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Tag Archives: Lack of Accountability

SSCC Honorable Mention: Florida Highway Patrol

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Roughly two weeks ago, Florida Highway Patrol trooper Charles Swindle was fired for “conduct unbecoming of a public employee” after he offered a state lawmaker, Rep. Charles McBurney (R-Jacksonville), a warning for doing 87 mph in a 70 mph zone. The incident reportedly occurred in November.

Swindle first checked with his sergeant and then told McBurney: “I’m cutting you a break.” The trooper cited the lawmaker for lacking proof of insurance — a $10 ticket opposed to a $280 fine for speeding.

Serious props to the representative for calling attention to it.  It does kind of bug me that the officer was fired over this incident, especially since much more serious incidents seem to walk right on by without a blink.  Don’t get me wrong, getting canned makes sense, it’s the fact that you have incidents like Officer Roid Rage who keep their job.

What is interesting though is why he would extend this type of gratuity toward a lawmaker.  Everyone is bound under the same laws.  That said, yes officers do have some discretion in issuing warnings or tickets.  In this case he seemed to be constantly giving lawmakers a free pass.  I don’t know if it was to garner support for the FHP or if it was an effort to remember names later if need ever arose.

Either way we’re all equal under the law and this officer didn’t feel that was the case.

State Sponsored Criminal Honorable Mention: Charles Swindle

Because by all means let the people who wrote the laws get away with breaking them.

via Bob S. and Archer

This seems to be a pattern…

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First here’s what was snapped out of a recent article that hit Drudge today.

The bill’s sponsor, Democrat Sen. Steve Hobbs of Lake Stevens, said Tuesday that he had not read the amendment, but he was aware of concerns from high-tech industries.

The bill in question would mean that I could be compelled to release my user credentials to a prospective employer for my online account.  Who here thinks this is either a good or acceptable idea?  Anyone?  Bueller?

Now I bring this up because just a short while ago we saw the same response regarding a bill that would have violated people’s 4th amendment rights.

One of the bill’s sponsors, State Sen. Adam Kline (D-Seattle), told the Seattle Times that he didn’t properly vet the bill prior to jumping on board. He claims he didn’t realize the bill authorized police searches.

Joe wants people to be held accountable for the laws they push.  This includes sponsoring a law.  If you cannot be bothered to spend the time reading a bill, you should not be sponsoring it.  Even more than that, you should be held accountable for what’s written in it.  Ignorance of what is hidden within isn’t an excuse and you should be held accountable no matter what.

SSCC #557: Knoxville

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A Knoxville woman filed a lawsuit against the city of Pittsburgh and a now imprisoned former officer, alleging the man was allowed to continue working for four years even after she filed a complaint against him for soliciting sexual acts from her.

This wasn’t just a one time deal either and it appears they knew about it for a long time.

Skweres was arrested a month later and this week pleaded guilty to all 26 counts against him involving five separate women. Among the most serious counts were charges of attempted rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

…

The lawsuit, filed by attorney Alan Perer, alleges that the bureau took no action against Skweres even after complaints were made by Ms. Leonard in 2008 and another victim in 2009. The city also knew that he failed his initial psychological exam, the complaint said.

Aren’t you glad we have men like this who enlist to protect and serve the public.  It’s also nice to see how much the department actually bothered to investigate those seeking positions of authority and their lack of pursuit of information that should raise red flags.

Remember though, we need to put the public through hell to buy a firearm but people like this man and officer ‘roid rage are allowed to work, and continue working despite the evidence they should be fired.

State Sponsored Criminal #557: Adam Skweres

Because when you really need to fill the job, who cares who you hire?  They’re just looking for a good time and wont hurt anyone right?

SSCC #556: Canton Tx

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James Melvin Bradshaw, a narcotics officer for the Canton Police Department, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 27 and charged with six counts of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation. Bradshaw was arrested this morning and went before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Guthrie this afternoon for an initial appearance.

It’s such a wonderful thing we have this war on nouns right?  Look at all the good it does for society and how it allows officers to expand their horizons.  This one doubly makes the count because he took it from people who had legitimate prescriptions.  In other words he stole from law abiding citizens.

