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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: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtc

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this will be Koch's first major decision of his mayoral career, right?

Not really....he already had to select his appointed department heads, from the city solicitor to the director of human resources to the commissioner of the parks department, etc.

Posted by: mtc

Delta - those weren't rock the world, "everyone's watching what I do" type appointments.

I think this appointment will be closely scrutinized, as the situation has been so publicly played out.

In a way I don't envy him - in a way I wish I was him.

Posted by: kwflatbed

YOUR OPINION: Will Chief Crowley disarm when he retires?

The Patriot Ledger
Posted Mar 13, 2008 @ 06:00 AM

HANSON —
It will be very interesting to see when Quincy Police Chief Robert Crowley retires and becomes a civilian June 30.
Since Crowley is against citizens carrying firearms, will he surrender his firearms?
Or does that just apply to other people?
RICHARD FLYNN
Hanson

http://www.patriotledger.com/opinions/x797129111

Posted by: resqjyw0

I think he knows exactly what is going to happen.

Posted by: kwflatbed

New police patrol plan wins favor of Quincy’s top brass and rank-and-file

By Jennifer Mann
The Patriot Ledger
Posted Mar 21, 2008 @ 11:05 AM
Last update Mar 21, 2008 @ 11:26 AM

QUINCY —
A plan to overhaul how police in cruisers patrol the city is getting backing from Quincy police’s top brass and its patrolmen’s union – a rare consensus for the embattled department.
Police Chief Robert Crowley wants the realignment of patrol sectors on his list of finished business when he retires in June; Patrolman Peter Curley, a union official, is calling the move “a great start” in balancing the work load among patrols.
Crowley said the public also wins because he expects police response times to improve and crime rates to drop.
The chief said there hasn’t been a major retooling of the patrol plan in his 38 years with the department.
“It will be more efficient, more effective, and hopefully lower the crime rate,” he said.
About a month ago, Police Capt. Anthony DiBona began analyzing last year’s calls to the station using a mapping program purchased with a $40,000 federal grant.
He found a disparity in the number of calls not only by shift, but also by patrol sector.
For example, while the day shift got an average of 25,000 calls in the year, the midnight shift averaged 12,000 calls.
While a sector of the city that includes Squantum got about 2,300 calls, two sectors just miles away to the south got 4,800 and 5,900 calls.
The plan calls for increasing the number of patrol cars on a shift from 13 to 15. It will not, however, require an increase in officers because two cars now used as general backup will be assigned their own sector.
The sectors will shrink and shift in a way so that each will ideally get about 3,300 calls, DiBona said.
The mapping program will also allow the department to chart crimes by location and identify patterns, with real-time updates available for officers on the beat.
The plan is to roll out the changes by April 7, which is the date when patrol officers annually pick their shifts.
“It is a work in progress and we will review it as we go so that when we do the implementation it goes smoothly – and we’re pretty confident it will be a smooth transition,” Capt. Paul Keenan said.
A committee of patrolmen and superior officers contributed to the study, which Crowley called “an example of everyone coming together.”
The amicable terms sharply contrast the bickering a year ago over patrol levels.
Last February, police officers packed a city council meeting as union head Bruce Tait called Crowley “a liar” for asserting that at least 11 cruisers patrol the city at one time.
Tait distributed records documenting 40 occasions over about five months when the city was patrolled by eight to 10 cruisers, which Tait said forced officers to respond to dangerous calls with no backup.
The council soon after voted to endorse having 13 cruisers on patrol at all times.
Curley said he and other patrol officers are pleased with this new plan, but they are still concerned about staffing levels, particularly on the midnight shift.
There are now 153 police officers, while the city charter calls for 188, Curley said.
“Bottom line is we need more bodies,” he said.

http://www.patriotledger.com/news/co...ts/x1914740256

Posted by: rg1283

Make sense, I see the meds they gave crowley are working. A little bit too late.

Posted by: mtc

What's the ratio of calls, by criminal element, between the 25,000 day shift calls vs the 12,000 mid shift calls.

The article doesn't mention the eve shift at all. I'd think more patrols would be needed on the eve....

Posted by: LA Copper

Delta,
I was just reading the article about the overhaul of your patrol units. I'm guessing that you put out mostly single officer patrol cars. I'm wondering why if you have at least 8 to 10 other officers working a shift, why would officers have to respond to dangerous calls alone?

I can certainly understand that some officers would be tied up in such a way as they couldn't break free but what about the others?

On busy summer nights, my division will put out between 50-65 officers but can still all be tied up with something. However if a dangerous call such as a man with a gun or a shooting or robbery in progress type call comes out, someone will leave the station or break free from another call to assist the assigned unit.

Doesn't the same thing happen there in Quincy?

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA Copper

Delta, I was just reading the article about the overhaul of your patrol units. I'm guessing that you put out mostly single officer patrol cars. I'm wondering why if you have at least 8 to 10 other officers working a shift, why would officers have to respond to dangerous calls alone?

Every car is a single officer, so every priority call requires at least two distinct units to respond. Three priority calls at the same time, there are six units tied up simultaneously.

For example, one night last summer we only fielded only 8 cruisers on the 4pm-Midnight shift because the chief refused to authorize overtime hiring. There were three priority calls happening at once, leaving me as the only clear unit in the city because one of the other calls had three units there because the first two called for help while fighting with a suspect.

I got sent to a domestic down in Quincy Point, and the only car available to help was the third officer from another call, who cleared that one which was in West Quincy by the Braintree line. I got to my call, and it sounded like a UFC match was taking place inside. I just can't sit and listen to a woman being beaten, so I went in by myself. It turned out that it sounded a lot worse than it was, but I was just about to clear the call and leave when the other unit arrived after racing across the city lights & siren.

Bottom line is the new patrol plan is a good idea in concept, but isn't going to work unless we hire 15-20 new patrol officers or start hiring OT every night.

Posted by: LA Copper

No question hiring 15-20 more folks would help, I hope you get them.

Out my way, on busy nights we can sometimes have between five and ten priority type calls holding. We get there when we get there I guess. If there are truly no units available then the call would go to a neighboring division.

If a call comes out and multiple officers are needed, then we go there first. When the other priority calls come out, they wait until officers are clear, although it is easier for us because we have two officer cars as opposed to your single officer cars. Much safer that way as I'm sure you know. Maybe your new chief will understand that and double up some of your folks.

I as a sergeant ride alone. When I respond to a priority call first, I almost always wait outside until another car arrives. On instances like you mentioned with a woman getting her butt kicked, I would go in too.

I've been the first one at scene on about 50 homicides, which obviously isn't a good thing if the suspect(s) are still nearby. But hey, I guess that's what you and I get paid for!

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA Copper

Out my way, on busy nights we can sometimes have between five and ten priority type calls holding. We get there when we get there I guess. If there are truly no units available then the call would go to a neighboring division.

If things really go down the shitter we can always call for mutual aid, but I can only remember two instances of that happening in 14 years (other than K-9 requests).

With the obvious exception of Boston to the north, all our surrounding PD's are quite a bit smaller than us, and usually have their own headaches to deal with. In the summer when the battle royales start down Wollaston Beach the state police always come but that's their jurisdiction anyway, so I guess that really isn't mutual aid.

Posted by: kwflatbed

Quincy mayor won’t pick next police chief

By Jennifer Mann
The Patriot Ledger
Posted Apr 09, 2008 @ 06:11 AM

QUINCY —

Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch says the next police chief will come from within the department, but it will not be someone he picks.
On advice from the state Ethics Commission, Koch asked Norfolk County Sheriff Michael Bellotti to lead a screening committee that will choose from three Quincy Police Department captains who top the Civil Service list.
One of the three, Paul Keenan, is the mayor’s brother-in-law. The others are Alan Gillan and Michael Miller.
To avoid any conflict of interest, Bellotti also will appoint the members of the screening committee.
“The mayor has full faith in the Civil Service system and the team Sheriff Bellotti will be putting together,” Koch spokesman Christopher Walker said Tuesday.
Koch hopes to have a new chief in place when Robert Crowley retires June 30.
Unlike several local cities with larger police departments – Boston, Cambridge, Newton and Fall River, for example – Quincy has historically hired its police chief through Civil Service system, which is used by 89 of the state’s 351 cities and towns.
Under the system, the mayor selects from the top three scorers on a state exam. In the past, the city has only allowed ranking officers to take the tests.
But when Crowley disclosed last month that he would retire early after four years as chief, amid growing rancor between the department’s top brass and its patrol officers’ union, many city residents suggested going outside the department for his replacement.
Asked about that possibility at the time, Koch said all options were on the table.
Walker said that although “there are quality arguments to be had on both sides of the issue,” the mayor ultimately looked at the skill level he would be passing up in going outside the department.
“Really, we have some of the most talented superior officers in the state,” Walker said. “These are gentlemen who have consistently had the highest scores on the test. The mayor is very comfortable that our homegrown talent will produce a great chief.”
In a press release, Bellotti promised “a fair, objective and thorough process based on the best interests of the Quincy Police Department and the city.”

http://www.patriotledger.com/news/co...rts/x817205852

Posted by: lofu

Good move by the mayor. Bruce do think the patrolman's union will have a voice on the selection commitee?

