I he P ortland O bserver • O ctober 18, 1995 P age A3 Detective Named Police Officer Of The Year Ten Men and Women Receive Honorable Mention D etectiv e A rlen e B eckles, a 3 2 -y e a r-o ld , 5 foot 6, 105-pound e ig h t-y e a r v e te ra n o f the New York C ity Police D epartm en t, who risked her life to save the lives o f 20 o th ers, has been nam ed the 1995 P olice O ffic e r o f the Y ear by Parade m ag azin e and the In te r nation al A sso c ia tio n o f C h iefs o f P o lice. " I ’m d e a d ,” B eck les re c a lle d th in k in g w hen a ro b b e r put a gun to her head in a d o w n to w n B ro o k lyn beauty salon last y ear. “L e t’s see who I can sa v e .” She th en s in g le -h a n d e d ly shot and w ounded all three ro b bers, one fatally , usin g all five b u lle ts in her rev o lv er. As a resu lt o f the in c id e n t, the N ew Y ork Police D ep artm en t now issues a 15-round m agazine, w hich is know n on the stre e t as “ the B eckles c lip ,” for 9m m se m ia u to m atic w eapons. ' A c a t te m p te d r o b b e r y , w hich took p lace at the S alo n La M o d e B e a u ty P a r l o r w h e re B eckles was a p atro n on F eb ru ary 5, 1994, m arked the first tim e that B eck les was ev er forced to use h er w eapon. W hen the men e n te re d the salo n , she was ju st n o dding o ff to sleep u n d er a h a ird ry e r. S low ly she m oved out o f the c h a ir and cro u c h e d behind a h a ir-d re ssin g sta tio n . She was about a foot aw ay from one su spect, w ho was riflin g through p o cketbooks and d e m a n d ing je w e lry from o th e r patro n s. W ith h er back to the ro bber, B eck les c arefu lly reach ed u n der h er sm o c k , pu lled out her .38 S m ith and W esson and hid it u n d e r h er arm pit. W ith only five rounds in the c y lin d e r, she knew w hat she was up ag a in st. She hided her tim e. W hen the ro b b er m oved to the w om an c lo se st to h er, the w om an fro ze, unable to release her p o ck etb o o k . T he ro b b er grew en ra g e d and put his gun to her head. He then saw B eckles, and pu ttin g his gun to her head, scream ed, “d o n ’t look Hair-salon hero: Detective Arlene Beckles with (from left) Valerie at my face!" Williams, the owner: Marlene Roy, Date Edgehill and Cafresa W hen the ro b b er tu rn ed back Hooker, hairstylists. to the o th e r w o m a n , B e c k le s w hipped out her rev o lv er, jum ped up and shouted, “police! D o n ’t m o v e!" the robber pointed his gun at her, and she fired, hitting him in the nose. W hen the o ther tw o rob b ers heard the g u n fire, they turned on B eckles and fired at her. B ut B e c k le s s to o d h e r g ro u n d , shooting them both until she heard the " c lic k ” o f her em pty cham ber. O ne o f the robbers lay on the g ro u n d , w ounded, and B eckles step p ed on his hand and grabbed his gun. But before she could fire the w e a p o n ,th e o ther ro bber ta c k led her and began p u nching her in the face, ribs and legs. D uring the stru g g le , the ro b ber grabbed the gun, and B eckless felt the barrel against her tem ple. She closed her eyes and prayed. T he ro bber squeezed the trig ger. N othing. He squeezed again. S till nothing. It was later determ in ed that som e bullets in the gun w ere the w rong size, cau sing the w eapon to ja m . B eckles m oved to the robber on the floor and retriev ed his gun. By now , tw o o f the ro b b ers were p o u n d in g on the door, w hich had been e le c tro n ic ally sh u t, try in g to e scap e. B eckles p ressed the alarm buzzer and let them out. They w ere la te r picked up at nearby h o sp i tals and are now in p rison. The third ro b b e r died a w eek la te r from his w ound. M ira c u lously, no one in the salon, in clu d in g B eckles, w as se rio u sly injured. An in stru c to r at the Police A cadem y, B eckles w as prom oted to d etectiv e tw o days a fte r the sh o o to u t “ It was like a fairy ta le ," r e c alled B eckles, w ho w as m arried one w eek later to her fia n c e ’ o f three years, Steve Im parato, at C ity H all by M a y o r R u d o lp h G iu lian i. B eckles is the second w om an to receiv e the P o lice O ffic e r o f the Y ear A w ard in its 3 0 -y ear h is tory. She w ill receiv ed a plaque and a d ia m o n d -stu d d e d gold pin fro m P arad e M a n a g in g E d ito r L arry Sm ith The p re se n ta tio w as sc h e d uled at a luncheon on T uesday, O cto b er 17, in the F o u n ta in b le a u H otel in M iam i B each, Fla d u r ing the annual c o n v e n tio n o f the IA CP The Mother Of All Marches Continued from front onstrated the traumatic failure o f the concept — not only has there not been any “melting pot” worthy o f the name, “but the illusion has provided “a false sense ofsecurity for many who expect ed cross-cultural for black goals and aspirations.” Many say that blacks fi nally have grown up. The W omen’s Movement em phasized that co-organizer, Benjamin Chavis was fired as director o f the National Association for the Ad vancement o f Colored People on a charge o f sexual harassment. But Rosa Parks, was at the March and tremendously supportive o f the un derlying concepts. The network just cut o ff her speech and switched to a spokesman for the Jewish Anti-Def amation League. The media is hav ing a very, very tough time with the March in an effort to interpret‘black ness’ for white America. ▲ Defense League cited at length their firm opposition to any endeavor that Minister Earrakhan might sponsor. Both