Officer Daniel Leone: “Anti-Italian” Sentiment

Daniel Leone has filed a federal lawsuit in which he asserts there is an “anti-Italian” sentiment in the Philadelphia Police Department.  Leone is a bike cop in the Center City District.

Leone asserts he was retaliated against after he filed an official complaint about cops calling him a racial slur.  The slur was “dago”.  Leone says he reported the incidents up through the chain of command and nothing was done to stop it.

It should be noted that Frank Palumbo was the Captain in the Center City District.  Leone states he was denied “requested schedule changes that would be more accommodating to his life outside of work and that those requests have been denied”.  Really?  How many cops understand that this is one of the “undesirable aspects” of the job that is outlined in the job description for Police Officer.

Ironically, in 2002, Leone admitted to Leone saying to another cop, who was Puerto Rican “I smell stinking Mexican,”  In fact, he had Officer Nelson Aviles arrested for pulling a gun on him because of the remark.  Aviles was later acquitted.
Chief Inspector Tony Boyle said there is an “anti-white” sentiment among minority officers.

Officer Stacey Gonzalez and Officer Pavel Reznik who were assigned to the 9th District filed a federal lawsuit in which they assert there is an “anti-Semitic” sentiment in the Philadelphia Police Department.

Reznik, who emigrated from Russia to the United States, asserts he discovered a “SS” symbol scratched in a locker in the lawsuit. 

Officer Gonzalez

 

Chief Inspector Tony Boyle

So now we have the “anti-Italian” sentiment.  Which joins the “anti-White” sentiment.  And we know of the lawsuit filed by the Guardian Civic League along with Staff Inspector Debra Frazer, Captain Laverne Vann, then Lieutenant (now Sergeant) Anthony Burton and Officer Shamal Bryant, citing the “anti-Black” sentiment that they accuse Boyle of orchestrating in the Narcotics Bureau.

Chief Inspector Boyle: “Anti-White” sentiment among minority officers

Chief Inspector Anthony Boyle said this regarding members of the Philadelphia Police Department.  There is “an anti-white sentiment among some of the minority officers.”

Is this the reason he assaulted Captain Laverne Vann?    This was a national story. 

In the Divided States Of America, opinions like this are best left unsaid.  Much less by a Chief Inspector in the Philadelphia Police Department.   The statement made by Boyle, without proof, is against the stated belief system of the Philadelphia Police Department.

There is currently an environment where people feel comfortable with saying such things.  But an opinion such as this, is best kept to yourself.

Apparently, their “anti-white” sentiment didn’t prevent them from remaining silent on violating the rights of overwhelmingly black defendants, until they themselves were targeted.  Maybe they were “anti-woman beater” as Boyle allegedly physically attacked Captain Laverne Vann.

Maybe, they simply became “anti-corruption” and had enough of following illegal orders from Evers.   Some would argue they were deafening silent too long.  This could be attributed to their desire to remain in their assignments.  The public be damned.

Boyle also stated it is “It is 100 percent about attempts to get nonproductive members of the bureau to become productive or to get rid of them.”  Which most leaders can understand.  It is allegedly this reason, why Boyle clashed with Staff Inspector Debra Frazier.

It is alleged Boyle simply wanted Frazier to actually arrive at work, which rumor has it, that Frazier rarely did.

The story in today’s Inquirer will certainly bolster the lawsuit against Boyle and Evers.  Maybe this is why Frazier is leaving 2 years of DROP on the table to exit early.  In the lawsuit against Evers and Boyle, Frazier and the other plaintiffs, also allege racism.

There have been many allegations about hostility and racism in the Narcotics Bureau for quite some time.

Congressman Steve King (R-Iowa) actually said to a New York Times reporter in a piece that was released last week that “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?” He later added, “Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?”

We all know the lessons from history about believing one group is superior to another group.  We all know the lessons from history and what happened in Europe with the “Nationalist” movement by one Adolf Hitler.

Keep your divisive opinion to yourself.  Especially if you allegedly giving orders that are violating the civil rights of mostly minorities.

Chief Inspector Anthony Boyle and Inspector Ray Evers must be made to answer for their dereliction of duty and this case must be reviewed for possible criminal charges.  Dollars to donuts that when their social media accounts are subpoenaed for the civil case, it will be very telling.

Don’t try scrubbing your social media now fellas, it doesn’t work.

Captain Laverne Vann alleged in a lawsuit filed against the City and Boyle and Evers that members of her unit were ordered to falsify property  and chain of custody records on drugs, money and other evidence if arrestees’ on drug charges were willing to flip and testify against others.