Posted by: kwflatbed

I can't answer for Bruce, but from knowing Mike Bellotti they will.

Posted by: kwflatbed

This is the editorial cartoon for Saturday, April 5, 2008, from the mind and pen of Patriot Ledger cartoonist O'Mahoney.

YOUR OPINION: Demeaning officer was not funny

The Patriot Ledger
Posted Apr 11, 2008 @ 06:00 AM
Last update Apr 11, 2008 @ 06:24 AM
QUINCY —
I am writing in regard to a recent cheap-shot cartoon demeaning possibly the best police officer on the Quincy Police Department.
In that fine group of men and women, that says a lot.
Steve Kelly comes from a family of police officers and has numerous commendations in a distinguished career.
Is it such a stretch of credibility to believe Whitey Bulger may have been seen near his girlfriend’s house by someone whose observations are often required in court proceedings?
He didn’t say he saw Elvis.
Editorial cartoons are supposed to illicit laughter or thought. These do neither. I drew funnier cartoons in high school.
Instead of trying to embarrass dedicated people who put their lives on the line every day, how about targeting the people who deserve to be embarrassed?
If week-after-week your so-called cartoonist can’t think of anything genuinely funny or amusing to draw – maybe it’s time for him to get a real job.
RONALD DiBONA
Quincy

http://www.patriotledger.com/opinions/x2098087158

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by lofu

Good move by the mayor. Bruce do think the patrolman's union will have a voice on the selection commitee?

We've requested it, and we hope so.

Posted by: kwflatbed

More Comments:

Demeaning officer was not funny

Comments (3)

Ron
2008-04-11T18:31:40

here here, the ledger is a typical liberal outlet, they despise the QPD and any other law enforcement agency.

Mike
2008-04-11T22:10:28

I agree Ron. Does the ledger realize that Officer Kelly is one of the highest decorated officers on the Quincy Police Department? If they read their own paper, they would see that Officer Kelly's name is often attached to high profile arrests and critical incidents.

Rob
2008-04-12T09:05:24

I agree with Rob & Mike, this is not the first time I've heard Officer Kelly's name mentioned in a positive manner. Screw the Ledger's administration... anyone in the LE business know's why.

Posted by: kwflatbed

quincy

Sheriff to hire new chief

Mayor recuses himself from task

By Matt Carroll

Globe Staff / April 17, 2008

To avoid an ethics conflict, Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch has turned the selection of a new police chief over to Norfolk County Sheriff Michael G. Bellotti, who will announce as early as today people he is tapping for a search committee.

Bellotti did confirm two names on the committee: Police Chief James Hussey of Cohasset and Police Chief Richard G. Wells Jr. of Milton. He said the group might also include a community activist or someone who works with children, a businessman, and someone with an education or human resources background. The panel will have up to five members.

Bellotti was picked by Koch to conduct the search because Koch's brother-in-law - Police Captain Paul Keenan - is one of three Civil Service candidates for the job. Koch is married to Keenan's sister.

Koch's office consulted the State Ethics Comission, which said the mayor could not be involved. So Koch called Bellotti and asked him to put together a committee and select the new chief. Bellotti will not be paid for his work.

"They have left it totally up to me," Bellotti said. "The conversation was about 60 seconds long." He has also spoken about the process with the city attorney.
Bellotti said the committee would devise a method for rating the candidates, interview them, and seek the views of police officers. The new chief will be picked from within the department.

Bellotti said that he had no self-imposed deadline for picking a chief, but that one would be named by June 30, when Chief Robert F. Crowley retires. The 61-year-old has been on the Quincy force since 1972 and chief for four years.

Crowley said: "I feel the mayor made the right decision . . . and made an excellent choice in appointing Michael Bellotti to head the selection process. There is no question we have the talent within the department to run the department."

Koch is in the unusual position of being cut out of one of the most important personnel decisions a mayor can make, but said, "It is what it is." Koch and Bellotti described themselves as acquaintences, but not close friends.

Koch expressed confidence that whoever is the new chief will be an asset to the city. "We have three excellent candidates."
The three candidates, all police captains, are:

Allan Gillan, 48. He has 22 years on the force, and earned the highest score on the exam. He is in charge of night patrols and the motorcycle unit, and is responsible for what happens between 4 p.m. through 8 a.m. Gillan has spent most of his career in the patrolman's unit, but was also a motorcycle officer.

Keenan, 49. He has 25 years on the force, and is in charge of the daytime patrol unit. He coordinates events such as the Flag Day and Christmas parades. Keenan is the chairman of the committee that reorganized the department's geographic sectors, so that officer workloads are shared more equally.

Michael Miller, 44. He has been on the force for 22 years - he started the same day Gillan did - and tied with Keenan on the test score. He has worked on patrols and in the detective bureau, and is in charge of the prosecutor's office and assigned to Quincy District Court and Norfolk Superior.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/art...ire_new_chief/

Posted by: Kem25

Is the patrolmams union having a "going away" for Crowley???? I would think that with all the "friends" that he has made that his first move after retiring is going to be moving to Florida. In my opinion it seems like a step in the right direction for the Mayor to allow others to pick the new chief.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kem25

Is the patrolmams union having a "going away" for Crowley????

Yup....just put a deposit on this cozy little venue. It should have all the space needed, and then some;

Posted by: kojack1

That's way to much room Bruce

Posted by: kwflatbed

Who'll pick the next Quincy police chief? (With Comments)

The Patriot Ledger
Posted Apr 17, 2008 @ 05:20 AM
Last update Apr 17, 2008 @ 09:56 AM

QUINCY —
Norfolk County Sheriff Michael G. Bellotti revealed Wednesday the five-member committee that will pick the next Quincy police chief.
Joining Bellotti on the committee are:
Cohasset Police Chief James Hussey, who has been chief in that town since 2004. Before that, he was superintendent-in-chief in the Boston Police Department.
Archbishop Williams High School President Carmen Mariano, formerly assistant school superintendent in Quincy.
Former Dedham District Court Judge Maurice Richardson, now an assistant professor and consultant in the Law and Psychiatry Program in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Milton Police Chief Richard Wells Jr., also first commanding officer of the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council’s Special Tactics and Response Division.
Bellotti said the committee hopes to hold its first meeting next week. He said the committee will work to make its selection “well before” the current chief, Robert Crowley, retires on June 30.
On advice from the state Ethics Commission, Mayor Thomas Koch asked Bellotti to lead a screening committee to choose from three Quincy Police Department captains who top the Civil Service list.
One of the three, Paul Keenan, is the mayor’s brother-in-law. The others are Alan Gillan and Michael Miller.
To avoid any conflict of interest, Bellotti also appointed the committee’s members.

Comments:

2008-04-18T00:04:46
Its going to be the brother in law. Why get the council

2008-04-18T01:08:04
But doesn't the police union have problems with all the top brass? so no matter who they get isn't there going to still be problems?

I don't understand why they didn't go outside the department after having all these problems the last few years.

What a farce!
2008-04-18T02:35:53
Can anyone tell me why Michael Bellotti is heading up this committee? Nice guy and everything, but before he threw his [father's] name on the ballot he was dealing fruits and vegetables from a truck. Why not have Billy Mignosa from the Fruit Basket on the committee too, or one of the Arabs from Sunshine Fruits at Franklin & Water? Maybe one of the Lamberts are available from Dorchester. They are all equally unqualified to pick a Chief.

I'd have more faith in Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul than this crew.

Rallydog
2008-04-18T13:00:17

What makes a selection from outside the city a better choice ? Simply because they are indifferent of the politics that go on internally in the police department. Here's an observation, there are politics in every job whether in the private sector or public service. I would love to debate someone who thinks otherwise. You have three very qualified, capable and intelligent officers, candidates I might add that would be considered strong applicants outside the city in similar positions. Their intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the city and the Police Department certainly outweigh any benefit to hiring outside the city.

The appointment of Michael Belotti to chair the committee in the Chiefs selection makes perfect sense. You might have a problem with Michael Belotti's resume, but remember he was the peoples choice, he was elected out of a field of candidates and each of their resumes was reported out in the papers at election time. You might not think he had the qualifications, but I have not heard one single word or whisper that he is not performing his job. Unless you are an insider that believes differently, everything I have heard regarding the Norfolk County Sheriffs office has been positive. You must be one of those people who put's everything behind a resume. A word of advice to you would be " don't beleive evrything you read ", when I comes to someones resume one can certainly embellish. It's not the resume that does the work, it is the employee. I know too many people that have resumes that would qualifiy them for President, however they are lazy self serving moron's not capable of simple task. So you go ahead and hire them. I will continue to hire the person while you hire a piece of paper.

