Podcasts about transit police

Today's guest is Peter Moskos, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He spent two years as a police officer in Baltimore. I asked him to come on and talk about his new book, Back from the Brink, Inside the NYPD and New York City's Extraordinary 1990s Crime Drop. It's one of my favorite books I've read this year (and it was one of my three book recommendations on Ezra Klein's show last week).Peter spoke with hundreds of police officers and NYC officials to understand and describe exactly how the city's leaders in the early 1990s managed to drive down crime so successfully.We discussed:* How bad did things get in the 1970s?* Why did processing an arrest take so long?* What did Bill Bratton and other key leaders do differently?* How did police get rid of the squeegee men?I've included my reading list at the bottom of this piece. Thanks to Harry Fletcher-Wood for his judicious transcript edits.Subscribe for one new interview a week.Peter, how would you describe yourself?I would say I'm a criminologist: my background is sociology, but I am not in the sociology department. I'm not so big on theory, and sociology has a lot of theory. I was a grad student at Harvard in sociology and worked as a police officer [in Baltimore] and that became my dissertation and first book, Cop in the Hood. I've somewhat banked my career on those 20 months in the police department.Not a lot of sociologists spend a couple of years working a police beat.It's generally frowned upon, both for methodological reasons and issues of bias. But there is also an ideological opposition in a lot of academia to policing. It's seen as going to the dark side and something to be condemned, not understood.Sociologists said crime can't go down unless we fix society first. It's caused by poverty, racism, unemployment, and social and economic factors — they're called the root causes. But they don't seem to have a great impact on crime, as important as they are. When I'm in grad school, murders dropped 30-40% in New York City. At the same time, Mayor Giuliani is slashing social spending, and poverty is increasing. The whole academic field is just wrong. I thought it an interesting field to get into.We're going to talk about your new book, which is called Back from the Brink, Inside the NYPD and New York City's Extraordinary 1990s Crime Drop. I had a blast reading it. Tell me about the process of writing it.A lot of this is oral history, basically. But supposedly people don't like buying books that are called oral histories. It is told entirely from the perspective of police officers who were on the job at the time. I would not pretend I talked to everyone, because there were 30,000+ cops around, but I spoke to many cops and to all the major players involved in the 1990s crime drop in New York City.I was born in the ‘90s, and I had no idea about a crazy statistic you cite: 25% of the entire national crime decline was attributable to New York City's crime decline.In one year, yeah. One of the things people say to diminish the role of policing is that the crime drop happened everywhere — and it did end up happening almost everywhere. But I think that is partly because what happened in New York City was a lot of hard work, but it wasn't that complicated. It was very easy to propagate, and people came to New York to find out what was going on. You could see results, literally in a matter of months.It happened first in New York City. Really, it happened first in the subways and that's interesting, because if crime goes down in the subways [which, at the time, fell under the separate New York City Transit Police] and not in the rest of the city, you say, “What is going on in the subways that is unique?” It was the exact same strategies and leadership that later transformed the NYPD [New York Police Department].Set the scene: What was the state of crime and disorder in New York in the ‘70s and into the ‘80s?Long story short, it was bad. Crime in New York was a big problem from the late ‘60s up to the mid ‘90s, and the ‘70s is when the people who became the leaders started their careers. So these were defining moments. The city was almost bankrupt in 1975 and laid off 5,000 cops; 3,000 for a long period of time. That was arguably the nadir. It scarred the police department and the city.Eventually, the city got its finances in order and came to the realization that “we've got a big crime problem too.” That crime problem really came to a head with crack cocaine. Robberies peaked in New York City in 1980. There were above 100,000 robberies in 1981, and those are just reported robberies. A lot of people get robbed and just say, “It's not worth it to report,” or, “I'm going to work,” or, “Cops aren't going to do anything.” The number of robberies and car thefts was amazingly high. The trauma, the impact on the city and on urban space, and people's perception of fear, all comes from that. If you're afraid of crime, it's high up on the hierarchy of needs.To some extent, those lessons have been lost or forgotten. Last year there were 16,600 [robberies], which is a huge increase from a few years ago, but we're still talking an 85% reduction compared to the worst years. It supposedly wasn't possible. What I wanted to get into in Back from the Brink was the actual mechanisms of the crime drop. I did about fifty formal interviews and hundreds of informal interviews building the story. By and large, people were telling the same story.In 1975, the city almost goes bankrupt. It's cutting costs everywhere, and it lays off more than 5,000 cops, about 20% of the force, in one day. There's not a new police academy class until 1979, four years later. Talk to me about where the NYPD was at that time.They were retrenched, and the cops were demoralized because “This is how the city treats us?” The actual process of laying off the cops itself was just brutal: they went to work, and were told once they got to work that they were no longer cops. “Give me your badge, give me your gun."The city also was dealing with crime, disorder, and racial unrest. The police department was worried about corruption, which was a legacy of the Knapp Commission [which investigated NYPD corruption] and [Frank] Serpico [a whistleblowing officer]. It's an old police adage, that if you don't work, you can't get in trouble. That became very much the standard way of doing things. Keep your head low, stay out of trouble, and you'll collect your paycheck and go home.You talk about the blackout in 1977, when much of the city lost power and you have widespread looting and arson. 13,000 off-duty cops get called in during the emergency, and only about 5,000 show up, which is a remarkable sign of the state of morale.The person in my book who's talking about that is Louis Anemone. He showed up because his neighbor and friend and partner was there, and he's got to help him. It was very much an in-the-foxholes experience. I contrast that with the more recent blackout, in which the city went and had a big block party instead. That is reflective of the change that happened in the city.In the mid-80s you get the crack cocaine epidemic. Talk to me about how police respond.From a political perspective, that era coincided with David Dinkins as [New York City's first black] mayor. He was universally disliked, to put it mildly, by white and black police officers alike. He was seen as hands off. He was elected in part to improve racial relations in New York City, to mitigate racial strife, but in Crown Heights and Washington Heights, there were riots, and racial relations got worse. He failed at the level he was supposed to be good at. Crime and quality of life were the major issues in that election.Dinkins's approach to the violence is centered around what they called “community policing.” Will you describe how Dinkins and political leaders in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s thought about policing?This is under Ben Ward, the [NYPD] Commissioner at the time. The mayor appoints the police commissioner — and the buck does stop with the mayor — but the mayor is not actively involved in day-to-day operations. That part does go down to the police department.Community policing was seen as an attempt to improve relations between the police and the community. The real goal was to lessen racial strife and unrest between black (and to a lesser extent Hispanic) communities and the NYPD. Going back to the ‘60s, New York had been rocked by continued unrest in neighborhoods like Central Harlem, East New York, and Bushwick. Community policing was seen as saying that police are partly to blame, and we want to improve relations. Some of it was an attempt to get the community more involved in crime fighting.It's tough. It involves a certain rosy view of the community, but that part of the community isn't causing the problems. It avoids the fact there are people who are actively criming and are willing to hurt people who get in their way. Community policing doesn't really address the active criminal element, that is a small part of any community, including high-crime communities.Arrests increased drastically during this era, more than in the ‘90s with broken windows policing. If the idea is to have fewer arrests, it didn't happen in the ‘80s. Some good came out of it, because it did encourage cops to be a bit more active and cops are incentivized by overtime. Arrests were so incredibly time-consuming, which kind of defeated the purpose of community policing. If you made an arrest in that era, there was a good chance you might spend literally 24 hours processing the arrest.Will you describe what goes into that 24 hours?From my experience policing in Baltimore, I knew arrests were time-consuming and paperwork redundant, but I could process a simple arrest in an hour or two. Even a complicated one that involved juveniles and guns and drugs, we're talking six to eight hours.In the ‘80s, Bob Davin, [in the] Transit Police, would say they'd make an arrest, process at the local precinct, search him in front of a desk officer, print him, and then they would have to get a radio car off patrol to drive you down to central booking at 100 Centre Street [New York City Criminal Court]. Then they would fingerprint him. They didn't have the live scan fingerprints machine, it was all ink. It had to be faxed up to Albany and the FBI to see if it hit on any warrant federally and for positive identification of the person. Sometimes it took 12 hours to have the prints come back and the perp would be remanded until that time. Then you'd have to wait for the prosecutor to get their act together and to review all the paperwork. You couldn't consider bail unless the prints came back either positive or negative and then you would have that initial arraignment and the cop could then go home. There are a lot of moving parts, and they moved at a glacial pace.The system often doesn't work 24/7. A lot of this has changed, but some of it was having to wait until 9 am for people to show up to go to work, because it's not a single system. The courts, the jails, and policing all march to their own drummer, and that created a level of inefficiency.So much of the nitty-gritty