Description: Under court order, Registry of Motor Vehicles can no longer provide information from drivers' licenses. This creates dilemma for police who require details to make positive identifications. RMV officers.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 01/19/1989
Description: Charleston, South Carolina police chief Reuben Greenberg explains his tactics for lowering the crime rate in his city, including "flying squad" of officers who run after criminals.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 04/04/1989
Description: Jan von Mehren reports that Rev. Graylan Hagler of the Church of the United Community has been critical of the Boston Police Department's stop-and-search policy in Roxbury. Hagler has proposed that graduates of the police academy spend 18 months working as coaches and counselors in the community. Interview with Hagler, who says that police officers and the community would benefit from a stronger relationship. He adds that the police must take a more innovative approach to fighting crime in the area. He also says that police officers and young people need to form a partnership. Von Mehren notes that critics do not believe that Hagler's plan is feasible.
1:00:07: Visual: Footage of the Reverend Graylan Ellis-Hagler (Church of the United Community) walking on a street in Roxbury with two African American men. Shots of the exterior of the Church of the United Community; of a sign for the Church of the United Community. Jan von Mehren reports that Ellis-Hagler spends a lot of time on the Roxbury streets. Von Mehren notes that Ellis-Hagler moved his church into a building where drug addicts were regularly shooting up. Von Mehren reports that the church is one of the most active community centers in Roxbury. V: Shots of men standing outside of the church. Two men exchange a hug as a greeting. Shots of a Boston Police Department cruiser on the street outside of the church. Shots of Ellis-Hagler and a group of people entering the church. Von Mehren reports that Hagler has been critical of the Boston Police Department's stop-and-search policy in Roxbury. V: Footage of Ellis-Hagler being interviewed by von Mehren. Ellis-Hagler says that people feel less safe on the street than they did five years ago. Ellis-Hagler says that the police need to try out some new tactics in fighting crime. Ellis-Hagler talks about a proposal he submitted to the Boston Police Department. Hagler says that he has recommended that first-year police officers not be put on the street immediately. Ellis-Hagler says that first-year police officers should have an "intern" relationship with the community. Shots of Boston police officers making drug arrests on the street; of African American kids playing basketball on an outdoor court; of the snowy parking lot of a housing development. Von Mehren reports that Ellis-Hagler wants graduates of the police academy to spend 18 months working as coaches and counselors in the community. V: Footage of Ellis-Hagler saying that most police officers are concerned about the community. Ellis-Hagler says that many police officers realize that an more innovative approach is necessary. Shots of a group of police officers on the street; of a police officer sitting on a motorcycle; of police officers at police headquarters. Von Mehren reports that the police commissioner has not responded to Ellis-Hagler's plan. Von Mehren notes that many citizens are calling for more police protection; that some may not like Ellis-Hagler's idea of employing police officers as coaches and counselors. Von Mehren reports that Ellis-Hagler believes that his plan will result in more effective police officers. V: Shots of Ellis-Hagler talking with a group of African American men at his church. Shots of the individual men in the group. Shot of a group of men standing outside of the church. Ellis-Hagler exits the church and embraces one of the men. Audio of Ellis-Hagler saying that the police depend on cooperation from the community to solve crime. Footage of Ellis-Hagler saying that young people are a good source of information for police officers; that young people know where and when drug activity takes place. Ellis-Hagler says that the police officers should form a partnership with young people; that both sides would benefit from the relationship. Von Mehren stands in the meeting hall of the Church of the United Community. Von Mehren reports that Ellis-Hagler will hold a community summit next Monday; that Ellis-Hagler will discuss his police partnership proposal. Von Mehren says that Ellis-Hagler is pushing the proposal; that some do not believe the plan is feasible.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 12/15/1989
Description: Jan von Mehren reports that the Massachusetts Civil Liberties Union has filed a class-action lawsuit against the Boston Police Department on behalf of minority youth in Mattapan, Roxbury, and Dorchester. Von Mehren notes that the lawsuit accuses the Police Department of engaging in unreasonable search and seizure practices. Von Mehren's reports includes footage from a press conference with John Roberts (Massachusetts Civil Liberties Union), Bill Owens (State Senator), Caroline Marshall (mother of plaintiff), and Margaret Burnham (attorney). Roberts says that statements by the Boston Police Department provoked the lawsuit. Marshall and Burnham speak out against unreasonable police practices. Von Mehren quotes Paul Evans (Commissioner, Boston Police Department) as saying that the police are not violating anyone's Constitutional rights. Von Mehren reports that many students at English High School support the lawsuit. Von Mehren interviews English High School students about their experiences with police officers.
1:00:10: Visual: Footage of a group of English High School students walking on a street after school. Jan von Mehren reports that many students from English High School have stories to tell about police officers who have overstepped their boundaries. V: Footage of Tony Moss (Roxbury resident, 16 years old) saying that he was walking home from school one day when police officers stopped, threw him against the wall and proceeded to search him. Footage of Hector Pinto (Dorchester resident) talking about being searched by police. Footage of a high school gym. A group of girls in the gym play with a volleyball. Another group of students stands on the bleachers. Footage of Reginald Verdieu (Mattapan resident) saying that he has never been searched; that his friends have been searched. Verdieu says that a friend was forced by police officers to pull down his pants and take off his shoes. Footage of Alexia Baez (18 years old) being interviewed by von Mehren. Baez says that a group of her friends were searched by police; that one member of the group was forced to pull down his pants. Von Mehren reports that Baez believes that the police are humiliating teenagers. Von Mehren reports that the Massachusetts Civil Liberties Union has filed a class-action lawsuit against the Boston Police Department; that the suit is being filed on behalf of African American and Latino young people from Mattapan, Roxbury, and Dorchester. V: Footage of John Roberts (Massachusetts Civil Liberties Union) speaking at a press conference. Roberts says that statements by the Boston Police Department provoked the lawsuit. Roberts sits at a table four others including Bill Owens (State Senator) Caroline Marshall (mother of plaintiff), and Margaret Burnham (attorney). Shots of the media at the press conference; of von Mehren at the press conference. Von Mehren reports that the lawsuit accuses the Police Department of engaging in unreasonable search and seizure practices; of violating the fourth amendment rights of those who are searched. V: Footage of Marshall saying that she wants the police to operate within the law; that people need to realize what is going on in their community. Shots of attendees at the press conference. Footage of Burnham saying that police are only allowed to search those who are suspected of committing a crime. Von Mehren quotes Paul Evans (Commissioner, Boston Police Department) as saying that police do sometimes make mistakes; that police are not violating anyone's Constitutional rights. V: Shot of two white police officers stopping to search a young African American male. Evans' quote appears written in text on-screen. Von Mehren reports that many English High School students applaud the lawsuit. Von Mehren notes that the students are quick to point out the problems in their neighborhood. Von Mehren says that the students do not want the police to leave the neighborhood; that the students want police to stop searching the wrong people. V: Shots of English High School students walking on the sidewalks. Footage of Verdieu saying that innocent people should not be stopped by police; that police do need to stop some people.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 11/21/1989
Description: Michael Dukakis, Susan Tucker, David Scondras all urge gun control measures to protect teens. Street violence at night. Shooting victims wheeled to ambulance. Police firing range, target practice. Black youths play basketball. Dudley Street at night. Dorchester business district, storefronts.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 02/15/1989