Getting back to why the Sheriff is more than qualified to make the selection....As sheriff he is familiar with all the current Chiefs in Norfolk County ( are you ? ). He is also familiar with all the Departments and most of the senior staff in each of these departments. I think his appointment to chair this committee is a very prudent decision by the Mayor.

Why don't some of you bloggers suggest committe members for the selection and while you at it qualified candidates for the Chief position. I would suspect you don't even know any of the qualification of the three candidates, nor do I but, I am not make the hasty comments either.

http://www.patriotledger.com/news/co...ts/x2103872278

Posted by: kwflatbed

Quincy officer sues city, police chief

Timothy Kaes was accused of driving drunk but exonerated

The Patriot Ledger
Posted May 03, 2008 @ 07:00 AM
Last update May 03, 2008 @ 08:25 AM

QUINCY —

A Quincy police officer accused of drunken driving and fired but ultimately cleared and reinstated has filed a civil rights suit against the city and police Chief Robert Crowley.
The suit filed Friday in U.S. District Court seeks unspecified monetary damages alleging Officer Timothy Kaes’ civil rights were violated.
It accuses Crowley of maliciously ordering a criminal proceeding against Kaes without probable cause, and alleges that his rights were violated when his vehicle was searched.
Kaes’ SUV hit a hydrant, a sign and another car before slamming the garage of a Wollaston home early on the morning of Sept. 27, 2005.
Kaes said later at an arbitration hearing that he crashed trying to avoid hitting a coyote while driving home from a friend’s house.
Officers who first investigated the incident did not seek drunken driving charges until Crowley intervened, and a clerk magistrate originally refused to file criminal charges, citing a lack of evidence.
Crowley made the rare move of asking Norfolk County District Attorney William Keating’s office to appeal the ruling to a judge, who later issued charges.
Kaes was cleared after a trial.
An arbitrator later found there was virtually no evidence that Kaes was drunk when he crashed, and that there had been no grounds to fire or even discipline him.
At the time, Kaes stood to be compensated for at least $120,000 for base salary he lost since being fired.
Chris Walker, spokesman for Mayor Thomas Koch, said the award was paid recently.
He said the mayor had not seen the suit and had no comment.
“I fully expected this. It comes as no surprise,” was all that Crowley had to say Friday.
Kaes sought a $500,000 settlement with the city in December, but his lawyer, Richard C. Bardi said there had been no response from either former Mayor William Phelan or Koch’s office.
The emotional stress that Crowley caused Kaes to suffer was “beyond all bounds of decency,” Bardi said.
“We are prepared to meet with representatives of the city and come to a compromise, but we are not going to be ignored,” he said.

http://www.patriotledger.com/news/co...ts/x2103875904

Posted by: 94c

There are some times in life when it's completely appropriate to kick someone when they're down.

Keep kicking....

Posted by: Pacman

Delta do we have a whereabouts on Crowley now? Maybe a plate number?

Posted by: robodope

Hey don't forget people read these posts and can twist some of these things that are said, like asking for plate numbers. We know the ledger people read these and whats funny to us is a story, or horrendous cartoon for them to make QPD rank and file look bad. Just be careful .

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

Delta do we have a whereabouts on Crowley now? Maybe a plate number?

It's been like "Where's Waldo" lately.

Posted by: kwflatbed

One candidate for Quincy police chief withdraws name

By Jennifer Mann
The Patriot Ledger
Posted May 22, 2008 @ 07:46 AM
Last update May 22, 2008 @ 09:45 AM
QUINCY —
Now, there are two. One of three police captains vying for the job of Quincy’s chief has withdrawn his name from consideration.
Capt. Alan Gillan confirmed that he has dropped out of contention, but declined to talk about why.
That leaves Capts. Michael Miller and Paul Keenan vying for the position. Keenan’s brother-in-law is Mayor Thomas Koch, and his brother is City Councilor John Keenan.
In Quincy, the mayor traditionally picks the chief, choosing from among the department’s three highest scorers on the Civil Service exam. The department has typically limited the test to ranking officers.
On advice from the state Ethics Commission, Koch has asked Norfolk County Sheriff Michael Bellotti to pick and lead a screening committee to choose the new chief.
Bellotti spokesman David Weber would not comment on what Gillan’s withdrawal means to the search process – specifically, on whether the committee will add the next-highest scorer to the pool of candidates, or keep it to the two remaining captains.
The mayor’s office declined comment because it is no longer involved in the process.
The committee has met at least five times since forming in April. It has heard from judges, police officers, school security people and others, “trying to get from them what they think the city needs in a police chief,” Weber said.
The candidates are scheduled for interviews with the committee this week.
While not pinpointing a date for the pick, Weber reiterated Bellotti’s earlier statement to have a decision “well before” Police Chief Robert Crowley retires June 30.
“He’s set out an aggressive schedule, and he feels he’s meeting that schedule,” Weber said.

http://www.patriotledger.com/news/x1...he-chief-s-job

Posted by: OCKS

6/10/08 Capt. Paul Keenan named by selection group for new Quincy Police chief.

Posted by: kttref

...and how do guys (and gals) feel about this?

Posted by: OCKS

Should be better, anything is better than we had. Not that it should go against him but his brother in law is mayor, and brother is on the city council. Luckily at this time both the mayor and this councilor are police friendly.

Posted by: kttref

Well I wish you guys the best of luck with the new Chief!

Posted by: resqjyw0

Quote:

Originally Posted by kttref

Well I wish you guys the best of luck with the new Chief!

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by kttref

...and how do guys (and gals) feel about this?

As OCKS mentioned, just having Crowley out of the picture is helpful.

As I said to a Boston Globe reporter tonight, Keenan has the chance to be a hero to every member of the department. We're eager to work with him to make things better, but it's up to him to embrace the opportunity that's been presented to him.

Posted by: kttref

Said like a true Union president

I wish you guys the best of luck...

Posted by: kwflatbed

New Quincy police chief offers union an olive branch

Amelia Kunhardt
Capt. Paul Keenan has been named the new police chief in Quincy.

By Robert Sears
The Patriot Ledger
Posted Jun 13, 2008 @ 12:02 PM
Last update Jun 13, 2008 @ 01:05 PM

QUINCY —
Yes, Paul Keenan, the city’s new police chief, is the mayor’s brother-in-law, and he says, though not in so many words, that people should get over it.
“He’s my brother-in-law and a really good guy,” Keenan said of Mayor Thomas Koch.
“Unfortunately, we both reached the pinnacles of our careers at the same time. I’ve been in police work about 25 years. He’s been mayor for about five months.”
But Keenan said he had the police chief’s job in his sights well before Koch announced that he was running for mayor.
“I know we’re going to take some heat as far as family, but I think we can rise above that and I’ll be able to prove I was the best person for the job,” said Keenan, whose brother is City Councilor John Keenan.
A search committee led by Norfolk County Sheriff Michael Bellotti chose Keenan, who turns 50 next week.
He wants to make peace with the patrol officers’ union as soon after he is sworn in on July 1.
“My goal is to sit down and meet with the union and see if we can come to some kind of common ground,” Keenan said.
His predecessor, Chief Robert Crowley, who retires at the end of the month, has a reputation as a hard line disciplinarian.
That led to a public feud with the union, and in January, Union President Bruce Tait revealed he once asked officers to boycott writing traffic tickets to “send a message that we can’t be bullied.”
“I know there are issues they (the union) are looking to have addressed. I have issues I would like to put on the table, and I think that if we work collaboratively we can come together and find some common ground and put an end to some of the strife that has gone on,” Keenan said.
Tait said Keenan “has a golden opportunity to be a hero to every employee of the department ... promise we will work with him in good faith and make every effort to have a productive and harmonious relationship.”
“I think Chief Crowley set the bar pretty high as far as discipline goes,” Keenan said.
“I plan on injecting a sense of fairness in the process. I am firm, but very, very fair,” he said.
Growing up in Quincy, Keenan’s friends called him ‘‘The Beaver,’’ because he resembled the star of the popular TV show Leave It to Beaver.
The name stuck, and he’s known today among fellow officers by the nickname “The Beav.”
Keenan said that as a child he had wanted to become a police officer, and he joined the Quincy department as a patrolman in 1983.
He earned an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and human services at Southern New Hampshire University and a master’s degree in criminal justice at Curry College.
Keenan made sergeant in 1991 and lieutenant in 1995. He ran the detective bureau for a period and was promoted to captain in 2005, taking command of the day shift, traffic bureau, communications branch and special events.
“Each time I made a new rank I wanted to go to the next one. Once I hit the command level, I had my eye on the goal of becoming police chief,” he said.
Police work, he said, has allowed him to help people and to be involved in the community.
“There is never a dull moment. For the most part, you can go from sheer boredom to sheer terror within seconds of answering a call, and I think I can make a difference,” he said.
He said he is proudest of the way the department responded last July, after officers shot and killed a Quincy man as he charged with a bloody knife.
Keenan was in command. “Unfortunately, someone died, but everything went as it should. Officers’ needs were attended to and the victim’s family was attended to,” he said.
Keenan says funding cuts may mean that some of his goals will have to wait.
“I’m looking to increase the size of the drug unit, unfortunately with the staffing levels we have and the budget crunch –we received a 2½ percent cut – it’s going to be difficult to increase the size of any unit and provide patrol services, which are the backbone of the police department,” he said.
“To get through the financial crisis, we have to look at all the specialized units. We may have to put some back in patrol. We’re hoping that’s not the case, but it may be an issue in the future,” Keenan said.
Illegal drug trade is a serious issue, but Keenan does not believe Quincy’s drug problems are any worse than other communities.
“I don’t think we’re a host city for drugs, and we want to try and keep it that way. I think there is some serious drug use in the city, and the mayor has implemented a task force to study that, which I support 100 percent, he said.”
Fighting the illegal-drug trade “has to be a collaborative effort between the courts, treatment facilities, medical facilities and enforcement,” he said.
“Enforcement is one thing we do, and we do it pretty well in this city. We have a very, very highly functioning drug unit. They are very aggressive. They’re excellent,” he said.
He plans to continue the department’s community policing branch, but says he wants to get the rest of the department into a “community policing frame of mind.”
He says Quincy is a safe city.
“I think crime is very well under control. I think Quincy is an excellent city, a safe city to raise a family, a good city to live in and to commute from. We have to be ever vigilant to make sure that it stays that way,” he said.

