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Main Page Way To Go Delta !!!!!!!!!!!! QPD Related Posts
(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: kwflatbed

Police union head tickets chief; The official says Crowley violated a criminal law

By DON CONKEY
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY - In a new low in their rocky relationship, the head of the city’s police union has accused the police chief of committing a crime that carries a one-year jail sentence.

Union President Bruce Tait has issued a citation alleging that Chief Robert Crowley deliberately allowed an officer to drive with an expired license.

‘‘I wrote it because nobody else will,’’ Tait said. ‘‘I seem to be the only person willing to hold him accountable.’’

Tait, said he stuck the citation under the chief’s door Thursday night.

Crowley isn’t talking, at least not about Tait.

But the chief did say he suspended officer Michael J. O’Brien without pay for five days for allegedly driving police vehicles with an expired license since February.

Tait said it was about 4 p.m. Wednesday when Crowley told Sgt. Michael O’Shea that O’Brien had an expired license.

Tait said Crowley instructed O’Shea to wait until after roll call and allow O’Brien to drive his cruiser from the police parking lot onto the street, then stop him and bring him back to the police station.

Instead, O’Shea stopped O’Brien after the vehicle had moved only about 5 feet and was still in the police lot, Tait said.

Tait said Crowley ordered O’Shea to file a criminal charge against O’Brien for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. O’Brien was then cited.

Tait said he wrote the citation against Crowley because the chief knew O’Brien did not have a valid license and still allowed him to get into the vehicle, start it and begin driving.

‘‘When O’Brien went to roll call and was assigned to get into a car and drive it, the chief knew that his license had expired, and the chief broke the law,’’ said Tait, who is president of the Quincy Police Patrol Officers Association and a longtime critic of Crowley.
O’Brien served the first day of his suspension on Wednesday after he was stopped by Sgt. O’Shea, Crowley said, and will serve the rest of the suspension from Tuesday through Friday.

‘‘I believe that is the proper way to handle it,’’ Crowley said.

Tait said he wrote the citation to make a point that Crowley could have handled the situation differently.

‘‘The chief should have called the person at home, or had someone go to his house and say, ‘Do not get into a car,’ ’’ Tait said.

Tait said O’Brien got a new license on Thursday.

O’Brien is not commenting publicly on the incident, but his attorney said the officer finds Crowley’s actions to be an ‘‘absolutely reprehensible and an outrageous abuse of power.’’

‘‘I think Chief Crowley needs a psychiatric evaluation because anyone who does this kind of thing cannot be normal,’’ said Boston attorney Richard C. Bardi. ‘‘He ought to sit in a jail cell for one year and have a $500 fine’’ - the maximum sentence for Crowley’s citation.

The citation is another chapter in the stormy relationship between the police department and the union, and between Crowley and Tait in particular.

The incident follows on the heels of Thursday’s announcement that the patrolmen’s union has accused the department’s internal affairs division of not warning officers when they become targets of misconduct investigations, an alleged violation of department policy.

The union had filed a complaint of workplace harassment against Crowley and Lt. John Sullivan, who heads Internal Affairs.

In that complaint, Tait cited four instances - two of which involved him - in which officers were not properly notified when put under investigation for citizen complaints of misconduct. Details of the citizen complaints were not included.

Tait has led a public campaign against Crowley, blaming the chief for what Tait has said is sinking morale in the department.

Appearing before city councilors in February, Tait called Crowley a ‘‘liar.’’ On his blog he has called for the chief to be fired.

Crowley has in the past dismissed the criticism as ‘‘trash,’’ but it has been months since he commented publicly on the dispute.

http://ledger.southofboston.com/arti...ews/news04.txt

Posted by: Delta784

I'm truly, honestly embarrassed it had to come to this, but it is what it is.

Posted by: justanotherparatrooper

Bruce, we all know you didnt want the laundry to be aired in public.It cant be easy for you and your members to work in that kind of enviroment. Your profession is tough enough WITHOUT this kind of crap. ....Keep your chin up bro

Posted by: SouthSideCobras

Sounds like a very hostile working environment with an out of control Chief. Maybe the Sgt. could have stopped the officer prior to his entering the cruiser?

Keep up the good fight !

Posted by: Sniper

Now THAT is "standing behind your troops" !!!! Much respect Delta.

Posted by: wgciv

I don't see why you'd be embarrassed Delta. I think what you did was commendable. Good luck.

Posted by: Killjoy

Nice! Good job, Delta! A strong union is the only thing that keeps the command officers from constantly screwing us! The Qunicy chief obviously has some kind of mental problems to order this stunt...and he deserves to be cited.

Posted by: dave7336

I am sure the Sgt. did not want to do it either but he had to follow the orders....that being said, I 100% applaud you for what you did!!! The Chief could have assigned him to the desk or maybe a walking beat until he renewed his driver's license..

how many times do you tell the passenger to get into the driver's seat when an operator's license has expired and he forgot to get it renewed...it is completely different than being revoked or suspended...

you should be proud for standing up for your troops and membership...you did the right thing

Posted by: HousingCop

Chief LK ORDERED Sergeant O'Shea to let Officer O'Brien drive into a public street before he was to be pulled over. That's a very dangerous exit and what if somebody was hurt or injured in a possible collision between Officer O'Brien's cruiser and a civilian M/V? The Chief ordered a Sergeant to willfully let somebody commit a criminal act before action was to be taken.
Chief LK needs his head examined. Nobody who is rational, especially in that position of authority, would do such a crazy stunt. There is about 10 different ways that this situation could have, and should have been handled but Chief LK chose to take the worst approach, per usual.

Delta, you got some brass ones for your actions. God bless 'ya and stay safe in the 2nd safest city in our fair Commonwealth.

Posted by: PBC FL Cop

Here's your brass balls award, you earned it!!!!

Posted by: CampusOfficer

Quote:

Originally Posted by HousingCop

Delta, you got some brass ones for your actions.

+!. I know there is always more to the story than what is printed in the article, and I know the Chief and union have had many issues recently, but I CERTAINLY APPLAUD your actions Delta.

Posted by: Wolfman

!!

Posted by: Crvtte65

Hopefully this action shows the city what "leader" they actually have there and start backing you guys more!

Posted by: Deuce

Great job Delta, much respect. What the hell was the sgt thinking? I mean, was that a lawful order he felt duty bound to follow? He sounds like a tool to me...

Posted by: Dr.Magoo

Excellent job Delta for doing the right thing. Sounds like the Chief needs to make his way to the door. What is up with the Sgt.? Like Deuce said, doesn't sound like a lawful order to me.

Posted by: 94c

The Sergeant could have easily told the officer he wasn't working tonight because he doesn't have a license.

What's the chief's argument going to be?

That the Sgt. botched a setup?

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deuce

Great job Delta, much respect. What the hell was the sgt thinking? I mean, was that a lawful order he felt duty bound to follow? He sounds like a tool to me...

He's actually one of the good ones who was put into an impossible situation, I don't have any problem with the way he handled it given the circumstances.

Posted by: Dragnet

The Chief should have handled this by assigning the Officer inside until he renewed the license. BIG difference between not renewing a license (especially if he really did just forget, we are all human) and being under suspension etc. The Chief had an opportunity to show he can be a good leader and do the right thing, but chose to screw the Officer instead. Very unfortunate...... DRAGNET

Posted by: pahapoika

as stated before , a strong union is the only thing that prevents a workplace from turning into a dictatorship.

maybe a favorable outcome in the Mayor's race will end this ?

kudos to you sir , you've got some big stones

</IMG>

Posted by: mpd61

Holy Jeezus!

What a most unfortunate set of circumstances. How many times I've had people renew their license on-line and provide me the transaction receipt within about 15 minutes? Why couldn't the chief think of that? Oh I see, being vindictive and petty is the most efficient way to lead in his book, I guess.

How much mental and physical effort goes into planning and executing a potential liability incident like this just to be able to punish a subordinate?
Does seem to identify somewhat of a character flaw eh?
Just imagine this; "hey officer I need you to sit down at the computer and renew your license before you head out on patrol" Naw... that would make too much sense and be too easy for all the principals concerned!

Posted by: LTJMC

nice job delta!!

Posted by: OutOfManyOne

Quote:

‘He ought to sit in a jail cell for one year and have a $500 fine’’

Actually 90/12 for an employer to allow unlicensed operation is only a CMVI $500. It becomes a criminal application on subsequent offense.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutOfManyOne

Actually 90/12 for an employer to allow unlicensed operation is only a CMVI $500. It becomes a criminal application on subsequent offense.

That only applies to an employer who hires someone without a license for a position that's primarily a motor vehicle operator. If someone is already employed (and this officer is a 10+ year veteran) or the position is something other than a motor vehicle operator (bus driver, limo driver) it's a criminal offense.

There's a reason why we pay our Beacon Street lawyers $300 per hour.

Posted by: BrickCop

How many pages is your blog now? If only half of the blog entries are true the Chief has some serious issues that need to be addressed by the Mayor/City Council- the ostrich in the sand approach is not working.

The apologists will undoubtedly dismiss your actions out of hand but really what other choice did you have? It's tough enough taking on a bully, it's that much worse when he has a cadre of powerful but uncaring enablers behind him. Their relentless silence speaks volumes.

Posted by: sdb29

Hey Delta--

You might want to pop over to Officer.com and see how this is reading over there...

Posted by: kwflatbed

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdb29

Hey Delta--

You might want to pop over to Officer.com and see how this is reading over there...

Forum: http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72880

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdb29

Hey Delta--

You might want to pop over to Officer.com and see how this is reading over there...

I did, and I couldn't possibly care less what people think when they don't know the whole story. If they don't want to take the time to read the whole sordid history, I'm not too interested in what they have to say.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

UPDATE: I provided part of the sordid history.

