Zero Tolerance:price of Cutting Crime; Analysis

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Byline: BRUCE ANDERSON

THE news that the four New York police officers in the Amadou Diallo case were acquitted reminded me of a recent conversation with a New Hampshire state senator.

'You Limeys have become hopelessly decadent,' he said. 'A couple of years back, I was having dinner in Soho. Suddenly, the place was full of cops. I asked what was happening. "A guy just stabbed one of our men. He's up on the roof.

We're about to go after him".

'I said, "Hold on a moment. You guys aren't armed. I am. I've got a revolver on me, and I'm pretty good with it - used to be a deputy sheriff. So let me go and deal with the man with the knife. I'll give him …