tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11699453.post7790176741012537148..comments2023-10-10T02:34:21.545-07:00Comments on Prime Time Crime's - Crime & Punishment: Politics of policing bar the right wayUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11699453.post-43757446931913963812008-01-17T20:21:00.000-08:002008-01-17T20:21:00.000-08:00Todays date it was announced that Koening will be ...Todays date it was announced that Koening will be the new " Calgary Police Service Ombudsnman" it would appear that the new Chief has made his first mistake!.<BR/><BR/>Koening who was known for saving 2.5 mill. for the assoc, ( mostly on the backs of members whom he denied adequate legal council) is a member of the "old boy" network and is without a doubt the worst person you could have in this position ( if the perspon who holds it should be known for their intergrity as he has none)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11699453.post-39812097026841284542007-12-26T11:06:00.000-08:002007-12-26T11:06:00.000-08:00Does anyone else find it a interestimg "coincidenc...Does anyone else find it a interestimg "coincidence" that Als departure occurs so closely after the fall of Jacks Regime, I have always been of the opinion that the two were far more alike then different and wondered how much at odds they really were.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11699453.post-64077469964356244662007-12-21T10:15:00.000-08:002007-12-21T10:15:00.000-08:00Leo,As a former member of the Calgary Police Assoc...Leo,<BR/><BR/>As a former member of the Calgary Police Association I read the Koenings final musings and would like to respond to some of his points. (Thou I could counter every point he wrote about) <BR/><BR/>He's right he did leave the assoc. with a good bank account, unfourtunatly this came at the expense of numerous members of the assoc. whom he denied "competent" legal representation. As a result he offered up these assoc. members as "east pickings" to the former regime at CPS. Personally I don't call this representation, I call it betrayal.<BR/><BR/>Lets talk about the computers in the CPA office .The attached document was distributed in Ward 9 where Koeing was running for Alderman, when asked in the local media all Koeing offered was "no comment" end result he recieved around 17% of the total vote, a very sad showing.<BR/><BR/>TO THE VOTING CITIZENS OF WARD 9<BR/><BR/> As you are aware, voting for the upcoming civic elections will commence on October 15, 2007. As citizens of this great city, we feel compelled to inform you about some, largely unknown, facts of one of your candidates, Mr. Al Koenig. The following incidents took place while Mr. Koenig was serving as the President of the Calgary Police Association.<BR/><BR/>FACT<BR/><BR/>During his Presidency, Mr. Koenig took it upon himself to remove brand new computer equipment that was the property of the Calgary Police Association (CPA). When confronted about the mysterious disappearance of this equipment by members of the CPA board, Mr. Koenig denied the allegation. However, more evidence began to emerge which forced Mr. Koenig to revise his story and inform the board members instead, that he did, in fact, take the equipment; but only for the purpose of having it “repaired”. He was then asked to produce the invoice for the said repair, but was unable to do so. Mr. Koenig changed his story yet again and informed the board members that he actually discarded the computer equipment and, thus, was unable to produce the requested invoice. Much to Mr. Koenig’s credit, he eventually did return the equipment, but only after learning that certain members of the board were in the process of obtaining a search warrant for his home. Search warrants are typically pursued for alleged criminal behavior.<BR/><BR/>FACT<BR/><BR/> In the year 2001, Mr. Koenig was confronted by CPA board members, at a general membership meeting, regarding a particular ticket that he received in Edmonton while on business for the CPA. The ticket was issued to the license plate on the vehicle used by Mr. Koenig; a full size pickup truck registered to Mr. Koenig. Strangely, however, the license plate was on a yellow Audi. Mr. Koenig admitted to using his wife’s Audi to make the trip to Edmonton and, in doing so, swapped plates to avoid getting caught by photo radar. Mr. Koenig subsequently submitted a fuel receipt for reimbursement, in excess of $100, for fuel he supposedly used for this trip. He admitted that he had, in fact, filled his pick up truck with the fuel, and not the Audi. Several hundred police officers attended this meeting. Conveniently, the media was barred from attending. <BR/><BR/>We are not discouraging you from voting in this vital democratic process. We are only attempting to educate you about certain known facts about Mr. Koenig, should you decide to vote for him as your next Alderman of Ward 9. As voters, you are free to draw your own conclusions about the actions of Mr. Koenig and vote for the candidate you wish.<BR/><BR/>Past and present Calgary Police Association members thank you for your time.<BR/><BR/>Koening attacks the fourth candidate in his diartibe, and his lack of attendence to the CPA office, maybe this has to more to do with an alleged assault that took place in that same office rather then a lack of commitment on the candidates part.