The Blogger will not be silenced by threats

 

 Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power.
-James Madison 

From what I'm told, some members of law enforcement were not happy with one of my recent posts. A member of one of the campaigns for South District Council sent me a picture of a police cruiser parked in front of the Blackthorn at the same time Christopher Scanlon was having one of his fundraisers. The source was upset and said he didn't think it was right for a police officer, while on duty, to attend a political event.

To me, this was a minor story. I don't care what people do as long as it doesn't affect my life. My goal was not to get anyone in trouble, but highlight the fact that Chris Scanlon is the candidate of the status quo establishment. While I'm supporting A.J. Verel, I've actually been too busy lately to get involved in the race.  So I was very surprised to hear from a credible source that members of the A District were looking to throw me in the Erie County Holding Center on made up charges. Apparently, it is against the law to charge someone with 1st degree blogging, so the charges would have to be trumped up. I was even told that the plan was to arrest me on a Friday, so I'd have to spend the whole weekend behind bars.  I find it very troubling that anyone would think they could get away with such a thing. I read the story last week about the man allegedly thrown down a flight of stairs while handcuffed. I chose not to print it because there was no proof that it happened and the man in question is a convicted murderer. Out of respect for law enforcement, I decided to give the police officer in question the benefit of the doubt. However, when I hear that certain police officers would entertain the thought of making up charges against a law abiding city resident, it makes me wonder.

In any event, I've communicated to the South District Police Chief, through a good friend of mine. I've also spoken to my attorney, who happens to specialize in civil rights. He encouraged me to make this post today, in case the people in question decide to follow through on their threat. I've never been arrested for anything and the only weapon I carry around is my IPad.

Ironically, I'm not a protester or one of those people who think all cops are no good. I have several friends who are police officers and I've never had a problem with any of them. It always annoys me when protesters fight with the police when they are there protesting some bigger power. I guess to them, the police symbolize authority.

Car 899: Where are you?

An anonymous fink from a rival campaign sent me these photos of a Buffalo Police Cruiser parked in front of Christopher Scanlon's fundraiser on Friday. According to our man on the street, two police officers spent considerable amount of time shaking hands inside the Blackthorn, while on duty. If it were anywhere else, the police officers might have felt a little embarrassed by this blatent impropriety. However, given the corrupt reputation of many of the status quo loving attendees at Scanlon's anointment party, I doubt if they even felt out of place. Meanwhile, a few streets down on Duerstein St., illegal drug sales were reportedly brisk on Friday...

Letter to the editor- Move Over Law

I agree with this letter writer from West Seneca in regards to the new Move Over Law. Standing on the side of the road writing tickets is a very dangerous practice, but I think I've discovered a way to protect the officers. Stop writing so many tickets!

Don't get me wrong. I want to see aggressive drivers or people weaving in and out of traffic ticketed. However, that's not what we have now. What we have now is a lucrative racket set up by the towns, villages, and the state itself. They set up their officers where they know people are easily tricked and pull them over for their money. It's nothing more than a shakedown and has very little to do with public safety. Most people do not want to live in a police state. Instead of pulling people over left and right, how about using the same amount of manpower to prevent crimes where crimes occur every day? The police unions should push for less ticketing and more police work. Less ticketing would mean a safer work environment for them and less harassment for us. And, oh by the way, I usually drive in the right hand lane and go 5 MPH slower than the rest of traffic . I just think the "speed traps" are another way to tax people. I'd like to see less cops on the highways and more cops in the neighborhoods...

Move Over Law leads to unsafe lane changes

As a frequent highway business traveler, I can’t help but comment on the law requiring motorists to move from the right lane, creating a one-lane buffer between traffic and a roadside incident, whether it be a police car or an emergency vehicle with flashing lights. While I understand the intent of this law, which looks out for the safety of police and others who are roadside, I am concerned with the byproduct, which is unsafe lane changes with little or no warning.

