Annapolis Capital Punishment

I have not had the pleasure of meeting the new police chief and was unable to attend last nights ECA meeting unfortunately, but if Earl Kelly's piece in The Capital is any indication, I really missed a good meeting.

To begin with, let me telescope this quote from Janice Hayes Williams, a black historian who spoke at last night's meeting:

"You are fighting crime," she told Chief Pristoop, "but you need to understand what you are dealing with. You are dealing with people who lived 40 years in public housing … They haven't had law enforcement in 40 years."

Let us repeat that quote for those of you out there on drugs:

"You are fighting crime," she told Chief Pristoop, "but you need to understand what you are dealing with. You are dealing with people who lived 40 years in public housing … They haven't had law enforcement in 40 years."

Was that an indictment of public housing? Was that an indictment of the previous police chiefs?
Was that an indictment of previous and current government leaders?

I have heard rumors that Chief Pristoop was not Mayor Moyer's choice but that he was chosen by the Governor and The House Speaker. I have no ideas if this is accurate, but it makes sense to me.

There is a new chief in town and I look forward to seeing him leading our law enforcement efforts with effective leadership and management.

And just one more time for effect....

"You are fighting crime," she told Chief Pristoop, "but you need to understand what you are dealing with. You are dealing with people who lived 40 years in public housing … They haven't had law enforcement in 40 years."

See Kelly's article in The Capital at:
www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/05_16-29/CAN