Taking on Gangland: Using money and politics to get tough on Edgewood
Written by Brian · Filed Under Local Ink, The Dirt
February 8, 2008 | Print this post
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Tired of watching the unstemmed blood flowing from Edgewood? So too are a contingent of elected officials who let loose this week with a flood of proposed legislation, millions of dollars in federal funding and renewed resolve to wash Edgewood and Harford County clean of its gang infestation.
But can this latest attempt to flush out Edgewood’s growing number of Bloods and Crips, of which the state now says there are more than 300 members in Harford County, succeed where so many others have failed (see: Harford County Sheriff’s Office Southern Precinct, Guardian Angels patrol, Community Watch program, State Police Activity League Center, etc)?
A series of eight separate bills introduced within the last week by state Sen. Nancy Jacobs aim to hit gangs where it hurts - seizing their property, charging their young members as adults rather than juveniles and stretching out the sentences of gang members convicted of crimes - while a new Gang Elimination Task Force, created with nearly $3 million in federal funding, was also announced this week.
The tone of the week was set early when, in his State of the County address to the Harford County Council on Tuesday, Harford County Executive David Craig used his strongest language to date, condemning gangs and vowing to clean up gangs in Edgewood and beyond.
1) Public Safety - “Ensuring a Safe Harford” - We will work to ensure Harford County’s public safety providers have the necessary tools and training to meet the County’s growing demand for emergency services in the 21st century.
With this in mind, law enforcement and the community must work diligently and cooperatively to reduce crime, the proliferation of gang membership and illegal drug activities in our neighborhoods.
Foremost among them is Edgewood. We must stop the violence, the bloodshed, the killing of our citizens, particularly our youth, in our streets and neighborhoods. For if we fail in Edgewood, all of Harford fails. We are all part of the same greater community - Harford County.
It is unfortunate that a small number of despicable criminals are ruining the lives of law abiding citizens in Edgewood and other areas in our county.
Let me make this perfectly clear, criminals are not welcome in Harford County and we will not stop, we will not be deterred and we will not fail in our efforts to rid the county of this cancer.
About a week prior, on Jan. 25, Craig appeared with Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Governor Martin O’Malley, Harford County Sheriff Jesse Bane and County Councilman Dion Guthrie at the Edgewood Community and Recreation Center, just a few blocks away from Ground Zero Gangland, to unveil a new Gang Elimination Task Force.
The Task Force, funded by $2.8 million in federal dollars will work with local communities to identify gang members, curb gang recruitment and assist prosecutors and law enforcement officials in the arrest and prosecution of offenders.
In addition, the Task Force will serve as a comprehensive database for all gang-related intelligence gathered by law enforcement entities across many states along the East Coast. The information will be shared between authorities in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, the District of Columbia and North Carolina. The Task Force will also have access to national real-time intelligence that tracks critical information about gang members across the entire country.
“Gang violence is not limited to individual areas; it is a pervasive problem that knows no state borders”, Craig said at the event.
Sen. Jacobs, who has been trying each of the last few years to make life harder for gang members by introducing new legislation in Annapolis, has seen her efforts undermined by fellow lawmakers who have taken the bite out of her bills. Past experience aside, that didn’t stop Jacobs from introducing a eight different gang-related bills into the Maryland General Assembly within the last week.
Here’s a rundown of each of Jacobs’ bills with a short synopsis:
SENATE BILL 633: Criminal Law - Property Used in Gang Activity - Seizure and Forfeiture
Authorizing the seizure of specified property used or intended for use in connection with criminal gang activity; establishing procedures to be followed for the forfeiture of specified property; etc.
SENATE BILL 634: Criminal Law - Gang Activity - Jurisdiction over Juvenile Offenders
Excluding from the jurisdiction of juvenile court a child at least 16 years old who is alleged to have committed, as a member of a criminal gang, a specified act that would be a crime if committed by an adult; and providing for the application of the Act.
SENATE BILL 635: Real Property - Criminal Gangs - Abatement of Nuisance
Establishing that the use of property by members of a criminal gang in the furtherance of specified criminal gang activity is a nuisance that may be the subject of an action for abatement.
SENATE BILL 636: Criminal Law - Definition of “Criminal Gang”
Altering the definition of “criminal gang” to include any association of 3 or more persons meeting specified criteria.
SENATE BILL 637: Criminal Law - Criminal Gang Participation - Sentencing
Altering a provision of law to require that a specified sentence for a violation of the prohibition against participation in a criminal gang under specified conditions be separate from and consecutive to a sentence for the underlying crime.
SENATE BILL 639: Courts - Evidence - Existence of or Membership in a Criminal Gang
Establishing that specified evidence is probative of the existence of or membership in a criminal gang; and authorizing the admissibility of specified evidence in a civil or criminal proceeding to prove the existence of or membership in a criminal gang.
SENATE BILL 640: Criminal Law - Criminal Gangs - Underlying Crime
Altering the definition of “underlying crime” for purposes of specified criminal gang offenses to add misdemeanor assaults, malicious destruction, human trafficking, receiving earnings of a prostitute, and betting, wagering, and gambling.
SENATE BILL 641: Criminal Gang Activity - Financial Transactions - Penalty
Prohibiting a person from receiving specified proceeds and using or investing $10,000 or more of those proceeds in the acquisition of specified property or establishment or operation of a criminal gang; prohibiting a person from directly acquiring, maintaining an interest in, or asserting control of a criminal gang through a pattern of criminal gang activity; prohibiting a person from engaging in a money transmission with specified proceeds; establishing specified penalties; etc.
In brief, the Jacobs bills would essentially:
- Prohibit people from knowingly receiving proceeds or profit from someone associated with criminal gang activity.
- Alter the definition of a criminal gang so its members can still be considered to have an ongoing association with the gang even while in court.
- Add offenses like malicious destruction, prostitution, misdemeanor second degree assault and gambling to the list of underlying crimes for criminal gang offenses.
- Add the newly created gang statue to the list of offenses for which a juvenile court does not have automatic jurisdiction over. So, juveniles 16 years of age or older would be considered adults first for the purposes of arrest and prosecution before they are considered for waiver to be tried as a juvenile.
- Change the sentencing guidelines from concurrent to consecutive.
- Expand the definition of a gang to include a common name, insignia, flag or means of recognition; common identifying hand or body signs, signals or codes; common identifying mode, style or color or dress; identifying tattoo or body marking; qualification or characteristic of membership such as age or ethnicity; creed or belief; overt or covert organization or command structural; de facto claim of territory or jurisdiction; initiation rituals; concentration or specialty of criminal activity; and method of operation or criminal enterprise.
- Give prosecutors the ability to charge property owners who knowingly allow gangs to use their property for the purposes of participating in criminal activity.
And for those who live in comfortable homes far, far away from bloodstained Edgewood and still doubt that gangs have migrated out of inner-city Baltimore and into bucolic Harford County, consider the following state report on gangs in Maryland, which indicates there may be more than 300 gang members in Harford County, about two-thirds of which are Bloods and the remaining one-third are Crips.
Harford County is located northeast of Baltimore City and is immediately adjacent to Baltimore and Cecil counties. According to the 2000 census, the population is approximately 218,000 in primarily suburban and rural areas. Interstate 95 and Route 40 run through the county providing easy access for gangs and drug trafficking from Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. Most gang activity is concentrated in less expensive, affordable housing areas along the Route 40 corridor in Edgewood, Aberdeen, and Havre de Grace.
The majority of street gangs is associated with either the Bloods or the Crips and is African American. Both the Bloods and the Crips are organized in two or three sets. Approximately 200+ total members of the Bloods and 90+ members of the Crips are in Harford County. A few local gangs are not associated with either the Bloods or Crips and have limited membership.
Gang membership is very fluid, with a constant flow of individuals both joining and leaving the gang, especially as gang members move in and out of neighborhoods. The total amount of gang crime is probably modest and includes local drug sales, robbery and burglary, and assaults within and between gang members. The Bloods and Crips are typically competitive, rival gangs whose interactions often result in violence. Often, those trying to be accepted as members are most violent. Initiation into a gang often requires new members to commit a crime to prove that they are not cops and to demonstrate their commitment to the gang. New members may also be beaten to demonstrate their courage and required to bring something of value to the gang. In December 2004, a Harford County cab driver, Derald Howard Guess, was killed. According to a January 16, 2005 Baltimore Sun article, police have tied the killing to a possible gang-initiation rite. Gangs have been associated with several other murders and shootings in the County.