of what cops actually do is boring, behind-the-scenes stuff: How do we speed up the paperwork? Can we group prisoners together? Can we do some of this at the police station instead of taking it downtown? Is all of this necessary? Can we cooperate with the various prosecutors? There are five different prosecutors in New York City, one for each borough.There's not a great incentive to streamline this. Cops enjoyed the overtime. That's one of the reasons they would make arrests. So during this time, if a cop makes an arrest for drug dealing, that cop is gone and no cop was there to replace him. If it's a minor arrest, there's a good chance in the long run charges will be dropped anyway. And you're taking cops off the street. In that sense, it's lose-lose. But, you have to think, “What's the alternative?”Bob Davin is a fascinating guy. There's a famous picture from 1981 by Martha Cooper of two cops on a subway train. It's graffitied up and they're in their leather jackets and look like cops from the ‘70s. Martha Cooper graciously gave me permission to use the picture, but she said, "You have to indemnify me because I don't have a release form. I don't know who the cops are." I said, "Martha, I do know who the cop is, because he's in my book and he loves the picture.” Bob Davin is the cop on the right.Davin says that things started to get more efficient. They had hub sites in the late ‘80s or ‘90s, so precincts in the north of Manhattan could bring their prisoners there, and you wouldn't have to take a car out of service to go back to Central Booking and deal with traffic. They started collecting prisoners and bringing them en masse on a small school bus, and that would cut into overtime. Then moving to electronic scan fingerprints drastically saves time waiting for those to come back.These improvements were made, but some of them involve collective bargaining with unions, to limit overtime and arrests that are made for the pure purpose of overtime. You want cops making arrests for the right reason and not simply to make money. But boy, there was a lot of money made in arrests.In 1991, you have the infamous Crown Heights riot in Brooklyn. Racial tensions kick off. It's a nightmare for the mayor, there's this sense that he has lost control. The following year, you have this infamous police protest at City Hall where it becomes clear the relationship between the cops and the mayor has totally evaporated. How does all that play into the mayoral race between Dinkins and Giuliani?It was unintentional, but a lot of the blame for Crown Heights falls on the police department. The part of the story that is better known is that there was a procession for a Hasidic rabbi that was led by a police car. He would go to his wife's grave, and he got a little three-car motorcade. At some point, the police look at this and go "Why are we doing this? We're going to change it." The man who made the deal said ‘I"m retiring in a couple weeks, can we just leave it till then? Because I gave him my word." They're like, "Alright, whatever."This motor car procession is then involved in a car crash, and a young child named Gavin Cato is killed, and another girl is severely injured. The volunteer, Jewish-run ambulance shows up and decides they don't have the equipment: they call for a professional city ambulance. Once that ambulance is on the way, they take the mildly-injured Jewish people to the hospital. The rumor starts that the Jewish ambulance abandoned the black children to die.This isn't the first incident. There's long been strife over property and who the landlord is. But this was the spark that set off riots. A young Jewish man was randomly attacked on the street and was killed.As an aside, he also shouldn't have died, but at the hospital they missed internal bleeding.Meanwhile, the police department has no real leadership at the time. One chief is going to retire, another is on vacation, a third doesn't know what he's doing, and basically everyone is afraid to do anything. So police do nothing. They pull back, and you have three days of very anti-Semitic riots. Crowds chanting "Kill the Jews" and marching on the Lubavitch Hasidic Headquarters. Al Sharpton shows up. The riots are blamed on Dinkins, which is partly fair, but a lot of that's on the NYPD. Finally, the mayor and the police commissioner go to see what's going on and they get attacked. It's the only time in New York City history that there's ever been an emergency call from the police commissioner's car. People are throwing rocks at it.It took three days to realise this, but that's when they say “We have to do something here,” and they gather a group of officers who later become many of Bratton's main chiefs at the time [Bill Bratton was Commissioner of the NYPD from 1994-1996, under Giuliani]: Mike Julian, Louis Anemone, Ray Kelly, and [John] Timoney. They end the unrest in a day. They allow people to march, they get the police department to set rules. It still goes on for a bit, but no one gets hurt after that, and that's it.It was a huge, national story at the time, but a lot of the details were not covered. Reporters were taken from their car and beaten and stripped. The significance was downplayed at the time, especially by the New York Times, I would say.That's followed by the Washington Heights riots, which is a different story. A drug dealer was shot and killed by cops. There were rumors, which were proven to be false, that he was executed and unarmed. Then there were three days of rioting there. It wasn't quite as severe, but 53 cops were hurt, 120 stores were set on fire, and Mayor Dinkins paid for the victim's family to go to the Dominican Republic for the funeral. The police perspective again was, “You're picking the wrong side here.”Then there's the so-called Police Riot at City Hall. Nominally, it was about the CCRB, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, and setting up an accountability mechanism to control cops. But really it was just an anti-Dinkins protest. It was drunken and unruly. The cops stormed the steps of City Hall. I have the account of one of the cops who was on the top of those steps looking at this mob of cops storming to him, and he's getting worried he's going to be killed in a crush. There were racist chants from off-duty cops in the crowd. It did not reflect well on police officers. But it showed this hatred of David Dinkins, who was seen as siding with criminals and being anti-police. The irony is that Dinkins is the one who ends up hiring all the cops that Giuliani gets credit for.In the “Safe Streets, Safe City” program?Yes. That was because a white tourist, Brian Watkins, was killed in a subway station protecting his parents who were getting robbed. That led to the famous headline [in the New York Post] of “Dave, do something! Crime-ravaged city cries out for help.” He, with City Council President Peter Vallone, Sr., drafted and pushed through this massive hiring of police officers, “Safe Streets, Safe City.”The hiring wasn't fast-tracked. It might be because Dinkins's people didn't really want more cops. But it was a Dinkins push that got a massive hiring of cops. When the first huge class of police officers graduated, Bill Bratton was there and not David Dinkins.Some interviewees in your book talk about how there's physically not enough room in the police academies at this time, so they have to run classes 24/7. You cycle cohorts in and out of the same classroom, because there are too many new cops for the facilities.You have thousands of cops going through it at once. Everyone describes it as quite a chaotic scene. But it would have been hard to do what the NYPD did without those cops. Ray Kelly, who was police commissioner under Dinkins at the end [from 1992 to 1994] before he became police commissioner for 12 years under Bloomberg [from 2002 to 2013] probably could have done something with those cops too, but he never had the chance, because the mayoral leadership at the time was much more limiting in what they wanted cops to do.Crime starts declining slowly in the first few years of the ‘90s under Dinkins, and then in ‘93 Giuliani wins a squeaker of a mayoral election against Dinkins.One of the major issues was the then-notorious “squeegee men” of New York City. These were guys who would go to cars stopped at bridges and tunnel entrances and would rub a squeegee over the windshield asking for money. It was unpleasant, intimidating, and unwanted, and it was seen as one of those things that were just inevitable. Like graffiti on the subway in the ‘80s. Nothing we can do about it because these poor people don't have jobs or housing or whatever.The irony is that Bratton and Giuliani were happy to take credit for that, and it was an issue in the mayoral campaign, but it was solved under David Dinkins and Ray Kelly and Mike Julian with the help of George Kelling [who, with James Wilson, came up with broken windows theory]. But they never got credit for it. One wonders if, had they done that just a few months earlier, it would have shifted the entire campaign and we'd have a different course of history in New York City.It's a great example of a couple of things that several people in your book talk about. One is that disorder is often caused by a very small set of individuals. There's only like 70 squeegee men, yet everybody sees them, because they're posted up at the main tunnel and bridge entrances to Manhattan. And getting them off the streets solves the problem entirely.Another emphasis in the book is how perceptions of crime are central. You quote Jack Maple, the father of Compstat, as saying, “A murder on the subway counts as a multiple murder up on the street, because everybody feels like that's their subway.” The particular locations of crimes really affect public perception.Absolutely. Perception is reality for a lot of these things, because most people aren't victimized by crime. But when people perceive that no one is in control they feel less safe. It's not that this perception is false, it just might not be directly related to an actual criminal act.The other thing I try to show is that it's not just saying, “We've got to get rid of squeegee men. How do you do it?” They had tried before, but this is why you need smart cops and good leadership, because it's a problem-solving technique, and the way to get rid of graffiti is different to the way you get rid of squeegee men.This book is in opposition to those who just say, “We can't police our way out of this problem.” No, we can. We can't police our way out of every problem. But if you define the problem as, we don't want people at intersections with squeegees, of course we can police our way out of the problem, using legal constitutional tools. You need the political will. And then the hard work starts, because you have to figure out how to actually do it.Will you describe how they tackle the squeegee men problem?Mike Julian was behind it. They hired George Kelling, who's known for broken windows. They said, “These people are here to make money. So to just go there and make a few arrests isn't going to solve the problem.” First of all, he had to figure out what legal authority [to use], and he used Traffic Reg 