A whistleblower cop has asserted that no amount of money would cause him to settle his lawsuit against the NYPD. Schoolcraft will move forward with the trial, which details his harrowing experiences with the NYPD, including being forced against his will into a mental ward. Schoolcraft claims he was suspended without pay and cast as a lunatic because he blew the whistle on supervisors "who fudged crime stats, enforced illegal quotas and badgered victims trying to report felonies."
Key Quote: He [Schoolcraft] is glad other officers have come forward with similar charges -- most notably Adhyl Polanco, a cop at the 41st Precinct in the Bronx -- but said he is not surprised most officers turn a blind eye when forced to meet summons quotas or downgrade felonies to misdemeanors. "I understand the fear these guys have," Schoolcraft said. "They have families, houses, cars. They feel they can't speak out."
Rolling Stone: On Thin Ice
This in-depth feature on the world's two biggest ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland confirms that they are melting even more rapidly than scientists thought possible. The article discusses how global warming and the thinning of the world's glaciers will contribute to the reshaping of the Earth's surface in years to come, including the rising of sea levels and changes in weather patterns.
Memphis Daily News: Commission Approves Whistleblower Ordinance
Despite controversial references to an August 5th election results dispute, Shelby County (TN) Commissioners approved a move to expand protections for county government whistleblowers. The prior policy -- which protected only those who revealed illegal acts or who were fired specifically for reporting these acts -- has been broadened to include those who report waste, county policy violations, and illegal activities. The new law also protects those who were fired for a variety of reasons, as long as their whistleblowing is the main cause of the disciplinary action.
Lindsay Bigda is Communications Fellow for the Government Accountability Project, the nation's leading whistleblower advocacy organization.
