Archive » July – December 2008

Archive

July – December 2008

December 29, 2008
The Future: Here Are Some Predictions For 2009
January. Facing $4.7 million in fines and 142 years in prison if convicted of 16 counts of fraud, tax evasion and making false statements, former police commissioner Bernard Kerik holds a news conference outside the White Plains federal courthouse, where he declares, “Rudy Giuliani has deserted me. Joe Tacopina has betrayed me. John Picciano has disappeared.” He then passes out business cards, which say on the front, “Victim,” and on the back, “Bernard Kerik Legal Defense Fund, Suggested Contribution: $75.”

December 22, 2008
Not A Terrorist Was Stirring ….
On the night before Christmas, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly decided to take a stroll to ponder his future since Michael Bloomberg had stabbed him in the back by deciding to run for a third term as mayor.

December 15, 2008
Joe, Once Again, It’s Time To Go
If anyone doubts the sorry state of law enforcement in New York City, consider how Brooklyn District Attorney Joe Hynes announced the indictments last week of three cops in the alleged subway sodomy of Michael Mineo two months ago.

December 8, 2008
Bernie Kerik — Hero? Victim? Crook?
It would be easy to belittle Bernie Kerik for throwing a fundraiser last week to defray his mounting legal costs, except that it is all so sad.

December 1, 2008
Aborn For Manhattan DA or Morgenthau Forever?
Bernie Kerik isn’t the only New York law enforcement figure hosting a fundraiser Monday night..

November 24, 2008
Kelly Takes On the Washington Big Boys
It’s one thing for Police Commissioner Ray Kelly to pick on the schlimazels who run the New York office of the FBI.

November 17, 2008
FBI Criteria: You Must Play With Ray
It’s official, as it was inevitable. Mark Mershon, the decent but hapless head of the FBI’s New York office — who for the past three years Police Commissioner Ray Kelly ran rings around — is retiring.

November 10, 2008
The CCRB: A Black Woman’s Accusation
Over the past year, the 13 people who comprise the increasingly wobbly Civilian Complaint Review Board have managed to harm it more than the seven years of Police Commissioner Ray Kelly’s flouting the city charter and not cooperating with the agency’s investigations.

November 3, 2008
Two Moves at Police Plaza: Colgan and Kammerdener?
Word around Police Plaza is that Assistant Chief John Colgan is retiring as commanding officer of the Counter-Terrorism Bureau.

October 27, 2008
Bill Bratton: Beyond the Horizon
His dream apparently denied, former Police Commissioner Bill Bratton seemed to be looking beyond the NYPD on his latest visit to town.

October 20, 2008
Blaming the Victim: The Outrageous Bill Flack
Criminal attorney Bill Flack made some outrageous claims last week in defending his 51-year-old junkie client Steven Armento, who is charged with fatally shooting police officer Daniel Enchautegui during a burglary in 2005.

October 13, 2008
History Belongs to the Winners: Maybe It Shouldn’t
Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson complained recently that this column slighted former mayor David Dinkins regarding credit for the city’s dramatic gains in fighting crime.

October 6, 2008
Only Mayor Mike Can Save The City? Nuts!
Given the recent behavior of Mayor Mike, it may be time for a history refresher.

September 29, 2008
Bernie Kerik — Betrayed By Joe?
Perry Carbone, the lead federal prosecutor in the tax fraud case against former police commissioner Bernie Kerik, left the U.S. Attorney’s office last week. Whether this will delay Kerik’s trial, due to start in January, remains unclear.

September 22, 2008
Fighting Terror — and the Homeless
Homeless man walks up to a private house in the Riverdale section of the Bronx and asks for a glass of water. Homeowner calls the cops who question the man, then release him.

September 15, 2008
Fessing Up Over Stop-and-Frisk
Let's discuss some hard truths about stop-and-frisk.

September 8, 2008
John McCain: Bernie Kerik's Path To Freedom?
While some sources say that former police commissioner Bernie Kerik is considering a plea deal in his federal tax fraud case, events at last week's Republican national convention may have given him hope he might yet avoid prison.

September 1, 2008
Tennis, Anyone? Not For Some NYPD Chiefs
A half-dozen top brass, including a couple of three-star chiefs, won’t be attending the U.S. Tennis Open this year.

August 25, 2008
Mayor Mike, Mayor Mike
So Mayor Mike wants a third term as mayor.

August 18, 2008
The Chief’s Blood Lust
The police department may have gone further astray than anyone realizes in treating hero detective Ivan Davison like a criminal.

August 11, 2008
IAB: Has It Lost Its Way?
Veteran Newsday police reporter Rocco Parascandola was startled six months ago when an IAB sergeant he didn’t know telephoned him and politely asked for the names of his sources on a story.

August 4, 2008
Ray Kelly Can’t Explain? We’ll Try To
So Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says he “can’t explain” why 22-year-old police officer Patrick Pogan — three weeks out of the academy and from a respected police family — knocked down a bicyclist, then apparently lied about it in a criminal complaint, claiming the rider deliberately drove into him.

July 28, 2008
Port Authority Police: Sacrificed To Ambition
The Port Authority Police Department learned a painful lesson about power and politics last week: its sacrifice on 9/11 pales next to the ambition of a relentless leader.

July 21, 2008
The Post Gets Action
Congratulations to the New York Post. Not just for righting a wrong but for exposing Police Commissioner Ray Kelly’s flawed leadership and the lack of common sense displayed by one of his top chiefs.

July 14, 2008
In a Lather Over Grammar
Not only does Police Commissioner Ray Kelly fight terrorists. He also fights street crime, the FBI, Port Authority, Rudy Giuliani and Bill Bratton’s legacy.

July 7, 2008
Connecting the Dots: It's Corruption, Too, Ray
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly continually reminds the public and his officers that New York City remains a prime target for terrorism.