Search Results for: node/SSCC Seattle

SSCC Honorable Mention–Chalfont

A Chalfont police officer was not shot by a group of assailants as he claimed, but instead staged the shooting himself, according to authorities.

Jon Cousin, 30, of New Britain Township was lying when he said he was shot in the chest while investigating a suspicious vehicle at a swim club about 3:16 a.m. Monday morning, they said.

This is certainly better than many of the other attempts by officers to “be a hero”.  Thankfully he has been arrested and charged though he is currently only on administrative leave.

SSCC HM: Jon Cousin

Because sometimes you want to go out looking like a hero. 

via Lone Wanderer (drop your blog in the comments if you have one)

SSCC #375–Update

Via Lance I got the following regarding SSCC #375:

Due to a technicality, a drunken driving charge was dismissed against the Gladstone State Police Post commander on Wednesday in Chippewa County District Court.

The exact issue at hand:

Dispatch directed police to obtain the search warrant from a former Chippewa County court employee who was no longer serving as magistrate at the time, said Vizina. The former magistrate had been relieved of her duties five weeks prior due to mental health issues, he said.

"Dispatch sent the officers to the wrong place to sign a warrant," said Vizina.

Because the former court employee was not legally authorized to sign and execute the search warrant, any information police obtained under the document during the investigation could not be considered as evidence, Vizina said.

"Blood test results were not admissible and could not be used in court," he noted.

How convenient.  That’s not to say the judge wasn’t right in this case, but it’s interesting that they would screw the pooch so hard when one of their own screwed up so bad.  Don’t worry though, it couldn’t possibly be intentional since they bothered to put him on paid leave.  Heaven forbid he’s held accountable.

State Sponsored Criminal: William Smith

Because when your buddy does a DUI, just make sure it’s not a current judge that signs the warrant.

SSCC #54–San Jose

A veteran San Jose police officer with a history of alleged misconduct has been accused of molesting two teenage boys, authorities said.

Authorities accuse D’Arrigo, 44, of molesting the boys, ages 15 and 17, at his Gilroy home. Gilroy police apparently began investigating D’Arrigo two years ago, authorities said.

Supposedly this officer held parties at his house and liquored up kids from the school he was responsible for.  That’s right he’s a campus officer for a high school.  That’s where he found and groomed his victims.

An earlier investigation found evidence, and identified two victims, however in true SSCC fashion no charges were filed against the officer.  A witness has now allowed the DA to move forward.

To put the finishing icing on the cake though, he also helped cover up the DUI of a fellow officer in 2008.

State Sponsored Criminal Count: 54

Because being a state employee automatically means you couldn’t possibly be a sexual predator.

H/t Phssthpok

SSCC #92- Huston PD

Houston police announced Thursday that they have indefinitely suspended an officer who was legally drunk when he crashed into a school bus earlier this year.

When I read that I figured well maybe he was off duty and was on his way home so this is more of a “honorable mention” category.  Then in my research I found this line which makes me think this isn’t his first rodeo.

A veteran Houston police officer with a blood-alcohol content of .205 — more than twice the legal limit — was driving to work when he collided with a private school bus this month, authorities said.

Emphasis mine.  It bugs me that the two papers are indicating a different BAC, though the newer article may be the result of a more accurate blood test.  Either way he was well beyond smashed and he was going to continue to be smashed well beyond after his shift started.

Then to add insult to injury the police tried to fault the bus driver and even cited the bus driver.  So Trejo wasn’t charged with DUI until two weeks later.  Thankfully the citation against the bus driver was dropped.  In a shining glimmer of hope.  Trejo was basically fired by the department meaning the pension board can decide not to give him benefits.  That little bit right there would shift this from SSCC to also being Accountabiliabuddiable (A possible thought for the name of the other series). 

I wonder if this guy is going to move up to Indianapolis now and join the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.  Tam say’s it’s so common up their it’s loosing it’s news worthiness and they probably scout for talent

State Sponsored Criminal Count: 92 – Ruben Trejo

Because blowing a .205 means you’ve got just enough buzz to ride you through the whole shift!

Via Ry.

SSCC #228 – Denver

I’m going to keep an eye on this one for extra updates.  It is a SSCC for these blocks emphasis on the
second:

Saunders was traveling 143 mph
in a 55-mph zone on June 17, 2010, according to the order terminating him,
issued by Manager of Safety Alex Martinez on Dec. 7.

So that’s a serious screw up, enough that had it been any
civilian there would have been serious jail time involved.  DUI and such excessive speeds that it is clearly reckless and beyond just willful negligence.

Saunders
was driving a friend’s car when he flew past the trooper. He pleaded guilty to
driving while impaired and to reckless driving. An Arapahoe County Court judge sentenced him to five days in jail,
fined him $300 and ordered him to perform 100 hours of community service,
according to court records.

That’s it!?  I passed a car making a poor judgment call because
of weather (snow and slush on a poorly maintained road) and was charged with 2
felonies.  In a plea deal I plead no-lo
on reckless driving and got 160 hours of community service.  My license was suspended for a month and I
still suffer the effects of the 2 felony charges 6 years later.  I made an honest mistake from inexperience,
he got drunk and hopped behind the wheel of a car and did 143 MPH because he
knew he was a cop and felt he was untouchable.  His department fired him as was their right.  Officers of the law should be held to at least the same, but higher standard of conduct.  If you don’t want to be held to a higher standard, don’t become an officer.

