Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Ramarley Graham:The next sad chapter

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Ramarley Graham:The next sad chapter: COMMUNITY BOARD NEWS N’ VIEWS By Father Richard F. Gorman Chairman Community Board #12 (The Bronx) BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGU...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Ramarley Graham:The next sad chapter

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Ramarley Graham:The next sad chapter: COMMUNITY BOARD NEWS N’ VIEWS By Father Richard F. Gorman Chairman Community Board #12 (The Bronx) BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGU...

Ramarley Graham:The next sad chapter

COMMUNITY BOARD

NEWS N’ VIEWS

By

Father Richard F. Gorman

Chairman

Community Board #12 (The Bronx)

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 14- On the 15th of May this year, Bronx Supreme Court Justice Steven L. Barrett, after hearing evidence in the trial of Police Officer Richard Haste for manslaughter in the shooting of Ramarley Graham on 2 February 2012, ruled that the indictment of Officer Haste was dismissed in light of the improper instructions given to the grand

jury that had voted to indict the Forty-seventh Precinct cop. 

Justice Barrett decided that the grand jury may have come to a different decision if its members had fully considered that Officer Haste’s fellow Police Officers had informed him that Ramarley Graham was armed. The grand jury had been directed by prosecutors in the Office of the District Attorney of Bronx County not to give any weight to this fact in considering whether or not to indict Officer Haste. A second grand jury was quickly empanelled to weigh a re-indictment of the Police Officer and was clearly told this time to take into account that Richard Haste was warned that Mr. Graham possibly had a gun. 

On Wednesday, 7 August 2013, this second grand jury declined to present a second indictment of Police Officer Haste for manslaughter. Understandably, the family of Ramarley Graham, most particularly his parents, Constance Malcolm and Franclot Graham, reacted with great indignation and resentment to the ruling of this second grand jury.

Among other actions undertaken, there was a rally this Saturday afternoon past, 11 August 2013, on Laconia Avenue directly in front of the main entrance of the Forty-seventh Police Precinct to which Officer Haste and his colleagues involved in this tragic incident had been assigned.

Reflecting on this serious and sad matter that has held such a foremost place in the recent life of Bronx Community District #12, I would like to share a few thoughts and feelings with my neighbors and fellow Bronxites. First, and most importantly of all, irrespective of any legal issues at argument or of any personal opinions concerning the parties to this matter, the shooting of Ramarley Graham is a tragedy. A young man is dead. The facts that may have led up to it aside, the loss of any human life always involves pain, always entails grief. Ramarley Graham’s Parents and other loved ones are now deprived of his presence and his company. As I said, whatever else that can and

should be said about this unhappy episode, let us not forget or be

insensitive to the human cost at stake, not only to the young man who is dead but to those who must survive and go on in the wake of his passing. The loss of a loved one is always a heartache that is practically unbearable to abide and to accept. 

Our sympathy and compassion must not be absent or withheld from those who mourn. Further, I can likewise understand the frustration of the Graham Family and others who question the vitality and the veracity of a legal system that appears not be working on behalf of their interests and needs. There is no argument, even from those involved in law enforcement and the judicial process, that our system of laws and courts is far from perfect. It definitely has its defects. It also depends upon the work of people, folks just like the rest of us, who work hard and honestly and who attempt to do the best that they can with the resources allocated to them. People are not perfect. The only two perfect human persons ever to walk the face of this earth, so far as I know, are Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Mother. All the rest of us have our weaknesses, shortcomings, and flaws. No system, judicial or otherwise, reliant upon people can be any more perfect that the people who comprise it.

This being said, while not unflawed or unfaultable, our system of laws and courts is the envy of the entire world. It may not always get the job done or accomplish things as we would wish, but, more often than not, it works. Moreover, realizing that mistakes can and are in actuality made, it provides for appeals and various means by which one can seek justice and pursue the satisfaction of one’s cause. In the immediate case of Ramarley Graham, his Parents can, and have been successful in seeking, a review of what has taken place in The Bronx by the United States Department of Justice (U.S.D.O.J.). The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York has determined that it will investigate whether or not the shooting of Ramarley Graham violates any provisions of our Federal Civil Rights laws. Additionally, the possibility of a civil action on behalf of the Graham Family can be instituted. Reports are that such an option is seriously being pondered at this time. If feasible, a civil cause of action should be introduced.

However, in the upset and unrest of the moment, let us not fail to

remember an equally important truth  --  viz., that the members of the New York City Police Department (N.Y.P.D.) are, by and large, truly “NEW YORK’S FINEST.” You and I are able to live comfortably in our homes, shop on our commercial strips, pray in our Churches, have our children educated in our schools, and live in relative safety because of the dedication of the men and the women of the N.Y.P.D. Even as they were preparing to accommodate the Graham Family’s decision to have a demonstration in front of the Forty-seventh Precinct on Saturday, the Supervisors and the Officers of the “4 -7” and Patrol Borough Bronx (P.B.B.X.) were investigating a murder a mere stone’s throw away from the Precinct on the intersection of East 233RD Street and Paulding Avenue. Is New York City  --  and Community Board #12 (The Bronx)  --  safer than was the case ten years ago?  ABSOLUTELY . . . . . and the most significant factor in this development was the commitment of our Police Officers to serve and to protect us, even at the cost of their own personal safety, physical well being, and life.

