White cops issue last-minute smear
This morning, crews from STL Direct were distributing flyers in my 16th Ward neighborhood (and elsewhere, I'll bet) that claim to have been paid for by the St. Louis Police Officers Association PAC. I don't doubt the accuracy of the disclaimer. That's the union-like organization of mostly white police. African American officers have a separate organization.
Ripping off the name of Howie Mandel's game show, the brochure is titled "Deal or No Deal?" It goes on to allege that out of state "politicians" are trying to get voters to elect Jeff Smith to be "their" state senator, with contributions totalling $25,000. It urges voters to pick Derio Gambaro instead.
Distributed on the day before the election, it is timed to hit without an opportunity for response. Such a response might include the fact that $25K is less than 10% of Smith's warchest, and that it is far less than the much larger sums Gambaro himself has received from out-of-district (some of it also out-of-state) and out-of-party sources. Pure hypocrisy.
The flyer also doesn't mention its true motivation. This is payback by the cops to Gambaro for his loyal support of cops' politically unpopular efforts not to be required to live in the city that pays their salaries. Cops also recognize that Gambaro is the only senate candidate (out of five) that opposes a civilian oversight board. Some cops, the bad apples, like to mess with people, cheat, plant evidence, and sometimes beat the crap out of a suspect who they decide (as prosecutor, judge and jury all wrapped up into one tarnished blue uniform) doesn't "respect" them enough, all in the name of "leveling the playing field" in a job where hardened criminals don't play fair either. They like the current system, where Internal Affairs goes through the motions of review and the police board pretends to provide civilian oversight, but where most atrocities get swept neatly under the rug, time and time again. They trust Gambaro as the only candidate who is willing to let them keep doing as they please.
Ripping off the name of Howie Mandel's game show, the brochure is titled "Deal or No Deal?" It goes on to allege that out of state "politicians" are trying to get voters to elect Jeff Smith to be "their" state senator, with contributions totalling $25,000. It urges voters to pick Derio Gambaro instead.
Distributed on the day before the election, it is timed to hit without an opportunity for response. Such a response might include the fact that $25K is less than 10% of Smith's warchest, and that it is far less than the much larger sums Gambaro himself has received from out-of-district (some of it also out-of-state) and out-of-party sources. Pure hypocrisy.
The flyer also doesn't mention its true motivation. This is payback by the cops to Gambaro for his loyal support of cops' politically unpopular efforts not to be required to live in the city that pays their salaries. Cops also recognize that Gambaro is the only senate candidate (out of five) that opposes a civilian oversight board. Some cops, the bad apples, like to mess with people, cheat, plant evidence, and sometimes beat the crap out of a suspect who they decide (as prosecutor, judge and jury all wrapped up into one tarnished blue uniform) doesn't "respect" them enough, all in the name of "leveling the playing field" in a job where hardened criminals don't play fair either. They like the current system, where Internal Affairs goes through the motions of review and the police board pretends to provide civilian oversight, but where most atrocities get swept neatly under the rug, time and time again. They trust Gambaro as the only candidate who is willing to let them keep doing as they please.
posted by St. Louis Oracle | 8/07/2006 10:59:00 AM
3 Comments:
The great part of this is that if they understood the dynamics better, they would be horrified by who they are helping most--Yaphett El-Amin.
Politically these guys ought to think of themselves as the Barney Fife Officer's Association. Given I'm closer to Yaphett on their issues than them, I can't think of a better opponent though the localized effect kinds bites.
Oracle and apundit,
Again right on the money with your insight and analysis. Talk about fueling the racial issue within the police department.
Everytime I read that we have a mostly white police officers association and a separate black police officers association I have to stop to check my calendar --- it all sounds so 1950s. Makes my skin crawl...
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