State Sponsored Criminal #556: James Melvin Bradshaw

Because when you’re a narcotics officer, harass whoever you want, even if they’re lying in a hospital bed.  They don’t need those pills now do they.

SSCC #555: Pittsburgh

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Remember how I said the following on Friday:

It’s a common thread when a department has problems like this, it’s usually more than just one or two officers but a systemic corruption within the police department.

Well, I must have been clairvoyant because A Girl sent me the following this morning.

Attorneys for former Pittsburgh police Chief Nate Harper say he will plead guilty to charges that he conspired to steal $32,000 in city police funds and failed to file federal tax returns from 2008 to 2011.

*Blink*

It’s no wonder his shining star of a police department has ended up in my count so often as of late.  The first clues were in 2011.

Thank god he got busted but it was his behavior that created the corruption and problems within the department.  He created a band of criminals under him with protection and silent blessing.

State Sponsored Criminal #555: Nate Harper

Because by all means if you’re in the police cheat on your taxes and steal taxpayer money.  You are one of the king’s men after all.

SSCC #552-#554: Pittsburgh

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The injuries to the victim include a broken rib, chipped teeth, stitches across the face and a chunk of flesh missing from his tongue. The officers came up behind the victim pushed him down, and two of the officers held him down while the third continued to assault the victim.

My personal favorite is this quote from the police department:

Regarding the cell phone video and the body blows, police sources describe them as a compliance technique used by police officers attempting to handcuff suspects.

Umm, no, I’ve been taught compliance techniques and those were not that.  That was nothing more than a physical assault against someone they thought they could get away with.

Even more entertaining is this is a second incident among another one in the Pittsburgh area.  It’s a common thread when a department has problems like this, it’s usually more than just one or two officers but a systemic corruption within the police department.

State Sponsored Criminal #552: John Doe

#553: John Doe

#554: John Doe

Because when a kid is drunk, you basically get a free pass at utterly beating the crap out of him.  They likely wont remember it and you can make up whatever story you want.  Just remember, physically restraining someone and punching them in the face is a “compliance technique”.

SSCC #551 – Washougal

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A Clark County District Court judge Wednesday convicted and sentenced a former Washougal police officer for attacking a mentally ill man restrained in the backseat of a police cruiser.

In a bench ruling, Judge Sonya Langsdorf convicted Robert E. Ritchie, 53, of fourth-degree assault for a July incident in which he twice punched 26-year-old Tyler Lampman in the face after taking the man into custody. Fourth-degree assault is a gross misdemeanor.

Initially I was going to make this an honorable mention, he was fired, convicted, although he had a lenient sentence.  Except I got to the end and saw that this man has had a history of not being able to control his monster.

It also wasn’t the first time Ritchie’s actions had come under fire for being too extreme.

He was demoted from sergeant in 2004 for shooting Olga Rybak 27 times with a stun gun for failing to comply with dog regulations.

When it comes to those on the count who do violent acts, I’ve found rarely is there a single incident.  Usually there is a history that the rest of us would refer to as “a clue”.

State Sponsored Criminal #551: Robert E. Ritchie

Because when someone starts acting out while restrained, beat their ass, they’re restrained, not you!

SSCC #550 – Lloyd

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Sean McCutcheon, the resource officer who fired a shot from his service weapon in a hallway at Highland High School, has resigned from the Lloyd Police Department after an investigation concluded the incident, though unintentional, was due to “officer error,” the department said on Friday.

First, that’s what happens when you finger !@#$ your weapon!  Seriously folks, just leave it in the holster, that’s where it belongs until you need it.  If you pull it out to clean it, by all freaking means strictly adhere to the 4 rules and remember the 5th too.

That said, tell me, in the land of the new SAFE Act, why is it these morons, who don’t even know how to use their weapons, be allowed rights that they then deny to their citizens?  Further, if any citizen had a ND in that type of location where it was the fault of the user, I am confident there would be some sort of charges pressed against the individual.

Remember though that these people are highly trained and would never take a weapon into the field they’ve never test fired or zeroed.

State Sponsored Criminal #550: Sean McCutcheon

Because when a cop finger !@#$s a weapon, he needs a slap on the wrist.  When a peon does it, hang him out to dry and use it to trample the rights of others.