed.

Now enter federal prosecutors, hell-bent on taking down someone for this unfortunate event as they took their case to a federal trial for prosecution against the lone officer who was acquitted in state court. Recall that this incident happened in 2020. It’s now late 2023. This federal prosecution was trying to have a do-over since state prosecutors were unsuccessful. This has turned from a prosecution to a persecution of police.

A federal jury returned last week unable to reach a verdict. The judge in the case had them go back several times to further deliberate after informing the judge several times they were “honestly and reasonably deadlocked.” The federal prosecutor tried shamelessly to get the judge to give the jury more information to help them find the officer guilty even though the judge ruled that the jury was not entitled to additional information. The jury remained deadlocked, and the the judge finally accepted that they were hopelessly deadlocked and declared a mistrial. You would think that the feds would let this go at this point. You would be wrong, as the prosecutor has vowed to move forward with another attempt to prosecute, or should I say persecute the officer.

As the news magazine Reason pointed out in a column on this case and deadlocked jury decision, the Constitution says the prosecution should have stopped after the state acquittal and even more so after this deadlocked jury decision in federal court. It further points out that it is correct to believe that officers should not be above the law, but that the law also should not be above them either.

Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is former Sheriff of Milwaukee Co, Wisconsin, President of America’s Sheriff LLC, President of Rise Up Wisconsin INC, Board member of the Crime Research Center, author of the book Cop Under Fire: Beyond Hashtags of Race Crime and Politics for a Better America. To learn more visit www.americassheriff.com

Mass Shooters & Mental Illness: Unraveling the Complex Connection

By: Joel E. Gordon

Mass shootings continue to shake community’s worldwide, leaving devastation and questions in their wake. As society grapples with understanding these heinous acts, one common question arises: is there a link between mass shooters and mental illness? In this article, we delve into this complex topic, examining the intertwining factors and shedding light on the reality behind the headlines.

Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of individuals with mental illnesses are not violent. In fact, studies consistently show that those battling mental health issues are more likely to be victims of violence rather than perpetrators. It is crucial to dispel the myth that mental illness directly leads to acts of mass shootings, as it perpetuates stigma and hampers our ability to address the true root causes.

While mental illness alone does not predict violent behavior, it is essential to recognize that certain risk factors can increase the likelihood of someone with mental health challenges engaging in violence. These risk factors may include:

1. Untreated or undertreated mental illness: Lack of access to or compliance with appropriate mental health treatment can exacerbate symptoms and increase the risk of dangerous behavior.

2. Substance abuse: When substance abuse co-occurs with mental illness, the risk of violence may escalate due to impaired judgment, altered perception, and increased impulsivity.

3. Previous violent behavior: History of violence, regardless of mental health status, is a significant predictor of future aggression.

4. Social isolation and marginalization: Feeling excluded, lonely, or marginalized can fuel anger and resentment, potentially leading to violent acts as a means of revenge or attention-seeking.

While it is critical to acknowledge the role of mental health in the broader context of mass shootings, it is equally important not to overlook the societal factors that contribute to such acts. These factors include:

1. Access to firearms: Easy access to firearms can significantly escalate the risk of violence. Responsible gun ownership is vital.

2. Media influence: Desperate for attention and infamy, some mass shooters seek to make headlines. Sensationalized media coverage can inadvertently contribute to copycat incidents.

3. Social contagion: Mass shootings can trigger a contagious effect, inspiring others to commit similar acts. This contagion factor is amplified through the rapid spread of information via social media and online platforms.

To effectively address the issue of mass shootings, a comprehensive approach is crucial. This approach should encompass:

1. Improved mental health services: Enhancing access to affordable and quality mental health services can ensure individuals receive appropriate treatment, reducing the risk of violence.

2. Early identification and intervention: Recognizing warning signs and providing timely intervention can make a significant difference in diverting potentially violent individuals towards appropriate support systems.

3. Promotion of social connectedness: Creating inclusive communities that foster social connections and support networks can alleviate social isolation and reduce the risk of violent behavior.

4. Responsible control measures: Implementing control policies that lawfully balance individual rights with public safety are also in need of further exploration.

My own experience as a law enforcement official has been that when I encountered an individual who clearly seemed to be a danger to themselves or others and showed a propensity toward violence, mental health practitioners routinely requested criminalization through a request for legal charges of a criminal nature, or when forced to perform in-person evaluation, would often release the individual untreated.

While the connection between mass shooters and mental illness is complex, it is essential to dispel misconceptions and approach the issue from a holistic perspective. By focusing on early intervention, better and more responsive mental health support, and addressing societal factors, we can work towards a safer future minimizing the risk of violence and protecting our communities. Remember, combating the stigma associated with mental illness while addressing the multifaceted nature of mass shootings is crucial for progress.

 Joel E. Gordon, Managing Editor of BLUE Magazine, is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com

Uniform Standards in Police Use of Force?

By: Joel E. Gordon

Law enforcement agencies play a crucial role in maintaining law and order within society. The use of force is an inevitable aspect of their job, intended to protect citizens and maintain public safety. However, it is essential to strike a balance between maintaining order and respecting individual rights. In this article, I explore the importance of police use of force, its impact on public perception, and the measures taken to ensure accountability.

