PAX Centurion - May / June 2015

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • June/July 2015 • Page 35 Targeting cops By Mark A. Bruno N o sooner did we get back from NewYork for the second funeral of a fellow officer gunned down in cold blood while on duty, and we found ourselves going back for one more. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of NewYork Detec- tive Brian Moore and the entire NYPD with whom we have become close with over the past few years. Brian Moore was the son of a retired NYPD, Sgt. Raymond Moore. Raymond Moore received the information that every fam- ily of a police officer fears. Brian was set to be the best man in his father’s wedding. Brian was his only son and he decided at a young age he would follow in his father’s footsteps. The passing of the torch to the next generation. A terrible loss to the NYPD who had just buried two of their fellow brethren. A loss to NewYork City, and a lifetime of heartache for Raymond Moore. The BPPA and members of the Boston Police Superior Officers and the Detective’s Be- nevolent Association once again boarded busses and planes to make a third somber trip to pay their respects for a fallen brother. Our mourning bands have yet to be taken off. In recent months, it has become a game of “For Whom the Bell Tolls” every time an officer puts their uniform on. Suddenly every bad guy wants to step up and make a statement by killing a cop. Beginning with the decision in Ferguson, protestors of every group you can think of have been coming out of the woodwork to rally against our profession. We are under siege for doing our job. We bite our tongues as these protestors call out chants for wanting dead cops. It doesn’t matter that we protect their rights and supply a blanket of safety for them and their loved ones. It is comparable to when our Vietnam veterans were being bashed when they returned from serv- ing their country. It is disgraceful! A total breakdown in society and lack of family values. Protestors who have no respect what-so-ever for the laws and what they stand for. We have become the thin blue line that is keeping chaos from reigning on our society. Thankfully, there are still people out there who believe in family values. What bothers me again is the lack of support from our elected officials. The ones that have supported us are few in numbers. We have a President that has given no support at all to police. At times his comments have been inflammatory and have lit the fuse for several of these riots. Baltimore was nearly burned to the ground as a result of an inexperienced mayor making ill-advised comments on how police should stand down and let protestors vent. Cops were being pelted with rocks, bottles, and Molotov cocktails. Stores and vehicles were torched as protestors began looting what they could. All of this unfolding on our television sets in front of us. Baltimore Police were being targeted and the Presi- dent chose to remain silent! Many officers went out injured as a result of this free-for-all. To add insult to injury, six officers from the Baltimore Police were charged with offenses rang- ing from accessory to murder, to murder one--a lynch mob mentality not seen since the old west! A rush to judgement for sure by an inexperi- enced District Attorney, who at best needed to recuse herself from the case, and to ask for an independent DA to handle it. The ink was hardly dry on the internal investigation when this DA rendered her hasty decision in a move to kowtow the public. Her tone alone was theatrical and reminded me of the Rev- erendAl Sharpton. She needed to be more professional in front of the cameras, and her trumped up charges look like they have a snowball’s chance in hell. This is reminiscent of our SalemWitch Trials in which innocent people were tortured and put to death on mere say-so. All this to appease the angry mob! What I would like to see are politicians sticking by their convictions instead of playing the fence and trying to do what is politically correct.You make the laws and we enforce them. Having the general public target cops should not be an option. Politicians who remain silent while cops are being injured and killed are just as much to blame. Painting us all with a broad brush is wrong. It is disheartening and demoralizing to officers when your own leadership throws you to the wolves. We should not be crucified in the court of public opinion because of the unruly mob! Deal with subjects 2 on 1 whenever possible Keep subject at apex of triangle No over commitment by officers Be cognizant of crossfire Being well rested is key to your well being Deal with subjects on your feet whenever possible, if you are in your cruiser and someone approaches for whatever reason, give them a verbal command to “stop” or “step back”, while you exit your cruis- er.You are now at an advantage to better defend yourself. That simple verbal command may be just enough to prevent an attack on you or at the lease allow you to better defend yourself. Safety in numbers, back each other up. Recently, I completed a course in Union Financing and reporting held at the Labor Guild School of Labor Management Relations. I will continue to seek out other courses and seminars that I feel will benefit the Treasurer’s Office at the BPPA. As I had stated in the beginning of the article summer is here. Our calls for service tend to increase in volume. Go home to your loved ones, stay safe. To our older members, In the words of legendary Phil Esterhaus, “Be Careful Out There!!” “The mint makes it first, it is up to you to make it last”… From Treasury on page 9