While Vann has asserted that she “secretly” asked a 25th District Sergeant, Wali Shabazz, who has his own credibility problems and is currently under investigation for theft, to quickly charge a defendant after being told not to by Evers.  Vann also failed in her duty to report this incident immediately.

Evers also has a colorful history which includes drunken fights, trying to abuse his authority down the shore and an allegation of rape of a Temple student.  Philadelphia Magazine warned the Police Department that Evers may be unsuitable for a high-profile job.

Evers “initiative” isn’t the first illegal conduct to go down in the annals of the police department.  Does anyone remember then Captain Thomas Nestel started an “initiative” of taking anyone in the 25th District who didn’t have identification on them?  The Police Counsel’s office stopped that illegal practice after it was reported by a police supervisor.

Vann should have said “NO”!  It was an illegal order.  Vann should have went to the FBI, if she was fearful.  Vanns’ response also fell short.

Unfortunately, Officer Nathaniel Harper will probably catch the most heat.  At least he verbalized that he felt he had to “follow orders”.  Even orders that he felt were illegal and wrong.  Does the Nuremberg trials come to mind for anyone?

It should be noted that retaliation is a real fear in the Police Department.  However; this is where your personal integrity and moral compass takes over.  Just Say NO!!!

Boyle and Evers are in deep doggy doo.   But so is everyone who engaged in this pattern and practice of illegal and immoral conduct.

There will probably be alot of cases thrown out because of their malfeasance.  The Internal Affairs report concluded that “This investigation SUSTAINED that Chief Inspector Anthony Boyle” “failed to supervise.”

The report also concluded “This investigations SUSTAINED that Inspector Raymond Evers”, “abused his authority and SUSTAINED that he failed to supervise his subordinates.”

“Additionally it is SUSTAINED that Inspector Raymond Evers” “lied during this investigation.”

The ball is now in the court of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.  The report also stated the District Attorney’s Office had not been notified about the cases the actions of these officers.

Now Krasner is aware.  Knowledge is Power.

Double Standards: Stealing is Stealing

Young Officer Bryan Turner was given 30 days with intent to dismiss today.  He was also arrested and charged with theft by deception, official oppression, unsworn falsification to authorities and official oppression.  It is alleged he fudged arrest paperwork to “hook-up” another officer who did not do anything in the arrest in an effort to get a court notice to generate overtime.   BryanTurner

Give me a break.

Officer Bryan Turner was able to rid the department of Lieutenant Steve Arch, who for years, allegedly, spewed racial slurs, engaged in “creating a hostile work environment” and was bounced from district to district in spite of the compelling evidence that he was a liability.  Officer Turner successfully sued the Police Department for retaliation.  Lt. Arch resigned/retired shortly thereafter.

Lieutenant Dave Bonk, attended pilot school while “working”.  An extensive Internal Affairs investigation revealed he racked up hundred of dollars through “theft by deception” in which he was supposed to be working, while attending many other activities as opposed to working in the Aviation Unit.  This landed Bonk on the infamous “do not testify” list.  Bonk wasn’t charged with falsifying the Daily Attendance Records or theft by deception.  Bonk hasn’t been charged with a crime.

The entire Vice squad unit, the leadership of Charlie Green, then a Lieutenant, was stealing overtime and not working when they were supposed to be working.  Their punishment, they were each “billed” by the City for amounts ranging from $1800 to $2700 which is to be deducted from their pensions when they retire.  Charlie Green goes on to get promoted to Captain, but after the investigation, he was transferred to Internal Affairs.  No one was charged with crime.  Their bill will become due upon their retirement.

Lieutenant Demetrios Pittaoulis, of Internal Affairs, sent phony court notices to a Police Officer from the 24th District (yes, that same 24th District where Lt. Pittaoulis has a wife who works there, Sgt. Lisa Pittaoulis as well as resident racist, Cpl. Bob Pawlowski), so that he could assist him with studying for the Sergeants exam.  Pittaoulis allegedly sent the phony court notices daily.

Even though the job was sustained by Internal Affairs, neither the Lieutenant, nor the officer were charged with a crime for falsifying official police records.  Pittaoulis was detailed out of IAB and is detailed to Audits and Inspection.  As of this writing, neither has been charged with a crime.

Assistant District Attorney Noel DeSantis sent phony court notices to Sergeant James Green, who worked in 17th District.  DeSantis would falsify court records so Sgt. Green could get overtime.  Sgt. Green would do favors for DeSantis.  Sgt. Green was demoted and DeSantis was never disciplined.  Internal Affairs concluded they committed 38 counts of fraud, or stealing.  However; neither were arrested fired.  Neither were charged with a crime.

Sgt. Green left the Police Department after he was demoted and now works at LaSalle University security.

ADA DeSantis left the DA’s office prior to the new District Attorney, Larry Krasners arrival, and recently returned.  DeSantis or Sgt. Green were charged with a crime, in spite of the 38 counts of fraud listed in the Internal Affairs investigation.

Assistant Chief Lynn Nicols, who worked in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, was arrested and charged with making false reports and obstruction of justice when she filed a false report of a stolen car.  Nicols was an Assistant Chief of the Homicide Unit.  Nicols was charged with a crime.

Nicols is African-American.  DeSantis is white.

Northwest Detectives, allegations were made that officers were only working four (4) hours and making overtime in spite of being on the Daily Attendance Sheet for a full eight (8) hours.  An extensive Internal Affairs investigation resulted in personnel being shuffled and the Warrant Unit being disbanded.  No one was charged with a crime.

Lest we forget, the East Detectives.  When allegations were made against members of East Detectives, who were accused of falsifying official police records by stealing time and overtime, and collecting monies they did not earn, they received disciplinary action and transfers.  Not one was charged with a crime.

Young Officer Turner also got into a heated argument with a Detective in East Detectives over Facebook posts.  Turner had a habit of engaging in off-duty banter about highly sensitive topics from race to the many different activist movements that are currently going on in the current political environment here in America.  Both Turner and the Detective received disciplinary action for the incident.

It is easy to see how inflammatory these images are.  Just as inflammatory as to some as Corporal Robert Pawlowski using the N-word at the FOP referring to African American cops.  Which, coincidentally, happens to work in the same 24th District to which young Officer Turner was assigned.  Just to refresh your memory, Pawlowski was trying to spread his hatred and vitriol and corrupt the minds of other officers in his attempt to divide cops on the racial lines.  Pawlowski is often called a “Bigot with a Badge”.

We also saw inflammatory images in which Officer Ian Lichterman was in full Nazi regalia.  Officer Ian Lichterman was a member of the same white supremacy group as the killer of Heather Heyer, (the young woman killed in Charlottesville)  Blood and Honour.

Lichterman’s affiliation was discovered after the database was hacked of neo-Nazi and white supremacist website users by One People’s Project in 2010.  On September 1, 2016, it was reported by a citizen by the name of Mindy Isser via twitter to the Police Commissioner, that she was offended by a visible “nazi tattoo” on his arm.

The tweet went viral, Internal Affairs completed its investigation and absolved Lichterman of any wrongdoing.  The Times of Israel reported on this despicable incident and reportedly Mayor Kenney was none too pleased.  John McNesby, President of the Fraternal Order of Police, reportedly responded the tattoos were “no big deal”.

The two narcotics officers, Officer Scott Schweitzer and Eric Dial were kicked out of Narcotics after two racist stickers were discovered after another officer noticed them plastered on their lockers.  One sticker said “White Power” and another depicted a Pawlowski looking man, half in uniform and half as a Klansman with the epitaph “Blue By Day – White By Night”.  Cops Suspended over Racist Materials at Work

All of these incidents have no place in the Police Department.  The FBI warned law enforcement ten (10) years ago about white supremacy groups and Neo-Nazis infiltrating police departments in the United States.

Click to access doc-26-white-supremacist-infiltration.pdf

Regardless of Officer Turners social media postings, he should be treated in the same manner as his fellow brethren.  Stealing is stealing.  If  you simply get billed, invoice due upon retiring, or given a PBI and/or transfer, that standard should be applied across the board.  Therefore; Officer Turner should have received the same punishment as everyone else mentioned in this article.

These charges reek of retaliation.  Lieutenant Steven Arch was considered by many officers, as a source described him,  the “Grand Wizard”.  Arch had the “nigger beat” allegedly in the 35th District.  It was a beat which he specifically assigned African American cops who caught his ire.

Arch allegedly actually committed a battery on an officer according to the complaint filed by Turner.  Arch was finally bounced.  And not so coincidentally, today, Turner joined him.  Arch had over 30 EEOC complaints against him during his career.  Most of them sustained.

Unfortunately, when Internal Affairs want to set an example or retaliate, the officer is charged with a crime.   Turner was charged with a crime and put in the criminal justice system.

The Russians were smart enough to use the achilles heel of America, race, in order to try to divide us.  They used social media to inflame racial tension to divide America.  There is no room in policing for any of these incidents.

