total bull

[Andy]

Here?s a story that makes my blood boil.

In the very little town of Westhampton Ma the have a part time Chief, a part time Sergeant and a full time patrolman which makes up there entire police department. One afternoon the patrolman saw a man speeding, turning a corner and took out a stop sign. The man was operating without a drivers license and apparently had a bad attitude. He was arrested and yelled he?d have the cop?s badge, not all that uncommon to hear. Sounds pretty normal right?

Well the guy who was arrested is a brother-in-law of one of the three Selectmen, in small New England towns there is no mayor, usually a board of 3 Selectmen. Further, the man arrested is part owner of a company also owned by a second Selectmen. The Board put pressure on the Police Chief to have all charges dropped and hinted they wanted an apology from the patrolman to the man he arrested. The Chief said hell no. That was last fall.

Since then the Board has decided that the police department needs to be ?reorganized?. They decided that they?ll have a full time chief and no one else. All three current officers have had their applications for the job rejected and the Selectmen expect they will all be terminated by June 30th . The new Chief was to be appointed this coming Tuesday but the District Attorney?s office has stepped in citing 5 violation of law done by the Selectmen. This soap opera should continue for quite a while.

In all my years I?ve hear a civilian yell, ?I?ll have you badge for this.?, but never heard of it coming true. Sure if a cop violates someone?s civil right, beats someone up, does something dishonest he/she should be gotten rid of. But this case is totally over the edge.

Stay healthy,
Andy