Posted by: wgciv

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

Although there is some validity to the points being made over at Officer.com, I think you say it best above. They are making 'general' points. As police officers we have procedures for dealing with every 'common' incident we may face. Problem is, we don't always face 'common' incidents. Situation Dictates. One poster believes that, as opposed to the stance you have taken, you should have attempted to resolve your issues through use of courts, arbitrators, boards, etc. I have no doubt in my mind that, based on the size of your union and the legal resources on your payroll, you have used or are using those approaches. When we show up to a call we engage our 'general' procedures for dealing with the particular incident. If our by the book approach does not net any results, what are we to do? Do we continue beating a dead horse? Do we tuck our tails between our legs and walk away without settling the incident? NO! We improve, adapt, and overcome! We use discretion and find a way to accomplish the mission. As Union President, because orthodox means of resolving your issues have failed, you have used your discretion and have taken the stance you have. You're just doing your job, you're looking out for the interest of your union body. As posters over there have said, and you are well aware, this type of stance will put a strain on the union's relationship with the Chief and the Mayor. But I ask.. what is there to lose by putting strain on an already strained relationship? If your union body rally's around the next mayoral candidate and helps him/her to get elected, then the union will prosper, not suffer, from this stance against administration. I also laugh at the notion you are doing this in order to solidify your place as union president. Being president of a large union requires much time and hard work and most would not wish to sustain that workload for a long period of time. To boot, the stipend one receives for their duties as a union official are hardly worth the time and effort required of the job. I am rambling on and not sure if I'm even making sense, but I guess I'm just trying to say that I, and I'm sure most others on this board, support your actions. Good Luck!

Posted by: BrickCop

+1 wgciv

You should also post this reply over there.

Posted by: OutOfManyOne

As long as the majority of the union went along with this and this is not just some act that you felt like you had to do on your own then it is not a problem. But if this is just an action that you did based on "I am the only one that will do something" then you would be hurting the rest of the union membership and then it would be time to rethink your strategy.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutOfManyOne

As long as the majority of the union went along with this and this is not just some act that you felt like you had to do on your own then it is not a problem. But if this is just an action that you did based on "I am the only one that will do something" then you would be hurting the rest of the union membership and then it would be time to rethink your strategy.

We're too big to ask every single member, but even some guys who have been critical of my strategy before are supporting this. When you have to worry about your boss trying to set you up, it's time for drastic action.

Posted by: Barbrady

Nice work Delta!!.

Posted by: kwflatbed

Nice post to L1 Bruce.

If any of you have not gone to Officer.com and read the thread you should
and add your comments.

Forum: http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72880

Posted by: SOT

Hey I function under the philosophy that if you think you are doing a good job, then who cares what the people on the Interwebs think. You are beholden to yourself and the union you represent, that's all.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOT

Hey I function under the philosophy that if you think you are doing a good job, then who cares what the people on the Interwebs think. You are beholden to yourself and the union you represent, that's all.

Exactly right, thanks.

Quincy cops have beef with chief

By Jessica Van Sack | Tuesday, September 4, 2007

| http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Coverage

Quincy police union officials are pushing a criminal complaint against their chief for allegedly allowing a patrolman to drive with an expired license, then citing him for it.

They say Chief Robert Crowley allowed officer Michael O’Brien to drive a police cruiser without a license in what union officials described as a backfired attempt to nab O’Brien.

“It’s a disgrace,” said Officer Bruce Tait, the union’s president.

According to the police report filed by Tait, Crowley ordered a sergeant to watch O’Brien get behind the wheel of his cruiser and drive before stopping him and citing him on Wednesday. Crowley stripped O’Brien of his weapon and suspended him for five days.

But the top cop could be on the hook himselfm, since it’s illegal under Melanie’s Law, passed in 2005, to knowingly allow someone to operate a motor vehicle without a license in a car “owned by them or under their control.”

The move had union officials wondering why Crowley didn’t just remind O’Brien, whose license expired in February, to get it renewed, which O’Brien is said to have done the day after being cited. Union officials say the lapse was an oversight.

“(Crowley’s)behavior should be reviewed,” said Richard C. Bardi, an attorney for the Quincy Police Patrol Officers’ Association. “He has some type of agenda that is bizarre at best.”

Crowley did not return calls, and Quincy Mayor William Phelan could not be reached.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1029207

OUR VIEW: Theater of the absurd

By The Patriot Ledger

There is enough foolishness and pettiness in the latest Quincy policy contretemps to taint everyone involved, but the biggest dunce caps should be saved for police union president Bruce Tait and attorney Richard C. Bardi, who is representing the officer at the center of this debacle.

Tait, in the most mind-boggling example of hubris, cited Police Chief Robert Crowley with a criminal complaint after Crowley suspended Officer Michael O’Brien for driving without a license since February.

Yes, you read that right. A police officer whose job includes monitoring and enforcing laws against illegal drivers was himself driving police cruisers for six months on an expired license.

Yet Tait is incensed that Crowley had O’Brien charged and suspended for five days.

‘‘The chief should have called the person at home, or had someone go to his house and say, ‘Do not get into a car,’’’ Tait said, admitting in essence his citation of Crowley was revenge for the chief’s handling of the situation.

Bardi, who is representing O’Brien, hit a height of hyperbole that is beyond zealous representation and borders on absurd. He called Crowley’s actions ‘‘reprehensible’’ and claims Crowley ‘‘needs a psychiatric evaluation.’’

Perhaps the doctor has room on the couch for people who think it’s OK that a police officer broke the law every day for the past six months by getting behind the wheel of a car illegally, an act which itself carries fines up to $1,000 and lengthy suspension or revocation of a license.

No one is arguing the facts. Crowley took action last week after learning that O’Brien did not have a valid license, his having expired in February and not been renewed for unknown reasons. Tait said Crowley ordered one of his sergeants to wait until O’Brien drove his cruiser out of the department parking lot after roll call and then stop him.

The sergeant, though, stopped O’Brien before he went onto the streets and issued a citation.

Tait then issued a criminal complaint against Crowley for allowing O’Brien to get behind the wheel. The charge against Crowley carries a $500 fine and up to a year in jail.

‘‘When O’Brien went to roll call and was assigned to get into a car and drive it, the chief knew that his license had expired, and the chief broke the law,’’ Tait said, adding that O’Brien got a new license the next day.

Could Crowley have handled the situation differently? Probably, but given the tense relationship with the Quincy Police Patrol Officers Association and Tait’s over-the-top reaction, it’s understandable Crowley would want to have a solid case that his officer was driving illegally, rather than a union grievance that he was never charged and therefore could not be suspended.
But we have to ask if Tait is looking for different rules for police officers. If he thinks Crowley should just have called O’Brien at home and told him not to come in, we wonder if Tait and other officers would look the other way when civilians violate the driving laws.

And none of this even addresses the liability that the city, and by extension its taxpayers, faced while O’Brien drove the streets. What would have happened had he been in an accident? What would the cost have been then?

Tait, as is his modus operandi, will label us and all who question him, anti-cop and anti-union. Nothing could be further from the truth. We understand the tough job police have and the sometimes demanding expectations of the public. But one of those expectations is to enforce and abide by the law, not abuse its power like Tait.

Your Views

How should the Quincy police chief have dealt with a police officer driving without a license?

Write: Your Views, The Patriot Ledger, 400 Crown Colony Drive, Quincy, MA 02169
Fax: 617-786-7393
Call: 781-340-3156
E-mail: editpage@ledger.com
Please include your address and telephone number.

Copyright 2007 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Posted by: SinePari

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

Tait, as is his modus operandi, will label us and all who question him, anti-cop and anti-union. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Uh, no, Tait doesn't label you as anti-cop, YOUR editorial pages reek of anti-cop.

Posted by: Dragnet

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinePari

Uh, no, Tait doesn't label you as anti-cop, YOUR editorial pages reek of anti-cop.

It is so obvious that the PATRIOT LEDGER is anti-cop, as with most other media outlets. The media is not a Police Officer's friend. DRAGNET

Posted by: GD

Crawley been psychologically deficient since he was a Sergeant in West Quincy!!!

Posted by: kwflatbed

My reply to The Patriot Ledger:

In reply to your view of the situation with the QPD union and the chief of the QPD.

Yes it could have been handled differently,the chief had knowledge that Officer Michael O’Brien
did not have a drivers license and should not be operating a police cruiser but still sent him
out to do his patrol with orders for the Sgt. to stop and cite him once he entered the roadway,
instead of doing the proper thing of notifying the officer that he had not renewed his license
and telling him to do it as soon as possible.

How many times do you look at your license to check the expiration date??

The Registry Of Motor Vehicles is not always on time with renewal notices, not to say that
it happened that way but it may have.

Would the Quincy Patriot Ledger send out one of their employees in one of their vehicles
knowing the person did not have their license ?? Would the editor in chief call the QPD
and have the driver stopped and cited ??

I commend Officer Tait for standing by his fellow officer and citing the chief,the same way I would commend him if it was the editor in chief of The Ledger if he had done the same as Chief Crowley
sending out an improper operator.

No one is trying to change the rules but Chief Crowley, he has his own set of rules to work with
and as usual The Patriot Ledger is waving his flag.

To quote a friend on editorials in The Patriot Ledger "YOUR editorial pages reek of anti-cop"
and my quote "Your editorial pages reek anti-union, anti-labor and anti-cop"

Now lets see if this gets printed or thrown in the circular file because it opposes your opinion.

Harold Pike

Posted by: Delta784

My response;

To the Editor,

As usual, the Patriot Ledger Editorial Board has ignored the facts, because they're once again devastating to their argument.

