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SSCC #384–Phoenix

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It’s been a while since we’ve seen one like this.

A Phoenix police officer has been arrested and could face several felony charges of sexual misconduct with two teenage boys.

…

Garcia said the alleged victims were 14 and 17-year-old Phoenix boys who knowingly entered into a relationship with Wilson. He said Wilson met them through his job as a community outreach officer.

This is one I’m just going to let stand on it’s own.

State Sponsored Criminal #384: Christopher J. Wilson

Because the best way to find underage boys is to work as a cop, you can be trusted then right?

via David N.

On Complacency

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Ry bumped me this by email and it’s worth watching both video’s.  Warning people get shot and people die. (For those of you using RSS, the video isn’t embedding correctly, click here.)

Here’s a better view of the video with the section we really care about.  Watch carefully starting at 1:33.

You will see as the officer opens the door the assailant sticks his arm out and fires a gun at contact range.

Please note while often through the State Sponsored Criminal Count it seems like I’m callous and have no respect for the danger police officers are in that is anything but true.  I have plenty of respect and this video above shows exactly how dangerous it can be.  Why I do the count is for a different time because from what I could see in the video, this officer had done no wrong with regards to the rights of the people involved.

But what happened?  As Ry said “Getting behind the OODA loop,” which I can certainly see in this case.  What strikes me more though is a complacency that appears since already one individual is in cuffs and everything appears to be calm and routine.  The cops figure if there was going to be an issue it would have already happened.  Then without warning things turn south.  The calm and routine is usually where you end up in trouble because your brain expects a different outcome.

The officer that was shot at contact distance didn’t really even have a chance.  By the time he realized what was happening the hammer was starting to fall.  The other officer was obviously taken off guard as well.  The were taken so off guard he had problems integrating the new information into their OODA loop.  The officer is reacting as if they were in Condition White and have trouble, as Cooper said, transitioning the levels to “The Fight is On”.

Take away’s as a sheep dog.  Just because something seems kosher doesn’t actually mean all is well and safe.  Never leave condition yellow around anyone that might be dangerous.  In this case as an officer, I can understand being in Orange even especially during a traffic stop.  However that line to Red must be clearly defined and you must not false trip.

Further as a wolf in sheep’s clothing you can play this same trick on criminals attempting to use you as prey.  If you recognize a predator, and for some reason you passed the interview, you can make them think their crime will be routine when in the end it will be anything but.  It’s more likely to lock them up because they will not have planned for that eventuality, it normally goes south for them when they can easily make an exit.  You must be careful in that game because letting them close distance is usually a bad thing.

Anyone else pull any different lessons or observations out of those videos?

My heart goes out to that officers family because he didn’t deserve that, he was doing his job and from what I saw, he was doing it honestly and admirably which is worthy of praise. It pleases me to also be able to report the following:

Jerry Lard, who was a passenger in the back seat of the stopped car, was convicted last month of capital murder for killing Schmidt. He has been sentenced to death.

Disappointingly I’m sure it won’t happen for a very long time.

SSCC #383–IMPD

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Here’s another from RobertaX.

Also during the past five months, Ratcliff has continued to stalk and harass a woman who has been the object of his obsession for years, according to Marion County prosecutors who charged him Thursday. He faces three felony counts of stalking, one misdemeanor count of battery and 26 misdemeanor counts of invasion of privacy.

Here’s a question, why was he still employed as a police officer during that time if he was harassing and stalking a woman?  I guess the IMPD believes in giving predators every advantage.

State Sponsored Criminal #383: Craig Ratcliff

Because an officer of the law stalking a someone is perfectly acceptable and while we disarm the general public we should leave them with their badge and gun to use against their victim.*

*Note, I don’t like how many of the DV laws work for this reason amongst others.  It is too easy to use against someone who is actually innocent and is often used as a tactic to harass someone through the legal system, but the futility is obvious when some how when a cop does it he’s special.

SSCC #382–Los Angeles

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“I felt 300 pounds on my neck,” Brooks told reporters at NBC Los Angeles. Brooks, a volunteer employee at THC Downtown Collective, a Long Beach, CA medical marijuana dispensary, was arrested June 19 during a police raid of the pot shop. Footage from the dispensary’s security camera reveals a brutal bust, including cops walking on Brooks’ back and standing on his neck, while officers prepare to handcuff the suspect. “I just felt violated and disrespected,” said the 28-year-old volunteer, one of five arrested in the raid. “We got beat up and arrested for a citation that’s equivalent to someone jaywalking.”

Even less surprising is the fact that the officers also destroyed the surveillance equipment.  Tell me, why would an officer do that?  My immediate guess is to steal pot without evidence against him for own personal use.  There’s only one reason cops destroy surveillance equipment and that is to make sure they’re not recorded when they’re breaking the law.

