NYC Cop Charged for Not Arresting Homeless

[Rose Siding]

NEW YORK -- The police department put an officer on trial Wednesday for refusing to arrest a homeless man who was sleeping in a parking garage.

Eduardo Delacruz, 39, could be kicked off the force if an administrative judge finds him guilty of failing to obey a lawful order.

The incident occurred in November 2002 shortly after the department adopted a zero-tolerance policy to violations by homeless people.

An attorney for Delacruz, Norman Siegel, accused officials of punishing his client for following his conscience. Delacruz "saw the homeless as people and showed them dignity and respect," Siegel said.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-brf-defiant-officer,0,7922295.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[Mikimouse]

1. I remember when this was first reported in 2002...

My hat is off to him and I wish him godspeed. He did what he thought was the right thing to do, an act of compassion that is a sad rarity in this society these days.

[RazorNY22]

6. Insider info here...

He's facing a departmental trial. The general feeling amongst NYC cops is it's a kangaroo court where we are guilty and have to prove ourselves innocent. But with the press coverage I predict he will lose 30 vacation days and be placed on probation for a year.

Razor

[Mikimouse]

7. That's really sad...

So much for the American Christian ethic that professes to care about those less fortunate. I salute him and you and hope for better times when his kind of courage is not only recognized, but commended instead of being punished.

[Trillo]

2. There are some obvious parallels here

to U.S. soldiers who were "just following orders" in Iraq regarding torture.

Refusal to obey orders always precipitates punishment.

[kimchi]

3. Twilight zone stuff.

I hope the judge rules for compassion over legalities.

[Eric J in MN]

4. We need more cops who say NO to heavy handed tactics

against people commiting misdemeanors.

"Zero tolerance" should be a discredited philosophy. It's just an excuse for authorities to do the wrong thing.

The right response to a homeless person who is trespassing is to tell him to move on.

[DustMolecule]

5. Weren't the 'cops' called 'Peace Officers' at one time?

They were charged with maintaining the 'peace' in a society - including an individual's 'peace', and not causing them more 'difficulty in life' (i.e., the homeless man). Sounds like Officer Delacruz is a peace officer - he really understands what his duty is. Kudos to him for following his conscience.

[KinkyDem]

8. Look! Look!

Serving AND protecting!

</sarcasm>

[truthspeaker]

9. He would have been better off shooting an unarmed black man

Cops who do that usually get off.