Posted on 07/13/2012 7:38:42 PM PDT by AlmaKing
By CRAIG N. LIADIS
New Hampshire Union Leader
A Leominster, Mass., police officer is under investigation to determine whether he called Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford a racial slur during a New Hampshire Fisher Cats game in Manchester last week.
Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella confirmed that an investigation is ongoing and that the officer, who was not identified, has been assigned to desk duty.
We received tips earlier in the week identifying the person,'' Mazzarella said.
Fisher Cats President Rick Brenner isn't concerned where the individual is from.
I don't want to get into a border war, Brenner said. I have been in contact with the Manchester Police Department. We will continue to cooperate with any agencies investigating. If an investigation does turn up the person responsible, that person will not be welcome at the ballpark.
Crawford was signing autographs before a rehab game with the Portland Sea Dogs, a Red Sox affiliate, at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium when the incident occurred.
The same fan who used the racial slur also yelled overpaid and overrated during one of Crawford's at-bats, said Crawford, who has not played with the Red Sox this season due to injury.
He was the only one I had a problem with, Crawford said to reporters after the game. People in Boston don't even do that. I don't know what that was about.
Brenner apologized to Crawford and the Fisher Cats stressed its zero-tolerance for foul language after the incident.
Crawford has had a rough start to his Red Sox career since signing with the team prior to the 2011 season. He hit .255 with 11 home runs and 18 stolen bases last year.
I can understand why people can be upset about me signing a contract and me having the kind of year I had, Crawford said. I understand, you know? They love their team. They want you to produce when you sign a contract like that. I can't be mad at them. All I can do is get ready to play this year and try to produce.
Crawford is expected to return to the Red Sox within a week.
The three-game series last week between the Fisher Cats and Sea Dogs also included Red Sox players Jacoby Ellsbury and Ryan Sweeney, who were rehabbing injuries. The series drew 23,312 fans to break a Fisher Cats' franchise record previously set during a 2009 series in which John Smoltz pitched for the Sea Dogs.
The story did not clarify if “occifer” had been on city time. If so, clear USSC precedent is that yes, the employer (Leominster in this case) can demand “occifer” refrain from saying certain things during that period as condition of employment. As for getting kicked out, hell an occifer can barge down the known wrong door and shoot someone’s dogs and baby and scarcely get a slap on the wrist (a paid vacation and some meaningless mumbles of caution are the worst sanction, and suing does not touch the culprit, only the tax payer); who are you kidding?
Race-pimp.
Oh, you are?
Why don't you go watch a Justin Beeber video, missy.
This is precisely what I would ask about you. Even raccoons laugh at you.
Look you malignant little goblin. You are advocating that a person LOSE HIS JOB for making a mean comment to a black person. Thats pretty liberal sounding to me. Additionally, your posting language in defense of this untenable and unconservative position is childish and pissy. You honestly do sound like a bratty kid. I'm guessing you're a troll.
And I read your little profile. You should stop tossng food to the vermin under your porch and shoot the damn things. Though I suppose your mommy won't let you have a gun, and you're probably frightened of firearms.
Feel free to get the final word here, race-pimp. I honestly don't give a flying dammit what you think. I don't think you'll last long here anyway.
You are so funny when you lose your temper.
Oh and mister snuff grin, I didn’t say he ought to get kicked out. I said his employer should be able to insist he not do that. I also said getting kicked out would be impossible for something much worse. Those aren’t equivalent statements as you would see if you knocked off the snuffy attitude for a moment.
Not really knowing what was said and only based upon this little information in this article, I would have to say that the “officer” should perhaps issue an apology and that be that.
If he did it while in uniform, that is a potential issue. If he said unkind baddie bad things out of uniform, well then where’s the beef. Is the “Officer” a loud mouth? Based upon the article, yes. Is there a law against being a dumb load mouth? Nope.
Is there a law against saying meanie mean baddie things? Nope, not yet.
In the history of baseball, has anyone else uttered meanie mean baddie things against players? Oh never ever /sarc...
So, as King Solomon the Wise Guy, I say since this has been blown out of all sense of proportion, have the “Officer” issue a public apology and go forth and be a loud mouth no more. Hurrrrummmpphhh! Oh, and Play Ball!
Why should your employer be able to dictate what you say when you are off the clock? Is that free? Is that constitutional? Does that jibe with the First Amendment?
I'd say not, missy.
His Collective Bargaining Agreement specifically states what kind of behavior is not permitted off-duty. So yes, it matters what he said because he’s under contract. If he can’t control himself, he’s not meant to be a professional. We need to expect better of police, especially when they sign contracts agreeing to standards.
Obviously, he was not in uniform because he was at a game in New Hampshire, and he is a Mass. cop. You should have been able to extract that much info before commenting.
He was easily identified because within a couple of days his own department suspended him. He must have been running his mouth pretty good because several fans identified him to his department and knew exactly what he said.
Besides all that, this is a minor league park that is very family friendly. Most games, more than half the crowd is made up of kids. It’s no place for his kind of behavior.
NH residents are proud to separate themselves from Mass. thug culture.
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