The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 2

South' THE BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE SEPTEMBER 27, 1992 Opinion For three generations, family has served and protected If 1 ekHEEl II PLrW 1.1 17 I i harsh- Wh, tm year. Their cousin, Detective Neil Murphy, is also a Norwood cop. He said he was influenced by the stories his father, John, told about his days as a Marine MP, but he also looked up to his uncle, the chief. Brian Murphy, the unofficial spokesman for Jim Murphy's children, said there was never any direct pressure to become a police officer. Instead, law enforcement was like a bug that you couldn't help but catch.

The third generation grew up immersed in police work, Brian said. They were conscious of their father's profession from an early age, and that sense of family business was reinforced by their mother's two brothers, who were police officers in New York state. Sunday outings often ended up at the mounted police stables, Brian said, or on one of the police boats. Jim Murphy was always clear about his expectations for his children. "He let us know that there are good people and there are bad people, and that we were going to be good people," Lt.

Brian Murphy said. "You never wanted to disappoint him." One of the tenets the Murphy kids learned from their Dad was that police officers must hold themselves to the same high standards they enforce on the public. He must have taught the lesson well, because the Murphys of Norwood have a reputation among their fellow officers for being "straight arrows." For Brian and the others, the Murphy legacy is a desire to make an impact on the world around you. "Police work itself is made up of common sense and compassion," Brian said. "You can make a difference in someone's life every day.

You can show someone courtesy or you can make sure somebody else shows courtesy. Without getting too philosophical, if you only get to be on earth for a short while, this is one way to do some good." Cornelius would be proud. Elizabeth Farquhar is a free-lance writm living in Scituate. fading newspaper story hangs, framed, on the wall in Norwood police Lt. Brian Mur- (3 nome- "ne headline says: "Four of If-.

One Family Policemen. Murphys of Nor-U wood Have Done Their Share in the Interest of Law and Order." The story ran in the Boston Globe Oct. 6, 1912. The four Murphy brothers gaze earnestly from a photo, with their turn-of-the-century style policemen's hats pulled low over their eyes. One of them, Cornelius, is Lt.

Murphy's grandfather. That year, Cornelius walked the beat in Norwood through an immigrant neighborhood that people called "Stink Alley" because of its foul-smelling tanneries. It's now 80 years later, and a lot has changed in Norwood. The tanneries are gone, and in all likelihood most people have never heard of Stink Alley. But some things have remained the same.

For one, the Murphys are still on the police force, five strong, all grandchildren of Cornelius Murphy, the third generation of Murphys to make careers on the Norwood force. If Cornelius and his brothers initiated the tradition, then James M. (Jim) Murphy, nurtured it. James followed in his father Cornelius' footsteps by becoming a police officer in Norwood in 1943. In 30 years he earned the respect of his peers nationwide for his skills as an investigator and his dedication to "professionalizing" police work.

And in the 10 years he served as chief, Jim Murphy won the admiration and affection of the town that trusted him. He died of a heart attack in 1973 after working day and night for a month on a double murder investigation. Norwood's old-timers still stop his children on the street to tell them stories about how their father helped them. Before his death, Chief Murphy managed to instill an interest in police work in at least four of his 10 children three sons and a daughter serve in the Norwood Police Department. Bill was appointed to the force in 1974 and is now a sergeant.

Brian was hired as a civilian dispatcher in 1979, and was appointed patrolman in 1982, lieutenant in 1990 and now is a shift commander. Their sister, Patrolman Maureen Murphy, became a prison guard in 1979, then joined the Norwood police force in 1984. And a fourth sibling, Paul Murphy, 29, was appointed a patrolman the next Letters I 1992 SOUTH SHORE BUSINESS EXPO 75 Exhibitors will highlight their products and services. Doors open 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.

POOL RENOVATIONS 7:44 Breakfast featuring Jerry Ellis, President of Building 19 Lantana, Randolph 7:44 A.M. breakfast buffet $12.00 South Shore Chamber members, $20.00 non-members REPLASTER WITH THE EXCLUSIVE 5 Year Warranty PEBBLE-TEC FINISH IONIZATION SYSTEMS COPING TILE FILTERS HEATERS UPDATE YOUR POOL TO THE 21st CENTURY Residents along the coast must live with the tides This letter is a follow-up on the article in the Aug. 30 South Weekly titled "Environmental benefits of opening tidal dike considered" and a letter to the editor by Patricia Bean titled "Many questions on dike opening." I would like to know where you were in the early 1960s and previous to that. And what qualifications you had to be chairman of the waterways committee. In the years you were in charge, the Green Harbor River sat stagnant.

Some of us were raised on the river, whose parents and a few more generations back were raised on the river, see the river through the eyes of experience. We are the inhabitants of this marshy area. Some of us are seasonal and migratory, some of us would stay on it if our natural food supply was not cut off. The dike stood for years as a massive concrete structure with its inner mechanisms removed. The tide roared in and out daily from the early 1960s and back before the depression.

Of all the people I know and all I have talked with that lived in the surrounding area of the river, only one time is recalled that the tide came up high enough to flood the yard of our two-acre island just northwest of the dike, before the tide went back out. This was during a storm that came on an extreme lunar tide. In those days septic systems floated but now all the low-lying areas are on town sewage, so septic tanks are a nonexistent problem. To my knowledge, no houses were flooded to the point of being damaged. This is the way it was at that time, and may I remind you that this was with the internal mechanisms of the dike completely removed.

