Sunday Odds and Ends

Easter Sunday - The days of dressing up for Easter Sunday service might be lost on many but not in the South. In Charleston, they will take Easter fashion to a whole new level in front of St. Michael's Church when the Charleston Hat Ladies take a Easter morning stroll down meeting street, just after 11:00.



Note that I said just after 11:00, for in Charleston nothing starts "right on time" visitors are often confused and sometimes just plain up set that things in Charleston have a habit of being just a little slow. Church Bells of St. Michael's ring about 2 minutes after the hour, while over at St Phillips they ring about 5 minutes late.

Billy Payne - Boston police sergeant Billy Payne was found dead in the middle of an intersection just off Newberry Street this morning. Homicide detectives are concerned that this is another in a series of attacks targeting Boston's finest.

"Clearly we are faced with some similarities" stated a Boston Police spokesperson. Both Payne and Micheal O'Dell who was found shot to death in December were assigned to the same precinct. Both officers were in uniform at the time of their murders but were off duty. Their badges and the Boston Police department patches had been torn or cut off their uniforms apparently by the assailant. Neither officer fired their service weapon, leading investigators to suspect they knew their attackers.

Butler takes on Duke - In what will become the standard for College Basketball's dream match up Powerhouse Duke will be challenged for the NCAA crown tomorrow evening by Unknown Butler.

If you missed Michigan vs Butler you missed a great game. If you missed Duke vs West Virgina you missed a lot of 3 point shots from Duke. The Blue Devils were dropping bombs from everywhere. Unless Butler can stop the long range shots Coach K will have another NCAA Title.

CMPD - Chief Monroe had his hands full this week, a presidential visit pulled CMPD officers in to staff intersections, many who had expected the day off. To make matters worse Monroe made a presentation ceremony at the Time Warner Cable Box Friday night mandatory. If you ask Cedar tired cops at the expense of the Chief's ego is not a good thing.

Also this past week, Homicide rolled out the door with the reality television show "The First 48"



The following email from CMPD Captain Zinkann:

I am happy to announce that The First 48 is here and will be responding to all homicides beginning today. We have provided them with CMPD identification and access cards. I want all of us to remember that we not only represent every member of the organization and the community but every employee that worked in the department before us. If any issues or concerns arise please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks, Paul

Good news "The First 48" got their first chance to film CMPD in action with a shooting death in a west Charlotte neighborhood early Saturday morning. Tony Ellison became Charlotte's 12th homicide victim and Chief Monroe rushed to the scene in order to make himself available for the television crew.

You can almost hear Chief Monroe screaming over the CMPD radio trying to find the murder scene and cursing Homicide detectives for letting "The First 48" film crew to start filming without him being on scene.