Loading ...
Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde: Ignorant Judge
By Wyatt Earp | September 26, 2008
Here’s yet another example of the nonsense we have to endure as Philadelphia police officers. It’s a shame, too, because her father - boxing legend Joe Frazier - appraciates what we do for this town.
His daughter? Not so much. Read on:
MORE THAN a 1,000 cops have been assaulted by hoodlums on the city’s streets so far this year. Officer Mark Johnson was one of them, police said.
Maximo Jeminez, 19, allegedly punched Johnson in the throat after the cop served him with a subpoena earlier this month. Yet Jeminez, if found guilty, is likely to get off easy.
I know Officer Johnson. He’s a good, aggressive cop that this city could be proud of.
Yesterday, Municipal Court Judge Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde dismissed a felony aggravated-assault charge against Jeminez and held the case for trial on two misdemeanors, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.
This happened in my division, and the officers and detectives who work here are infuriated about it.
It’s a scenario that plays out again and again in courtrooms all over the city. Johnson and other cops say they’ve almost come to expect judges to toss out the felony charge in police-assault cases.
But in rendering her decision, Frazier-Lyde made remarks that left Johnson fuming.
I put this next sentence in bold because it deserves to be highlighted.
According to Johnson and others in the courtroom, Frazier-Lyde said something like: “It’s open season on all of us and we don’t got guns and vests.”
Hey asshole, Officer McDonald, Officer Nazario, Sergeant Liczbinski, and Chuck Cassidy were wearing vests when they were murdered!!!
Frazier-Lyde’s comment came after the prosecutor implored her to keep the felony charge against Jeminez, particularly in light of Tuesday’s slaying of Officer Patrick McDonald, according to those in the courtroom.
“Your Honor, it’s open season on police,” said Assistant District Attorney Chaka Johnson, who is not related to Officer Johnson.
And it will continue to be open season because of judges like Frazier-Lyde who ignore the existing law.
“That boiled my blood so bad, I had to walk out,” said Mark Johnson, an eight-year veteran who works in the 35th Police District, with headquarters at Broad and Champlost streets in Ogontz.
Chaka Johnson told the judge that the law dictates that cops, teachers and nurses are in a “protected class,” which means perpetrators who strike them are automatically charged with a felony.
At about 3:45 p.m., Frazier-Lyde showed up at 35th District headquarters, according to Capt. John McCloskey.
“Look, it is what it is,” McCloskey said. “She could have made her ruling and left it at that. To make those kinds of comments - knowing we lost [Officer] Chuck Cassidy less than a year ago, and then McDonald this week - was insensitive,” Cassidy was from the 35th District.(H/T - The Philadelphia Daily News)
I wonder if Frazier-Lyde would want the felony aggravated assault charges dropped if it were her that was assaulted? Signs point to no.
I would like to say that I expect more from the judges in Philadelphia, but after fourteen years, I can honestly count the jurists that are pro-police on one hand. Hell, I can only count the judges in this town that give the benefit of the doubt to police on two hands!
It’s bad enough that we’re targeted by the thugs, but lately, we’re targeted by the criminal justice system, too.
September 26th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
This is almost implicit approval of assaulting a police officer. Absolutely outrageous. She should be thrown off the bench.
Give the number of assaults on cops this kind of ruling is inexcusable.
If it’s possible to be as outraged as you are without actually being a Philly cop, count me in Wyatt.
September 26th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
WTF!?!?!?!? (My apologies to your aunt.)
September 26th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
This is insane! You, Sir, need to find a different place to enjoy law enforcement. City of Brotherly Love, Philly ain’t. I know being a cop is dangerous under the best of circumstances, but if you have no protection from the very people who are supposed to prosecute and convict the very criminals you bring in, how are you supposed to do your job and maintain any kind of position of authority with the general public?
Yeesh!
Stay safe.
September 27th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Wow, for a minute there I thought I was on a Chicago Police website. Sounds like Crook County. Hang in there and watch each other because no else will. Stay safe
September 27th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Trixie - Done and done. Being a cop in Philly is difficult. Hell, being a cop anywhere is difficult, but I knew that when I took the job.
RT - Not a problem. You didn’t spell out the “F.”
Kim - Believe it or not, I absolutely love my job. Not a lot of people can say that. Would it be better somewhere else? Probably, but I’m already ensconsed here. I can’t up and relocate after 14 years.
KAM - Will do, thanks!
September 28th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Maybe law enforcement needs to be included in federal ‘hate crime’ legislation. Just make assulting a law enforcement officer a federal crime. Then the feds could add charges when the local judges or prosecutors fail in their jobs.