NYT: Officer Is Focus in Subway Pipe Bomb Case (troubled since 9/11)

[DeepModem Mom]

Officer Is a Focus in Subway Pipe Bomb Case
By WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM

Published: July 21, 2004


The police were investigating yesterday whether the young off-duty transit officer who reported finding a burning backpack in the Times Square subway station on Monday night might have actually planted it there himself and detonated the pipe bomb inside, several police officials said. The explosion panicked riders and shut down part of the busy station shortly after the evening rush.

On Monday night, the police had at first credited the officer with discovering the device, warning commuters away, and burning himself as he called for backup.

The officer has not been charged with any crime, and the police officials said they had no direct evidence tying him to the explosion. The officer, Joseph Rodriguez, 27, spent much of yesterday in Bellevue Hospital Center under observation and was later taken to the offices of the Manhattan Detective Borough, before being released. The officials said he had just been forced to retire on a psychological disability pension and yesterday was to have been his last day on the force, the end of a short four-year career....

***

The police began focusing on the officer soon after the blast about 8 p.m. on the mezzanine leading to the A, C and E lines. The officials said their interest in the officer was provoked by his troubled psychiatric history, as well as questions that arose about his version of the events surrounding the explosion. They were exploring, for instance, why he had not suffered more serious injuries given how close he told investigators he was to the burning bag. The officials offered no details about his psychiatric history....

***

Yesterday, several police officials referred to (Officer Rodriguez) as a hero for his actions in responding to the trade center disaster, saying he had been buried under rubble, although they were unable to provide details about precisely what his role was. One official said that it was his experiences on Sept. 11 that led to his psychological problems. The officer suffered a number of maladies afterward, including significant weight loss, a person familiar with his work history said....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/21/nyregion/21bomb.html

[lapfog_1]

1. He must be related to Richard Jewel - LOL

[aquart]

3. You don't live in New York, do you, lapfog_1?

Did you NOT read the part about his being buried in the rubble?

What happened to Richard Jewel wasn't funny.

What happened to New York wasn't funny.

What happened to this young man to cripple his future wasn't funny.

You and I have a distinctly different sense of humor.

Of course, I DO live in New York.

[lapfog_1]

4. What I think is funny

is that somehow the people who are "first" on the scene are
now the automatic suspects. When this happened to Jewel, I didn't
believe all the talk about "hero syndrome" and "disturbed young
man". And I don't believe it now.

I'm quite certain that there are many transit cops that are walking
wounded mentally. That this guy found a suspicious backpack with
fireworks or whatever does NOT make me think AUTOMATICALLY that he
is involved or planted it.

The powers that be want simple, tidy solutions to "terrorist" threats
and activities... so Richard Jewel MUST have planted the pipe bomb
in Atlanta, and the Anthrax attack was the work of a disgruntled
employee (I forget of what bioweapon lab, but one of them). And
the transit cop MUST have planted pipe bombs in a backpack so
he could be the hero.

I just hope that you, living in terrorist ground zero, don't run
across any backpacks or suitcases or anthrax letters, because if
you do, and you report it, your life will be ruined.

[wackywill]

5. After having just visited

Manhattan my sympathy goes out to you. I've never been to NYC before and attended a wedding at 17th and 5th Ave. now I know what a slum is, it's a real pity that anyone should have to actually live and work in such a place.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Born and raised in the South, NYC has been home my adult life --

and I raised a family there of whom I'm immensely proud, and they are eternally grateful to their Dad and myself that they were able to grow up there. I've had to live elsewhere the last few years, but if heaven exists, I hope the night sounds exactly as it does in Manhattan; the twilight is the same color blue; the people are as interesting and diverse, with an all-in-this-together camraderie, an efficiency born of necessity, and a liberal mindset; the chance that any art, drama, movie or music produced will be missed, just as slim; the busyness and excitement on the street never-ending; the food as global, and delivered to your door, if desired; door-to-door transportation by taxi available, if needed, most hours, by stepping to the curb and raising one's hand; the skyline as jewel-like and shimmering and majestic; and two gossipy tabloids and the New York Times waiting outside your door when you wake up in some place resembling the greatest city of them all.

[newyawker99]

10. Great post DeepModem Mom!!

Unless you live here you just don't
know how great this city is.

[Corgigal]

7. Sorry you aren't

evolved enough to understand Manhattan. So do us all a favor and don't.

Former NY'er who loves going home.

[foo_bar]

11. 17th and 5th is quite hoity toity

Perhaps this is more your speed:
http://www.tourmorgantown.com/pages/dining.html

[burrowowl]

2. A pipe bomb

is ususally young kids in gangs, not very effective, many blow off their fingers making them. Terrorist prefer a little more explosive impact along with adding nails/bolts/screws or a poor man's anti-personnel type of bomb thingie.

[Chelsea Patriot]

8. NYC is a powder keg, waiting for a spark.

Not only is this officer's behavior a result of his experience during The September 11th Massacres; but The Bush Administration's refusal to follow up with the promised funding for the city's recovery plays a huge role in this incident.

Almost all September 11th Service Providers have shut down. People never received the help they needed.

I doubt that Officer Rodriguez is an isolated case.

And, Wacky Will, entre nous, I'm so sorry my neighborhood scared you so bad. Did you poop your pants, again? That must've made for a real shitty wedding reception! But don't feel bad, Baby! Your Big,Brave Commander in Chief did the same thing on 9/11.

You and your little Ying-Yang are much better off wherever you and your dirty undies scampered home to.

Chelsea is not the place for Girlie-Men.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. Welcome to DU, Chelsea Patriot --

I'm afraid you're right about the awful, lingering effects of 9/11, and, of course, the unfulfilled Bush promises to a city unlikely to deliver him many votes.

Chelsea, post-9/11, is definitely not a place for girlie men. Have a drink in some Chelsea bar for me tonight -- wish I could be there!

[truthisfreedom]

12. if true, and it sounds like it could be, i'm relieved, actually.

i'd rather have a disturbed ex-cop do something to make a point and not hurt anyone but himself than a crazed terrorist do something to make a point and hurt a lot of people.