COPS NOTEBOOK: Sorting the Boyz in Blue

Local News

March 19, 2010

By Rick Pfeiffer Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Fri Mar 19, 2010, 11:34 PM EDT

COLUMN — I know Falls Mayor Paul Dyster was trying to talk tough and be “street” at Friday’s news conference on the gang violence that has plagued the city for the past couple of months.

However, he may have inadvertently given an approving nod to the notorious Crips gang.

In an attempt to make reference to police in street terms, the mayor said he wanted the city’s “posse” to be bigger than those of the criminal gangs. But then, in an attempt to say he wanted cops to take control of the streets, he instead inadvertently gave props to the Crips.

“We want to make sure the gang that dominates the street is the blue gang,” Dyster said.

Blue, of course, is not only the color of cops, it’s the color of Crips.

As one veteran investigator said later, “Man that is going to (upset) the Bloods.”

Who thought this up

The Internet, what a wonderful invention. Sometimes.

While the Net has revolutionized our lives, not all of what it has brought us is positive.

I’m not going to give you the Web address of a new site that came to my attention recently because I was stunned that anyone thought the concept behind it was a good idea. But here is how it works.

The site uses a crawler to search social networking Web sites where people foolishly post all kinds of personal information. I’m talking about posts that tell your friends where you are at any given moment, when you’re out to dinner, at the movies, at a bar or on vacation.

The site then aggregates that information and posts it online. So anyone, including your friendly neighborhood burglar, can know when you’re not home.

It’s like providing a roadmap for who to rob and when.

One more reason why you really need to think twice about what you put on the web.

Save the tuna

OK, I know this has nothing to do with cops or courts or public safety, but here goes.

First, I love the Niagara Falls Aquarium. It is a jewel, a treasure and deserves as much support as it can get.

That said, I was stunned when I picked up the Gazette the day after the aquarium’s big annual fundraiser, Seasonings, and saw pictures from the event. There, on page one, was a picture of a woman, with chopsticks, eating Sushi.

Heck there was another picture of what appeared to be a huge tray of raw fish.

Seriously, who thought it was a good idea to invite a restaurant that serves raw fish to an event for a non-profit that celebrates waterlife. Emphasis there on the word “life.”

It seems inappropriate to me to be walking around gazing at the wonder of exotic marine life, while you consume their lesser cousins.

Charlie the Tuna would be outraged. The aquarium should be chagrined.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

Long-range forecast favors ‘liquid’ over ‘icy’ precipitation
The climate trend that’s emerged this winter — brief spells of cold and minimal snow cover, broken up quickly by warmth and rain — apparently will hold into spring.

February 12, 2012 1 Photo
SLIDESHOW: Niagara Charter School Niagara Charter School opened with an initial enrollment of 264 students in grades kindergarten through fourth. The school has added fifth and sixth grade students since then and this year has an enrollment of about 350 students. This year, staff members are preparing to prove to the State Education Department that it made the right choice in allowing them to open the doors back in 2006.
February 12, 2012 1 Photo
Village of Lewiston officials investigating parking as crowds loom on horizon
Parking in the Village of Lewiston is a major concern, especially when festival and concert season rolls around. Fixing it is a different matter all together, however.
Mayor Terry Collesano says the village board is investigating several small changes to parking which could provide better access once the people begin rolling in.

February 12, 2012
CITY BEAT: Can you hear us now Congress?
Feeling down? Depressed? Upset because another football season has ended?
Confused because people actually watch things like “The Bachelor” or “The Voice?”

February 12, 2012 1 Photo
Woman reportedly swept over Horseshoe Falls
Niagara Regional Police cruisers swarmed Table Rock just past 4 p.m. Sunday after getting reports of a woman going over the Horseshoe Falls.

February 12, 2012
Sheriff’s office closing in on Rocky’s successor
Friends of Deputy Craig Beiter of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office are planning a benefit on Feb. 26 to raise money to buy and train a new dog for the K-9 Unit.
Beiter’s German shepherd, Deputy Rocky, was killed while on duty in January, and the sheriff’s office is close to getting a replacement.

February 12, 2012 1 Photo
Robber runs into wrong clerk in Wheatfield
Niagara County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a River Road convenience store Saturday night for an attempted robbery.

February 12, 2012 1 Photo
A big test for Niagara Charter School
The first official day of classes at the Niagara Charter School is a day Pastor Jesse Scott will never forget.

February 12, 2012 1 Photo 1 Slideshow
Time Warner, MSG fight could last through the end of the NBA, NHL regular seasons
As the glow fades from the Giants’ Super Bowl triumph, some New York sports fans are tuning in to basketball and hockey, with the Rangers in first place and the Knicks’ overnight sensation, Jeremy Lin, sparking “Lin-sanity.”

February 12, 2012
NIMAC gets boost from Legislature
The Legislature approved giving $40,000 on Tuesday to the Niagara Military Affairs Council (NIMAC) to assist its ongoing effort to keep the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station open and active in defense work.

February 12, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Do you think cigarette sales to non-Native American customers should be taxed on reservations?

Local News

Search Results

COPS NOTEBOOK: Sorting the Boyz in Blue

Do you think cigarette sales to non-Native American customers should be taxed on reservations?

Site Map

Contact Us