Dean of Awesome Interviews Allentown Police Chief Glenn Granitz

Allntwn Police Chief Glenn Granitz with
the Dean of Awesome

I first met Toomey Anderson when my grandson was about five years old and playing team basketball for the first time in South Allentown. Parents would picnic there all day as their sons and daughters played. Everyone would eat, talk, joke around and old-timers played chess. This is where I first met Chuck Rockmore and his sons. It's also where I met Toomey Anderson, now known as the Dean of Awesome. When I noticed how much work he put into it, I asked him, "Why do you do this?" His answer. "We do it for the love." My grandson learned much more than the fundamentals from these and other mentors who would later include class acts like Emil Giordano, Marc Corsi, Mike Frew, Craig Golden, Dennis Csentsis and, most recently, Scott Coval. They taught their charges to be humble in victory, yet gracious in defeat. ... And to be AWESOME. I'd see Toom many times since those early days, both at high school basketball games and Allentown's Summer Tournaments. A former Parkland and Muhlenberg standout, he's been a walking beacon of hope to many kids who've had more rough breaks than they should. He teaches them to recognize that, whatever their circumstances, they are AWESOME. Toomey is still doing it for the love. At a time when this nation is torn apart by police brutality against minorities and ensuing riots that also have victimized those same minorities, what did he do? He invited Allentown Police Chief Glenn Granitz for an interview on his Facebook Awesome show. I toomed in and can say that with leaders like those two, the Lehigh Valley is well on its way to becoming AWESOME.

Toomey, clad in a "No Bullying" T-shirt that appears to have been made by his 11 year-old daughter, interviewed a police chief who hasn't seen his family in a few days. Chief Granitz seemed happy to be there, and explained why. "I'll talk to anybody at any time," he said. This is a trait he seems to share with Bethlehem Police Chief Mark DiLuzio and Easton Police Chief Carl Scalzo. It might explain why Lehigh Valley protests have have been peaceful. Granitz explained his primary obligation is to "listen." He added that good cops have "passion for what we do and compassion for what other people are feeling."

Toomey poses with  my grandson when he was awarded
"the belt" for a night after being called for charging in a game.  

Granitz told Toomey that his department recently received 700 applications. He said his department looks for diversity in new hires, but more importantly, wants to "recruit from Allentown kids who grew up here." The most important quality is character. "I've got to know that when you're not next to me, I can trust what you're doing."

Toomey actually began jumping up and down when he asked Chief Granitz about Black Lives Matter. "Let me say this simply, Black Lives Matter," said Granitz as Toomey leaped in the air as though he was about to deliver a dunk shot.

Chief Granitz made a great basketball analogy. He said some hoopsters are going to score a lot of points and be the star, as the Dean of Awesome pointed to himself. Then Granitz went on to add that a good cop generally gets no credit because he is the defensive player who de-escalates situations before they get out of hand.

Granitz acknowledged many people dislike police and that's a "totally valid feeling right now." He agreed that "[w]e're not perfect, but we are improving every day."

Asked about the 8can't wait movement endorsed by former President Obama (see below), Granitz said that it's been impossible for him to study this proposal in detail because of recent events, but he knows his department already follows some of the principals. It banned chokeholds five years ago, does require de-escalation and has body camera on every officer.

Before the interview ended, Toomey had Granitz say it one more time.

"Black Lives Matter."

8 Can't Wait Program: This movement advocates that police departments adopt the following policies:

1) Ban Chokeholds and Strangleholds.
2) Require De-Escalation.
3) Require a warning before shooting (when possible).
4) Exhaust all other means before shooting.
5) Duty to Intervene (when officer uses excessive force).
6) Ban Shooting at Moving Vehicles (unless person poses a deadly threat).
7) Require use of force continuum.
8) Require Comprehensive reporting.