accused th e ^ la c k Muslims o f ram pant anti-sem itism . W illiam Bennett, former U.S. Secretary o f Education, who is called to comment on anything and everything, followed suit. Representative John Lewis (D), a member o f the Congressional Black Caucus, was hesitant when asked for an opinion on the March. He voiced comments which earlier had disturbed many blacks, going back several de cades to extol the virtues o f the “rain bow look” when “whites, blacks, Jews, Hispanics, etc.” all came together to exhibit the “unity o f America.” Lewishas been roundly criticized by many blacks who point out that subsequent event’s clearly have dem Are you a New Pioneer? I '■ Check any th a t apply. □ □ □ □ -I □ □ □ □ More next week Too "Unbearable" To Miss Albina Head Start's Dedication Ceremony and Open House Reception for the Richard Brown Head Start Center Friday, Oct. 27 606 N.E. Fremont 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. I I live in O regon. I go outside. I enjoy group activities. I eat sushi. I eat granola. I daydream . I reuse. I recycle. I blow bubbles. □ I listen to alternative music. □ I listen to alternatives to alternative music. □ I k n it space suits. - I I d<x)dle. □ I ultilize exact change. □ I have a frequent need to be someplace. □ I w ant a friendly city that accom odates grow th. □ I w ant stretchy pants that Looking for that perfect gift? Owe a business associate or friend a favor/ Want to say thank-you? Send a Meal-A-Gram! A Meal-A-Gram is a gourmet lunch hand delivered on Wednesday, October 25th to anyone you choose in the Portland metro area. Your thoughtfulness will help provide meals for local seniors in need. Give A Gift That’s Always in Good Taste! This year's Meal-A-Gram lunch features: O • • • • • Classic Timberline Salad Hearty Baked Bread Fresh Specialty Fruit A Refreshing Beverage Gourmet Dessert ¡Cost is just $ 10 each for two or more delivered to the same location j ($15 each if delivered individually). Order Loaves & Fishes/The M eals-On-W heels People At 777-2424. Meal-A-Gram is a fundraiser for Loaves & Fishes/The Meals-On-Wheels People Proceeds will help provide hot, nutritious meals to local homebound senior citizens □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ -I □ □ □ □ □ accom odate grow th. I choose not to live and die in LA. I say no to smog. I net surf. I channel surf. I bus surf. I su rf ‘n turf. I applaud punctuality. I like libraries. I can read in motion. I g e t hives th in k in g about traffic. I often do tw o things at once. I try new recipes. I try new recipes on other people. I em brace diversity. □ I find change refreshing. □ □ □ □ I find fresh air refreshing. I have a destination. I own a Raffi tape. I go somewhere everyday. □ I gravitate tow ard shiny chrom e objects. -J I appreciate air brakes. □ I adm ire hydrolics. □ I have a basic understanding of □ □ □ □ □ □ LJ □ □ □ N e w to n ’s Laws. I like Fig N ew tons. I like W ayne N ew ton. I try to be part of the solution. I am always evolving. I d ig Lewis and Clark. I marvel at D ick Clark. I know the value o f a good map. I know the value o f a good nap. I find zones orderly. I have never won the lottery □ □ □ □ □ and yet I survive. I vote whenever I get the chance. I com m ute. I coexist peacefully w ith nature. I coexist peacefully w ith neighbors. I can’t fit all my friends in □ □ □ □ □ my backseat. I miss Jerry. I can pitch a tent. I like bells th at signal a stop. I th in k autom ation is neat. I look for new ways to get from □ □ □ □ □ □ point A to point B. I support preservation. I keep m oving forward. I poo-poo stressful situations. I find color coded signs helpful. I possess leadership qualities. I like to sit near people w ith leadership qualities. □ I like blue uniform s w ith orange logos. □ I believe in Free Transfers for all. □ I have a friendly smile for everyone. □ □ □ □ □ I get a kick out o f riding anything. 1 let others get stuck in a jam. I work to be m odern. I never look back. I navigate through life. □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ I operate a push b u tto n phone. I will try anything once. I will try anything twice. I w ant to work together. I w ant to get to w ork on tim e. I reject the h u n t for parking. I th in k about progress. I th in k about trees. I th in k about snack foods. □ I spend tim e wisely informed. □ I decide for myself. □ I design gizm os in my basem ent. □ I have ideas I w ant to share. □ I strive for a sense o f com m unity. □ I keep my area clean. □ I come equipped for anything. □ I pack lightly. □ I go w ith the flow. □ I stay □ I tu rn the tap off when I brush. □ I love learning. □ I am learning to love. -I □ □ □ □ I take pride in being O regonian. I wish for w hat 1 need. I try soup before i t ’s cooled. I d o n 't m ind some m an-m ade fibers. I carry a schedule w ith me at all tim es. C3 I like the future. □ I affect the future. D I plan for the future. -J I w asn’t born yesterday. □ I was born yesterday. □ I can ’t w ait for tomorrow. □ I m ilk every drop o u t o f today. I f you checked even just one, chances are you're a New Pioneer. Congrats. You have a future on Tri-Met. Together we're heading for an Oregon that is accommodating to its growing population, but isn’t cluttered with traffic or clogged with smog — an Oregon where modern people can coexist intelligently with nature, and even get to work on time. Call 238-RIDE for your personal trip plan and hop on. Transportation for th 238-RIDE TTV 1 I« M l i