"Ghetto tendencies".

*Folks in Philly can be really rough around the edges. Even our police officers ---whose job it is to protect and serve--- carry a big ass chip on their shoulders. And, if we are going to be honest, some of them really shouldn't be police officers in the first place.




"A PHILADELPHIA police officer was arrested yesterday for an off-duty incident last fall in which he allegedly drove into a pedestrian - and then threatened to kill the man, shouting a racial slur at him and flashing his gun.


Edward Sawicki III, 34, was off-duty on Oct. 20, 2013 around 3 a.m. when he backed his car into a 37-year-old pedestrian on the 1100 block of S. 9th Street. 

Sawicki hit the man in the knee. The victim then pounded on the trunk of Sawicki’s vehicle with his hand to alert the driver, according to the District Attorney’s Office. 

Sawicki exited the car, pulled up his shirt and showed his gun. And then he rushed at the victim. Sawicki then yelled racial epitaphs at the victim and threatened to kill him.


At one point Sawicki stated “N#!!er, I’ll smoke you” while keeping his hand on the holstered, city-issued gun, according to the DA’s office.

Sawicki, who is a 9-year veteran of the force, was last assigned to the 25th District.

He turned himself into police earlier today. Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey suspended Edward Sawicki for 30 days with the intent to dismiss.

Sawicki was charged with making terroristic threats, possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct." [Source]


Officer Sawicki might or might not be off the street soon. Still, if what is alleged is true, Chief Ramsey (*in pic) really needs to be going through his force with a fine tooth comb.


When he does, I am sure he will find not only racists, but he will find more drug dealers and thieves as well.


Finally, I saw "Prime Time's" comments about Johnny Manziel, and I must admit that it made me uncomfortable. It did because I hate it when we stereotype people based on their actions.


Yes, "Johnny Football" plays and carries himself with some swag, but why does this have to be equated with "ghetto" or black culture? The kid is white, Texan, and comes from a wealthy family. But he is also a product of his environment, which, as far as I can tell, is one that fostered a sense of cockiness and "swag" from day one.


I read what Clay Travis had to say about the subject, and I found his article interesting. He was basically celebrating the fact that Johnny Manziel was helping to shatter stereotypes when it comes to quarterbacks. Which I suppose is fine. And yes, I do acknowledge that such stereotypes are out there.


But when folks like "Prime Time" celebrate the stereotypes and embrace the image that America chooses to project on men of color who want to play quarterback, it sends the wrong message.


"Oh, please. I love Johnny Football. See, the reason people won’t accept Johnny Football is because Johnny Football has ghetto tendencies. I love Johnny Football."


What exactly is "ghetto tendencies"? And why should it (whatever it is) be celebrated?


"Because he was successful, he made it, and he let you all know he made it, and he was cocky, he was flamboyant, and he let you know."


Couldn't this just be a wealthy white kid who has an incredible amount of talent and who is sure of himself and his skills on the football field? Rhetorical question. Of course it could be.


"Manziel's a creative entertainer, a border-defying, cross-pollinating cultural icon. He's a rich, white Texan who identifies more with black culture than with white culture, a polyglot melange in the our American mixing bowl.


But, look out, that still makes some people uncomfortable. As much as America may be a multi-cultural society, we still want to put people in boxes, identify them as one thing or another, create delineated spaces within our culture where some people fit and others don't.


But you ain't putting Johnny Manziel just in one box. "


But that's exactly what you are doing: putting him in a box. (Albeit a "ghetto" one.) And just like those old rich white owners;  it makes me uncomfortable, too. Although I suspect for a totally different reason.  