What’s the difference between Lieutenant Bonk, Lieutenant Pittoulous, Captain Charlie Green and his officers in Vice and ADA Noel DeSantis who all falsified official police reports.  Where are the charges?  These incidents seem to be more outrageous than the allegations against Turner.  In these instances, their criminal activities were ongoing.  It wasn’t a one shot deal, as is alleged against Officer Turner.

There should be fair and equal discipline and/or arrests applied across racial lines.  There should not be one standard for one, and that standard not applied to the other.

This young man did not know what he was up against.  This young man may not know of the many other cops who engaged in the same behavior that he is accused of.  In the case of ADA DeSantis and Sgt. Jimmy Green, there were 38 counts of fraud charged against Green at a PBI hearing.  He was demoted, but not fired nor charged.  DeSantis wasn’t fired or charged criminally either.

This young mans liberty was snatched, just because someone felt they could take it.

 

 

Racial Hostility in PPD Narcotics; Lawyer Claims

Attorney Brian R. Mildenberg has been retained by the Guardian Civic League to represent a group of black cops who are alleging there is a “racially hostile work environment in the Narcotics Unit”.

In a press conference held at the Guardian Civic League, a civic organization that represents many black officers, alleges they have hired Mildenberg to initiate a legal complaint against what they describe as a divisive and racially hostile culture within the Narcotics Division.  A laundry list of complaints including a Corporal having a confederate flag on his personal vehicle in the parking lot.

Chief Inspector Tony Boyle

Specifically named, is Chief Inspector Anthony Boyle and Inspector Raymond Evers, who they claimed have condoned overtly racist acts and officer misconduct by ignoring them. Specifically named who is aggrieved is Staff Inspector Debra Frazier, who also sued Chief Inspector Blackburn for sexual harassment a few years back.

Inspector Raymond Evers was accused of rape by a Temple student and the DA declined to press charges, not because the DA didn’t believe her, according to reports at the time.  Evers allegedly got shit-faced and acted out in a bar in Avalon and gave the Avalon cops a hard time.  Evers allegedly kept saying “you don’t know who you guys are messing with”.  Evers then got into a fight and came out on the losing side of the drunken bar brawl in Avalon.

According to the Philly magazine Evers have disturbing background.  They reported  “The history dates back to 1991, when a 22-year-old Evers and several other men had a “gang-bang” with a 19-year-old woman on a pool table at the Temple University Alpha Phi Delta frat house.

Afterward, she alleged it was a gang rape, and Evers and one other man, Michael Derita, were arrested and charged. (Both men viewed what happened as consensual.) The prosecutor on the case, Dianne Granlund, believed the woman’s claims but decided not to bring the case to trial. The charges were dropped. Granlund explained why she and her boss, D.A. Lynn Abraham, chose not to proceed: “No, she didn’t lie. She didn’t have enough evidence to give us,” she told reporters at one point.  Below find the transcript from Inspector Ever’s appearance on the Wally Kennedy morning show at the time:

The show’s host, Wally Kennedy, asked: “Did you do anything immoral?”
“I believe we did,” Derita said.
“Yes,” said Evers. “If you go back to the Bible, I guess we ate the apple.”
…
At one point, the TV show’s host, Kennedy, asked: “What kind of man participates in what fraternities call a gang-bang? ”
Evers: “Why don’t we turn the question around? What kind of woman? ”
Kennedy: “No, what kind of man takes part in this kind of thing? ”
Derita: “I would say a man who is using very poor judgment.”
Evers: “It wasn’t a planned thing. It was very spontaneous. And I just want to throw the ball back in your court. What kind of woman? “

Many questioned the fitness of Evers to have any high-profile job in the department.  The accuser of Ever has since committed suicide according to sources.

The ranking supervisors who are responsible for overseeing the unit is accused of encouraging the racial divide through inaction.  The Corporal who proudly flew the confederate flag on his vehicle is allegedly Corporal Gerard Mertz.  The Corporal also reportedly flew one on his desk.

Now in all fairness, Corporal Mertz have been flying that flag for a long time in Narcotics, BEFORE Tony Boyle and Ray Evers got there.  Since Debra Frazier was a Captain and she did nothing about it either.

Other black supervisors, then Lt. Laverne Vann, Sgt. Tony Prince or then Sgt. Anthony Burton also reportedly saw the flag and did nothing either.  Now it’s a problem because Boyle and Evers are there.  It can be easily proven that flag has been proudly waving for years.  Rumor has it that he’s such a confederate flag lover, he wears one under his bike helmet.  And has for years.

The President of the Guardian Civic League is demanding the removal of Boyle and Evers from the Unit.

William Blackburn (retired)