In the housing complexes where these gangs are active, there is considerable evidence of links with Blood and Crips members from New Jersey, New York, and Baltimore. Some families move from NJ/NY to get away from gang activity. Unfortunately, they end up bringing youth who identify themselves with the gangs to Harford County. Other gang members joined the gangs while they were in the Harford County detention center and then continued their gang involvement when they were released. While there are links with gangs from outside Harford County, the gangs are primarily local youth and their criminal activity is locally controlled.
The Latino population in the county is very low, but there are Latinos working in construction and landscape crews. Police are concerned that this might enable Latino gangs, especially Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), to gain a foothold in the county, but there is no evidence of this as of yet.
A small number of Caucasians are active in Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMG), especially the Hell’s Angels. Hells’ Angels and the Pagans, as well as non-OMG motorcycle gangs, travel through and stop in Harford County at restaurants or bars. Hell’s Angels are trying to establish their dominance in the area and this is leading to conflict with the Pagans. This is an emerging threat in Harford County. The greatest concerns are a possible emergence of a methamphetamine problem or violence growing out of the competition between the Hell’s Angels and the Pagans.
Harford County public schools have worked hard to limit gang involvement and gang conflict in the schools. A dress code was introduced to help eliminate the wearing of gang colors or symbols. If there are any incidents that are gang related, school authorities respond promptly and will use school suspensions, if necessary.
If a parent is concerned about a child who shows signs of potentially being involved with gangs, the first resource is the child’s school counselor or pupil personnel worker. For a list of school telephone numbers, please consult list of schools.
I attended the “Gang Summit” held last November, sponsored by the Sheriff’s Department. At first glance, it looked to be fairly well-attended for a Saturday near the beginning of the holiday season. Turns out, about half the audience were members of the Sheriff’s agency getting paid overtime to be there. After a motivational (boring, semi-literate, well-paid) speaker and a proclamation by Sheriff Bane regarding some grant money, the crowd was broken down into sub-groups, each group given a topic. The groups were to identify problems and come up with solutions regarding their topic. I believe I signed up for “youth services” or something along those lines. The group was very diverse–a judge, social worker, a guardian angel, community activists, several members of the clergy, a few deputies–but the first thought that occurred to me was–where are the parents? The teenagers? Out Chrismas shopping I guess. The discussions were interesting but nothing that hasn’t already been discussed before ad nauseum. On the 2nd day of the 2 day summit, the subgroups presented their findings via power point presentations. All well and good, but again, who is seeing this other than those who have already seen the same thing a dozen times over? It was then announced by Sheriff Bane that he was going to approach The Harford County Council with the findings from the “Gang Summit” and request that the Council amend the County Charter to create a permanent commission for gangs. OK, am I the only one here who is sick and tired of this bureaucratic nonsense? Wow, the Sheriff has a “gang summit”. Big name for nothing. David Craig, in his State of the County address, proclaims that “gang members are not welcome here”. Roll up the welcome mat. In the meantime, people are still getting shot–most recently a pizza delivery man–3 months after the “summit” and the week of the “address”. I’m sure more committees, summits, meetings, work groups, initiatives, etc. are in the works even as the gangs make their way up the Rt. 24 corridor to Seasons at Bel Air apartments.
mommiedearest
you are so right’ I attended some drug seminar’s in aberdeen in the low income areas of aberdeen. I’am not saying’ the officers were not sincere.but what was ironic were the very people who attended were selling drug’s.
and adviseing the officers how best to combat the problem.
and they were the problem.
low income houseing create’s a paradise of crime activity. 90% percent of the parent’s do not know where there children are& don’t care. reduce this type of houseing and watch the reduction of crime. edgewood is a pretty area let’s get it back.
Mommiedearest and Viet Nam Vet are both very correct. In my limited experience the polices and governments are very limited in what they can do. We had a very aggressive anti gang and anti drug program in Aberdeen. The problem is that the agencies under our control could only attack the supply side of the problem. The user remains and is still addicted or stupid when all is said and done. That is where the community comes in. If folk are willing to let a couple of teens in baggy clothes hang around and do their business while complaining about the lack of police enforcement the problem will never be solved. The Churches, the nonprofit social groups and the communities at large have to take over and first make the neighborhood unfriendly to strangers. They must then take the users one by one and get them cured. Government can not do that part. The sheriff means well and Jessy Bane truly wants to clear us of gangs and murders and drugs, but is powerless as long as political correctness is the first rule. The interesting thing about warfare is that you have to dehumanize the enemy in order to take extreme action. Calling the gang members and drug pushers people is the first mistake. Cal them vermin or cockroaches or some other horribly demeaning name and then EXTERMINATE them. Busting heads, confiscating everything they have and roughing them up is the only way to make them move to the next apartment.
Semper Fi and Gary Owen!
gary’ owen & semper -fi.
these ”gang’s” have a safe haven. in the subsidized houseing unit’s the parent’ or parent’s are on welfare. the kid’s are left to there own devices.there was a remark made defending section 8 houseing. there are other program’s as well’
get tough on the land lord’s. a once a year inspection is done on section 8 property’ it simply determines the condition of the houseing
supposedy item’s are looked for that should not be there. for example men’s clotheing. theres no man liveing here. I’am on welfare. you wanna bet. any crime commited by a juvenile on said property’ should be automatic suspension from the program. a soft approach will be taken for just what it is. I admit I was hard on s fred but he was heading in the wrong’ direction. edgewood first. then perry wood garden’s
Nice article.
All this additional money is great, but I hope all we don’t see are nice, safe, and comfortable positions for a few office workers to add data into a computer. While data bases of criminal information is useful, nothing beats the old fashioned approach of ‘boots on the ground’. An aggressive posture toward gangs may initially bring in a few discourtesy complaints, but the overall result of eliminating gang activity would be achieved more efficiently. Then any data collected can be added, more accurately I might add, after the arrests have taken place.
Although the “Aberdeen Model” was controversial, it was and remains highly effective. Criminals, gang members included, do not fear the police any longer. They know that if they file frivolous complaints, the police will go away.
I may be wrong here, I’m not an expert. But I believe the best approach to any community based policing effort is arresting criminals that harass the community. The best way to arrest criminals is to have police in the community where the crimes are being reported. Not on a part-time basis, but around the clock coverage.
I am not in anyway trying to say that the Sheriff’s Office is not doing a fine job. I do not have any knowledge of their programs or operations and I do not live in Edgewood. I am merely offering my assessment of the situation. Whether you agree with my approach or not is fine, but I think everyone can agree that the violence in Edgewood is truly a Harford County problem.
The problem has been brewing for years and for years the sheriff (circa pre Meadows/ Meadow’s first term) has worried about political correctness versus doing what it takes to get the job done. The “major” law enforcement entity in Harford County has failed for years to effectively and proactively enforce laws. Intelligence work has been shabby at best, not just with Crips and Bloods but other gangs/ organizations that have posed a threat in Harford county from outlaw motorcycle groups to Baltimore City possees that were displaced with the destruction of low income housing. 20 years of “hug-a-thug” in what was once a conservative county has allowed the chickens to come home to roost. For years, representatives of the Sheriff’s Department DENIED the existance of organized criminal enterprises in Harford County and all of the sudden BAM we (Harford County) are gang central. It’s about money, if you have a gang problem you can get grant money. I think that it’s pathetic that grant money is what it took for the county to admit it’s problem. Kind of like paying an alcoholic to go to a meeting and admit being an alcoholic.
The gang problem is an infection and an infection does not set in over night, it festers over time. It has festered in several areas of this state for a long time, but you can’t be p/c and proactive at the same time. Much easier to be p/c. If you are proactive then you challenge gang members or those making the gang wear fashion statement, a majority being African-American youth. If you challenge the African-American at risk youth then you are tagged racist in your actions and the next thing that you know Al, Jesse, and Rocca are pounding down the door (2 of them with hands out because money shakedowns are their specialty), not to mention, going against the Maryland grain. Eight years of Glendening rule in Annapolis certainly helped the problem fester.
There are solutions, quick and long term, but they are things that liberals don’t want to hear (something liberals fear much like the truth), there are solutions that western Harford County residents don’t want to talk about because the perception will be that this is a dangerous county, and there are solutions, within the scope of the Constitution, that will certainly place the spotlight on Harford County. (The only thing worse than being racist is failing to act for fear of being called racist)
Solutions in Harford County should have been in place years ago but the commanders in criminal enforcement didn’t take the agency in that direction and now it’s too late, too late for the victims and their families, too late for peace of mind, and too late for some good cops that were handcuffed by politics in their early careers. Just think, Jesse Bane had a good 20 years in command positions where he could have addressed the growing problem and did nothing and now all of the sudden, as sheriff, he’s the saving grace…..WOW……..hope just dwindled a little with that revelation.
