What If?

17 Responses to “Erie’s Finest on You-Tube”

1. Mike
   April 19th, 2009 at 7:06 pm

   GoErie is now reporting that the National NAACP is seeking an investigation into how the EPD handled this investigation, so it looks like this is far from over. Yet another black eye for Erie.

   Now all the cop-hating people in Erie have just had gasoline thrown onto their fire. I feel for all the hardworking cops of the EPD who are going to feel the repercussions of this event from an angry public.

   Thumbs up to the Times and Ed Palatella for their investigation into this. Thumbs down to Cousins, Franklin, and company for reinforcing every negative stereotype that people have against Erie police officers. Sinnott needs to step up to the plate here if he wants to retain any credibility within the community.

2. tim
   April 19th, 2009 at 7:28 pm

   Let’s not forget that the Mayor himself referred to Inspector DeDeonisio (sp?) as “Jimmy D.” Now that CNN has its mits on this story it is going to be quite a black eye for not only the EPD but the City of Erie as a whole.

   Hats off to Mayor Sinnott, Chief Franklin, Officer Cousins and “Jimmy D” for showing the Country just how we handle things in Erie, PA.

   Pathetic. Simply Pathetic

3. Don M.
   April 21st, 2009 at 9:11 am

   Dale, I agree with you on this unfortunate incident. The proper course of action considering Cousins’ past history would have been an immediate suspension without pay. He already did a fine job of making the police look callous and cold but when Franklin and DeDenesio stepped in they actually made it much much worse. I know quite a few police officers and I feel bad for them. They have a hard enough job without the public seeing this type of behavior. I see they still haven’t resolved this as of 10:00 am this morning. What are they waiting for? Are they still desperately looking for a way out? The best thing the mayor could do would be to apologise and fire Cousins, reprimand Franklin and possibly suspend Dedenisio. They’re actions are reprehensible!

4. Jim
   April 21st, 2009 at 9:30 am

   I would caution against an over reaction which would open the city up to an unfair discharge suit, which would only heap more ridicule onto the city, by showing them incapable of properly handling the situations. Most firings of public employees based upon the emotion of the moment, end up getting overturned, and costing the taxpayers money and embarrassment.

   That the black community is using this unfortunate incident to inflame racial emotions is just as bad as the officer’s original remarks, yet is going essentially unchallenged.

   I submit we all just take a deep breath, shake our heads, and then start providing some ongoing mandatory training to our public employees regarding adult behavior.

5. julio reyes
   April 21st, 2009 at 5:44 pm

   Jim,

   You said:

   “I submit we all just take a deep breath, shake our heads, and then start providing some ongoing mandatory training to our public employees regarding adult behavior.”

   You are absolutely correct. However, who will be paying for? Also, the mandatory training should be expanded to any person above certain age in a serious attempt to remove bigotry, ignorance and stereotypes so prevalent around this area.

   There is absolutely no question that the You-tube cop has some serious issues but unfortunately his behavior only reflects the beliefs, bias and limitations so prevalent around here.

   I have been joking for years about the West to East borders at the same time I have commented about the racial, ethnics and class confrontations occurring around this area in regular basis. Some times I have also joked that unfortunately it seems that some progress will get to this town only after the old bigots die.

   Yes, after the guy got 10 days suspension, our big thinkers and pseudo-leaders should start recognizing that things must be changed around here otherwise the town will continue on decline. Maybe the younger generations should mirror the “BIG BROTHER” program and create similar program called “LITTLE BROTHER”.

   Maybe under this program the old guys will find out that not all the younger people are criminals and the younger fellows might get an idea about the value of honest hard work and discipline instead of just waiting for things to be handed to them.

   But wait, it seems that I am already steeping in somebody else turf or I might be risking the need to create another non-profit organization for local Adults counseling paid with my taxes.

   Oh well it seems that at this time I do not know if I am just dreaming again or just becoming delusional.

6. 1956
   April 21st, 2009 at 11:42 pm

   Mayor Sinnott, Chief Franklin, Officer Cousins and “Jimmy D” are an embarrassment to Erie PA, their families, friends, EPD and co-workers. They should do the right thing and Cousins, Franklin and Jimmy D should resign. I would guess that nothing will really come out of this as usual. Just as with that lame excuse of a drug user Liebel who got away with not only stealing the cocaine and snorting it, but who knows what else. These so called public servants that are to be held to a higher standard are held to Bullcrap.. They get away with everything and yet if it were anyone else they would be nailed to the wall!! Cousins and Franklin at the very least should be tazered and then handed the pink slips!! Anything less will be unacceptable!!

7. 1956
   April 22nd, 2009 at 8:04 am

   Well they handed down the verdict for Cousins and what a joke!! 10 day’s off with out pay?? They have made Erie, PA a joke of a City. They say they are trying to intice MFG to move to Erie and between the crap city counsel, k.e.e.p. and now this joke why would a company want to move here?? I see no reasons why they would. I also have a question Cousins; If you have a child and he/she died and someone made fun of how you acted, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL??

8. Jim
   April 22nd, 2009 at 9:53 am

   I suppose this will irritate a number of people, but when the fox takes over the hen house, its no longer a hen house. And that is the situation with city employment, namely the unions have taken over, and management is no longer in control. The situation with the police officer, in my eyes anyway, is no different than the situation with the bus driver, who was fired, and reinstated on an arbitration ruling. As I have written over and over again, the arbitration laws applied to public employees need to be changed, so that there is some meaningful management of these people.

   Had Sinnott opted to over react to this latest situation, he would have lost at an arbitration hearing, when the union automatically took it there, saying that termination was unjust, for a supposed first offense, of what some could argue is a case of free, if stupid, speech.

