What’s going on in the Washington D. C. Metropolitan region? First, there was the D. C. Madam, Deborah Palfrey, who was purportedly running a clandestine prostitution operation under the name of Pamela Martin and Associates. Ms. Palfrey claims she was not doing anything illegal but, instead, provided a legal escort service that specialized in providing erotic fantasies and not sex. Known to her clientele as “Miz Julia,” and touting her agency as “undoubtedly the best adult agency around,” Ms. Palfrey maintained a phone list that allegedly possesses a listing of 10,000-15,000 names of men who, law enforcement authorities maintain, conducted business with her establishment in the form of customers paying $300.00 an hour for prostitutes. Though Ms. Palfrey acknowledges many high level and well known men frequented her business, she claims she did nothing wrong or illegal. Now, subsequent to her arrest and indictment, she is fighting charges of federal racketeering.
Recently, at the Venus Spa, advertised as Young’s Spa, in Northwest Washington, D. C., and following a raid by the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, three women were arrested on charges of operating a house of prostitution, solicitation for lewd and immoral purposes, and performing massage without a license. People who live and work in the upscale Glover Park neighborhood were upset with the notion that an illegal and clandestine operation of illicit sex was tarnishing their neighborhood, and they wanted the activities to cease. However, when the police tried to make an undercover appointment for services, they quickly learned that business at this bawdy place was booming. Posing as customers, the police had a challenge to get their foot in the door quickly and furtively.
Though Las Vegas is dubbed “Sin City” and is well known for its adult entertainment and activities, D. C. may be trying to proffer similar services in a different venue. The difference may be that Vegas coins the famous slogan, “What goes on in Vegas, stays in Vegas” whereas D.C., undoubtedly, differs in that regard. What goes on in D. C. quickly becomes public and provides sensational news stories for the local and regional media outlets. What takes place in D. C. is no secret, no matter how determined the sexual entrepreneurs may be.
The shared commonality centers upon the obvious--business is booming. There are men galore who are seeking paid sex with strangers. Many are men already in committed relationships. Others are married men, with families, who tell their wives they are working, going to a meeting, or doing some other believable activity that their trusting wives won’t doubt. All the while, they are skulking around and believing they are outsmarting the ones they run home to and tell them they “love.”
When the ante is up, the cover is blown, and the word is out about the real happenings, as in the case of the D. C. Madam and now the bordello in Glover Park, the men start to quake in their boots. They begin to conjure up alibis, excuses, or suddenly bring heretofore non-existent religion into their lives. Or, just maybe, they confess, as did Senator David Vitter (R-LA), and acknowledge they sinned even if they didn’t do it in the famous sin city itself. All the while, they beg for another chance with their other half who, nine times out of ten, is in denial, refuses to see the forest for the trees, and takes her honey back. After all, what woman wants to believe that the man she loves and trusts is someone different from what she perceived and that he is actually looking for sex somewhere else from an impersonal, paid service provider? It’s a hard fact for a woman to swallow so she chooses not to.
Whether it’s Las Vegas, Nevada, Tampa, Florida (known as the Lapdancing Capitol of the East Coast),the Red Light District in Amsterdam, the prolific sex outlets in Scandinavia, or the bawdy houses in the region of the nation’s Capitol, the fact remains that sex is in demand and it sells. As history repeats itself, so does the controversy and debate that ceases to culminate in an outcome satisfactory to all.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
U. S. CAPITOL POLICE HORSE-MOUNTED UNIT NEEDS TO BE REINSTATED By Karen L. Bune
The United States Capitol Police force is a highly professional law enforcement agency with well trained and top caliber police professionals. Their job entails numerous challenges in protecting the United States Capitol and surrounding areas, all members of Congress and employees in the Capitol complex, and visitors. It is critical that officers have the necessary equipment, tools, and units to allow them to perform their duties.
One critical unit that is presently lacking is their horse-mounted unit. Though the force previously had one thanks to the insight and efforts of former United States Capitol Police Chief, Terrance W. Gainer, its tenure was short-lived. The unit was only in existence for only 14 months when it was disbanded in September 2005 as a result of congressional action that was initiated and spearheaded by Congressman James Moran (D-Va.) and some other select congressmen. The unit was a short-lived success, and it was relatively inexpensive to maintain because the officers in the unit assumed most of the responsibility for caring, feeding, and maintaining the horses which curtailed any major expenditures.
A unit of this type is vital to law enforcement efforts in the nation’s capitol because it has a highly visible presence. During protests, which are common at the U. S. Capitol, this unit would be able to manage crowd control and quickly curtail and disrupt the potential for violence and destruction of property that could ensue as a consequence. The mounted patrol can serve as a barrier between protestors and counter-protestors and can act as a shield between the opposing participants during a demonstration. The horses are able to move crowds; most people are afraid of them and will not dare to defiantly engage the horse-mounted officer when confronted in a crowded situation.
A horse-mounted officer is the equivalent to 10 officers on foot, and the horse-mounted officer is able to quickly gain access to areas not easily accessible to officers on foot or in cruisers. Because the officer sits so high upon the horse, the officer has an excellent field of vision and is able to readily observe activity on the ground that cannot be seen by an officer on foot or in a cruiser. The horse-mounted officer is able to look into vehicles and observe suspicious behavior. Because of its visible presence, a unit of this type has a deterrent effect and can prevent crimes form occurring particularly when potential criminals can see its presence. The horse-mounted unit is also significant in dealing with terrorist threats. It serves as a huge deterrent because if any potential terrorists are scoping the layout of the Capitol, they will quickly observe the presence of the mounted officers on patrol which may preclude them from following through on their plans. Moreover, the officers may also notice suspicious activity that leads to immediate investigation.
