The Patrick Lynch Syndrome

by Saint Solomon

Patrick Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association, was sworn into the NYPD in 1984. Similar to most rookie officers, I'm sure that Lynch's intentions were good and his heart was in the right place. In his first few years on the job, he earned three Exceptional Police Duty awards and an Exceptional Merit citation for aiding two fellow officers who had been shot.

In 1989, Lynch became somewhat of a power player by being elected as a union delegate who represented officers in the 90th Precinct in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He then launched a newsletter, the Brooklyn North News, which elevated and expanded his clout throughout the NYPD.

Unfortunately, power corrupts. In 1999, when the PBA was tainted with corruption, depravity and immorality, Lynch was elected president. Subsequently, the road that was paved with good intentions led him to being the poster boy of the largest scandal-ridden police union in the world.

Consequently, instead of heeding his 1984 sworn testimony to protect and serve the citizens of New York City, he now propagates justifications for illegal activities committed by some of the more than 50,000 NYPD officers, past and present, who are members of the PBA. His new post oversees employees who administer fear, distrust and envy for control purposes. As a result, since Lynch has taken office, more than 200 New Yorkers, many of them children, have been murdered by the NYPD:

In 1999, Jatrek Hewitt, 17; in 2000, Malcolm Burno, 17; in 2001, Richard Hatcher, 18; in 2002, Kedrian Edwards, 19; in 2003, Allen Newsome, 17; in 2004, Rashawn Moody, 18; in 2005, Virginia Verdee, 12; in 2006, Mingo Mason, 18; in 2007, Shirley Fontane,18; in 2008, Darryl Battle, 20; in 2009, Dawshawn Vasconcello, 18; in 2010, Zachary Bingert, 21; in 2011, Tyre Chisholm, 22; in 2012, Antwaine White, 17; in 2013, Shaaliver Douse, 14, to name just some.

However, in more recent news, when questioned about the high-profile 2014 murder of Eric Garner, Lynch insensitively stated that had Mr. Garner not resisted the lawful order of police officers, he would not have found himself the victim of a homicide.

To this writer, that sounds like a foreboding threat as well as a futuristic warning.

But this attitude does not surprise me, because Lynch also stood with the 16 officers who were arraigned at State Supreme Court in the Bronx during the 2011 ticket fixing scandal. Several police officers were also indicted for illegal drugs, grand larceny and corruption. Lynch and a few other criminally content cops even formed a cordon in the courtroom to block camera operators and other media personnel from exercising the freedom of the press.

When asked about ticket fixing, Lynch stated, “Ticket fixing was conduct accepted at all ranks for decades.” It is becoming overwhelmingly evident that Lynch believes that as long as criminal conduct is accepted by some of his badge-wearing, gun-toting cohorts and cronies, it is somehow legal and justifiable behavior.

In the end, Lynch appears to have lost his way. As a cop, he arrested crooks. As union president, he supports crooked cops. Yes, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I just hope that the Patrick Lynch syndrome doesn't trickle down and taint some of the more honest, upright officers.


The Patrick Lynch Syndrome by Saint Solomon

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