Overall this is nothing more than state level cronyism when you see the following:

Although police admit the dispensary was compliant with California state law, Long Beach PD said the raid was ordered because the store was operating without a city permit. The attorney for Dorian Brooks, however, argued that the city of Long Beach denied owners a permit, and makes it increasingly difficult for dispensaries like THC Downtown Collective to get one.

State Sponsored Criminal #381:

Because honest up right cops just don’t like being recorded right?  I mean they’re honest so they don’t need to be recorded, they’re just doing their job right?

h/t Uncle

SSCC #380 & #381 – Tacoma

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KIRO TV’s investigative unit has discovered Tacoma police used force to arrest and handcuff an innocent deaf woman after she called 911 for their help.

Instead of an apology, she ended up bloody and in jail for  early three days without an interpreter before a prosecutor declined to press charges.  

This whole incident is all sorts of fail and can easily be broken down as an officer was quick to resort to his taser without using his brain.  Then after screwing the pooch on that front they doubled down on stupid.

 State law on the employment of ASL interpreters for deaf suspects is clear. 

RCW 2.42.120 (4)requires law enforcement agencies conducting an investigation to “appoint and pay for a qualified interpreter throughout the investigation.”

RCW 2.42.120 (5) states “If a hearing impaired person is arrested for an alleged violation of a criminal law, the arresting officer or the officer’s supervisor shall, at the earliest possible time, procure and arrange payment for a qualified interpreter for any notification of rights, warning, interrogation, or taking of a statement. No employee of the law enforcement agency who has responsibilities other than interpreting may be appointed as a qualified interpreter.”

Basically these officers played the game of CYA and ended up violating more laws because of it.  There’s a reason the prosecutor didn’t file charges, no jury in the world would convict.  Further she probably saw the civil suit writing on the wall.  This ends up in the full count because of the following:

White said despite her repeated requests to police for a certified ASL interpreter, one was never provided.

The story is complex and the officers at the scene clearly had a different point of view.  KIRO 7 Investigators have tried to get their explanation for six weeks and while we’ve talked to Tacoma Police on the phone they would not respond to the allegations.  We’ve also sent them emails and left several messages. 

If Tacoma police want to explain their side of the story, we’ll have a follow-up. 

There is no doubt that the Tacoma Police will not be punishing the officers involved and will do nothing to mediate or resolve the situation they have created.  This is a textbook case of the state sponsoring its own criminals.

State Sponsored Criminal #380: Ryan Koskovich

#381: Michael Young

Because you immediately jump to the taser when you know there is a deaf woman involved.  Further, after finding out you tasered an innocent, you charge her with a crime and hold her against the law without an interpreter or informing your supervisor she’s deaf.  Because the police don’t have to follow the law, they are the law.

SSCC #379–Indianapolis

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This one’s here merely because of the history of the IMPD in this count already.  Namely this, this and this.

An Indiana State trooper arrested an off-duty Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer on drunk driving charges early Sunday morning.

I am shocked, shocked I tell you.  How is it another anointed individual of the IMPD was able to get behind the wheel of a vehicle while intoxicated.  I have been informed numerous times that action is against the law and people keep telling me the law will stop crime and criminals!

At least this individual wasn’t on duty or in a police vehicle.  You just have to appreciate the little things he did do.

State Sponsored Criminal #279: Daniel Kepler

Because drinking and driving is only bad when you’re not a member of the Indianapolis Metro Police Department.

h/t RobertaX

SSCC #375 – Michigan

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The Michigan State Police post commander in Gladstone was arrested for drunken driving in Chippewa County over the weekend, according to county officials there.

Lt. William H. Smith, 43, was booked into the Chippewa County Jail at 4:51 a.m. Saturday, confirmed Undersheriff Mike Bitnar this morning. Smith was booked under an "OWI" charge which is operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, said Bitnar.

No word on him being fired yet.  I expect if charges move forward he will be on no more than administrative leave.  Since drinking and driving is a perfectly acceptable behavior for a  Law Enforcement Officer.

State Sponsored Criminal #375: William H. Smith

Because drinking and driving is only bad when you end up in an accident, never mind experience and history should have taught to know better.

via Lance A.

SSCC #374 – Dallas

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A rookie Dallas police officer was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving early Wednesday morning after he nearly hit two squad cars near the scene of Tuesday’s officer-involved shooting in south Dallas.

Yeah, that right there isn’t too bright.  You would have thought he would have at least known to avoid the area.  Then again he probably felt safe since it was just his buddies in the area.

If all else fails though I’m sure he will probably transfer to IMPD.

State Sponsored Criminal #374: Officer Matthew Gaines

Because drinking and driving is acceptable when you’re an officer of the law.

via Bob S.