Saratoga Springs, NY-
The city's police Chief admits to sexting a picture of his junk to a woman who had allegedly initiated the communications by sending a breast pic. Some time later she alerts the news media, making certain other allegations. Before she has a chance to make a public statement, Police Chief Chris Cole holds a press conference admitting to the dirty deed, but also naming the woman with whom he's had this communication. The Chief is suspended with pay pending the outcome of this ridiculous and juvenile act of what he refers to as "a moment of poor judgment."
A reasonable person would believe that this situation reflects a moral and ethical dilemma. Generally speaking, most police departments would have more than one person deciding the Chief's fate. Instead, Rick Wirth, the Commissioner of Public Safety states that he makes the sole decision on what punishment may be necessary to address the Chief's indiscretion.
This city still uses the civil service exam as a means of measuring a person's merit to lead a department of less than 70 officers. In fact, Cole is 45 years old and has no military background. Some would say that he lacks maturity, and it must be noted that the Saratoga Springs Police Dept has been his only law enforcement employer. Interestingly enough, Cole's Father was once the city's police chief, and the old adage of "...the sins of the Father...." has often been used in conjunction with this whole episode.
The complainant/victim in this matter, Laurie Masi has gained some notoriety because of not only this event, but also because of a number of police reports that were filed at different police departments in the area. Ms. Masi seems to have shown a pattern of irrational behavior in her personal relationships with other law enforcement officers. When the news media attempted to obtain statements from those officers involved, none would acknowledge even a phone message.
Ah well, we all make mistakes.
As a direct result of this entire episode, Commish Wirth announced 2 days ago that Police Chief Cole would receive 2 months suspension without pay and a 3 year probationary status.
Wirth indicated he took the following facts in to consideration:
1. No formal complaint was filed with the Saratoga Springs Police Dept. by Ms. Masi. (It is also understood that she has parted ways with her attorney of record.)
With that, there is essentially no victim and so there is no crime.
2. He admits to doing the dirty deed and that it was a moment of poor judgement. It has been stressed several times that the matter was between 2 consenting adults.
Never mind the fact that he sexted this infamous picture from his office at city hall.
3. Cole candidly admits that he is humiliated and has brought shame upon the police department and the city.
4. All of this information, coupled with all the other police reports, led the Commish to decide that it was a bad boy matter deserving only of a slap on the hand. Hence the hit in the wallet and probation.
This entire episode and its outcome serves only to set a dangerous precedence when it comes to the moral turpitude of our public officials. Rep. Wiener brought himself down with his perverse conduct which ultimately resulted in his resignation. It was obvious that Wiener resigned only after intense pressure from his peers. Chief Cole apparently didn't see his crude behavior worthy of such a proposition. By the way, I can only imagine what his peers are concluding from this set of depraved circumstances.
Any other large police department that makes use of review boards, citizen advisory panels, internal affairs divisions, human resources departments, and some no nonsense local political leaders, would never have tolerated such actions and the Chief would have long ago been shown the door.
Instead, ONE elected official has somehow been endowed with an almighty supreme power that essentially allows him to make human resources decisions without benefit of discussion or input from ANYONE.
This is surely an act of political subterfuge that serves only to keep the rest of the police departments in the world entertained.
The city's police Chief admits to sexting a picture of his junk to a woman who had allegedly initiated the communications by sending a breast pic. Some time later she alerts the news media, making certain other allegations. Before she has a chance to make a public statement, Police Chief Chris Cole holds a press conference admitting to the dirty deed, but also naming the woman with whom he's had this communication. The Chief is suspended with pay pending the outcome of this ridiculous and juvenile act of what he refers to as "a moment of poor judgment."
A reasonable person would believe that this situation reflects a moral and ethical dilemma. Generally speaking, most police departments would have more than one person deciding the Chief's fate. Instead, Rick Wirth, the Commissioner of Public Safety states that he makes the sole decision on what punishment may be necessary to address the Chief's indiscretion.
This city still uses the civil service exam as a means of measuring a person's merit to lead a department of less than 70 officers. In fact, Cole is 45 years old and has no military background. Some would say that he lacks maturity, and it must be noted that the Saratoga Springs Police Dept has been his only law enforcement employer. Interestingly enough, Cole's Father was once the city's police chief, and the old adage of "...the sins of the Father...." has often been used in conjunction with this whole episode.
The complainant/victim in this matter, Laurie Masi has gained some notoriety because of not only this event, but also because of a number of police reports that were filed at different police departments in the area. Ms. Masi seems to have shown a pattern of irrational behavior in her personal relationships with other law enforcement officers. When the news media attempted to obtain statements from those officers involved, none would acknowledge even a phone message.
Ah well, we all make mistakes.
As a direct result of this entire episode, Commish Wirth announced 2 days ago that Police Chief Cole would receive 2 months suspension without pay and a 3 year probationary status.
Wirth indicated he took the following facts in to consideration:
1. No formal complaint was filed with the Saratoga Springs Police Dept. by Ms. Masi. (It is also understood that she has parted ways with her attorney of record.)
With that, there is essentially no victim and so there is no crime.
2. He admits to doing the dirty deed and that it was a moment of poor judgement. It has been stressed several times that the matter was between 2 consenting adults.
Never mind the fact that he sexted this infamous picture from his office at city hall.
3. Cole candidly admits that he is humiliated and has brought shame upon the police department and the city.
4. All of this information, coupled with all the other police reports, led the Commish to decide that it was a bad boy matter deserving only of a slap on the hand. Hence the hit in the wallet and probation.
This entire episode and its outcome serves only to set a dangerous precedence when it comes to the moral turpitude of our public officials. Rep. Wiener brought himself down with his perverse conduct which ultimately resulted in his resignation. It was obvious that Wiener resigned only after intense pressure from his peers. Chief Cole apparently didn't see his crude behavior worthy of such a proposition. By the way, I can only imagine what his peers are concluding from this set of depraved circumstances.
Any other large police department that makes use of review boards, citizen advisory panels, internal affairs divisions, human resources departments, and some no nonsense local political leaders, would never have tolerated such actions and the Chief would have long ago been shown the door.
Instead, ONE elected official has somehow been endowed with an almighty supreme power that essentially allows him to make human resources decisions without benefit of discussion or input from ANYONE.
This is surely an act of political subterfuge that serves only to keep the rest of the police departments in the world entertained.
2 comments:
Badge bunnies. And the idiots that fall for them. Sheesh!
The scary part is that the SSPD Chief is the leader of the idiots.
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