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Category Archives: Unfiled

These are posts that have not been filed yet. They will be over time, category info did not transfer correctly in the move.

SSCC #161 – Miami PD

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The trooper activated her emergency lights and attempted to pull over the car, but the report claims the car sped ahead weaving in and out of traffic. The trooper noted that at time, the car reached speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour.

When the trooper was finally able to pull the car over at mile marker 50.5. She approached the car with her gun drawn and noticed that the driver was a City of Miami police officer in full uniform. The officer, identified as Fausto Lopez, 35, told the trooper that en route to an off-duty detail and he had to be there by 7:00 a.m.

Considering the officer was cited for reckless driving it’s hard for me to include it in the count. That’s exactly what it was. That said one should be leading by example, and how often have we been pulled over for speeding and heard the officer ask where we were headed in such a hurry.

Given my incident which was a poor judgement call in inclement weather and the fact they initially stuck me with two felonies it’s easy to say he’s getting off light.  The FHP officer didn’t care that he was a police officer which I must say I am quite happy about.  Currently the officer is also under review by his department for the action.

I’m counting it for the fact that he didn’t end up in jail and have to wait to see a judge.  If that had been any standard citizen they would have been sleeping in the pokey awaiting the judge.  For that reason I’m willing to include it in the count.

Update: As pointed out by Jake below, there is a long list of charges this
incidence also qualifies for that were ignored and skipped.  Two he
easily qualified for is attempting to allude and failure to yield.  The
reckless charge is probably the weakest of the bunch.  It’s a solid count no matter how you slice it.

State Sponsored Criminal Count 161: Officer John Doe*

Because obviously this guy was a dumb ass, I mean at least flip your lights on and make it appear that you’re on your way to a call!

via Donovan Dion

*As always if you know or discover the officers name, please contact me.

SSCC #159/#160 – TSA

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Surprisingly the TSA has been out of the count for a while, but they came back strong today!

Two former TSA workers at JFK Airport pleaded guilty yesterday to grand larceny after they were caught swiping $40,000 from somebody’s luggage. Coumar Persad, 44, of Jackson Heights, Queens, and Davon Webb, 31, of the Bronx will each serve six months in jail for their crime, which was
perpetrated in January
after Persad X-rayed a piece of baggage headed for an American Airlines flight.

So two TSA miscreants incapable of getting any other employment see a fat wad of cash in someone’s checked luggage.  They then opened the bag which they now looked at as their personal bank and made a $40,000 withdrawal.  They didn’t completely drain their new bank account though leaving the balance at $130k.

The only reason they were busted was because one of their fellow workers reported them.  The lesson in that is to provide a kickback to your coworkers.

State Sponsored Criminal Count 159: Coumar Persad

160: Davon Webb

Because a passengers luggage is merely a personal bank account for TSA agents.  If there’s something in it they like, you’re not around to stop the theft, it’s a perfect criminal environment.

SSCC Honorable Mention – Chillicothe PD

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A Chillicothe police officer who retired this year has been charged with sex crimes involving a 15-year-old girl.

This one is unlike the others in the fact that this one doesn’t involve an officer being assigned to a school.  However this is yet another example of a predator looking to hide in plain view.  Even more than just hiding in plain view, they are seeking positions which will provide them a blanket of trust.

McKee served on the Chillicothe police force from 1986 until he retired on March 1. The allegations against him did not arise until after his retirement, Schmidt said. McKee also has been a minister with Liberty Hill Christian Union Church since 2009.

Not only was he a cop, but a minister too.  Both of those positions people provide a blanket amount of trust and the serious predators know it.  I wish that the world was a better place, but human nature means that some are predators, some are sheep, and some are sheep dogs.  The most dangerous predators know to appear as a sheep dog.

State Sponsored Criminal Honorable Mention: Richard Eric McKee

Because sometimes the best place to hide is in plain sight.  Even better is to compound positions that will induce trust.

Random Thought for Halloween*

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Watching Young Frankenstein for Halloween works quite well.

Even better is open carrying a 1911 as you hand out candy to little kids.  And of course absolutely nothing happens.

*I had to come up with something, that’s 80 posts in a month** a new personal best.

**I’m an engineer, I like round numbers.

More Like Him Please

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A woman was attacked, thankfully the attack wasn’t fully successful.  What is awesome though is the response from the county Sheriff.

Wright said, “It’s too bad someone with a concealed weapons permit didn’t walk by. That would fix it.” He said people are tired of doing the right thing and criminals getting away with their actions.

He said several times, “I want you to get a concealed weapons permit.”

The icing on the cake though was his closing statement.

