Civilian Flagger is “U30” Bank Robbery Suspect
July 10, 2009
So Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick thought replacing police details with civilian flaggers would save money and be just as safe as using police officers. Well, he may want to rethink that policy—the suspect police arrested in the so-called ”U30“ bank robberies in eastern Massachusetts is a certified civilian flagger.
According to an article in the Boston Herald, 32-year-old Dimitri Long of Norwood is a certified civilian flagger. He’s also the man police arrested on July 1 after he allegedly tried to rob a Needham branch of Sovereign Bank. Police believe Long is the suspect who robbed seven Boston-area banks since March—pulling off each robbery in 30 seconds or less, which is how police came up with the nickname “U30.” According to the Herald, Long has approximately 70 arrests on his criminal record, including "a conviction for viciously stabbing, stoning and burning a man and leaving him on railroad tracks in a racially motivated attack."
But that’s not all. Long bragged to the newspaper last year that he was proud to be a flagger. “Anyone can direct public traffic,” he told a reporter.
No, Mr. Long—and Gov. Patrick—anyone can’t direct traffic. Why don’t we have some more Mr. Longs with serious criminal records get certified as flaggers and work details outside YOUR home, Governor? (Oh, wait. You qualify for round-the-clock police protection. The other civilians in Massachusetts will just have to take their chances.)