In South Africa the police may shoot at fleeing persons,  ( see http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/Politics/1057/6b50c2cf0c1940a5a24feff9efabfdc1/12-11-2009-06-06/Zuma_SA_crime_more_violent )which is not permissable in New York. 

In 2008 107 South African Police Officers were murdered during the performance of duty. This is an extremely high number of fatalities and directly correlates with the violence the nation is experiencing. ( see http://allafrica.com/stories/200909070585.html ) In 2008 in all of the United States 138 Officer’s died in the line of duty ( see http://www.odmp.org/year.php?year=2008 ).

In 2008 South African Police encounters( custody and actions ) resulted in the death of 912 persons.The murder rate in South Africa is 5 times that of our nation. ( See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate ) South Africa has seen an unbridled increase in violence which is reeking havoc and as a result the economic well-being of the nation is eroding.  For if folks don’t feel safe they won’t live or work in a city, state of nation. 

Symbolic of the terrible crimes in South Africa a female lesbian national soccer player Eudy Simelane  ( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudy_Simelane )was the victim of a “corrective rape” she was stabbed over 12 times gang raped and thrown in a river. see http://www.newser.com/story/70068/s-african-gets-life-in-rape-killing-of-lesbian-soccer-star.html

Nothing good can come from the death of a three-year old. However, it appears that as a nation this death, and that of the soccer star reflect a national anomie which if goes unchecked will be a fatal carcinogen to the nation. In the Christian Science link below even the Ambassador to the U.S. was stalked coming home from the airport and gunfire was exchanged with his attackers.

Topical Sites to Visit:

One website displays graphic images of farmers who in the post apartheid decades were murdered. See http://southafrica-pig.blogspot.com/2008/06/sas-agricultural-sector-under-siege.html 

Human Rights Watch http://www.hrw.org/en/node/79205

African National Congress http://www.hrw.org/en/node/79205

Christian Science monitor on crime in South Africa and the dreams of post apartheid not realized http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0824/p09s01-coop.html

Off Duty Atlanta Police Officer Reginald Fisher has been indicted for shooting Tramaine Davis in May of 2008 outside an Atlanta Development Authority Apartment Complex. See http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-man-shot-in-175565.html

 In my opinion a Police Officer who maintains secondary employment as an armed security guard is foolish. It is only a matter of time for something to go wrong.  And so it did for Atlanta Police Officer Reginald Fisher who has now been indicted by a grand jury shooting Tramaine Davis in the face.( photo above)

It’s impossible to act in a civilian capacity after being trained to react as a Police Officer.  More importantly you don’t have the tools to act in a professional capacity ( i.e. radio, communication support, back up, non lethal weapons, a partner and a full depth of the person, place of situation you are dealing with).

40 Second Gap In Video Tape Furnished By Victim to Press

Fox News http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/iteam/I_Team_Video_Sheds_Light_on_Shooting_051509 has presented a video that shows the Mr. Tramaine Miller entering a residential complex. His family has stated he was there to visit a relative who is a quadriplegic. He was in the complex at night and stayed for less than five minutes.

According to a video of an unidentified Police Officer at the scene that night who shockingly speaks to the press states that the Officer saw the man make a furtive movement in or about a car he was entering parked outside the apartment building called “City Views at Rosa Burney Park Apartments which is owned by the Atlanta  Development Authority. ( see http://www.atlantada.com/)

The press states that Officer Fisher has only one year with the Department. ( See http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-man-shot-in-175565.html)  Further it appears that the Officer was out on bond due to a domestic incident in Clayton County where charges are pending.

Accorrding to the local paper  http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2009/06/12/man_shot_in_face.html there may be an open “gun useage” charge pending against the officer.

Mr. Davis is recovering but he is unable to work as the injuries have been slow to heal and disabled him He has a 12 year old child and his wife is struggling with the mortgage.

This is an interesting case due to the gap in the video. I will be adding information as I can get a hold of it.

Needless to say a bad situation for the young Officer. Atlanta Police starting salary is about $40,000.00 See http://www.atlantapd.org/index.asp?nav=Career capping out at $57,0000.00   Assuming he was working this unauthorized secondary employment to make ends meet. It appears the temporary cash infusion may have permanently ended his police career.

It’s a fact of life the journalistic community reports about daily crime but whether we here it on the radio, surf it on the web or tune in on the television to many the facts of the incidents are treated like the national weather report. A NIMBY attitude regarding crime surrounds Americans thinking but what is really scary is that Americans are comfortably numb about crime.