The Ledger disgustingly applauds the Quincy Police Chief using his office and authority to commit a crime, while at the same time criticizes me for enforcing the law as I am sworn to do ("OUR VIEW: Theater of the absurd"). In that editorial, I'm painted as somehow trying to excuse the fact that a police officer allowed his license to expire and didn't renew it for months. Nothing could be further from the truth, as this officer will be the first to admit he made a mistake. This happens sometimes with human beings.

Not content to correct the mistake and deal with the disciplinary issue later, Chief Crowley attempted a shameless set-up where he knowingly allowed the unlicensed officer to operate a police cruiser. It was only the intervention of a quick-thinking sergeant that stopped the officer from driving onto a public way. The Ledger opined on the liability the city faced if the officer was involved in an accident while unlicensed. What of the liability if the officer drove out onto Sea Street on 8/29 and was involved in an accident while the police chief knew full well he was unlicensed, and in fact wanted the officer to drive on a public way?

To answer the Ledger's question as to whether I'm looking for different rules for police officers, the answer is no. What I'm looking for is a fair and consistent application of the law. Chief Crowley believes that a police officer committed a criminal offense by starting a police cruiser and moving it a few feet in the police station parking lot, where the public does not have a right of access. Fair enough; that officer and our lawyers will deal with that in court.

By deliberately creating the circumstances that allowed the officer to get behind the wheel of the cruiser, Chief Crowley committed a criminal offense. His position as police chief does not insulate him from the law, and he should answer for that in court. Should the clerk-magistrate find probable cause that Crowley committed the offense (and I have no reason to believe s/he won't), then using Mayor Phelan's and Chief Crowley's own standards of conduct for members of the Quincy Police Department, the chief should be fired immediately.

That's how patrol officers have been treated in the past. Why should the chief of police, who should be held to the highest standard of all, be treated any differently?

Posted by: andy0921

WTG, Bruce and Harry!

Posted by: BrickCop

The Pious Ledger strikes again. Surely they will see the hypocrisy of their argument if they actually chose to be objective. Reading between the lines- the Chief is not held to the same standard of law as an officer (or a civilian) simply because Bruce is a big ol' meanie pants. How can one argue against such logic?

Posted by: Delta784

I've been informed that my response will be published in the Monday edition of the Patriot Ledger. How much of it will survive the inevitable censoring remains to be seen.

Posted by: screamineagle

keep fighting the good fight Bruce!

Posted by: 5-0

There were so many holes in that Op-Ed, that I actually laughed out loud. I hope that the author was never on a debate team. Here is their argument summarized: Police Officers should obey the law (good, I'm with you on that)--> The officer broke the law (Ok)--> He should be held accountable (Fine)--> by breaking the law (huh?). All is good and right in the Patriot Ledger world.

And what the hell was the point about liability? He was a risk to the city by being on the road, so put him on the road ASAP so we can get him off? I would love to see their thoughts on OUI legislation.

Posted by: Delta784

The Devil better buy some long underwear, because it was published almost exactly as submitted;

http://ledger.southofboston.com/arti...ion/opin03.txt

READER’S VIEW: Ledger, Quincy chief wrong on law and facts

By BRUCE D. TAIT, President
Quincy Police Patrol Officers’ Association

As usual, the Patriot Ledger Editorial Board has ignored the facts, because they’re once again devastating to their argument.

The Ledger disgustingly applauds the Quincy Police Chief using his office and authority to commit a crime, while at the same time criticizes me for enforcing the law as I am sworn to do (‘‘OUR VIEW: Theater of the absurd,’’ Sept. 4). In that editorial, I’m painted as somehow trying to excuse the fact that a police officer allowed his license to expire and didn’t renew it for months. Nothing could be further from the truth, as this officer will be the first to admit he made a mistake. This happens sometimes with human beings.

Not content to correct the mistake and deal with the disciplinary issue later, Chief Robert Crowley attempted a shameless set-up where he knowingly allowed the unlicensed officer to operate a police cruiser.

It was only the intervention of a quick-thinking sergeant that stopped the officer from driving onto a public way. The Ledger opined on the liability the city faced if the officer was involved in an accident while unlicensed. What of the liability if the officer drove out onto Sea Street on Aug. 29 and was involved in an accident while the police chief knew full well he was unlicensed, and in fact wanted the officer to drive on a public way?

To answer the Ledger’s question as to whether I’m looking for different rules for police officers, the answer is no. What I’m looking for is a fair and consistent application of the law. Chief Crowley believes that a police officer committed a criminal offense by starting a police cruiser and moving it a few feet in the police station parking lot, where the public does not have a right of access.

Fair enough; that officer and our lawyers will deal with that in court.

By deliberately creating the circumstances that allowed the officer to get behind the wheel of the cruiser, Chief Crowley committed a criminal offense. His position as police chief does not insulate him from the law, and he should answer for that in court. Should the clerk-magistrate find probable cause that Crowley committed the offense (and I have no reason to believe he/she won’t), then using Mayor William Phelan’s and Chief Crowley’s own standards of conduct for members of the Quincy Police Department, the chief should be fired immediately.

That’s how patrol officers have been treated in the past. Why should the chief of police, who should be held to the highest standard of all, be treated any differently?

Posted by: CampusOfficer

Good article Delta!!

Posted by: Barbrady

Yes, nicely done.

Posted by: MM1799

You do a great job for your officer's Delta.
I think it's pathetic that you even need to jump through these hoops. The residents of Quincy should be ashamed as to how their elected officials and chief of police have made many patrolman's lives much more difficult -- as if they aren't difficult enough.

Posted by: kttref

Ok...I'm really behind on reading...but good for you. I can't think of anyone in my dept. that would have the balls to do that....too bad it had to all come to this! Stay strong.

Posted by: mpd61

Absolute idiots:

But we have to ask if Tait is looking for different rules for police officers. If he thinks Crowley should just have called O’Brien at home and told him not to come in, we wonder if Tait and other officers would look the other way when civilians violate the driving laws.

In the context of CMVI, it's called discretion. Like the editors have never heard of people being given a warning (verbal, written) for speeding, Stop sign etc... Nice try to be cyncial, critical and subjective. Something the Media goons do well.

Asss Whitney Huston once said "KISS MAH ASS!!!!

Chief needs a Psych eval, plain and simple. wcgiv made a damn fine point. You're doing a great job as an officer and a union pres......

Posted by: Foxracingmtnridr

Nice one Delta!

Keep up the fight.

Scott

Posted by: kwflatbed

Here We go Again With The patriot Ledger

Unlicensed Quincy cop had 2 on-duty accidents: Permit to drive had been expired for six months

By JOHN P. KELLY
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY - A police officer who patrolled the city for six months without a valid driver’s license got into two minor accidents in his cruiser during that time, but it’s unclear whether his co-workers checked the status of his license.

Officer Michael J. O’Brien, who was suspended last month and ticketed by a Quincy police sergeant for unlicensed driving, was involved in accidents in May and August while on duty.

In one, O’Brien was broad-sided by another driver and found not at fault, according to a police report. In the other, a fender-bender in front of the police station on Sea Street, O’Brien and the other driver blamed each other for causing the accident, according to a report. No citations were issued in that accident.

Police Chief Robert Crowley issued an order last week to officers in the department that they must run computerized license checks on any driver involved in an accident.

The order came in the wake of a public feud over how Crowley handled O’Brien’s suspension. Officer Bruce Tait, president of the patrolmen’s union, accused Crowley of plotting to have O’Brien ticketed after learning the officer’s license had expired in February and was never renewed.

According to Tait, Crowley instructed Sgt. Michael O’Shea on Aug. 29 to pull over O’Brien and ticket him when he began his patrol. After the ticket was issued, Crowley suspended O’Brien without pay for five days. The following night, Tait issued a citation to Crowley, alleging the chief deliberately allowed an officer to illegally drive with no license.

The internal ticketing episode has escalated already fiery relationship between Chief Crowley and the patrolmen’s union. For months, Tait has publicly campaigned to have Crowley fired, accusing the police chief of leaving the city’s streets under-patrolled, restricting officers’ vacation and, most recently, breaking department protocol by letting Internal Affairs investigate officers without first notifying them.

Yesterday, Regional Administrative Justice Paul Dawley ordered that both the complaint against Crowley and O’Brien be heard in district court in Brockton instead of Quincy, to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest. If the criminal complaint is upheld and Crowley is found guilty, he could face a year in jail.

Quincy District Court Clerk Magistrate Arthur Tobin requested the venue ruling. Tobin, the father-in-law of Mayor William Phelan, has three relatives on the Quincy police force. Phelan appointed Crowley chief of police.

Court dates have not been set for either of the citations.

Crowley has refused to comment on the matter, other than to confirm O’Brien had been suspended.

Tait said O’Brien had lost his driver’s license and was unaware it had expired. The officer acknowledged being at fault after his suspension and immediately renewed his license, Tait said. O’Brien has since been returned to active duty.
Exactly why the officer’s license had become temporarily nonrenewable is unclear, though Tait said O’Brien owed money for either parking tickets or state excise taxes.

It is also unclear when O’Brien lost physical possession of his driver’s license. Sgts. O’Shea and Daniel Guarente, the officers who wrote up O’Brien’s two car accidents, both noted his driver’s license number in their reports.

No mention is made in either report of the status of O’Brien’s license.

Tait said, prior to Crowley’s order last week, it was considered acceptable practice not to check a driver’s license in cases of minor accidents, if the license appeared to be valid.

http://ledger.southofboston.com/arti...ews/news03.txt

Posted by: kwflatbed

More idiot moves from TLK reported by QPL

Cop on ‘power trip’ suspended; Officer ticketed many in own neighborhood over canine offenses; chief puts him on short leash

By JOHN P. KELLY
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY - His neighbors call him Robocop.

The police chief called him suspended.

