Does anyone know how to file a complaint against a police officer in Fishtown? I am now having to battle my fourth, yes fourth, ticket for garbage...all by the same officer with nice little ad lib comments about my trash. The last two are complete fabrications, and were filed 2 or more months AFTER they were written and mailed to me--not put through my mail slot.

I'm beginning to think CW is a cop. :shock:

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Resident of Fishtown, Moderator of Fish/No. Libs/Kenzo forum, Real Estate Agent-Prudential Fox & Roach

I was expecting an Abner Louima type story. Not tickets for trash. As far as your tix are concerned, don't pay them.

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In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
-George Orwell

Ha. Sorry--this is really peeving me and I'm feeling like it's a direct attack against me as a "gentrifier" or as a neighbor to this section 8 lunatic who must know a cop.

I can't just not pay them--they're just a nuisance and totally uncalled for, esp. when since I've moved in, the property is looking about 100% better.

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Resident of Fishtown, Moderator of Fish/No. Libs/Kenzo forum, Real Estate Agent-Prudential Fox & Roach

So what's the issue with your trash?

Oh actually correction--it's the 5th ticket.

The first 3 were for the same day last November--#1: I had too much in weight. #2: I had too much in volume. #3: wrong day. (I called bulk trash 8 times over a period of two weeks for an appointment and gave up.)

#4 was written the next week (November) after that--for the wrong day (Thursday not Friday). Mailed to me in early March. (Same bulk trash issue. Made 4 more attempts to get ahold of bulk trash.)

#5 was apparently written in February and I got it today. Saying garbage was out on Thursday (a day early) and that putting it out early is not acceptable and I must keep my entire sidewalk clear of debris at all times. I guess Sanford & Son rolled out their trash that day in front of my house when I was at work because I sure did not.

This whole thing is really ridiculous. I just spent $175 to put a light on the front of my house to make it look BETTER--it's not like I'm one of these people that dumps my 1970's couch and beer bottles on the front curb for pick-up. Moreover, every time I walk my dog I see people with equal amounts of trash out as I usually have--not to mention people that STORE their garbage cans on the street--and I've never (nor have my neighbors) heard of them getting fined. I meticulously grab the empty cans off the sidewalk Friday morning before I go to work.

Sorry--I know people are tired of me talking about this. I just really want to know what recourse I have, if any because obviously I am going to continually get baseless tickets unless I do something more permanent than appeal them.

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Resident of Fishtown, Moderator of Fish/No. Libs/Kenzo forum, Real Estate Agent-Prudential Fox & Roach

I h/n seen anyone get a ticket in QV for similar offenses and I would think this area would be ripe for curb nazis and their ilk. I think your probably right about being picked on by somebody. It's not very heartening to have the cops harassing you like that not to mention it sounds expensive.

Why don't you take pictures of your trash and your neighbors for the next few weeks and then go pay a visit to his boss. Obviously you can't keep paying the tickets and I don't for one second buy cw's cower in fear behind closed blinds if the loco locals and cops don't like you recommendations. What kind of way is that to live?

OTOH I'd be somewhat subtle when you show up at the station. Cops aren't real sympathic to complaining yuppies is my guess, I'm not profiling you... #;@0, but if you have a legitimate beef and have the right "attitude" they might understand your POV better...

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Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard. - H.L. Mencken

You might want to move to another part of the city where the people are less petty and would appreciate a good neighbor like you.

Or you could sleep with the guy/girl that keeps giving you all the tickets.

Thanks for the sympathy and the tips. I think I may just have to start taking pics. Or just bring it to the attention of the officer's boss. My neighbors told me I must have been targeted because they've never seen anyone get tickets for trash, even when they've been well-deserved. The hearing officer at the hearing I requested last time said someone must have called the cops on me for an actual police officer to issue the tickets...and esp. with such colorful commentary.

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Resident of Fishtown, Moderator of Fish/No. Libs/Kenzo forum, Real Estate Agent-Prudential Fox & Roach

Well, you might want to tell the officer you're going to your neighbors who didn't see any trash and you're going to get an "ava david"

(That's a beautiful direct quote from a buyer-from-hell I once dealt with while selling a client's house.

Buyer goes through the house several times, demands a ton of background info, we give her a courtesy call that there are multiple offers, and she puts in an offer waaay below asking price-
when all the other offers are for full price or above-
and she can't understand why she didn't get the house.
Buyer From Hell then demands to know who the successful buyer was, how much it sold for, and demands I submit an "ava david" about all other offers the Seller had recieved.

Unfortunately it went right over her head when I told her the best I could do was few hail marys and an ave maria)

The best defense is probably a good offence- go to the neighbors, tell them you're fighting this, and ask them to sign off about what they saw.
This helps because it should carry some weight if the people on the block say you're not a problem - you also might also find out who's been picking on you, or at least be able to present a list of all your neighbors who say your not a problem.

I'd wager that your secret antagonist won't want an confrontation and will sign off that you're not a problem- that may help to convince the hearing officer that you're not a problem - It certainly raises questions if the hearing officer goes back through the calls and sees that the same person who called in the complaint has now signed off that you're not a problem.

Hal

I would love to see this I agree with Hal, work with the neighbors who do like you.