PAX Centurion - March / April 2015

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • March/April 2015 • Page 41 News notes from all over Compiled and submitted by several contributors F rom the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 22, 2014: “( Mis- souri Senator) Claire McCaskill last week urged the police response in Ferguson to be “de-militarized”. She has declined comment, …on whether she agreed with Gov. Jay Nixon’s decision to call in the National Guard…. Yeah, it must be the fault of the police who wear those terrifying helmets that caused the riots. Soft cotton police hats always work well against rocks and bottles, Senator… From Police Patrol Magazine, July 8, 2014: “Chief in uniform told to leave gun outside Ikea” : Tacoma park Police Chief Alan Goldberg said in 35 years he’s never had a store tell him that he would have to leave his service weapon in the car or leave- especially when he was in his police uniform. But that’s what happened July 4 th in the Ikea store in College Park, MD… Geez, and I was so looking forward to buying some of that cheap-ass , Swedish furniture and lousy meatballs at the Ikea off of Route 24 in Avon. … From the Baltimore Sun, December 17, 2014: “Baltimore officer uses Taser, criminal uses gun”: Officer Andrew Groman stood outside the car and ordered passenger Donte Jones to show his hands, but the 19-year old passenger wouldn’t. Groman warned Jones he would be hit with a Taser. Finally, the officer fired the shock gun…At the same time, Jones withdrew a black (.357) and squeezed off three rounds. A By James W. Carnell, Pax Editor, commenting and citing the sources bullet slipped under Groman’s bulletproof vest, wounding him in the abdomen. See, that over-militarized officer antagonized that poor, 19- year old career criminal who was on probation and parole for three previous gun charges. Another example of police brutality… From the NewYork Post, August 14, 2014, editorial: Wise words from NYC’s top cop” (Comm. Bill Bratton) “what we’ve seen in the past few months is a number of individuals failing to under- stand that you must submit to arrest, you cannot resist. The place to argue your case is in the court, not in the street.” If only our local ACLU chapter and assorted community activists could explain that same truism to our own wayward youths instead of telling them about their “rights”. From the Bay Sate Banner, Jan. 17 th , 2013, front page, discuss- ing Dr. Martin Luther King’s impact on free speech, citing United States Supreme Court JusticeWilliam Brennan’s words in NewYork Times v. Sullivan, 1964: “ … debate on public issues should be unin- hibited, robust and wide-open, and that it may well include vehement, caustic, and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and public officials…” . For those who believe in political correct- ness and not “offending” people’s feelings, take that. Touche’, Justice Brennan! EMT DrewMcCarron fought a long, brave battle against cancer before passing away peacefully this past February, surrounded by her husband Kenny, also a Boston EMS EMT, and her loving family. Drew joined Boston EMS in 1982, and served the department for more than 15 years. She was an example of kindness and compassion for others to follow, at a time when EMS was just coming into its own. Drew will be greatly missed by all. Boston EMS In Memoriam Submitted by Ed McCarthy EMT Matthew King passed away suddenly last February the 18th, after an injury, leaving his family and friends stunned and saddened. Matt joined Boston EMS 8/7/08, and left us far too soon at only 27 years of age. During Matt’s short career he touched many lives, and often came home with stories about his calls, brimming over with enthusiasm about his exploits. Matt is remembered as genuinely loving his work at Boston EMS, and will be greatly missed. B oston EMS has lost two dedicated EMTs this past winter, one a long-time friend and co-worker, and the other a new friend we did not get to know nearly well enough.