By Andrew P. Napolitano
The president's men trash the Constitution to pursue antagonists
Takisha Brown had barely gotten her feet wet as elected chairwoman of the Fraternal Order of Police union representing 200 youth-corrections officers when she sensed trouble.
An escape from the District's juvenile detention facility that involved the brutal beating of a corrections officer has caused labor leaders and city officials to confront issues threatening to derail the confirmation of Mayor Vincent C. Gray's pick to head the city's troubled juvenile justice agency, union officials say.
A corrections officer was severely beaten during an escape at the District's secure youth facility in an incident Sunday night that has shocked even veteran corrections officials, who say the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services failed to heed warnings that staffing levels were inadequate.
It's a time-honored tradition of local government: a somewhat aloof director of a troubled city agency resigns, declaring success in bringing about needed reforms, and eventually a straight-talking replacement comes along and pledges transparency in completing the unfinished job.
The letter states that Ms. Williams told the member to meet her at the union office, where she left instructions on how to turn over $200.
And Tasha Williams, a liaison from the Fraternal Order of Police, said DYRS leadership has yet to demonstrate it can "take back the department from the youth."
