HPD's chief is indicted

Houston Chronicle ^ | Sept. 7, 2002, 12:52AM | LISA TEACHEY and MATT SCHWARTZ

[Houmatt]

See related story here.

At this point, it would be hard to not see Bradford's attitude toward Aguirre and the K-Mart raid as rather suspect.

[Ken H]

Bradford blew it by making such a flat assertion under oath.

He should have said "I don't ever recall using such profanity. It is against my beliefs to behave in such a manner."

Or, "I did not have profane words with that man, Mr. Aguirre."

[Oldeconomybuyer]

I thought lying under oath has been perfectly legal since 1998.

[dennisw]

[StolarStorm]

I don't like this guy all that much, but this whole thing is a joke and pure politics. He probably just didn't remember the profanity. I doubt that I could remember every word I used in a conversation that goes back quite a while. Can't believe they are going to destroy this guy over something so damn silly.

[jimtorr]

This is such a ticky-tac thing! The question must be asked, who did Bradford offend?

[wita]

...and it would be a rare bird indeed who didn't use some sort of exlamation to make a point, in the high pressure world of big city police work, but if you are going to hang your own high, as in the captain, you better be watching your backside.

[unbiasedtruth]

Houston Police Chief C.O. Bradford was indicted Friday on allegations of lying under oath...

After Clinton, I thought lying under oath was no big deal. I guess it's only okay to lie about sex and not weather you used profanity.

[Teacher317]

I don't like this guy all that much, but this whole thing is a joke and pure politics. He probably just didn't remember the profanity. I doubt that I could remember every word I used in a conversation that goes back quite a while. Can't believe they are going to destroy this guy over something so damn silly.

Yes, it is pure politics, but it is unrealistic to think that he didn't know that he had used foul language with his subordinates. Lying about something so small and irrelevant can get you in trouble, especially if you're under oath, and most especially if political forces are out to get you (rather like Mark Fuhrman's lie about using the "n"-word).

[johnb838]

I'm reminded of the Marvin Zindler character from Best Little Whorehouse in Texas: "Texas Has A Whore House In It!" (Oh My)

I'm SHOCKED I tell you, the man used profanity in front of POLICE OFFICERS! How can they ever do their jobs again?

I am getting so sick of governments squabbling over nothing and ignoring the public trust. And the constant public propaganda drumbeat of what I need to do for my 'health' etc. I don't want any more advice from the government. They don't know squat.

I'm reminded of a while back when W had his colonoscopy. Aaron Brown, I think it was, on CNN was interviewing Dore Gold of Israel on the ongoing slaughter there when Bush made his post-exam remarks and they immediately had to cut to them. They came back, Dore was still standing there with his typical look of wry humor on his face. Brown proceeded to inform him that that was all the time there was and that he should go and get his colon checked. It was embarrassing. Gold said "We should live long enough to get colon cancer" and that was it.

A realistic perspective.

[nicmarlo]

After Clinton, I thought lying under oath was no big deal. I guess it's only okay to lie about sex and not weather you used profanity.

My thoughts, exactly. This is completely ridiculous. I don't condone lying under oath, but the charges, to begin with, how is that worse than what Clinton did? This is pathetic.

[justlurking]

This is such a ticky-tac thing! The question must be asked, who did Bradford offend?

I think it goes back farther than that. The question should be: who did Aguirre offend?

It started with the chief's letter of reprimand to Aguirre for "using profane and threatening language toward his subordinates". From the article:

Aguirre called supervisors in the South Central patrol division, which he oversees, "sons of bitches" and "lazy bastards,"

Reading between the lines, it appears that Aguirre appealed to the Civil Service Commission, using the "everyone does it" defense. Bradford was probably asked if "he ever used profanity" in that context.

Since he didn't use the classic Clintonism ("I don't recall"), he really had no defense when contradicted by his own subordinates. So, Bradford was hoisted on his own petard.

[justlurking]

Earlier story (and related comments) here.

[unbiasedtruth]

weather=whether

I should never get on this forum before 7 a.m.

[cadillac cowboy]

"We'll be open to any suggestions his attorneys make." Rosenthal said. "And we'll consider everything in this case. The earmarks of this case look to me like it will have to be resolved by a trial. Certainly if we can resolve it by something other than trial that's fine with me."

This Rosenthal guy doesn't sound like a prosecuting attorney to me. In fact, he talks as if he's pre-disposed to favor the defendant.

[JCG]

How do we know he didn't say niggardly?

America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
New Link: Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)

[Boss_Jim_Gettys]

"HPD's chief is indicted"

I read the headline and thought H was for Honolulu. Book 'em Dan-o!

[Boss_Jim_Gettys]

"How do we know he didn't say niggardly?"

Funniest thing I've read in a while. Where can I send you an invoice for my coffee-soaked keyboard?

[dix]

Mayor Brown and all his cronies including Bradford are all big Dems. It is so sweet to see them bitten by all this pc bulls--t. Bradford should have said, I am a policeman. It is a gritty profession that most of the time is not very genteel. Of course, I swear at my people sometimes but, he couldn't because he was trying to hang the other guy. I love the law of unintended consequences when it screws up the Dems.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

FYI........