Animal Farm

Legal logjam lets troubled cops keep their badges

"Police officers punished for serious misconduct by the state may continue to draw their pay and even carry a badge for years if they appeal the sanctions. Some appeals languish for more than a decade after arriving at the state attorney general’s office. Rank and file officers and even chiefs of police have continued to work — for their original agency or a different one — after being sanctioned for violations as serious as killing a recruit during training, waving a gun at random in a bar, falsifying official records and DUI. Some officers were accused of new offenses while they appealed their first cases." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLegal logjam lets troubled cops keep their badges

Sheriff Arpaio Will Arm Deputies With Automatic Weapons To Prevent ‘Illegals’ From Escaping

"Arpaio’s boast of expending vast county police resources to chase down individuals in the desert is misplaced at best. While Arpaio continues to 'make every effort' to snag these individuals through violent means, less local police resources are available for addressing violent and property crimes. Instead, he is increasing the risk of violence going forward by pledging to arm all of his deputies with automatic weapons. What’s more, Arpaio’s aggressive efforts put him and his department at risk of becoming the target of yet another lawsuit." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSheriff Arpaio Will Arm Deputies With Automatic Weapons To Prevent ‘Illegals’ From Escaping

Geithner’s Final Trick: Bye Bye Dodd-Frank, Volcker Rule

"Late Friday, just before the sleepy Thanksgiving week when most Americans turn their sights to turkey, Geithner finally got around to dressing [down] his own turkey: Dodd-Frank. DF is the financial regulatory monster which will create havoc over the entire financial industry, with new rules and regulations. But not for FOG (Friends of Geithner). With a quiet pen stroke, Geithner exempted $410.8 trillion, or 64%, of the entire OTC derivatives market from impending clamp-downs, which mostly benefits FOG." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGeithner’s Final Trick: Bye Bye Dodd-Frank, Volcker Rule

Shots fired during FBI warrant search in District Heights

"Around 6 a.m. he says he came up to the living room and saw 15 FBI SWAT agents coming inside, guns drawn. Hughley says he looked up and saw his daughter standing outside her bedroom in the hallway. Then he heard gunfire. Myasia was treated at a local hospital for a flesh wound and released. The Hughley’s say none of them were armed an in fact, none of them own guns. They were never told why their home was raided." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingShots fired during FBI warrant search in District Heights

Mentally disabled man playing with Legos fired upon by Seattle cop

"A police officer in King County, Washington opened fire on a mentally disabled man on Thursday, believing he was brandishing a gun, but later discovering the object was actually made out of Legos. The Seattle Times reported that the incident occurred in the morning hours, after several motorists reported a man waiving a gun at cars near a roadway. Police told the paper they’d encountered him before, and that he’s got a 'fascination with guns.' When the first officer arrived on the scene, he did not comply with her commands, so she opened fire." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMentally disabled man playing with Legos fired upon by Seattle cop

Police Taser Homeowner For Trying To Save Burning House With Garden Hose

"The 42-year-old commercial fisherman is still struggling to comprehend exactly how things deteriorated so quickly Thursday. He said he doesn’t understand why police shot him with a Taser that night as he tried to battle a house fire at 3420 Beechwood Ter. N. Jensen’s family, friends and neighbors have been quick to defend him and accuse police of crossing a line." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice Taser Homeowner For Trying To Save Burning House With Garden Hose

NYC Housing Authority ordered workers not to speak to media or politicians after Sandy

"In the chaotic days after Hurricane Sandy made landfall, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) general manager Cecil House sent out a memo ordering staffers not to speak to elected officials or members of the press. According to the New York Daily News, the memo went out on Nov. 2, after the storm had knocked out power, heat and hot water to some 80,000 residents in 400 buildings. Critics charge that the agency has moved too slowly in the wake of the storm, which struck on October 29. An estimated 7,000 residents of the city’s housing projects are still without basic services. Some workers and local politicians are furious." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNYC Housing Authority ordered workers not to speak to media or politicians after Sandy

Congress to cut benefits for Veterans?

"Over the centuries men and women have served in the US military and on November 11, America honors their sacrifice and bravery. But among the federal holiday, Congress plans on cutting defense spending, but will those cuts harm veterans who have served this country? Michael Prysner, veteran and founder of March Forward, joins us with more on Congress' plan to cut funding." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCongress to cut benefits for Veterans?

Flint Township police officer fired for second time in less than one year

"Township Supervisor Karyn Miller confirmed Officer Matthew Needham had also been terminated in November 2011 for violating four department rules and regulations, but she declined to give details on what specific incidents led to each vote. The issue leading to the second vote was 'a different incident,' Miller said, unrelated to the violations leading to the first termination. She noted 'there has been no union activity since the meeting.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFlint Township police officer fired for second time in less than one year

Witness: Interior Secretary Salazar threatened Colorado reporter

"Interior Secretary Ken Salazar threatened to punch a reporter on a recent trip to Colorado, according to witnesses. Salazar took two questions from Dave Philipps, a reporter from the Colorado Springs Gazette, before disagreeing with his line of questioning. 'Don't you ever ... You know what, you do that again... I'll punch you out,' Salazar reportedly told Philipps before ending the interview and walking off. The alleged incident took place when Salazar was in Colorado on Election Day, on behalf of the Obama campaign. 'The secretary regrets the exchange,' Interior spokesman Blake Androff told POLITICO." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWitness: Interior Secretary Salazar threatened Colorado reporter