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As for me + my house? We are a union family. We believe in worker's rights & collective power. But the lack of transparency + leadership from the state police union resisting #PolicingReform in #Massachusetts is painful, and ultimately history will judge as wrong #Mapoli. To wit:
State Police Association of Massachusetts union (or SPAM) "former president, retired trooper Dana Pullman, was indicted last year on a host of federal charges — including racketeering and conspiracy — and accused of taking kickbacks." https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/09/12/former-state-police-union-president-lobbyist-indicted-federal-charges/OXNLPKqlltThkCxCAw2TvL/story.html?p1=Article_Inline_Text_Link
SPAM's next president Sergeant Mark Lynch took over "in the midst of crisis" of confidence as a federal investigation of payroll fraud rocked the State Police. But guess who "was facing an internal investigation?" Yup. SPAM Prez Lynch. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/14/metro/state-police-uncovered-more-trooper-payroll-issues-last-year-this-time-they-kept-it-in-house/?p1=Article_Inline_Text_Link
Why does any of this matter? Few bad apples you say? First "Nearly one in every five troopers on the current roster of the Massachusetts State Police has at least one sustained misconduct charge" so we're talking A LOT of them apples: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/19/metro/top-ranking-state-police-officers-have-troubling-pasts/?event=event25
The endemic misconduct brings into question State Police credibility AND State Police accountability. Look, I've lived through clergy sexual abuse scandals- it's not just the "bad actor" that's the problem, it's the system that covers it up. That's why you need policy + reform
Second, leadership matters. These are law enforcement officers telling #mapoli that we don't need #policingReform and standards. As disgraced former SPAM prez Pullman said himself, “Where is the accountability at the top?" @mrochele with the receipts http://www.mattrocheleau.com/clips/selectedclips/frontpage/139%20-%20State%20Police%20union%20president%20Pullman%20resigns%20amid%20new%20federal%20probe%20(1%20of%201)%20-%20The%20Boston%20Globe%20-%209-28-18.pdf
3rd, this is a self-made crisis. When police cannot police themselves, it's a problem of accountability, so we need #PolicingReform #Mapoli. When electeds don't act, we have a crisis of leadership: “We should be embarrassed as a Legislature” @VoteRussell https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/18/metro/we-should-be-embarrassed-quiet-extended-session-legislatures-unfinished-work-will-bleed-past-election-day/
How long for #PolicingReform in #Mapoli? @Fara1 wrote in 2019: "Despite bombshell after bombshell broken by reporters at various outlets, it’s difficult to see an end to MSP incompetence and corruption." https://www.baystatebanner.com/2019/10/17/a-long-history-of-corruption-in-massachusetts-state-police/
Inertia is a powerful force, and not just in a pandemic extended session. @mrochele in 2019 after the LAST round of policing scandals and minimal action on #Mapoli #PolicingReform: "the response on Beacon Hill has been roughly the same: crickets." https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/09/30/scandal-after-scandal-state-police-seem-escape-broad-scrutiny-beacon-hill/HSaMiw11jS9uXIGJdpLAYN/story.html#:~:text=18%20of%20a%20trooper%20who,to%20investigate%20one%20such%20scandal.
So here we are, in the midst of what may be the greatest push in a generation for racial justice and systemic #policingreform, and what will #Mapoli tell your children's children? "I sent the bill to study committee." No. This is your moment to run TOWARDS a reform, not away.
