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
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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.
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accom odates grow th.
□ I w ant stretchy pants that
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A Meal-A-Gram is a gourmet lunch hand delivered on
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provide meals for local seniors in need.
Give A Gift
That’s Always
in Good Taste!
This year's Meal-A-Gram
lunch features:
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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
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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.
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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
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LJ
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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