44 [which prohibits pedestrians from soliciting vehicle occupants]. He talked to Norm Siegel of the NYCLU [New York Civil Liberties Union] about this, who did not want this crackdown to happen. But Norman said, “Okay, this is the law, I can't fight that one. You're doing it legally. It's all in the books.” And So that took away that opposition.But the relentless part of it is key. First they filmed people. Then, when it came to enforcement, they warned people. Then they cited people, and anybody that was left they arrested. They did not have to arrest many people, because the key is they did this every four hours. It was that that changed behavior, because even a simple arrest isn't going to necessarily deter someone if it's a productive way to make money. But being out there every four hours for a couple of weeks or months was enough to get people to do something else. What that something else is, we still don't know, but we solved the squeegee problem.So in 93, Giuliani is elected by something like 50,000 votes overall. Just as an aside, in Prince of the City, Fred Siegel describes something I had no idea about. There's a Puerto Rican Democratic Councilman who flips and supports Giuliani. Mayor Eric Adams, who at the time was the head of a nonprofit for black men in law enforcement, calls him a race traitor for doing that and for being married to a white woman. There was a remarkable level of racial vitriol in that race that I totally missed.10 years ago when I started this, I asked if I could interview then-Brooklyn borough president Eric Adams, and he said yes, and the interview kept getting rescheduled, and I said, “Eh, I don't need him.” It's a regret of mine. I should have pursued that, but coulda, woulda, shoulda.Giuliani is elected, and he campaigns very explicitly on a reducing crime and disorder platform. And he hires Bill Bratton. Tell me about Bratton coming on board as NYPD commissioner.Bratton grew up in Boston, was a police officer there, became head of the New York City Transit Police when that was a separate police department. Right before he becomes NYPD Commissioner, he's back in Boston, as the Chief of Police there, and there is a movement among certain people to get Bratton the NYC job. They succeed in that, and Bratton is a very confident man. He very much took a broken windows approach and said, “We are going to focus on crime.” He has a right-hand man by the name of Jack Maple who he knows from the Transit Police. Maple is just a lieutenant in transit, and Bratton makes him the de facto number two man in the police department.Jack Maple passed away in 2001 and I didn't know what I was going to do, because it's hard to interview a man who's no longer alive. Chris Mitchell co-wrote Jack Maple's autobiography called Crime Fighter and he graciously gave me all the micro-cassettes of the original interviews he conducted with Maple around 1998. Everyone has a Jack Maple story. He's probably the most important character in Back from the Brink.Jack Maple comes in, no one really knows who he is, no one respects him because he was just a lieutenant in Transit. He goes around and asks a basic question — this is 1994 — he says, “How many people were shot in New York City in 1993?” And nobody knows. That is the state of crime-fighting in New York City before this era. There might have been 7,000 people shot in New York City in 1990 and we just don't know, even to this day.One citation from your book: in 1993, an average of 16 people were shot every day. Which is just remarkable.And remember, shootings have been declining for two or three years before that! But nobody knew, because they weren't keeping track of shootings, because it's not one of the FBI Uniform Crime Report [which tracks crime data nationally] index crimes. But wouldn't you be curious? It took Jack Maple to be curious, so he made people count, and it was findable, but you had to go through every aggravated assault and see if a gun was involved. You had to go through every murder from the previous year and see if it was a shooting. He did this. So we only have shooting data in New York City going back to 1993. It's just a simple process of caring.The super-short version of Back from the Brink is it was a change in mission statement: “We're going to care about crime.” Because they hadn't before. They cared about corruption, racial unrest, brutality, and scandal. They cared about the clearance rate for robbery a bit. You were supposed to make three arrests for every ten robberies. It didn't matter so much that you were stopping a pattern or arresting the right person, as long as you had three arrests for every ten reported crimes, that was fine.This is a story about people who cared. They're from this city — Bratton wasn't, but most of the rest are. They understood the trauma of violence and the fact that people with families were afraid to go outside, and nobody in the power structure seemed to care. So they made the NYPD care about this. Suddenly, the mid-level police executives, the precinct commanders, had to care. and the meetings weren't about keeping overtime down, instead they were about ”What are you doing to stop this shooting?”Tell listeners a little bit more about Jack Maple, because he's a remarkable character, and folks may not know what a kook he was.I think he was a little less kooky than he liked to present. His public persona was wearing a snazzy cat and spats and dressing like a fictional cartoon detective from his own mind, but he's a working-class guy from Queens who becomes a transit cop.When Bratton takes over, he writes a letter up the chain of command saying this is what we should do. Bratton read it and said, “This guy is smart.” Listening to 80 hours of Jack Maple, everyone correctly says he was a smart guy, but he had a very working-class demeanor and took to the elite lifestyle. He loved hanging out and getting fancy drinks at the Plaza Hotel. He was the idea man of the NYPD. Everyone has a Jack Maple imitation. “You're talking to the Jackster,” he'd say. He had smart people working under him who were supportive of this. But it was very much trying to figure out as they went along, because the city doesn't stop nor does it sleep.He was a bulls***er, but he's the one who came up with the basic outline of the strategy of crime reduction in New York City. He famously wrote it on a napkin at Elaine's, and it said, “First, we need to gather accurate and timely intelligence.” And that was, in essence, CompStat. “Then, we need to deploy our cops to where they need to be.” That was a big thing. He found out that cops weren't working: specialized units weren't working weekends and nights when the actual crime was happening. They had their excuses, but basically they wanted a cushy schedule. He changed that. Then, of course, you have to figure out what you're doing, what the effective tactics are. Then, constant follow up and assessment.You can't give up. You can't say “Problem solved.” A lot of people say it wasn't so much if your plan didn't work, you just needed a Plan B. It was the idea that throwing your hands in the air and saying, “What are you going to do?” that became notoriously unacceptable under Chief Anemone's stern demeanor at CompStat. These were not pleasant meetings. Those are the meetings that both propagated policies that work and held officers accountable. There was some humiliation going on, so CompStat was feared.Lots of folks hear CompStat and think about better tracking of crime locations and incidents. But as you flesh out, the meat on the bones of CompStat was this relentless follow-up. You'd have these weekly meetings early in the morning with all the precinct heads. There were relentless asks from the bosses, “What's going on in your district or in your precinct? Can you explain why this is happening? What are you doing to get these numbers down?” And follow-ups the following week or month. It was constant.CompStat is often thought of as high-tech computer stuff. It wasn't. There was nothing that couldn't have been done with old overhead projectors. It's just that no one had done it before. Billy Gorta says it's a glorified accountability system at a time when nobody knew anything about computers. Everyone now has access to crime maps on a computer. It was about actually gathering accurate, timely data.Bratton was very concerned that these numbers had to be right. It was getting everyone in the same room and saying, “This is what our focus is going to be now.” And getting people to care about crime victims, especially when those crime victims might be unsympathetic because of their demeanor, criminal activity, or a long arrest record. “We're going to care about every shooting, we're going to care about every murder.”Part of it was cracking down on illegal guns. There were hundreds of tactics. The federal prosecutors also played a key role. It was getting this cooperation. Once it started working and Giuliani made it a major part of claiming success as mayor, suddenly everyone wanted to be part of this, and you had other city agencies trying to figure it out. So it was a very positive feedback loop, once it was seen as a success.When Bratton came on the job, he said, “I'm going to bring down crime 15%.” No police commissioner had ever said that before. In the history of policing before 1994, no police commissioner ever promised a double-digit reduction in crime or even talked about it. People said “That's crazy.” It was done, and then year after year. That's the type of confidence that they had. They were surprised it worked as well as it did, but they all had the sense that there's a new captain on this ship, and we're trying new things. It was an age of ideas and experiment.And it was a very short time.That's the other thing that surprised me. Giuliani fired Bratton in the middle of ‘96.It's remarkable. Bratton comes in ‘94, and August 1994 is where you see crime drop off a cliff. You have this massive beginning of the reduction that continues.That inflection point is important for historical knowledge. I don't address alternatives that other people have proposed [to explain the fall in crime] — For example, the reduction in lead [in gasoline, paint, and water pipes] or legalized abortion with Roe v. Wade [proposed by Stephen Dubner].Reasonable people can differ. Back from the Brink focuses on the police part of the equation. Today, almost nobody, except for a few academics, says that police had nothing to do with the crime drop. That August inflection is key, because there is nothing in a lagged time analysis going back 20 years that is going to say that is the magic month where things happened. Yet if you look at what happened in CompStat, that's the month they started getting individual officer data, and noticing that most cops made zero arrests, and said, “Let's get them in the game as well.” And that seemed to be the key; that's when crime fell off the table. The meetings started in April, I believe, but August is really when the massive crime drop began.To your point about the confidence that crime could be driven down double digits year over year, there's a great quote you have from Jack Maple, where he says to a fellow cop, “This