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Lanier to out-of-town cops: Behave
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Police officers from around the D.C. and Baltimore region celebrate the 29th Annual Memorial Service for Law Enforcement Officers during National Police Week 2008 on Thursday. – Andrew Harnik/Examiner File
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier cautioned out-of-town officers visiting for National Police Week to act “with dignity and respect during their stay,” in a pre-emptive strike to prevent the debauched and disorderly behavior of past celebrations.
Thousands of officers and their families have traveled to the city this week to commemorate law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty, but sometimes the solemn and serious occasion has deteriorated into a sloppy beer-fest or something worse.
Lanier wrote to heads of law enforcement departments from the U.S. and Canada warning that the rowdy and drunken actions not only reflect poorly on the entire profession, but also disrespects the memory of fallen officers.
“[S]ome participants in past celebrations of National Police Week have acted less than respectably as they have celebrated with their fellow officers...” Lanier wrote in a letter dated March 28. “Participants should be mindful that all officers must uphold the law and govern themselves accordingly.”
As a reminder, Lanier listed D.C. laws regarding indecent language, disorderly conduct, public drunkeness and drinking and driving.
Lanier posted similar fliers at hotels and bars last year after police officers were caught on videotape hanging out at Fifth and H streets NW drinking beer, yelling, throwing trash and shooing away D.C. patrol officers.
The resident who shot the video complained that calls were made to police numerous times over several hours to quiet the boisterous crowd. Lanier called for an investigation into the response of her own officers.
Police said late Tuesday they were unsure if the investigation found any wrongdoing by the hometown cops and were not aware of any arrests of out-of-town police officers.
Last year’s exploits were tame compared to years past. In 2003, a New York City officer was charged with raping a Virginia police cadet in a hotel room.
In 1996, a Boston police officer was convicted of making threats at a Georgetown restaurant. In 1995, about 100 New York police officers were accused of mooning people, harassing women and sliding naked down a downtown motel escalator.
smccabe@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
7:51 AM MST on Wed., May. 14, 2008 re: "Lanier to out-of-town cops: Behave"
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Examiner Reader said:
What a hack job McCabe, the fact that you had to go all the way back to 1996 demonstrates that the officers have been doing a great job of policing themselves. I wonder if during your research for this story you asked the Chief about her exploits as a regular attendee at Police Week. Ask her where she was in 1996 maybe she was one of those rowdy officers. HYPOCRITE
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