As the graphic above shows, we're well aware that as soon as one of those three taboo subjects are written about on these pages, there will be a different, and often emotional effect on the varied segments of our readership. Hence, we should stick to NYCHA corruption and foibles and allow others to address societal ills. Mentioning any of them may cost Spotty some support and could lose him some sources.
Having said that, we'll now ignore it.
There is something seriously wrong going down in our city, and it's time to come together to try and reach a consensus on what changes need to be made to help insure that unarmed, innocent people are not shot by those whose protection our entire society needs.
Many cops have an awful job. There should be no argument there, and I haven't heard any "side" that claims a police career is anything but a daily challenge with little in the way of pay and/or perks to compensate for what some cops must go through in their daily grind.
On the other hand, there must not be this immediate rush to find fault with the tortured and/or dead victim(s) who has certainly done nothing to deserve his terrible fate.
The Spotlight is certainly not the publication where one should look for answers to this problem, but, as is increasingly clear, neither is City Hall a place to seek justice.
Please read Jim Dwyer's column in today's Daily News. (Click Here) If, after reading that, you feel that the Spotlight should have stood silent, then I don't know what it would take to change your mind.
Releasing Mr. Dorismond's arrest records was both illegal and, more to the point, immoral. Releasing the information about a juvenile arrest should cause an uproar that won't cease until:
- 1) the Police Commissioner resigns
- 2) Rudy Giuliani is made to understand that his current job is as the Mayor of New York City. That job includes a duty to be fair to BOTH the police AND the citizens of this City.
I was arrested, as a teenager, for joy riding in a car that a friend had "borrowed" from the gas station where he worked. I could never believe that riding in that car as a teenager could one day be used by the Mayor of New York City to justify someone having shot and killed me.
Luckily, I really don't believe that would/could ever happen, and I don't believe even Rudy would release that old arrest record. But I'm not comfortable with the one reason I think Rudy wouldn't try that tactic with me. Putting it plain and simple, he wouldn't because I'm white!
In the graphics below, we've placed some suggested ways that Rudy should use undercover cops to really stem crime.
(And each crime mentioned below costs society, in ways too numerous too list, much more than the seller of a $10 bag of grass that the cops were trying to grab when Mr. Dorismond was killed.
But, then again, they are WHITE-collar crimes!)
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