is going to be like shooting fish in a barrel. As long as we have absolute control, we can absolutely drive this number into the floor.”One detail I enjoyed was that Jack Maple, when he was a transit cop, would camp out under a big refrigerator box with little holes cut out for eyes and sit on the subway platform waiting for crooks.For people who are interested in Jack Maple, it is worth reading his autobiography, Crime Fighter. Mike Daly wrote New York's Finest, which uses the same tapes that I had access to, and he is much more focused on that. He's actually the godfather of Jack Maple's son, who is currently a New York City police officer. But Maple and co were confident, and it turned out they were right.As well as having changes in tactics and approach and accountability across the NYPD, you also have a series of specific location cleanups. You have a specific initiative focused on the Port Authority, which is a cesspool at the time, an initiative in Times Square, the Bryant Park cleanup, and then Giuliani also focuses on organized crime on the Fulton Fish Market, and this open-air market in Harlem.I was struck that there was both this general accountability push in the NYPD through CompStat, and a relentless focus on cleaning up individual places that were hubs of disorder.I'm not certain the crime drop would have happened without reclamation of public spaces and business improvement districts. Bryant Park's a fascinating story because Dan Biederman, who heads the Corporation, said, “People just thought it was like a lost cause, this park can't be saved. The city is in a spiral of decline.” He uses Jane Jacobs' “eyes on the street” theory and then George Kelling and James Q. Wilson's broken windows theory. The park has money — not city money, but from local property owners — and it reopens in 1991 to great acclaim and is still a fabulous place to be. It showed for the first time that public space was worth saving and could be saved. New York City at the time needed that lesson. It's interesting that today, Bryant Park has no permanent police presence and less crime. Back in the ‘80s, Bryant Park had an active police presence and a lot more crime.The first class I ever taught when I started at John Jay College in 2004, I was talking about broken windows. A student in the class named Jeff Marshall, who is in my book, told me about Operation Alternatives at the Port Authority. He had been a Port Authority police officer at the time, and I had not heard of this. People are just unaware of this part of history. It very much has lessons for today, because in policing often there's nothing new under the sun. It's just repackaged, dusted off, and done again. The issue was, how do we make the Port Authority safe for passengers? How do we both help and get rid of people living in the bus terminal? It's a semi-public space, so it makes it difficult. There was a social services element about it, that was Operational Alternatives. A lot of people took advantage of that and got help. But the flip side was, you don't have to take services, but you can't stay here.I interviewed the manager of the bus terminal. He was so proud of what he did. He's a bureaucrat, a high-ranking one, but a port authority manager. He came from the George Washington Bridge, which he loved. And he wonders, what the hell am I going to do with this bus terminal? But the Port Authority cared, because they're a huge organization and that's the only thing with their name on it — They also control JFK Airport and bridges and tunnels and all the airports, but people call the bus terminal Port Authority.They gave him almost unlimited money and power and said, “Fix it please, do what you've got to do,” and he did. It was environmental design, giving police overtime so they'd be part of this, a big part of it was having a social service element so it wasn't just kicking people out with nowhere to go.Some of it was also setting up rules. This also helped Bratton in the subway, because this happened at the same time. The court ruled that you can enforce certain rules in the semi-public spaces. It was not clear until this moment whether it was constitutional or not. To be specific, you have a constitutional right to beg on the street, but you do not have a constitutional right to beg on the subway. That came down to a court decision. Had that not happened, I don't know if in the long run the crime drop would have happened.That court decision comes down to the specific point that it's not a free-speech right on the subway to panhandle, because people can't leave, because you've got them trapped in that space.You can't cross the street to get away from it. But it also recognized that it wasn't pure begging, that there was a gray area between aggressive begging and extortion and robbery.You note that in the early 1990s, one-third of subway commuters said they consciously avoided certain stations because of safety, and two thirds felt coerced to give money by aggressive panhandling.The folks in your book talk a lot about the 80/20 rule applying all over the place. That something like 20% of the people you catch are committing 80% of the crimes.There's a similar dynamic that you talk about on the subways, both in the book and in your commentary over the past couple years about disorder in New York. You say approximately 2,000 people with serious mental illness are at risk for street homelessness, and these people cycle through the cities, streets, subways, jails, and hospitals.What lessons from the ‘90s can be applied today for both helping those people and stopping them being a threat to others?Before the ‘80s and Reagan budget cuts there had been a psychiatric system that could help people. That largely got defunded. [Deinstitutionalization began in New York State earlier, in the 1960s.] We did not solve the problem of mental health or homelessness in the ‘90s, but we solved the problem of behavior. George Kelling [of broken windows theory] emphasized this repeatedly, and people would ignore it. We are not criminalizing homelessness or poverty. We're focusing on behavior that we are trying to change. People who willfully ignore that distinction almost assume that poor people are naturally disorderly or criminal, or that all homeless people are twitching and threatening other people. Even people with mental illness can behave in a public space.Times have changed a bit. I think there are different drugs now that make things arguably a bit worse. I am not a mental health expert, but we do need more involuntary commitment, not just for our sake, but for theirs, people who need help. I pass people daily, often the same person, basically decomposing on a subway stop in the cold. They are offered help by social services, and they say no. They should not be allowed to make that choice because they're literally dying on the street in front of us. Basic humanity demands that we be a little more aggressive in forcing people who are not making rational decisions, because now you have to be an imminent threat to yourself or others. That standard does need to change. But there also need to be mental health beds available for people in this condition.I don't know what the solution is to homelessness or mental health. But I do know the solution to public disorder on the subway and that's, regardless of your mental state or housing status, enforcing legal, constitutional rules, policing behavior. It does not involve locking everybody up. It involves drawing the line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. It's amazing how much people will comply with those rules.That presents the idea that someone's in charge, it's not a free-for-all. You get that virtuous loop, which New York had achieved in 2014–2016, when crime was at an all-time low in the city. Then the politicians decided public order wasn't worth preserving anymore. These are political choices.I had a similar version of this conversation with a friend who was shocked that there were zero murders on the subway in 2017 and that that number was stable: you had one or two a year for several years in the mid-2010s.It was five or fewer a year from 1997 to 2019, and often one or two. Then you have zero in 2017. There were [ten in 2022]. It coincides perfectly with an order from [Mayor] de Blasio's office and the homeless czar [Director of Homeless Services Steven] Banks [which] told police to stop enforcing subway rules against loitering. The subways became — once again — a de facto homeless shelter. Getting rule-violating homeless people out of the subway in the late ‘80s was such a difficult and major accomplishment at the time, and to be fair it's not as bad as it was.The alternative was that homeless outreach was supposed to offer people services. When they decline, which 95% of people do, you're to leave them be. I would argue again, I don't think that's a more humane stance to take. But it's not just about them, it's about subway riders.There's one story that I think was relevant for you to tell. You were attacked this fall on a subway platform by a guy threatening to kill you. It turns out he's had a number of run-ins with the criminal justice system. Can you tell us where that guy is now?I believe he's in prison now. The only reason I know who it is is because I said, one day I'm going to see his picture in the New York Post because he's going to hurt somebody. Am I 100 percent certain it's Michael Blount who attacked me? No, but I'm willing to call him out by name because I believe it is. He was out of prison for raping a child, and he slashed his ex-girlfriend and pushed her on the subway tracks. And then was on the lam for a while. I look at him and the shape of his face, his height, age, build, complexion, and I go, that's got to be him.I wasn't hurt, but he gave me a sucker punch trying to knock me out and then chased me a bit threatening to kill me, and I believe he wanted to. It's the only time I ever was confronted by a person who I really believe wanted to kill me, and this includes policing in the Eastern District in Baltimore. It was an attempted misdemeanor assault in the long run. But I knew it wasn't about me. It was him. I assume he's going to stay in prison longer for what he did to his ex-girlfriend. But I never thought it would happen to me. I was lucky the punch didn't connect.Peter Moskos's new book is Back from the Brink, Inside the NYPD and New York City's Extraordinary 1990s Crime Drop.My reading listEssays:Johnny Hirschauer's reporting, including “A Failed 'Solution' to 'America's Mental Health Crisis',“ “Return to the Roots,” and “The Last Institutions.” “Broken Windows: The Police and Neighborhood Safety,” by George L. Kelling and James Q. Wilson. ​“It's Time to Talk About America's Disorder Problem,” Charles Lehman.Books:Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America, Jill Leovy.​Prince of the City: Giuliani, New York, and the Genius of American Life, Fred Siegel.​ Cop in the Hood: My Year Policing Baltimore's Eastern District, Peter Moskos.​Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic, Sam Quinones.​Bonfire of the Vanities, Tom Wolfe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.statecraft.pub