http://www.patriotledger.com/news/co...hief-of-police

Posted by: kwflatbed

Quincy’s police union chief uses sexual vulgarity for female U.S. senator

Lisa Bul
Bruce Tait, head of the Quincy Patrolman's Union, used a sexual vulgarity to describe Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

By Jennifer Mann

The Patriot Ledger
Posted Jul 01, 2008 @ 10:00 AM

QUINCY —
Police union boss Bruce Tait says he did not mean to be offensive when he used a derogatory word to describe a U.S. senator on a Web forum frequented by police officers across the state.
Responding this weekend to another person who used the term to refer to a female CNN newscaster, Tait wrote on www.masscops.com, “Speaking of dumb c***s, here’s what Comrade Dianne Feinstein had to say.”
Tait included a statement from the California senator in which she was critical of a recent Supreme Court ruling that overturned the Washington, D.C., handgun ban.
When asked by a reporter Monday about his use of the word, Tait said: “Somebody used it first, and I just parroted them.”
Tait pointed to his history of defending female officers in sex discrimination cases against the city’s police department.
“I’ve been quoted more than once in The Ledger and other media outlets saying the Quincy police has a horrendous track record as far as dealing with female employees,” he said. “For anyone to say I have a problem with females ... is just ludicrous.
“I think it’s kind of unfair and offensive that The Patriot Ledger is stalking me on an online (messaging board),” he added. “Anything I post there is my opinion as a personal citizen.’’”
The posting was removed from the site a few hours later.
Tait frequently used the police union Web site as a battleground for lobbing criticism at Police Chief Robert Crowley, whose retirement went into effect Monday.
The longstanding feud between the two erupted in the fall, before it was squelched by Mayor Thomas Koch when he took office in January. In one last post to the site Jan. 15, Tait said he had entered into a “temporary truce” with Crowley at the behest of Koch.
But that did not stop his frequent posts on the Masscops.com site, where he had chronicled the tussle and was well-known as the union head posting under the name Delta784.
Koch did not want to comment on Tait’s most recent post except to say, “It has nothing to do with the city and the operations of the city and the person’s job performance. Having said all that, I certainly don’t condone that type of language from anybody.”
Chief Paul Keenan, who was sworn in this morning, could not be reached Monday for comment through department spokesman Capt. John Dougan.
Crowley condemned the comment, saying it is not only offensive to the about 25 female sworn officers and civilian employees within the Quincy Police Department, but all women.
“To use that word, if in fact it was Officer Tait, then I don’t know how anyone in that department can support him as union president. It’s disgusting and shameful,” he said.
When asked how the matter should be handled, Crowley said, “I’m not going to comment on what the next chief or the mayor should do, but I’m very confident that Chief Keenan will handle Tait appropriately.”
Police officer Peter Curley, the union’s treasurer, who called the newspaper Monday after speaking with Tait, said he was “concerned with him being painted as some sort of chauvinist.”
“They’re his private opinions as a private citizen on a public chat room; he was not representing the (Quincy Police Patrol Officers’ Association) or its members when he wrote that,” he said.
Lawyer Marisa Campagna, who is representing former officer Siobhan O’Connor in an ongoing sex discrimination suit against the department, said Tait “has been totally supportive” of the case in his role as union president.
“I would be clearly flabbergasted to hear Bruce Tait used that word – it really seems so out of character,” Campagna said, mentioning she had also talked to Tait before calling.
Kathleen Bandera, who worked as a civilian employee in the department and won a settlement after taking her discrimination case to the federal level, said she finds Tait’s posting “contradictory“ to his previous postings on discrimination.
“If a man does speak like that about a woman, then that tells you a lot about the character and substance of the man,” she said. “If it’s true ... I have confidence the department will address it in the proper way.”

Jennifer Mann may be reached at jmann@ledger.com.

http://www.patriotledger.com/news/co...le-U-S-senator

Posted by: soxrock75

Hmmmmm......Interesting timing here. An article slamming the QPPA President just as the deposed (or is that despised) former Chief is on his way out the door. Coincidence????? Sounds like sour grapes to me.

Posted by: billb

By scrabble rules it is perfectly acceptable... it also happens to be one of my favorites.

Posted by: Dane

To all you stalkers at the Patriot Ledger.

Just exercising my First Amendment. Now, I think I'll go enjoy my Second Amendment as well.

Posted by: resqjyw0

What is up with this comment on the article?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby

As a Quincy Police Officer I am again embarrassed by Bruce Tait. I know Bruce has written that he was going to step down when Chief Crowley was gone, well we are all waiting to see if he is a man of his word. Maybe its a misunderstanding like the comment about officers sitting behind buildings not doing are job. When are WE going to say enough is enough.

That's a nice thank you for your hard work and a job well done, huh?

Posted by: Wolfman

Next time Bruce, just call her a piece of shit and the PC weenies won't get their skivvies all up in a bunch.

Posted by: MM1799

Pathetic. I wrote this big response to that article in the comments section but "pathetic" just about sums up my whole feelings.

Posted by: Delta784

As I mentioned in another thread, this is payback because I led the charge to get rid of their prodigal son.

The end result (Crowley gone) is worth whatever the Ledger wants to throw my way.

Posted by: kwflatbed

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

As I mentioned in another thread, this is payback because I led the charge to get rid of their prodigal son.

The end result (Crowley gone) is worth whatever the Ledger wants to throw my way.

I expect we will see this quote in tomorrows Ledger

Posted by: resqjyw0

When the Ledger asked for a comment, you should have directed them to Grasshopper's post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

As a woman, not a police officer..."let her" and "she'll get it too" you couldn't possibly sound more misogynist. With that attitude, you sound like a date rapist. Gentleman, for the sakes of your relationships with your wives and girlfriends or even boyfriends and life partners or whatever it may be...don't ever speak to a woman like that (even or especially one who would go toe to toe with you and under other circumstances get your back when need be)...it's rather off-putting. A woman would rather be referred to as a B--h or a C--t than be talked to in a chauvinistic tone of misogyny "let you" this or that or "she'll get too" It's rather creepy.

Posted by: kwflatbed

Keenan sworn in as Quincy police chief

GREG DERR/The Patriot Ledger
New Quinjcy Police Chief Paul Keenan thanks his officers for their support.

