Our critics, those who believe we cower in the face of the powers that be in Delaware County, may be surprised by today’s front page.
They are the ones who complain non-stop that we are in the pocket of the authorities, including the police, who enforce the laws in this county.
Nowhere is that feeling more vehement than in Ridley Township.
Ever since word broke last week that a township officer was under investigation in connection with an alleged assault against a Wawa clerk, I have been under siege with e-mails, voice-mails and complaints ripping the newspaper for not doing more with the story.
We printed an item last Saturday laying out the initial details of the allegation. Granted, it did not paint a pretty picture. No one was talking about the case. Ridley Township police were not commenting. A spokesman for the District Attorney’s office confirmed only that an incident had occurred and it was being reviewed.
That did not quell those in the community looking for blood.
Today all the details are laid out in the paper, including being splashed all over our front page. The officer has been fired. Criminal charges have been lodged against him. He apparently is getting some professional help for the issues he’s dealing with.
The details of the incident are ugly. Just as ugly has been the reaction by some in the community.
Ridley Police Capt. Charles Howley discussed the incident in detail on Monday. It’s not a pretty picture. It’s also not one Howley shied away from or tried to cover up. He dealt with it head-on.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the off-duty officer struck a Wawa clerk several times after an argument erupted when she asked for ID when he tried to buy chewing tobacco.
There also is a clear indication of a threat lodged against the clerk.
If proven true, it’s conduct that is reprehensible in general, even more so for a police officer.
But to hear from some in the community, it’s standard procedure in Ridley.
They see blood in the water, and they are attacking.
I doubt today’s front page and story will quell that. We’ll still be in the pocket of the Ridley cops. Afraid to print anything critical of police in general, Ridley in particular.
That’s not why we did the story today. We did it because it was important, a police officer being fired from his job and facing criminal charges.
We don’t back away from controversial issues. And we don’t knuckle under to the anonymous complaints from readers bashing us, the police, and anyone who doesn’t see things their way, either.
They are the ones who complain non-stop that we are in the pocket of the authorities, including the police, who enforce the laws in this county.
Nowhere is that feeling more vehement than in Ridley Township.
Ever since word broke last week that a township officer was under investigation in connection with an alleged assault against a Wawa clerk, I have been under siege with e-mails, voice-mails and complaints ripping the newspaper for not doing more with the story.
We printed an item last Saturday laying out the initial details of the allegation. Granted, it did not paint a pretty picture. No one was talking about the case. Ridley Township police were not commenting. A spokesman for the District Attorney’s office confirmed only that an incident had occurred and it was being reviewed.
That did not quell those in the community looking for blood.
Today all the details are laid out in the paper, including being splashed all over our front page. The officer has been fired. Criminal charges have been lodged against him. He apparently is getting some professional help for the issues he’s dealing with.
The details of the incident are ugly. Just as ugly has been the reaction by some in the community.
Ridley Police Capt. Charles Howley discussed the incident in detail on Monday. It’s not a pretty picture. It’s also not one Howley shied away from or tried to cover up. He dealt with it head-on.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the off-duty officer struck a Wawa clerk several times after an argument erupted when she asked for ID when he tried to buy chewing tobacco.
There also is a clear indication of a threat lodged against the clerk.
If proven true, it’s conduct that is reprehensible in general, even more so for a police officer.
But to hear from some in the community, it’s standard procedure in Ridley.
They see blood in the water, and they are attacking.
I doubt today’s front page and story will quell that. We’ll still be in the pocket of the Ridley cops. Afraid to print anything critical of police in general, Ridley in particular.
That’s not why we did the story today. We did it because it was important, a police officer being fired from his job and facing criminal charges.
We don’t back away from controversial issues. And we don’t knuckle under to the anonymous complaints from readers bashing us, the police, and anyone who doesn’t see things their way, either.
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