This week a 92-year-old senior was killed by a bullet as she sat in the sanctuary of her home. The accused killer is only 15. eehttp://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/10/teen_suspect_ar.php and http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/10/22/2009-10-22_cops_closing_in_on_arrest_in_.html Attending what is suppose to be a cherished memory of High School a 15-year-old girl is gang raped for over two hours and no one calls 911. See  http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/27/california.gang.rape.investigation/index.html A priest is working in his church and is stabbed over thirty times by and employee of his parish. See http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/custodian_stabbed_priest_times_cops_nBNLIykQI1m3Zp9fAV2kyI

The  aforementioned crimes  and the facts surrounding the incidents are a precursor to the future and an  indicator of the type of  society  we have become . The late Senator Hubert H. Humphrey stated”  the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped. “

The questions begets itself  What has America Become? The answer is a sizable portion of Americans have no boundaries they are engaged in their own personal jihad devout of personal responsibility, and void of any care and emotion to those they have harmed. And if  caught the jail time  is short a temporary stop on their road to ruining more persons as nearly 70% of all violent felons return to prey again.  ( Recidivism rates See:  http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm#recidivism

President Obama and his Attorney General recently commented about juvenile crime after a Chicago teen was killed by alledged gang members. For the video see http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/video_derrion_albert The President and Attorney General Holden responded to this killing by giving Chicago a $500,000.00 grant aid. See http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2009/October/09-ag-1084.html and http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvppserv/index.html

But money is not enough to solve the problem.  One problem causing juvenile crime to rise is the prevalence of one family head of household families.  A study by the Cato Institute  ( see http://www.cato.org/testimony/ct-wc67.html ) stated that a full 70 % of incarcerated juveniles come from single family homes.  According to educational studies a full 50% of marriages wind up in divorce ( See http://www.cardinalpointsonline.com/opinions/marriage-should-still-have-value-in-society-1.1946012 ) therefore  and immediately the children from divorced parents become ” at risk” juveniles.

The present disposable society and all the talk of “greening” are noble goals, but we have to look at how we are treating the most vulnerable in society. Recent criminal events indicate we are failing.

Pimping is vogue today and it’s  traditional definition of a person who solicits others to engage in prostitution has changed. A television show  named ” Pimp my ride” is illustrative of the modern definition. In the show they select a clunker vehicle , recondition and renovate the car with every fancy accessory in the book. The best part is the clunker owner expends no capital to for the work, nor does he physically get his hands dirty However Banker’s  are acting like the latter definition and the  “ho’s” are the U.S. Taxpayers adding another meaning to the oldest profession and vice in society.

Now some facts last week a prospective  client came to me and wanted to purchase a two family home in one of New York City’s Boroughs. The sales price was $3335,000.00. They  stated they could only afford a down payment of 3.5%.  I advised them that in the current mortgage market  this would be difficult.

He than presented me a pre-approval letter from a major bank.  He further presented a pre-approved for an additional $35,0000.00 I was shocked and alarmed could a major bank be reverting back to practices that caused our economic tsunami?

I sincerely yet erroneously assumed the banks were back to the negligent/reckless lending practices and they are but with a new twist it’s the U.S. Tax Payer playing the “HO”, the banks are just pimping Uncle Sam a/k/a the FHA Federal Housing Authority.

A recent study by Grant Thornton LLP, Banking Executives stated the current mortgage  crisis was caused by ” lax  underwriting standards, political emphasis on increasing home ownership and lack of oversight of the mortgage industry“.  See http://www.allbusiness.com/banking-finance/banking-finance-overview/11742540-1.html for the full report in pdf, See http://www.nubank.com/stories/200905_GrantThorton/GrantThorton16.pdf

Traditional professional lending standards required a would be  home buyer intending to purchase a home to ; place 20% down, have a good credit score; a satisfactory appraisal and verify employment.

A pimp is defined as a man who solicits customers for a prostitute. See http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pimp A prostitute is defined as to devote to corrupt or unworthy practices.

The FHA is encouraging bad lending practices touting ” its easier to qualify ” , specifically  borrowers to place as little as 3.0 down on the purchase of a home and they don’t even have to prove they saved the money the down payment may be gift from a friend, relative or charity.   They go further  you can have a ” less than perfect credit score”, See http://www.hud.gov/fha/choosefha.cfm

And placing a cherry on top of their theory you can have your cake and eat it to  FHA will give you another whopping $35,000.00 to “renovate” the premises under their 203K program.  Several banker’s pimping this to the max are advertising this program ” love the location hate the house  203 K is the answer.