More Pics and video on the website

By JENNIFER MANN
The Patriot Ledger
Posted Jul 01, 2008 @ 12:36 PM
Last update Jul 01, 2008 @ 05:40 PM

QUINCY —
Police Chief Paul Keenan was sworn in as Quincy’s top cop on Tuesday at a City Hall ceremony.
The 25-year veteran of Quincy’s police force replaces Chief Robert Crowley, who officially retired Monday after 38 yearsa with the department.
Keenan, who joked that “the two most popular days in a chief’s career are his first and his last days,” was surrounded by his immediate and extended family, three city councilors, police chiefs from three different South Shore communities and in addition to Crowley, his predecessor Chief William Falco.
“Chief Robert Crowley was a police officer for 38 years, 36 for the city of Quincy and he leaves to me -- entrusts to me -- a professional Quincy police department,” Keenan said.
A search committee lead by Norfolk County Sheriff Michael Bellotti made the choice between Keenan and Capt. Michael Miller. Keenan is Mayor Thomas Koch’s brother-in-law and brother to City Councilor John Keenan.
Bellotti and several members of the selection committee were at the swearing in, which packed the city hall chambers.
Keenan thanked Koch for “a fair and outstanding process in the selection of the next chief.”
“For him to request an outside committee, I think, was a good idea on his behalf,” he said.
Keenan joined the Quincy department as a patrolman in 1983. He earned an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and human services at Southern New Hampshire University and a master’s degree in criminal justice at Curry College.
Keenan made sergeant in 1991 and lieutenant in 1995. He ran the detective bureau for a period and was promoted to captain in 2005, taking command of the day shift, traffic bureau, communications branch and special events.
“As far as the citizens of Quincy I would like to assure them the Quincy Police Department is and will continue to be the most professional police department in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Keenan said.
“Every day since I started I’ve been proud to be a Quincy Police officer. I started 25 years ago and it was one of the most proud days of my life, and I continue today and today’s another proud day, I’m proud of the city of Quincy I’m proud of the Quincy police officers and the work they do every single year.”
“I look forward to serving the citizens of Quincy, keeping the city safe, and giving them the police protection they so richly deserve.”
Keenan officially signed in as chief, then had his badge pinned on by his wife, Karen, and mother and father, Philip and Loretta Keenan.

http://www.patriotledger.com/news/co...y-police-chief

New Quincy police chief offers union an olive branch

By Robert Sears
The Patriot Ledger
Posted Jun 13, 2008 @ 12:02 PM
Last update Jun 13, 2008 @ 01:05 PM

QUINCY —
Yes, Paul Keenan, the city’s new police chief, is the mayor’s brother-in-law, and he says, though not in so many words, that people should get over it.
“He’s my brother-in-law and a really good guy,” Keenan said of Mayor Thomas Koch.
“Unfortunately, we both reached the pinnacles of our careers at the same time. I’ve been in police work about 25 years. He’s been mayor for about five months.”
But Keenan said he had the police chief’s job in his sights well before Koch announced that he was running for mayor.
“I know we’re going to take some heat as far as family, but I think we can rise above that and I’ll be able to prove I was the best person for the job,” said Keenan, whose brother is City Councilor John Keenan.
A search committee led by Norfolk County Sheriff Michael Bellotti chose Keenan, who turns 50 next week.
He wants to make peace with the patrol officers’ union as soon after he is sworn in on July 1.
“My goal is to sit down and meet with the union and see if we can come to some kind of common ground,” Keenan said.
His predecessor, Chief Robert Crowley, who retires at the end of the month, has a reputation as a hard line disciplinarian.
That led to a public feud with the union, and in January, Union President Bruce Tait revealed he once asked officers to boycott writing traffic tickets to “send a message that we can’t be bullied.”
“I know there are issues they (the union) are looking to have addressed. I have issues I would like to put on the table, and I think that if we work collaboratively we can come together and find some common ground and put an end to some of the strife that has gone on,” Keenan said.
Tait said Keenan “has a golden opportunity to be a hero to every employee of the department ... promise we will work with him in good faith and make every effort to have a productive and harmonious relationship.”
“I think Chief Crowley set the bar pretty high as far as discipline goes,” Keenan said.
“I plan on injecting a sense of fairness in the process. I am firm, but very, very fair,” he said.
Growing up in Quincy, Keenan’s friends called him ‘‘The Beaver,’’ because he resembled the star of the popular TV show Leave It to Beaver.
The name stuck, and he’s known today among fellow officers by the nickname “The Beav.”
Keenan said that as a child he had wanted to become a police officer, and he joined the Quincy department as a patrolman in 1983.
He earned an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and human services at Southern New Hampshire University and a master’s degree in criminal justice at Curry College.
Keenan made sergeant in 1991 and lieutenant in 1995. He ran the detective bureau for a period and was promoted to captain in 2005, taking command of the day shift, traffic bureau, communications branch and special events.
“Each time I made a new rank I wanted to go to the next one. Once I hit the command level, I had my eye on the goal of becoming police chief,” he said.
Police work, he said, has allowed him to help people and to be involved in the community.
“There is never a dull moment. For the most part, you can go from sheer boredom to sheer terror within seconds of answering a call, and I think I can make a difference,” he said.
He said he is proudest of the way the department responded last July, after officers shot and killed a Quincy man as he charged with a bloody knife.
Keenan was in command. “Unfortunately, someone died, but everything went as it should. Officers’ needs were attended to and the victim’s family was attended to,” he said.
Keenan says funding cuts may mean that some of his goals will have to wait.
“I’m looking to increase the size of the drug unit, unfortunately with the staffing levels we have and the budget crunch –we received a 2½ percent cut – it’s going to be difficult to increase the size of any unit and provide patrol services, which are the backbone of the police department,” he said.
“To get through the financial crisis, we have to look at all the specialized units. We may have to put some back in patrol. We’re hoping that’s not the case, but it may be an issue in the future,” Keenan said.
Illegal drug trade is a serious issue, but Keenan does not believe Quincy’s drug problems are any worse than other communities.
“I don’t think we’re a host city for drugs, and we want to try and keep it that way. I think there is some serious drug use in the city, and the mayor has implemented a task force to study that, which I support 100 percent, he said.”
Fighting the illegal-drug trade “has to be a collaborative effort between the courts, treatment facilities, medical facilities and enforcement,” he said.
“Enforcement is one thing we do, and we do it pretty well in this city. We have a very, very highly functioning drug unit. They are very aggressive. They’re excellent,” he said.
He plans to continue the department’s community policing branch, but says he wants to get the rest of the department into a “community policing frame of mind.”
He says Quincy is a safe city.
“I think crime is very well under control. I think Quincy is an excellent city, a safe city to raise a family, a good city to live in and to commute from. We have to be ever vigilant to make sure that it stays that way,” he said.

http://www.patriotledger.com/homepag...hief-of-police

Posted by: AbleOne

TO BOBBY

Who's WE? Certainly not me or anyone I work with. Don't you mean just you.

Job well done Bruce.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbleOne

TO BOBBY

Who's WE? Certainly not me or anyone I work with. Don't you mean just you.

Job well done Bruce.

Anyone with the brains to register a Yahoo or Hotmail account can anonymously post whatever they want in the Ledger comments section.

Amazingly, no one has ever said that to my face.

Posted by: HousingCop

Let the QPPOA members decide who their new President should be, not the editorial staff of The Patriot Pravda. The only good thing about that paper is it fits perfectly at the bottom of my bird cage. I love it when they call and ask for me to subscribe and they get a couple minutes of verbal diarrhea for their troubles.

It's .75 cents for that rag which is only good for the Ziggy cartoon. The day of the printed paper is fast coming to a close. I hate to see the papers hard working union members take a hit but it sure is sweet to read when they have buy-outs and layoffs of upper level management & editorial staff. Must be a slow news day when their fair haired boy bows out in disgrace and they have to stalk and pick apart what somebody writes on a website. Truly pathetic.

Posted by: kwflatbed

Another Ledger Idiot

O'MAHONEY: Wednesday cartoon on Mayor Koch and the Quincy police union president

The Patriot Ledger
Posted Jul 02, 2008 @ 05:08 AM

This is the editorial cartoon for Wednesday, July 2, 2008, from the mind and pen of Patriot Ledger cartoonist O'Mahoney.

mahoney0702

Posted by: Tuna

You know Delta I've followed this thread and the other one and am appalled at that rag that quoted you. You know your doing something right when they have to reach this low to try to slap you. It's funny about the timing of this whole thing also. Makes you think. Anyway keep up the good work I like what you have done and will have your back anytime I'm asked.

Posted by: Gil

Another slow news day... or just another chance to throw a dig

Quote:

We would hope some type of counseling or sensitivity training is offered to Tait to help him see how execrable his comment is and how pervasive that thinking can be.

Looks like the Patriot is trying to dictate policy but of course it's only the opinion section.

The Patriot Ledger
Posted Jul 02, 2008 @ 08:00 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUINCY — Free speech in this country means you have the right to say most anything short of a death threat or yelling fire in a crowded theater.

But protected speech is not the same as sanctioned speech, and there is no excuse for someone in a position of power who has daily contact with women to utter the type of vile epithet Quincy police union president Bruce Tait used to describe a female U.S. senator.

Writing under his screen name "Delta784" on masscops.com, a site used by law enforcement members and supporters, Tait called California Sen. Dianne Feinstein a “dumb c---” for her response to the recent Supreme Court decision overturning a handgun ban.

The offensive remark was taken down within a few hours of Tait talking with Patriot Ledger reporter Jennifer Mann, but that does not remove the stain of the comment.
Tait does not get it, if his response is any barometer. He declared he found it offensive that the Ledger “stalked” him online as opposed to the offensiveness of his comment. We would remind Officer Tait that he posted the remark in a public forum on the World Wide Web, one of the hundreds of useful sites we visit regularly.
Tait also protests that “anything I post there is my opinion as a personal citizen.” That is scary to think he could privately harbor these views of women yet represent females as part of his union.

