Years ago, Leland Jones, the press secretary for Mayor David N. Dinkins, and I sat on a bench off the marble rotunda in City Hall and stared at each other glumly. We’d just had another sonic disagreement. He was convinced that I had misunderstood and misrepresented his boss. I was convinced he was an argumentative factotum.

But I felt compelled to give that attack terrier his due (Mr. Jones is in fact a fine and cultured fellow and bears no resemblance to a terrier). Lee, I said, you may spin me like top, stonewall me like a stone mason, and argue like a world-class trial lawyer.

But you’ve never ever lied to me. And I truly appreciate that. We shook hands, amiably, and the next day resumed our arguing.

Would that I could say the same to Paul J. Browne, who served as man Friday and chief spokesman for Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly all of these years. Mr. Browne has many admirable traits: he is well read and knowledgeable about the Police Department, public policy and politics.