Some high points of the Public Safety Committee meeting Part II

Some high points of the Public Safety Committee meeting Part II:

-Police Chief Tedesco was not there Tuesday for the city’s dog-and-pony press conference but was front and center Wednesday where he defended his guys, welcomed an investigation by the U.S. Dept. of Justice, bashed Bacote and Kokopellis owner Barry Glick, recognized problems between police and the community and identified structural changes in the department – in particular community policing and disciplining officers - to address those problems and all in all said everything you’d expect him to say as the leader of 120-plus egos with guns. Anyone questioning whether or not he should be given back day-to-day control of the department should just watch his speech.

-While not commenting on the specifics of the Kokopellis incident, Tedesco defended his guys and said it was not motivated by racism.

-Police Commissioner Anthony Magnetto was not there Wednesday though he was at a press conference Tuesday.

-Rev. Willie Bacote was not there either though he led a march to the meeting the week before where he bashed the police. Tedesco referred to him as “Mister Bacote” rather than “Pastor Wilie” while calling him out on a number of inflammatory things he’s been saying for the past 18 months. Others on Wednesday just referred to him as “Willie.

-Public Safety Committee Chairman Bob Doherty found it necessary to introduce Police Benevolent Association President Bob Fitzgerald as representing the “PBA and himself but not the administration.” I found this odd since it’s the first time I’ve heard such a caveat, and I guess it’s the first time I’ve seen such a necessity.

-Fitzgerald then proceeded to bash Doherty for showing up at the SLA with the owners of Kokopellis and asked him directly how he could make an objective opinion on the matter while “walking hand in hand” with Glick.

-Doherty tried twice to cut off Fitzgerald although he allowed Glick to speak well beyond the allotted time limit last week. Fitzgerald ended up saying what he came to say and as expected defended the officers.

-Fitzgerald also took his shots at Bacote and called for him to resign from the Troy African American Pastoral Alliance, bashed Glick for likening the TPD to the KKK and took his shots at Ben Brucato - who he is I’m still not sure - for saying things like all charges against those arrested on Jan. 25 and calling on all police officers who even had a nightstick in hand should be suspended without pay.

-Mayor Lou Rosamilia did not speak last week or this week but did speak Tuesday alongside Magnetto at the dog-and-pony. Unlike Magnetto, at least the mayor showed up.

-At first I didn’t like the two-part meeting structure where last week was set aside for people criticizing the police and this week was for the pro-police faction of the community. Though, it didn’t work out that way because there were people bashing police Wednesday too.

-Olde Judge Mansion proprietor Tina Urzan proved why she is one of my favorite Trojans because not only does she speak her mind, she got in a verbal sparring match with some in the crowd who didn’t like it when she said something like “there wasn’t a racial problem In Troy until ‘Willie’ showed up.” I don’t agree with everything Urzan said … and I’m guessing she doesn’t care. She also quoted something from "her bible" that I assume was directed at Bacote: "Take your bullhorn and go home."