Police use of force refers to the amount of physical coercion necessary to compel compliance or overcome resistance during the enforcement of laws. This force may range from verbal commands to the application of physical restraint or even the use of firearms in extreme cases.

The primary objective of police use of force is to maintain public safety. Law enforcement officers are tasked with protecting citizens and preventing criminal activities. By utilizing force in appropriate situations, they deter potential offenders, ensuring the safety and well-being of the community.

While the use of force is a necessary tool for police officers, it must be exercised responsibly and within legal boundaries. Ensuring accountability is crucial to maintain public trust and prevent abuses of power. Of interesting note… The US Secret Service recently opened fire on three suspects who had broken out a window in the unoccupied vehicle being utilized by a granddaughter of President Joe Biden in an alleged attempted vehicle theft. What would happen if local police agencies used deadly force under similar circumstances? Different standards? Food for thought.

Law enforcement agencies across the United States have implemented comprehensive training programs to equip officers with the necessary skills to assess and respond to various situations. These programs focus on de-escalation techniques, conflict resolution, and non-lethal force alternatives. By providing officers with the tools to handle difficult situations effectively, the likelihood of excessive or unnecessary force decreases. Does this not apply to Federal law enforcement agencies and operations?

Advancements in technology have played a vital role in holding law enforcement accountable. Body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras provide objective evidence of encounters between police officers and civilians, shedding light on the events that transpire during incidents involving the use of force. This transparency helps to address any potential misconduct and facilitates fair investigations.

Effective police use of force is not only about maintaining public safety but also fostering trust and positive relationships with the community. When citizens perceive police officers as fair and just in their use of force, it promotes a sense of security and encourages cooperation.

Law enforcement agencies actively engage with communities to address concerns and listen to feedback. Open dialogue between police and citizens helps build mutual understanding and ensures that the use of force is viewed as a last resort rather than a default action.

Maintaining public safety is a fundamental responsibility of law enforcement agencies, and police use of force is a necessary tool to achieve this objective. However, it is crucial to ensure accountability, transparency, and public trust. By implementing effective training programs, embracing technology, and fostering positive relationships with communities, law enforcement agencies can strike the right balance between maintaining order and upholding individual rights. This approach fosters a safer and more harmonious society for all at every level of enforcement.

SCOOP AND RUN… Yay or Nay?

By: Joel E. Gordon

I am still reminded on any given day of dampness the time that I fell through the floor of a vacant partially gutted home in west Baltimore on a call looking for heroin addicts trespassing and shooting up. Realizing that my knee wasn’t right upon landing in the dwelling’s basement, I immediately got on the radio to report that no trespassers were found and to also report my injury. My mentor (and often my guardian angel in my rookie policing days) Officer Dwight Thomas radioed that I should stay immobilized. He was quickly on-scene canceling any EMS and taking me to the closest hospital in his patrol car after securing the vehicle I had been operating.

In 1980s Baltimore, we really had no formal policy on whether or when police should transport an injured person directly to a hospital or wait for EMS personnel for ambulance transport. In critiquing our performance in the line of duty shooting resulting in the death of another mentor of mine, Officer Ronald Tracey, it was noted that supervisors made the correct call when instructing officers on-scene to transport the wounded officer by police vehicle and to not wait for additional EMS response time. Regrettably, in this case it was to no avail due to the severity of the injury.

The practice of police medical transport in places such as Philadelphia is known as “scoop and run” or “scoop and go”. In a past 12-month period, Philadelphia police drove 408 gunshot victims to trauma centers, according to the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation, the state’s accrediting agency for trauma centers. In cases of profuse blood loss there have been documented cases where this practice has proven to be a life saver.

Several other police departments have policies permitting their officers to conduct transports including Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit, but none reported transporting victims on a regular basis. Police departments have cited other reasons for not regularly practicing scoop and run, arguing that EMS units are better trained to handle severely injured patients. The New Orleans Police Department says its first priority is to secure the scene, hard to do if they’re speeding to the hospital. Instead of being tended to by trained EMTs and paramedics with a range of medical supplies and equipment, patients are quickly loaded into the back of a police car, where they may not even receive direct pressure to their wounds, not to mention a buckled seat belt. Then, despite good Samaritan laws, there is the risk of accusations of wrongdoing which could result in civil lawsuits or even criminal culpability in this day and age of police vilification.

Studies on the issue, though, have led some clinicians to interpret findings to mean police transport is safe for patients, and in some cases advantageous. One study included a subset of people severely injured by gunshots. Compared to those transported by EMS, patients transported by police had higher rates of surviving their wounds. According to some trauma doctors, the lack of medical intervention that victims receive during the typical scoop and run is part of what makes the practice beneficial. Advanced procedures like breathing tubes and IV fluids, while helpful for certain kinds of patients, may actually do more harm than good for shooting and stabbing victims in urban areas.

