Mainstream News

Police officer gets year in jail for conning immigrants out of $13,000

"A former Wappingers Falls police officer has been sentenced to one year in Dutchess County Jail after he admitted he conned immigrants who sought driver's licenses and immigration assistance out of more than $13,000. Rodriguez, who worked as a liaison to the Latino community in Wappingers Falls, admitted he charged victims $500 to $1,000 for 'asylum and withholding of removal' applications. He said he falsely promised the applications would be reviewed by an attorney and filed with immigration authorities. Rodriguez also admitted he charged immigrants $300 to enter a non-existent state lottery where the victims could win valid state driver’s licenses." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice officer gets year in jail for conning immigrants out of $13,000

Officer fired for long list of misconduct, gunplay, crashing police car

"Stahl, a Pelham officer for 12 years, was the focus of a public disciplinary hearing before selectmen last month, where he was accused of: Loudly berating a female drunken-driving suspect in a profanity-laced interrogation. Drawing his gun on two apparently unarmed teens during a traffic stop. Being heard by a Pelham police dispatcher on the radio speaking in a profane manner toward his superior officer, Lt. Brian McCarthy, and broadcasting his desire to punch one female civilian he encountered on duty 'right in the face.' Crashing his cruiser while driving with unnecessary and 'life-threatening' speed - at 50 mph above the listed 30 mph limit." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOfficer fired for long list of misconduct, gunplay, crashing police car

Lawsuit against police over Radio Shack strip search settled

"The settlement, signed by Mitchell in August and approved by the City Council last week, releases the city and the officers from any further claims by Mitchell. The city also maintains the settlement is not an admission of any wrongdoing. It also includes a confidentiality clause. In May 2009, Mitchell alleged he was pulled over in the shopping center parking lot, ordered out of the car at gunpoint and handcuffed. He said he was taken into Radio Shack where the police pulled off his shorts and underwear, searching for drugs. No drugs were found." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLawsuit against police over Radio Shack strip search settled

Police detective accused of multiple beatings, wrongful arrests

"At least three people claim they've been beaten and wrongly arrested by a veteran Miami Beach police detective. Andrew Mossberg told Local 10 last week that he thought he was stopping a robbery when Philippe Archer, an undercover Miami Beach police detective, knocked him unconscious and arrested him. The department launched an internal affairs investigation into the incident. 'The Miami Beach Police Department has to know that Detective Archer is a problem,' said Michael Goodman, an attorney who represents Guy Moulin. 'He can't just keep beating people, getting sued, and they pretend like nothing ever happened,' said Goodman." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice detective accused of multiple beatings, wrongful arrests

Officer takes seized vehicles home, bills city for repairs

"A Eugene police officer has been reprimanded for improperly taking seized vehicles home with him, neglecting to tell his bosses about it and then charging the city for the time he claims to have spent repairing them. The officer told investigators that he had taken the vehicles home to fix them up so that they could be sold at a higher value as part of a city program that transfers the proceeds of auctioned items into a fund that aids crime victims, officials said. But questions were raised when a property control specialist couldn’t find the motor­cycle, and an internal investigation was launched." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOfficer takes seized vehicles home, bills city for repairs

Cops Use Injured Animals For Target Practice

"Animal lovers are questioning a policy where Merced Police officers take injured animals out to the police shooting range to kill them. The penal code has been on the books for decades. Some officers say it's the most humane thing you can do, while others call it barbaric. Officers use deadly force to save the lives of others, but what about shooting severely injured dogs or cats found on the street? According to a California penal code, it's an officer's discretion." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCops Use Injured Animals For Target Practice

News report on running man seeking help killed by North Carolina Police

"Officers responded to a 911 call of a suspicious man outside a woman's home in Charlotte. The man had been knocking on her door repeatedly. Police say that when they got there, a man matching the caller's description ran toward them. One of the officers pulled out his stun gun, but it malfunctioned. Another officer then opened fire, police said. Jonathan Ferrell died at the scene. He was shot several times. He was unarmed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNews report on running man seeking help killed by North Carolina Police

Police officer shoots unarmed man 41 times, reloading twice

"I grew up in Garland Texas (where this took place). And everyone in the DFW area knows which suburbs of Dallas have the worst police. Garland Police has been at the top of that list (as #1) with most people who have voiced their opinion for at least 30 years, stating that they find Garland Police to be the most disagreeable. Garland is where previously fired cops go for employment. All of them should be locked into a burning portable toilet." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice officer shoots unarmed man 41 times, reloading twice

It’s the law: Washington state lawmakers don’t get speeding tickets

"Washington state legislators headed to work can't get speeding tickets -- or so says the Washington State Patrol and at least one local police department. A spokesman for WSP says Washington lawmakers are constitutionally protected from receiving noncriminal traffic tickets during a legislative session, as well as 15 days before. A spokeswoman says The Tacoma Police Department abides by a similar policy. State Patrol spokesman Bob Calkins says the privilege not only applies to moving violations near the state Capitol in Olympia, but potentially anywhere in the state. The logic? Detaining lawmakers on the road may delay them from getting to the Capitol to vote." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIt’s the law: Washington state lawmakers don’t get speeding tickets

Police Bullets Hit Bystanders, and Questions Rise Yet Again

"The shooting on Saturday was the first time bystanders had been hit in 2013, the police said. During the same period in 2012, 13 bystanders were wounded, including 9 in the shooting near the Empire State Building. The same rules governing officers’ use of weapons apply to all settings, including densely crowded streets or inside buildings, policing experts said. 'Just because you’re in Times Square doesn’t mean you can’t use deadly physical force if you believe that it’s necessary,' said John C. Cerar, a retired deputy inspector who was the commander of the Police Department’s firearms training. 'But you have to believe that it’s really necessary.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice Bullets Hit Bystanders, and Questions Rise Yet Again