Quincy police Patrolman Joseph McGunigle was told this past week to take five days without pay.

His offense: Ticketing his Quincy Bay neighbors for letting their dogs run free and defecate on public property. He has been the source of at least 11 tickets since May, and they carry a fine of $50 to $100.

The official charge: Disobeying an order to stop giving out those tickets.

‘‘Everyone around here loves the neighborhood and he’s the one bad apple,’’ said Daniel McGuire, a Sea Street homeowner who was ticketed this past week by McGunigle - his second fine - for allegedly not cleaning up after his golden retriever. ‘‘The guy’s on a power trip.’’

McGunigle said he has been advised not to talk about what’s happened, but suggested talking to his wife, Diane.

Diane McGunigle said her husband’s vigilance has cleaned up the neighborhood, which she said was ‘‘from one end to the other covered in feces’’ when the couple moved there last fall.

‘‘This sends a very wrong message to people breaking the laws - to suspend a police officer doing his job,’’ she said.

If McGunigle is crusading to keep his Post Island Road neighborhood clean and safe, his neighbors complain, his tactics border on an abuse of power. Their complaints set off an Internal Affairs investigation and on Wednesday McGunigle was called in to Capt. John Dougan’s office, relieved of his gun and suspended for five days without pay.

The president of the Quincy patrol officers union, Bruce Tait, said Friday that McGunigle would appeal the suspension under Civil Service rules.

Diane McGunigle insisted that her husband has harassed no one, and that most of the neighborhood is pleased to see dog-related ordinances being enforced. ‘‘We’re actually being considered for the Neat Neighbors award in the city of Quincy - what does that tell you?’’ she said.
The McGunigles moved last year into a waterfront area off Sea Street approaching Quincy’s Houghs Neck. As elsewhere in Massachusetts, the beach there is private down to the low tide mark, and several neighbors say there has long been an understanding that dogs could run free there.

‘‘It used to be at 7 o’clock at night a group of neighbors would gather with their dogs on the beach and throw the tennis ball. Well, that doesn’t happen anymore,’’ resident Kevin Gracey said. ‘‘There’s the feeling that someone with binoculars is watching out the window.’’

Diane McGunigle said she and her husband have video footage and photographs of the illegal dog doings.

But not all of the neighborhood strife is canine-related.

Recently, officer McGunigle has tried to have numerous homeowners expelled from the local beach association because their homes lie outside the Post Island boundaries as defined in a decades-old charter, the association’s president, Joe Cotter, said.

Cotter said the association received a letter from McGunigle’s attorney saying certain homeowners, who had been permitted to become dues-paying members over the years, had no legal right to set foot on the beach.

Cotter, who lives next door to McGunigle, said he has had his own run-ins with the officer. Cotter had a fence, which he thought was on his property, until McGunigle had the land surveyed. The fence was on McGunigle’s land, and the officer took down the fence.

‘‘It’s a Hatfield-McCoy thing,’’ Cotter said. ‘‘Legally, he may have been within his rights, but as a neighbor, a human, it’s ethically wrong.’’

Tait, the police union president, said superior officers pulled McGunigle aside several weeks ago and ‘‘browbeat him’’ about issuing the citations.

‘‘(Police Chief Robert Crowley) suspended a police officer for defending his own property and enforcing the law. That’s about as outrageous as it gets,’’ Tait said.

Crowley isn’t happy about the situation, either. He has said he will ask Mayor William Phelan to lengthen the suspension beyond the five-day maximum he can impose as chief, according to police officers close to the situation. Neither the police chief nor the mayor would comment for this article.

In a brief interview before referring a reporter to his wife, officer McGunigle recalled the reaction he got from a neighborhood resident when he first told him that, by law, his dog must be leashed and picked up after.

‘‘He told me, ‘We do things differently around here,’’’ said McGunigle, who said he was advised by the union not to speak to the press. ‘‘I’m supposed to step over dog crap when I walk down my beautiful beach?’’

http://www.southofboston.com/article...ews/news02.txt

Posted by: Barbrady

If he is on duty at the time I don't see it being an issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwflatbed

‘‘Legally, he may have been within his rights, but as a neighbor, a human, it’s ethically wrong.’’
http://www.southofboston.com/article...ews/news02.txt

Thats lunacy to suggest its "ethically wrong" for a man to take back his own land that he pays taxes on. Sounds like a bunch of stuck up douches.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwflatbed

the association’s president, Joe Cotter, said.

When the mayor of Quincy releases his political contribution list next month, remember that name.

Enough said.

Posted by: mpd61

Madness!!!!

Posted by: SinePari

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwflatbed

‘‘Everyone around here loves the neighborhood and he’s the one bad apple,’’ said Daniel McGuire, a Sea Street homeowner who was ticketed this past week by McGunigle - his second fine - for allegedly not cleaning up after his golden retriever. ‘‘The guy’s on a power trip.’’

Well, when you make calls to the mayor to cash in those favors (read, political contributions)...now THAT'S a power trip.

"Hey-hey, look at me! I can call the mayor and get a cop to stop giving out tickets! I'm somebody special!"

Douchebags.

Posted by: Delta784

Dog owners have bone to pick

Charge harassment by police officer neighbor

By Matt Carroll, Globe Staff | September 23, 2007

A dispute between a police officer and his neighbors is dividing the Post Island waterfront section of Quincy.

Quincy Police Officer Joseph McGunigle and his supporters say the issue is dog owners who let their pets run loose and who don't pick up dog excrement on the beach.

Although such practices have been tolerated for years, McGunigle says he won't put up with it. He has issued about 11 citations, with fines of $50 or $100, to neighbors for not keeping dogs on leashes and for failing to clean up after them.

"I paid $620,000 for this oceanfront home and I'm not letting dogs [defecate] on my yard," he said in an interview, which included a walk on the beach to view dog droppings.

But neighbors say there is a bigger issue: They allege harassment by the off-duty police officer. They say McGunigle intimidates them, and videotapes them and their dogs on the beach. They also say he filed a police complaint about a young child not fully clothed on the beach, and tore down a neighbor's fence when he discovered it was on his property. And they point to his suspension from the force six years ago for ticketing a Hull officer who had ticketed his daughter.

The dogs may be a problem, they say, but such actions are a greater concern.

McGunigle acknowledges videotaping offenders, and tearing down the fence (after warning the neighbor to move it), as well as filing the beach complaint and receiving the earlier suspension. (In that case, McGunigle says, the officer's ticket was warranted.) But, he says, all that is beside the point. He is, he says, just doing his job and trying to keep the beach clean.

Seven neighbors complained to the department, saying that "Officer McGunigle has abused his authority as a police officer by intimidating and harassing his neighbors," according to the complaint, filed in June. Chief Robert F. Crowley suspended McGunigle for five days for disobeying an order not to write more citations, said McGunigle.

The suspension ended last week, but the chief has asked Mayor William J. Phelan to increase the penalty. The chief can suspend an officer for five days at most, but the mayor has broader power. No hearing date has been set. The mayor had no comment, saying it is an ongoing disciplinary matter.

The mayor has a previously scheduled neighborhood meeting for Thursday at the Adams Shore Library from 5 to 7 p.m., where the topic is expected to be discussed.

The issue has soured the atmosphere in the tightknit Post Island neighborhood of homes, which are on postage-stamp lots and own panoramic views of downtown Boston and the harbor.

"It is really an unpleasant situation, and it is virtually all we talk about these days," said Kevin Gracey, whose own clash over dogs with Dianne Kane-McGunigle, the officer's wife, ended up on the "People's Court" TV show. The case stemmed from an incident in January when Gracey's dog nipped at the McGunigles' dog. McGunigle's wife unsuccessfully sued Gracey for $2,000 in pain and suffering.

Tension between McGunigle and dog owners has reached the boiling point.

"I am trying to avoid a civil war," wrote dog officer Don Conboy Jr. in a note to McGunigle's wife, reporting that he had talked to several dog owners about the problem.

Ironically, both sides agree that in the wake of the controversy, there is much less excrement on the beaches. More, although not all, dog owners are making an effort to clean up after their pets, they said.

An unrepentant McGunigle, 50, an officer for 10 years, said he was only enforcing the law and has done nothing wrong. Many of the people who complained to the department are those to whom he issued citations, said McGunigle. He and his wife own a year-old Rottweiler named Boris, who, they say, is always on a leash.

He and his wife moved into their "dream house" waterfront home a year ago and noticed a dog problem almost immediately. From his second-floor deck, he began videotaping offendingdogs.

"You couldn't walk across the street without stepping in it," he said. He started issuing citations in late spring or early summer. His wife complained to the city, including the mayor, without effect, he said.

Some people paid, but others argued with McGunigle or the city. Some said their legal backyards were the beach, so they fall outside the town bylaws.

Daniel McGuire said he received a $100 citation and he doesn't even own a dog, although his girlfriend does.

Ed Goldman, who owns a black Lab, said he paid a $100 citation. He was upset because, he said, his dog was on a radio-controlled collar at the time and was therefore exempt from the regulations. He agreed, though, that many owners had been lax about cleaning up.

"Because the dog warden has asked us, most of us made a concerted effort to do something about it, because it does get in the water, and that is a major issue, frankly," he said.

McGunigle has defenders among the neighbors, who said the dog problem, long tolerated, had gotten out of hand.

Joanne O'Connell, whose infant was nipped at by Gracey's dog, said McGunigle's suspension was unfair.

Dogs "have been a problem in this neighborhood for at least 20 years," she said, saying the area used to be called "Dog Alley."

Dan Shea said dog excrement was placed on his porch after he complained about the problems.

"I think Joe is trying to solve the same problems a lot of us are having," he said, although he noted the situation improved after police talked to a number of owners.