“I’d love to debunk the myth that you need a person on the scene who has all this advanced medical training and that is going to make the difference for this specific kind of injury,” Elliott Haut, a Johns Hopkins trauma surgeon has been quoted as saying. For a presentation he gives at conferences, he shows an image that asks, “What’s the best fluid to give victims of penetrating trauma?” Then he clicks to the next image, which reads “fuel.”, “Yes, you’re going to get less medical care on the street and in the back of the car, but I’m OK with that because the shorter time is going to make a difference.”

Perhaps a Cleveland Police directive which gives officers the option to transport a victim after assessing “the totality of the circumstances” to include nature of injury, location of incident in proximity to a hospital, proximity of EMS is the right approach to the scoop and run question.

If the goal is to save a life based upon the best information that an officer has available at any given time, it would seem that officer discretion would be the most logical universal answer to victim care.

While not always ending in the desired result to save a life, as long as we act in good faith while doing our best to provide optimal service to our communities, can we really go wrong?

Joel E. Gordon, Managing Editor of BLUE Magazine, is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com

Mr. Criminal Goes to Washington

Many of you can remember the 1939 classic movie titled “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” For a refresher, it was a story about a naïve man who is appointed to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat. He enters a Washington, D.C. that is filled with corruption. All the elected people in Congress have been compromised unbeknownst to Smith as he tries to make a difference and clean things up.

I use this backdrop because Washington D.C. remains the same place today that was depicted in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” In Washington, they are narcissists, oblivious to the world of pain and suffering around them. The political class is totally disconnected from the world, or in this case the country around them. They live in a bubble, a cocoon while insensitive to the plight of Americans living way out there dealing with real-life issues that need attention, things like inflation, rising food costs and rising fuel costs. Rent costs are rising, as is household debt. Rising interest rates have put owning a home out of reach. And then there is another crisis that people are experiencing that the political class in Washington has been insulated from, at least until now.

Crime, violence and disorder have ravaged cities all across America, as the D.C. elites live in area full of security and police and described in news stories as swanky neighborhoods. They haven’t had to live with the murder, assaults and armed robberies that go on unabated in every large urban city in America including neighborhoods surrounding the federal district. The neighborhoods surrounding the federal district have always been crime-ridden, but it was contained therein because elites live in neighborhoods that had been immune from real life outside the federal district. They got away with simply expressing faux concern and virtue signaled in front of television cameras when it happened to somebody else, but in truth they didn’t really care. But their arrogant indifference and attitude that those things happen over there, and not here, has caught up with them.

Several recent crime incidents have grabbed headlines. Now, we have the attention of D.C. media and of the political elite. It has been noted that carjackings in D.C. have smashed the total number that occurred in 2022, and that was a record year. Last year there were 360 carjackings in Washington, D.C. So far this year, there have been 757 incidents. Keep in mind that we are only in October so the total will undoubtedly continue to rise. More notably, several members of Congress have been victimized. Democrat U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar was recently carjacked outside his Navy Yard neighborhood apartment. Reports indicate that three young, masked males with guns drawn demanded his car along with his phone and luggage. Cuellar went on TV and said that Washington is about two or three times more dangerous than at the border in his district in Laredo, Texas- “and we certainly see it now.” Really? He only certainly sees it now? He even found some humor in recounting the incident by saying that he was more disappointed in losing his sushi that was in the car. This is a perfect example on how oblivious these elites in Washington feel and how disconnected they are from what everyday Americans have been dealing with for the last five or ten years of rising rates of crime, violence and disorder. But as long as crime doesn’t visit D.C. politicians, they whistle past the graveyard. I spent a 40-year career dealing with crime victims. I never saw a victim of a crime of violence joke about it later. Cuellar should get out of the bubble of Washington and visit some crime victim care centers or hospitals where victims of violence are being treated.

There is more indication that we see these elitists getting a dose of reality. Another news story was written that talked about how some D.C. lawmakers are so fearful about crime in the District that they are hunkering down and sleeping in their offices at the Capitol because it has become “very dangerous” after dark. This same U.S. Rep. said, “I don’t want to walk back and forth from an apartment in D.C. at night or in the early morning to get to work. It’s not a safe environment.” Oh really? I have to ask where the everyday citizen goes for respite from the dangers of the streets in their neighborhood that happen in broad daylight? They can’t hunker down in a taxpayer-funded office. The same congressman said that “It’s insane to even own a car in D.C. because it is likely to get broken into and you are likely to get carjacked.” Is this guy just now figuring out what life for the rest of the country is like? Yet another lawmaker said in response to the crime surge that, “Any reasonable person would be afraid of the increase in crime and the danger of being in the capital.” Wait a minute. Is it only important to do something about it because it is happening to them? I want to make something very clear. I don’t wish that crime and violence happen to anybody, but if it has to happen, I can’t think of more worthy people to be victimized than members of the elitist political class, many of them Democrats, who either voiced support for the cop haters after Ferguson, Missouri or after George Floyd that started the movement for defunding police, and if they didn’t say so publicly, their silence in the face of this war on police spoke volumns.

Yes, indeed, Mr. Criminal has gone to the Federal District in Washington. The only difference is that Mr. Criminal is not some naïve guy who doesn’t know what he is up against. Mr. Criminal isn’t there to make things better. He is taking advantage of the naïveté of the political elites. He is there to perpetrate misery and suffering. What political elitists don’t understand is that crime rates are like water. They seeks their own level. You can only put up so many sandbags or walls to protect or insulate yourself from a flood of crime and violence. If it doesn’t stop raining criminals, eventually they will find their way into, over and around any protective barriers.

Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is former Sheriff of Milwaukee Co, Wisconsin, President of America’s Sheriff LLC, President of Rise Up Wisconsin INC, Board member of the Crime Research Center, author of the book Cop Under Fire: Beyond Hashtags of Race Crime and Politics for a Better America. To learn more visit www.americassheriff.com

PASSING THE TORCH

By: Joel E. Gordon

The best way to predict the future is to create it. - Abraham Lincoln

When my youngest son turned 21 and began to drive for our local ambulance service, already having volunteered with our local volunteer fire company for three years by then, I found myself reminiscing about my own calling in choosing law enforcement over a career in fire or EMS and thinking in greater detail about our future generation’s choices for their own career paths.

Way back when I was a single rookie cop and I remember some veteran officers saying if you’re looking for a date, tell any prospective companions that you’re a paramedic, or better yet firefighter, but don’t admit that you’re police. “People have more respect for firefighters” they would say. (Fortunately, I found a special lady who loves her law enforcement officer along with her EMT son).

I have seen many words used to describe these honorable professions in public safety such as: loyal, brave, trustworthy, courageous, strong, honored, dedicated, rescuer, heroes, fearless, warriors, guardians and protectors to name some, which describe all three areas of emergency responders being law enforcement/fire/EMS. The words smoke and fire really belong solely to the fire service however.

My son Evan, as a firefighter, has already experienced the heat, smoke and flames of a burning structure on multiple occasions. I always thought that he would follow in my footsteps as a law enforcement officer, but it may turn out that he will follow more in his mom’s former path. Sharon was an ambulance driver herself many years ago. While my son was still evaluating fulfilling a desire to become a West Virginia State Trooper, continued and seemingly unrelenting vilification of our police has given him some pause and reevaluation. Either way, the calling to public service runs in our family and is clearly in his blood.

In my case, in a different time and era, I had no doubt that I preferred a career in law enforcement. I had that belief reinforced on a cold winter dayshift. While on patrol, I was frantically waved down by a woman along the road. “Help me, help me” she said. “My grandchildren are in the house and it’s on fire”!

I immediately called out at the location and was quickly met by another officer as I grabbed my hat. We quickly entered a burning row house whose kitchen was ablaze. Immediately, although attempting to use my hat as a filter, I began to get choked back by the heavy smoke. We were of the belief that the children were on the second floor and we made it about halfway up the stairs until the heat and smoke became too overwhelming. As we turned to head back toward the exit I felt something strike me in my chest. Exiting the front door hacking and coughing from smoke inhalation I saw a small kitten jump off of my chest area from my winter uniform coat. It turned out that the grandchildren weren’t in the house after all but around the corner at a friend’s house.

The fire department was quickly on scene extinguishing the fire, returning me to service after having at least saved the kitten. To this day I am hopeful that I will never again be in a burning building.

Other more numerous incidents involving medical emergencies from assaults, gunshot wounds, stabbings, accidents and natural causes of which I found myself to be the first responder on-scene left no doubt in my mind that fire and EMS services were best left to others. I was always glad when an ambulance arrived to take over any medical emergency. I have seen amazing lifesaving procedures performed in the back of ambulances by dedicated EMT’s and paramedics.

I know that many law enforcement families besides mine also have future generations wanting to answer the call of others in need of help. It is my hope and prayer that each makes the best decisions for their own career paths and that success and safety follow them in all of the days of their lives as we pass the torch of public service.

We all must strive to make a positive difference in ways that we think we have the most to offer. In my own son’s case, he has become an emergency medical technician, swift water rescue, HAZMAT, and rope rescue certified firefighter, and has recently been employed by Monongalia County EMS in the home county of West Virginia University.

I do have one suggestion to those now beginning their own public service career paths: Keep a daily journal of your experiences and thoughts. Someday you’ll be glad that you did. You may even write your own memoir as you look back upon the career you created some day.

Kudos go out to all our deserving and brave firefighters, EMTs, police officers, sheriff’s deputies, dispatchers and paramedics. We have great respect, love, concern and admiration for all of you.

Joel E. Gordon, Managing Editor of BLUE Magazine, is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com

Are People Finally Coming to Their Senses?

Several news stories that came out during the Labor Day holiday caught my attention. Several school districts are asking for a return to cops in schools as resource officers after they kicked them out in an overreaction to the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. That incident had absolutely nothing to do with schools or resource officers. Now Minnesota schools have a different problem.

The Minnesota state legislature is being forced back into session after numerous police agencies pulled their officers from schools one week before classes begin. The reason for the decision comes after a new state law that limits physical restraints that can be used on students. Officers now are prohibited from using any type of restraint that impacts on a violent student's ability to breathe, including holds that put a student face down on the ground. One legislator said, “and we want to make sure they are being handled in a way that respects the fact that they are young, they’re children.” Let me stop there. First of all, we are not talking about “children”. For the most part we are talking about students in their teens. And second, there is this: What about the fact that these students have no respect for the fact that their behavior is disrupting the other students who are being denied learning time and that it might endanger other students in the immediate area? And what about injury to the officer trying to get the miscreant under control?

