TECHNICALITIES!

TECHNICALITIES!

(Gina Barton, John Diedrich)

(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Frazer Chronicle)

 

Disability is really a great thing, I understand that many, many people don’t understand the term when you equate it with life after work…..but rest assured many in the public sector do…..and they take advantage of the program whenever, and wherever possible. We all sit and read or we hear about some joker who gets fired from his public trough job, but somehow gets some sort of retirement compensation through shrewd lawyering moves, technicalities.

Everybody has heard at least a little morsel about the Milwaukee police department and how corrupt they are, I of course have never had any dealings with them…..and I never want to. There are stories of illegal search, police brutality, and neglect leading to deaths. These guys simply do not play, there is little area for error, and at times their flawed judgment dictates their action. And they are backed up by the silent blue wall and administrations that serve to protect their own and not the public.

And now the citizens of Milwaukee have another set of cases where police officers are seeking disability compensation for actions that would seem, on the surface to be questionable to say the least. Police Detective Rodolfo Gomez Jr. has applied for duty disability retirement, saying stress had left him unable to do his job. If his application is approved, Gomez, 47 could be paid by the city for the rest of his life.

Gomez was charged last week with felony misconduct in public office, beating a suspect; his legal maneuvering could net him 75% of his annual salary of $76,000, tax free until he is dead, or somebody regains his/her sanity. Gomez isn’t the first officer to jump on the gravy train; five others are costing the city of Milwaukee and its Retirement System $948,000. I guess money does grow on trees…..at least in Milwaukee.

Duty disability retirement was designed as a safety net to ensure that officers, whose careers are inherently dangerous, would not suffer financial ruin if they were hurt on the job. But in recent years, officers shot by suspects, or injured in squad car crashes have been joined by officers claiming mental stress as a result of disciplinary matters.

IT’S TOUGH OUT THERE IN THE ENGLISH

Without a doubt being a cop…..at any level, city, county, or state is an inherently iffy proposition, of course the profession isn’t for everybody. But if a percentage of a police force is being investigated for unfit duty for their actions, something is wrong. And to reward these fools with compensation is…..well, just plain stupid.

An overused phrase is public service, give me a break, a guy that pulls down $76,000 a year for copping, isn’t doing his job because he wants to serve the public, he’s doing his job for the paychecks and the benefits that help he, and his family live the good life…..and all at the public trough.

A few years ago here in Green Bay, it was revealed that cops, firemen, and some other city employees were padding their retirement by working overtime the last couple years of their employment. Everybody knew it…..and everybody was doing it. What’s the problem, was the cry most often heard, these people couldn’t figure out why gaming the system was wrong.

People that enter into the profession of law enforcement understand immediately that there is danger in the profession. They know when they’re out there (in the English) the public domain, there can be danger at every turn…..and they are trained to act accordingly.

It takes a cool thinking, and an understanding person to thrust himself/herself into a situation that could turn deadly almost at any moment. It’s why they are paid the big bucks, but there sure as hell should be some whammies! If a cop acts, or exhibits incorrect behavior, attitudes, or actions…..he needs to be slapped down hard…..no second chances.

Why no second chances…..(you’re kidding right) well okay, I’ll waste some time and address your reaction. First and foremost cops are dealing with the public…..a mostly unarmed public each and every day of his work week. If a cop isn’t a people person, why in hell would he have been appointed into a position where he dealt with people, the supervisor and the system that placed the cop into his position should also be crap-canned…..because the supervisor and the system simply don’t work. There is no other answer for you…..just the people person thing.

LET’S CALL THESE BOZO’S OUT

I don’t live in Milwaukee, I seldom travel there, but if the shenanigans that are pulled in Milwaukee by the cops goes unnoticed, who’s to say the same thing can’t happen right here in little old Packerland? Milwaukee cops have a history, and it’s not one to be proud of, Milwaukee city police often operate without impunity and under a veil of secrecy.

A former Milwaukee police officer, Jason Mucha, another one of those stress disability breakdowns, Mucha applied for the disability in July 2012. In 2007 Mucha had never been disciplined despite a long history of infractions and complaints. In 2012 Mucha was investigated for illegal strip searches…..of men. In his application Mucha said that he had a breakdown in March of 2012, and since has suffered headaches, sleeplessness, and social problems because he feared friends might be recording him. He also cited paranoia, depression and suicidal thoughts.

During an emergency detention for mental issues nine weapons were taken from Mucha’s home, and were held by the Milwaukee police department. According to the law, Mucha could pick up his nine guns from the police lockup on or after October 30…..and he did just that.

Four other officers directly under Mocha’s supervision were also charged for the illegal search, and were convicted of either conducting or observing the searches. The judge that released the weapons to Mucha, J.D. Watts, determined that Mucha met the requirements for getting his guns back. Mucha’s attorney told the judge that his client has never been committed after the emergency detention and did not face any criminal charges.

In 2011 at least 93 Milwaukee police officers, ranking from street cop to captain were disciplined for violating the laws and ordinances that they had sworn to uphold. The Police Department, district attorney’s office and the Fire and Police Commission share responsibility for keeping police officers in line, and it would seem all fell short.

Of the 93 officers, and the offenses ranging from sexual assault and domestic violence to drunken driving to shoplifting, according to internal affairs. Consider twenty three officers got breaks from the prosecutors, allowing them to avoid serious criminal charges.

Nine officers were convicted and actually spent time behind bars…..yet upon their release they were reinstated and went back to their careers. It took the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel nearly two years, a court case and $7,500 in fees to compile the list of 93 which is about 5% of the force. The list doesn’t include cops with juvenile records, arrests before they were hired, or discipline under different department rules.

A HIGHER STANDARD

Well I suppose so; I get awful tired about expecting higher standards from our elected officials, or those people who are hired by our elected officials into all sorts of positions. I’m not sure that it’s fair to expect more from anybody. Just because somebody runs for an elected office doesn’t suddenly make them a white knight or some such figure. Remember without exception these people struggle with the same day to day problems that the least of us has…..and in many cases, their problems turn out to be way more than the average person has.

I think it’s fair to say, and to expect that a service oriented positions, like fire and police should be expected to be held to a higher position than those of us who for whatever reason have little or no interest in being the next lawman, or fireman on the streets.

Again I would favor the single act and your gone rule for these people, they can be such an integral part of our lives that a single misstep can…..for us mean life or death. And compensation…..are you out of your fricken mind, absolutely, positively, unequivocally no way do any of these jerks get a penny for their mental anguish, headaches, or loss of friends…..hit the bricks boys…..we’ll probably read about you committing crimes, and being punk searched.

HAVE A NICE DAY!