"They work, they come home, they have a martini, and watch the news." - Bill Baker, the Westbrook Police Chief, on the evening routines of a majority of Westbrook residents.
If by 'martini,' Baker meant a Biddeford Martini, then I suppose it's plausible. But a majority of Westbrook folk sipping nightly martinis? Uh, not so much.
Sure, we're becoming more and more yuppie. But not that yuppie.
- John C.L. Morgan
Showing posts with label bill baker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bill baker. Show all posts
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
Low-Budget Drama
In an American Journal article about a rash of drug-related arrests in Westbrook, Chief Bill Baker explained the 30 warrants and the seven drug-related arrests in Westbrook were the result of inter-agency cooperation and citizens dedicated to reducing drug-related crime in Westbrook. That's true.
But it was also part of a nationwide bureaucratic struggle between drug-fighters and the federal bureaucrats who fund them.
According to these Bangor Daily News and Portland Press Herald articles, the arrests were part of a 24-hour nationwide drug-bust blitz designed to highlight the impact of drug enforcement agencies as a way to fight proposed cuts in federal funding. The stings were part of Operation Byrne Blitz (in reference to the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant that funds interagency efforts) and they yielded 91 arrests in Maine alone from Wednesday morning to Thursday morning.
According to the pieces, the Byrne Justice program's funds were cut 67% for fiscal year 2008, and Maine's share of the money will be reduced from $1.7 million to $630,000. Consequently, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) says it will have to cut 13 MDEA agents and 6 drug prosecutors from the MDEA's payroll.
- John C.L. Morgan
But it was also part of a nationwide bureaucratic struggle between drug-fighters and the federal bureaucrats who fund them.
According to these Bangor Daily News and Portland Press Herald articles, the arrests were part of a 24-hour nationwide drug-bust blitz designed to highlight the impact of drug enforcement agencies as a way to fight proposed cuts in federal funding. The stings were part of Operation Byrne Blitz (in reference to the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant that funds interagency efforts) and they yielded 91 arrests in Maine alone from Wednesday morning to Thursday morning.
According to the pieces, the Byrne Justice program's funds were cut 67% for fiscal year 2008, and Maine's share of the money will be reduced from $1.7 million to $630,000. Consequently, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) says it will have to cut 13 MDEA agents and 6 drug prosecutors from the MDEA's payroll.
- John C.L. Morgan
Friday, February 8, 2008
Bill Baker, YouTube Star
Bill Baker, the Chief of Westbrook Police, is a burgeoning star on YouTube. First, there's this thrilling video of whitewater rafting on the Presumpscot. And then he makes a cameo in this video about pond hockey at the 0:44 mark.
Who needs WGME when you've got YouTube?
- John C.L. Morgan
P.S. Kudos to Kate Power of keepmecurrent.com for the first YouTube clip.
Who needs WGME when you've got YouTube?
- John C.L. Morgan
P.S. Kudos to Kate Power of keepmecurrent.com for the first YouTube clip.
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