And he is wrong if he thinks he can adequately respond to domestic situations where a woman might be in need of assistance, protection or assurance or routinely ticket a woman driver without someone questioning his biases.

We are, frankly, disappointed in both Mayor Thomas Koch, who welcomed Tait’s support in last year’s election, and new Police Chief Paul Keenan for not denouncing this insult to women in the strongest terms. It is, at the least, a lack of sensitivity toward women or, at its worst, a case of political duck-and-cover to refuse to condemn this contemptible characterization of a woman, especially one who deserves respect for her position regardless of her politics.

And we also hope members of the Quincy Police Patrol Officer’s Association push to remove Tait from his position lest it be seen they support misogyny at the highest levels of their union.

Koch insists the comment is irrelevant to the performance of the department or Tait but he could not be any more wrong. Given the historic problems the department has had with charges of sexual harassment and discrimination, attitudes like this reinforce that the unwelcome mat has been laid out for women at 1 Sea St.

And if Keenan had police officers who used the n-word to describe blacks, or slurs for Jews, Asians, Haitians, Hispanics, gays or any other minority, would he not be concerned about that officer’s interaction with those groups while on duty?

This is no different. Clearly, Tait cannot, nor should he be, disciplined for exercising his right to speak, no matter how ignorant the speech is. But free speech does not mean without consequence. We would hope some type of counseling or sensitivity training is offered to Tait to help him see how execrable his comment is and how pervasive that thinking can be.

And if he refuses, we think there is sufficient cause to assign him to administrative duties to keep him from having contact with half the population he appears not to respect.

http://www.patriotledger.com/opinion...hateful-speech

Posted by: frank

I think the Patriot Ledger is misaligned against Officer Tait, so they should be placed on administrative duty and not be allowed to write any more stupid articles.

They should close their doors immediately and go out of business.

Posted by: kwflatbed

Kennedy and crew at the Ledger could not find a newsworthy article to publish if it was handed to them on a silver platter.
The have had their butts handed to them for backing Crowley and
I don't think that Kotch is going to bow down to them so they need
a scapegoat and they chose Bruce.
Thier Idiot that does the cartoons has shown how stupid he is so many times that I have lost count.
Any comment from Crowley is nothing but laughable.
Yes Jim you may quote me but just make sure you get it right.

Posted by: bbelichick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gil

We would remind Officer Tait that he posted the remark in a public forum on the World Wide Web, one of the hundreds of useful sites we visit regularly.

Koch insists the comment is irrelevant to the performance of the department or Tait but he could not be any more wrong. Given the historic problems the department has had with charges of sexual harassment and discrimination, attitudes like this reinforce that the unwelcome mat has been laid out for women at 1 Sea St.

First of all, as I said previously...measure should be taken to remove Masscops.com from the list of "useful websites" that these bottom feeders root through in their attempt to create headlines from nothing. Registrations should be required to be approved before anyone is allowed to view or post. Clean house and make anyone who is questionable re-apply. If it is a momentous undertaking, I am sure all the moderators would pitch in to help Gil. It would be worth it.

Quote:

...Tait also protests that “anything I post there is my opinion as a personal citizen.” That is scary to think he could privately harbor these views of women yet represent females as part of his union.

And he is wrong if he thinks he can adequately respond to domestic situations where a woman might be in need of assistance, protection or assurance or routinely ticket a woman driver without someone questioning his biases.

What "views of females (plural)?" I saw him comment on one female. If I call one female that word, does that mean I hate all females? Are not some females so repulsive that they are deserved of insult? Are all women, be they criminals, liars or scum protected because they are the "fairer sex?" If I refer to a male as any of the number of insults common to men do I hate all men? If I call one man a d*ck or an a**hole should I be labeled a man hater? Perhaps I am referring to just that one particular person?

The Ledger has gone too far suggesting that Officer Tait's referring to one female with an insult makes a veteran Police Officer unfit to interact with any females. The fact that they are arrogant enough to tell him what he thinks is mind blowing. None of these reporters have ever responded to a domestic assault call. None of them have stopped a car. To even suggest that he is not competent to do either is ridiculous. Frankly, judging from this display of cowardly tactics I suspect that they would either not answer the radio or go the other way if a hot call came in. This is, of course on the small chance that someone who uses such cowardly tactics would somehow manage to get on a Police Department.

Quote:

And if Keenan had police officers who used the n-word to describe blacks, or slurs for Jews, Asians, Haitians, Hispanics, gays or any other minority, would he not be concerned about that officer’s interaction with those groups while on duty?

Are they really going to go down this road? Pull out the race card now? Is the word in question a unique "slur" for women? Because I have heard it used to describe men on many occasions. It is incredibly insulting to even equate that word to some of the racial words referenced above, with their long histories and connotations. Again, if Tait called a man a "male insult", should he be barred from dealing with males? Be advised however, that a policy like that would likely result in no officers available to respond to calls. Cops, be they white, black, male female or any of the many other races and cultures that make up police agencies nationwide are known for their sometimes gritty language and humor. We have all personally seen female officers firing off that word in the heat of an argument.

Quote:

This is no different. Clearly, Tait cannot, nor should he be, disciplined for exercising his right to speak, no matter how ignorant the speech is. But free speech does not mean without consequence. We would hope some type of counseling or sensitivity training is offered to Tait to help him see how execrable his comment is and how pervasive that thinking can be.

And if he refuses, we think there is sufficient cause to assign him to administrative duties to keep him from having contact with half the population he appears not to respect.

Now the Ledger pretends to be protecting Tait's constitutional rights, while advocating punitive training classes and a punitive sanction should Tait refuse to attend such classes.

They also continue with the ridiculous statements that because he used that word to describe a single person, he clearly hates the entire female population of Quincy and by extension, the world. This "reporter" is a disgrace and the paper is as culpable by allowing this shameful series of revenge articles to run.

I am always amazed when reporters who thrive on the freedom to do or say as they please have no issues with attacking police officers freedoms.

You do not lose your constitutional rights when you pin on the badge, but good luck convincing the Ledger's staff of that. Maybe you too can get a hateful series of articles and editorials directed at you for daring to mess with a Podunk paper and it's vindictive reporters.

Posted by: JeffC

what a load of shit.

are we living in north korea and no one told me?

i didnt join the army and serve my country so id be afraid of getting sent to sensitivity training if i say something a newspaper doesnt like. thats no better than political indocrination the commies used to do.

Posted by: pahapoika

any bargaining unit would happy to have a union president represent the members like Delta.

screw the ledger ! they should go back to writing stuff they know about like floral arrangements or some such s**t

Posted by: MM1799

I read that whole opinion and what stood out was this:

Quote:

And we also hope members of the Quincy Police Patrol Officer’s Association push to remove Tait from his position lest it be seen they support misogyny at the highest levels of their union.

Ledger you can write about freedoms and protected rights, which are clearly concepts you cannot grasp, but it boils down to that. Delta broke up your invite-only, politico-media club because of unethical treatment and violations of contractual rights. You were brought back down to earth at the time of the elections and now that your bubble has been burst you are lashing out like a 13 year old girl (am I going to get an article about that comment too?).

I think it's safe to assume you'll get the idea of a "brotherhood" when you are being shut down after asking for information from officers and troopers alike. Sometimes it's comical the way people shoot themselves in the foot.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbelichick

This "reporter" is a disgrace and the paper is as culpable by allowing this shameful series of revenge articles to run.

That's not a reporter, it's Jack Sullivan the head of the editorial board; a pathetic Walter Mitty type if there ever was one. To say he doesn't like me is an understatement; for years he sat back and ripped people apart with anonymous impunity via the editorial page. When I returned fire via the union's website, he reacted and continues to react like a spurned high school girl. His loyalty to the former chief and former mayor is bizarre and borders on perverse.

What amuses me the most is we once again see a double-standard with the Weekly World Ledger; for years they've accused me of wanting to run the police department (not true), and here they are attempting to dictate to the department what should be done about an employee exercising his constitutional rights.

Posted by: adroitcuffs

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbelichick

Agreed, bbelichick! I do not know Bruce on a personal level, but when I read the article about the "c" word, not one single brain cell in my high-IQ brain gave any thought that Bruce is some sort of woman-hater. As a female officer, I have heard this word many times, uttered by males and females alike. While it may not be a word I would choose to use to express my disdain for another individual, it is a very extreme view to label Bruce a misogynist because he chose a perceptively strong word to express his strong opinion about ONE particular female. In my 20 years in this field, I have worked around and for a few I would describe as misogynists, yet I don't recall those individuals uttering the "c" word. Rather, it was the totality of the circumstances that showed them to be who they were.

