Posted by Rain at 1:06 PM | 2 comments Links to this post    

I'm happy his picture is back up.


Court was back in session inside the 35th Police District on Wednesday -- this time with a photo of Philadelphia Police Officer John Pawlowski on display.

Philadelphia Judge Craig Washington caused controversy on Tuesday when he reportedly turned a photo of the murdered officer face down because he felt it was inappropriate for court. He felt that it could appear to show bias on behalf of the court.

The courtroom at the 35th district also serves as a community room for officers in the district. It's the same room where Pawlowski stood for roll call just hours before his murder.

The room has become a place for mourning officers to hang cards from school kids and community members and also a shrine of sorts to Pawlowski and other officers killed in the line of duty.

But, it's also a courtroom.

Judge William Meehan took the bench Wednesday with the photo of Pawlowski off to the side of the bench.

It wasn't interfering with my job -- I didn't have a problem with it," said Meehan.

Judge Meehan even held a moment of silence in memory of Pawlowski, according to some officers.

Washington had asked that the photo be removed twice before turning down the photo, according to officials.

Judge Washington isn't scheduled to preside over court at the 35th District in the near future but it has nothing to do with the photo flap.

Washington's schedule was set before Tuesday's events. He is set to work only as an on-call judge needed in case of emergencies/illness.

He gave no comment to reporters outside his home Wednesday morning besides wishing them a good day.

Posted by Rain at 12:54 PM | 4 comments Links to this post    

While family members of murdered Police Officer John Pawlowski and the police dept. prepare for his funeral tomorrow, a certain judge "deemed photos and flowers left in Pawlowski's memory as inappropriate for court." WTF!? I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Washington is a disgrace to the bench! He should issue an apology to Officer Pawlowski's family, friends, the officers of the 35th district, and to all police officers. But he won't...and I'm not surprised.


I didn't think I could hate Philadelphia any more than I do now. The city is dirty, corrupt, and people just have no regard for human life. I know there are still some good people here (my family, of course), but they're outnumbered by the thugs that have taken the streets. God forbid if the cops should do their jobs. We would be the bad guys, of course, never the criminals fault. It's always the same story- "poor, (insert any nickname), was just starting to get his life together. He really didn't mean to rob, steal, sell drugs, and assault that 90 year old lady." I'm sick of it! When my retirement hits, I'm gone. Where to? I've always loved New England.

Judge: Slain Officer's Photo Inappropriate for Court

There is outrage at the 35th police district in Philadelphia -- the district where fallen Officer John Pawlowski served.

Officers in the 35th say Municipal Judge Craig Washington held court for two hours and deemed photos and flowers left in Pawlowski's memory as inappropriate for court.

The judge asked the captain if the items could be removed but the request was denied, officers and the district captain told NBC 10 News.

Judge Washington chose to turn the picture over on its side on his own, according to officers.

One officer told NBC 10 that Judge Washington's actions were disrespectful to Pawlowski who died just four days ago and the officers who are still grieving his death.

"We don't have the time that everyone else gets when you loose somebody. You can just take time off from work and grieve and we have to go right back out there the next day," Officer Blanca Rodriquez told NBC10's Deanna Durante Tuesday.

35th District Captain John McClosky said the judge should have known better.

"He's a judge and he should know. I'm sure he should know what's going on in the city, but obviously I don't think he has a clue...," McClosky said. "He's probably a reason why the city is like this with so many repeat offenders being out there."

The F.O.P. called the incident a "disgrace" to all police officers and their families.

Attempts to reach the judge for comment have not been successful.

*Of course, attempts to reach this asshole were unsuccessful. He's a fuckin coward.*

Posted by Rain at 12:26 PM | 3 comments Links to this post    

After the death of Sgt. Simpson, I didn't think I would be attending another officer's funeral. I was wrong. I'm angry, confused, and sad. Why is this happening again? I know there are a lot of people who hate cops, but Officer John Pawlowski was only doing his job and trying to help. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Officer John Pawlowski was shot and killed in the Olney section of the city the night before Valentine's Day.

"It is my sad duty to report on the death of Philadelphia Police Officer John Pawlowski who was killed in the line of duty today, February 13," Commissioner Charles Ramsey said as he began the press conference.

25-year-old John Pawlowski was shot and killed Friday night at approximately 8:44 p.m., despite wearing a bulletproof vest.

At about 8:20 p.m., Officer Pawlowski and his partner, Officer Klein, responded to a call pertaining to a person with a weapon at Broad and Olney.

"From what we have now from witnesses, there was a disturbance at that location," Ramsey went on to say.

The disturbance, according to officials, included one individual threatening another, described as a cab driver, asking the other 'how much money he had.'

The suspect has been identified as Rasheed Scrugs.