I submit to you that most accidents on a highway occur during a lane change. Typically, traffic in the left lane is moving faster than that in the right lane, so to have slower-moving vehicles suddenly switch to the left lane creates a hazardous environment. This is especially true when a tractor-trailer truck does it, because sometimes the bulk of the truck blocks your view and you don’t see the incident creating their need to change lanes.

Before the law, most competent drivers would move over when it was safe to do so out of courtesy. But now, perhaps out of fear of a ticket, vehicles do it whether it is safe to do so or not. I would be interested to see some statistics on how many accidents that never should have been were a product of this law as compared to the few incidents that happened to prompt this law. If you are off to the shoulder of a busy highway, it seems like a no-brainer that you need to stay far enough clear of the roadway to conduct your business safely. Since this law, I have seen several near-misses and have to wonder about the wisdom of it.

Chuck Kritz

West Seneca

Move Over Law leads to unsafe lane changes

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Power, lies, and audio tape

Here's the traffic stop in question. Some people have described the officer's reaction as shocking. You be the judge. I don't want the police officer in any trouble. I understand the frustration of having to deal with the criminal element of society on a full time basis. I read the South Buffalo crime report.

I also know I've expressed some strong opinions on this blog. Opinions that might not be popular with some people. I'm releasing this audio clip in the hopes that it doesn't happen again. I just hope to be able to drive around my own neighborhood without being threatened with arrest for 1st degree Blogging...


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Filming the police

I don't have a problem with most of the police officers I've known over the years. Coaching for many years, I've come to meet people from all walks of life and count several cops as friends/acquaintances. I recognize the job they do as being a tough one. I'd say 90% of the encounters I've had with officers on duty have been positive. They're people just like everyone else.

There are a small few who abuse their power. One time, my younger brother was pulled over with his friends on a traffic stop. I don't even know why they were pulled over. The Buffalo Police Officer began harassing him, and actually mentioned my name in a derogatory manner. I decided at that point, I was going to turn my camera on in my car should I get pulled over. In that case, it was my brother's word vs. the police officer's and all he had to do was deny saying anything. Remember, they can film you from their dashboard cameras and don't have to ask for your permission. The question becomes a legal one. Is it legal to film the actions and words of police officers in your own car? Here is what the ACLU has to say on the matter...

Taking photographs and video of things that are plainly visible in public spaces is a constitutional right — and that includes the outside of federal buildings, as well as transportation facilities, and police and other government officials carrying out their duties.

However, there is a widespread, continuing pattern of law enforcement officers ordering people to stop taking photographs or video in public places, and harassing, detaining and arresting those who fail to comply.

The ACLU, photographer’s groups, and others have been complaining about such incidents for years — and consistently winning in court.

The camera doesn't lie and often times serves to back up the police officer in such cases. I had a run in the other night with a Buffalo Police Officer. I was pulled over on South Park Avenue because my 1999 Lincoln Continental has tinted windows. My camera was on the dashboard. The officer became irate and the traffic stop suddenly became a referendum on my blog and his rights. I thought I had turned the camera off, but had actually just closed it. The officer's entire meltdown was caught on tape.

I don't want the officer to get into any trouble over it. That's not my intention. It wasn't a big deal to me. If you hear the tape, he clearly goes over the line, threatening to arrest me and trying to bait me into a confrontation, even as I remained calm and did not talk back. I just dismissed it as frustration caused by having to deal with a rough segment of society every day. I wasn't pulled over because of my blog this time.

I will continue to call things as I see them. Sometimes, people will agree with me. Other times, they won't.

Filming and Photographing the Police

You Have Every Right to Photograph That Cop

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Lafayette we are here (for now)

Now this is what I paid to see. The love fest between city hall and the agitators is about to end. Well, sort of. A splinter group has left Niagara Square and has decided to occupy Lafayette Square. Does this mean the Niagara Square group are the 98%ers?

"If they use force to remove us we will come back in force," said one of the protestors at Lafayette Square, Chris Phillips. Phillips is a 30 year-old English major at Buffalo State College.