I was wrong the banks have become mere conduits for the Federal Government’s FHA.  In the example above the borrower could place down a mere $12,500.00 and purchase a home. Additionally the FHA would give them monies above the homes appraisal value to finance so called “renovations” under their 203 K  rehabilitation loan program. See http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/203k/203kslrp.cfm

A primary reason for our current recession and anemic economic situation was the banking industries lending unprofessional lending practices. This included  breaking with the past lending practices which required a borrower to place 20% down on a home.  They took it further allowing borrowers to place little or no down payment, no verification of income, false appraisals and simultaneously issuing a 2nd mortgage frequently a home equity loan and all with adjustable loan rates.

Here a realtor/banker brags about the program http://activerain.com/blogsview/958614/fha-renovation-loan-203-k-you-love-the-location-but-hate-the-house

For a full non biases footnoted review of our current subprime mortgage causes and solutions  New York Law School did a detailed study the federal government should read it. See  http://www.nyls.edu/user_files/1/3/4/30/59/65/68/Capstone070802Complete.pdf

In a study ” Fighting New Jersey’s Tax Crush, the report concludes that with average Police salary’s in excess of $80,000.00 and overtime averaging $20,000.00 are non sustainable. See http://www.app.com/taxcrush. For a national graph see http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Police_or_Sheriff%27s_Patrol_Officer/Salary

Teacher, Police and other civil servants unions are acting as though they are a “privileged class” and have a sense of entitlement.   Obviously some areas of the nation are more dangerous than others and as such police officer’s working in  high crime regions you would think are better compensated than peaceful hamlets. However the opposite is true as the larger cities cannot afford larger salaries.

An example of taxpayer abuse is Clarkstown New York where the Police Chief is earning over $300,000.00. See http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/nyregion/03clarkstown.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=clarkstown&st=cse Many Police Officer’s can increase their pensions by earning overtime in their last 1-3 years of employment.  See http://www.timesunion.com/ASPStories/Story.asp?StoryID=760752

A New York fiscal watch dog is reporting that tax payers will have to increase contributions to municipal pension funds by 61% which they say are non sustainable.  See http://www.nyfiscalwatch.com/?p=1859

California has already announced that public pensions are non sustainable. See http://www.ocregister.com/articles/public-calpers-percent-2536874-pay-pension

Don’t wait for union leaders to act in good faith negotiations for just as politicians bring home the bacon to secure votes, union leaders are judged similarly.  Recently in New York, the Lawyer’s, Cops and Teachers Unions were all accused of improper lobbying of elected officials. See http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/category/lobbying/

It’s pure greed  just like  in Aesop’s fables and they are killing the goose that lays the golden egg.

Where have the virtues of  civility http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Civility, manners and poise gone?

The recent heckling of the President by Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina See http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/10/obama.heckled.speech/index.html, the interruption of an award presentation to country singer Taylor Swift by singer Kanye West, see http://omg.yahoo.com/news/kanye-west-interrupts-taylor-swifts-big-vma-win/27721?nc

And the tennis legend Serena Williams  cussing out a line judge , see http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/09/14/2009-09-14_day_after_us_open_tirade_serena_williams_hit_with_fine__backlash.html

All of these incidents are a reminder of how common “bad behavior” has become acceptable. Often it may be a tactical publicity decision to create a ” bad boy image which is prized in today’s society. Everyone want to be a “tough guy” or “gal”.

Everyday we see the bad boy and girl images from  trucks with oversized tires that drive recklessly.  A study bears this out as ” toughness” is a top consideration in the purchase of a pick up. See http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/kbbcom-study-domestic-trucks-remain-cornerstone-strength-import-truck/

People  engaged in “road rage” , “cutting” lines  or not waiting their turn in traffic. This is a form of “passive aggressive behavior. See http://www.drdriving.org/articles/testimony.htm

Half the people in the gym are pumping their egos , health concerns are not even a blip on their vanity ego’s.

- Oscar Wilde

Today the City of Baltimore http://www.baltimorecity.gov/search/?cx=016856369251817325360%3A1wrq1qoz5cy&cof=FORID%3A11&q=Enter+Search#568 announded it will equip it’s Officer’s with Blackberry phones.

This will enable them to conduct  wireless outside the Police RMP warrant checks. Which appears to be a great concept and will improve efficiency. It’s being called the “pocket cop” see  http://www.bio-key.com/publicsafety/pocketCop.asp and http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story/Blackberry-New-Tool-for-Police/nBSR46Yk3EmX1Nl0Q5wsag.cspx

The Baltimore Police Union http://www.fop3.org/ is not happy as the Blackberry have “GPS” so the supervisors can keep tabs on the Officers. See http://officer.com/web/online/Top-News-Stories/Baltimore-Patrol-Officers-to-Get-BlackBerrys/1$48237

An AFL-CIO Lobbyist named to head N.Y. Fed

The Federal Reserve has selected union boss  Denis Hughes, President of the N.Y.S. AFL- CIO to be head of the powerful N.Y. Federal Reserve http://www.newyorkfed.org/. See http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125112547653253819.html

1. Unqualified- Mr. Hughes is an electrician by training and is a partisan labor union hack.  http://www.nysaflcio.org/?zone=view_page.cfm&page=Officers . Shockingly he was anointed despite his de mini mus – education.