Then we see this officer has a history of complaints against him.

An Arapahoe County jury cleared Saunders of felony menacing and weapons charges after an employee of a McDonald’s accused him of pulling a gun when he grew impatient waiting for his food.

It was dismissed, though I have a feeling it wasn’t because the officer actually didn’t do it.  The judge enabled this one more
than the department did but the police union feels that the department should be sponsoring their criminal hires as well.

State Sponsored Criminal Count 227: Derrick Curtis Saunders

Because if you’re anointed, drunk driving is just part of the job, it’s just against the law for all those other peons.  

via David Wilson

SSCC #136 – FBI

I heard about this a while back but hadn’t heard anything about it since.  Well there was an update today.  Given the gravity of it, today’s a double SSCC. 

A federal judge in Detroit has dismissed a lawsuit against the U.S. government over the wreck of a $750,000 Ferrari driven by an FBI agent.

Judge Avern Cohn said in his recent decision that the crash of the 1995 F50 sports car was “certainly unfortunate,” but cited a law making the government immune to lawsuits when property is in custody of law enforcement.

Never mind the fact that it was the FBI driving the vehicle.  What if that car had wrapped its self around a school bus?  The bottom line is there is this thing called responsibility and this immunity crap is making sure no one can be held responsible for poor decisions.

The car had been stolen and given the fact that insurance had paid the owner for the loss of the car it belonged to the insurance company.  Said agent then took it for a test drive and wrapped it around a tree, destroying property that was not his.

Remember, the government exists to protect their employees when they break the law.

State Sponsored Criminal Count: 136 – FBI Special Agent John Doe

Because if you have the ability to take a joy ride in an F50 you take it.  While on that joy ride you are not responsible for any damages that may occur to said automobile.

via Tam.

SSCC #145 – ICE

Apparently ICE just couldn’t keep itself out of the count. So today is going to be a double on the SSCC.

On the night of October 20, 2010, Angel Enrique and Jesus Antonio were in bed in their small, two-bedroom apartment in the Clairmont complex in Nashville. The doors and windows were all shut and locked. Suddenly there was a loud banging at the door and voices shouting “Police!” and “Policia!” When no one answered, the agents tried to force the door open. Scared, Jesus hid in a closet. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents began hitting objects against the bedroom windows, trying to break in. Without a search warrant and without consent, the ICE agents eventually knocked in the front door and shattered a window, shouting racial slurs and storming into the bedrooms, holding guns to their heads. When asked if they had a warrant, one agent reportedly said, “We don’t need a warrant, we’re ICE,” and, gesturing to his genitals, “the warrant is coming out of my balls.”

Here’s what bugs me the most. There were 15 different residents affected by this raid, they detained people including a child purely because of their ethnicity.  This incident shows exactly what the Department of Homeland Security thinks of the Constitution and the law.  Just look at the VIPR program and the fact the TSA is now searching people traveling by bus as well as harassing truckers.  How long until they start stopping you on the way to work?  I would like to point out the double standard of the ALCU here.  They are more than happy to go after ICE over these incidents involving immigration, yet they sit on their hands when it comes to warrant-less searches during travel.

Tam’s comments regarding the indignities of Soviet Russia from the 80’s is looking like a positive compared to the down hill trend the DHS has placed us on.

State Sponsored Criminal Count: 145 – John Doe

Because a warrant is just a technicality and doesn’t actually mean anything.  It saves us time and effort to skip the paperwork.  

SSCC #395 – Baton Rouge

An 18-year-old was shot and killed by a deputy. That teen’s family has now filed a federal suit claiming it was a wrongful death. Could the deputy’s past have foretold the future?

What did this young man do to deserve such a reaction from the officer?

“He was approaching the police to help them. He was telling them you’ve got the wrong person. You’ve got the wrong person. He had his hands in the air when the officer turned and shot him point blank, and he fell. When he hit the ground, he still had his hands above his head,” said attorney Donna Grodner.

This isn’t even an issue of he said she said.  The Sheriff supported the statement and continue on further to add the following:

“We have no reason at this time to believe that this 18-year-old did anything wrong and certainly, I want to make that clear. He was unarmed. I’m not saying he violated any laws what so ever,” said Sheriff Edwards.

So given the Sheriff is supporting the family, why would this be a SSCC?  It’s a prime example of why I do this and why I want officers fired immediately upon misconduct.

“Chief Nelson was the police chief at that time, and he recommended the city council terminate his employment because of numerous complaints against him,” said Chief Ambeau.

Complaints like verbal and written warning notices regarding his unauthorized absence, failure to follow the law and leaving well before his shift was over.

The minutes from that August 2001 council meeting showed the chief and council members frustrated with all the complaints against the officer. It only got worse when it came to then-St. Gabriel Mayor George Grace.

That’s right folks, this officer had a history and now someone finally ended up dead because of this officer.  Worst thing about this is I have no doubt that officer went home and slept like a baby.

The fact is officers don’t normally jump into the deep end off the bat. They slowly work their way up and administrators and public officials need to pay attention to the warning signs and have the balls to say, “Son you’re not going to work here.”

State Sponsored Criminal #395:  William Phebus

Because really what you see when an officer has been fired numerous times is a cheap employee, don’t worry about why he was fired, he won’t want to do it again.