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.
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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.
□ 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:
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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
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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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