This creates a dilemma for responding officers. Any officer who has had to restrain somebody resisting arrest knows how difficult this can be and that you cannot predict the actions of the person they are trying to get under control. Officers have to be able to use all reasonable force under the circumstances to effect an arrest. The U.S. Supreme Court says so. Trying in the moment to decide how much and what kind of physical force to use cannot be based on some sterile how-to instruction sheet. Not to mention that this subjects officers to legal peril for not doing enough and sooner to gain control of a situation if other students or teachers are injured as a result. The legislature is still trying to resolve the concerns of this expanded policy with law enforcement executives. Too bad they didn’t have the foresight of getting law enforcement trainers involved when they were crafting this policy. This could have been avoided. Then again, this is what happens when politicians involve themselves in a science they know nothing about.

Next, let’s turn to a situation plaguing law enforcement for the last at least five years: the inability of agencies to fill vacancies. The exodus of officers taking early retirement or flat-out leaving the profession due to a number of reasons including defunding, lack of respect for the police, no support from the political class or law enforcement executives is exceeding the ability to hire replacements. Larger urban agencies are having a harder time with this than are smaller agencies that hire one officer at a time and can lure them from larger agencies by offering better pay and benefits. Hiring a cop is a lot more complex than hiring someone to work at Amazon, for instance. If agencies start lowering their hiring standards, they will pay for that down the road. History has shown that to be the case. California and Illinois have recently passed legislation to allow illegal aliens to apply for law enforcement positions. What the hell are they thinking about? How in the heck are they going to do a thorough background check? There is no way that they are going to be able to research this applicant's history. Many South and Central American countries do not have the record-keeping systems that we have on people. In fact, we are not going to be sure that the applicant is who they say they are, especially if they use an alias to apply.

That leads me to the situation with the Austin, Texas, police department. They are the latest to be hit with the vacancy dilemma. This was a city whose political class caved to the defund police advocates. The Austin Police Department had its budget cut by $150 million in 2020. The city council engaged in the left’s social engineering experiment of reimagining policing. Combine that with an overzealous political activist prosecutor who has indicted 20, yes 20 Austin police officers since 2020 and you can guess what the result has been: a mass stampede of officers leaving the department. And the hiring has not kept up, resulting in a vacancy gap. Since 2017, they have lost 800 officers. A crime surge has predictably followed, with car thefts up 77%, murders up 30% and aggravated assaults up 18% since the budget cuts in 2020. Wow, I never could have guessed that. You can plug and play any large urban area into this situation. Most are dealing with the same garbage, yet many political officials continue down the same path and make the same mindless decisions.

Austin police have been forced to pull detectives off of cases to answer 911 calls, meaning serious crimes go unsolved leaving perpetrators on the street to continue wreaking havoc. City residents and businesses are experiencing longer response times for serious calls for service. One business owner said he had to wait 10 days for police to respond to take a report for a non-emergency incident. The store owner said, “This isn’t working. You take away the police force and then ask us not to have weapons or anything in our stores to protect ourselves.” My attitude as a former sheriff was to remind citizens that they are the first line of defense in their own safety. I reminded them that they have a duty to protect themselves and that calling 911 may not always be their best option.

Law-abiding people have had it with this crap. More are taking matters into their own hands. Good for them. There is a growing sense of resignation in people’s confidence that government is adequately doing what is their most important responsibility, that being the personal safety of citizens.

It is going to take a long time to reverse this damage done to public safety. My message to law-abiding citizens is that you are being abandoned by your government when it comes to law and order. Their message through inaction is that you are on your own. I won’t tell you what to do, but I know I am prepared to protect myself. I have a sign in the front window of my home that depicts a handgun and a Rottweiler, and it reads: We don’t dial 911.

Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is the former Sheriff of Milwaukee Co, Wisconsin, President of America’s Sheriff LLC, President of Rise Up Wisconsin INC, Board member of the Crime Research Center, author of the book Cop Under Fire: Beyond Hashtags of Race Crime and Politics for a Better America. To learn more visit www.americassheriff.com

My Take: TRY THAT IN A SMALL TOWN

By: Joel E. Gordon

Baltimore City MD - Population (est.) 585,462 Crofton MD - Population (est.) 27,348 Kingwood WV - Population (est.) 3,116

Masontown WV - Population 535 Whether policing a small-town West Virginia county seat, a Washington, D.C. suburb or a police post in the city of Baltimore, and whether located in an affluent area or one on the other end of the socioeconomic scale, my primary area of responsibility or home base was always my own "small town." Why would that be? Because the relationships in a small-town atmosphere are conducive to public safety. Knowledge of an area facilitates a low-crime, respectful atmosphere reminiscent of days gone by. Think Mayberry.

Getting to know the people in your primary area of responsibility, be they residents, business owners, troublemakers (or all three – lol) allows you to keep your finger on the pulse of any area and provides investigative resources which otherwise might not be available. Earned trust and belonging is really what it’s all about.