I have studied the present condition of the dike with its existing components, it could be regulated quite easily. Each tide gate could be lifted leaving a 2-by-4-foot cavity under each gate that would allow water to pass the dike. The flume on the river side could be lifted, which would allow the outgoing tide to flow unrestricted. That's the part that would flush out the channel and slow down the shoaling effect. The tide upriver from the dike would be far less drastic than the tide in the harbor, but it would be sufficient to bring back life in the shellfish flats.

It would also be enough to kill off the elephant grass that is clogging up every ditch in the lower reaches of the acres. This is the reason why there is poor drainage in these areas so a tide would be beneficial for drainage. So let's make better use of this structure called the dike. Not only does it protect land in low-lying areas from bearing the full brunt of the tide, it was designed and built in a way that it can be regulated bringing back to life areas adjacent to the dike and reestablishing a food chain that we are on top of. What future is there for our children to come if we knowingly cut off the major food supply that our very existence depends on.

In my opinion, anyone who is not willing to live in harmony with the tide, especially in an area such as this where we can control it, maybe shouldn't live in a seaside town. And the skepticism of such people who hold these high positions and have done such a poor job of maintaining this waterway is an attitude I don't wish to pass on to my children. The tide cleans, flushes and replenishes all of its do- Free Seminars 9:00 A.M. 21 Ways to Get Mora Customers, Do Mora Business and Have More Fun John Graham: Graham Communications, Inc. 10:15 A.M.

State of the Economy Panel discussion (taped produced tor "VIEWPOINT' by Philip Dandrow) Jack Conway: Conway Alan Morse: Massachusetts Banking Commission, James Donovan: Donaldson, Lutkin, Jenrette and Peter O'Connell: O'Connell Companies 11:30 A.M. Employment Law Update: What you need to know about the Americans with Disabilities Act Michael Joyce: Murphy, Hesse, Toomey Lehane 12:30 P.M. Managing Successfully through Goal Setting Dennis Friedman: The Chesapeake Group P.M. Who has the Money? Sponsored by the South Shore Economic Development Corp. Business-After-Hours Join members in this unique opportunity to network with businesspeople like yourself at a cocktail reception sponsored by Lantana, South Weymouth Savings Bank and Agnltti Insurance Agency from 4:00 to 5:30 P.M.

$8.00 South Shore Chamber members, $20.00 non-members minions. Let's wake up and do what we can. ERICBLAUSS Brant Rock, Marshjield Letter writer clarifies position on abortion A somewhat recent letter of mine has sparked controversy. In an attempt to clarify my position on abortion, I would like to make two points perfectly clear; First, and I think I speak for many in the Pro-life movement, do not consider the woman having an abortion so much a murderer as a victim of those who style themselves Prochoice, but who fight any attempt to make sure that an abortion is truly an informed choice. I do not believe that anyone who has the interest of a potential mother at heart would tolerate her being; allowed to undergo an abortion without insisting that she be informed of all of the particulars, both pro and con.

Second, I will grant that there are some areas in which morality may be open to discussion but I am gure that all will agree that there are some areas where this is inconceivable. One hundred plus years ago we went to war when one group's morality refused to recognize the right to liberty of another. Adolf Hitler used his morality to justify the murder of millions and take the entire world into war. There are those today who would justify their right to rob, rape, and murder and abuse as their morality versus yours. The first right granted by our Constitution right to life.

As science is able to preserve life ex-uterb at earlier stages, and as the law and science recognize that, as you cannot be a little pregnant, you cannot be a little alive, the argument of your morality versus mine 'becomes invalid in recognition of the basic right guaranteed us all. PRUDENCE YOUNG DARIGAN Plymouth rj Target all health abusers with higher taxes, insurance I am opposed to higher cigarette taxes; I am opposed to unfair taxes of any kind. I think that people who'pay health insurance are also unfairly treated. They have to pay continually higher rates to cover the cost of health care for those who do what they want. If my smoking causes trouble and higher health costs to others I am willing to pay a higher tax, though I fan't afford it.

But I am only willing if others are taxed for abusing their health, causing social disorder of all kinds, and forcing health care costs and insurance rates upv All those overweight with potential or present health problems must pay a health tax. 't All those who drink alcoholic drinks to the pNtint where they have health problems, who drive drunk' or cause domestic, or other, violence should have topay higher health insurance rates and be taxed for causing more health problems to themselves. All those with chronic illness who do not follownpre-scribed diets or take prescribed medication causing them to need more health care should pay a health taxand higher rates. I could go on and on but I think this sample makes my point I'd be glad to pay my share if all those who irresponsibly abuse their health, need more health care and hospital care had to pay a higher rate and MARION FEINSf EIN Stoughton To be published in South Weekly, letters must be signed and include an address and telephone number for verification. Letters are subject to condensation.

Send tetters to: Letters to Editor, Boston Globe, 1165 Washington St, Hanover, MA 02339. GUNITE INC. (800) 272-7946 Call 479-1111 for Reservations The Sports Medicine Center at Sinai Sinai's Sports Medicine Center brings together a team of professionals specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of sports injuries. Dr. Jeffrey I.

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Prompt appointments, a team of professionals, and state-of-the-art equipment that's the Sinai approach to sports medicine. For an appointment, call the Sinai Outpatient Department, (617)344-0516 or 344-0526. For the record Correction: Due to a reporting error, a chart in the Aug. 30 South Weekly gave an incorrect number for the amount of uncollected 1992 real estate taxes in Hingham. The correct figure, as of the end of July 1992, is $600,000.

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