This essential point must be borne in mind as well, even as the adjudication of the Ramarley Graham shooting continues. I conclude by expressing genuine thanks to Franclot Graham, Constance Malcolm, and their supporters for the peaceful and dignified manner in which they conducted themselves this Saturday past. I trust that they know that they have been, are, and will always remain uppermost in our thoughts and prayers. I likewise give thanks for the fine and professional performance of our Police Officers. My special appreciation goes to Assistant Chief Carlos Gomez, Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Bronx (P.B.B.X.) and his leadership team for their presence and thoughtful attention during some rather difficult days.

Closer to home, my hat is off to Deputy Inspector Brian Mullen, Commanding Officer of the Forty-seventh Precinct, and all of our local Police Officers for their sensitive care and comportment, in particular our Community Affairs Officers Dave Belle and Jason Soto.

I pray that all in Community Board #12 (The Bronx), as we continue to face the challenges of each day, will continue to act with calm dignity and to strive for peace in our neighborhood.

Until next time, that is it for this time!

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Brazen Burglar Hits Phone Store

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Brazen Burglar Hits Phone Store: By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 14- Cops are asking for the pubic's help in trying to catch a brazen bandit who ripped...

Brazen Burglar Hits Phone Store

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 14- Cops are asking for the pubic's help in trying to catch a brazen bandit who ripped off a Co-op City cell phone store.

At around 6 p.m. on August 8, the suspect walked into the T-Mobile store at 691 Co-op City Boulevard in the Peartree Shopping Center. Armed with a large green duffle bag, the man walked to the rear of the store and opened the property safe. The suspect then proceeded to fill the bag with 43 cell phones. 

Unfortunately for the crook surveillance cameras caught the entire incident on tape. The suspect is described as dark-skinned male, six foot, thin build and was seen wearing glasses.

Anyone with information should call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls are confidential.

Now that's more like it

For the moment everything seems okay for CC and runs helped him along

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 14- It seems like an eternity since the last time CC Sabathia had an easy time on the mound. The New York Yankees left hander has struggled for the most part this season, and his start Tuesday night in the Bronx was deemed important. If the Yankees want to make a run at another post season, Sabathia has to be effective.

He had not won a game since July 3rd at Minnesota, and went 0-4 with a 7.00 ERA in six starts since that game. To say, the least Sabathia had to be pleased Tuesday night when the Yankees gave him some early run support.

The Yankees 14-7 win over the Angels Tuesday night saw Sabathia toss 6.0 innings, striking out seven, walking a season high six and giving up two runs. One run was a home run ball to Mark Trumbo with two outs in the first inning. It was the 25th home run Sabathia has thrown this year.

Overall, Yankees manager Joe Girardi was satisfied. And for the second consecutive night he got good pitching from a starter, as the night before the always reliable Hiroki Kuroda went eight innings as New York took the first of the four-game series over the Angels.

“CC was excellent,” commented Girardi. “His fastball command was good. I was very pleased what CC did tonight.” The changeup and command was also where Sabathia wanted it to go and that has been rare. He had lost each of his last three starts at home since July 9th.

“I felt like I had pretty good stuff,” said Sabathia (10-10) who had his struggles with the Angels, but was able to battle in tough situations. It was still not a dominating outing for Sabathia, though a vast improvement over what has been seen in his last seven starts.

The two earned runs and seven strikeouts marked his fewest earned runs and most strikeouts since that last win in Minnesota.

He added, “I was able to pick these guys up today. I felt like during the year I haven’t been able to make pitches to eliminate some of the errors so I was able to do that tonight. It felt good just to be able to battle. Have some stuff go wrong and still be able to make pitches and get out of situations.”

He walked in a run in the third inning, a pitch that was close when the Angels loaded the bases off two Yankees errors. He struck out the always dangerous Josh Hamilton swinging with two runners on, and the curve on that pitch had the velocity he was looking for. Then he got out of the inning retiring Erick Aybar.

More importantly, what Sabathia was able to do, was what the Yankees have been looking for. Getting the run support also helped as the last time Sabathia was staked to a big lead was at Detroit April 7th, when he shut out the Tigers 7-0.

The Yankees have won three straight games. Girardi said Sunday, after the Yankees took two of three from the Tigers that it would take 35 wins to make the post season.

And to do that, a magnificent run would require Sabathia to give his team quality starts. Tuesday night, there was optimism that the old CC Sabathia may be on the way back.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso

Bronx News Sports: A Masterful Mound Performance by Hiroki Kuroda Lea...

Bronx News Sports: A Masterful Mound Performance by Hiroki Kuroda Lea...: By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 13- Hiroki Kuroda has been a blessing to the Yankees since joining the club in 2012. The 38-year ...