PAX Centurion - September / October 2013

Page 24 • PAX CENTURION • September/October 2013 617-989-BPPA (2772) Eire Pub 795 Adams Street Dorchester, MA 02124 Salutes the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association I recently attended cell extraction training at the BPDAcademy (why they bothered sending me is still a mystery: I seldom put them in the cell anymore, so I certainly don’t want to take them out…). But one of the more interesting tidbits I gleaned from the training was the explanation of the “new” pursuit driving policy, BPD rule 301, issued 6/4/13. In a nutshell, if you chase any motorist for anything, you are certifiably insane. The rule is so restrictive that it essentially prohibits pursuing any violator in a car, and places the onus for anything that happens on you, the officer. The rule was not written to protect you but rather to condemn you. Any defense attorney or ambulance-chaser who wants to sue you will have a field day with this rule. Whatever damage or injuries the violator causes are YOUR fault, not theirs. Here’s one of the great parts of this rule….section 7.6.11: “…the moving vehicle itself shall not constitute the threatened use of deadly force.” OK- so the thug behind the wheel drives directly at the police officer and that is NOT a threatened use of deadly force? Is that insane?Are we insane?As soon as the gang bangers “familiarize” themselves with the new rule, guess what they’ll be doing with their 2,000 lb. stolen BMW?Yeah, that’s right. Get out the way, officer. Or better yet, don’t even bother chasing them. And with all the details that they demand you communicate to the dispatcher while you’re driving your cruiser, you couldn’t possibly comply with the rule anyway. (section 6.1). There are eight separate points of information that you’re supposed to translate to the dis- patcher, and God forbid if you forget one of them. Back in the 80’s, we’d chase down the bad guys and have fun do- ing it. Today, if you bother chasing anyone – for virtually any reason- you’re damned. Any violator, whether misdemeanor or fleeing felon, need only fail to stop for the police. After all, how can we prove who was driving? So if somebody you stop for a violation simply keeps driving away, your best option, officers, is to wave goodbye. It’s not worth getting sued or being thrown under the bus by a police depart- ment that believes in sacrificing its officers on the altar of political correctness. Bye, Mr. Badguy! Have a nice day! New and improved rule 301 is your best friend. (Editor’s note: In fact, shortly after I wrote the above article, a crazed maniac stole a Boston Police Cruiser in South Boston and aimed it directly at the officers, causing them to discharge their weapon to stop the fleeing felon. Wilfredo Rodriquez was charged, among other things, with “Assault and Battery with a dangerous weapon” (the car), as well he should have been. But in light of this stupid policy, which his defense attorney will certainly get a copy of because it’s posted on-line, our own department doesn’t consider the motor vehicle a “deadly weapon.” SoWilfredo’s charge will undoubtedly be thrown out because of our own department’s stupidity. A 2,000 lb. car being driven by a maniac at police officers IS A DEADLYWEAPON. Command staff, occasionally get out from behind your desks and visit the real world…) New pursuit policy: Don’t even bother chasing them… By James Carnell, Pax Editor CALL (617) 429-5327 For a free market analysis Mayra Connolly Hablo Español mconnolly@molisserealty.net