PAX Centurion - Summer 2017

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • Summer 2017 • Page 9 Treasury Notes: Robert P. Colburn, BPPA Treasurer Hate crimes against police are largely ignored by the media I write to tell you about a hate crime that has sadly swept through our nation, but is largely ignored by the media; a hate crime against police officers. A hate crime is defined as a “prejudice- motivated crime, usually violent, which occurs when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her membership (or perceived membership) in a certain group.” I write this on July 5, 2017, the day NewYork City Police Officer Miosotis Familia was murdered (shot in the head in a cold blooded assassination) while sitting in her cruiser with her partner, because of the mere fact she was a police officer. Sadly, this is not the first time a NYPD police officer was shot in the head at point-blank range while sitting in their cruisers – in 2014, two NewYork police officers (Wenjian Lieu and Rafael Ramos) were also murdered because of the mere fact they were police officers. I don’t have to tell you that these assassinations against police officers are alarmingly on the rise. On July 7, 2016, the deadliest attack on police officers to date – five police officers in Dallas (Brent Thompson, Patrick Zamarripa, Michael Krol, Michael Smith, and LorneAhrens) were targeted and killed (and nine others wounded). Ten days later, two police officers (Montrell Jackson and Matthew Gerald) and a sheriff’s deputy (Brad Garafola) were murdered in Baton Rouge by a sniper that researched the officers before seeking them out to kill them. Then, in November 2016, two Iowa police officers (Anthony Beminio and Justin Martin), also sitting in their cruisers, were killed in ambush attacks. This list of atrocities does not include the officers that are killed in the line of duty, likeAuburn Police Officer Ron Tarentino, who was shot and killed by a career criminal during a roadside stop – that list runs much longer. How many police officers have to be targeted and murdered before our lawmakers show our brothers and sisters the respect they deserve; how many officers have to die in cold blood because they put on the uniform to protect and serve their communities; I hope not one more. If it is a hate crime to kill someone because they belong to a certain group, I don’t see how it can be a clearer case of one if the murder was based solely on the fact that the individual is a police officer. I hope you will join me in my demand that our legislators add “police officers” to the list of groups that have hate-crime protection. There is a bill pending before the legislature to do just that, and I hope they make the right decision. On another note, as a K-9 officer, I need to comment on the recent Massachusetts Appeals Court’s decision in Dudley v. Mass. State Police , which ruled that a case brought by a bystander injured by a police dog chasing a suspect is not barred by sovereign immunity. The case reiterates the need for K-9 officers to carefully consider when they let their partners off leash to apprehend a suspect. The case involved the high speed chase of a suspect from Boston toWest Bridgewater. When the suspect lost control of his vehicle and crashed, he raced away on foot. A K-9 Trooper was in close pursuit. After the suspect refused repeated commands to stop, K-9 Jager was released to apprehend him. Unfortunately, the suspect jumped a fence and ran into a crowded parking lot. Jager pursued, but lost sight of the suspect. Once in the parking lot, Jager keyed in on Mr. Dudley, who was motioning where the suspect had fled. Jager then attacked Mr. Dudley, biting him in his stomach and then leg. Mr. Dudley sued the State Police, arguing that Jager should not have been allowed off leash in a crowded parking lot to pursue a suspect. The Superior Court dismissed the case, holding that the State Police enjoyed sovereign immunity from suit. But theAppeals Court reversed and sent the case back for trial. Specifically, the Appeals Court ruled that sovereign immunity doesn’t apply in this case because the Trooper used his discretion to order Jager to apprehend and attack a suspect, in a moderate to heavily occupied parking lot, thus, creating the harmful condition that resulted in Mr. Dudley’s injury. This doesn’t mean that Mr. Dudley wins his case – just that he gets to move forward in his negligence action against the Commonwealth; but it’s still a pretty big upset. The lesson here my friend is to be careful. Our K-9 partners are highly trained and vital to our job. But every action we take in controlling them is subject to scrutiny. So be aware. And be safe. invest money into theAcademy infrastructure, the Staff and into a full-time Recruit Investigations Unit assigned to the academy if we are to recruit, hire and train quality Police Officers for the future of this City. There are plenty of locations within this City to house a new PoliceAcademy. The job has changed, it is more difficult and complex. It requires a financial commitment to develop a state of the art training facility and fund instructors who can lay the basis for a quality Police force that not only protects, but is responsive to the society’s needs. As you all know by now, this Union has endorsed Mayor Martin J. Walsh for his second term as Mayor of the City of Boston. This is a historic vote; It has been over thirty years since we have endorsed a candidate for Mayor of this great City.Your elected representatives believe that Mayor Walsh is the person for the job to lead this great City forward and voted to endorse him without opposition. The Mayor has stated and proved time and time again that he “has our backs.”We may not always agree on issues, but he is always professional and a gentleman, He is always willing to sit down and discuss any issue. The Mayor has proven himself with his show of respect for all the Police Officers within the City of Boston. He understands the difficulties that our members face every day in protecting and serving the people of our great City. We hope that our endorsement sends a clear message that the re-election of Mayor MartyWalsh will be good for not only the BPPA and its’members, but for all of the people of Boston. I sincerely hope that each of you can enjoy at least few days off this summer and spend some quality time with your loved ones. I totally agree with the Commissioner’s statement that “Family MUST come first, beyond all else.” Please be careful this summer. This job has changed in many ways and becomes more dangerous and difficult every day. Please look out for each other, back each other up. Your main priority must be to go home safe and sound each and every day to your family. God Bless & Stay Safe. From President on page 3 AMessage from the President…