As for the Senate Bills, look great and sound great, but getting them passed into law means watering them down greatly and then they sit on the books collecting dust with other laws that liberal judges wish would just go away.
Ok. I’ve gotta throw this in there:
IF we really want to address the “consumer” side of the drug trade, we need to provide rehab to people who want to get clean. Ashley is- at my last check $16+ Gs for 26 days. Phoenix runs about $7 G’s for a month. I personally know of many young people, who work, support themselves, have NO health insurance and desperately want help. Outpatient services- which are not very successful- cost $80 a week./$320 a month. Unless you have $0 income, even health dept services are costly- for a person who makes$11000 a year they can run about $50 a week. You do the math. Lots of these people are barely making their rent. And yes, they can only afford low income housing. There is the user side. SOLUTION? Without customers businesses go belly up and there is no lucative trade or reason for being.
If you have seen what I have seen, most users come to a place where they hate what they do and who they are. They despise spending every free hour finding a fix. But without it they are desperately sick. The ER will not help unless they are suicidal , even then the stay is short and only a temporary stop gap- and I am sure the bill is paid by us. Over and over again.
Rich people and those lucky enough to have decent insurance - or the few who get a freebie from Dr. Phil- can escape this horrible life.
Our country, state and county have spent piles of money on the ” War Against Drugs”- sorry, but talk , flyers and bumper stickers are never gonna cut it.
Treatment needs to be available for anyone who wants it. Otherwise, the drug problem and the gang problem will persist. Where there is a will there is a way. And for those of you who scoff at these ‘lowlifes”, just remember that there but for the grace of God may go someone you love, maybe even your child- drug and alchohol addiction is an equal opportunity disease.
we can’t blame it all on drug’s. it’s a choice one make’s being a teenager is no excuse. there on it’ get off the best way you can. they come from all walk’s of life rich & poor
there drifting in from essex phila baltimore jersey etc. and they will keep comeing as long as we show a weakness, to support frivoulis accusations made against our police.
no father figure and mommy’ is to busy to care. or expecting a third or 4 child plus the fact they delay, the mandantory schooling required for welfare recipent’s. harford county is lagging behind in every aspect of self help. why work when it’s free! the law ( hud) say’s I can register my visitor for a week. he or she can leave the following monday’ and come back again again and again. it might even be a man that actually work’s! wow double dipping. welfare food stamp’s & and a paycheck. and a 365 day payed vacation on the tax payers back. it’s time harford county woke up and put a stop to and all to easy life. and idle mind is the work of the devil.
as a second thought’ you can see the similarity’s in this situation compareing them to president truman, who stopped the war in japan
but was totally frightened of china & escalation of the war.
the vietnam war. president johnson sat on his hand’s terrified of russia & china again escalation continued.while american boy’s. died yes boy’s 18 & 19 years given no chance to win. but we can win this & take the neighbor hood’s back. by supporting our police. reporting crime etc. the police need our support !
Yensen,
What aggressive anit-drug and anti-gang programs are you refering to. Taking two or three officers and turning them loose in an arena they have no clue about doesn’t constitute a “program”.
I’d like to read your explaination.
Mac,
I agree that boots on the groung are good, but information is they key.
Boots on the ground pick off one here and there and they are replaced by the many latch-key kids in Aberdeen or anywhere else for that matter. Attrition in that manner is inefficient and wastes the efforts and resources of the community.
Law enforcement needs to identify recruiters and top level players by means of infiltration, credible sources and good investigations. Arrests and convction then will dismantle the organization and boots on the ground can clean up the scraps.
Let politicians, community groups and parents worry about the social issues and alternatives for youth.
Eight years ago tips began flowing in about a guy recruiting at the Aberdeen high school for the CRIP set. A certain officer follwed these tips and identified the recruiter who turned out to be a HOOVER ST CRIP. This person was doing all the things that a recruiter does…going to the high school, library and even worked in a fast food joint frequented by youth. Call a duck a duck.
The information was passed to the administration of the Aberdeen Police Department, but the response was denial…AW they’re just wanna be’s!
The momentm of that individual continued with no active intervention of the Aberdeen Police and even at one point a certain officer even confiscated a hand written book of the CRIP BIBLE from an individual during his one man crusade against them, but still they’re just wanna be’s.
Today in Aberdeen there still is NO gang strategy, policy or budget to combat their crimes…just one school resource officer trained in the GREAT program.
Moral of the story…Administrators who have no training in GANGS making decisions contrary to the knowledge of their subordinates.
Ignorance is bliss.
Just another random fact thrown out there by a guy who is a [edited by admin - no personal insults]. And no I won’t even think about answering any of your questions.
I have to agree’ with punisher. bel air high school was begining to have a major drug problem. in the early’ 70’s I approached the school authority’s & was told to shut up.
mexican modes was a store who was selling drug’s, bong’s etc he could be found on the premise’s. at 3:30 peddling dope.
useing the portables as a drop after hours. well I did’nt shut up and continued makeing contact with the bel air police department.
the drug inforcement office, of the state police was located in the fallston state police basement. ( benson)
2 school burglary’s were solved. one in bel air high. one in aberdeen. ( band equipment was recovered) the rte #40 rapist was caught by tip’s turned in locally do you’ know what type of thank you the officers, recieved ? a reprimand from higher authority. and I lost my job. got involded in child molesting case here in aberdeen. being the only’ witness to the man being on the premises.he was convicted of molesting 2 children. sing like a canary’ you bet. had 2 children of my own. one being a little girl. you know what’ he returned to aberdeen after doing his time. and then threatend to kill me & my family’ the police say no crime he has commited. he has’nt shot you yet. there would have been a crime my shot gun was ready. punisher is right’ see it report it.and inside contact’s are very valuable.
It’s nice that a problem is recognized, but all of these efforts are utterly and tragically futile.
Cops have getting tough with crips and bloods since they started in LA. Why would zero tolerance suddenly work in Edgewood.
Gotta love the Latino racism at the end of the gang report. Yes, Latinos are in construction and lawn crews. Cogent analysis there.
Yensan,
you profess to be the “religious” man? your insults just continue to show everyone who you really are. question is, just who do you think you are?
again I agree with mac & punisher. it’s a fad, there wanna be’s. the point is there growing in force.and now it’s become a problem. as punisher noticed 8 year’s ago trouble, was brewing. nothing was done. no follow up’s. a let be who care’s attitude
mommy’s baby’s are home in bed. the men in the field are in the know and should be listened to. and allowed to investagate further to gain evidence to support there belief’s.
welcome to aberdeen. and don’t forget to. Hug a thug
Actually I don’t profess to be anything. I just don’t have time or patience to tolerate someone who has demonstrated him or herself to be a liar and/or a cheat.
Yensen,
The truth is that you have no answers to the questions here. What, Where or Who are you basing your self admitted limited knowledge in…the Chief of Police…last I knew he, nor his Command Staff, have been to any training pertaining to street gangs.
A “zero tolerance” attitude or arresting your way out of a gang problem is NO solution at all…For those who don’t know…EVERY MAJOR STREET GANG WAS BORN OUT OF PRISONs AND WHERE THESE GROUPS DO MOST OF THEIR RECRUITING!
The number one reason youth join gangs in the world is sense of belonging. I think there is a place to begin on the social side of the issue and what I stated previously is the key to dismantling these organizations for long term cesation.
Just whom are you refering to Dave?
Liars and Cheats?
There’s no table to turn here.
The problem is not singular to Aberdeen or Havre De Grace or Edgewood, it is county wide. When gang sets are dealing drugs and police start picking off buyers from Fallston, Bel Air, and Jarrettsville it’s reverse racial profiling. When police start picking off the supply coming in it’s racial profiling. When police develop a strategy and focus on a particular gang it’s profiling. Thank the ALCU and the race hustlers for this.
When arrests are made, good thorough cases, all of the i’s dotted and t’s crossed, the jail sentence, if any, is a minor fraction of the published penalty. The message is out there that the judges go light. Thank all of the single party liberal Democrat control in Annapolis for this, not to mention a legislature made up with a majority of defense lawyers. The circuit court judges should be sending convicted persons to jail. It seems that if you have a jailing judge at the district court level a good defense attorney will talk their client into circuit court because it’s easier to work the cases out with little or no jail time and suspended fines. I guess they’ll be lined up for Eaves courtroom if she’s elected to a full term (remember a vote against Eaves is a message to O’Malley that we the people don’t want a liberal court system).
