Happy New Year everybody. I hope the next 355 days left in 2008 bring you happiness and more importantly good health. I usually end my columns with a brief announcement, but this week I'm going to start off with one. Tonight, Thursday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. at District C-11 we will be holding our monthly meeting concerning a topic that is very prevalent in this day and age. Youth Service Officer Mark Buchanan will be giving a presentation concerning both parents and children about Internet safety for families. Sexual predators, gang recruitment, drug dealing/enticement, the list goes on and on. Officer Buchanan will touch upon those and other topics warning and advising about how these predators and how they try to use the computer to lure victims. Also, My Space accounts and for parents to find out just who your children are conversing with and what they are discussing. If perverts and gang bangers have gone hi-tech then it's about time that parents get wise too. It's just an hours worth of your time, time well spent. We hope to see you and maybe your impressionable kids on Thursday.

Nov. 14, 6:48 p.m.

A gentleman was walking out of the Fields Corner MBTA Station onto Dorchester Avenue, when he was approached by three kids who weren't old enough to know about the joys of acne. The smallest of the pre-pubescent trio pulled out a black and brown handgun and as his slightly taller buddies watched, the littlest bandit demanded the victim's wallet. The victim told the three little bandits to take their gun and shove it someplace that I'm sure is an almost medical impossibility. The stunned little cowards did what all cowards do when confronted, they ran like their shoelaces were on fire.

The victim dialed 911 immediately. The local police responded immediately and the three suspects were stopped immediately at Leroy and Ditson Streets. A brown and black cap gun was found in the fence next to them and a liter of vodka was found in the oldest boy's backpack. The oldest figured he could talk his way out of the mess he was in by stating, "I didn't do anything, I just had the gun." The suspects were all charged with armed robbery and minor in possession of alcohol, their ages are 14, 13 and 11-years-old. The 11-year-old was the triggerman.

Nov. 28, 4:47 p.m.

The Bowdoin Street Safe Team officers led by Sgt. Kenny McMasters responded to a call at Bowdoin Street and Downer Court. On arrival, they spoke to a man who stated that his thirteen-year-old cousin had been robbed two days ago at the Savin Hill MBTA Station. The suspect was armed with a knife and robbed the victim of his cell phone and a gold chain that had a distinctive gold basketball charm with it. The witness further stated that he observed a young man wearing the same chain and charm at Bowdoin Street and Downer Court. When he questioned the individual, he fled into a nearby three decker. A number of officers descended on the building and in the back hallway was a 20-year-old Dorchester man getting high on pot wearing a gold chain with a gold basketball charm.

The victim and his parents soon arrived and the victim positively identified the suspect and the property he was wearing. The victim also asked if the suspect had his blue Sidekick cell phone on him. Wouldn't you know it, yes, he did, but the suspect insisted the phone was his and the phone itself was in secret lock mode. The victim was given the phone, entered his secret passcode and (abracadabra) the phone was unlocked in seconds. The foolish suspect was charged with several crimes including armed robbery.

Nov. 23, 12:32 a.m. - Nov. 24, 11:50 p.m.

Captain Greland has authorized a number of recent "sting operations" along Dorchester Avenue to help rid the neighborhood of the increase of ladies of the evening selling themselves on the avenue. Anywho, plainclothes officers Zanoli and Samaras observed a 29-year-old female walking back and forth across Dorchester Avenue in Fields Corner waving at vehicles that had lone male occupants. One such driver pulled over and Gypsy Rose Lee got in and they drove to the Dorchester House parking lot. The officers moved in and interrupted the pair in the middle of their "business meeting." The 29-year-old woman from Pittsfield was arrested and the 39-year-old Dorchester 'John' from Hancock Street was summoned to Dorchester Court. The next night the same two officers observed the Pittsfield Prostitute standing in front of the Dorchester House waving at more cars! A 35-year-old from Auckland Street picked up the PP and the officers soon stopped the two of them before they had any chance to swap germs. The Pittsfield Prostitute was arrested again along with the 'John.' The Pittsfield Prostitute hasn't been seen since then. Next week I'll tell you a little story about a recent sting that targeted the 'Johns' soliciting undercover female officers! Till then - Go Pats.