Bruce Tait, president of the patrolmen's association, called it a political problem because many of those who received tickets are Phelan backers. (Two of those ticketed said they are not politically active.) All the officers are behind McGunigle, he said.

"Either take the [dog] laws off the books or enforce them," said Coleen Lombard. "Quincy seems to want to sweep them under the carpet."

Matt Carroll can be reached at mcarroll@globe.com.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas...o_pick?mode=PF

Posted by: MM1799

Delta, I've tried to keep up with the lunacy of your city and department and I think usually because it's a police problem and public just chalks it up to that and pays little attention. The dog situation has to be a nightmare for Mayor Phelan. I can't think of many things that anger the middle and lower classes more than political connections and favoritism.

In an election year, I would hope that your mayor would realize this is a just the thing that turns the masses (middle class). While I think the time to remove your moron chief (and even the Mayor) has come and gone, this political favoritism (which everyone sees on a daily basis) may, hopefully, be the death sentence to this "regime".

I was speaking to a trooper who commutes from Quincy daily and he says his neighbors (middle class) have turned a blind eye to your intradepartmental problems, they have no room for a mayor who caters only to the rich and spoiled.

As always, good luck.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by MM1799

In an election year, I would hope that your mayor would realize this is a just the thing that turns the masses (middle class). While I think the time to remove your moron chief (and even the Mayor) has come and gone, this political favoritism (which everyone sees on a daily basis) may, hopefully, be the death sentence to this "regime".

My personal opinion is that the mayor's days are numbered. He faces an extremely formidable and popular opponent in the election, and everywhere I look in the city there are Koch bumper stickers and lawn signs;

http://www.kochforquincy.com

The teachers union has already endorsed Koch, the firefighters union most likely will, and even if I wanted to stop it (I don't) I think we will also.

The mayor has no one to blame but himself. He's allowed the situation at the police department to spiral out-of-control while he just ignores it and hopes it goes away. I think he better start thinking of re-opening his OUI defense law office by January.

***The above are my own personal views and should not be construed as the official position of any union I represent.

Posted by: SinePari

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

"I paid $620,000 for this oceanfront home and I'm not letting dogs [defecate] on my yard," he said in an interview, which included a walk on the beach to view dog droppings.

If I dropped that much coin on a little slice of heaven, Claymore mines and M-60 nests would be in order...not just civil fines for doggy poop

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinePari

If I dropped that much coin on a little slice of heaven, Claymore mines and M-60 nests would be in order...not just civil fines for doggy poop

To say that Joe works a few details here and there would be an understatement.

Posted by: kwflatbed

Delta is TLK's hearing open to the public at the Brockton District Court
on October 19th - 2PM ??????

I think it would be worth the trip.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwflatbed

Delta is TLK's hearing open to the public at the Brockton District Court
on October 19th - 2PM ??????

I think it would be worth the trip.

It is, but get there early or you won't get a seat.

Posted by: kwflatbed

Brockton District Court
215 Main Street
P.O. Box 7610
Brockton, MA 02303-7610

Posted by: secret squirrel

Good for your Delta....that's a great way to stand your ground and protect you members!!!!!!

Posted by: sdb29

So how'd this ever turn out?

Posted by: kwflatbed

Continued the last I heard.
Bruce ?? Any News

In Todays Quincy Paper:

QUINCY: Magistrate to decide on charge for chief; Hearing held in dispute with police officers

Sgt. Michael O’Shea testifies that Chief Crowley
ordered him to ticket officer O’Brien.
(LISA BUL/The Patriot Ledger)

By JOHN P. KELLY
The Patriot Ledger

BROCKTON - The district court clerk magistrate will rule by month’s end whether to let charges stand against Quincy Police Chief Robert Crowley and a patrolman he ordered ticketed for driving a police cruiser without a valid driver’s license.

The ruling by Clerk Magistrate Kevin P. Creedon will determine whether Crowley must defend himself against a criminal charge that he allowed patrol officer Michael J. O’Brien to drive despite knowing the officer’s license had expired six months earlier. The crime is punishable by up to a year in jail.

The citation issued to O’Brien carries a fine of up to $1,000.

The ticketing episode unfolded over three days in late August against the background of a feud between Crowley and the patrolmen’s union.

Sgt. Michael O’Shea testified at a hearing Friday that Crowley instructed him on Aug. 29, after learning O’Brien had an invalid license, to pull the officer over when he began his shift. O’Shea said he ticketed O’Brien, at Crowley’s instruction, for driving while unlicensed.

The next day, Quincy Police Patrol Officers Association president Bruce Tait cited Crowley for allowing the unlicensed officer to drive. He later upgraded it to a criminal charge when he learned that Melanie’s Law, an anti-drunken-driving law passed in 2005, made the offense more serious.

Richard Bardi, O’Shea’s attorney, argued that technically, O’Brien never broke the law because the parking lot where he was stopped is a police-only lot, and therefore not a ‘‘public way’’ as defined by the law.

William F. Sullivan, the lawyer hired by the city to represent Crowley, argued that the police chief didn’t permit O’Brien to drive. He said department regulations explicitly bar officers from driving without a valid license.

‘‘How many times does he have to say ‘no’?’’ Sullivan said.

O’Brien was suspended for five days without pay. He returned to duty after he cleared up an outstanding debt for either parking tickets or excise tax and renewed his license.

Bardi, O’Shea’s lawyer, called Crowley’s actions ‘‘shameful’’ and ‘‘an abuse of power,’’ suggesting that the police chief could have better handled the situation simply by instructing the officer to renew his license.

‘‘Instead he laid a trap, and it’s blowing up in his face,’’ Bardi said. ‘‘It was a black eye for the Quincy Police Department.’’

http://ledger.southofboston.com/arti...ews/news10.txt

Posted by: SinePari

O'Shea, Sullivan, Crowley, O'Brien...

Is this Quincy or Dublin?

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinePari

O'Shea, Sullivan, Crowley, O'Brien...

Is this Quincy or Dublin?

After I was hired, I was grilled by more than one veteran officer who demanded to know how I was appointed, since I was;

1) Non-Irish.

2) Non-Italian.

3) Non-Catholic.

My standard answer; I was a civil service appeal.

Posted by: kwflatbed

Irish Mafia

Posted by: kwflatbed

More Bullcrap From The FU Court System In MA
Brockton District Court Clerk Magistrate Kevin Creedon
Is In Someones Pocket

Complaints against chief, officer dropped; Case pitted Quincy’s Crowley against police patrol officers’ union

By JENNIFER MANN
The Patriot Ledger

BROCKTON - A clerk magistrate has dismissed criminal complaints against Quincy Police Chief Robert Crowley and patrol officer Michael O’Brien, blunting an episode of finger-pointing that pitted the department’s top brass against the patrolmen’s union.

Lawyers on both sides said they got letters Wednesday that said complaints against their clients had been dropped.

Brockton District Court Clerk Magistrate Kevin Creedon held hearings on both matters last Friday.

At issue was an August incident in which Sgt. Michael O’Shea ticketed O’Brien for driving with an expired license. O’Shea testified that Crowley ordered him to give O’Brien the ticket.

Quincy Police Patrol Officers Association President Bruce Tait called it a setup, and issued a citation to Crowley the next day, arguing that the chief knowingly allowed an officer to drive with no license.

Crowley, reached Wednesday, said he was satisfied with the ruling.

William F. Sullivan, the lawyer the city hired to represent Crowley, said the decision showed that ‘‘there was certainly no grounds for the complaint.’’

Tait, the union head, said he was dissatisfied with both decisions. The fact that the complaint against Crowley was dropped was ‘‘a political decision’’ that signified ‘‘the police chief is above the law,’’ he said.

He said O'Brien would have liked ‘‘a full airing of the facts and to be vindicated at trial in open court.’’

Richard Bardi, O’Brien’s attorney, said, ‘‘Obviously, the clerk magistrate found that it didn’t rise to the level of probable cause. That suggests to me that it’s confirmation that the chief never should have done what he did.’’

Chief Crowley said it was unfortunate the internal episode was forced to a court hearing, but said he harbors ‘‘no hard feelings’’ against O'Brien and Tait.

http://ledger.southofboston.com/arti...ews/news04.txt

Posted by: mpd61

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwflatbed

Chief Crowley said he harbors ‘‘no hard feelings’’ against O'Brien and Tait.

http://ledger.southofboston.com/arti...ews/news04.txt

Ya, ya right! maybe just semi-hard feelings LMFAO!!!!
Bruce, Don't hold your breath waiting for an invite for corned-beef and cabbage at the Chiefs house sunday night!

Posted by: underdod47

The Chief has no hard feelings yeah right, I hope all turns out well in Q P D but it sounds like a new Chief needed

Posted by: kttref

Yeah, but Bruce, you did the right thing. Good job at that...sorry it didn't quite turn out the way you guys wanted!

Posted by: underdod47

Oh yes the Officer did the exact right thing no question about it

Posted by: Delta784

The good old boy network wins another one; the very little amount of faith I had left in the justice system is now officially gone. If Crowley wasn't guilty of 90-12, then that law should be forever striken from the books, because no one will ever be guilty of it.

A complete disgrace.

Posted by: OutOfManyOne

You guys could have a appealed it to a judge.

Posted by: 94c

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutOfManyOne

You guys could have a appealed it to a judge.

can you appeal a criminal citation?

Posted by: SinePari

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutOfManyOne

You guys could have a appealed it to a judge.

I think if the Clerk Mag shoots it down it's dead in the water.

Posted by: OutOfManyOne

Nope, you can appeal anything to a judge as police department. Even CMVIs can all be appealed to a judge. I think it's only dead in the water if Delta took out the complaint against Crowley as an individual, then it ends with magistrate's decision.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinePari

I think if the Clerk Mag shoots it down it's dead in the water.