It’s also the duty of parents to parent your children. All red or all blue everyday is not a fashion statement and short of a cattle drive, driving a train, or blowing ones nose, bandannas really don’t have a place in the wardrobe. Same goes for commercial businesses. Remember no shirt, no shoes, no service, how about no flagging or no banging and if the little imps get offended, TOUGH, let them excercise their right to shop elsewhere.
RWinger,
I think you should read my posting regarding where the roots and strengths of street gangs are forged. I’m certainly not stating that if a crime is committed they shouldn’t be hammered, but also reform in our penal instituions need to be made also…The rights and liberties of inmates are sometimes greater than the free!
Gang recruiters are cleaver little predators…they come to podunk near metro areas and target youth whom are vulnerable.
Typically, these podunk areas have podiunk mentalities like “they’re wanna be’s” and have little training, knowledge or resources to deal with the complexity of an issue such as this…hence Aberdeen and Edgewood…podunk leadership.
Great place for one to get up to speed on the issue….
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov
I’am inclined to believe as punisher has said. the wanna be’s were showing themself’s 8+ plus years ago and it was brought to the attention of the superior’s with a ho-hum attitude. now edgewood is crying’ the blue’s aberdeen 2nd & bel air a close third.
as far as the court’s, your wasting your time. to easy to file appeal’s & post bond 30+ gang members in bel air jail, all waiting to be turned loose on edgewood to seek there revenge.
all most certainly model prisoner’s. these are the low life’s that were not given equal opportunity. & free schooling.it’s easier to steal than to work.
it’s time to tighten’ the law & crack down on judge’s who could care less.
Good article on the gang bills — I was hoping to write something up on them this week in the Ex, but the nimble Dagger beat me to the punch.
My only nitpick is that Craig’s big gang grant initiative grip-n-grin was on Friday, Jan. 25, not as a follow-up to his tough talk in the State of the County. While it’s being touted as a feather in the county’s cap, but it will be interesting to see how the $2.8M gets divvied up state-wide — especially given that more “heavyweight” counties like Montgomery and P.G. are suffering from MS-13. At minimum, Harford will get another computer to put in its new ComStat room in Bel Air, to connect to this state-wide database of gang members.
Now I’ll be busy going to Annapolis for hearings on each of these bills, to see if and how they get sliced n’ diced.
msantini..write it anyway. The more voice the better…im sure you have additional commentary.
I wonder if the “criminal gang” proposals of new laws could be used …also…as RICO was used against citizens or orginizations or corporations that break laws as a way of doing buisness. The corruption as described in marina mafia comments reguarding Havre de grace would be a good start!
it must be nice for Rwinger, there is no problem so complicated that it cannot be blamed on some “liberal” somewhere.
There are ten thousand other blogs out there for that shit.
Lets say we have an agreement to keep the Dagger R or L winger free and stick to discussion on a less cliched level.
It’ll be more fun, watch.
RICO is used to prosecute gangs as an organization, but new issues need new teeth…Nancy Jacobs has propsed the new bills we need to make it easier that dealing with the US ATT”S Office.
nancy certainly has’ but read carefully they will be chopped to pieces or fail to pass. there too strict. the aclu would have a field day.
I read HB633 carefully and it mirrors current legislation regarding seizure and forfeiture of assets relating to illicit drugs and that has been on the books forever.
RICO has also been on teh books for a long standing period and has been challenged by many with lots of $$$$ and it has been upheld.
Are street gangs or outlaw motorcycle gangs any different in their MO than the mob?
I’m not certain why we shouldn’t get behind this bill and not worry soo much about what the ACLU may argue.
Punisher: Perhaps you and I differ on incarceration effects. I know that gangs do heavy recruitment in jails and on that note if corrections across the country would take a page out of the Joe Arpaio play book, perhaps this wouldn’t be a prime recruitment ground. Arizona is thick with MS13, Banditos, Mexican Mafia, and has it’s share of traditional Bloods heading east to Texas and the southern states, yet Maricopa County doesn’t have the problem. Something can be said for Apraio.
Joshua: I don’t beat up on liberals, I only state the fact that Maryland is a one party controled state that is a haven for illegals, welfare, and criminals. Maryland always ranks high as a deadly state thanks to Baltimore City and Prince George’s County, both a hotbed for liberal politics, go figure. Both of those jurisdictions are also hotbeds for gang activity and lets no forget the Peoples Republic of Montgomery County where the M in MS13 should stand for Montgomery. My concern was that Harford was starting to head in that direction ten years ago and political correctness instead of law enforcement (ie real policing) on the part of the Sheriff’s Department would get Harford to the juncture it’s at now.
Edgewood was left untreated for a little too long. Aberdeen and Havre De Grace have less than 50 officers each, I would have expected the Sheriff’s Department to have a solid 20-25 person gang enforcement unit with another 15 in the wings by now. Not a computer data entry unit, but a hands on unit.
As for RICO, Maryland is behind on that one too. Many states have state RICO laws that mirror the federal RICO statutes. Maryland needs a state RICO statute, but when your legislature is made up of mostly criminal defense lawyers why would any honest taxpayers think that laws wouldn’t be criminal friendly.
By the way Joshua, Joe Meadows is a republican and lay blame at his feet for not stepping up to the plate 10 years ago.
I was refering to hb 636 mighty fine line has to be drawn to determine criminal from the good ol’ boy’s just haveing a good time.
Sen Jacobs bills are a good start. Cops want as many tools in the toolbox as they can get. What remains to be seen, even if all this legislation passes, is, will the prosecutors and judges apply these laws as intended?
Me thinks the mind is willing but the flesh is weak.
The one that I approach with the most skepticism is the juvenile provision. Any police will tell you that it’s a steep hill to climb to get even the most recidivist juvenile offenders charged as an adult.
HB 636 is a fine line. may be infringeing on the first amendent. the right to assemble in a peacefull manner. every body’ know’s the bible say’s where there are two or more gathered I shall be there.
separating the state from the church. sunday services were being held on monday’ on the street corner.
as a senior police officer told me this is the grey scale of the law. it simply depend’s on how the court’s want to see it.
or a fancy philadelphia lawyer decides to challenge the law
I think mrs jacob’s made it very’ clear. but it has not become a law as of yet. if it does become a law. you can bet this one will make the supreme court.
Vietnam Vet,
I agree the def for “gang” is a bit weak…I say it’s put tp the test!
In the Know,
We’re still waiting for those anti-gang and anti-drug programs?
WOW…On to bears…not that they are not an important part of our world.
What ever happened to the gang and violence issue here in Harford County. We opened our eyes and then closed them again as the news and the day passed us by.
Will we all wait until this is an issue that pagues all our families as victims of both sides of the issue?
I’m still wondering what the Chief in Aberdeen is doing to plan for and address this present issue that also has existed in Aberdeen for several years… Nothing?
Give it a rest Punisher. You lost, no one gives a s*& what you think.
Dave,
Be careful your childish impulse to say what YOU feel is pouring out of your mouth again… like your idea to take the refined sewer water and pump it out onto the Wetlands to solve the water issue there… innovative… but I couldn’t help but snicker a you that day like many others.
I guess your OK with the idea that the Chief of Police has been getting by on his “Community Policing Plan” for the past eight or so years?
Many people are not!
BTW,
Still waiting for those Anti-Drug & Anti- Gang Programs Aberdeen has…
Fact is your circle talk is never backed up and it showed at the polls for you…
Like I said before neither I nor much of anyone else with the exception of your five friends care a whole lot about what you think or want. Interesting that yo raise the issue of the sewer. Hitler and his guys were masters at changing the subject to create a feeling of a problem existing.
WOW, Channel 2 News!!!! Looks like the story backfired on you Punisher (HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!) Just because you (and your new best buddy) liked to sit on your butt in the station. Aberdeen pays the police for police services, if the police don’t want to provide those services, then find another job (like say at DPW)! You proved to everyone that you are LAZY by going on tv with that BS. I wonder, do you work now? I mean seriously, are you gainfully employeed?
