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Timoney -- Top cop on the front lines (Great Comments By Politically INCORRECT Miami Police Chief)
Miami Herald ^ | November 23, 2003 | OSCAR CORRAL

Posted on 11/23/2003 3:49:35 PM PST by PJ-Comix

Miami Police Chief John Timoney had four words for the protester pinned against a car by undercover officers: ``You're bad. F--- you!''

The remark came as Timoney himself helped secure an area behind police lines during Thursday's demonstrations by cautioning people to clear out or face arrests.

Timoney, the man who headed the policing of last week's protests against the Free Trade Area of the Americas summit, wasn't sitting in an air-conditioned office. He was displaying bravado on the streets of Miami, riding a bicycle to get around, foregoing steel-tipped boots, a gas mask and body armor in favor of a plastic bike helmet, a polo shirt and shorts.

Last week, The Herald got an exclusive look at the hands-on style that has made Timoney both a nationally respected law-enforcement figure and a police chief widely despised by the groups that clash with his officers.

One thing is clear: He doesn't like radical protesters, whom he dismisses as ''punks'' and ''knuckleheads.'' He personally hunts them like a hawk picking mice off a field.

''They look like ants scattering,'' Timoney said of the protesters after riding in a helicopter to get a bird's-eye view Thursday afternoon. ``They are not the least bit bashful about what their goals are. They were looking to raise hell, and they did.''

`A DANGEROUS MAN'

Protesters know Timoney all too well. During Thursday's protest, they lifted an enlarged picture of him on a pole with the words ''Chief Attack on Democracy Timoney'' written on it. His reaction: ``I'm better looking than that.''

''This guy has brutalized and eviscerated constitutional rights of peaceful protesters,'' said New York activist Bill Dobbs, a spokesman for the Stop FTAA media team that was in town for the week. ``He's a dangerous man.''

Timoney played a pivotal role in downtown security. He helped coordinate a complex operation with more than 40 local, state and federal agencies, all of it based out of his police headquarters.

Civil liberties groups and unions complained of unlawful arrests and violations of their constitutional rights. But almost as soon as the pepper spray settled over downtown this week, local leaders declared a major law-enforcement victory.

They claimed that Miami authorities set a standard for how to deal with the kind of volatile protests that have scarred cities such as Seattle, Washington, Philadelphia and Cancún.

HIRED TO REFORM

Much of the credit went to Timoney, a brash Irishman and former New York street cop hired by Miami leaders last year to reform their troubled police force. He had experienced similar demonstrations as police chief in Philadelphia during the 2000 Republican National Convention before taking on a private-sector job.

''The work that was done this week was massive, and it was done ethically, professionally,'' Miami Mayor Manny Diaz said at a news conference Friday. Timoney and Deputy Chief Frank Fernandez ''put together something that was unprecedented,'' Diaz said.

Timoney's constant presence on the ground, in the air and on the water last week kept officers on their toes. Like a war general, Timoney walked the front lines all week, patting the shoulders of officers dressed in full riot regalia, telling them they were doing a good job.

''He set up the vision for this and put together the team,'' said Lt. Col. Don Hollway, deputy director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Timoney had come on board the high-tech Fish and Wildlife boat Randall Wednesday night to overlook security of the water transportation of trade ministers to Vizcaya.

At that point, the week had been peaceful and Timoney was practically daring demonstrators to test police.

''If they [anarchists] don't do anything by tomorrow night, pardon the expression, but they look like p------,'' Timoney said after the boat ride Wednesday night.

THE BIG DAY

By 6:30 the next morning, Timoney, a lifelong fitness buff, hit the streets of Miami on a bicycle, joined by Assistant Chief John Gallagher and eventually Fernandez. The first report trickled in: A group of about 200 unpermitted protesters were heading toward Biscayne Boulevard just after 7 a.m.

Timoney tailed them from the next block over, crouching on his bicycle. A red pickup truck filled with undercover officers crept next to him; they said they had seen a nearby demonstrator dressed completely in black fill his backpack with rocks.

Timoney himself hustled toward the demonstrators and grabbed one by the arm.

''Take it easy. What's in the bag?'' Timoney said.

Two other officers rushed toward them and grabbed the demonstrator's bag, dumping its contents on the sidewalk. No rocks.