He encouraged women to walk in groups, and he ended by saying again, “I want you to get a concealed weapons permit. Don’t get Mace. Get a firearm.”

I gave my wife a firearm as a wedding present.  Not only that but I also actively encouraged her to shoot and get her CPL.  This picture from Oleg also states the subject quite well.

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It pleases me that a sheriff is actively encouraging his constituents to arm themselves.  More like him please!

New Ear Worm 10/31/2011

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So I’ve been hearing this a lot on Sirius (Octane) as of late.  It didn’t really get it’s worm on until today when I had to pass someone.  Now the dang thing won’t leave my head.

Previously there was a discussion for what music would you want playing as you run out of ammunition in a fight with zombies.  This one is currently at the top of that list, for now anyway.

*For those that don’t know, my music tastes cover just about everything except pop.  That crap can go die in a fire.  Rock, classical, and country all live in my MP3 player.

SSCC #159 – Montgomery PD

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Carpenter searched Jett’s car without a warrant or her consent, the lawsuit states. During the search, he allegedly ordered Jett to pull out her bra and shake out her breasts. He did not seek assistance from a female officer.

The officer has been fired from the department due to an “unrelated” incident of filling his private vehicle using the department credit card.  Because someone corrupt like that could never do the following after the complaint above.

In the search warrant affidavit, Carpenter falsely alleged that he had searched the car and found marijuana on Jett’s passenger, the lawsuit states. Based on the reportedly false find, Higgins granted the search warrant on Pancake’s home without the legal authority to do so, the lawsuit states.

Evidently he wanted to take some of her undergarments from home as well.  For those who might take the complaints as being he said she said, history is on the side of the person filing the complaint.

Carpenter has worked for at least two police departments in the past two years, having been fired from the Charleston Police Department in 2008.

Not to mention the hunting violations that the article goes on to detail that were committed by the officer.  Such a wonderful set of morals and hiring requirements that department has.  

State Sponsored Criminal Count 159: Conrad M. Carpenter

Because when you see someone you like, violate her forth amendment and then frame her for drug possession.  If she acts like she hates you, she’s just putting on a show.

Radio, Radio, and More Radio

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Saturday ended up considerably busier than expected.  Initially I had just planned to help with the ARES exercise, but it ended up they were making a trip up to the Kamiak radio site.  I went along to help since I hadn’t seen the radio site.

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That’s the tower with the KABARA Repeater Antennas, as well as the packet system we were up there to work on.  Next to it is that tower is KWSU.

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Inside the radio shack was some impressive equipment for the KABARA system, more specifically a pair of duplexers for the 6-meter repeater.

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After a quick tour we then got down to why were were there.  Someone was going to have to climb the tower for recon for an upcoming antenna installation.

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He wanted proof that he climbed the tower.  I have other pictures while he was at the top, none however provide proof that it was actually him climbing.

It appears the recon was successful, the hardline we were planning on using is currently at the location where we are planning on installing the antenna.  We just need to coordinate with some of the other antennas owners when we go to actually install it.

The antenna is going to be hooked into this.

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Which is the packet node on top of Kamiak, the recon was because the owner is planning on adding a 70cm link if I remember correctly.  It was pointed out to me though how wind can be a royal bitch up on the tower.

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The wind was light that day, the antenna is either caught in the tower, or permanently deformed from wind and ice loading.  That particular antenna however was no longer in use.

After that we headed back down the hill with one quick stop right after we got out of the trees so I could do this today.

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After that K7LL helped me test an mobile amp I have.  It works, but nowhere near as effective as it should be.  It is now sitting on my workbench awaiting disassembly.  An upshot a coworker and fellow ham drove by and I paid him a visit.  I must say his ham shack is by no means a shack, and is actually quite nice.  He actually had a spare 2m/70cm base and it’s now sitting on my desk.  He also has a spare HF rig but it needs some repair work.  Electrolytic capacitors don’t last for ever.

From there I went and picked up a sign for the lodge.  The sign was vandalized and I picked it up to take it home to attempt to clean it.  Attempt one removed some of the paint but next on the list is acetone.  From there I headed over the Moscow to W7UQ to kill some time before going over to a friends house for dinner and helping him with some homework.

While sitting at W7UQ one of the members showed up and I then preceded to spend the next 2 hours discussing antenna design, radiation patterns, and methods to solve some issues they are having with their current project.  Including moving from just telemetry based information to adding command and control.  I gave him my contact information so they can come to me with questions and help with the project.

Lastly I had dinner over with some friends.  I finally headed out from their place at 0130 after helping him with a programming assignment.  Overall it was a busy, educational, and productive day.