Grow up and move on with your life. All of your feeble attempts to discredit your former employer have backfired. At some point you have to realize that maybe not everyone else is the problem here.
hey punisher, maybe channel 2 can do a story about your storied career at the aberdeen police department. You know like you being the only reason the naacp sued the city when you beat up that pregnant woman on a parking complaint. or how about the girl from wawa that had to “disappear” becasue of the little gift you left her. or how about the true reason you left the department, you know your little credibility problem. (Seems to be alot of that swirling around at the moment) why did you run from, i mean leave new york so quick?
The reference of me to Denu is plain, but all you can do is assume…and we know what that word is when you break it down.
Denu had no “storied” career at Aberdeen..he had a good one.
The N.A.A.C.P. law suit wasn’t that at all…it happened to be the “Harford County Grass Roots Coalition” to be correct and that civil suit was settled by the City’s Insurance Compant for attorney’s fees…AFTER the defendant was convicted in TWO courts of confining an unattended child in a MV, Assault and Resisting Arrest. Additionally, he was exonorated in both internal investigations by the Sheriff’s Office and the F.B.I.
As for any girl “disappearing” and having been left a gift… more B.S.
AS for him leaving the P.D. because of his credibility problem…more like he left because of the credibility problems there!
Denu left NY to get married as his wife lived here…so he wasn’t running from anything.
I’m sure that Aberdeen being so credible and him now working for Customs with a top secret clearance..these issues would have been unearthed…
Keep lyin and cutting your noses off to spite your face or are you now happy with the status quo because you are the status quo?
“Hitler and his guys were masters at changing the subject to create a feeling of a problem existing.”
I think Channel 2 was just a little taste of more to come
City Council Minutes - February 2005
Aberdeen City Council Minutes
February 14, 2005
Aberdeen Police Department Annual Report: Chief Randy Rudy
“Councilman Kupferman asked if there was any gang activity in the City. Chief
Rudy stated that there were people with the potential for gang involvement. He
also said the County and State Police were working on this matter.”
BEGS THE QUESTION…WHY WAS THIS ISSUE SHIFTED TO M.S.P. AND THE S.O. WHEN IT’S A.P.D.’S JURISDICTION?
“Councilman Hiob thanked the Chief for his report and asked who determined
whether citizen complaints were sustained. Chief Rudy said an investigation was conducted by an outside agency. ”
BEGS THE QUESTION… WHY AN OUTSIDE AGENCY TO INVESTIGATE INTERNALS…ISN’T A.P.D. CREDIBLE ENOUGH TO DO THEIR OWN INVESTIGATIONS?
“Mr. Michael Pochan asked if the policeman have a quota, and where the money from fines goes. Chief Rudy stated that there was no quota, just expectations. He noted that the cash goes into the City account for the Police Department.”
BEGS THE QUESTION… WHY DID THIS GETLEMAN ASK THIS QUESTION THEN… I GUESS DENU PUT HIM UP TO IT?
What disappearance? What gift?
Council Minutes from 2 years ago….and the point is?
Maybe one of APD’s finest or someone in the mix a lot more than I can elaborate, but it was my understanding that APD hired a cop in the fall that has an extensive background in narcotics and gang work. It was brought up at a council meeting and the chief said that he was put on undrcover assignment or something of that nature and would introduce him at a later date. That seemed to be a step in the right direction when it came to gangs.
I also seem to remember when Mayor Simmons wanted to seek approval for officers to go after the root of the gang problem by attacking the base at Perryman and he was chastized for it. That seemed to be another step in the right direction.
Maybe Punisher could expand. I understand the point of having a printed plan of action but I also understand having a goal and diverting from the printed plan of action because printed plans don’t produce results, people do. Is it Punisher’s contention that the officers have not been given thorough marching orders regarding gang enforcement? Is it Punisher’s contention that the APD command closes their eyes and wishes a gang problem away?
As for the Channel 2 news story, can someone in the mix tell me why an officer’s wife is spouting out about police policies. Is she the police officer or is her husband the police officer? I don’t know what is more pathetic, officers that don’t want to do the job that they are paid to do or a spouse fighting an officer’s battle (if he was truely wronged).
Gee punisher you really know the specifics when it comes to denu…makes one wonder.
a top secret clearance at customs? not after they checked your background….. stick with being contractual….no bennies but it least it pays the mortgage (is it?)
maybe you should tell channel 2 and the rest about why you are putting the bs out there. you should fill them in on the bs you use to pull. besides the channel 2 thing i read at:
http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=11399DA6-E45C-483C-8297-FD0E4FDBF406&gsa=true
makes you and adams look like idiots! god forbit the police be required to stop cars for speeding after 2 people die on 40 because of speeding cars! that captain cox made alot of sense to me. maybe you should check out any future sotries with him before you sound like a bigger idiot than you already do. liar!
Curious…the documents provided to prove the claims dated back to 2001.
Didn’t this bogus explaination arise from “incident” that happened in the very recent past?
Explain that!
Hello? WaWa girl? Disappearance? Left with a gift? Anyone? Hello?
Back up your BS!
RWinger,
The purpose of the Council Minute of more than two years ago was to point out in fact that these issues existed then and before, but NOTHING was nor has been done to address these issues among many.
A.P.D. did hire a retired Sgt. from Baltimore City P.D. that has vice related experience, however he has been relegated to making $20 dope buys, prostitutes and now has been on load to the Harford County Narcotics Task Force to work a wiretap. So no he hasn’t been useful in addressing Aberdeen’s gang issue and I hardly think that dedicating one person to the issue is very effective.
Yes, S. Fred did want to launch the assault on Perryman, but that was not gang related is was a drug related. Additionally, I’m not aware that Perryman is “Gang H.Q.” Further, with the small geographic area Perrywood Gardens encompasses hardly supports the turf for multiple gangs sets; Aberdeen is however.
To answer the points asked in the third paragraph…yes…yes and yes. A.P.D. has no lan or policy that address’ gang issues (unless they’ve pirated one recently) and the officers have not been trained in the methods used to identify and then combat gangs.
I have been a tax payer in this City for a long time and non of us are getting what we a paying for.
Don’t get me wrong the majority of the officers are good ones and they work hard to do what they can with what very little resources and leadership they have!
February 14, 2005
Aberdeen Police Department Annual Report: Chief Randy Rudy
“Councilman Kupferman asked if there was any gang activity in the City. Chief
Rudy stated that there were people with the potential for gang involvement. He
also said the County and State Police were working on this matter.”
I’d also like to see (promptly) and correspondence Chief Rudy had with the State Police and or the Sheriff’s Office at or around this time discussing the issue… he couldn’t and didn’t…blowing smoke then and now.
Don’t Know Nothing? Hello?
What WaWa Girl? What disappearance? What gift?
Come on, back up your BS!
Denu oops Punisher. Charma, Charma, Charma….. It all comes to light. I’m sitting back waiting and watching for more to come out in the open about the real you. Dont know only hinted. Can’t wait for the day.
Punisher? Who doesn’t know that Perryman is gang territory? Idiot!!!!
Who’s the idiot? You Sad! Its Karma not Charma! You idiot!
Oh stop BIC is it really that serious? Thanks for the laugh though.
Come on Sad,
You seem to be “In the Know”, who and what is the story with this WaWa girl and Denu?
No…I’m not in the know…just me….I’m waiting for someone to spill the beans on the rat fink myself.
Problem is they say thing like this and when asked, they don’t substantiate it.
Come on ….. spill it.
That “grand piece” on channel 2 at noon was Den’s 1 second in the sun. In the entire 1 1/2 hours this evening they didn’t run it again. My guess is that they discovered what we all know, the two folk interviewed are 10-96 and not to be listened to. Denu/Punisher you are so past tens that we only talk in “he was.”
I don’t know facts…just bits and pieces. Come on Dont know….tell us.
Why is it that whenever you fools see anyone and I mean anyone near Denu you say they are crazy? Everyone cannot be crazy. Could it be that you few are the troublemakers trying to discredit Denu so that your dirty laundry list doesn’t get aired? Or did S. Fred shred that evidence in your pers file too?
I understand now that JR is protected because good old gun toting Fred got rid of the evidence that the Chief was using to get rid of him, he doesn’t call Rick Denu anymore asking for his help to save his job. Are you among the shred protected as well?
Do tell the bits and pieces. Looks like Don’t Know is a bag of wind.
Almost ten minutes and no bits and pieces?
Come on guys, what is the story?
I don’t work for the City or have any affiliation with any members. I lived not far from Washington Park when Denu ripped the woman from her car. I no longer do. I’ve been in this town for 30yrs and have seen alot.
Ripped her from the car? Explain. You said bit(s) and piece(s). What else do you know?
