Too bad there's not a medal for doing nothing. It should be awarded to the Cincinnati Police officers who showed courageous restraint and did nothing while their Police Memorial was desecrated by protesters last Sunday.

        And if there were a Hall of Shame for doing nothing, I'd nominate local leaders of the black community who stand by and do nothing as a boycott vandalizes Cincinnati.

        It's all about courage. Police Chief Tom Streicher has it. On Wednesday, City Council was having a nervous breakdown until the chief showed up and told them to get a grip. What irony: The police chief had to explain civil liberties to elected officials, who were forming a posse to investigate protesters who disrespected fallen officers.
       

"It was a trap'

        “It's deplorable that anyone would even consider disrespecting that site,” he said. “But as despicable as that behavior might be, it was legal behavior.”

        Chief Streicher emphasized again that his cops would respect the right to protest, no matter how much they disagree. Last Sunday, that restraint probably prevented violence, maybe even riots.

        The Fraternal Order of Police and talk-show host Bill Cunningham had tag-teamed to rub salty exaggeration into the wounds of outrage over the protest. The cops had a right to be angry. The Rev. Damon Lynch III, leader of the Black United Front's boycott of Cincinnati, celebrated the anniversary of last year's riots by demanding amnesty for rioters and giving looters credit for forcing change in Cincinnati. That obvious endorsement of violence probably encouraged the people who made fools of themselves at the police memorial.
       

Do the right thing

        But the police were ready — to try patience instead of tear gas.

        “We told our cops there was a small number of people who want a confrontation and most of all, they want you to make a mistake,” the chief said later.

        The protest at the police memorial was an attempt to bait the cops into starting trouble, he said. “That was a trap. It was so well orchestrated.”

        But the cops swallowed their disgust and let the protesters demonstrate to everyone that they have not earned the “respect” they demand.

        The cops' cool restraint and the chief's speech to council were profiles in courage.

        Here's another: Lincoln Ware, the top talk-show host on WDBZ-AM, which caters to the black community, says he's tired of black “leaders” who sit silent as the boycott wrecks Cincinnati.

        “They've proved their point,” he said of the boycott. “It's time to end this thing.”

        But we haven't heard that from the NAACP, the Urban League or most other leaders in the black community, he said, “because people are afraid to hear the words "Uncle Tom' and "sell-out.'”

        A few like Mr. Ware are breaking the ice. His advice to black leaders: “Don't bite your tongue. Speak out.”

        Chief Streicher spoke out on Wednesday, and calmed council like a double dose of nerve pills. He said it's time for leaders to stand tall and stop the silliness.

        It's also time for some local black leaders to find some courage to do the right thing and speak up for their city.

        Contact Peter Bronson at 768-8301; e-mail: pbronson@enquirer.com. Cincinnati.Com keyword: Bronson.
       

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