HARRY'S WAR ON THE POLICE CONTINUES

No, Troy's finest are not the Schenectady PD yet, despite the Administrations best, and brilliantly ineffectual, efforts.

The incident surrounding PBA President Bob Fitzgerald sounds more and more like the Mary Kate O'Neil story. A story that did not end happily for the Administration.

Fitzgerald was placed on administrative leave last week after bringing concerns to the top brass. Those concerns may have involved the safety of Officer Steve Seney. Seney lives in Troy. Other officers, including some on the list for possible promotion to sergeant, do not. Seney is third down on the list.

Meanwhile, it is believed that someone made waves with the City Civil Service Commission about the residency issue and police promotions via an anonymous letter. The CCSC then notified the outlanders that they could not be sergeants if they were not in compliance with the residency laws. Many believe Seney penned that anonymous letter (the letter was reportedly signed 'Evestay Eneysay').

Now, it gets murky. Fitzgerald says he brought some concerns to the brass. Next thing, he's placed on administrative leave and ordered to undergo a psych evaluation.* It is speculated that Fitzgerald is accused of threatening Seney with bodily harm.

Fitzgerald is exiled from the police station, where his PBA office is located. He's then allowed back inside the station but is given a police escort along with complimentary coffee and danish. Fitzgerald's police escorts even accompany him to the bathroom but it's not known what function they may perform once the stall door is shut.

Fitzgerald, via PBA attorney Walsh, had to bring an Order to Show Cause to discover the actual charge(s) against Fitzgerald. Often times, people charged with misconduct or crimes like to know the exact charges. For one thing, it helps them know if they did it or not.

If all this sounds like a Clusterf*%#k, you'd be right. You'd also be right if you followed the Clusterf*$%k trail back to Monument Square. Fitzgerald has played hardball with contract negotiations. Then came the Centanni fiasco, where Harry's pledge to terminate three detectives led to exonerations for O'Neil and Centanni (with a confidentiality agreement that everyone suspects was designed to protect at least one city hall employee). This is merely one more chapter in Harry's attempt to tear down our police department. The administration is only tough when no one fights back. When their intended victim hits back (usually through attorneys) they fold, like playground bullies.

Soon, it will be Police - 2, Administration - 0. Fitzgerald will be exonerated and will likely have a nice lawsuit against the city if he chooses. The best advice we could give to Harry is to pull a George Costanza and do the exact opposite of what he thinks is best. But, what fun would that be?




*The psych evaluation was canceled when no one could find a #2 pencil.