<BR/><BR/>Koening is now doing the best thing he's done in the service of the membership...leave, and quite frankly there is little to no difference between him and the former Chief. We can only hope that the new President of the Assoc. will re-direct the focus of the Assoc. back to its grass roots, member advocacy and less about politics and media play for the former Assoc. President.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11699453.post-89124308280610137642007-12-17T11:09:00.000-08:002007-12-17T11:09:00.000-08:00Leo,I've read the posts by your friend in Californ...Leo,<BR/><BR/>I've read the posts by your friend in California and by Bob. They are both excellent articles as to why regionalization won't happen in the GRVD.<BR/><BR/>I am a currently serving member in the LMD and am quite aware of the politics of policing in the LMD.<BR/><BR/>My own point of view is that, all politics aside, I think the monetary cost alone will be the deciding factor in a regional police force.<BR/><BR/>Consider the logistical start up cost of switching to regional police force. <BR/><BR/>New crests, vehicles, decals, uniforms, equipment, HQ buildings, and training facilities would have to be purchased or at least expanded from the current hodge-podge that exist in the LMD.<BR/><BR/>I suppose the Federal Gov't could step in with an initial cash infusion to get it off the ground. I even suppose that the Federal Gov't could cut through the politics by mandating a GRVD regional police force.<BR/><BR/>However once regionalized who would pay for maintaining the infrastructure of that police force? Its member's salary and benefits?<BR/><BR/>The obvious answer is the taxpayers in the GRVD. Unlike the metro Toronto area the GRVD doesn't have a large enough population to provide the tax base. With the smaller population, the tax increase to the GRVD would have to be substantial. <BR/><BR/>Considering my own financial situation and that of my friends, many of whom have kids, I can't see how a GRVD police force would be affordable. Its hard enough to live in the LMD as it is let alone adding the extra tax burden of paying for a regional police.<BR/><BR/>Thus dollars and cents will win the day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11699453.post-89681825135267766022007-12-09T13:23:00.000-08:002007-12-09T13:23:00.000-08:00Leo,I recall the same debate when I joined in the ...Leo,<BR/>I recall the same debate when I joined in the 70s and the guys saying at the time that it had been going on forever. Your friend is quite correct in pointing out some very practical obstacles to regionalization. At the same time I'm sure that many, if not all of those difficulties presented themselves in other cities across Canada such as Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal.<BR/><BR/>In my opinion the biggest obstacle has always been politics. Individual mayors have been unwilling to give up the close relationship they have with their own police forces and that is understandable. At the same time Provincial Governments have been unwilling to alienate these mayors by overruling them.<BR/><BR/>BC being what it is, politics will carry the day and be the deciding factor on this issue. If Gordon Campbell senses this issue will play any role in the next provincial election he's going where the votes are and to hell with local mayors. Witness the recent debacle when Kash initially made his comments. Les couldn't wait to get in front of the cameras and savage him (and that's only what went on publicly). 24 hours later Les is back in front of the cameras doing the same 180 he did in the Frank Paul case. Does anyone believe Les changed his own mind?<BR/><BR/>Consider the present situation:<BR/><BR/>- Public opinion on the RCMP in BC is at an all-time low. Unfortunately, this is based on a couple of high-profile incidents which have been hijacked by the msm lynch mob but this is what creates public perception and political action.<BR/><BR/>- The Pickton criminal trial has just concluded and now comes the public inquiry with all its blame-finding and fingerpointing. One of the pre-eminent issues will be the fragmentation between Lower Mainland law enforcement and what fell through the cracks. This case is also a sore point in the Native community which has recently become so close to the premier's heart.<BR/><BR/>- the other major issue will be the recent spate of high-profile gang murders in public places. If this new Task Force manages to stem the violence then public concern will be allayed. Having been there before, I'd be putting money on the Task Force being disbanded after a few months as has always been the case in the past. Bosses believe 'supression' equates to 'elimination' and quietly bring these guys back & assign them to deal with other pressing issues. Within 6 months you're dealing with the same situation again.<BR/><BR/>Whether you're for or against regionalization, the bottom line is that as long as law enforcement in greater Vancouver continues to be underfunded and underresourced, changing the structure will do no more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com