SSCC: Minneapolis

Despite nearly $14 million in payouts for alleged police misconduct over the past seven years, the Minneapolis Police Department rarely concluded that the officers involved did anything wrong, according to a Star Tribune analysis.

Boy, can you get more sponsored than that?  The state is going to pay the bill for you boy’s breaking the law, but we’re not going to correct you when you do it.

State Sponsored Criminal: The Entire Minneapolis PD

Because why punish someone for breaking the law when someone else, ostensibly the victim, is picking up the bill.

SSCC Virginia

While testifying in the murder case of Brandon D. Cooper, state witness Nicole Byrd said that she saw Cooper running down the street after fatal shots were fired at Antwon D. Freeman. The state did not disclose to Cooper that they had a tape recording of Byrd telling a 911 operator that she “had not seen the shooter and had no information that would be helpful to police.” In fact, prosecutors told defense counsel that the 911 call “offered nothing that would help their case.”

I’ve made comments before about good and great prosecutors.  The bottom line is these men can withhold information and otherwise ruin the lives of honest men merely because they some how get caught in the gears.  While it can happen, actions like this are grossly negligent and speak volumes to the character of the man holding the position.

But it gets better:

On top of that, prosecutor Christopher Jones admitted before Judge Bradley B. Cavedo of Richmond Circuit Court that information showing one of their witnesses was a police informant was also withheld from the defense. Jones joined defense counsel to ask for a new trial. Judge Cavedo granted the motion yesterday, but did not prohibit the state from trying Cooper a second time. David P. Baugh, an attorney for Cooper, said that Jones committed a “classic ethics violation” and that he would file a bar complaint against Jones if the Court does not.

Sounds like a really nice guy huh?  Yeah it just gets better.  Flip over and read the whole steaming pile if you want to.  I suggest stashing the sharp objects.

State Sponsored Criminal: Christopher Jones

Because when you’re a prosecutor all you need to do to destroy someone’s life is be a little unethical, then the state will destroy them for you.

h/t Rob H.

SSCC Boerne

A South Texas police officer has been put on administrative leave after being charged with shooting a neighbor’s cat with an arrow.
Police in Boerne said Officer Lance Deleon was not on duty when Bobby the cat was wounded.

Remember though, he is trustworthy and responsible enough to be trusted with a firearm while the rest of us should be left defenseless.

State Sponsored Criminal: Lance Deleon

Because animal cruelty is by no means anything to worry about with a man who is authorized to use lethal force against people.

h/t Bob S.

SSCC Wellford

The State Law Enforcement Division said between July 1, 2012 and Jan. 1, 2013, 32-year-old Bennie Hand sexually battered and physically abused the victim, who suffers from a mental condition impairing her from providing her own care or protecting herself.

There is a special level of hell reserved for that individual.

State Sponsored Criminal: Bennie Hand

Because… !@#$ I’m not going to even try on this one, that crap makes me sick.

SSCC Honorable Mention: Monroe

Emmanuel Riopelle, 44, of Grosse Ile pleaded no contest to one count of misconduct in office, a five-year felony, before Monroe County’s 38th Circuit Court Chief Judge Michael W. LaBeau on Friday. Luke Davis, the former supervisor of the Office of Monroe Narcotics Investigation (OMNI) did not reach an agreement and his trial was expected to begin today before Judge LaBeau.

His plea has ended his career and resulted in the loss of his pension as well.  Another other officer has been charged.  It appears that the police department at least put the officers on unpaid suspension at the start of the mess.

State Sponsored Criminal HM: Emmanuel Ripoelle & Luke Davis

Because drug laws are only for the little people.

SSCC Schaumburg

A Schaumburg police officer has been suspended with pay for allegedly keeping a gun that had been turned in to the department, and the same officer also faces scrutiny for a case involving heroin that allegedly went missing from a crime scene, police said.

Now evidently the officer offered to buy the firearm but the people refused saying they wanted it “properly disposed of.” Which in my world means sold to an FFL to help close up the deficit.  Evidently he felt that the law didn’t apply to him.  Which given this is Illinois it isn’t a shocker.

State Sponsored Criminal: Officer John Doe

Because the laws only apply to the little people, when you’re a cop you get piles of exemptions.

SSCC California Highway Patrol

No officers have been fired and the acting chief had the following to say:

The public if they get stopped and simply comply with what they are asked to do, they have nothing to fear, nothing to fear at all.

Translation.  Follow orders blindly or suffer violence without cause.  Think about that, do exactly as the officer says or they can kill you.  Think about what that implies and remember if you fight back you’ll be charged with assault. 

When they do it, it’s merely law enforcement, even when force isn’t necessary.

State Sponsored Criminal: Andrew P. Murrill

Because when you’re a cop and you’re bored and someone doesn’t do exactly what you want, beat them to within an inch of their life.

SSCC Colorado Springs

A man who was wrongly detained by Colorado Springs police for carrying a holstered pistol at a gay-rights parade last year is suing the city and members of the Police Department.

James Sorensen, 24, was arrested July 21 in Acacia Park in downtown Colorado Springs under an outmoded law – repealed in 2003 – that made it a misdemeanor to carry guns into public parks. Police later acknowledged the arrest was made in error, and Sorensen’s ticket was dismissed in August.

I’m reminded of a bit from Ron White, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.”

We cannot play dumb when it comes to us violating the law but they get a free pass to arrest someone and violate their rights because they don’t know the law.  If the people charged with enforcing the law don’t even know what’s legal or illegal anymore, maybe it’s time to reset the law because they’re obviously too much garbage on the books.

State Sponsored Criminal: CSPD

Because ignorance of the law can only be used against the otherwise law-abiding citizen, not the cop looking to abuse him.