When listening to the hit Jason Aldean song Try that in a small town, I fail to correlate the lyrics or music video images to a racial reference but rather why small-town mentality and atmosphere lends itself to a greater sense of peace, tranquility and overall safety.

Progressivism or other political ideologies become much less of a factor when we reduce our needs to be explained in the simple terms of the father of modern psychology, Abraham Maslow: >Affection: we care and are cared about. >Belonging: common goals such as peace and safety as a group endeavor. >Recognition: acknowledgment of our achievements along with any deficits needing improvement. We are all alike in our needs. It is a simple but effective way to understand the human equation.

Familiarity with others within the small-town atmosphere lends itself to greater accountability for one’s actions. As a Drug Abuse Resistance Education instructor, one of the lessons I taught was one of rights versus responsibility. For example, if you have the right to be heard (you do) then you have a responsibility to listen to others (you should). This was a simple lesson for my fifth- and sixth-grade students to grasp and understand so it should be easy for all to live by, but somehow seems diminished in the age of cancel culture. When dealing with others on a respectful basic humanistic level, priorities become more clearly aligned with universally desired results.

Merit, fairness, kindness, apathy and togetherness are among the many positive traits of small-town life. For me, life in my adopted home town of Masontown, West Virginia, provides the quality of life sought by myself and apparently many others looking for a better way of life for themselves and their families. Preston County (population 34,426) is home to Masontown, located in North Central West Virginia, which is listed among the fastest-growing counties in the state. I have resided in Preston County since 1992 and am glad that I had the foresight to do so.

Perhaps my perspective is a result from being born and raised in the City of Baltimore and then working and residing in a variety of atmospheres during my lifetime and career in law enforcement. But my belief that a small-town mindset is best for quality of life remains steadfast. As someone wishing to be heard, I am open to listening to the view of others, but to my way of thinking, Try that in a small town was written to heighten awareness of quality of life in any locale with small-town beliefs and respect for the rights of other law-abiding inhabitants.

Joel E. Gordon, Managing Editor of BLUE Magazine, is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com

Re-Imagining Policing Goes Up In Smoke

Ever since the war on cops began in earnest nearly ten years ago, cop-hating activists masquerading as sociologists have begun deconstructing American policing by turning the profession into something that was bound to fail. Reform panels began popping up in every major urban city across America. Even former President Barack Obama convened a Task Force on 21st Century Policing that produced a work product of recommendations that were supposed to solve all the problems within policing. These panels included people who knew nothing about the science of policing, including what works and why. Notorious anti-police members of local Black Lives Matter chapters sat on the reform panels as they deconstructed decades of proven methods that enable officers to keep the peace and protect law and order. The things they suggested were inane, and I predicted that this would lead to an increase in crime and get officers and civilians killed and injured. Nonetheless, city leaders and elected officials moved forward.

We are now witnessing a byproduct of this reform effort. De-policing is occurring. Cops are not being as assertive as they need to be. Adding to that are state prosecutors who are on their own capitulation jihad to criminals by refusing to charge career violent offenders. A recent study showed that 69% of criminal cases have been tossed out by New York State prosecutors. That’s right, outright dismissed. And to top it off, legislative policies are being enacted like no bail for some serious criminal behavior. New York Mayor Eric Adams has lost all control of the subway system and then blamed the media for paying too much attention to crime. This as his soft on crime Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Adams finally admits that even he is fearful of crime on the New York subway system as rape, aggravated assaults and turnstile jumping have become a part of the experience for the tens of thousands of strap-hangers using the system daily.

The cluelessness from these elected officials just keeps finding new lows. In Chicago, the newly elected Mayor Brandon Johnson is failing miserably in his responsibility to keep his city safe from crime and disorder. In his infinite wisdom in dealing with a spate of mobs of out-of-control youths, instead of ordering Chicago police administrators to crack down on this untenable behavior, he decided to rename what we all know is unacceptable and criminal behavior. At a recent news conference after what is becoming the norm in the Windy City as weekend street violence reaches staggering levels, he scolded a reporter who referred to these roving bands as a mob. He said, and I am not making this up, “it is important to speak of these dynamics in an appropriate way”. He called them “large gatherings”. He then commended the Chicago police for “attempting to engage with our young people and give them as much warning as they possibly could”. Mass looting occurred and store owners said that this was the second such incident in as many weeks. Police reported that they made 40 arrests. What will happen with those cases remains to be seen in light of this decriminalization era we are in. In Washington D.C., over 60 percent of arrests lead to no charge being issued by the prosecutor’s office. Now, let’s dissect some of that.

So now the plan is to just rename criminal behavior so that it is no longer unlawful. The left tried this previously in calling riots “peaceful protests.” Mayor Johnson participated in this re-imagining by calling mobs, “large gatherings”. Heck, why stop there, mayor? Instead of calling the theft of a retail businesses’ property looting, why not just call it a form of reparations for slavery? This is leading business owners and employees to take matters into their own hands. Several videos are going viral where employees move in to stop the thieves with physical force. Law-abiding people are fed up with the lack of police response to crime and disorder and so they feel that they have no recourse but to take matters into their own hands.

