Sean Patrick Griffin: Successful Author And Rising Star

My friend and colleague Sean Patrick Griffin, Ph.D., has been Associate Professor in Criminal Justice at Penn State Abington since 2003 and he's just published a new book, Gaming The Game: The Story Behind The NBA Betting Scandal And The Man Who Made It Happen.
Dr. Griffin was Assistant Professor of Sociology at Clemson University (South Carolina) from 2000-03. His research areas are organized crime, white-collar crime, labor racketeering, corruption, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and various aspects of policing.
Dr. Griffin is also the author of two books on African-American organized crime, including Black Brothers Inc., The Violent Rise and Fall of Philadelphia's Black Mafia (Milo, 2005/07). Black Entertainment Television (BET) based an episode of its popular "American Gangster" series on Black Brothers, Inc., and the book has been optioned to be made into at least one motion picture by Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way Productions for Warner Brothers Studios. Professor Griffin is a consultant on the film(s).
A strong and outspoken advocate of public scholarship, he has developed and carried out coursework regarding securities fraud and enforcement for audiences of professionals (i.e., attorneys and accountants), and is well into the research and writing of a book on stock fraud, expected to be completed in 2012.
Dr. Griffin commonly lends his expertise to an assortment of entities and individuals, including but not limited to: local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies (especially in re: organized crime, extortion, narcotics trafficking, tax evasion, and money laundering,); regulatory agencies (especially in re: gaming and stock fraud); social service agencies (especially in re: policing and violence against women); and print, radio, and television outlets throughout the U.S. (primarily in re: organized crime, white-collar crime, and related topics).
This amiable, dedicated and accomplished Professor has conducted research in the Netherlands on numerous occasions, focusing on such issues as the international trade in women, transnational organized crime, vice laws and enforcement, and the impact of immigration on the Dutch criminal justice system. He has appeared as an invited panelist for several forums on public policy, is a frequent guest on various local and national radio and television programs, and has been interviewed/featured extensively in print media.
A former Philadelphia Police Officer, Dr. Griffin resides in the city's suburbs with his wife and two children.
I congratulate him on his insight, his writings, his numerous successes and his many accomplishments.
I'm proud to know Sean Griffin and to call him a friend and colleague.

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Video: Youths Looking For Trouble In Center City

View more videos at: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com.

Part of a report from NBC 10 Philadelphia: 

There was an increased police presence in Center City Friday night amidst concerns of possible teen “flash mobs.”

The crackdown came amidst social media rumors of kids gathering and causing havoc. And the police presence came a day after video surfaced of an alleged fight Thursday between some teenage girls inside the H&M store at 16th and Chestnut Streets.

The unseasonably warm weather could have also played a role in the gathering of more teens in Center City.

Click here for more on this story.

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Bateman: Approve NJ Civil Service Reform Now

In response to today's rally by police and firefighters outside the New Jersey State House in Trenton, Senator Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R-Somerset/Morris) renewed his push for civil service reforms that will produce the savings needed to keep those vital public servants at their jobs.
"Today's rally should be a wake-up call to Democrats to stop stonewalling and pass comprehensive civil service reform," stated Bateman. "In these tough economic times, towns and cities throughout New Jersey are struggling with the inflexibility of the current civil service bureaucracy that makes it impossible to cut costs and balance budgets without laying off employees, including police and firefighters. Civil Service reform is not a cure-all, but it certainly would help towns lower their costs and allow many of these men and women to continue serving their communities."
Bateman noted that the civil service system was instituted early in the last century as a way to prevent politicians from packing government offices with incompetent friends and allies, or from firing good public servants without cause. This happened before modern labor and discrimination laws were passed, or before public workers formed unions.
"The civil service system was an important form of protection for public workers before modern labor laws were enacted, but now it's just another redundant layer of bureaucracy that hurts both public employees and taxpayers," Bateman continued. "Local government officials have little control over their workforces and lack the flexibility to manage their personnel in a way that cuts costs and protects jobs."
Senator Bateman is the sponsor of comprehensive civil service reform legislation (S-2039) that would allow local governments to opt out of the civil service system entirely and give town and county officials more power to reduce personnel costs and streamline operations. This bill is part of the Governor’s “toolkit” of bills designed to assist municipalities, counties and State agencies in managing their budgets.
"The Democrat majority passed a watered down version of civil service reform, but it was correctly rejected by the Governor for being ineffective and meaningless," concluded Bateman. "New Jersey taxpayers, and the thousands of police and firemen who serve them, deserve real change and real civil service reform now."

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In New Jersey Police And Firefighters Face Layoffs

After being routinely protected from job cuts for decades, police and firefighters in New Jersey localities are now beginning to feel the pinch of the economic downturn amidst new demands for lower taxes and less government.
Here's how the Philadelphia Inquirer puts it:

After years of cutting in other areas of government and trimming police and fire departments through attrition, cities throughout New Jersey recently have announced a striking number of layoffs in public-safety workers as municipal leaders seek to fill budget gaps created by lower-than-expected revenue.

Look at the figures: Camden is planning to cut its police force in half. Newark has laid off 167 police officers. Atlantic City is laying off 60. And the number of police officers in New Jersey has declined by about 11% in less than two years. Most of the loss has occurred through attrition.
It's unfortunate. But government has got to tighten its belt everywhere.
It's a safe bet that the police and firefighters are the last to be laid off in most instances and they will probably also be the first to be rehired.
We all know that politicians allowed police and fire departments to grow as they boasted of their crime-fighting and public safety commitments. In good economic times those moves were popular.
But that was then. This is now.

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PA State Troopers Endorse Toomey

Today, Pennsylvania U.S. Senate candidate and former small business owner Pat Toomey received the endorsement of the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association.
This endorsement follows announcements of support from the Fraternal Order of Police, the Pennsylvania Medical Society PAC, the American Medical Association PAC, and the National Federation of Independent Business.
Below are statements from Pat Toomey and Bruce Edwards, the president of the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association.
“We are endorsing Pat because he understands that law enforcement must have the tools it needs to protect America’s families and their communities,” Bruce Edwards said. “Pat has the kind of qualities you want in a senator – attentive, principled, and balanced. His commonsense approach to being tough on criminals, standing up to law enforcement, and protecting our national security is the reason we are proud to endorse him. In Pat, we have someone who will do what’s right to protect our families and our communities.”
“I am proud and grateful to receive the endorsement of the State Troopers,” Pat Toomey said. “The State Troopers represent Pennsylvania’s hard working men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities and our families. In a post-9/11 world we rely on our law enforcement officials in new and challenging ways and it is crucial that we support policies that make it easier – not harder – for law enforcement officials to do their jobs. I am honored by their endorsement today, and I look forward to working with them in the U.S. Senate.”

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