Police State

The Police-State’s Fascist Strength

"1) WidePoint Corporation has been awarded ... contract to provide mobile Telecom Expense Management Services (TEMS) to the TSA. ... approximately $33 million dollars.... 2) 'L-3 Communications Beats Estimates—Key contract wins during the quarter included ... explosives detection and advanced imaging technology systems to the TSA. Funded order backlog was $11.0 billion. 3) Morpho Detection, Inc. received a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract from the TSA with a maximum value of $528 million. And this is just one day's gleaning from my Google Alert on the TSA!" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Police-State’s Fascist Strength

Feds to Bal Harbour: Hand over seized drug loot

"The U.S. Justice Department shut down Bal Harbour’s celebrated federal forfeiture program and ordered the police to return more than $4 million, slapping the agency with crushing sanctions for tapping into drug money to pay for first-class flights, luxury car rentals, and payments to informants across the country. For years, the small coastal town known for speed traps became one of the most successful in Florida, with plainclothes cops jetting across the nation toting bags stuffed with cash from investigations that had no connection to Bal Harbour — and making few arrests." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFeds to Bal Harbour: Hand over seized drug loot

‘Prison Architect’ online game challenges players to build and maintain maximum security prisons

"Think of computer game management simulations, and you usually think of aspirational jobs – or at least the things we dreamed of doing as kids. Theme parks, railroads, game development studios, farms – all have featured in this popular genre since it flourished in the ’90s. But right now, there is something very different out there, something intriguing enough to attract over 10,000 players into its paid online alpha test. Developed by UK studio Introversion, the game challenges players to build their own functioning jails, from a variety of components. Cells, canteen, exercise areas and even morgues all have to be constructed." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Prison Architect’ online game challenges players to build and maintain maximum security prisons

Obama granted clemency to just 22, less than any modern president

"Obama has parceled out forgiveness far more rarely than his recent predecessors, pardoning just 22 individuals while denying 1,019. He has given pardons to roughly 1 of every 50 individuals whose applications were processed by the Justice Department. At this point in his presidency, Ronald Reagan had pardoned 1 of every 3 such applicants. George H.W. Bush had pardoned 1 in 16. Bill Clinton had pardoned 1 in 8. George W. Bush had pardoned 1 in 33. Obama also has been stingy with commutations, applications for early release by those still serving federal prison sentences." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama granted clemency to just 22, less than any modern president

POLICING FOR PROFIT: Feds try to take innocent elderly couple’s Mom-and-Pop motel

"Because their property was worth one million dollars and carried no mortgage, and because a handful of drug crimes had taken place on the property over 20 years (which represent less than .05 percent of the 125,000 rooms the Caswells rented over that period of time), the federal government is trying to take the Caswell's property through civil forfeiture, sell the land and keep the money. Under a process known as 'equitable sharing,' the federal government would keep 20 percent of what they net and the local police department would pocket 80 percent." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPOLICING FOR PROFIT: Feds try to take innocent elderly couple’s Mom-and-Pop motel

Never Forget: Leniency is for the Powerful

"Former Idaho State Senator John McGee served 39 days in jail after pleading guilty to a single charge of disturbing the peace. McGee had been accused of repeatedly making obscene propositions to a female employee in his office at the state Capitol. Idaho prisons are filled with common citizens who committed non-violent offenses that injured nobody but themselves. As a member of the political class, McGee committed serious offenses against persons and property and suffered the mildest possible consequences." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNever Forget: Leniency is for the Powerful

Oakland police chief filtered out Occupy e-mail

"People who've e-mailed Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan over the past year about Occupy Oakland probably didn't get much of a response. That's because he used a spam filter to dismiss messages sent to him with 'Occupy Oakland' in the subject line, according to a federal court filing Monday. Same goes for the phrases 'stop the excessive police force,' 'respect the press pass' or 'police brutality.' Because of those filters, Jordan missed e-mails from other city officials and a federal court monitor, who oversees the department's compliance with court-ordered reforms stemming from a police abuse scandal." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOakland police chief filtered out Occupy e-mail

Court OKs warrantless use of hidden surveillance cameras

"U.S. District Judge William Griesbach ruled that it was reasonable for Drug Enforcement Administration agents to enter rural property without permission -- and without a warrant -- to install multiple 'covert digital surveillance cameras' in hopes of uncovering evidence that 30 to 40 marijuana plants were being grown. This is the latest case to highlight how advances in technology are causing the legal system to rethink how Americans' privacy rights are protected by law." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCourt OKs warrantless use of hidden surveillance cameras

Cop Tasers 10-Year-Old Boy After Refusing To Clean His Patrol Car

"A ten-year-old boy was tasered by a police officer with 50,000 volts of electricity on a school playground after refusing to clean the officer's car. The officer responded to the boy's sarcastic remark by saying, 'Let me show you what happens to people who do not listen to the police.' He then tasered the boy, who weighs less than 100 pounds, in the chest causing him to black out. When the boy came to, instead of calling for emergency medical assistance, he took the boy to the principal's office. The boy, was left with scars resembling cigarette burns and has since been suffering from PTSD, often waking up in the middle of the night grabbing his chest." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCop Tasers 10-Year-Old Boy After Refusing To Clean His Patrol Car

Cherokee County teen shot by police sniper, parents speak out

"Lisa and Nick Messina said their son was killed at the hands of the officers they called for help. According to his parents, Andrew Messina had a bad day at school and the pressure was so overwhelming, he grabbed a gun and threatened to kill himself. Lisa Messina called the cops in desperation, hoping an officer would come talk to him. But what arrived was an army of deputies, an armored tank and a sniper. Andrew Messina had begged negotiators several times to speak with his father. 'They brought an army to take out a 16-year-old boy. To kill a 16-year-old boy,' Nick Messina said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCherokee County teen shot by police sniper, parents speak out