During the fight, the cab driver said he was going to call police, and Scrugs responded, "If you call the police, I'm going to shoot you and I'm going to shoot any officers that respond to the scene," homicide Capt. James Clark said at a news conference Saturday.

When police arrived, they asked Scrugs to take his hands out of the long jacket he was wearing but he didn't comply, Clark said. He then fired several shots from a gun inside his jacket.

Pawlowski, whose wife is expecting the couple's first child, was hit several times, including one shot that struck him above the vest and another that hit him in the side. He fired a single shot before he went down.

Two other officers began firing at the suspect, hitting him several times. Scrugs remained in critical condition at a hospital Saturday, and was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and other counts, police said.

"We're just deeply, deeply saddened we've lost another officer who was murdered on our streets," police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said.

Scrugs has a lengthy rap sheet that includes arrests for armed robbery, auto theft and firearms violations, police said. He served five years in state prison from 1997 to 2002, and then violated his parole and served six more months. He also had an open case for auto theft.

"It makes absolutely no sense that we've got people with this mind set walking the streets, not only endangering police officers but the public at large," Ramsey said. "Lock them up. Throw away the key. ... There are some people that are just not salvageable, period."

A .357 Magnum was recovered at the scene.

Several rounds of ammunition were found in the suspect's pocket, as well as suspected crack cocaine.

"This is a very sad night in the city, we are all mourning the death of Officer Pawlowski," Mayor Michael Nutter said.

Officials say Officer Pawlowski transferred from the 6th District to the 35th District because he wanted to be even busier during his worktime.

Pawlowski leaves behind his wife Kim, his three brothers, a sister, and his parents.

One of Pawlowski's brother is a corporal in the police radio room and was on duty when he heard the call about his brother being shot, Lt. Frank Vanore said Saturday.

Officer Pawlowski's father is a retired lieutenant of the Philadelphia Police.

"This is like a recurring nightmare," Vanore said. "It just never stops."

Officer Pawlowski was a 5 1/2 year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department.

He is the sixth officer killed in the line of duty within the last 16 months.

A hearse brought the body of the fallen officer to the medical examiner's after 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning.

The man involved in the earlier dispute is only desrcibed as a cab driver as stated above. As for the suspect in the case, Commissioner Ramsey says he is not a cabbie, but says, he's "just a thug."

Pawlowski was a member of the 35th District.

In May, 39-year-old Officer Stephen Liczbinski was fatally shot responding to a bank robbery. In September, 40-year-old Officer Isabel Nazario was killed during a vehicle pursuit when the patrol car she was riding in was broadsided by a teenager driving a stolen SUV. Also in September, 30-year-old Officer Patrick McDonald was fatally shot by a fugitive he had chased down after a traffic stop.

Last year, four Philadelphia officers were killed in the line of duty.

In November, Sgt. Timothy Simpson died after his cruiser was broadsided by a vehicle whose driver was allegedly fleeing police.

In October 2007, Officer Chuck Cassidy, 54, was fatally shot when he interrupted a robbery at a Dunkin' Donuts. Cassidy had worked in the same district as Pawlowski.

In May 2006, Officer Gary Skerski became the first officer killed in the line of duty in Philadelphia in a decade.

Posted by Rain at 12:52 PM | 5 comments Links to this post    

I am so glad I quit (for now).

If this doesn't make you quit, nothing will.

With a new 62 cent federal tax on cigarettes added this week with the passage of the State Children's Health Insurance Program law, the new price of a pack of cigarettes will soar past $10 in Manhattan.

The NYC price is higher than anywhere in the country and more than twice the national average. And beginning April 1, two-thirds of that cost will be made up of city, state and federal taxes.

Of course, even if you can afford to buy a pack, where would you smoke it?

Michael Seilback of the American Lung Association of New York state, says the added costs are a good thing, and may help cut down on the 35,000 smoking-related deaths in the state every year, and some $1.7 billion in future health costs.

On the other hand, the taxes could be so effective that everyone quits, and there's no money for state, federal and city health programs.

Link

Posted by Rain at 1:35 PM | 3 comments Links to this post    

A friend of mine at work repsonded to a radio call of a headless goat, wrapped in a cardboard box, inside of a McDonalds parking lot. Well, you know I had to get over there and see it for myself. Not to mention take a few pics of it...

Recently, the district has had a string of animals slain in a nearby park/golf course. The animals were mutilated and dismembered, and the scenes looked like they came right out of a satanic movie. But we're not sure if the perpetrators are part of a satanic cult or gang members recruiting new blood. What I'd like to know is where did they steal the goat from?

Posted by Rain at 1:56 PM | 4 comments Links to this post    

Somebody at police hqs. had a lot of time on their hands, lol. Hey, he kinda reminds me of my ex-partner, Steve, LOL.

Posted by Rain at 5:31 PM | 5 comments Links to this post    
Labels: police, snowman