What does ripping her from her car have to do with her disappearance from WaWa and leaving her with a gift?
bic rick denu was a good cop, tough & aggressive. tired of the petty bull s–t & and a large family to feed, he’s gone to greener pasture’s.
if he had been allowed to operate in a better invironment the crime rate would have been reduced drastically.
he earned the respect’ of the street people. and that is very hard to do. I think they have there own intelligence system.
BIC
Go back and read Punisher on Feb. 29 th post , it will shed some light on what you want to know.
This is what I hear and have seen myself, Vietnam Vet. I have also have seen over and over on this blog how a certain few post only small allegations about Denu. I want them to substantiate their allegations, if only “bits and pieces”.
Notice how they post these things and then when asked to explain further, no responses or very little of the same, with no answers.
I do see Denu’s credibility above these certain few because he substantiates his posts.
Why no answers about this girl at WaWa? More lies?
Oh dear God they let Buck out again.
Nobody is giving any information. Only information thrown out here and never backed up. Punisher only said the WaWa thing was BS. No light shed here.
BIC
Sorry Ileft out the time ,it was 9:28 a.m. post.
Why all the secrecy? Is it that bad? What is the story for God’s sake?
I like a stink as well.but if your going to stir the stew. I agree’ show the fact’s. the man is married. and the rumor’s stink.
then there’s his wife. she has been present here on the dagger.I’am sure she can handle her own but. hopefully we can reduce the smell.
This is true. This is why I wonder about the validity of a certain few on here when they post about Denu. They post something that draws attention and leaves seeds of doubt, but when asked to expand on their story, no answer. This is yet another example.
When looking back through the posts, another story that is weak. Denu came here because his wife lived here. Period. Where were you trying to go with that?
I can honestly’ say rick denu does not know me in any shape or form. I simply came across him working the not so nice areas of aberdeen. his confidence in what he was doing was apparent.
the people he came in contact with were impressed with this well spoken man & felt there was sincere belief & concern for there call’s when he responded. the lower income people feel as if they do not get a square deal with the police.
but mr denu was trusted in there area as a man of his word. they never feared him they RESPECTED him. I’am simply speaking for a man that never likely knew he was makeing his name a house hold word on the street’s
This is exactly why these certain few need to substantiate the allegations they continue to make allegations against Mr. Denu. It is apparent by their lack of response that their stories hold no merit.
Oh and the woman Sad said was ripped from her car…well…this woman left her four or five year old child alone after dark in her car for a long time and she was no where in sight. The child was also left holding a glass carafe full of Pine Sol cleaner and no lid. The woman was NEVER in her car. She was in her apartment on the bottom floor, out of view of her child for a long time. Mr. Denu was checking on this child as she was abandoned by this woman. The woman started mouthing off to Denu when he questioned if she was the child’s mother and also asked for her identification. She continued to mouth off, causing a stir in which people were coming out of the woodwork. She also threw the cleaning fluid on Officer Denu. When this happened, he told her she was under arrest and when he asked her to put her hands behind her back, she began pushing and shoving him acting like a crazy person. She fell to the ground causing her hand to be cut by the glass carafe. Mr. Denu called the ambulance right away.
So there was no ripping of anyone from any car in Washington Park. Just an officer doing his job caring for a young child left, after dark for a long period of time while the mother was no where in sight. Bottom line. When a police officer asks for your id, you give it. You don’t throw cleaner at a police officer. You don’t refuse his request for your id. What did she have to hide?
BIC
Well said ,well said indeed . Where you got this information in such a short time I don’t know. But well done. Blow your mind on that, Hangin’ around. Or should I say BIG MOUTH.
BIC, You said:
“I do see Denu’s credibility above these certain few because he substantiates his posts.”
What posts are you referring to? I did a google site search, and found that Rick Denu hasn’t commented since November 14th?
Again,
Where are you all of you now? What about this girl? See what I mean? What trouble makers and you are the very officers that are “protecting” our City? Gee, does anyone else see the Good Ol Boy anywhere here? Looks like they can make up stuff so fast to cover themselves.
Maybe Denu has not posted or maybe he has, but at least someone answers for Denu when a question arises. At least someone close to him or knows him well answers and we have answers. These troublemakers throw stuff in the wind to stir the pot and then when asked to go further, silence.
I’am not so sure what the issue’s are with rick denu.but it would appear the aberdeen police is ”clean” as a whistle. it’s not. it’s more like they can do no wrong. and have it covered up. illegal drug raid in washington park, a few years ago. by a few of the good ole” boy’s.
and officer of aberdeen charged with beating his wife” leaves said police department. for a time.return’s with a ”new” name. and back to work. officer of aberdeen p.d. charged with murder. killing office worker. under the porter admin. he’s stalking me. no law’s as yet on stalking. he’s and officer of the law. there beyond any wrong doing.
I see one aberdeen officer who still think’s it’s ok’ to smoke in his police car. that’s a no”no’. no doubt we could continue. mr denu has done nothing wrong.
All;
BIC seems to be dead on with the circumstances surrounding the Washington Park situation. I was not in office at the time but seem to recall the events to have unfolded pretty much as stated by Bic. The investigation(s) that followed cleared Rick of all wrongdoing. I believe that Rick tried to do the right thing at the time under the circumstances. Was it exactly right? Probably not. Would he do it the same all over? Probably not. I guess the real question in all of this, with respect to the subject of this blog is: SO WHAT? The subject is not about one cop and what he or she might have done several years ago. The subject is about what needs to be going on right now. In November of 2005 Washington Street was an open air drug market. The neighbors could not go into the street. It was unsafe to go there in the day time. The residents of the three key crack houses flaunted their power to intimidate and strike fear. Oh, by the way, the key folks in that were all connected to the gangs. In November 2007 there were three new habitat homes in the place of the crack houses and the kids were playing in the streets. I am not aware of any plan or SOP or directive or anything else that needs to be written or copied. I do know that what the APD did worked and it worked well. Having spent a ton of time in the planning business both in the Army and for the Army, we all know for an absolute fact that a plan is perfect in all ways. The only glitch is that the plan becomes absolutely useless the instant the first round gets fired. For some reason we never could get the enemy to follow our plans. Why do I go into all this? Because a couple of those who want to divert the discussion, are wrapped up in “seeing the plans.” Screw the plans. Do something and if it works keep doing it until it stops working.
For two years the gang folk were running scared. For two years the drug activity slacked off to the point that it got to be really hard to make a buy here. For the last year, the gang wannabes and dealers were working out of Perrywood Gardens, running back there the instant our guys got their scent.
What do the folks here want? Do they want great planners and naysayers for do they want a police force that TRIES to enforce all of the laws possible?
Oh yeah, I lost an election so I’m not supposed to be voicing any opinions any more. Please forgive me for continuing to care about what’s best for all of Aberdeen, not just a few good old boys.
Well said Dave….Aberdeen’s crime was improved on Fred and you guys watch. You got down and talked and listened to people..Those of us in the streets.
Dave,
Hate to admit but you are correct in some of what you say. The complete methodology of getting the deals out, making absentee landlords accountable and or replacing the homes with owner occupied is a complete strategy that works.
However, the situation was left undone for a long time when law enforcement was aware. The Chief’s “Community Policing Plan” has components built into it that would have addressed the issues on Washington St. as S. Fred did on his own. Why didn’t law enforcement respond as they should have then? Why did S. Fred have to strap on his 6+ shooter and get the strategy (which wasn’t his idea) moving? Wasn’t / Isn’t a Chief of Police and a police department where the number of officers to citizen ratio much higher than the national average being pay and charged with public safety taking care of the issue?
Exlainations of being hamstrung before S. Fred came about is total bunk. The bottom line is the Chief is a poor leader and his his troops poorly led, trained and equipped!
The bottom line here is that Law Enforcment in Aberdeen needs new leadership and comprehensive plans/policies and training to address the continual changes in crime trends.
In the end you’re right….Get rid of the “Good Ole Boys” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, it is very true Dave Yensan that the people made many wrong choices in their vote for the council this past election. We are stuck for less than two more years with the Wilson Administration all over again. The people of this City are already feeling their very huge mistakes!