Where are you so-called reporters when the ~fill-in-the-ethnic-blank~ community is crying racism when one of "their members" is arrested for a crime? Oh yeah, that's right, you're filling your articles with the data that supports the criminal's theory that they aren't really guilty of any crime, they were just being singled out. Where will you reporters be when they guy I gave a ticket to last week shows up in court and claims he's not guilty and that I just cited him "for being Mexican"? Will you be there, defending my honor & veracity? I don't think so, because that wouldn't sell papers. As I said, I don't know Bruce, I don't work with him, and I don't even have to like him. I don't have to agree with Bruce on any topic at all, but I can clearly see this as a personal attack on him. One word out of of one post does not a misogynist make. Imagine if you spent your time not lurking on a cops website, but working to improve the working conditions of said officers.... just a thought.

Posted by: GD

I just read the article in the patriot ledger and it is ashamed the ledger has to get its stories from reading Masscops.
FOR THE LEDGER'S CONSUMPTION: LIKE ALL SHI##Y NEWSPAPERS, YOU HAVE TO SLAM COPS FOR RATINGS!!!!

Posted by: OCKS

Any LEO that gets the ledger should quit the paper in protest, not just Deltas stuff but the way they treat all LEOs

Posted by: Macop

Depsite the spats Ive had with the ole tait mister, I would agree that the clowns at the ledger are, lying, bias, self serving assholes. You got my support on this Tait. And Fienstien is nothing more than a liberal hack.

Posted by: justanotherparatrooper

I'll say it...Jack Sullivan is a cunt

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCKS

Any LEO that gets the ledger should quit the paper in protest, not just Deltas stuff but the way they treat all LEOs

Even after the police-involved shooting we had last year, which should be in police academy textbooks under "suicide by cop", Jack Sullivan immediately took the anti-police position and put forth ridiculous theories of Annie Oakley-type marksmanship; we should have shot him in the arm or leg, etc;

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

No matter what the issue was, the Ledger decided very early on that they were against the patrol officers and with whoever was against the patrol officers. No matter how convincing the evidence to the contrary, they weren't going to change their minds. Even when their fair-haired boy, former Chief Crowley, came out publicly in support of the officers involved in the above shooting, the Ledger (a.k.a. Jack Sullivan) just couldn't find it to either admit the police patrol officers did a good job, or just shut the hell up.

I hate to admit that the newspaper my father & I used to read together is now a tabloid rag, but it's just that. The Patriot Ledger is a total disgrace, thanks in large part to the cartoonishly massive ego of Jack Sullivan. I used to subscribe, just to have the actual paper when they again took a swipe at the QPD, but my wife cancelled it (without asking me) the other day. When the very nice man asked why, and my wife ripped into him about the revenge pieces, the guy let out a very defeated sigh and said "This isn't the first time I've heard that today".

Posted by: justanotherparatrooper

Nice to hear others are cancelling theyre suscriptions Bruce..best to you and your misses brother.

Posted by: Inspector

Canceling subscriptions does allow you to feel better and sends a message to the target but getting their advertisers to switch to other media (not affiliated) is more effective.

Posted by: Delta784

Just in case anyone doubts the Ledger is a rag and Jack Sullivan a pious hypocrite, take a look at this little gem someone e-mailed me;

http://www.patriotledger.com/opinions/x73455818

They're a staunch advocate of the First Amendment, unless something pisses them off.

Posted by: Barbrady

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

Just in case anyone doubts the Ledger is a rag and Jack Sullivan a pious hypocrite, take a look at this little gem someone e-mailed me;

http://www.patriotledger.com/opinions/x73455818

They're a staunch advocate of the First Amendment, unless something pisses them off.

Thats beautiful. Mr. Sullivan should grow a pair, quit lurking, register and we can debate. Coward.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbrady

Thats beautiful. Mr. Sullivan should grow a pair, quit lurking, register and we can debate. Coward.

He actually did e-mail me, and while it's tempting to cut & paste the entire thing here, even I, a lowly pig in a cruiser, understands that some things are not meant for public consumption.

Posted by: midwatch

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

He actually did e-mail me, and while it's tempting to cut & paste the entire thing here, even I, a lowly pig in a cruiser, understands that some things are not meant for public consumption.

Thats just cruel, you shouldn't have mentioned it if you aren't going to share. Thats like saying "did you hear about so-and-so", and then not telling the story.

Posted by: Barbrady

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

He actually did e-mail me, and while it's tempting to cut & paste the entire thing here, even I, a lowly pig in a cruiser, understands that some things are not meant for public consumption.

I can only imagine how delusional it was.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by midwatch

Thats just cruel, you shouldn't have mentioned it if you aren't going to share. Thats like saying "did you hear about so-and-so", and then not telling the story.

Sorry.....unlike some people, I fight fair so I wanted to let everyone know he did contact me directly. I'll be the first to kick him in the teeth, but I also believe in disclosure.

NOTE: For the Pious Ledger spies; "kick in the teeth" is a descriptive metaphor and should not be taken literally. I do not in fact want to use a shod foot to rearrange his dental work.

Posted by: GD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

NOTE: For the Pious Ledger spies; "kick in the teeth" is a descriptive metaphor and should not be taken literally. I do not in fact want to use a shod foot to rearrange his dental work.

LOL!!!!

Posted by: kwflatbed

SPEAK OUT: ‘Outrage’ over cop’s comment overblown

People are entitled to their opinions, whether in a ‘nice’ way or flippant

The Patriot Ledger
Posted Jul 16, 2008 @ 08:45 AM
Last update Jul 16, 2008 @ 09:03 AM

HANOVER —
The “outrage” regarding Officer Bruce Tait’s use of the phrase “dumb c***” to describe Sen. Dianne Feinstein on an anonymous police discussion forum strikes me as overblown and reactionary.
For many people, when a newspaper prints an article, it’s a statement by the newspaper that the event was newsworthy, that it’s something we need to pay attention to, and that it may impact our lives in some manner.
It’s offensive that The Patriot Ledger genuinely believes that they were “exposing” something important with the story. There are so many real problems that they could have been reporting about while the paper sifted through the posts on MassCops.com.
While I’m not going to make a case for the “c” word being a great thing to go around saying, it’s hardly the worst thing anyone has ever said, and particularly in the context in which it was used.
I can find better things to be offended about.
The remark was made in a forum frequented by people involved in law enforcement; it doesn’t surprise me that there may occasionally be some off-color or rough language used in their discussions.
People are entitled to their opinions, whether they state them in a “nice” way or make a flippant remark.
If the comment had been made to a suspect or victim during the commission of the officer’s job, that might be something to be concerned about.
This is an issue of context. It’s a far leap to believe Officer Tait harbors hatred for all women and wouldn’t be able to interact with them positively because he dislikes one female member of the United States Senate.
I certainly expect police officers, and everyone else for that matter, to conduct themselves professionally while working and to try to set a good example while off duty, but this incident hardly constitutes anything I’d lose faith in them over.
I’ve personally let the “c” word slip out a few times, mostly in reaction to stories about child abusers, because really, it’s an apt word to describe someone like that.
Would this mean I, too, have a problem with women and need sensitivity training?
It is very clear that the article was written because of an agenda on the part of The Patriot Ledger, likely due to the paper’s relationship with recently retired police Chief Robert Crowley. The newspaper preyed upon the fact that people are naive and will react in certain ways depending upon how they are fed a story.
The Patriot Ledger wanted to provoke outrage against Officer Tait, and they’ve gotten some people to play right into their greased palms.
There is certainly no shortage of things to be outraged about in this world, but somebody slamming a senator with colorful language is not one of them.
Bruce Tait may think Sen. Feinstein is a “dumb c***,” but it appears The Patriot Ledger believes the same about their readership.

Denise Petrino lives in Hanover.

http://www.patriotledger.com/opinion...ment-overblown

Posted by: soxrock75

Way to go Denise!!!! =D>

Hard to believe that the ledger actually printed her response...........

Posted by: justanotherparatrooper

Nice job Denise

Posted by: Tuna

Excellent**************

Posted by: BrickCop

How dare Denise use logic and objective analysis???!!! Delta said a bad word on the internet; he is a big, fresh meanie pants worthy of our contempt!!

Posted by: JeffC

good job ms. petrino!!!

Posted by: kttref

That was the best post ever! Way to go Ms. Petrino!

As a female, I feel the same way she does. I don't give a rats ass who says what about whoever...it's a GOD DAMN FREE COUNTRY! <~~~Quote it.

Posted by: Delta784

Wow, I'm shocked they actually printed that.

Thanks Denise! I bet it frosted a certain editor's ass that a woman said that.

Posted by: Andy0921

I think Citizen Bob has been "frosting" a certain editor's ass, if you know what I mean.

Posted by: j809

Delta, how do you do it? It's got to take its toll on you.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by j809

Delta, how do you do it? It's got to take its toll on you.

It's over brother, it's over.

It's like a black cloud has been lifted from over 1 Sea Street; we met with the new chief, and it couldn't have gone better. We accomplished more in less than 2 hours with Chief Keenan than we did in 3 years with Crowley, and as a result it's like a different job.

As I've stated, if this was the final price to pay for Crowley's departure, then I'll take it with a smile on my face.

Posted by: BrickCop

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

It's over brother, it's over.