There's a direct line from the Transit Police beating Michael Stewart to death in front of horrified art students to Eric Adams being elected mayor — one that intersects with Madonna, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Spike Lee and Tucker Carlson. Journalist Elon Green, the author of The Man Nobody Killed: Life, Death, and Art in Michael Stewart's New York, the first book-length account of a crime that captivated the city and that no one was held responsible for as Mayor Ed Koch flatly called police brutality “a phony issue” rejoins the podcast to discusses all that, and much more, with Rachel Holiday Smith and Harry Siegel.

Bay Area native Anisa McNack saw many things growing in Oakland, California. When she decided she wanted to make a change in her life, she chose the route of the BART Police Department and steadily rose through the ranks. Find out more about her story in this episode.

Send us a textHave you ever wondered what it would be like to be a female detective in the mean streets of New York City? Today's guest, Marique Bartoldus, is here to tell us all about it. She's a retired 20-year veteran of the NYPD and an author! Marique attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice where she graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in Police Science. Shortly after graduating, she was sworn into the NYPD, and after six months of training in the Police Academy, was assigned to Transit District 20. After a year, she was reassigned to Patrol Borough Queens South's 105th Precinct. She was assigned to multiple units within the Precinct including Patrol, Conditions, SNEU, Anti-Crime, and Field Intelligence, then left the 105th Precinct and became one of the first detectives assigned to the Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad, where she investigated dog fighting and animal cruelty complaints throughout New York City. She returned to the 105th Precinct where she ended her career assigned to the Intelligence Bureau, investigating illegal firearm and narcotics sales and possession. She effected 400 arrests and executed hundreds of search warrants during her distinguished twenty-year career. Marique recently published Twenty and Out: A Compilation of Chaos Experienced while serving 20 years in the New York City Police Department, and I can't recommend this book enough.  Please enjoy this entertaining and honest conversation about being a big-city detective, through the eyes of someone who actually did the job. In today's episode, we discuss:·      The universal cop slang of Felonious Mopery.·      Her father being an NYPD homicide detective and growing up in a cop house.·      Coming to the NYPD a short time after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. ·      Working in the subway during a major power blackout.·      Working undercover, posing as a prostitute.·      Her promotion to the rank of detective.·      Being a cop on New Year's Eve working in Times Square.·      Marique's author career, including her debut book, Twenty and Out: A Compilation of Chaos Experienced while serving 20 years in the New York City Police DepartmentCheck out Marique's Amazon Author Page.Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.Please visit the Cops and Writers website. Support the show

NYC native Ernest Morales, III had a tough upbringing.  That upbringing led him to a life of athletics and the NYPD. After a long and distinguished career in the Big Apple, he took his talents to the Twin Cites of Minneapolis & Saint Paul, Minnesota. Learn more about his journey in this episode.

Reimagining and replacing Kitsilano Outdoor Pool. Transit Police are cracking down on bus lane cheaters! Is it rude to ask who else is coming to a dinner party?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a tough time for public transportation. Passengers are slowly coming back to Metro Transit buses and light rail trains after a steep drop during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the average number of riders is still just over half of what it was in 2019, according to Metro Transit. Safety remains a top concern. Passengers in the Twin Cities say it's not unusual to see people openly using drugs or smoking on the trains. Riders and transit staff have been harassed and even assaulted.Reported crimes were up by a third in 2023 compared to 2022, and though assaults are rare and crime has declined in recent months, certain routes continue to attract trouble.In February, a man was shot during a robbery on a light rail train on the Green Line in St. Paul. In early March, a rider was treated for injuries after being stabbed on a Green Line train. Earlier this year, a man died of a drug overdose on the Green Line. He had been found unresponsive when the train pulled into a stop late at night in front of the State Capitol.MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two Metro Transit leaders about how the transit system is addressing safety and expanding some routes.Police and security staff have stepped up their presence. More official staff are starting to ride buses and trains, including outreach workers to connect people with services and TRIP agents, who give directions, explain rules and check for fare compliance.Guests:  Lesley Kandaras has served as Metro Transit's general manager since July 2023. She joined the Metropolitan Council in 2012 as a senior project coordinator and in 2019 moved to Metro Transit, a division of the Met Council, to serve as senior manager-policy development.  Ernest Morales III started as Metro Transit police chief at the beginning of 2023. He spent most of his career with the New York City Police Department, including stints as a deputy inspector and as commanding officer in a transit division in the Bronx. Before moving to Minnesota he served as first deputy police commissioner in Mount Vernon.   Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.  Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

Mayor Adams and the woman accusing him of sexual assault worked for the city's Transit Police Department at the same time, according to an NYPD official and court records reviewed by the Daily News. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tanya Hansen has the morning's top stories from the WCBS newsroom.

Cleveland, Ohio native Deirdre Jones  served for many years with the Cleveland Division of Police and rose through the ranks all the way to the position of Commander. She then retired from the Division of Police to lead the Transit Police Department as its Chief.  Find out more about Chief Jones' journey in this episode.

Andy and I met at the gym, introduced to one another by Chris Galios (Episode 13). He's a grumpy ol bastard but I enjoy his company and I enjoyed this episode even more. Listen in as he discusses starting out in radio, moving on to Transit police and then getting absorbed into the NYPD. Shenanigans ensued, his career was very cool to hear about and I'm glad we had the opportunity to create his legacy for his family...enjoy the show, be safe out there!

On this episode John & Eric sit down and discuss how transit police officers are being overworked. They also explore all of the news coming out of the NYPD for the 6/23/2023 www.TheFinestUnfiltered.com

This week's guest is a gentleman I had the pleasure of working with at Tucson PD. I first mentioned him in Episode 14 with Stacey Goodman. Richie and I were in Ops South on the morning of 9/11. It was my honor to host him and I learned a few things I hadn't known prior to our interview, like, the fact he started out as a cop in the New York Transit Police. Or the fact that prior to this he had been a craps dealer and DJ in Las Vegas, where he met his beautiful bride!!!Richie was instrumental in bringing a new Police Officers Association (Union) to the agency and he helped move working conditions and pay forward for the agency. Future generations of local cops owe him a debt of gratitude for his tireless work.Please join me in welcoming him to The Squad, I know you're going to enjoy his episode.