It can be appealed to a judge, but I'm not going down that road. If the district attorney wants to appeal it, that's up to him; it's obvious to me this case is going to be bagged no matter what, so I'm not going to waste anymore time with it.

Posted by: robodope

I will be Capt. Obvious here but my gut feeling here was the court wouldnt get involved in what they will see is a labor dispute. The court system sucks and this case affirms that. I think an excellent point has been made. I think no matter what you say this definitely ruffled the Chiefs feathers. It was proof just how out of control his situation is and the lack of leadership at the top of a good PD. It sent a big message. We will not tolerate your BS and if you are going to violate the law we will be there to enforce it no matter what the court decides (per usual). You may hold the officers accountable but take note you will be held accountable by the OFFICERS every step of the way. It is a matter of time before he is removed from the Chiefs job so you guys hang in there. I think this case despite it's outcome was motivation for all us to stand up and fight back using the squash..Keep up the good work QPD your day will come

Posted by: 94c

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutOfManyOne

Nope, you can appeal anything to a judge as police department. Even CMVIs can all be appealed to a judge. I think it's only dead in the water if Delta took out the complaint against Crowley as an individual, then it ends with magistrate's decision.

Any idea where I can find the law that says criminal offenses can be appealed?

Posted by: OutOfManyOne

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94c

Any idea where I can find the law that says criminal offenses can be appealed?

I have it in one of my Pat Rogers book, but this is only for hearings before a magistrate.

Posted by: 94c

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutOfManyOne

I have it in one of my Pat Rogers book, but this is only for hearings before a magistrate.

I'm following you. But when I read 90C it only talks about appealing civil infractions.

I always thought that all criminal complaints were treated the same regardless of Chapter 90 or not.

I was under the impression that the only time a criminal complaint could come back from the dead was if a judge initially dismissed it without prejudice.

Then you just resubmit the complaint.

Posted by: OutOfManyOne

We've done it before for OP MV suspended, which was criminal but clerk dismissed it. We appealed it to a judge. We did it quite a few times.I think a recent one had to do with that whacko from CMPSA. Clerk dropepd it and trooper appealed it i believe to judge.

Posted by: SinePari

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94c

That's what I thought, however it seems others have done it.

Posted by: kwflatbed

I may be off base here but didn't Chief LK do this with one of the officers
at QPD on a charges that the clerk dismissed. I seem to remember Bruce saying something about this.

Posted by: BrickCop

How about suing Crowley for malicious prosecution (or some other fancy legal term I'm not familiar with).

He'd be required to give a deposition as to his actions, no? A longshot I grant you but at least his misconduct would be exposed in court, win or lose.

Posted by: kwflatbed

By JOHN P. KELLY
The Patriot Ledger

A Quincy police officer sits in his cruiser in the parking lot behind the Adams Shore branch of the Thomas Crane Library. (LISA BUL/The Patriot Ledger)

QUINCY - Drivers who speed or who are drunk are having an easier time of it in Quincy, where police are stopping far fewer lawbreakers because of a long-running squabble with the chief.

‘‘It’s much easier to sit behind a building somewhere listening to sports radio, drinking a cup of coffee,’’ Patrolmen’s union President Bruce Tait said. ‘‘In talking to the guys, the attitude seems to be: why should I stick my neck out?’ ...We get paid the same regardless of how many cars we stop.’’

The number of drivers issued tickets or written warnings last year for breaking traffic laws dropped nearly 40 percent.. Drunken driving arrests fell from 111 in 2006 to 87 last year, the lowest level in years.

Police Chief Robert Crowley called the situation ‘‘shameful.’’

‘‘These officers are paid damn good money to protect the citizens of Quincy,’’ he said. He commended patrolmen who continue to enforce the traffic laws despite the internal strife.

Tait denied there is an orchestrated boycott under way, though he acknowledged he did once call for patrolmen not to write traffic tickets for one month to ‘‘send a message that we can’t be bullied.’’

He said many officers have scaled back traffic enforcement to protect their jobs, accusing Crowley of unfairly scrutinizing their police work and practicing heavy-handed discipline.

‘‘We’re not going to put our necks on the chopping block for him,’’ he said.

Tait added that officers continue to respond swiftly to calls. But he was unapologetic in defending patrolmen who choose not to pull over a speeding driver or one who doesn’t stop for a red light.

Tension in the department has intensified since Crowley was appointed chief in July 2004. Patrolmen claim his leadership is oppressive, his discipline of officers is at times unjustified, and his use of the internal affairs division borders on harassment.

The quarrel has grown increasingly brazen since the union, which represents 157 patrolmen, took a ‘‘no- confidence’’ vote in Crowley in 2006. Since then, Tait has crusaded for Crowley’s ouster, accusing him of lying to the public about patrol levels and endangering officers by not providing them adequate back-up. Crowley has dismissed the accusations as nonsense.

The saga has even captured an online audience. In weekly blog postings, Tait writes of the union’s latest scuffles with Crowley and his command staff. In a recent entry, for example, Tait speculated that Crowley might be planning to set up a patrolmen by planting a ‘‘bundle of heroin or a stolen gun’’ in their cruiser.
‘‘This ... has gotten so bad it’s affecting police morale and the performance of their duties,’’ said Warren Meyer, 60, a Squantum resident who has followed the dispute.

‘‘My taxes at work,’’ he added, sarcastically.

Diminished traffic enforcement, it seems, is the first indication that the turmoil is affecting police work.

Department data show yearly traffic stops ranged from 14,770 to 15,213 between 2004 and 2006. The number plunged last year to 9,482. Most resulted in warnings.

Sergeants used to require officers to write 10 tickets a month. In 2005, quotas were declared unlawful by a state appellate court which affirmed that issuing a citation was at an officer’s discretion.

Wayne Sampson, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Chiefs of Police, said the ruling has made it easier for police unions to engineer a fall-off in traffic citations ‘‘to make police chiefs look bad,’’ a tactic he said is not uncommon.

Crowley said the public is the ultimate victim of weaker traffic enforcement, which serves to keep roadways safe and drivers in line.

He pointed out that traffic stops can also lead to unforeseen arrests.

‘‘Timothy McVeigh was in jail on a traffic issue before they ID’d him as the Oklahoma City bomber,’’ Crowley said. (McVeigh was stopped for driving a car with no license plates then arrested for having a loaded gun.)

Fewer traffic tickets also takes a financial toll on the city, which collects part of the fines drivers pay in court. In fiscal 2006, the city took in $223,777 from the 2,644 civil infractions police issued. Figures have not yet been tallied for last year, when police issued 2,001.

Mayor Tom Koch declined to comment on the traffic-stop data before reviewing it himself and meeting with both Crowley and union leaders, which he expects to do soon.

But Koch, who took office Monday, said infighting in the police department ‘‘drains everyone’s energy’’ and must end. He declined to ‘‘respond through the press’’ to Tait’s defense of less aggressive enforcement.

But Koch, who during the campaign, said he would consider ordering an external review of the police department if elected, indicated he would put pressure on Crowley, who was appointed by Mayor William Phelan.

‘‘I fully recognize the chief is in charge of his department, but I am the chief elected official in the city,’’ Koch said.

He added: ‘‘I do control the budget, and I do expect that my leadership will be followed.’’

Some patrolmen have said privately they are exasperated by the endless bickering and simply try to focus on doing their jobs. And some find Tait’s style overly combative. The strength of his support, however, earned him reelection as union president in November.

Patrolman Peter Curley, a union official, said those officers who have cut back on traffic stops fear anything they do to stand out could make them a target for discipline.

He pointed to the suspension this past summer of Officer Joseph McGunigle as an example of the ‘‘witch hunts’’ he said are conducted by Internal Affairs.

McGunigle, dubbed ‘‘robocop’’ by neighbors for frequently ticketing them for pet law violations, was suspended five days with no pay when he disobeyed an order to stop issuing the tickets.

Crowley called the purported fear of punishment groundless. He said Internal Affairs investigated 22 complaints last year. Only one was made by a motorist who was stopped and the complaint was found to be unjustified, he said.

http://ledger.southofboston.com/arti...ews/news01.txt

Posted by: Sniper

Give them hell Delta !!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Barbrady

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwflatbed

Police Chief Robert Crowley called the situation ‘‘shameful.’’

He must have been looking in the mirror. Good stuff Delta.

Posted by: OutOfManyOne

Quote:

Wayne Sampson, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Chiefs of Police, said the ruling has made it easier for police unions to engineer a fall-off in traffic citations ‘‘to make police chiefs look bad,’’ a tactic he said is not uncommon.

Ohh BooHoo Wayne, just pissed off because he got FIRED (resign or get the boot) fom Shrewsbury PD as Chief and now he is mad at the world and got a job at Mass Chiefs to screw the cops.

Posted by: quality617

Friggin beautiful. Don't let the bastards get you down, Delta.

Posted by: Delta784

I know that no one outside this board will believe me, but this wasn't/isn't any sort of planned action. The guys/gals have just had it, and are afraid to do their jobs.

The problem needs to be dealt with, not the symptoms.

Posted by: kwflatbed

Quincy Patriot Shit Sheet Ledger Editorial:
OUR OPINION - Quincy police in chaos

Tait

By The Patriot Ledger

The citizens of Quincy should be very concerned about law enforcement and public safety, mainly because the police union president is a dangerously loose cannon whose purported leadership is threatening to blow the department apart if the new mayor does not take the reins.

Police officer Bruce Tait, president of the Quincy Police Patrol Officers’ Association, which endorsed Mayor Thomas Koch’s election bid, has had a long-running feud with Chief Robert Crowley since both ascended to their respective top spots.