Now that is a true protester speaking. I like the new protesters over at Lafayette Square. Forget about thanking the mayor or bringing donuts over to the downtown police station. We're talking good old fashioned fisticuffs here. These people are genuinely angry. I might go down there dressed in a police uniform just to get them warmed up. Someone might want to remind them that they'll be sending in 100 police officers and they only have six, one-man tents, though...

City may evict 'Occupiers' in Lafayette: wivb.com

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Florida cop pulls over another cop

It's not too often you see a cop pull over another cop and give them a ticket. This Florida officer would routinely see a Miami Police car zig zagging in and out of traffic on her patrol. This time, she claimed he was going 120 MPH. I'm glad she pulled him over, as he was unnecessarily putting other peoples' lives at risk. His reckless driving had nothing to do with the law...

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Smooth Criminal

Curtis Johnson thought it was funny when he saw one of his friends pictured on a "Buffalo's 10 Most Wanted" poster outside an office at the Rath Building...

Johnson, 28, of Manhart Street, boasted to some women as he tore down the poster at about 10 a. m., “I know one of the guys pictured on this poster so I’m going to take it and show him so we can get a good laugh,” Deputy Gary Mosier reported.

Apparently, the Deputy did not find the poster quite as amusing. Johnson was taken into custody on a disorderly conduct charge, and a police check showed there was another warrant out for him on a domestic harassment case. When being led to his new cell, Johnson was overheard saying, "Snap! Aint that a bitch!"
Taking down wanted poster leads to arrest on warrant



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Routine traffic stop

I don't see anything wrong with this. A concerned citizen pulls over a few motorists and pretends to be a police officer. Whatever happened to the citizen's arrest? He's probably just concerned about the safety and welfare of his neighbors...

Man posing as officer stops two cars

Hamburg police are searching for a suspect who used a red “gumball” light to conduct two traffic stops Monday morning while posing as an officer.

The suspect initiated the traffic stops between 4:30 and 4:45 a. m. in the Armor Duells area of Hamburg near the Orchard Park line, town police said.

During the traffic stops, the suspect approached the vehicles and asked drivers for their license and vehicle registration, police said. He then reportedly got back into his car and left the scene.

The man, who was reportedly driving a small, dark-colored SUV, was not dressed in uniform, and no siren was used during the traffic stops. He was described by witnesses as a white male in his early 20s, about 5-feet, 8-inches tall and between 160 and 200 pounds.

Actually, this is pretty scary. Who knows what this wackjob's motives might be? This act is so premeditated. He had to purchase a fake badge and a fake light. He's probably a guy who wanted to be a cop, but couldn't pass the test or the psychological exam. I wonder if this is related to a similar crime, which took place recently in Cattaraugus County?

Man posing as officer stops two cars

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Have it your way

A woman calls 911 after Burger King screwed up her order. She tells the police dispatcher, "you're supposed to be here to protect us." She should have been arrested for stupidity...

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Of mace and men

Donn Esmonde of the Buffalo News showed his true colors once again with his column today. He takes the side of the anti war protester who was maced by an NFTA police officer. Watch the video at the end of this story and decide for yourself. The agitators live up to their name by almost inciting a riot. Their protest was supposed to be a peaceful one against M&T Bank executives (which I would normally agree with). However, it quickly turned against the police, who were simply trying to do their jobs and did not appear to be provoking them.

The civilian in question was clearly out of hand and resisting. If you read Esmonde's crap and don't watch the video, you would think the police were the aggressors. I've come after the police in certain stories where I feel they were wrong, but not this one. The mob outnumbered the police and began berating them and interfering with their efforts to control the protest. I love how Esmonde tries to justify the behavior of these aggressive, foul mouthed, troublemakers...

To be fair, this was not a crowd of flower-power hippies. The demonstrators— although philosophically nonviolent— were verbally confrontational to the cops, who represent the government whose policies they were protesting.