The Cybercrime Magazine Podcast brings you daily cybercrime news that airs each day on WCYB Digital Radio, the first and only 7x24x365 Internet radio station devoted to cybersecurity. Our host keeps you on the cutting edge of cyber with a rundown of the latest cyberattacks, hacks, data breaches, and more. Don't miss an episode! Airs every half-hour on WCYB and every day on our podcast. Listen to today's news at https://soundcloud.com/cybercrimemagazine/sets/cybercrime-daily-news

Listen to this engaging episode of Vancouver True Crime as Constable Amanda Steed provides valuable insights on ensuring the safety and well-being of Metro Vancouver transit users. Gain a deeper understanding of the security measures. In this episode of Vancouver True Crime, we have the honour of welcoming back Constable Amanda Steed, the Media Relations Officer for Transit Police Constable Steed provides valuable insight into the safety measures in place across Metro Vancouver's transit systems. We investigate active community engagement with Transit Police, encouraging proactive reporting of suspicious activity and fostering a safe transit environment. Finally, Constable Steed provides valuable advice to Metro Vancouver transit users on how to ensure their personal safety while using public transportation. This conversation with Constable Steed was very enjoyable; her dedication to serving the community and safeguarding passengers is commendable. Know where and how to get help When using public transportation, become familiar with the safety features available to you and their locations for example, the platform safety and security cabinet with an emergency phone, the yellow-strip silent alarm,and the passenger intercom on trains In an emergency, always call 9-1-1 Report non emergency police issues directly to Transit Police: call Transit Police 604-515-8300, text 87-77-77 Look for a Transit Police Officer, Transit Security, an Station Attendant, or other transit staff if you have a problem or feel threatened VancouverTrueCrime #TransitSafety #PublicTransportation #SafetyMeasures #Collaboration #CommunityEngagement #MediaRelations #EmergencyResponse #SafetyTips

Jason talked with the Chief of Police for Metro Transit, Ernest Morales III, about challenges with crime and getting riders back on buses and trains

Seg 1: A team of researchers has proposed that seismic motions in the Earth could be used to test for modified gravity. Guest: Dr. Paul Sutter, Research Professor of Astrophysics at Stony Brook University's Institute for Advanced Computational Science Seg 2: Why is FOX news being sued for defamation? Guest: Reggie Cecchini, Washington Correspondent for Global News Seg 3: According to Statistics Canada, Indigenous people generally have a lower participation and employment rate, and a higher unemployment rate in the labour market compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts Guest: Kory Wilson, Executive Director of Indigenous Initiatives and Partnerships at the British Columbia Institute of Technology Seg 4: The importance of expanding trauma-informed employment opportunities for refugees. Guest: Sheila Malcolmson, BC Minister of Social Development and Poverty Seg 5: What can New York's Chinese police station teach Canada about foreign interference? Guest: Michel Juneau-Katsuya, Former Chief of Asia-Pacific at CSIS and Author of “Nest of Spies” Seg 6: How are Transit Police tackling the rise of violent crime? Guest: Chief Officer Dave Jones, President of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police Seg 7: True Crime Tuesday with Nancy Hixt In 1992, Dilleen Hempel had just married the love of her life, moved into a new home and started a new job. But on her way home from her second-shift, the 26-year-old vanished. Guest: Nancy Hixt, Senior Crime Reporter for Global News and Host of “Crime Beat” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How are Transit Police tackling the rise of violent crime? Guest: Chief Officer Dave Jones, President of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hour 1 of the show kicks off with the question, do we take enough vacation days? Later new Metro Transit Police Chief Ernest Morales III joins us to talk about the challenges that the transit system faces and his plans to attack it.

New Metro Transit Police Chief Ernest Morales III joins Adam to discuss why he took the job and what he plans on doing about the current state of the Metro Transit system.

South Boston officials and Transit Police team up ahead of the St. Patrick's Day Parade. A new bill on Beacon Hill aims to keep animal abusers away from animals. A New Hampshire father and son begin the 2023 Iditarod Race. Five minutes of news that will keep you in The Loop.

Today's show takes us to the Big Apple. Yes, today we are going to New York City to chat with Author and Police Officer Kevin Sullivan of the NYPD.Kevin “Sully” Sullivan has been with the NYPD for about ten years and is assigned to the transit and counterterrorism unit. Among other things, Kevin is a musician, surfer, and indie author.In today's episode, we discuss:·      What got him interested in law enforcement. ·      Why did he join the New York Police Department?·      Why he is interested in the transit counterterrorism unit?·      The impact that 9/11 still has on the department and the City of New York.·      His plans for his future in the NYPD. ·      How he started his writing career. ·      His choice to become a self-published author.·      The benefits of writing a book to help you through a tough time in your life.All of this and more on today's episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.Come visit Kevin and check out his books on his website!Check out Kevin's Instagram.Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!Enjoy the Cops and Writer's book series.Please visit the Cops and Writers website.If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.Join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook groupConsider buying me a coffee :-)Do you enjoy gritty, action-packed real-life police dramas to get your fill of blood, heartache, and cop humor, and maybe even a little romance? You've come to the right series! If you're a fan of Hill Street Blues, Southland, or Bosch you're going to love Brew City Blues! Book one, Field Training, and two, Probation, are now live, and book three, Choir Practice, is now on pre-order and will be available for purchase February 10, 2023. Exclusively on Amazon!Support the show

On today's show: Transit Police team up with RCMP and catch impaired, unlicensed and uninsured drivers. BC links to gangland murder in Thailand! Are Canada's new alcohol guidelines too strict? Everything you need to know about the Canucks chaos! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cybercrime Wire, hosted by Scott Schober, provides boardroom and C-suite executives, CIOs, CSOs, CISOs, IT executives and cybersecurity professionals with a breaking news story we're following. If there's a cyberattack, hack, or data breach you should know about, then we're on it. Listen to the podcast daily and hear it every hour on WCYB. The Cybercrime Wire is sponsored by Deloitte Cyber. To learn more about our sponsor, visit https://deloitte.com/cyber • For more breaking news, visit https://cybercrimewire.com

A conversation about safety with Constable Amanda Steed, Media Relations of Metro Vancouver Transit Police. We had a conversation about safety on public transit and how to de-escalate a problem situation if possible. Know where and how to get help! Familiarize yourself with the safety features available for you while travelling on transit. Each Skytrain car has a yellow stripe silent alarm and passenger intercom. In an emergency, always call 9-1-1. Report non-emergency police issues directly to Transit Police: call Transit Police 604-515-8300, text 87-77-77 Remain aware of your surroundings and be vigilant.

Six years ago Steve Martingano challenged conventions with his innovative policing strategy at Denver RTD by pairing officers with mental health workers. He saw a lot of police interactions weren't criminal issues, but medical issues. People needed help. They needed medical care. They needed support. They needed housing. Steve talks with Paul about how after six years he's expanding his efforts beyond medical and mental health support to housing and social service access. Steve talks about changing mindsets about the causes and solutions of issues on transit and how it's positively affected the region. Learn how it started, where it is today, and how he continues to help those most vulnerable in his community. We also hear in the news segment about the billions of dollars of funding awarded for low and no emissions plus other infrastructure investments.  Elea Carey talks about how to measure the effectiveness of your communications plans and Mike Bismeyer checks in on great work helping others in Orlando, FL. Next week Paul is talking with David Scorey of Keolis about contracting in public transit. If you have a question, comment, or would like to be a guest on Transit Unplugged, email info@transitunplugged.