Not sure if Simmons was the answer or not, although it was clear he needed a leash. I have to admit, S. Fred was starting to clean up lingering messes, true. I also have to say, his ends did not justify the means in many instances. He was going down some very dangerous paths. Bottom line, he was not a cop. He/we needed a leader to step up and take care of business, not just sit back and let everyone else do his job while collecting a paycheck and a hefty one at that. His salary alone could pay close to two officers to help protect our City. He needed someone to curtail some of his activities as we, the City, were heading down some serious trouble to explain if he was left unleashed. This is the Chief of Police job. Not the Mayor. Perhaps if the Chief would have done his job and not Simmons, the Mayor/Cop, Simmons would still be in office making some changes in our City that were long overdue. More poor choices that this City is living to regret.
Many of the men and you all know who you are, but are way too scared to voice it, let alone admit it, lost your respect for the Chief a long time ago. Now with Simmons gone, the Chief’s captain is running the show over there. The head of the circle.
These guys and gals at APD are amazing and with the exception of a circle of good ole boys that need to go, we would have one of the most outstanding agencies around. This good ole boy circle of troublemakers need to go and quick. The current Mayor and council know this too, but have they too have not stepped up to the plate to do what they need to make it right. These guys and gals need to have everything they need to help them do their job. I could care less if they have a hat on when they are giving me a ticket or not. I understand they need to be presentable as they need to project an image, but come on Chief, the hat thing is ridiculous.
Further, I guess it is a dead issue about this supposed girl at WaWa, who disappeared and left with a gift. These troublemakers put it out there and have yet to come forth with any substantial information beyond their little seeds they spread. Get rid of this poison. We have bigger fish to fry here in our City.
Bic very well said.
issue’s on the dagger are often twisted or changed. must have something to do with the aberdeen weather. to be honest’ I liked s,fred but there is that leash issue. met him over on the back side of north deen town houses. ask me if I wanted to go in to the wood’s & get some human varmint’s
that were lurking in the wood’s. I think you better get the police of which he did. the point being. I’am not and officer of the law and neither was he.
Exactly. You are a very wise person. You deserve our respect without question.
You know there were so many problems here in Aberdeen. We all need to remember, the Chief was here during a few administrations, but why did it take Fred Simmons to get the ball, or heads rolling, whichever the case?
Wrong or right, Fred Simmons was doing the job of the Chief of Police. So why the salary for so many years? Why does Aberdeen move forward one step and back three? When will this end? Not in this next two years this is evident.
BIC,
You keep saying something about Simmons salary…didn’t he waive his salary for the term he served?
Sad,
The Chief’s salary. The Chief’s salary. $100 + K Salary
I think ther is another element to consider while you are bashing the Chief. Under the previous administration, and probably the two before that, the police had zero support from the Mayor and Council. The chief couldn’t do his job and the officers had to be in constant fear of reprimands and trouble. The folks in the West Wing were considerably more concerned about perceptions and caved in to every citizen complaint regardless of truth. The ridiculous rumor about the woman in Washington Park re Rick Denu is a great example of this. A very vocal few had the politicos scared s*&%$#less all the time. If I had been on the force I wouldn’t have been very effective either. S. Fred and I conveyed to the APD that we would not throw them under any bus. We depended on their professionalism to do the right thing in every circumstance. They knew we would back them and we did. That is how the turn around got started. We let all of the employees do their jobs, and as a result the good ones excelled and the bad ones rose to the top of the septic tank. Fred wasn’t just running around toting a gun. He was fully read in on every aspect of the operation of the City. Mayor Helton will never achieve that level of professionalism.
I we does not change’ the fact s.fred was becomeing a pit bull with out a leash. where might our council man stood in the case of another washington park issue. hopefully’ not under the bed. or we told him. he should’nt be doing this
s.fred was a mayor, not police chief or police officer. more so a payed vigilante sooner or later there would be blood shed. maybe the chief could smooth it over or drop it in the lap’s’ of the council. since it was the mayor running rampant.
or maybe the citizen’s of aberdeen. along with the good ole boy’s. could get there gun’s out of the moth ball’s. and mount a posse& and invade perry wood garden’s. with s. fred leading the pack.
V V: Brother your bias is showing big time. You heard a lot but trust me half that crap was just that crap. There was no vigilante stuff and the Chief was left to run his department just like all the others.
Dave,
I certainly appreciate some of your points, however the point you cited about the Chief not being able to do his job under the Wilson aministration is not factual at all. It was at that time he was put to task and really was doing a fabulous job of changing the face of the Aberdeen Police Department.
It was at that time there were many tensions ( justified in many instances I might add) between the police department and the certain parts of the community and yes the politicos were scrambling to make it go away. Politicos are just that, but the Chief is the agency head who is to lead and stand behind his troops. Officers are also protected by legislation and are afforded protections from “bogus” complaints and believe me I had been there several times for just doing the job. In the end the truth prevailed and was exonorated.
With that said, those complaints and what the Mayor/Council and or City Manager thought never effected the way I performed my duties. You do what’s right and within the rules and that’s it.
The Chief gave S. Fred and Yensen the same excuse he’s giving Bennnett and Company… it was terrible, I wasn’t allowed to do my job…I’m a victim…
Exactly. Leading his troops is perfect. Something he has not done, but takes the credit.
One point Rick Denu made and stands out was just this.
Whatever the higher ups thought about how to handle a complaint or about anything else, did not effect how he performed his duties as a law enforcement officer, he just did his job.
The Chief cannot claim this one. You need to be aware and lead and protect your troops at all cost.
Perfect example.
Last summer, an event in the park prior to the election where a woman speaker was giving her speech and was bashing gays while the Chief sat and listened. When a prominent member of this community made an appointment with the Chief questioning how he would allow this type of speech at this event, he responded he did not hear her and he was really not listening due to his back hurting. That seems strange as the officers sitting on each side of him heard this speech loud and clear and were very uncomfortable for that matter.
I ask you, is this a leader? Allowing his officers, in uniform, in a public forum, ordered to sit there and listen to a woman bash gays? Of which are several in this community and whatever your preference, should an officer of the law show bias? What message did that send? The officers sure didn’t want that message portrayed to our community!
A leader? As an example, if a teacher invites a speaker to speak to her class during Black History Month and the person goes on an on about issues blatently showing his racism and the teacher does not end this speech. Who do you think is at fault here? THE LEADER. She failed in protecting her class. How long do you think she would last?
Quit bashing the man. He’s a good Chief, look at the crime rate. A department’s performance is a direct reflection of it’s leadership. Keep grinding your personal ax. I’m sure some believe you, but those who actually met him know you are wrong about the Chief. He is a good man, and a good leader.
You should have just done the job you were paid to do instead of blaming everyone else for your shortcomings. You probably would have still been employed if you did.
It’s amazing how you twist facts and imply wrong doing. Then your multiple monikers type in agreement. Truth is, Aberdeen does not have the gang violence that infests the rest of the county. That is telling tale. If your ranting were directed at the sheriff, I would tend to agree with you. But the Chief in Aberdeen is doing an excellent job of putting his officers in a position to battle crime.
the chief is a good man. but a leader of men he is not. there were other ” incident’s” in the park. when a handy capped girl was ask’ to leave no apparent reason other than the ” prominent” citizen’s of aberdeen were present
or was it the like’s of the hill folk’s in deliverence ? that ilk that stand’s at the back of the council meeting?
she certainly’ fit that description. poorly dressed crippled to a point a blind man could see. aberdeen’s finest swoop in and ask her to leave. who is willing to say’ I gave the order. and proud of it.
Rick;
Where have you been man? I think you and I will disagree for the rest of our lives. Thank God we can do it agreeably. The nameless, faceless wimps who post here can bash but you and I have to be somewhat rational since we actually use our names.
The pressure put on the Chief to keep one City Manager and three Councilpersons from tossing him under a bus must be terrible. That is the flaw in the system not the man. The APD is blessed with a lot of very fine men and women. I am in contact with four other municipal forces and each of them has their quirks, but I’d put APD up against any of them. That said there is still the “what are you doing for me today?’ attitude that seems to prevail in law enforcement and it baffles me. Although the police and military are very similar in so many ways that’s one where they part. I digress. I have held significant leadership positions in my career but would never want to have one where my chain of command has the ability to be so completely dysfunctional. Toward the end of the Wilson era the Chief was told point blank by one of the culprits that his job was in jeopardy as well just because they already smelled blood in the water. I know that you and the Chief had your differences but you forgot who the boss is. We all should have the right to express our differences, but the instant that it gets outside the doors of our immediate command, the subordinate gets tossed. I’m not sure whether it was frustration or what in your case but you changed and it cost you.
Keep on taking care of that great family, see you around brother.
