THE NEWSLETTER of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, not surprisingly, contains a lot of material tailored to the specific concerns of its members — messages from the union’s leaders, updates on the status of contract negotiations, complaints about policies that the union opposes. And if some items in the newsletter, called Pax Centurion, have caustic words for political figures like President Obama or Governor Patrick, that’s just free speech in action.
But some items in the May/June edition of Pax Centurion go much further, expressing contempt for what adds up to a wide swath of Bostonians: college professors; “turban tops”; residents of Jamaica Plain, Back Bay, and Beacon Hill; even younger officers. In response to criticism in a previous issue, an Occupy Boston supporter named Bil Lewis writes a letter requesting a meeting with the Pax Centurion editor, Officer Jim Carnell. In response, Carnell mocks the way the letter writer spells his name and insinuates that Lewis is in cahoots with illegal immigrants and perpetrators of welfare fraud. He goes on to say, “Most police officers have to remain quiet because of our positions, but I have the luxury of speaking on behalf of what 99 percent of police officers really think about you and your occupiers.”
Comments
Anyone who deals with the public has contempt for the public, it goes with the job. We get to see the hypocrisy of both sides whether it is the OWS guy or the Tea Party guy. All full of idealism but when things go bad who do they turn to they turn one public servant or another. When things are good public servants are leeches. The newspapers are full of complaints, gripes, whining and insulting remarks about government and public servants. Each and every day a cop or a federal worker or a state worker is insulted or verbally abused by some "I'm better than you" member of the public. I find it merely underscores why people who work in any part of government dislike the public. Internally and amongst themselves why shouldn't the PD express its disdain after all the public has earned it and the officers need to be able to say it somewhere besides sitting on a bar stool or in the locker room.
"college professors; "turban tops"; residents of Jamaica Plain, Back Bay, and Beacon Hill... illegal immigrants..." When certain demographic groups are singled out in print, there's a problem. Wouldn't these officers be in trouble if Roxbury were added to the list of those neighborhoods held in contempt? Every citizen has a right to feel they are treated fairly by police. If his fellow officers disagree with Carnell, they should cowboy up and say so.
Looks like we are getting involved in thought control here. Your right to free speech is not limited because you wear a uniform.
If a teacher expressed contempt in print for any demographic group of students, she would be waiting tables in a week. The right to demean any demographic group stands. It does not extend to your right to stay employed.
I would agree that calling out certain segments and we get who he dislikes is over the top and he should have just spoken broadly. However, I do understand his frustration and irritation. If he was going to call out folks he should have included Tea Parry folks, politicians and newspaper reporters and every other group that on one hand talks about "our heroes" and then on the other says we pay them too much or their benefits are too good. But I do understand the frustration.
And the people they despise pay their inflated salaries and benefits. Ironic.
There you go your comment is a perfect example of why they have contempt for the public. "Inflated" salaries until one gets killed and then you go, "oh my hero". "thanks for your service."
So, if the job of protecting the public is so terrible, why do so many apply for it over and over? Yeah, it would be a great job if they only didn't have to actually do it. "Oh, those nasty, complaining citizens." Well, let 'em have their little newsletter, where they can complain all they want to each other. I guess, as "Attaturk" says, the officers NEED to vent to each other, huh? Just don't expect that sponsors will line up to pay for ads. And don't expect the newsletter rants will help with community relations and make the officers' jobs any easier.
attaturk: When a Boston cop can make more than a 4 star general, something is amiss.
As an attorney my first thought is that it is Free Speech-1st Amendment rights. But when you look deeper into the laws all speech is not protected and as police officers, judges, lawyers, public officials our Free Speech rights are at times restricted. Reading the back issues of this publication I am extremely troubled by the inaction of the Mayor and Police Commissioner to allow these officers, making offensive written hate speech against public policy, to remain on the Boston Police Force. Certainly they can and should be fired - they can have their day in court an explain themselves in that forum.
Excersing my free speech allow me to say that the leadership of the public safety unions in Boston have a documented tendency to behave in a borish and bullying manner. This is yet another example. The question I have for police officers is this attitude reflective of the majority of your membership? I don't think so. I know a few police officers and although they deal with things a majority of us don't see, they are decent and hardworking people who go out of their way to do the right thing. But I must admit I wonder why they support the people leading their union. Also, to some posters who are complaining about the backlash, remember that free speech cuts both ways.
/It's always good for an argument to find the anomalous event to prove the point. I would however then suggest perhaps a four star general deserves a raise given he only makes let's say 190K a year. Far less than a corporate CEO who doesn't hold the lives of so many in his hands. Now of course you may think 190K is a lot of money, I don't.
attaturk: Do you think that the average Mass taxpayer - the person who pays for the police's salary, benefits and pensions - thinks 190K a year is a lot of money? My guess would be yes. My guess would also be that the average Mass taxpayer doesn't have the slightest idea what Mass public sector employees - especially police and firefighters - get paid. The corporate CEO comparison is bogus; the money to pay CEOs comes from consumers not taxpayers. And by the way, I think most corporate CEOs are grossly overpaid.
I don't think that the cop who wrote me up for a horsebleep traffic violation on Old Colony Avenue was highly professional. Bleep him.
attaturk, 190k is not a lot of money??? in that case, maybe all taxpayers' salaries shud go right into the cops' pockets - now, is _that_ enough???