For several years, Tait has blogged on the union’s Web site about his battle with Crowley, taunting the chief, the former mayor and other superior officers with puerile name-calling and petulant rants to perceived attacks against the union. We here have been the butt of Tait’s immature bleatings and fully expect to once again be labeled anti-union and anti-cop for calling out his juvenile behaviors.

But the bickering has escalated to the point of Tait sanctioning the actions of some easily influenced officers who have purposefully declined to perform all the requirements of their jobs because they don’t like Crowley.

‘‘It’s much easier to sit behind a building somewhere listening to sports radio, drinking a cup of coffee,’’ Tait told Ledger reporter John Kelly. ‘‘In talking to the guys, the attitude seems to be: Why should I stick my neck out?’ ... We get paid the same regardless of how many cars we stop.’’

That is a reckless view and one that threatens to sully the entire 157-member union, most of whom we believe are professionals who take pride in their jobs.

Police officials told Kelly the number of drivers issued tickets or written warnings last year for breaking traffic laws plummeted nearly 40 percent. Drunken-driving arrests fell from 111 in 2006 to 87 last year, the lowest level in years.

The precipitous drop means not only are some laws in Quincy not being enforced by those who are paid to do it, there will be a decline in expected revenue, as well. That could mean a cut in the police budget and, perhaps, maybe some will not be ‘‘paid the same regardless of how many cars we stop’’ because there will be layoffs and reduced overtime.

Crowley, like all of those who see this naked attempt to subvert authority, is infuriated, calling the job slowdown ‘‘shameful’’ and rightfully labeling it a ‘‘boycott,’’ despite Tait’s unconvincing denial.

‘‘These officers are paid damn good money to protect the citizens of Quincy,’’ Crowley said.

Not even a full week into office, Koch is facing his first crisis but declined to address Tait’s comments publicly, understandable since his election was helped by Tait’s union. But he had no reservations about firing a not-so-subtle shot at Crowley.

‘‘I fully recognize the chief is in charge of his department, but I am the chief elected official in the city,’’ said Koch, who declared during the campaign he would not fire Crowley. ‘‘I do control the budget, and I do expect that my leadership will be followed.’’
We support the mayor in his assertion of a strong leadership role. And we can only add our expectation that leadership in this matter comes with a clear vision that the safety and welfare of Quincy’s citizens shouldn’t be compromised by anyone’s personal or political agenda.

Your Views

Has the feud between the Quincy police chief and the patrolmen’s union affected public safety? Tell us why or why not.

Write: Your Views, The Patriot Ledger, 400 Crown Colony Drive, Quincy, MA 02169

Fax: 617-786-7393

Call: 781-340-3156

E-mail: Editpage@ledger.com

Please include your home address and telephone number.

They have never printed any reply that I have submitted to
them.

http://ledger.southofboston.com/arti...ion/opin01.txt

POLICE INFIGHTING: Feud has some asking, ‘Is Quincy PD dysfunctional?’

By JOHN P. KELLY
The Patriot Ledger
QUINCY - Is the Quincy Police Department dysfunctional?

That question was on the minds of public officials, residents and even some police on Friday, at news that some disgruntled patrolmen openly admitted to cutting back on traffic enforcement because of an internal feud with Police Chief Robert Crowley.

City Council President James Davis called for hearings to keep this ‘‘personality battle from impacting roadway safety.’’

‘‘Once you hit the street, you have to leave personal conflicts behind and enforce the laws,’’ Davis said.

New traffic stop data shows the number of tickets and written warnings issued to drivers last year for breaking traffic laws plummeted nearly 40 percent. Drunken-driving arrests fell to their lowest level in years.

Officer Bruce Tait, president of the patrol officers union, defended the fall-off, saying patrolmen need not put their ‘‘necks on the chopping block’’ for Crowley, whom he accuses of unfairly scrutinizing and punishing their conduct.

Crowley called the situation ‘‘shameful,’’ urging patrolmen to ‘‘search their conscience’’ about the implications of the ‘‘boycott.’’

Officer Joseph McGunigle called The Patriot Ledger on Friday to defend the traffic-enforcement slowdown.

‘‘Guys like me who want to do the job - we want to do our jobs - can’t because we have a chain around our neck from the third floor,’’ McGunigle said, referring to the department brass’ offices.

McGunigle said he used to issue between 40 and 50 citations a month before being suspended for five days in September for disobeying an order to stop ticketing his neighbors for violating pet-law ordinances. He said he has issued only one citation since.

McGunigle said patrolmen feel Crowley gives credibility to anyone who lodges a complaint against an officer. Making traffic stops, he said, could easily lead to a driver complaining that an officer was ‘‘picking on me because I’m a girl or a black.’’

Infighting has crippled morale in the department. Patrolmen voted ‘‘no confidence’’ in the police chief in 2006. Tait has campaigned since for him to be fired.
‘‘This is the building of hate,’’ Lt. John McDonough said Friday, referring to police headquarters on Sea Street. ‘‘There’s nothing but animosity here.’’

McDonough, head of the drug control unit, said patrolmen’s blasé approach to traffic enforcement indicates to him the department has become dysfunctional.

The administration of Mayor Tom Koch, which took office Monday, is researching whether the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission should come in to establish an internal review process for the department.

Koch is scheduled to meet next week with Crowley.

http://ledger.southofboston.com/arti...ews/news03.txt

Posted by: Delta784

Text of a letter to the Patriot Ledger, I have no idea if they'll publish it or not;

To the Editor,

As I've come to expect, the Ledger has once again ignored the facts, attacked the symptoms rather than the problem, and for good measure have decided to shoot the messenger because they don't like the message ("OUR OPINION - Quincy police in chaos").

Perhaps instead of dreaming up conspiracy theories that include my holding some type of mind control over 150+ adult police officers, the Ledger should cast a critical eye on the actions of Chief Robert Crowley. What will be the Ledger's response when the civil lawsuits incurred by his rash, vindictive decisions start costing the City of Quincy hundreds of thousands of dollars? Will he still have the Ledger's unwavering support?

A reporter from the Ledger called me to ask why I thought the numbers of traffic citations were down dramatically, and I answered him. Rest assured, this "dangerously loose cannon" won't make that same mistake twice.

Posted by: MM1799

Delta, how do the young guys/gals take this situation? I'm sure they wanted to be POs but this cant be a "dream come true".

Posted by: RPD931

How does this Chief manage to keep his job???

Posted by: kwflatbed

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPD931

How does this Chief manage to keep his job???

The same way most hacks do politics

Posted by: rg1283

In almost every place of work. It seems that the people who perform the most poorly end up getting in positions of power. Crowley is a good example of that.

Posted by: Mitpo62

Quote:

Originally Posted by rg1283

In almost every place of work. It seems that the people who perform the most poorly end up getting in positions of power. Crowley is a good example of that.

I believe thats called the "peter principle"; being placed/promoted to a position above one's intelligence or capability (or something like that).

Posted by: pahapoika

hope the Mayor gets old chiefy in line

Posted by: rg1283

Ignoring the humor and the like on the union blog. Its kind of obvious that the qpd chief isn't all there. Plus I am sure their is documentation to back all these claims up.

-Calling in illegally parked calls during the bank bomb scare

-Giving $ back to the city as the police officers drove police cruisers that went to the moon and back as far as miles are concerned.

-Not fully staffing sector cars, when the $ and officers are there (or were)

All this stuff above can be backed up by facts. Its either done or not. Minus the politics.

I frequently read the QPPOA blog, thats how I get the gist of what is happening.

As usual the Patriot Ledger ignores the facts, it seems they never bash the police chief. WTF Does the Chief own stock in the newspaper company?

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by MM1799

Delta, how do the young guys/gals take this situation? I'm sure they wanted to be POs but this cant be a "dream come true".

I wanted to be a Quincy Police Officer since July 1970 (long story why I remember the date). My dream quickly became a nightmare once Crowley ascended into a position of power.

Whether older or younger, pretty much all the officers have gone into shutdown mode out of fear or just plain apathy. Everyone in a position of power who could make a difference refuses to address the problem, and seems determined to attack the symptoms.

We have a meeting with the new mayor on Tuesday; hopefully we'll find a more sympathetic ear than we did with the last occupant of that office.

Posted by: WaterPistola

is there anyway the mayor could get rid of the chief? replace him with someone...uh more with it?

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaterPistola

is there anyway the mayor could get rid of the chief? replace him with someone...uh more with it?

There is more than enough right now to fire him. I'm sick of hearing the term "strong chief"; all that means is that he has the same civil service protections as I and every other sworn member of the department. If he's fired he can appeal to civil service, which wouldn't reinstate him in a million years.

We're going to present the new mayor with a nice little package, detailing his rash, vindictive, and illegal decisions which have ruined people's lives and will cost the city hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of dollars. Hopefully he'll do the right thing.

Posted by: Buford T

Nice editorial in Saturday's Ledger, no slant there?? Gotta love the fourth estate, keep up the good fight, Bruce.

Posted by: lofu

Another reason to cancel any subscription to The Patriot Ledger. They are not friendly to cops or unions (just ask the teachers of Quincy).

Posted by: pahapoika

he has the same civil service protections as I and every other sworn member of the department.

how much time does he have in ? seems like he should start thinking about retirement

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by pahapoika

how much time does he have in ? seems like he should start thinking about retirement

He's going in June 2009 for sure anyway, but that's about 17 months too long for us.

Posted by: kwflatbed

Quincy cops refusing to write traffic tickets

Mayor vows end union feud with chief

By Jessica Van Sack
Tuesday, January 15, 2008

The newly minted mayor of Quincy yesterday vowed to put an end to a long-festering feud between union cops and the police chief that has resulted in rank-and-file members defiantly refusing to ticket traffic scofflaws and letting untold numbers of criminals walk.
“We’re gonna resolve it,” said Mayor Thomas P. Koch, who one week into office finds himself grappling with a public safety crisis. “The people of the city expect and deserve service from their Police Department and they’re going to get it under this administration.”
Quincy cops issued just 9,482 citations last year - down about 40 percent from the previous year. Cops issued 15,213 citations in 2006, 15,804 in 2005 and 14,770 in 2004.
“Police officers who get very well-compensated in our city have made a concentrated effort to jeopardize public safety,” said Jay Davis, Quincy City Council president. “Just because you don’t like your boss doesn’t mean you don’t do your job.”
Koch vowed yesterday to meet with the union and police Chief Robert Crowley, saying, “Citations are going to be written.” He declined to offer a deadline to get the problem under control.
Crowley noted that not all officers are on board with the protest but said those who are, are shirking a fundamental responsibility of their job.
“It’s shameful that officers who are sworn to protect the citizens of Quincy and have taken an oath see fit not to provide the protection that the citizens of Quincy need and deserve,” he said.
Bruce Tait, president of the Quincy Police Patrol Officers’ Association, admits that the union organized rank-and-file members to let traffic scofflaws off with warnings last year. Tait said the move was in response to pressure from top brass to keep traffic citations - and the revenue from fines - flowing. Police departments are barred from setting quotas on traffic citations.
Most disturbing is that traffic arrests are down, Crowley said.
Traffic stops resulted in 505 arrests last year, down from 596 the previous year. Drunken driving arrests were down from 111 in 2006 to 87 in 2007.
James Fox, a Northeastern University criminal justice professor, said the affront by Quincy cops is unprecedented.
“This is not good for the community, even though there might be motorists who think this is great,” Fox said, questioning why the trend went undetected by officials for months. “I’m surprised it took this long to figure it out.”

http://bostonherald.com/news/regiona...icleid=1066563

Posted by: Barbrady

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwflatbed

“The people of the city expect and deserve service from their Police Department and they’re going to get it under this administration.”

Its not like they are refusing calls for service or driving around with blinders on. Is he now trying to take away an officer's discretion?

Posted by: Chree

At least from what I see(and do), the QPD is still stopping cars, some of us are just not writing the citations/warnings. I have stopped many cars, and after I run the driver every way I can, I usually give a verbal warning. I do write the occasional warning, and sometimes even issue a fine, depends on the circumstances. The Patriot Ledger runs with this story because it make the patrol division of the QPD look bad. The Ledger is making it look as though we sit behind buildings and blow off calls. This could not be further from the truth. Maybe we should reverse our efforts and write money fines to everyone, let's see how the ledger(and the citizens who live and work in Quincy) likes that. I am sure the next article then would be that the QPD is abusing their powers, and not giving the motoring public a break! Although that would make the Chief happy...we just can't win......

Posted by: kwflatbed

From The QPL Opinion Page:

READER’S VIEW: UNION PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE TO LEDGER EDITORIAL

By BRUCE D. TAIT, President
Quincy Police Patrol Officers’ Association
As I’ve come to expect, The Ledger has once again ignored the facts, attacked the symptoms rather than the problem, and for good measure, (has) decided to shoot the messenger because they don’t like the message (‘‘Our Opinion - Quincy police in chaos,’’ Jan. 12).

Perhaps instead of dreaming up conspiracy theories that include my holding some type of mind control over 150-plus adult police officers, The Ledger should cast a critical eye on the actions of Chief Robert Crowley.

What will be The Ledger’s response when the civil lawsuits incurred by his rash, vindictive decisions start costing the City of Quincy hundreds of thousands of dollars? Will he still have The Ledger’s unwavering support?

A reporter from The Ledger called me to ask why I thought the numbers of traffic citations were down dramatically, and I answered him. Rest assured, this ‘‘dangerously loose cannon’’ won’t make that same mistake twice.

SPEAK OUT: Everyone loses in Quincy police feud

By Karen Kinnealey and Joe Rainville , Quincy

This is a response to the Jan. 12/13 Ledger editorial concerning the Quincy Police Department. We agree with your comments in the editorial. We do believe that the Quincy Police Department is in chaos and consequently public safety is being jeopardized.

We also believe that it is, in large measure, due to the juvenile actions of Bruce Tait.

Tait’s actions as president of the Quincy Police Patrol Officers’ Association are from the (very) old school of labor relations. His childish antics are similar to the behavior of labor union presidents some 40-odd years ago.

Today, most unions realize that their future survival and the economic health of their members depend, in large measure, on the success of the employer’s organization/corporation/municipality.

Of course, unions and management will always be on the opposite sides of any number of issues, but at the end of the day they have enough sense to agree that the success of both groups is closely aligned.

We do not understand how some police officers can isolate one or two aspects of their job (traffic tickets and drunken driving arrests), yet do well on the other parts of their job.

Would we tolerate a teacher who did a good job teaching English and math, but a poor job on Social Studies?

Or who was a good teacher, but decided not to do report cards?

The job is the job.

We all have aspects of our jobs that we like less than others, but we still have to do the whole job. We still have to do the part that we don’t feel like doing.

For the patrol officers, that means the part of the job that is being boycotted.

Point of interest: was Tait the instigator of the boycott?
The pay is also the pay. The job responsibilities and the pay are clearly outlined for an officer before he/she accepts the position.

We don’t see stopping drunken drivers as a matter of ‘‘sticking my neck out,’’ but as a matter of an officer doing his/her job.

We know there are two sides to every story, and that there is a long and problematic history of contention between the Quincy Police Patrol Union and the City, and again with the union and the current police chief, as well as with a number of former police chiefs.

This is the type of hostile relationship that saps energy and resources and, in the end, produces no winners. Everyone loses: the union, City, citizens and the patrol officers who want to do a good job, whose reputation is besmirched by those who don’t.

So, this behavior has to stop. It needs to stop now!

Yes, we feel that public safety is threatened.

Yes, we feel important resources are being wasted.

Yes, we know that there are a number of very important issues facing the City and Mayor Thomas Koch. This certainly should not be one of them!

The citizens of Quincy deserve - and we might add, pay for - police protection. We want to be able to proudly boast to our friends and families about the safety of our neighborhoods.

READER’S VIEW: Police officers who don’t like their boss still need to act like professionals

By CHRIS MEYERS, Quincy
Recent news reports have now confirmed what I have witnessed for many years - Quincy Police Department patrol officers sitting in their police cruisers, parked in parking lots, reading newspapers and drinking coffee - not performing their jobs.

Now that that the patrolmen’s union president, Bruce Tait, has publicly confirmed this fact, the secret is out.

This is putting the safety of the City of Quincy at risk, and must be stopped immediately.

If the patrolmen’s union has a disagreement with Police Chief Robert Crowley, then deal with it as professionals - not by shirking your job responsibilities.

As long as their paycheck is issued by the City of Quincy and funded by the taxpayers, then do your job.

If they fail to perform their job, the officers should be disciplined like any other employee would be for failure to perform their job responsibilities.

Also, if they don’t like working for Chief Crowley, then the option to go find another job elsewhere is available to them.

I would like to recognize those members of the Quincy Police Department who do an outstanding job each day, but we all know it only takes the actions of a few to ruin it for all.

Mayor Tom Koch: Here is your first opportunity to show true leadership. Please address this issue with all parties, and ensure public safety becomes the No. 1 priority for the Quincy Police Department.

Also, this can be a source of revenue in these days of increased fiscal demands.

READER’S VIEW: Officer’s comment offensive

I am astounded by the incredulous statement by Quincy Police Patrolman Bruce Tait in a recent article in The Ledger that ‘‘It’s much easier to sit behind a building somewhere listening to sports radio, drinking a cup of coffee,’’ than it is to stick their neck out and stop a speeder or someone running a red light.

READER’S VIEW: Officer should resign

I am responding to The Ledger’s Jan. 11 article, ‘‘Beef with chief means free ride for lawbreakers.’’

READER’S VIEW: A black eye on Quincy officers

Congratulations, ‘‘Napoleon’’ Tait, for giving the Quincy police an indelible black eye.

READER’S VIEW: Police need independent review

t seems to me that the only logical choice is for Quincy Police Chief Robert Crowley to step down for the good of the city.

Unless the city is prepared to fire every cop and start again, what is the alternative?

Things will only get worse as time goes on, and the chief seems to be in a ‘‘bunker’’ mentality trying to fight off his own troops.

The new mayor needs to resolve this situation with an outside, independent agency to avoid being part of the problem. Both sides need to agree to whatever the recommendations are, and those who will not agree should be fired. Even if that includes the chief.

READER’S VIEW: A sinking ship

The term ‘‘loose cannon,’’ which The Ledger used in your Jan. 12 editorial to describe the president of the Quincy Patrol Officers’ Union, was well chosen. According to Wikipedia, ‘‘The term originates in the age of sail and wooden men-of-war. When a storm began, all cannons had to be securely fastened and lashed in place. A gun that broke free of its lashings would roll uncontrollably around the deck with the motion of the ship, causing havoc. A cannon weighing thousands of pounds would crush anything and anyone in its path and possibly break a hole in the hull, thus endangering the whole ship...’’

http://ledger.southofboston.com/arti...ion/opin02.txt

Posted by: Inspector

Just called a friend of mine who has indicated he will cancel all ads in QUNICY PATRIOT LEDGER. I suggest anyone who has friends who own businesses in the area do the same.

Posted by: Barbrady

Wonder how many of those "readers view" comments are from the Chief's cronies?

Posted by: kwflatbed

As I thought they never printed mine.
Typical of the QPL they only print people who side with them.

Posted by: andy0921

I hate people.

Posted by: Chree

I really might switch my ways and start writing money fines for every car stop I make. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. These idiots that want police to "do their job" will be the first ones to make some excuse when they get pulled over, or they'll start dropping names.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chree