That's exactly where Esmonde and the protesters are wrong. The police might work for the government but that doesn't mean they "represent" or endorse all the policies of the government. Some of them might even agree with what the protesters were protesting. However, it was their job to make sure all the rules were followed. Just listen to the language of these protesters. Come on, losers. You're in your 30s, 40s, and even older. Grow up! You were clearly looking for a fight with the police. Don't cry to the media because you got one. If you lived in other countries you would have been shot or sprayed with water cannons for simply speaking out against the government. Continue fighting for peace, but don't start riots while doing it. Esmonde, you suck. Why the hell do you spell your first name with two N's anyway?

Video shows cop’s report to be fiction - Donn Esmonde - The Buffalo News

www.buffalonews.com
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Ridiculous

I just saw this story about Dawn Schafer, a Buffalo woman ticketed in West Seneca for having an air freshener hanging from her rear view mirror. This is absurd. If this is the only thing she's accused of, the West Seneca Court should send her a letter telling her the police officer made a mistake and not to bother showing up to court. I realize this law is on the books, but it is ridiculous and completely unnecessary. Isn't this the type of stuff the BTK killer Dennis Radar pulled when he worked as a Wichita, Kansas Code Enforcement officer?

This is not Egypt. We have no desire to live in a police state. This constitutes harassment in my opinion. This woman had somewhere to go and was needlessly pulled over and ticketed because someone obviously took himself way too seriously. Does this police officer realize the tough financial times most of us are living in? The next time he is complaining about his pay or benefits, he shouldn't expect any sympathy from motorists like the woman in this clip. This overzealous cop makes all level headed police officers look bad through his careless actions. If there's more to the story, then we'd like to hear it...

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Hollywood cops

The Hollywood cops joined Erie County Executive Chris Collins in holding a news conference this week, where they informed the general public they would be doing their jobs???...

Also playing a major role in the anti-DWI effort are state police, who have made 306 drunken-driving arrests this year in Erie County.

“We intend to make the Thruway a safer place to travel through diligent enforcement of the DWI laws,” State Police Capt. Michael Nigrelli said. “We ask that everyone make the lifesaving decision this holiday season to not drink and drive.”

On other area roadways in the county, Nigrelli said troopers will be conducting “roving saturation patrols and checkpoints in an attempt to keep the roads safe for all of our families.”

Nigrelli is clearly campaigning for some sort of political post. If he goes three days without being on television or radio, it is surprising. Most of the great cops I know simply do their jobs in a quiet manner, try to help people, and then go home to their families. They don't like to be around news cameras.

Everyone knows drinking and driving is a crime. Just enforce the law. There is no need to have a self-promoting infomercial, just so you can rush home and see how good you look on television. Don't worry. Everyone you went to grammar school with knows you passed the state police exam and made your phone calls. Congratulations. All we're asking you to do is arrest the criminals. Buffalo is a small town and the word will get out fast if you're good at your job.We really don't need to see or hear you on television.

Agencies to target drunken drivers during holidays - City & Region - The Buffalo News

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Sean Kelley- West Seneca's "Likes to fight" guy

I write on here about unqualified, politically connected people getting hired for scarce jobs and some people think it's an exaggeration. One needs only to look at the case of former West Seneca police officer Sean Kelley to see what is going on every day in small towns and the city around Western New York. From the Buffalo News...

-And while Gehen declined to comment on the politics involved, other law enforcement officials said town officials -- mainly, then-Town Supervisor Paul T. Clark -- forced Kelley on the department when he was hired in early 2005.

-Detectives who conducted a background investigation on Kelley before he was hired told the chief that Kelley -- because of some past disciplinary issues when he worked for the town highway department and a past domestic abuse incident -- was not a suitable candidate for police work. The Town Board hired Kelley anyway.

