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So PC’s profile on Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson hit the newsstands today.
For the most part people seemed okay with it.
PC thought Sly’s candid comments on race and religion would infuriate the masses. Still, many felt we should have been more critical of his tenure in the report.
Since it was a profile, Sly was the only one pressed to speak out.
Check Sly out on Philly.Com’s exclusive video of him telling the world why “it's better to build children than to repair adults.”
This story has been a year in the making.
In 2006, Sly and PC began to chat. First it was about the state of the city, and then it turned into a discourse centered around police policy. Our conversations later grew into debates about race, religion, and the significance of a historical prospective.
PC sat on the story and waited for the ripe time to chase it— controversy.
First it was 2007’s out-of-control murder count, followed by the newest winner of the Daily News top cop award, Sly’s longtime aide Kim Byrd. Then it was the announcement that Bryd would be moving up the chain of command to the department’s executive officer position.
DRAMA!
PC felt it was time for the public to meet the other sides of their police commissioner.
Like him or hate him, if you read the story, at least you will understand him.
And that our friends is why Philly Confidential has a purpose on this planet: To report on the one thing the standard media constantly overlooks—context.
Comments (3)
Simone,
Well done.
If a man must accept valid criticism at times for misjudgement, the same man is entitled for equal credit where it is due.
And Sylvester Johnson is due.
One looks recently at the man and sees frustration, anger, and a touch of bitterness.
But I suggest to you Commissioner Johnson that you rent the old movie "It's A Wonderful Life", starring Jimmy Stewart.
A touching tale of a good and decent man, George Bailey, who spent all of his life helping people, doing good deeds, touching people's lives and making a difference.
The due to a bit of misfortune, manipulated by a vindictive Mr Potter (Bob Eddis in the ongoing Philadelphia remake)came to the point in life where he wished that he had never been born
Even intended to jump off a bridge into a freezing river.
Enter Clarence.......an seemingly hapless "angel" trying to earn his wings by showing George Bailey, through the bulk of the movie, how life would have turned out for so many people had there been no George Bailey. How things he did during the course of his life, both little and big, touched so many people.......and how things would turn out very differently (none of it for the better) had he not been there.
A reminder how a single person, directly and indirectly, can touch so many lives......sometimes without even knowing it.
The best scene of all was at the end of the movie, when George returns home with a changed mindset, a sense of what his life has meant, and still means, for so many.
Suddenly the house starts filling up with people of every sort, all those he had helped in life and made a difference with, who heard he was in trouble and came to repay their debts and be there for HIM this time.
Then the true classic part....while holding his daughter in his arms in front of the Christmas tree one of the ornamental bells started to jing a ling.
The daughter said "Look Daddy, that means an angel just got his wings".
Sylvester Johnson........you have a looming date with a retirement ceremony in about 7 months, one that you have earned with over 40 years of military/police service (even if some of it was as a Squid, we do not fault you at all for your poor choice of military branch of service).
Make it right for yourself because if you get to that date angry, bitter, and disgusted.......then you have handed your enemies a victory that they could never earn on their own.
Remember the lesson of Jerry Pelligrini, your friend and mine, with that last round of his big fight.
Beause I think you have one more round in you.
The angels will walk with you on the path to that retirement ceremony, we leave no good man behind.
I hope that they tought you some "escape and evade" skills in the Navy though......because we are REALLY going to need it.
So trust that your friends and supporters are more than your enemies and critics.
And lets see some of that famed patience, ability to perservere, and self discipline.
Because, Commissioner Johnson, it really IS a wonderful life.
Posted by Mike Bucceroni | June 29, 2007 6:06 PM
Posted on June 29, 2007 18:06
In a world where it looks as though all we got on our War on Poverty is a bunch of baby daddy grabbing themselves like a bunch of two year olds that have to go to the bathroom running around in pants that make them look as though they took a dump in their diaper and a population that adheres to the no snitch policy The Commissioner may leave public service frustrated. No doubt there are probably more minoritiy officers patrolling the neighborhoods where they shoot each other everyday. The police can not raise children. It doesn't take a village to raise a child, it takes a parent, two of them. I hope he lives a long time so he can live long enough to see his efforts will not have been in vain. It looks as though Nutter will be the next Mayor and will consult with The Commissioner.
Posted by John Cunningham | July 1, 2007 7:40 AM
Posted on July 1, 2007 07:40
I wouldn't have expected anything else from you Simone. The article was a lovefest for an overmatched civil servant content to do out his time and make no difference. He should have been a social worker, he certainly doesn't make it as a cop or a leader. I certainly know him better now and reading his comments on how he sees the world, show mw a bitter man. His legacy, coupled with that of John Street, will show that incompetance is an equal opportnity employer, maybe that is what he was aiming for all the time.
Posted by John Q | July 2, 2007 12:34 PM
Posted on July 2, 2007 12:34