BURRESS, BLOOMBERG, & BURGE
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example- 1 A thing or person suitable to be used as a model. 2 An instance of something to be avoided; an act especially a punishment, serving or designed to serve as a warning.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg may be right as he recently demanded that prosecutors throw the book at New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress. Burress caught the winning touchdown pass in the Giants upset Superbowl win over the undefeated New England Patriots just months ago. This year Burress has been a distraction to his team, arriving late and missing practice. But recently Burress literally shot himself in the leg at a crowded nightclub in Manhattan. Police reported, the loaded gun, a Glock, slid down Burress' pant leg and went off when he attempted to grab it. (See the Bloomberg Video)
Perhaps I am overly sensitive due to the large number of deaths every year in the Greater Chicago area due to handgun violence and the large number of related crimes committed at gun-point. Or, perhaps it is because I vividly recall being awakened as a child and being told that my oldest brother had been shot- as it turned out by a mentally-ill youth who had access to his father's loaded weapon. Or, perhaps it is because I am remembering a relative who on Memorial Day died a violent death earlier this year at gun-point. So when I hear that a multi-millionaire athlete carried an unlicensed loaded weapon into a crowded nightclub, and jokes about it with his teamates, I too think, throw the book at him. Burress could be an example, dare I say "role model" to so many youths coming from similar circumstances. Athletes may not desire to accept that role and may not see themselves as examples to others, however, when young children and their families fork over outrageous amounts of hard-earned cash to buy that player's jersey, (or believe all the hype about these players) the players become examples, role models, even icons. Burris has become the other kind of example that should serve as a warning not only to other NFL players and athletes but to those devoted fans who heap lavish praise upon them.
However, I would ask Mayor Bloomberg, "Why stop there?" It is not only the highly visible athletes that we should be concerned about. Where is Bloomberg's anger for his own police department that is notorious for civil and human rights violations. Where was Bloomberg's anger at the acquittal of three detectives that killed Sean Bell on the morning of his wedding day in a storm of 50 police bullets. Where was Bloomberg's anger toward Gulliani's now defunct NYPD Street Crimes Unit or at the exoneration of four (plain clothes) officers who killed Amadou Diallo with 41 bullets.
As a child, I grew up with "Officer Friendly". This program that was designed to build rapport among police and youth really impressed many urban youth. I was particularly impressed and even "proud" because my father was a Chicago police officer. I even earned a degree in Criminal Justice and took numerous pre-law courses before responding to God's call to ministry. While there are many outstanding police officers who serve their communities faithfully, risking life and limb to go into places and situations many of us would not choose to go, the luster and shine of the badge wears off quickly when we hear about cases like these.
Part of the problem, Mayor Bloomberg, are the friends and systems that protect people like Plaxico Burress and protect police like those in the Diallo and Bell shootings to name just a few.
In Chicago, we can all still see the brutal beating in our minds eyes of a small female bartender by an off duty Chicago police officer. As his court date arrived news media were blocked and ticketed by Chicago police- ordered by a CPD Captain.
Now, according a Chicago Tribune article this past week Chicago's Fraternal Order of Police (the union) defended paying Jon Burge's legal defense. Burge, soon to be on trial for torturing suspects to get confessions, has been living for years in a Florida waterfront community, with his pension intact and a boat out back according to the St. Petersburg Times.
It was nearly twenty years ago when Fred Hampton, Jr., son of slain Black Panther Party leader, came to me alleging that Burge tortured suspects. I didn't want to believe it then- maybe I was still remembering "Officer Friendly". Maybe I was thinking of my father and not some rogue cop or the system that protected him for too long. Now, with the news of the FOP decision I say "throw the book at him" and shame on anyone who covers up for him, and shame on me for not having believed before. You're right Mr. Bloomberg "No one should be exempt".
To learn more about police torture in Chicago just click on this link to articles archived back to 1990.
Highlighted words will take you directly to videos and articles referenced here.