-Field training officers who rode with Kelley during his first few weeks on the job told the chief that Kelley had attitude problems, including tardiness and a lack of motivation and was not suitable for police work. The chief kept him on anyway. "Gehen said he had no choice, because Kelley's father was so close to Paul Clark,"

-After he became an officer, Kelley was disciplined 10 times -- including four suspensions for a total of 57 days without pay -- according to federal court records. He was also ordered to attend counseling for alcohol abuse and anger management. In July 2006, he was reprimanded for entering the police cellblock, while off-duty, and offering an alcoholic drink to a female prisoner.

I strongly encourage people to read the full article. At every step of the way, people tried to tell authorities that this spoiled son of a political hack was unsuitable for police work. Now, he is under FBI investigation for beating up a bar patron after he called one of his on duty friends to be there for backup. That's a real tough guy. He wants to fight someone at the drop of a hat but he has to wait until two of his fellow, gun carrying officers get there-because he's too much of a coward to confront the person on his own.

Recently, he was arrested by Buffalo Police for fighting with them, after they were called to a Seneca St. bar to babysit him there. I hope the guy who was beaten up in the West Seneca incident sues the town and Kelley for everything they're worth. I don't want him to sue Mackie's (I like their chicken fingers.) The town deserves it for hiring the spoiled son of an Erie County Committeeman. The world needs ditch diggers, too.
Politics helped troubled officer get hired, avoid being fired - City & Region - The Buffalo News

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False Tough Guy

Former West Seneca police officer Sean Kelley must be one tough guy. After feeling insulted by a fellow bar patron, Kelley showed how "tough" he really was. He called two on duty cops to the scene and then beat up the guy he had been in an argument with. The same guy who bought Kelley and his girlfriend drinks and apologized for whatever he said.

This other guy might be a jerk or a drunk. Who knows? But calling the cops and then beating him badly does not make Kelley a tough guy. The sad part is, I'll bet Kelley really still thinks he is a tough guy. Sorry, ex-small town cop. You're 30 years old. Fighting over something so stupid and losing your job in the process does not make you a tough guy. It makes you an unemployed guy.

My sources (ok, the people commenting underneath the story) say Kelley's father is a West Seneca political hack (these guys should walk around with tattoos on their foreheads for identification). Rumor has it, he prostituted himself to former town supervisor Paul Clark to get short-fused Junior the job of small town cop. I'm sure, as we speak, he is working on getting him some other job in law enforcement or the prison system (right after he gets him out of jail for breaking the law). Good move by the West Seneca Chief for turning the matter over to the FBI. The whole crew shouldn't be made to look bad because of the actions of one hothead.

Former police officer faces charges after bar fight - The Buffalo News
We have some rare footage of Junior in action:

Rebel

This guy Ron is fed up. Upset about the way he was treated during a traffic stop, he stands on a Kensington Expressway overpass with a shirt that reads "stop police corruption". Ron dresses in all black clothing (Raiders fan perhaps?). Thursday, he took things one step too far and put on a gas mask. He was arrested. After his arrest, he went right back to the bridge. This time without the mask.

Who knows what happened during the incident in question? Ron could be a guy with misdirected anger towards the police, or he could have been pushed too far. I personally think the gas mask stunt was foolish on his part. Being upset with the police doesn't give one a license to potentially cause an accident. However, he should be able to protest peacefully as long as he is not creating a disturbance.

People in a democracy have the right to choose what type of norms they want to live by. Most Americans I know do not want to live in a police state. During odd hours, you are at great risk of being pulled over, harassed, and ticketed if you drive through towns like Tonawanda, Kenmore, or Hamburg. The villages are even worse. I hope Kevin Gaughan is successful in dissolving all of them.