The horse-mounted unit also serves as a great public relations tool. There are constantly many people, including dignitaries, from all over the world, who visit the nation’s Capitol. They want to feel safe and secure, and the sight of the horses not only serves as a calming presence but provides an opportunity for visitors from various cultures to understand the role of police officers and provides them a non-threatening way in which to establish friendly dialogue and enhance police-community relations.
“Mounted units are force multipliers for several reasons. They are great in crowd management situations; they make an impression. Second, the public loves them which is great for police image, the officers, and visible and interactive with the public. And, finally, they improve morale. The officers like coming to work,” says former U. S. Capitol Police Chief and current U. S. Senate sergeant-at-arms, Terrance W. Gainer.
When he was police chief, Gainer was instrumental in establishing the unit and was very supportive of its efforts. He recognized the importance of the unit and understood the importance of it on Capitol Hill. When it existed, the unit was headed by Sgt. Kathy Bignotti. The mounted officers, who were part of that unit, were passionate about their work and diligent in their duties.
Disbanding the unit was a tremendous mistake, and it is now time to reinstate that unit. Congress must evaluate the vital need for this unit, and the current U. S. Capitol Police Chief, Philip Morse, needs to take a proactive stance and make a concerted effort to do what he can, in his leadership role, to get this unit reinstated. Other units in the country-- including Tampa, Atlanta, and Chicago-- to name a few, previously had their units dismantled but recognized the absence of their units was a significant mistake and had them subsequently reinstated. They are all now functional and successful units whose importance in their regions is clearly recognized.
The nation’s Capitol also needs their horse-mounted unit back and the sooner, the better. If everyone puts their money where their mouth is when the talk centers upon public safety, homeland security, crime prevention, and community outreach, then the reinstatement of the U. S. Capitol Police Horse-Mounted Unit should be an easy task to accomplish.
One critical unit that is presently lacking is their horse-mounted unit. Though the force previously had one thanks to the insight and efforts of former United States Capitol Police Chief, Terrance W. Gainer, its tenure was short-lived. The unit was only in existence for only 14 months when it was disbanded in September 2005 as a result of congressional action that was initiated and spearheaded by Congressman James Moran (D-Va.) and some other select congressmen. The unit was a short-lived success, and it was relatively inexpensive to maintain because the officers in the unit assumed most of the responsibility for caring, feeding, and maintaining the horses which curtailed any major expenditures.
A unit of this type is vital to law enforcement efforts in the nation’s capitol because it has a highly visible presence. During protests, which are common at the U. S. Capitol, this unit would be able to manage crowd control and quickly curtail and disrupt the potential for violence and destruction of property that could ensue as a consequence. The mounted patrol can serve as a barrier between protestors and counter-protestors and can act as a shield between the opposing participants during a demonstration. The horses are able to move crowds; most people are afraid of them and will not dare to defiantly engage the horse-mounted officer when confronted in a crowded situation.
A horse-mounted officer is the equivalent to 10 officers on foot, and the horse-mounted officer is able to quickly gain access to areas not easily accessible to officers on foot or in cruisers. Because the officer sits so high upon the horse, the officer has an excellent field of vision and is able to readily observe activity on the ground that cannot be seen by an officer on foot or in a cruiser. The horse-mounted officer is able to look into vehicles and observe suspicious behavior. Because of its visible presence, a unit of this type has a deterrent effect and can prevent crimes form occurring particularly when potential criminals can see its presence. The horse-mounted unit is also significant in dealing with terrorist threats. It serves as a huge deterrent because if any potential terrorists are scoping the layout of the Capitol, they will quickly observe the presence of the mounted officers on patrol which may preclude them from following through on their plans. Moreover, the officers may also notice suspicious activity that leads to immediate investigation.
The horse-mounted unit also serves as a great public relations tool. There are constantly many people, including dignitaries, from all over the world, who visit the nation’s Capitol. They want to feel safe and secure, and the sight of the horses not only serves as a calming presence but provides an opportunity for visitors from various cultures to understand the role of police officers and provides them a non-threatening way in which to establish friendly dialogue and enhance police-community relations.
“Mounted units are force multipliers for several reasons. They are great in crowd management situations; they make an impression. Second, the public loves them which is great for police image, the officers, and visible and interactive with the public. And, finally, they improve morale. The officers like coming to work,” says former U. S. Capitol Police Chief and current U. S. Senate sergeant-at-arms, Terrance W. Gainer.
When he was police chief, Gainer was instrumental in establishing the unit and was very supportive of its efforts. He recognized the importance of the unit and understood the importance of it on Capitol Hill. When it existed, the unit was headed by Sgt. Kathy Bignotti. The mounted officers, who were part of that unit, were passionate about their work and diligent in their duties.
Disbanding the unit was a tremendous mistake, and it is now time to reinstate that unit. Congress must evaluate the vital need for this unit, and the current U. S. Capitol Police Chief, Philip Morse, needs to take a proactive stance and make a concerted effort to do what he can, in his leadership role, to get this unit reinstated. Other units in the country-- including Tampa, Atlanta, and Chicago-- to name a few, previously had their units dismantled but recognized the absence of their units was a significant mistake and had them subsequently reinstated. They are all now functional and successful units whose importance in their regions is clearly recognized.
The nation’s Capitol also needs their horse-mounted unit back and the sooner, the better. If everyone puts their money where their mouth is when the talk centers upon public safety, homeland security, crime prevention, and community outreach, then the reinstatement of the U. S. Capitol Police Horse-Mounted Unit should be an easy task to accomplish.
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