But Boston Police need to review their techniques and training for emergency situations to reduce the odds of more crashes, Suffolk County DA Dan Conley says.

Conley announced today that his office found no reason to charge Officer Jess Stots with the death of Ann-Marie McNally in a collision at West Broadway and D Street on Nov. 10, 2007.

Stots was racing toward a report of an officer in trouble and a man with a knife when he entered the intersection just as McNally did.

"The evidence is clear that Ms. McNally acted cautiously and reasonably and bears no responsibility for the collision," Conley said. At the same time, however, the fact that Stots was responding to an emergency situation was a mitigating factor on his behalf, Conley said.

Conley said he is urging the Boston Police Department to review its policies related to emergency calls to ensure the safety of civilian motorists - by reviewing training, policies on red lights and intersections and communication between cruisers and dispatchers. Police should also look at the potential use of dashboard cameras in cruisers.

"The McNally family, and everyone who knew Ann-Marie, must live with her loss forever," Conley said. "We owe it to them to do everything we can so that some positive, meaningful change can arise from their tragic loss and not one more family goes through what her loved ones have suffered."

Looks like the Boston Police are investigating a blog called Badgewars.com that might paint them in a less than favorable light.

The Massachusetts Liberal is glad to see that things in Boston are now quiet enough for the police to investigate a blog:

Yeah, Badgewars is pretty nasty stuff. Just the sort of thing we should be defending in a society that values free, frank and open discussion. I seem to recall a line from childhood too:

Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never harm me.

Bullets and knives on the other hand. ...

Lewis Forman wonders why he didn't think of such a site:

... It's about time that the fraternity known as the Boston Police Department are called to task on their behaviour while our tax money goes to their ever ballooning pensions and salaries. But for the department to go after a site that uses free speech to bring light to their shortcomings? Please. Spend your time more wisely by putting the force on diets and see if they can run down a felon in a 100 yard dash...

If Boston cab-fleet owners want fare increases, they should be forced to clean up their acts, City Council President Maureen Feeney says in a letter to Police Commissioner Ed Davis, who oversees taxi fares in Boston.

The taxicab industry has been described as "sharecropping on wheels" with drivers forced to pay thousands of dollars in fees before they can earn any salary. This system penalizes both drivers and passengers. It is time for a comprehensive look at our taxi cab system in Boston. I ask you to strongly consider establishing a commission to review the taxi cab industry in Boston and recommend reforms to address the serious concerns raised both by passengers and by drivers.

My office has received several reports of illegal and out-of-town cabs operating in Boston, and of illegal kickbacks from hotel doormen to livery services. Taxi cab drivers face serious challenges and, in addition to your hearing today, I hope you will continue to work with them to address these issues. ...

Globe: Taxi drivers push for fare increases.

Earlier:
Unfare?
Boston to Brookline cabbies: Butt out.

Don't bother calling 911.

Jasonik gets a couple of shots of civilian cars - with ticket books on the dash - parked illegally at the bus stop at Symphony Hall. Then he books it when he notices some uniforms at the entrance gesturing and pointing at him.

Kiko Pulido sentenced today in federal court, after pleading guilty last fall to being the ringleader of a coke-distribution and protection ring.

Commissioner Ed Davis's statement:

Today's sentencing of Roberto Pulido closes a sad chapter for the Boston Police Department. Our department is comprised of officers who find Pulido's actions despicable and the punishment fitting. The resilience of our agency is evident in the great work being done officers every day resulting in across the board reductions in crime statistics. The Boston Police pledge to work closely with the community to earn their trust and repair the damage done by this incident.

Police have said investigations continue.

Globe: Retraining, maybe discipline for 911 worker who didn't dispatch anybody to a Hyde Park beating immediately despite several calls from neighbors:

The call taker, who was not identified, knew the man was bleeding and needed help, but categorized the call as lower priority because the assailant was gone, Driscoll said.

Earlier:
Which Washington Street?

When police ordered Alan Nystedt of Haverhill to fold up his folding chair and remove himself and his shopping cart from in front of St. Paul's Cathedral on Tremont Street yesterday, he refused. And because he didn't have a permit to "occupy a city sidewalk," they arrested him.

Police say Nystedt had set up shop in front of the church to protest something involving the church (the BPDNews report does not specify what; anybody remember seeing him?).

On arrival, officers observed a white male seated in a wooden director's chair sitting next to a cart filled with religious paraphernalia. The suspect was handing out the paraphernalia while occupying the public sidewalk. Moreover, the suspect was displaying a sign with written statements criticizing and protesting the church. ...

Police say they asked him to move twice - and asked if he had a permit. When he refused to move and said he had no permit, he was taken in, police say.

There are at least two things wrong with this alleged cruiser - actually just a prop for a movie being filmed in Southie. See if you can spot them. If not, Greg MacKay, who took the photo, provides the answers. Actually, one of the errors might be a bit hard to see; MacKay provides a larger version for you to examine.

Meanwhile, M@tty1378 spies a New Jersey cruiser in front of the Legal Seafood at the Burlington Mall.

Both the officer and the other driver taken away after the crash at Morton and Washington streets Monday evening.