PAX Centurion - November / December 2013

Page 28 • PAX CENTURION • November/December 2013 617-989-BPPA (2772) We Salute Our Friends of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association! Thanks for all you do! Legal Thoughts: Thomas Drechsler, Esq. and Kenneth H. Anderson, Esq. Byrne & Drechsler, L.L.P., Counsel to Members of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association Happy Holidays from Tom and Ken I t’s hard to believe that another year has gone by, and what a year it was. From the Marathon bombings of April, mandatory twelve hour shifts in the aftermath, theWatertown shootings and stand- off, the supposed decrease in crime in the City of Boston marked by an unprecedented number of police officers being shot at by armed suspects, a Red SoxWorld Series win no one saw coming, a mayoral election, the departure of a police commissioner, all capped off by a contract dispute that finally was resolved at the stroke of midnight. Whew! What a crazy world we live in. Having said this, we thought it best to try to spread some holiday cheer rather than to put forth the usual stuff we submit for this column. We apologize in advance for our lack of humor, but in the holiday spirit here it goes: ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the station, Not an officer was stirring, from any generation. Detail cards were hung by the Clerk’s office with care, With hopes that their retro checks soon would be there. The Command Staff was nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of being Commissioner danced in their heads, And mama in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had settled our brains for a long winter’s nap. When out on Schroeder Plaza there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away from the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, Gave the luster of mid-day to the expanse of bricks below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. With a little young driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it’s the new Mayor to visit the BRIC. More rapid than eagles, Evans and his staff they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! “Now Buckley! now Linskey! now, Holmes and Long, On, Gross! On Fitzgerald! On Merner and on Fong! To the third floor, to the fourth floor, to the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!” As dry leaves that before the hurricane fly, When they meet an obstacle, mount to the sky. So to the top of 9-11 Shetland the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, arbitrator’s award too. And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, in the chimney came down, A coal covered Connolly, covered with a frown. He was dressed in all fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. Then came the other Councilors, ‘r award on their backs, And they looked just like peddlers as they opened their sacks. Their eyes how they twinkled! Their dimples how merry! Their cheeks were like roses, their noses like cherries. Their droll little mouths were drawn up like bows, And the beards on their chins were as white as the snow. Then Santa appeared, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself, He said “I’ve got a big pile of coal in a sack, To deliver to Lowell, to pay somebody back.” City Council President Murphy then went right to his work, Filled the stockings with new contracts and turned with a jerk, “You bargained for this and you acted like pros,” And then giving a nod, up the chimney he rose! He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle. But I heard his exclaim, ‘ere they drove out of sight, “Merry Christmas, Boston Strong, and to all a good-night.” W e wish you all a happy and safe holiday season. Enjoy the spirit, the time with your families, and please stay safe out there. All the best from Tom and Ken and everyone else at Byrne & Drechsler.