Governments at the state and local level have as their most important responsibility to ensure the personal safety of citizens. Today, they are failing at it and failing miserably. You can’t go one day without reading a newspaper story or seeing on television news or an online account of the out-of-control criminal chaos going on in every large city in America. If the government is not willing to live up to its most important responsibility, then they have to allow and provide the means with which the individual can protect themselves. A few suggestions are to pass stand your ground and castle doctrine laws and make it easier for law-abiding citizens to arm themselves for their protection. Instead, these liberal elected officials are making it more difficult for people to protect themselves and their families, and when they do get into a scenario where they confront a threat to their survival, woke prosecutors look for ways to charge the victim instead of the perpetrator. Ask Daniel Penny, the strap-hanger on a New York subway car who felt, and reasonably I might add, that he and fellow passengers were being threatened by a crazed lunatic. The perp died from a chokehold during the encounter. Penny is facing several serious felony charges including manslaughter. This wasn’t reckless, it was an accidental death. He performed in a way that his military training taught him. Prosecutors cannot hold citizens to a standard we do with trained law enforcement officers. An Illinois sheriff issued a stern warning to prosecutors urging them not to be overzealous in targeting victims who use force to defend themselves. I second that motion.

Law-abiding people have had it being murdered, raped, threatened, assaulted, and having their property taken with no recourse. I am with them. Enough of this lawlessness.

Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is former Sheriff of Milwaukee Co, Wisconsin, President of America’s Sheriff LLC, President of Rise Up Wisconsin INC, Board member of the Crime Research Center, author of the book Cop Under Fire: Beyond Hashtags of Race Crime and Politics for a Better America. To learn more visit www.americassheriff.com

The Great Escape: EVOLUTION TO EXODUS

By: Joel E. Gordon

What a challenging time we continue to find ourselves in.

During the last many months and years, the trust people have placed in every level of government has greatly diminished. One result is the many new plans and restrictions that are being proposed and implemented in an attempt to hold police accountable. Where however, are the plans to hold those for criminal acts and all of the chaos and destruction accountable? Where are the plans to reduce the violence? Where are the plans to improve community relations instead using such divisive measures that only serve to portray police as the enemy? 

So who are the people that are mostly proposing plans for reform and police oversight? Is it professionals with extensive knowledge of the law, a perspective on the evolution of law enforcement and of the job itself? No, instead in many communities it is comprised of politicians and ordinary citizens with anti-police agendas; facts be damned. Would you want a committee of non-medical people organized to monitor doctors or non-educational persons to educate educators? Maybe there should be a committee of non-aviation people to tell pilots how to fly aircraft? 

Law Enforcement has evolved from a Reactionary Policing model to Proactive Policing to Community Policing to Broken Windows Theory to Intelligence Lead Policing into Evidence Based Policing. What is referred to as Evidence Based Policing is subjective and is the brainchild of academia. It makes judgments on outcomes opening the door to many unresolved contradictory ideas which routinely override long established mandates and opportunity for personal growth and promotion. Since subjective to the whims of political correctness many unintended consequences are resulting in an environment which is untenable to the newer generation of law enforcement leaders who were, in fact, in many cases born of the culture of the importance of the diversity philosophy.

Ever watched dominoes falling in real time? The sad reality is that many in law enforcement are throwing in the towel and just can't take it anymore. The pressure of the job and sudden pivot away from decades old reforms for diversity, increased training with community policing and de-escalation techniques being replaced by a cry for sweeping defunding have resulted in reevaluation of many considering entering the profession along with many resignations of many tenured and highly respected law enforcement leaders, a substantial number many of which who identified as minority professionals that successfully earned their way up in the ranks. From Dallas to Seattle. to an entire command staff in Rochester New York, along with many other chiefs nationwide, the time to move out of law enforcement had come on the heels of their defiance against those with an anti-police mindset, ideology and agenda. 

Will this result in more feckless police leadership remaining in office or in being hired who will be willing to put their officers in unsafe, retreating or defenseless positions at the behest of those lacking sufficient knowledge to make informed or rational judgments? Society can’t reasonably expect law enforcement to succumb to violence without responding in such a fashion as to protect the very lives of the protectors themselves. No one signed up to be physically harmed by becoming a law enforcement officer.

Although the job remains largely one of regulating human behavior, the desire to help others continues to be the driving motivational force and reason that some still answer the calling to keep the peace.

The bottom line appears to be that regardless of the current preferred practiced model of policing, or the high level of professional training implemented, the idea that the police are unwanted (until needed for selfish or individual safety reasons) has become the guiding principle of those politicians holding the power of life and death over our future.

The way forward remains a mystery. I have long professed that we must reject an "us versus them" mentality. In this current environment, through the actions of many others, it seems increasingly difficult to maintain this mindset. The truth remains, however, we are all in this TOGETHER. Unfortunately though, if things continue on their current trajectory this clearly isn’t likely to be ending well for the common good.

Joel E. Gordon, Managing Editor of BLUE Magazine, is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com

From Coast to Coast

There was a time in policing circles where being a cop in an agency like NYPD, LAPD, Chicago Police Department or any other large urban police department came with a sense of pride, and among your friends and neighbors you were considered to be your community’s finest. Not so much anymore.