As I've stated, if this was the final price to pay for Crowley's departure, then I'll take it with a smile on my face.

Hear, Hear!!! Ding Dong the wicked witch is dead.*

*Ledger Disclaimer: The aforementioned Wizard of Oz reference was intended as satire. I wish Mr. Crowley no harm and realize that he is not really dead [unlike his police career].

Posted by: robodope

Congrats!! A good example of persistence combined with intelligence that got the job done. An example to other departments that are run by a bully that the rank and file can influence change..Good Luck with the new Chief!

Posted by: mtc

At the end of the day, who's still working at QPD?

Posted by: kwflatbed

The Shit Stirrers Are At It Again Bruce's Reply
Is The Last One

YOUR OPINION: We don’t speak like that in Quincy

The Patriot Ledger
Posted Jul 28, 2008 @ 09:26 AM

QUINCY —
This is in response to Denise Petrino’s opinion piece on July 16 regarding Bruce Tait, head of the Quincy police union, and his foul language.
She states that people are entitled to their opinions whether in a nice way or a flippant remark.
This may be how the people in Hanover talk, but in Quincy we don’t throw words like that around in discussions.
Petrino writes, “I’ve personally let the ‘c’ word slip out a few times.”
I don’t know if Denise has any children, but I hope to God for their sake she doesn’t use that “c” word around them.
And as far as you, Mr. Tait, get a life!
SHERRY ANN MELE
Quincy

http://www.patriotledger.com/opinion...that-in-Quincy

Comments:

QUINCY GAL
6 hours ago
Report Abuse
As a woman I find it offensive... I have been known to curse on occasion but you will not hear the 'c' word come out of my mouth. We live in a society where it has becoming acceptable to curse, however there are simply some words or expressions that will not ever be acceptable...this is one of them...As for Mr. Tait..how proud your wife, mother, sisters and daughters must be ! Shame on you.

suggestion
6 hours ago
Report Abuse 'This may be how the people in Hanover talk...' says Sherry Mele about Denise Petrino's recent defense of the creature's foul and vile mouth. But if Ms Mele only knew how truly foul and inbred far too many Hanoverians are, she might not have wasted her time and effort.

Know this, there are many in Hanover and its town governing boards and schools that are more disgusting than Mr. Tait and his tribe! Ms Denise Petrino merely writes and defenses what many there live!

starchamber
5 hours ago
Report Abuse the original article was on 7/1/08! LET IT GO!!!

Nha Trang
4 hours ago
Report Abuse Hah. If it was Phelan who said something like that, you wouldn't let it go until Kingdom Come. Nice try there, sport.

skeptic
3 hours ago
Report Abuse i agree with starchamber, this is last month's news.

i'm much more interested to know what happened to the weymouth police chief? where is the reporting on that story?

Unknow
3 hours ago
Report Abuse Sherry have you ever been inside a bar in Quincy?

QUINCY GAL
2 hours ago
Report Abuse Trash talk is more than accepted in a bar, you are not shocked in a bar..it's a bar for god's sake. If you don't like the language you can leave.
This is the head of the Policeman's Union, this guy thinks he is holier than god! He takes cheap shots
wherever he can when it comes to anyone that he does not like..he had his little blog where he would badmouth Mayor Phelan (I agree with above Phelan comment by the way) and now ex-chief Crowley
and anyone else that did not agree with his logic on life...well that is gone so apparently now he can whip out his 'c'omments in public..yes, it was a month ago but whn has Tait ever let ANYTHING go?

Unknow
2 hours ago
Report Abuse He was on a website for police officers talking to other officers, get over it and I personally cannot stand the guy. The original article was stupid and this letter is the most stupid letter I have ever read, it basically says that this lady says that the 90,000 residents of Quincy do not swear. What is this? The third grade? My dad can beat your dad up..........

alexjmc
2 hours ago
Report Abuse This is in reply to Sherry Ann Mele. If she truly believes that people in Quincy don't talk like that, she must never venture outside. I worked in Quincy for over 25 years and can attest to the fact that language like that is common.

suggestion
1 hour ago
Report Abuse This should be the final word.

EXCUSE ME.....I have relatives living in Quincy and one, my dear mother, ...the most perfect woman who ever lived, ....bless her soul, assured me that no one talks like the creature, Traity boy, in Quincy!

Now who of you are so low and disrespectful to call my beloved and saintly mother a liar?

btait
24 minutes ago
Report Abuse Okay.....enough people have forwarded the Ledger's trash to me that I feel compelled to respond. A few points;

1) If ANYONE who has criticized me tries to say they've never used profanity, then you're a liar as well as a hypocrite. The fact that Ms. Mele says 'in Quincy we dont throw words like that around in discussions' is positively hysterical. She must be referencing Quincy, Illinois because I hear it on a daily basis in the City of Presidents.

2) Police work is a rough profession, and we use rough language amongst ourselves. If you've never been a police officer, you'll never understand that. Get over it.

3) I've never said I was 'holier than God', I merely used extreme tactics against extreme threats (Crowley & Phelan) to the membership of my union.

4) The fact that we're getting along wonderfully with the new chief goes unreported in the Ledger.....I wonder why? In a meeting lasting less than 2 hours with Chief Keenan, we accomplished more than in 3 years with Crowley. We withdrew a superior court lawsuit and two unfair labor practice cases against the city, saving the taxpayers thousands of dollars in legal fees. Where is the Ledger's coverage of this news which is of interest to Quincy taxpayers?

5) If I brought a birthday cake with a penis on it to the police station and made references to a female officer being a stripper, can you imagine the hysteria that would erupt on Crown Colony Drive? Where is the three-part attack plan (above the fold headline, pious editorial, and letters from 'outraged' citizens) over the alleged conduct of Chief Thomas in Weymouth? Oh, I forgot....police chiefs can do no wrong in the eyes of the Ledger.

6) The Ledger is a fervent believer in the right of free speech, unless it's by someone they don't like. Take a gander at this gem;

http://www.patriotledger.com/opinions/x73455818

The Ledger is mad because we won. History is already proving we were right in the fact the atmosphere at 1 Sea Street is the polar opposite of what it was for the last 4 years. When the city is paying huge money to defend lawsuits and pay out settlements solely because of the conduct of former Chief Crowley, when can we expect the righteous indignation of the Ledger's editorial staff?

As the old saying goes, 'If they ain't talking about you, then you ain't doing s***'. I take this hysterical, overblown, tabloid coverage as a compliment to my effectiveness. I take great pride in the fact we tipped the mayoral election and helped to remove a civil service police chief, which is the labor equivalent of pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

This is my final word on the subject. If anonymous heroes like 'suggestion' and 'QUINCY GAL' want to debate this further, e-mail me. I refuse to give the Ledger's advertisers the credit of another 'hit', so this is my final visit.

Bruce Tait
btait@qppoa.com

Posted by: Tuna

Hey Delta, good move on your part. Don't even entertain the thought of giving that rag a second thought. They are playing this one up for it's full potential because the're too lazy to go out and do some real investigative reporting or even better "good old honest newspapering". Screw them and the toilet paper they sell.

Posted by: Barbrady

Nice reply Bruce, way to put those simpletons in their place.

Posted by: MM1799

Personally I would love to be there when these self-righteous citizens call 911 because of a burglary or a domestic and the responding officer rushes to their aid and assists them. When they figure out that it is Bruce Tait; the man, the myth, the legend

in the flesh, I wonder if they'll speak their mind about him speaking his mind.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by MM1799

Personally I would love to be there when these self-righteous citizens call 911 because of a burglary or a domestic and the responding officer rushes to their aid and assists them. When they figure out that it is Bruce Tait; the man, the myth, the legend

in the flesh, I wonder if they'll speak their mind about him speaking his mind.

It's funny...I was at a block party a couple of weeks ago, and was speaking to a woman for a half-hour before she asked my occupation. When I told her, she asked what was wrong with "your crazy union president". When I told her that was me, she was dumbfounded. "But you're such a nice person" she said. My response is that the media can make anyone look the way they want, which she agreed with.

This latest foolishness is beyond absurd.....talk about performing CPR on the rotting corpse of a "story". I guess they just had to get in the last word.

Yeah Jack, you showed me. I'm still here and Crowley's still gone.

Posted by: Andy0921

I left a comment, but it removed all of the apostrophes once I hit the submit button.

Posted by: mtc

I wonder how many more "hits" this site getting now? After all this publicity?

Posted by: robodope

As far as I'm concerned the Department should be giving minimal information to this rag until their vendetta is over. This half ass newspaper profits on the information given by the PD. If I was the Chief I would tell them sorry but nothing but the Public Log until you call off your war on my officers. I'm sure once their sales go down maybe they will rethink their mudslinging. When that newsroom boss got ripped of the plane drunk she said what we all know is true about some bad press, " I will ruin your lives." It is clear that is what this petulant child is doing because he picked to side with the bully and lost. ...

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