Hello my name is Christine Mackenzie and I am a First Nation Artist, I was born in Kelowna BC. My mother was born in Bella Coola BC we are from the Eagle clan. My mother was apart of the Sixties Scoop and because of that I had a hard time trying to find our culture and identity. I grew up in south western British Columbia, in the Coast Salish traditional territories. I find inspiration in the natural world and in the eyes of people willing to learn and share cultural ideas. I enjoy working with traditional/contemporary design and with multiple mediums. I have been doing art all my life, but professional Artist and Facilitator since 2009 and mentored by Haida Artist Anastasia Hendry she was an artist and Facilitator for 30 plus year and has since retired. I now help others in there journey to self identity. I have worked with many school districts and youth/family organizations in Chilliwack, Surrey, Langley, Vancouver (North, West and Downtown), Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam/Coquitlam, Richmond, New Westminster, Boston Bar, The Yukon, Dease Lake, Telaghaph Creek and Atlin. I have been a part of five art shows and have illustrated/co written three books. I have created many custom pieces for organization, Transit Police creating a Indigenous Logo to help connect communities and will be displayed on all the vehicles, "My Child" to Connections Community Services Richmond representing Orange Shirt day long term loan, Holiday decor for Vancouver Convention Center over 20 wood burnt pallet trees that range from 4ft x 3ft to 6ft x 8ft, Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site non for profit Welcoming the Sun logo and a custom long term loan piece "Salmon's connection to Mother Earth", insulation piece for International Vancouver Children's Arts Festival to honour women, TCCAT logo and Mural to help bring awareness to the overdose crisis, custom drums including glow in the dark drums, carvings, sensory paths, murals and much more. www.sneakynativeart.com

Author and Columnist Miranda Devine rejoins Bernie and Sid in the Morning to discuss The Biden Family, border policy, President Trump, Elon Musk acquiring Twitter, & Mayor Adam's comments on Transit Police. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago Police Superintendent David O. Brown, and Chicago Transit Authority President Dorval Carter, Jr. announced new measures designed to improve public safety and security for Chicago commuters. CTA Union President Keith Hill joined Lisa Dent and Steve Bertrand on Chicago’s Afternoon News to discuss the new measures, if the extra security is […]

The Houston METRO Transit Police Department is a specialized police agency that has grown significantly the past several years. And Chief Vera Bumpers has grown right along with it, serving as the agency's first African-American female at every rank in the department.  Find out more about Chief Bumpers and her pioneering story.

Investigating officers reunited the piano with its rightful owner, who said that he ordered the $1,700 instrument but found it never arrived despite the tracking number indicating it was delivered. WBZ's Madison Rogers reports.

WBZ's Drew Moholland reports that a stolen saxophone has been returned to the student it was taken from.

Bill Bratton has led 7 different police agencies over his 50-year career.  He is an author, a consultant, and serves as Executive Chairman for Teneo.  Bill started with the Boston Police Department, rose to become Executive Superintendent.  He was Chief of the MBTA Police, the Transit Police for Massachusetts, the Metropolitan Police, and was the Chief of the Transit Police of New York.  He returned to Boston as Police Commissioner and was twice the Commissioner of the NY Police Department and the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.   He wrote three books, the most recent, a memoir, The Profession, Collaborate or Perish, and Turnaround.  We talked about the state of policing, CompStat, defunding, community, racism and training.  He advocates for teaching new officers the history of policing.  This was a wide-ranging interview, not to be missed. 

You may not know this, but Vancouver Transit Police actually have homeless outreach workers on staff. We talk to one, Cst. Bruce Shipley 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's highlights:  Transit freakout Another one! We chat with the Transit Police Chief.  Restaurants get a glimmer of hope Delivery companies have gouged the heck out of restaurants, causing many to LOSE money. But, today they got some good news. 2021 hopes?  What are your hopes for 2021? That and more!  _____________ NAVIGATE THE PODCAST: Chapter 1 A day in the life of a Transit Police Officer Imagine being a Transit Police Officer now? In 2020? Where you have to enforce people wearing masks and what not.  Chapter 2 Restaurants being robbed by delivery companies A restaurant we've had on the show in the past have suggested that for approximately 700 in sales through Skip the Dishes, they only made about 100 dollars. WHAT?! Chapter 3 Surrey Pastor offering drive through services over holidays For those feeling upset about a lack of in-person religious services, one person has an answer.  Chapter 4 Why is everyone so ready to snap? Is it just, 2020 things? Chapter 5Your hopes for 2021 Chapter 6 New dating platform with a COVID twist Chapter 7 Local artist writes ad performs song for ‘Two Michaels'   It's called Dear Michaels, and Patricia Burnett tells us why their story captured her heart so firmly.   _____________   Remember to wash your hands, practice physical distancing, and stay home at all costs if you are sick. We're not out of the woods yet!    The Lynda Steele Full Show podcast includes all the individual segments that can be found on the Lynda Steele Show page, digitally stitched together for your convenience.    Listen live online at globalnews.ca/radio/cknw/ 3-6 PM!  

Imagine being a Transit Police Officer now? In 2020? Where you have to enforce people wearing masks and what not.  We talk to Chief Dave Jones.

Ontario is allowing greater prosecutorial discretion in impaired driving cases. The move is aimed at easing a backlog of DUIs by enabling some of them to be tried as lesser charges under the Motor Vehicle Act. Kyla and Paul react to a successful judicial review of an IRP decision as well as another case where an order issued to protect privacy has raised some questions. They also discuss a story about a transit police officer injured in a motor vehicle accident while trying to apprehend a suspect. Ridiculous Driver of the Week follows. This podcast also the World Premiere of Paul's new song, Women Whiskey Lawyers. Follow Kyla Lee on Twitter: twitter.com/IRPlawyer Follow Kyla Lee on Instagram: instagram.com/kylaleelawyer Follow Paul Doroshenko on Twitter: twitter.com/pauldoroshenko Follow Paul Doroshenko on Instagram: instagram.com/pauldoroshenko www.vancouvercriminallaw.com

In 2011 a black, 22-year-old, UBC student went to the upper deck of a SkyTrain station to meet a friend. As he was not planning to ride the SkyTrain, he did not purchase a ticket, despite being in a “fare paid” zone. When he received a message from his friend, advising of a change of plans, he started to walk down the stairs at the SkyTrain station. Two transit police officers approached the student, and after a five-minute discussion, wrongly concluded he had provided a false name. They told him that he was under arrest and grabbed his wrists. One of the officers attempted to scoop the student’s legs out from under him. The student began to run away and, at that point, one of the officers tackled and punched him. One officer then drew his baton and struck the student ten times in the head, neck, and back causing a six-inch laceration to the back of his head and lacerations to his hands, arms and back.The officers falsely claimed that the student was drunk in public and had assaulted them.One of the officers eventually plead guilty to a criminal charge of assault causing bodily harm. Following a convoluted and delayed disciplinary process, precipitated by an overly complicated Police Act disciplinary process, the Police Complaints Commissioner ordered a public hearing.The police officer who had been convicted of assault causing bodily harm successfully challenged the order for a public hearing on the basis that it would be an abuse of process and unreasonable. The Court of Appeal has now allowed an appeal by the Police Complaints Commissioner to permit the public hearing to proceed, despite the complex and delayed process, because of the significant public interest in having the complaint addressed in full, in a public hearing. Also, on the show, a Supreme Court of Canada case concerning judicial salaries, and cabinet confidentiality is discussed.Judges are supposed to be independent of the government. This is important because they frequently decide cases where the government is a party to the dispute. In order to maintain independence from the government, it would be inappropriate for judges to be negotiating with the government over their salary. You wouldn’t want a judge to be deciding a case concerning the government to be in the middle of salary negotiation with the government.To avoid this problem, there are independent commissions in each province that recommend changes to Provincial Court Judges’ salaries. In British Columbia, however, there is a long and unfortunate history of the government refusing to implement the recommendations of the independent commission. This has produced much litigation, before different judges, who are federally appointed.One of these disputes, concerning access to cabinet documents related to the salary dispute, was recently decided by the Supreme Court of Canada.Finally, on the show, an unsuccessful appeal by the University of British Columbia over a $1.15 million fine pursuant to the Fisheries Act is discussed. The university was convicted after a contractor working for the university allowed some ammonia in the cooling system at the UBC ice rink to escape and get into a storm drain, that got into a ditch, which got into a creek, that fish “frequent”. Follow this link for a transcript of the show and links to the cases discussed.Legally Speaking with Michael Mulligan is live on CFAX 1070 eery Thursday at 10:30 am.

Metro Vancouver Transit Police Constable (Cst.) Josh Harms joins the podcast to discuss his recovery after he was shot while on duty in early 2019. After going through this traumatic event, Cst. Harms returned to work, concentrating not on the number of days it took to return, but the work he put into his recovery, resiliency, and mindset.