A recent Los Angeles Times story details how the vice president of the Los Angeles Police union took to social media to post the following comment. “Go somewhere that respects the work you do and don’t have to beg for a great contract. Go somewhere that has a city council or city manager that openly acknowledges the great work you do, go somewhere that doesn’t have two or more city council members who hate you (no exaggeration).”

My initial reaction to reading this was that it’s about freaking time someone said what needs to be said. My only disagreement with the post was that she later deleted it. But why? She said after removing it that she stood by her words. Then why not say what you mean and mean what you say and leave it posted?

I have long maintained that it is the police unions, fraternal order of police organizations and Police Benevolence Associations that have to take the lead in pushing back on local governments that are not supporting police agencies the way they should be, and on top of that these officers for sure are not getting the support they need and deserve from their top brass as I detailed in my last column posted on this very site. The only way police unions are going to get the attention of city officials is to become more vocal and to not pull any punches. The LAPD union vice president articulated among the grievances of being a cop in L.A. are a ban on displaying the thin blue line flag and a lack of a great contract. I find it commonplace that city officials find no urgency in getting a contract offer to police unions on time like they do other city employee unions. In fact, the L.A. city council president said that he was hopeful that a proposed contract deal could be reached when the council returns from its summer break. Oh, how nice. We wouldn’t want to disrupt their summer recess just to get a new police contract done. This is an insult. It signals to the officer that this is not a priority for them. They vacation while officers grind it out in the heat and during the busiest time of the year with calls for service. The thin blue line flag ban came down from L.A. police chief Michael Moore. It was an act of capitulation by Moore to pressure from cop haters who call the flag a symbol of right-wing extremism. Moore knows that it is not, but then again, maybe he doesn’t know it is not.

I don’t blame the union vice president for hinting that LAPD cops consider leaving their department. Working for a large urban agency has become an impossible and thankless endeavor. LAPD is already hemorrhaging officers with a flood of retirements and resignations as are most large police departments in the aftermath of the defund the police movement and because of politically active state prosecutors who won’t charge repeat violent offenders but are quick to charge officers for actions caused through no fault of their own. These officers made this decision to leave on their own and in this anti-police environment, who would blame them?
Now onto the East Coast where New York City continues to disintegrate into chaos under Mayor Eric Adams.

Recently, New York City agreed to a nearly $14 million class action settlement with people arrested by NYPD officers in May of 2020 after the George Floyd incident. Over 1300 people were arrested at the time. News stories point out that what started out as peaceful protest in these cities devolved into rioting, looting, arson of businesses and public buildings. This is always the case. It starts out well-intentioned, but it eventually evolves into a riot. Police are expected to keep the peace and protect life and property. They have to use every reasonable tactic to accomplish this. Those include mass arrests, tear gas and the deployment of other less-than-lethal options. I don’t doubt that a few people not participating in looting and arson get caught up in the melee. How are the police in this chaos supposed to determine on a case-by-case basis who is doing what? It is mass pandemonium. The cops are being attacked and assaulted, are having rocks, bottles and other objects hurled at them. Some suffered significant injuries.

This settlement in New York City is not the first. Other cities with criminal-sympathizing and cop-hating elected officials have handed out cash settlements to rioters. In Philadelphia, they agreed to an over $9 million giveaway over allegations of “physical and emotional injuries” by police. What about the “physical and emotional injuries” suffered by police officers in these riots? Have these people thought about how suicide is now the leading cause of death for police and that no other profession is at crisis level for suicides due in part to the emotional strain of police work? And then there is Denver, Colorado, that has paid out nearly $4 million to settle protesters’ claims, and a jury awarded a $14 million verdict to settle protesters’ claims.

Folks, we have lost our minds. Cities capitulating to rioters is entering a very dark place on the subject of law and order. There should be no class action suits on this stuff, only individual claims where a person claiming harm has to present in court specific evidence of harm against a specific police officer. Smearing an entire agency leaves all the officers not involved bitter. They get no chance to defend their reputations. City officials could care less that the integrity of the police department will now come into question. Rioting has become a lawfully sanctioned activity in urban centers.

And one more thing. Where is the settlement for the businesses that were looted, with some completely destroyed as officers were given stand-down orders from police executives? It is estimated that $2 billion in property damage occurred nationally from the Black Lives Matter riots. What about the insurance deductibles that had to be covered by the business owner, and keep in mind that some policies didn’t include loss from riots? Where is the settlement for the business owners from these cities? And how about the officers who were injured and killed? Where is their settlement from the city for not providing them with the necessary equipment to quell a riot after the agencies were defunded?

Every time I think we have seen the worst in this war on cops, liberal city officials find a new low to take us to. This gives relevance to the saying that ethically, the elevator of liberal elected politicians has no bottom floor.

Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is former Sheriff of Milwaukee Co, Wisconsin, President of America’s Sheriff LLC, President of Rise Up Wisconsin INC, Board member of the Crime Research Center, author of the book Cop Under Fire: Beyond Hashtags of Race Crime and Politics for a Better America. To learn more visit www.americassheriff.com