 

Sawicki then leaped out of his car, pulled up his shirt to show his city-issued gun and rushed at the pedestrian, yelling: "N-----, I'll smoke you!" while keeping his hand on his holstered gun, the D.A.'s office said in a statement.
The victim called police, prompting Internal Affairs officers to confiscate Sawicki's gun and launch an investigation into the incident.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140403_Cop_arrested_for_bumping_man_with_car__then_threatening_him_with_gun.html#DXX7mhekuHLhuGCf.99

A PHILADELPHIA police officer was arrested yesterday for an off-duty incident last fall in which he allegedly drove into a pedestrian - and then threatened to kill the man, shouting a racial slur at him and flashing his gun.
Officer Edward Sawicki III, 33, surrendered to police yesterday morning. He faces charges including terroristic threats, simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime, harassment and disorderly conduct.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey suspended Sawicki for 30 days, with intent to dismiss the nine-year veteran officer, who was most recently assigned to North Philly's rough-and-tumble 25th District.
The incident occurred Oct. 20 at 2:45 a.m. as a pedestrian was walking on 9th Street near Wharton in South Philadelphia, according to the District Attorney's Office. Sawicki was backing up in his car when he hit the 37-year-old man in his knee. The victim pounded on the trunk of Sawicki's car with his hand to alert Sawicki that he'd hit him.

Sawicki then leaped out of his car, pulled up his shirt to show his city-issued gun and rushed at the pedestrian, yelling: "N-----, I'll smoke you!" while keeping his hand on his holstered gun, the D.A.'s office said in a statement.
The victim called police, prompting Internal Affairs officers to confiscate Sawicki's gun and launch an investigation into the incident.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140403_Cop_arrested_for_bumping_man_with_car__then_threatening_him_with_gun.html#Erk12bJXBUZmVKer.99

A PHILADELPHIA police officer was arrested yesterday for an off-duty incident last fall in which he allegedly drove into a pedestrian - and then threatened to kill the man, shouting a racial slur at him and flashing his gun.
Officer Edward Sawicki III, 33, surrendered to police yesterday morning. He faces charges including terroristic threats, simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime, harassment and disorderly conduct.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey suspended Sawicki for 30 days, with intent to dismiss the nine-year veteran officer, who was most recently assigned to North Philly's rough-and-tumble 25th District.
The incident occurred Oct. 20 at 2:45 a.m. as a pedestrian was walking on 9th Street near Wharton in South Philadelphia, according to the District Attorney's Office. Sawicki was backing up in his car when he hit the 37-year-old man in his knee. The victim pounded on the trunk of Sawicki's car with his hand to alert Sawicki that he'd hit him.

Sawicki then leaped out of his car, pulled up his shirt to show his city-issued gun and rushed at the pedestrian, yelling: "N-----, I'll smoke you!" while keeping his hand on his holstered gun, the D.A.'s office said in a statement.
The victim called police, prompting Internal Affairs officers to confiscate Sawicki's gun and launch an investigation into the incident.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140403_Cop_arrested_for_bumping_man_with_car__then_threatening_him_with_gun.html#Erk12bJXBUZmVKer.99

A PHILADELPHIA police officer was arrested yesterday for an off-duty incident last fall in which he allegedly drove into a pedestrian - and then threatened to kill the man, shouting a racial slur at him and flashing his gun.
Officer Edward Sawicki III, 33, surrendered to police yesterday morning. He faces charges including terroristic threats, simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime, harassment and disorderly conduct.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey suspended Sawicki for 30 days, with intent to dismiss the nine-year veteran officer, who was most recently assigned to North Philly's rough-and-tumble 25th District.
The incident occurred Oct. 20 at 2:45 a.m. as a pedestrian was walking on 9th Street near Wharton in South Philadelphia, according to the District Attorney's Office. Sawicki was backing up in his car when he hit the 37-year-old man in his knee. The victim pounded on the trunk of Sawicki's car with his hand to alert Sawicki that he'd hit him.

Sawicki then leaped out of his car, pulled up his shirt to show his city-issued gun and rushed at the pedestrian, yelling: "N-----, I'll smoke you!" while keeping his hand on his holstered gun, the D.A.'s office said in a statement.
The victim called police, prompting Internal Affairs officers to confiscate Sawicki's gun and launch an investigation into the incident.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140403_Cop_arrested_for_bumping_man_with_car__then_threatening_him_with_gun.html#Erk12bJXBUZmVKer.99