Dave,
I’ll have to say that we’ll have to agree to disagree on many of the issues. Remember I was there and you were not. Remember this also that I was privi to much as I was the proverbial “golden boy”, but when I wouldn’t row the boat when it came to amoral requests, I became a problem.
Yes I do believe that Rudy’s job was in jeapardy at the end of the Wilson administration because he hadn’t done much of anything but change the color of the cars, the uniform and instituted a “paper” community policing plan that never has become part of the culture of policing after several years.
Hence the reason he bit on Pete’s suggestion (after he was thrown under the bus by Wilson) to buddy up to Fred and approached Joe and I to endorse and get behind him as the Mayor. (Also recall the conversations I had with you regarding the Chief prior to your decision to run in that same election) The thing is here, did he do that for the organization, or to protect his pay check? The Chief is a real politician and really not a leader of men. He has proven time after time that he does not address issues of crime, but instead engages in politics at the expense of the troops and the organization.
Point in fact. His own two Captains have no respect for the man one calling him Melvin, running his own game and the other constantly fighting with him over the multitude of immoral decisions being made.
Here’s a quote from S. Fred, ” I told the City Manager hands off when it comes to the police department, the Chief will answer to me.” Why would one imagine this took place? Now into the Bennett administration the City Manager is back in the chain you refer to and the Chief is complaining that he wasn’t allowed to do his job under Fred. The trend is amazingly similar isn’t it?
Claims can be made of how crime is down, but remember the statistics I had posted in the past, crime always goes up and down regardly of what law enforcement may or may not be doing.
So no Dave, I wasn’t frustrated and I didn’t change. I was seeking people who would do what is right for the community and the organization, but for themselves.
Get a life yensan. nameless faceless wimp’s, known as the ” YES ” man of aberdeen’ your not capable of controlling your self.were you in charge’ of the toilet paper brigade?
where are your reply’s of what you intend to do for the naacp” do you think your remark’s of the hill billy’s at the back door of the council meeting room have been for gotten.
you can not compare’ your self to rick denu. you don’t have the IQ or the gut’s and you’ speak of being rational.
rick denu is not going to kiss any’ a– least of all your’s. he was a major loss to aberdeen p.d.
BIS: It sounds as if the officers are assigned there because it is an event not assigned there because they support a speaker. It’s all about protecting the First Amendment. I’m sure that African-American police officers take no great pride in the fact that they work a traffic or security assignment when the Knights of The Camelion have a rally that is protected under the First Amendment and cannot be denied by not issueing a permit under federal court ruling. The police don’t have to like the speaker or the speech and they don’t have to like an assignment of standing there doing security work but they have to love the United States Constitution or they wouldn’t have taken the job in the first place.
If someone did indeed come to Chief Rudy and complain that the speech was anti-homosexual and they were offended all the chief would have needed to do is point to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution end of story. If he did indeed make up some kind of I didn’t hear it excuse then shame on him. Is that cause for dismissal? Certainly not, Something to take under advisement? Certainly.
I’m curious as to what the Chief will do about the comments made by the Adams woman on television. Is this a case of her hen pecking and running her husband’s life, is this a case of poor communication between husband and wife, is this a case of her simply expressing what she believes to be the truth, or is this a tactic where the wife is a pawn used to express her husband’s displeasure in his current working environment because he cannot out of fear of punishment or will not out of cowardice? By the way, there are many spouses that don’t like the way the boss treats the workers but you don’t see them hogging the camera. Regardless of the reason this was done in poor taste.
This could be a very good test for Chief Rudy. A test to see if he can be diplomatic, sympathetic, and stern all at the same time. Hint, hint, if there is a renegade amongst the troops then it should be dealt with swiftly and directly.
“is this a case of her simply expressing what she believes to be the truth”
I’ve never known Mrs Adams to ever speak the truth! Just ask around town.
RWinger,
The event referred to was an “Aberdeen Employee Appreciation Day” which was publicly told to be held by the Breath of God Church. In reality Megan, Fred’s son’s girlfriend arranged the event, financing and the speakers. Coincidentally, this event also took place on the first day of the 2007 campaigning where Simmons, Yensen and Hiob signs ringed the Festival Park.
To be correct, the officers in uniform were ordered to participate in the event as non of them would have attended voluntarily as they saw what the event was truly about and they certainly were not there as security. The officers sitting on either side of the Chief and the Captain were appalled by the extremist banter made by one male speaker and then again by a female speaker and member of the church. You can take it to the bank that the Chief did state not hearing the gay bashing speech and in fact while he was giving his excuses to this prominent member of our community asked the Captain if he heard this speech. The Captain also denied hearing this speech, but the officers along either side certainly did and made issue of it after the event. This was yet one more example of many where the Chief and Captain applied their situational ethics. These poor excuses of having temporary hearing loss and back issues is poor taste as an explanation to a man whom felt it necessary to bring it to their attention.
Further, true, in itself, not cause for dismissal, but when compiled over the years along with their lack of addressing serious public safety issues in the City, it certainly is.
The Adams woman. Poor taste or not, the question I was left with was why would someone feel they need to go to this extreme to express their displeasure about their husbands employer? Certainly not because they don’t like the boss, or some of the people, etc. There is something much deeper here. Does not anyone see the common thread here? There is a definite problem there and apparently Officer Adams is not part of that circle. Are they after him because he does not agree with thier ethics? I am sure all of these questions and answers will come to surface.
Okay Melvin (funny this is the nickname around the station for the Chief),
Back up that one. Show some examples of her dishonesty to back up your statement. Or are you part of that “circle” that throws stuff out there and doesn’t not substantiate when asked?
BIC thank you for clearing that up. Again I must side on the First Amendment in regard to the speaker and will agree that the forum was clouded and may have been an improper venue.
On the Channel 2 piece Rick Denu stated that officers would be transfered if they were low performers (transfered to where, Aberdeen isn’t that big of a department the web site shows patrol, rrt, detectives, and school resource), or be forced to walk foot patrol (police need to be out of the cars on foot patrol, they need to be visible, and they need to be dressed in military style working clothes as intimidation goes a long way), or the officers could have a take home car taken from them (as if a take home car was a God given right, well it’s not). What he was reading never said QUOTA it talked about performance. Was this Officer Adams’ problem or was there some other incident? I have a news flash, there is retaliation in every work place out there, it’s just being able to substantiate the claims. Discrimination cases, sexual bias cases, and work related injuries are much easier to litigate than the perception of retaliation. I will be the first one to admit that protection under the Whistleblower Act is lacking. If Officer Adams was wronged through no action on his part or received unfair or unequal punishment for an infraction that has a historic lesser punishment then he has a good legal base from which to build. If that is the case, I would caution my client and client’s spouse on any public comment. (If Officer X is late for assignment and gets a verbal reprimand and Officer Y gets a verbal reprimand for the same infraction than Officer Z may have a claim if Officer Z gets their take hame car taken away for one week for the same infraction. Officer Z would have a claim if X, Y, and Z had all been late for assignment on the same amount of days and Officer Z can demonstrate a reason for the bias whether gender, race, political affiliation, etc. Mind you this is a very simple example.)
And once again, myself included, we have managed to depart from the gang discussion.
RWinger,
I agree the First Amendment could have been used for an excuse in explaining why this type of speech was allowed at this type of function, an “Employee Appreciation”, but it wasn’t. What was said by the Chief was denial and ailment excuses and a sarcastic (what else its new) response from his Captain. That is the point here.
Your example and point taken perfectly. You just explained one of the largerst problems plaguing this department. This is exactly the problem here! You got it!
Retaliation does exists everywhere, true. But does this make it right. Is this functional and should the administration engage in it?
Perhaps the Dagger needs to write an article on this specific commentary and move all of these comments over under that particular article as we did stray from the subject here.
Nah, Mrs Adams likes to file false and malicious complaints on other officers. What goes around comes around they say. Believe me, EVERYTHING concerning her will be public soon! Stay tuned!
Melvin,
If your talkin about the Legion incident…I’ve spoken to several that were there and they confirmed a certain Sgt. was acting like the drunken ass he is and then drove home on top of it all.
Why is it whenever someone speaks of the goings on at the Aberdeen Police Department they are crazy, disgruntled, a liar, etc…????????????????????
Who did you talk to? Was it the same people IA talked to, or was it a “phantom’ witness? Then why did the investigation into the matter reveal otherwise? Like I said, I herd it was all going public very soon so sit tight!! Maybe even on you tube or something!!!
Oh sorry, forgot to mention that rumor has it that legal action is coming as well. And that my friend is PUBLIC INFORMATION! Then