The FBI takes a few star turns in my book Why Law Enforcement Organizations Fail. The reasons for that starring role repeat in this story centered on the FBI’s fatal shooting of an individual being questioned in regard to his relationship with the Boston Marathon bombing suspects.

If this story was only about Detroit, it wouldn’t be so scary. But imagining that bankruptcy-level financial projections are fixable is almost irresistible to all involved–legislators who don’t want to deliver hard news to supporters, executives who don’t want to be remembered as the captain of the municipal (or state) Titanic, budget and revenue officials who don’t want to bring bad news to their elected bosses.  To free-market tea partiers who cluck disapprovingly over governmental sleight of hand, let me say this–Enron, Lehman Brothers, JP Morgan Chase.

Ten years ago in a store parking lot, the Tacoma, Washington police chief, whose troubled domestic history was known to colleagues, killed his wife and then himself in front of their two young kids. This story shows the staying power of attitudes conducive to sweeping police officer domestic violence under the rug.

Milwaukee, which has cut back on police pursuits, is one of many jurisdiction’s doing so. The results, which are also the reasons for the policy change, strongly suggest that the change, overall, is a good thing.

The fired ethics officer allegedly kept bad records and while stepping on some big Cook County toes.  So off she goes, while the nepotism she had targeted lives on.

Is anyone else repulsed?  Foreign governments ensnared, lead and supporting actors retaining mega-bucks advisors–who hire yet others–even Florida’s DMV may get on stage. Never mind the media resources being expended.  Could not a few homeless families be housed with the millions being wasted on this lint-obsessed navel-gazing?

One or more investigations will ultimately get to the bottom of why a third of New Jersey Transit’s rail fleet was in harm’s way when Sandy struck.  A similar fate struck busses in New Orleans, suggesting it’s high time that an equipment evacuation template be both available–which I suspect is the case–and used–which was not the case here. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/18/us-storm-sandy-newjersey-railway-idUSBRE8AG0K220121118

I don’t know what it is about seeing one’s name in print.  Narcissism? NYPD oversight is eyed at panel discussion | Nation & World | The Seattle Times.