If someone is driving drunk or texting while driving, they should be ticketed and/or arrested. However, what we have now is not about safety. Don't kid yourself. Everyone knows it's a money making tax for the city, town and the state. Authorities use the guise of safety to perpetrate their ongoing scam on the public. Times are very tough right now for many. Some of these tickets are quickly given under very questionable circumstances. People like Ron are mad as hell, Carl, and they're not going to take it anymore.

wgrz.com Buffalo, NY Buffalo Man Takes His Message To The Highway

Off duty cop acted appropriately

An off duty Buffalo police officer acted and captured four robbery suspects over the weekend. Apparently, his gun discharged during the chase. Now, he is the subject of an internal investigation:

Police Department probing firing of gun by officer

An off-duty Buffalo police officer fired a shot Saturday morning as he chased a burglary suspect, prompting an investigation by the Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division.
Three other suspects ran through several yards and Shoshone Park— during Little League baseball games— before police apprehended them on Huntington Avenue between Wesley and Beard avenues.
The off-duty officer, whose name was withheld, investigated suspicious activity at a home on the 100 block of West Northrup Place at about 10:40 a. m. As he began to check the house, at least four youths exited and ran away.
The three arrested youths, whose identities were withheld, were charged with second-degree burglary, petit larceny and criminal mischief.

The public needs to wait until all of the facts come out before making judgements in this case. I, for one, am glad he acted and arrested these criminals. How would you like to be the one whose home was broken into?Now, we're going to make the robbers the victims? I don't think so. He shouldn't get in trouble but should be given an award. He didn't have to do anything, yet he acted. I hope the police brass rule on his side. Anything to combat the scumbags that are currently trying to take over the streets.

Police Department probing firing of gun by officer : Police Blotter : The Buffalo News

Buffalo's new police commisioner

Only 10 applicants have emerged thus far for the new police commissioners job in Buffalo:

Paucity of applicants prompts questions on filling top police job
By Brian Meyer

Buffalo’s search for a new police commissioner has produced only about 10 applicants, city officials disclosed Tuesday.
The hunt for candidates, they added, continues more than four months after Mayor Byron W. Brown vowed to launch a national search.
While the official in charge of the search insisted that the city has cast a national net, some lawmakers wondered aloud whether enough has been done to attract candidates for the $116,989-a-year job.

However, our sources have told us a new candidate has recently emerged:

Cops vs. Ticketers

The ongoing battle between Buffalo cops and parking enforcement continues. A parking enforcer was found guilty of not wearing a seat belt and forced to pay a $50 fine and an $80 surcharge. (Only in dysfunctional New York state is the surcharge tax nearly twice as much as the fine.) Meanwhile, half the cars in downtown Buffalo were being broken into while the police wasted the taxpayers time with this nonsense. I have no sympathy for the parking enforcers either. In fact, I wish them a slow and painful death. They are extremely overzealous and power hungry.

In other 6th grade news, someone at my school told on another student at lunch...

Parking enforcement officers paying up : City & Region : The Buffalo News

Letter to the editor- Police and Fire protests

This letter writer to the news doesn't think too highly of the planned protests by the Buffalo police and firemen at President Obama's upcoming visit. While I think furloughed state workers have much to complain about, I'm not sure the public understands what the police and the firemen are mad about. I know they haven't had a new contract in awhile but their present contract seems more than fair (when compared to most city residents).

Both police work and fire work are very difficult jobs and not for everybody. I disagree with the mayor's efforts to characterize either side as "malingerers". We all know, most do a great job. However, there are many people out there working at Russer Foods, Sorrento Cheese, or EMT's who struggle to pay their bills every day and get paid garbage. I think people support the work police and fire personel do. I just don't think there is a public outcry supporting their protests. The fact remains. We don't see many police or firemen leaving to find better jobs around here. How do we know this letter wasn't written by Sean Doctor???

Disgruntled firefighters, cops should find new job

Glory be. Isn’t it just great that our honorable public servants are going “to show the country how Buffalo treats its police and firefighters” by picketing President Obama’s visit to Buffalo? Just what Buffalo needs!
If I were that unhappy with my pay and felt so unappreciated as they must, I would just move on and find a job and an employer that did treat me right, and not embarrass the whole community.

Richard Kohl
Orchard Park

http://video.buffalonews.com/player/index.php?id=1064