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More on Mutts
February 18, 2018
NYPD Confidential recently posed this question: Was PBA President Pat Lynch’s use of the word “mutt” to describe a 16-year-old black youth who dragged a detective in a stolen car, causing him permanent brain injuries, racist? The column drew an overwhelming response. Here are some of them.
“As a long-time reader with 32+ years in federal law enforcement, your description of "mutt" is correct … it refers to all low-life criminals REGARDLESS of racial and/or ethnic background. The individuals making such an uproar, like those claiming that pictures of coal miners and Mary Poppins chimney sweeps are racist, are frankly race-baiters and need to be called out as such, regardless of their estimable positions in life.”
— Former U.S Customs, Department Homeland Security officer, New Jersey.
![Click here to read what the police brass say about NYPD Confidential](/images/brass-button.gif)
”Mutt” is an equal opportunity moniker. … Where does it end? I’m no fan of Rodney King [L.A. riots] but he asked one question that I see we still have not answered: “Why can’t we all just get along?”
— Former NYPD officer, NYC.
“My experiences on those Harlem streets taught me how abusive some cops could be, but James Baldwin made me understand the depth of the damage to black folks. A black cop with whom I worked … used to take me around to bars in Harlem after we’d get back to the Station House from a day in court; just the two of us, sometimes within the precinct, but mostly in the 3-2 or 3-0. He made me understand what is was like raising a young son and daughter when every one of the TV commercials was White. … How would I have come to that concept on my own? That conversation [commercials, blond hair…] took place in the Spotlight bar on 8th [Avenue], between 125th and 126th Streets. In the confines of the 28 Pct. Please use my name, Frank Grimes, and the name of my deceased black friend and mentor, Myron Cherry, who raised my consciousness.
— Frank Grimes former NYPD officer, Mexico.