THE TALE of Jeffrey Heffernan, a police officer in Paterson, New Jersey, lends support to the adage that no good deed goes unpunished.
In 2006, Mr Heffernan’s bedridden mother asked him to pick her up another yard sign (the first had been pinched) supporting her preferred candidate in the town’s mayoral race. In carrying out his mum’s wishes, Mr Heffernan was spotted with the sign and word quickly spread through the police department. The chief of police, James Wittig, was supporting the incumbent, as was his boss, and did not look kindly on Mr Heffernan’s apparent activism in favour of the challenger. Mr Wittig quickly took action against Mr Heffernan, then a 20-year veteran in the department who had been promoted to detective just a year earlier. The dutiful son would pay for his political sin by giving up the keys to his cruiser and assuming the duties of patrol cop with a walking beat.
Nobody involved in Heffernan v City of Paterson seems to think Mr Wittig’s retribution was in the least bit noble. The lawyer...Continue reading
Source: United States http://ift.tt/1Pl64j5
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