Quality Policing Podcast and Blog

“Never again”

This is truly amazing. I cannot believe this is not an Onion video. WKRN, Nashville News, Nashville Weather and Sports “As the buses left, the only way to get those students back to school was to walk.” It too nearly 15 minutes. One student noted with disdain: “It was sunny and windy. It was not…
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This is (not) only a test

I’m going to present a scenario. I want you decide who if anybody is right. And who if anybody should be criminally charged. But you have make a decision before you hear about the race of the people involved. Just imagine that everybody is white. A guy lives in northwest Albuquerque. He may may not…
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“Ambassadors of the NYPD”

“OK, academy class, pay attention. Today we are going to learn the ‘seven steps to positive community interactions.’ OK? And, um, even though Number Seven says ‘end on a positive note’ — stop snickering in the back — you should not say ‘have a nice day’ after cuffing somebody.”

Officer Down

Yesterday an Eastern District sergeant, Keith McNeill, was shot and very seriously wounded. My thoughts go out to him, his family, and all those who know and work with him.

“The true lives of low-level drug dealers”

Erin Rose wrote a great piece in Salon about your average run-of-the drug dealer. It’s not like Breaking Bad (though it is in Albuquerque). It’s not like Baltimore’s Eastern District. Most drug dealers are not violent. Most drug dealers are not black. Some highlights (but it’s worth reading in its entirety): Rico works a full-time…
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Prison is worse than flogging? You don’t say…

In the TimesDavid Brooks makes a crazy point that prison may actually be worse than flogging. Craaaaaazy… I only wish I had thought of this idea…

Lexington Market

Last week I mentioned“the army of junkies outside Lexington Market.” My tender New York eyes were a bit shocked by 20 people shouting and 20 other people nodding in what I call the “junkie lean.” You can’t expect decent people or caring parents with children to walk a gauntlet of junkies to go shopping. They…
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Flogging is less harmful than prison?!

David Brooks says so in the Times, so it must be true. But what a craaaazy idea… who would have ever thunk such a thing?

We Got Another Kingpin! (13)

“El Chapo, Most-Wanted Drug Lord, Is Captured in Mexico.” “This is an absolutely huge get.” “Big strike.” “A landmark achievement, and a victory for the citizens of both Mexico and the United States.” So don’t believe the headline, “Drug kingpin’s bust may have no effect.” Or the nay-sayers: “It’s bad news for Mazatlán. “He was…
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Baltimore, oh baby!

I was in Baltimore for a sociology conference. Sure, I ate 5 crab cakes at four locations in three days. (Let’s just settle this debate once and for all — ha! — Faidley’s is still the best, if you don’t let the army of junkies outside Lexington Market get you down. Plus what other place…
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