ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END

Philadelphia police chief backtracks, no longer defends his officers, now apologizes to the black men arrested at Starbucks

On Monday I heaped praise on Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross for refusing to play the race card by defending the officers who arrested two black men at Starbucks. But all good things must come to an end, and in this case rather quickly.

On Saturday Ross told a press conference that the officers “did absolutely nothing wrong” and were professional in their conduct toward the individuals but “got the opposite back.” But on Thursday Ross called a press conference to apologize to the two black men who were arrested. Referring to his initial statement, he said “I should have said the officers acted within the scope of the law, and not that they didn't do anything wrong. Words are very important.”

Words are very important indeed, and the words Ross used Thursday are just plain cowardly. Now he has backtracked about having said the officers “did absolutely nothing wrong.”

Ross still believes the officers did not act in a racist manner, but he believes the Starbucks manager did.

Add Ross to those cowardly police chiefs who cave into the complaints of those who see a racist behind every bush and under every bed.