Jack Dunphy Responds
Yesterday on the Member Feed, Albert Arthur put to me the following:
There is a regular plot device for police dramas, whether on television or in movies, which usually transpires in some variant of the following: A crime is committed and police begin investigating. They find a lead, and begin following it. At which point they come across someone who immediately starts running from them, so the police give chase and there's either a long or a short scene that happens, sometimes on foot, sometimes in cars. Eventually, though, the police catch the individual who is fleeing. And it is then discovered that the reason that person was running away is not that they were involved in the crime, but that they are an illegal alien. "But we're homicide [etc]," the detectives helpfully explain. "We don't care about your status."
This plot device was most recently used in this week's episode of Prime Suspect on NBC. And my question is: Really? Does that really happen? Or is this an example of Hollywood liberalism framing the issue? (That being an illegal alien, the "illegal" part notwithstanding, is not a crime.)
Maybe I'm late to the table on this. After all, this is kind of what the Arizona hullabaloo was about, wasn't it? I just find it hard to believe that the police, after discovering that a person is here illegally, wouldn't do anything about it. In the episode of Prime Suspect, after discovering that a character is an illegal alien, the police do nothing. The illegal alien goes back to her job as a nanny and is seen later in the episode, and there are no consequences shown for her actions.
At least as far as it goes here in Los Angeles, the most unrealistic aspect of this is that the illegal alien bothered to run at all. Anyone whose only affront to the law is his immigration status has nothing to fear from the LAPD, as evidenced by the fact that there are, according to LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, 600,000 illegal aliens in a city of 4 million. You can sit at certain corners in L.A. all day and you'd be lucky to see a single U.S. citizen or legal alien. It's just the way it is in some neighborhoods.
And in a comment to the same post, Misthiocracy asks:
Is there any chance we'll get to hear Mr. Dunphy on the Ricochet podcast, or would that be too much of a risk for a pseudonymous LAPD officer?
Rob Long was kind enough to invite me to participate in a podcast some weeks ago. I had to decline as indeed the risk would be too great that someone would recognize my voice.
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Comments:
Aug '10
Re: Jack Dunphy Responds
Thanks for the reply!
Dec '10
Re: Jack Dunphy Responds
Jack, at the risk of sounding too conceptual I will coin a new phrase, at least I've never heard anyone else use it. Legal Schizophrenia. How someones status as "Illegal" could be of no interest to Law Enforcement is a classic example of pure Legal Schizophrenia. From the facts of life in LA that you supplied it is obvious we have been suffering from this mental disorder for a long time. Just because I coined the phrase doesn't mean I know what the cure is. However, Shock Treatment has been used to combat schizophrenia. Maybe the shock of a massive Republican sweep in the 2012 election would be shock enough. Who knows.
Oct '11
Re: Jack Dunphy Responds
Jack, there's a cop that comments on the Reason website that goes by the name of "dunphy." Not sure if it's you or a member of your no-doubt large fan club. Either way, always nice to hear the view from the boots on the ground. It's definitely tempered and sometimes reversed my views on the police force.
Re: Jack Dunphy Responds
It's not me using that handle on Reason.
Oct '11
Re: Jack Dunphy Responds
I figured it wasn't, as I've been following your National Review stuff for a while and the views didn't seem to quite coincide. Danger of the digital age, I suppose.
May '10
Re: Jack Dunphy Responds
Jack Dunphy:
And in a comment to the same post, Misthiocracy asks:
Rob Long was kind enough to invite me to participate in a podcast some weeks ago. I had to decline as indeed the risk would be too great that someone would recognize my voice. ·
You could always use one of those voice changers. Listening to Jack Dunphy as Darth Vader on a Ricochet podcast would be kinda cool. Lileks would totally go for it!
Jun '10
Re: Jack Dunphy Responds
You're on the Force, Luke. You're on the Force!
Edited on November 15, 2011 at 3:03amMay '10
Re: Jack Dunphy Responds
OK, I have been wondering for a long while, since become a Dunphy follower at NRO, but when will the good officer actually retire so that we may actually hear him on a podcast, or even know his real name?? Will it be soon, or should I just shelve my anticipation for a few years?
Of course speculating on retirement could be a tip of the hat as well...
Edited on November 15, 2011 at 3:04amOct '10
Re: Jack Dunphy Responds
Having spent more than my share of time in L.A. understand the process. There seems to be no real interest in a resolution for clear reasons. We were simply overcome by intent of the elected.
Re: Jack Dunphy Responds
Charles Allen: OK, I have been wondering for a long while, since become a Dunphy follower at NRO, but when will the good officer actually retire so that we may actually hear him on a podcast, or even know his real name?? Will it be soon, or should I just shelve my anticipation for a few years?
Of course speculating on retirement could be a tip of the hat as well... · Nov 14 at 6:03pm
Edited on Nov 14 at 06:04 pm
Don't forget that I also write for PJ Media.
I can retire any day I feel like it, but I'm still enjoying the work.
Apr '11
Re: Jack Dunphy Responds
And you don't feel like being the next Wambaugh? (Who has also used that plot element, more or less. I think in The Delta Star he has Det. Mario V-something tell a witness, 'I care about murder. Not prostitution, or drugs, or even burglary, unless I catch you stealing the radio out of my car.')
Oct '11
Re: Jack Dunphy Responds
Thank you for responding, Mr. Dunphy. And thank you for being a police officer.
Re: Jack Dunphy Responds
You're very welcome. Thank you for your interest and the kind words.
Re: Jack Dunphy Responds
I dream of being the next Wambaugh. I have a novel about 60 percent completed but find that there's little time to work on it these days.