''Why are we being detained?'' one of them asked.

Timoney didn't answer. The cops released them.

''There's enough for a police officer to voice reasonable suspicion,'' Timoney said as he pedaled away.

A couple of hours later, Timoney joined Mayor Diaz and Miami City Manager Joe Arriola, who arrived on Biscayne Boulevard and Flagler Street in a golf cart. There were no police lines separating them from the demonstrators.

The situation turned ugly once protesters recognized Diaz. They surrounded him, yelling insults. Diaz braved it for a couple of minutes before his bodyguards escorted him away in an SUV as protesters pounded on the hood.

Timoney, who was next to Diaz, didn't flinch.

''It's street theater,'' Timoney scoffed. ``If I thought they were in danger, I would have called reinforcements in.''

ADRENALINE

By the time police began clashing with violent protesters on Biscayne Boulevard about 3:30 p.m., adrenaline was the only thing keeping Timoney on his feet. He had eaten only a banana and an oatmeal cookie since 6 a.m.

He never put on a gas mask, not even as canisters filled with gas landed around him. He fought off a gust of the acrid smoke by wiping mucus and tears from his sunburned cheeks with a loud ``Argh!''

This is Timoney's moment. He lives for this.

CORPORATE JOB

He gave up a $300,000-a-year corporate job to get back on the front lines, to take on another group of troublemakers as police chief in another city.

The gas energized him. He was the first one who wanted to leap over the police lines and tackle protesters. But he held himself back.

There was one guy in the crowd, tall, wrapped in a Brazilian flag that Timoney wouldn't forget. He was throwing things at police and yelling.

Later, three blocks up Southeast Third Street, which had been marked with graffiti by retreating protesters, Timoney noticed that undercover officers had slapped handcuffs on the man wrapped in the Brazilian flag.

Timoney biked up to him, a stern look on his face.

''You're bad,'' the chief said, his finger pointing at the man's face. ``F--- you.''


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News
KEYWORDS: johntimoney; miami
Miami Police Chief John Timoney had four words for the protester pinned against a car by undercover officers: ``You're bad. F--- you!''

I LOVE IT!!! So unlike those woosie Seattle police. Up there they tried to "understand" the mental case protestors and got thanked for it by having their downtown businesses destroyed.

One thing is clear: He doesn't like radical protesters, whom he dismisses as ''punks'' and ''knuckleheads.'' He personally hunts them like a hawk picking mice off a field.

''They look like ants scattering,'' Timoney said of the protesters after riding in a helicopter to get a bird's-eye view Thursday afternoon. ``They are not the least bit bashful about what their goals are. They were looking to raise hell, and they did.''

FANTASTIC! I think Timoney is my favorite police chief in the USA.

They claimed that Miami authorities set a standard for how to deal with the kind of volatile protests that have scarred cities such as Seattle, Washington, Philadelphia and Cancún.

Thanx in large part to Timoney there were very few problems in Miami after the nutcases arrived.

Timoney's constant presence on the ground, in the air and on the water last week kept officers on their toes. Like a war general, Timoney walked the front lines all week, patting the shoulders of officers dressed in full riot regalia, telling them they were doing a good job.

I think Timoney is one police chief that even Joseph Wambaugh would like.

''If they [anarchists] don't do anything by tomorrow night, pardon the expression, but they look like p------,'' Timoney said after the boat ride Wednesday night.

Liberals hate this type of talk but I LOVE IT!!!

The gas energized him. He was the first one who wanted to leap over the police lines and tackle protesters. But he held himself back.

GREAT!!! I think maybe we should make Timoney the honorary police chief of the FR.

