This just in from Ron Gunzberger at Politics1.com:
Sunrise City [FL] Commissioner Roger Wishner has requested that the city police install metal detectors in the City Commission chambers and provide him with a personal bodyguard ... because fellow Sunrise Commissioner Irving Harlem shaped his hand like a gun and pretended to shoot Wishner with his finger during a recent commission debate.
Harlem -- a senior citizen -- told the Miami Herald yesterday that he "was upset" at the time and admits "it was in poor taste."
Wishner was not satisfied, telling the newspaper that he fears that Harlem -- who has a concealed weapon permit -- was serious. "I consider this a threat to my personal safety," Wishner wrote in a formal memo to the city manager demanding special protection and increased security measures.
Police Chief David Boyett was at the meeting when the incident occurred and considers it harmless, but jokingly added: "I think I may have to ask Commissioner Harlem to check his trigger finger at the door." City Manager Pat Salerno also found humor in Wishner's request, saying: "I am taking this so seriously that I am asking Commissioner Harlem to put a lock on his finger [because] I don't think there are any metal detectors that detect fingers." Mayor Steve Feren
quipped that he may require Harlem to wear bullet-proof gloves.
The police do not intend to provide Wishner with a bodyguard. Wishner tersely responded that "it's pretty sad that in light of a serious event that took place they are making a joke out of it."
Wishner has long been at the bottom of many 4-1 votes on the City Commission.
[This message has been edited by Coinneach (edited July 01, 1999).]
Sunrise City [FL] Commissioner Roger Wishner has requested that the city police install metal detectors in the City Commission chambers and provide him with a personal bodyguard ... because fellow Sunrise Commissioner Irving Harlem shaped his hand like a gun and pretended to shoot Wishner with his finger during a recent commission debate.
Harlem -- a senior citizen -- told the Miami Herald yesterday that he "was upset" at the time and admits "it was in poor taste."
Wishner was not satisfied, telling the newspaper that he fears that Harlem -- who has a concealed weapon permit -- was serious. "I consider this a threat to my personal safety," Wishner wrote in a formal memo to the city manager demanding special protection and increased security measures.
Police Chief David Boyett was at the meeting when the incident occurred and considers it harmless, but jokingly added: "I think I may have to ask Commissioner Harlem to check his trigger finger at the door." City Manager Pat Salerno also found humor in Wishner's request, saying: "I am taking this so seriously that I am asking Commissioner Harlem to put a lock on his finger [because] I don't think there are any metal detectors that detect fingers." Mayor Steve Feren
quipped that he may require Harlem to wear bullet-proof gloves.
The police do not intend to provide Wishner with a bodyguard. Wishner tersely responded that "it's pretty sad that in light of a serious event that took place they are making a joke out of it."
Wishner has long been at the bottom of many 4-1 votes on the City Commission.
[This message has been edited by Coinneach (edited July 01, 1999).]