Outrageous To Give Vehicles To Nation Of Islam Neighborhood Patrol - And Response (3)

  • Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Chief of Police Fred Fletcher of the Chattanooga Police Department has recently decided to give two surplus patrol vehicles to the Nation of Islam Neighborhood Patrol. This is an insult to the life and memory of PO Philip Cardillo who lost his life in April 1972 at the hand of the members of the Nation of Islam Mosque No.7 in Harlem and his fellow officers who were savagely beaten there.

I wonder if he is aware of this? I hope Chief Fletcher and the city officials reconsider their outrageous decision.

There are more bizarre circumstances to that incident which I won't go into here, but anyone can research it. 

Sergeant Rbert Koscinski (NYPD RET.) 

* * *

Sergeant Rbert Koscinski (NYPD RET.) didn't mention that it was during that period, 1960s and 1970s, that NYPD was exposed as being at its most brutal and one of the most corrupt police agencies in the nation, outside, or perhaps alongside, of LAPD.  

The movie, Serpico, was based on a true story about then NYPD officer Frank Serpico, who went undercover and exposed the corruption and brutality taking place, placing his own life in danger from fellow officers. In those days police were targeting such groups as the Nation of Islam specifically to commit acts of brutality against them and destroy them.

NYPD wasn't the only such agency in the nation, but none the less its practices were then known to be extremely brutal and hideous.  

Brenda Washington  

* * *

Not surprisingly, Ms. Washington didn't mention that Nation of Islam has been listed for years as a "hate group" by the ultra-Liberal Southern Poverty Law Center. 

"Since its founding in 1930, the Nation of Islam has grown into one of the wealthiest and best-known organizations in black America. Its theology of innate black superiority over whites and the deeply racist, anti-Semitic and anti-gay rhetoric of its leaders have earned the NOI a prominent position in the ranks of organized hate." 

For that reason alone, it is preposterous that Chattanooga should even consider financially supporting NOI activities with vehicles purchased with taxpayer dollars. 

Mya Lane 

* * *

I’m curious as to how Ms. Washington’s description of the movie, Serpico, has any relevance to what is happening here in Chattanooga?  Perhaps when responding to an opinion and/or article, might I suggest staying on point?  I believe the original article was dealing with Fred Fletcher’s decision to donate some supposedly “low value” patrol cars to the Nation of Islam.  Yes, you had better believe that I am opposed to it.  I have even expressed my opinions to all nine of the City Council members plus Mayor Berke.  Sadly, but not unexpectedly, I received only one nonsensical response and that was from Chris Anderson.  As well, I inquired as to where I might apply to have the city provide me with transportation, and even went so far as to describe what year, make and model I would prefer.   

I have no problem with the Nation of Islam wanting to do additional patrolling of their subdivisions and homes.  However, don’t expect the citizens of Chattanooga to pay for it.  Either drive your own cars or wait for the city and county’s surplus cars to be sold at auction and buy them there.  If that isn’t a possibility, perhaps the Nation of Islam could ask Fred Fletcher to assign additional patrol units to the affected areas?  Oh wait…I forgot that Fred Fletcher won’t have time for that as he is sitting idly by while the city’s trend for violence continues to increase. 

Instead of a special actions group asking for donations, perhaps we as concerned citizens should be gathering outside the City Commission building on Oct. 4 asking for the resignations of Andy Berke, Fred Fletcher and all nine of the City Council members. 

Rusty Munger

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