   It has to be remembered, that in past negotiations, the unions have shown over and over again that public opinion means little to them. Many, believe that the public doesn’t respect or support them, so why should they give the public any respect. And it is true, that with every incident, you hear the immediate and constant drum beat of the public demanding “off with their heads”, while at the same time we watch the court system letting people out of jail on bail, after killing a child.

   The system is broken. It needs fixed.

9. 1956
   April 22nd, 2009 at 10:32 am

   I am very tired of; its the first offence crap!! So if someone just walks up and shoots someone and its their first offence, we should let them walk and may be give them a night out on the town! I would also guess the the so called Mayor and his Chief of the Keystone Cops would not over react to anything. They just turn their heads and say; why are they picking on us! Franklin was also out of line and should resign!! As for Unions; they do a lot of good, but I do agree that they save the BUTTs of the screw ups!! I do believe that if Sinnott would have not let that MORON Cousins slide and pushed the issue and let iot go into arbitration hearing and took advice from a national advisor there could of been a better ending like Cousins unemployed!! The Public has lost what little faith the had in the Erie version of the Keystone Cops.

10. Stangetz
    April 22nd, 2009 at 1:17 pm

    I think Jim hit it on the head there. Despite what seems right, the unions will always protect their own no matter what.

    Unions. Yet another short term solution that turned into a long term problem.

11. Jim
    April 22nd, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    To 1956: The fact that you would equate shooting someone to someone shooting their mouth off as somehow being equal infractions is a prime example of the typical over reaction I was referring to. No you can’t going around shooting people, even once. But that is completely different than talking! When the police see comments like that, its no wonder they have little regard for those that made them.

    And I take it you are happy with the current Pennsylvania arbitration laws, as they relate to public employees. Since you think the unions do a lot of good, them I fail to see where you have a beef about this officer. The union certainly doesn’t seem to, and they must be right about that.

12. Vrandz
    April 22nd, 2009 at 9:28 pm

    I figured Id add my 2 cents here.
    First, I’m really disappointed in the actions of Patrolman Cousins that were displayed and even more disappointed at the way the case was handled by the Admin. at the EPD. Fairy tale or not, his actions demonstrate absoulte disregard for the Oath he sworn before he ran the streets. I think he should be let go.

    With that said, I think sometimes the media tends to judge the department by an officer’s actions and in this case a chief and Internal Affairs officer. In their defense “the men and women” of EPD, those guys and gals run their butts off. Everyday they put their @#$% on the line to protect and serve this community. Incidents, where police officers, firefighters, etc, conduct impropriate behavior is something that plauges all departments across the U.S. Situations like these. Erie is not alone.

13. 1956
    April 23rd, 2009 at 11:33 am

    Vrandz & Jim, do you listen to the news?? Liebel; he stole from the evidence locked, did drugs while on and off duty!! ”Oh” poor guy let’s give him a free ticket and go easy on him because it’s his first time!! BULL!! So no matter who they are or what they do as long as it’s their first time we should give them a free ticket.
    That seems to be the answer for anyone in a political office or DIRTY COP!! If you disagree, you are probably one of them or related to one..
    As for the plague you speak of; You deal with the problem and find a solution not an excuse!! No I do not worship police or firemen (nothing against them) but that was the career they chose, it’s not like they are forced to do it!! Life is about choices. They are not idles to me they are just someone who is doing their job choice.
    Jim: I am guessing you are so sort of manager and that is why you hate Unions. Unions have a good place throughout history. If it were not for Unions the majority would be working for dollars a day instead of dollars an hour, and by the way Jim that means management also!!
    Now like a lot of people, I am not ONE SIDED!! I have spent twenty some years in Management in Union & non Union shops and also on the floor running a machine. I also do agree that Unions can also protect the guilty and those who need to be fired like Cousins..

14. vrandz
    April 23rd, 2009 at 12:09 pm

    1956,
    I totoally agree with about the punishment and police officers. Libel did get off easy, I think as a police officer you should be held at a higher standard due to the fact that you are entrusted with ability to enforce laws on citzens.

    With that said, I’m sure this is not the first of this kinda of case to end this way, referring to the leibel case as it applies to citzens. Their is a program called ARD which is for first offenses, which I know is used everyday in criminal cases with the exception of course murder,rape. Just b/c we don’t hear about it, dosen’t mean that other cases that do NOT involve police officers don’t turn out the same way the libel case did.

15. 1956
    April 24th, 2009 at 2:53 am

    Yes the ARD program is usually use for first time offenders of DUI’s, shop lifting, ect. I guess what really gets to me is; the police who are, I guess to be trusted because of their position and due to their position should be held to a higher standard not less of one. I also read today about the DA and researching if any cases that Cousins was involved with are going to be tossed out..

16. vrandz
    April 24th, 2009 at 10:08 am

    That would be a concern for the DA due to the officer being credible n court. I think the city made a huge mistake by not firing officer cousins. The media attention is nothing compared to what the city is going to have to pay out in a civil suit by the family, which I’m sure is probably up and coming. I wouldn’t be suprised if the Department Of justice “Feds” would launch their own investigation into the operations of the EPD. With this case and the libel case, their’s just casue for it.

17. Robin
    April 25th, 2009 at 3:13 pm

    Internal Affairs took Cousins to the house of the YouTuber to intimidate them into taking down the video with threats of wiretapping charges (ludicrous in itself!)? Smacks of cover-up, not investigation, indeed. Seems like it’s not just one bad apple but a rotten department.