PAX Centurion - March / April 2015

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • March/April 2015 • Page 3 A Message from the President: Patrick M. Rose, BPPA President The first one hundred days T o say the first one hundred days has been eventful would be the understatement of my life. First and foremost allow me to discuss Officer John Moynihan. As we all know, John was savagely and without provocation, attacked by a ruthless felon that was intent on murdering a Police Officer. As far as discussing anything further to do with his assailant, I wouldn’t waste the ink. By the grace of God, John survived and by all accounts is recovering from his physical wounds received. We all know that his injuries are a life changing event and he will have a long road to recovery. John is and has been surrounded by his loving family and friends. John is one of the strongest, ( both physically and mentally ), men I have the pleasure of knowing and working side by side with on this job. I am sure that he will do everything within his own power to make a full recovery. While praying for John, let us not forget the Heroic actions of his partners that day: Officers Brian Ball, Brian Johnson, Janet Lewis, Jaime Conley and Trooper Billy Cameron, along with Officers Greg Bowden and Dennis Medina who arrived within seconds of the shooting to render assistance. These men and woman displayed the type of Heroic actions that should be heralded. Sadly, this type of danger has almost become a common occurrence while performing our daily duties. We are aware that there have been many questions asked concerning a donation site for Officer Moynihan, a fund has been set up in cooperation with the BPPA and the City of Boston Credit Union for Officer John T. Moynihan, anyone wishing to make a donation to Officer Moynihan can mail a check or money order made out to ‘The Moynihan Fund’ to: the City of Boston Credit Union, c/o Moynihan Fund, One Union Street, 3 rd floor, Boston, MA 02108 or, any checks or cash donations can be dropped off to the branch manager at any of the City of Boston Credit Union locations or to an Officer of the BPPA at 9-11 Shetland Street, Roxbury. (Please include the donor’s name and address with all donations). Allow me this space for a little rant that I believe all the members will agree with. As we have seen of late, whether it was a suspect trying to shoot Officer Scott Roby or a derange person attempting to spear Officer Marty Hedderman, just to mention a couple, the bad guys are becoming more bold in their attacks against us. As I’m sure you are all aware, this profession becomes more dangerous as the days go by and it’s not getting any easier. It seems like the underbelly of society has become somewhat embolden by morally weak politicians and political activists that have jumped on the ‘ all cops are bad ’ band wagon. Of late it seems that every politician or pundit out there is at- tempting to make a proverbial splash in the media by second guessing police officers and the job we do. Speaking of the media, there are those that have been fanning the flames of discontent by attempting to make the news instead of simply reporting the truth. Whether it’s an issue inAtlanta or Albuquerque or Boise to Buffalo some of our local detractors, ( egged on of course by National and Local Politicians ), jump on every opportunity to attempt to import some problem or cause that does not exist here in Boston. We, in this City, have handled every situation thrown at us and we still hold the trust and respect of the ma- jority of all LawAbiding citizens. But that in of itself is not enough for the few ‘ wing nuts ’ that surround us and garner support from our local universities and mem- bers of academia. Demand the truth from the media when they only report half the story, demand a full accounting of the same politicians that attempt to make their ‘bones’ on our backs. Question why certain stories or individual incidents are given so much media time and atten- tion when in reality it doesn’t warrant it, other than to stoke the flames of discontent and discounted people. Ask why so many so calledAca- demics and activists are never at their school or job and somehow have the funds and freedom to roam around the country fan- ning the flames of hatred and discontent. Ask how many are on some sort of public welfare that was meant for the truly needy. What the media fails to report, what certain weak politicians don’t get and what the fools that espouse hatred of the police can’t accept, is that we the Boston Police Officers, are also part of the community. That we come from the same neighborhoods that we patrol. That our children and our grandchildren go to school here. That our families reside here and for the most part have so for generations. We are part of the fabric that ties the community together. So I call on the majority of the good citizens of this City to speak up; send a loud and clear message to those that would attack your society, your civility and your moral and ethical standards, that you will not be swayed by slick political BS or by distorted reports, both in the media and by ac- tivists seeking to destroy society. That you support law and order, that you will not allow the fabric of society to be ripped to shreds by those seeking personal gain. Let all know that we have a good and decent City, that we are policed by good and decent members of our society. With that said, back to the business at hand. Another group of our Heroic Police Officers; Ryan Lenane and Billy Traft along Sgt. Joe Teahan will be Honored at the Top Cops Recognition dinner to be held inWashington, DC on May 12 th , these brave men were selected from thousands to be recognized along with nine other incidents coun- trywide. Another Hero: Officer Dennis Simmonds will be honored, ( posthumously ), on May 13, 2015 when his name is added to the Law Enforcement Memorial inWashington, DC. Thankfully, the memo- rial committee agreed with our assessment of his untimely death and our request to properly honor Dennis’ ultimate sacrifice. Mere words cannot describe the job that every Police Officer undertakes on a daily basis when you suit up and pin that Badge to your chest.You are tasked with awesome responsibility, you make life and death decisions in a fraction of a second that others may attempt to judge for weeks, months and sometimes years. Continue in your just cause, stand tall and remember you are the strongest strand in the fabric that binds society. We are proud to be your Brothers and will continue to do our best to properly and faithfully represent the best that Boston has to offer. As always, please be safe out there, back each other up and remember your number one priority to go home safe and sound to your family daily! While praying for John Moynihan, let us not forget the Heroic actions of his partners that day: Officers Brian Ball, Brian Johnson, Janet Lewis, Jaime Conley and Trooper Billy Cameron, along with Officers Greg Bowden and Dennis Medina who arrived within seconds of the shooting to render assistance. These men and woman displayed the type of Heroic actions that should be heralded.