2. He was appointed to the Federal Reserve as a “C” director, meaning a political selection with NO , ZERO , financial experience.  Given that we are in an economic tsunami and still teetering with a recession this appointment is reckless , unconscionable and shocking as he bring nothing to the  table in terms of leadership and experience to assist us out of our dire economic straits.

He attended  ” Empire College” where they award half of your credits to “life experience”. Empire is well known as home study course for “mature adults” who want to obtain an ez- college degree while maintaining their employment. http://www.esc.edu/esconline/online2.nsf/html/isescforyou.html. Empire’s students are largely cops, fireman and other civil servants who are required to have a four year degree in order to advance to promotion in their respective trades.

Why, was he selected ? , where is the vetting process? What does this say about selecting the “best” candidates ?   Another example of defining deviancy downward. If Hughes had any common sense or commitment to America he would decline the appointment. This is like selecting a non physic an to be the Surgeon General. Hughes took over the union after the previous President was arrested for stealing money from the union. See http://www.thelaborers.net/lexisnexis/articles/after_scandals.htm

Troubling Hughes stated in 2001 his top priority was “affordable housing” as such he was one of the lobbyist who pushed for “affordable mortgages” See http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:hIKU1NSfoQkJ:govinfo.library.unt.edu/mhc/hearings/testimony/dhughes.doc+denis+hughes+new+york+afl+cio&cd=19&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

The Midland Texas Sheriff’s Office http://www.co.midland.tx.us/sheriff/is under fire as their finest have been captured on photographs showing them posing scantly clad females holding their automatic weapons. The link for my source is below.

1010 WINS New York’s #1 source for local news, traffic and weather – AP News

Midland Texas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midland,_Texas has been popularized as the home of President Bush and his Midland Texas Ranch.

I see it every day in my precinct. Young and some not so young Officer’s  responding to investigate a crime. They arrive and access the situation and are Impressed, Intimated and than Ignore facts which indicate ” bad guys”. The conduct is unprofessional and borderline malfeasance. It encourages more bad conduct as bad guys get brasher, bolder and bad-er, making it tougher for those Officer’s who do their jobs.

For example pulling up to a 911 call of drugs being sold at a specific  address with a detailed description and a call back number of a witness.  They observe a car and man fitting the description and he has a fancy car ” big pimp-in”, he has fancy jewelry, and a big loud mouth voice demanding to know why he is being ’singled out” , harassed”.

A professional good cop will make common law Rights of inquiry asking him a series and observing his oral and physical response to the challenging questions.
Are you in possession of any drugs,  Hey, how did you make out in that old drug case we have against you,  when were you last arrested, why would someone call up and state you are dealing drugs,  do you have drugs in the car.?  This is good police work, but the Professor Gates incident is an example of how professional police work is skewed by the press and pundits.

If these questions were asked maybe the suspect would exhibit nervousness, run away, make a move to destroy the drugs. Instead they look around don’t observe anything and drive away, Drug dealers One, Cops 0.

Looks like the SEC investigators did the same thing with Madoff, impressed with his big “pimped crib office”.  They dropped off resumes UNREAL WHIMPY INVESTIGATORS. See http://www.nypost.com/seven/08112009/gossip/pagesix/madoff_wowed_kid_probers_183931.html

and http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/16/sec-chief-says-staff-ignored-warnings-on-madoff/

Sadly, the last decade or two has been defined by ” big pimp in” materialistic obsession and employees who perform at a mediocre level.

Who pays when government employees commit malfeasance, we do all the taxpayers who foot the bill from the greedy trial lawyers who reap billions from taxpayers who pay for the negligence of government workers.See http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/16/sec-chief-says-staff-ignored-warnings-on-madoff/

Trust me the lawsuits are lining up against the SEC for the Madoff scandal. See http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/news/1/7901-sec-negligence-in-madoff-swindle-makes-it-liable-for-victims-losses.html and here is one actual lawsuit. http://www.securitiesdocket.com/2008/12/23/ny-investor-files-17-million-claim-against-sec-for-negligence-in-madoff-probe/