When you criticize the Inquirer article, don't you think that there are major problems in the system which need action, such as the fugitives--estimated, one figure, 47,000 fugitives--with the need to have resources devoted to apprehending…

And was that the reason he tried to burn down the house?

Well, are you saying that it's a prevailing attitude in Philadelphia?

Because he was going to be a witness?

How do we do that? You're a professor.

I thank you for being our police commissioner.

I think an appointment system might be better for the average person going to vote. But no system is perfect.

One action is to try to encourage and support grants to cities like Philadelphia for witness protection programs.

What's wrong with reporting a crime, especially if it's a crime against yourself?

They want to police their own people?

Your son was shot 12 times?

We're going to take a look, before we're finished on these hearings, at the Federal Witness/Victim Protection program.

Would you feel bad about being considered to be a snitch?

This hearing has been recognized following an extensive series of articles in the Philadelphia Inquirer, maintaining major problems in the criminal justice system setting in Philadelphia.

There is a legitimate intimidation factor that's out there, there's no question about that.

I have been pressing for mandatory sentences on Medicare and Medicaid fraud.

Do you think there's any inherent superiority in the appointing process with judicial commissions and appointments as opposed to the electoral process?

I think there is a gigantic problem in Philadelphia today called witness intimidation, tragic stories told by Mr. Clowden and Mr. Canada, tragic stories.

They could use the testimony at the preliminary hearing.

When you said his picture was posted, amplify what you meant by that.

Another course is to have Federal legislation which would make it a Federal crime to intimidate a State court witness.

How many in this room think that cooperating with police is a bad thing to do and you'd be classified as a snitch?

I take that as a yes answer.

If law enforcement breaks down because of some misguided notion about being a snitch, it's something we have to deal with.

How about on the issue of the underlying causes of crime, the issues of education, poverty, housing, job training?