Life gave him lemons, and he made more than lemonade. We chat with Constable Clint Hervias, Metro Vancouver Transit Police officer

This month’s cases: Firefighters, Facial Hair, The ‘Empty Vessel’ Of Light Duty, And The ‘Driving Calculus of Bureaucracy,’ Bey v. City of New York, 2020 WL 467507 (E.D.N.Y. 2020). Promise Of No Discipline? No Weingarten Rights, Fraternal Order of Transit Police, 51 PPER ¶ 51 (Penn. LRB ALJ 2020) Another Officer Loses A Brady Lawsuit Against A Prosecutor, Latty v. Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 2020 WL 485526 (D. Ore. 2020). Union Lawyer Not Liable To Member For Malpractice Claim, Zander v. Carlson, 2019 IL App (1st) 181868 (Ill. App. 2019) Prison Prep Time Compensable Under FLSA, Aguilar v. Management and... The post First Thursday, March 2020 appeared first on Labor Relations Information System.

After a 21-year career with B.C. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), Cst. Julien Ponsioen joined the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, serving Vancouver’s Downtown Community area as a Neighbourhood Police Officer. In this episode, Julien speaks about the adversities he’s faced on and off the job, including trauma while with EHS, as well as coming to terms, and coming out as gay to family and colleagues.

James Molloy served in the NYPD for 24 years. His last 10 as Detective Squad Commander responsible for thousands of investigations. His career started in the Transit Police for the first few years before he lateral transferred to the NYPD where he served in a variety of patrol assignments. As a Lt. he went to the Detective Bureau and became a Lieutenant Commander Detective Squad. As Squad Commander he commanded the 24, 19, 7, and 9th Squads. Jim also volunteers his time with POPPA as a trained Peer Support Officer. He helps NYPD officers in need who call this independent organizations confidential help line. When he was assigned the 19th Squad he began volunteering with a charity that helps children and their families that have come to NYC for treatment for rare pediatric cancers. He now works for the same charity since retiring helping them spread awareness of its mission. Jim lives in Westchester with his two sons. He is also an avid martial artist who enjoys driving his classic Mustang and riding his Harley on a hot day.

James Molloy served in the NYPD for 24 years. His last 10 as Detective Squad Commander responsible for thousands of investigations. His career started in the Transit Police for the first few years before he lateral transferred to the NYPD where he served in a variety of patrol assignments. As a Lt. he went to the Detective Bureau and became a Lieutenant Commander Detective Squad. As Squad Commander he commanded the 24, 19, 7, and 9th Squads. Jim also volunteers his time with POPPA as a trained Peer Support Officer. He helps NYPD officers in need who call this independent organizations confidential help line. When he was assigned the 19th Squad he began volunteering with a charity that helps children and their families that have come to NYC for treatment for rare pediatric cancers. He now works for the same charity since retiring helping them spread awareness of its mission. Jim lives in Westchester with his two sons. He is also an avid martial artist who enjoys driving his classic Mustang and riding his Harley on a hot day.

As the manhunt continues for the gunman who shot a transit cop on the platform of the Scott Road SkyTrain station, Surrey RCMP say roads in the area are open, but officers continues to check vehicles entering or leaving the area of King George Boulevard to 114th AVenue, and 125A Street to 124th Street. As well, police are asking non-residents to stay away. They are telling residents to resume their regular activities, however they should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity by calling 911. Guest: Janet Brown Global News Senior Reporter

In this episode, Dr. Charles Morgan, C.E.O. of Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities, welcomes Chief John Harrington, Chief of Police for the Metro Transit Police Department, Volunteer Services Manager at Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities, to discuss his career in law enforcement and his relationship with the public.

Who is John DiResta? John DiResta is the real deal. He was raised on the rough and tumble streets of Long Island, where all he did was drink beer, listen to heavy metal and make fun of people. If you got mocked by John DiResta then you were in with the in crowd. After dropping out of two colleges (New Paltz and Nassau Community) John took the New York City Police Exam. On July 15th, 1986 John was sworn into the worst police department in the history of the world, the New York City Transit Police. For the next 12 years John stood in a puddle of hot human piss in the Coney Island Stillwell Station, alone, with no partner, with a radio that might work if he was lucky. The motto of the Transit Police was 'you ride, we hide.' John had nine arrests in twelve years. His gun was so rusted shut that he would have had to throw it at a perp to take him down. The only thing that made John's job interesting was his homeless friends, with no one else to talk to John became buddies with hundreds of bums in the New York City Subway. In 1992 John started his comedy career in the bowels of the New York comedy circuit. Five years later his one man show, BEAT: A Subway Cop's Comedy, open to raved reviews. The New York Times called him "UPROARIOUS!" John quickly signed a huge development deal with ABC/Disney. John quit the police department and moved his wife and three kids to the west coast. In the fall of 1998 John's sitcom, 'DiResta', launched on the UPN Network. John then went on to secure very big rolls in the movies Miss Congeniality and 15 Minutes with Robert De Niro. During that period John made two very memorable appearences on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Howard Stern Show. In the spring of 2004 John's show, Trash to Cash, premiered on the FX Network. John then went on to star in How To Loose a Guy in Ten Days and Miss Congeniality Two. In the fall of 2007 John began work on his next two TV adventures: American Body Shop was on Comedy Central for one year and Hammered lasted two seasons on HGTV/DIY Networks. John currently lives on both coasts, spending his time in both the San Fernando Valley and in New York City. He travels the world as a killer live stand up and can be seen coming to a town near you. When not on the road John can be found in his North Hollywood Hills shop fabricating his unique rustic furniture and artwork. John DiResta has been around the block, twice. John DiResta is a true comedic mixed martrial artist of the highest order; on TV, on film or live on stage, John gets it done. John DiResta is the funniest human being that ever lived. John DiResta is your mom. johndiresta.com

Who is John DiResta? John DiResta is the real deal. He was raised on the rough and tumble streets of Long Island, where all he did was drink beer, listen to heavy metal and make fun of people. If you got mocked by John DiResta then you were in with the in crowd. After dropping out of two colleges (New Paltz and Nassau Community) John took the New York City Police Exam. On July 15th, 1986 John was sworn into the worst police department in the history of the world, the New York City Transit Police. For the next 12 years John stood in a puddle of hot human piss in the Coney Island Stillwell Station, alone, with no partner, with a radio that might work if he was lucky. The motto of the Transit Police was 'you ride, we hide.' John had nine arrests in twelve years. His gun was so rusted shut that he would have had to throw it at a perp to take him down. The only thing that made John's job interesting was his homeless friends, with no one else to talk to John became buddies with hundreds of bums in the New York City Subway. In 1992 John started his comedy career in the bowels of the New York comedy circuit. Five years later his one man show, BEAT: A Subway Cop's Comedy, open to raved reviews. The New York Times called him "UPROARIOUS!" John quickly signed a huge development deal with ABC/Disney. John quit the police department and moved his wife and three kids to the west coast. In the fall of 1998 John's sitcom, 'DiResta', launched on the UPN Network. John then went on to secure very big rolls in the movies Miss Congeniality and 15 Minutes with Robert De Niro. During that period John made two very memorable appearences on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Howard Stern Show. In the spring of 2004 John's show, Trash to Cash, premiered on the FX Network. John then went on to star in How To Loose a Guy in Ten Days and Miss Congeniality Two. In the fall of 2007 John began work on his next two TV adventures: American Body Shop was on Comedy Central for one year and Hammered lasted two seasons on HGTV/DIY Networks. John currently lives on both coasts, spending his time in both the San Fernando Valley and in New York City. He travels the world as a killer live stand up and can be seen coming to a town near you. When not on the road John can be found in his North Hollywood Hills shop fabricating his unique rustic furniture and artwork. John DiResta has been around the block, twice. John DiResta is a true comedic mixed martrial artist of the highest order; on TV, on film or live on stage, John gets it done. John DiResta is the funniest human being that ever lived. John DiResta is your mom. johndiresta.com

Friday Morning Podcast with Sid Bogan, the Chief of Transit Police for the City of Detroit. This part two of the interview.

Between emergency call boxes on MAX not working, and bus operators getting assaulted (25 total at publishing time), where is the $10.7 million TriMet is spending on Transit Police really going?

11-25 9A Transit, Police Navidad, Black Friday, taxes