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1. cringehumorkid says:

   February 10, 2006 at 7:11 pm

   Perhaps if you were more informed you would know that Mr. Feder did use a stage name, he went by the name “Club Soda Kenny”, a name he got after spending years as a roady for Dice, Dice used to tell him “Get me a club soda Kenny” and the name stuck. Mr. Feder also never once mentioned his affiliation with a police department during his shows, and furthermore, Mr. Feder was not “moonlighting” as he was NOT being paid to perform, if you moonlight you get paid. Being a police officer is a brutal job in itself, and anyone with knowledge of cops knows they have a dark sense of humor, its a way to cope with the stress of the job (one refers back to the cops unearthing the bodies beneath Jeffery Dahmer’s house, they were laughing and making jokes as they did it), its his way of coping, some cops drink, some cops even beat their wives, Mr. Feder doesn’t drink, doesn’t use drugs, and is one of the most family oriented and law biding people in this country. So before you pass judgement on him, get your facts together. You people make me sick.

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2. Brian McKim & Traci Skene says:

   February 10, 2006 at 8:12 pm

   Well, we’re informed now. We thank you and our readers thank you for the nice bit of info about Feder and his affiliation with the Diceman. Forgive us, but we’re working with just a couple column inches from the Post. We had a feeling that we hadn’t heard the last of this story.And we thought the “moonlighting” thing was a bit imprecise on the part of the NYP, since we were fairly sure that Feder took no $$$ for his comedy.Too bad we make you sick, though.Now hear this, cringhumorkid (if that’s your real name):Nobody has more warm and fuzzies for cops than we do here. (Niece’s husband is former LAPD, Ramparts Division.) And nobody has a better idea of what cops go through– and just how painfully underappreciated that is by the general public, the media and the purveyors of pop culture. So spare us the lecture and the boo-hoo sermon on Feder in particular and police officers in general.As for “passing judgement” on him, go back and re-read the post. We’re commenting not on Feder’s right to joke onstage at the Stress Factory or wherever, but on the call by his employer regarding the suspension. Some might take issue and say he shouldn’t be suspended. We don’t. And spare us the impassioned speech about a sick sense of humor being the exclusive province of cops (as though that somehow entitles him to tell dark tales in a comedy club and keep his uniform). We know from personal experience that there are a lot of occupations that breed an appreciation for and a facility for gallows humor– law enforcement, newspaper reporting, health care, just to name a few.Feder, however is an officer of the law. They have strict codes of conduct– on and off the job– for reasons even a toddler can grasp. He may be forced to decide which he likes more: joking or policing. He wouldn’t be the first person to be forced into deciding between what he loves to do and what pays the bills. It doesn’t make him a martyr. And, since he’s probably as upstanding as you say he is, he’ll probably make the right decision without any equivocation.We’re fairly certain he doesn’t need your feeble defense.Again: Thanks for the background. We truly appreciate it. And we welcome comments. Just modulate the tone a little next time and we’ll all be better off.

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3. cringehumorkid says:

   February 14, 2006 at 6:53 pm

   My brief discussion of police officers having a love of gallows humor, was far from a “boo hoo sermon” as you put it. How you came to the conclusion that’s what it was is beyond me but that’s beside the point.On the issue of passing judgement, you clearly did, perhaps YOU need to go back and re-read your own post, I believe you put it as such: “Perhaps he should literally give up his day job.” That quote of course coming at the end of what you consider to be a comical discussion between Mr. Feder and a motorist. If that’s not passing judgement then I don’t know what is.I understand the fact that police officers have strict codes of conduct, I have a degree in Criminal Justice and work as a court clerk (I also by the way occasionally do stand up as well). However, one must realize, this isn’t a legal issue, it’s not even an ethics issue, it’s a political issue. One must ask the question of when does the political chess game start impeding someone’s first amendment rights. The only reason this case is even an issue is because someone (most likely a digruntled person that Mr. Feder investigated at some point) decided to send a tape of his act to his superiors. One must also note that in the original statements from his higher ups, it was the Mayor that made public comments, the police chief originally had no comment. And I would bet money that the police chief sees the humor in his act, of course he has to put up a front for the public of being “offended.” Of course though it’s probably an election year for the mayor, and of course he wants to act tough for the public. Its ashame that someone like Mr. Feder has gotten swept into the political garbage.By the way, spare the snide comments about Mr. Feder not needing my feeble defense, I’m quite aware of that, I’m not a lawyer or a PR Rep and have never claimed to be.

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4. pmmason says:

   February 15, 2006 at 5:44 pm

   The gallows humor that PO’s and others in professions that deal with trauma is confined to those who work in these professions and is not meant for public consumption. They know in their hearts there is nothing funny about many of the situations they face, but it helps aleviate stress and the horror of human nature. I have heard my husband (NJ PO) say things to other cops that have made me cringe, but I understand the context. That this is used as defense of what this particular PO said in his stand-up is ridiculous. Also, he is an IA officer, so I doubt he sees the blood and guts most streeet cops see on a daily basis. He is an affront to PO’s who recognize their responsiblity to represent the force on or off duty.

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5. John Paul Dougherty III says:

   February 16, 2006 at 4:01 pm

   To me, Kenny is a first rate comedian who is using a traditional method and manner of expression that goes back sixty years, to his fellow Jewish comedians, Joe Ancis and Lenny Bruce in the 50’s and 60’s, through Andrew Dice Clay and Howard Stern today. When he is onstage, he is not a police officer, he is an artist, and deserves to be respected as such. Sexually or racially provocative humor (one TV report on Kenny two days ago ran a clip of him saying in his act “…the blacks get all the good jobs…” so now race has been brought into this) is never off-limits in a comedy club, it is what most comedy clubs are all about in America. Kenny has been part of the comedy scene for almost twenty years, and has always treated fellow performers with courtesy and kindness, throughout his stint as Andrew Dice Clay’s cohort, and thereafter during his ascension into stand-up comedy and comic acting (see the DVD, “Meet the Creeps,” Vols. I & II). I hope the powers-that-be in the West Orange Police Department don’t forget that they have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution and the First Amendment. Kenny should not be forced to choose between comedy and police work; what he says onstage is a threat to no one and breaks no laws. He is guilty of nothing more than being a funny Jew!

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6. Brian McKim & Traci Skene says:

   February 18, 2006 at 12:04 pm

   There are other comments (and more details on the whole story) < HREF="http://www.sheckymagazine.com/2006/02/details-on.html" REL="nofollow">HERE<>.Thanks.

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