1 posted on 11/23/2003 3:49:35 PM PST by PJ-Comix
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To: PJ-Comix
It's getting to be that you just can't have a good riot any more.
2 posted on 11/23/2003 3:52:02 PM PST by Hacksaw
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To: PJ-Comix
Timoney showed those sissy cops in Seattle how it ought to be done.
3 posted on 11/23/2003 3:54:32 PM PST by Palladin (Proud to be a FReeper!)
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To: PJ-Comix
New York City's greatest export: Cops!
4 posted on 11/23/2003 3:56:30 PM PST by aculeus (Bring back mr spike!!!!!!)
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To: PJ-Comix
I love him. I vote with you! He needs to come here and see how much we love him.
Anyone got an e-mail address???
5 posted on 11/23/2003 3:57:12 PM PST by netmilsmom (Proudly, A painful wart on the big toe of progress--No gay marriage!)
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To: Palladin
I read some great stuff about Timoney years ago in the book by that ex-NYPD chief. I think his name was Braxton (sp?) Anyway he had HIGH PRAISE for Timoney.
6 posted on 11/23/2003 3:57:18 PM PST by PJ-Comix (PJ's Overall Philosophy Neatly Explains Everything In The Universe In A Tidy Little Package)
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To: netmilsmom
He needs to come here and see how much we love him. Anyone got an e-mail address???

If Timoney were the police chief in Seattle when the spoiled brat nutcases began rioting, the riots would have ended PRONTO and the downtown businesses saved. Of course, Seattle being Seattle, Timoney would have been promptly fired. Thank God that the folks in Miami APPRECIATE and BACK Timoney.

7 posted on 11/23/2003 3:59:35 PM PST by PJ-Comix (PJ's Overall Philosophy Neatly Explains Everything In The Universe In A Tidy Little Package)
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To: PJ-Comix
Yes, yes we do!
8 posted on 11/23/2003 4:06:15 PM PST by Pikamax
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To: Pikamax
There needs to be a police TV series based on Timoney!!!
9 posted on 11/23/2003 4:13:53 PM PST by PJ-Comix (PJ's Overall Philosophy Neatly Explains Everything In The Universe In A Tidy Little Package)
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To: PJ-Comix
This guy is okay. He is in charge of security for a 2004 national convention. Unfortunately, he was hired by the RATS. This is the kind of guy we need.
10 posted on 11/23/2003 4:20:02 PM PST by doug from upland (Hillary didn't hire Pelicano.......my butt)
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To: PJ-Comix
A real eye opener would be the identities of those persons, firms or entities financing the "spontaneous demonstrations."
11 posted on 11/23/2003 4:23:00 PM PST by AEMILIUS PAULUS (Further, the statement assumed)
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
That's an easy one. Just call Gorby at Green Cross, and just about any NGO in GangGreen is probably involved either 'in corpus' or 'in spiritus'.

The Pford (Oops, make that Ford) foundation has assured us that they will no longer fund anti-semitic groups - so perhaps they will stop funding GandGreen.
12 posted on 11/23/2003 4:31:22 PM PST by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon liberty, it is essential to examine principles - -)
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To: PJ-Comix
There's a war on. Hang these traitors!


13 posted on 11/23/2003 4:31:36 PM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: doug from upland
I guess in 1968, the DNC had things well in hand for their convention, too.
14 posted on 11/23/2003 4:34:02 PM PST by Freedom4US
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To: PJ-Comix
" I think maybe we should make Timoney the honorary police chief of the FR."

I wouldn't be so quick to award such an honor. He's tough on these scum, but IIRC, he doesn't believe that peons (that's you and me) have a right to keep and bear arms.

Former Sheriff Richard Mack is a lot more to my liking and remember that he kicked some serious FEDERAL butt?

15 posted on 11/23/2003 4:41:41 PM PST by Badray (Molon Labe!)
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To: IncPen; Nailbiter
This guy is okay. He is in charge of security for a 2004 national convention. Unfortunately, he was hired by the RATS. This is the kind of guy we need.

If this is true, I gotta think his behavior during the Miami demonstrations is going to give the libs running the Democratic convention real pause.

16 posted on 11/23/2003 6:02:30 PM PST by BartMan1
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To: BartMan1
Chief Arpeyo(sp?) out in Arizona is cut from tha same cloth as this guy...I think Phoenix area.
17 posted on 11/23/2003 7:42:24 PM PST by cfrels
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To: All
Morning Bump for everybody to check out these great comments by Police Chief Timoney.
18 posted on 11/24/2003 3:42:51 AM PST by PJ-Comix (PJ's Overall Philosophy Neatly Explains Everything In The Universe In A Tidy Little Package)
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To: PJ-Comix
Don't get too excited.When he was Philthydelphia's police chief he was VERY anti-gun.
19 posted on 11/24/2003 8:50:10 AM PST by Historicus
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