Obstructionism on records at odds with plea for support.Byline: Kenneth J. MOYNIHAN COLUMN: KENNETH J. MOYNIHAN Outside Worcester Police Headquarters there's a memorial stone inscribed in·scribe tr.v. in·scribed, in·scrib·ing, in·scribes 1. a. To write, print, carve, or engrave (words or letters) on or in a surface. b. To mark or engrave (a surface) with words or letters. In Memoriam In Memoriam Tennyson’s tribute to his friend, A. H. Hallam. [Br. Lit.: Harvey, 808] See : Grief to those dedicated police officers who served with dignity and pride. An audit recently alerted Chief Gary J. Gemme to some schedule-tampering that might have cost the city up to $100,000 since Jan. 1. It is alleged that a lieutenant, three sergeants and three officers put in for pay they did not earn. The seven veteran officers, five of them from the vice squad vice squad n. A police division charged with enforcement of laws dealing with various forms of vice, such as gambling and prostitution. vice squad Noun , have been transferred to other units while the department investigates. No doubt there have been many officers who served Worcester with dignity and pride, in one of the most difficult jobs society has to offer. No doubt many still do. But police work seems to open up avenues of potential corruption that require little risk or imagination. Who will protect us? Some cities have independent review boards. Worcester is not one of them. There are basically two ways for a chief of police to deal with the sticky political question of police accountability. One is to cultivate cul·ti·vate tr.v. cul·ti·vat·ed, cul·ti·vat·ing, cul·ti·vates 1. a. To improve and prepare (land), as by plowing or fertilizing, for raising crops; till. b. the most strategically useful constituencies, showing sympathy for their points of view and asking for understanding in return. The other is to take a stand against outsiders meddling med·dle intr.v. med·dled, med·dling, med·dles 1. To intrude into other people's affairs or business; interfere. See Synonyms at interfere. 2. To handle something idly or ignorantly; tamper. in the work of professionally trained police forces. In Worcester, we have had recent manifestations of both styles. When word of the overtime irregularities arose, Chief Gemme, perhaps after a session or three with City Manager Michael V
Michael V the Caulker or Kalaphates (Greek: Μιχαήλ Ε΄ Καλαφάτης, . O'Brien, seems to have moved promptly to keep things under control. Before the story even broke last Wednesday, the chief gave a lengthy interview to Telegram & Gazette reporter Scott J. Croteau. Mr. Croteau reported that although the chief spoke of manipulation of schedules and "very serious abuse," he said he would not comment on any ongoing investigation. The city manager also was forthcoming in a subsequent interview - still before publication - with Mr. Croteau. He told how the computers were used to find the improper claims and records of payment. Chief Gemme said there was a question in some cases whether there was actual attendance in court when officers claimed they had been busy testifying. By Friday the T&G was reporting organizational changes taking place in the vice squad. Deputy Police Chief Mark S. Roach roach: see cockroach. roach Common European sport fish (Rutilus rutilus) of the carp family (Cyprinidae), found in lakes and slow rivers. A high-backed, yellowish green fish with red eyes and reddish fins, the roach is 6–16 in. said the squad's operations had been under review even before the emergency transfers. Those initiatives by the city manager, the police chief and one of the deputy police chiefs gave the impression of active concern with public opinion as well as flexibility at the command level. They helped promote confidence that the police can police the police. But then, there is the broad and lingering lin·ger v. lin·gered, lin·ger·ing, lin·gers v.intr. 1. To be slow in leaving, especially out of reluctance; tarry. See Synonyms at stay1. 2. shadow cast by the chief's efforts to keep internal affairs Internal affairs may refer to:
It's an old story, and one in which the chief is not rushing to take the lead. A series of obstacles has been placed by the police in the path of the Telegram & Gazette's effort to see what have been clearly defined as public records. The latest round indicates that the chief and his colleagues are either getting desperate or developing a sense of humor Noun 1. sense of humor - the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous; "she didn't appreciate my humor"; "you can't survive in the army without a sense of humor" sense of humour, humor, humour . The department came up with the estimated cost for a copy of a file the newspaper requested. The charge would come to $4,092.62. The department says the high cost estimated for copying the internal affairs file is largely due to lack of available personnel and money. The city manager and the City Council can make both of those go away by appropriating funds to cover the costs. This apparent attempt to obstruct ob·struct v. To block or close a body passage so as to hinder or interrupt a flow. ob·struc  tive adj. the law does not build confidence
that the police can police the police. In the Police Department's
annual report there is a Letter From the Chief of Police. In it Chief
Gemme appeals repeatedly for public support. He says he hopes that we
continue to have legitimacy and support from our community based on
performance and through the information provided. He says one of the
bases for the Community Policing Plan is citizen support for the
community policing model.
The chief even closes with an invitation to the public to provide comments or criticisms that will assist the Worcester Police Department in our effort to be a more responsive and transparent organization. Blocking access to public records does not show a desire for transparency (1) The quality of being able to see through a material. The terms transparency and translucency are often used synonymously; however, transparent would technically mean "seeing through clear glass," while translucent would mean "seeing through frosted glass." See alpha blending. . Kenneth J. Moynihan's column appears regularly in the Telegram & Gazette. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion