Today's one-liner: “In a republican nation whose citizens are to be led by reason and persuasion and not by force, the art of reasoning becomes of first importance.” T Jefferson
It was on this day ten years ago that Trooper Joshua Miller made the ultimate sacrifice. A PFA violator abducted his nine-year old son, at gunpoint, from the home of the boy's mother in Nazareth. A high speed chase ensued and the kidnapper was stopped in Tobyhanna.
Trooper Miller, accompanied by Trooper Robert Lombardo, approached the driver's side of the vehicle to distract the kidnapper. While he was occupied with them, the plan was to whisk the boy away from the other side. The PFA violator, who was armed, shot both Troopers while Tatamy police Cpl Fred Lahovski rescued the boy.
In the gunfight, both Trooper Miller and the kidnapper were killed. Trooper Lombardo was wounded but recovered.
Both troopers were awarded the Public Safety Medal of Valor at the White House.
For Miller, it was posthumous. The father of three, he was a few days shy of 35.
Last week, I told you that a Pennsylvania State Trooper is the person who was responsible for a series of three explosions in Upper Mount Bethel Township on March 18. He confessed that he was responsible the next day, and said it would never happen again. Upper Mount Bethel Chair John Bermingham has acknowledged on his Facebook page that someone confessed, and that someone is a state trooper. I reached out to this trooper, but he never returned my call. Instead, I received comments that attempt to trivialize what had happened, like "He didn't break any laws, moron." This matter was initially reported to the state police. They had "no information" concerning it. Yet across the river, in New Jersey, the Blairstown Police Department strangely knew all about it, calling it a series of "three controlled explosions" in Upper Mount Bethel. Nothing to see here. Move along.
A Northampton County Grand Jury has condemned a state police policy that allows it to investigate itself. Its 4,000 troopers are "not above the law," at least in Northampton County. The grey gods, as they are sometimes called, even attempted unsuccessfully to shut down a grand jury that criticized their arrogance. This opinion is shared by numerous local officers. They do acknowledge that the state police have superior resources.
What happened in Upper Mount Bethel on March 18 was three uncontrolled explosions that scared people to death and did shatter a few windows. Things could have turned out far worse.
"It was like nothing I ever heard," one resident tells me. The first explosion rattled resident's windows and popped ears. The third, and biggest explosion "sounded like a 747 landing on the house. We thought something hit our house."
This was all the handiwork of Trooper Daniel Jones, who admitted his involvement to township officials. He is described by some as arrogant. It is said that when he starts drinking, he likes to shoot. Nice combination. I gave him ample opportunity to respond to me and give me his side of the story. He never did. But he apparently is telling others that he was training.
I am aware of no law enforcement agency that uses exploding targets.
Under Pennsylvania law, a person is guilty of the third degree felony of risking a catastrophe if he creates a risk of catastrophe through the use of explosives. Given that 30 pounds of tannerite (a binary explosive) ere used, this person created the risk of setting off a fire that could have spread to people's homes.
Wildfire Today has documented several instances in which exploding targets have caused fires and injured or killed firefighters and others.
In Pennsylvania, State Rep. Dom Costa, Pittsburgh's former police chief, has authored a bill to ban the possession, transportation, and sale of exploding targets. He notes that the residue of binary explosives has been found at terrorist bomb sites. An FBI memo warns that "…exploding targets can easily be converted into improvised explosive devices (known as IED's)."
The NRA lists exploding targets as one of the seven ways children can have fun at the firing range. "These are on the top of the 'fun' list. The resounding 'BOOM' and puff of smoke is fun to see, hear and smell.
Five weeks ago, Pennsylvania State Police shot and killed Anthony Ardo at or near his mother's farm in Lower Mount Bethel Township. The previous day, she obtained a temporary Protection from Abuse Act Order against him. A drug addict, he had threatened to rob her. She testified that he gets "violent and abusive" when he is using. The next day, she called state police and described her son as suicidal. They found him with a fireworks mortar around his neck and opened fire after he attempted to light it.
Did Pennsylvania State Police have the right to use deadly force. They have the right to do so if they reasonably believe their lives or the lives of others are in jeopardy. But no such right exists if a man intends to use deadly force on himself.
Pursuant to state police policy, they are conducting an internal investigation, and it is nearing completion. But NorCo DA John Morganelli believes a more independent investigation is needed so that the public can be confident in the outcome. He cited a Pennsylvania DA Ass'n policy providing that a police shooting be investigated by another department and reviewed by the county DA.
So regardless what Pennsylvania State Police is doing, Morganelli will use the Northampton County grand jury to investigate the shooting, the investigation and the propriety of state policy policy that permits them to investigate themselves.
According to The Patriot News, 1,289 communities statewide have abdicated their obligation to provide for public safety and instead rely exclusively on Pennsylvania State Police. It costs $234 per person to provide this service, which is well below the $25 per capita fee proposed by Governor Tom Wolf. Lower Macungie Township is identified as the sixth largest consumer of Pennsylvania State Police services statewide. There were 5,200 calls in 2015 in a community of 31,639. Under Governor Wolf's plan, the Township will have to pay $790,975 for police services that actually cost considerably more.
Low-income Allentown residents end up paying for police coverage in the 'burbs.
Bethlehem – The Emil Giordano for Superior Court Committee is proud to announce that Judge Giordano has received the endorsement of the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association (PSTA).
“As a former Assistant District Attorney, I have the deepest respect and appreciation for the men and women in law enforcement who selflessly put themselves on the front lines to keep our streets and communities safe and I am honored to have their support in my race for Superior Court,” said Judge Giordano.
PSTA President Joseph R. Koval said, “As President of the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association I am privileged to inform you that our members have unanimously endorsed your candidacy for Judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court in the upcoming Pennsylvania Municipal Primary Election.”
Judge Emil Giordano is running for a seat on the Pennsylvania Superior Court. Judge Giordano has been endorsed by the Republican Party of Pennsylvania and has earned the “recommendation” of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Judge Giordano currently serves on the Northampton Court of Common Pleas, a position he has held since 2003. Prior to being elected, Judge Giordano served as an assistant district attorney, assistant public defender, civil litigator and as lead counsel in his private law practice. Judge Giordano resides in Bethlehem with his wife Tina and his two sons Joseph and Caden.
The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association represents more than 8,000 active and retired State Troopers and seeks to endorse candidates who have the best interest of Pennsylvania and its law enforcement community at heart.
According to a recent state study prepared for the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, over half (1,279) of Pennsylvania's of Pennsylvania’s 2,500 municipalities have no police department. The Pennsylvania State Police picks up the slack. They also cover another 420 municipalities that only have part-time police officers. They protect 3.3 million people over 82% of the state. This costs at least $540 million annually. This cost is borne by state taxes paid by citizens who already have police departments and are paying for them.
Suburban communities like Upper Mount Bethel, Williams and Lower Macungie would prefer to let others help pay their bill for state police coverage. Thus, Easton residents, who already pay more than anyone else in the Lehigh Valley for police coverage at an annual cost of slightly over $350 per resident, are helping pay for state police coverage of wealthy suburbs.
Currently, there's a state legislative effort to impose a fee of $156 per resident on municipalities that have no police coverage. Lower Macungie would pay $4.8 million for state police coverage. Upper Mount Bethel and Williams Townships would both be assessed around $1 million. Even tiny West Easton, which was dropped by Easton police, would be assessed nearly $200,000.
This is a matter of fairness. State Rep. P. Michael Sturla, the Lancaster County Democrat who has proposed this assessment, makes this argument.
It is true that all Pennsylvania residents help pay for the Pennsylvania State Police through state taxes, but 79% of the population is paying for the Pennsylvania State Police patrols and their own local police department. This is double taxation and unfair to a majority of our constituents. Conversely, 21% of the population is getting 100% of the patrols and only paying 21% of the cost.
His bill will die soon. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee, where it has languished. Though he does have some Republican support, the only Lehigh Valley state rep who signed on as a sponsor is Mike Schlossberg.
It is inequities like these that lead to inequities like Easton's commuter tax.
Pennsylvania State Police CPL Byron Dickson, a seven-year veteran and married father of two young children, was shot and killed during an ambush at the Blooming Grove barracks, near Scranton, on Friday night. Another trooper was also shot by an unknown assailant thought to be targeting police. Trooper Alex Douglass, was hospitalized and is expected to survive.
Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the unknown assailant.
"WHAT YOU CAN DO: If you have information on this crime, any serious crime, or wanted person, call Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS or 1-866-326-7256. All callers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH REWARD."
