Pepper-Spray Lieutenant Appealing For Worker’s Comp

"The former police lieutenant who became the target of worldwide ire after dousing Occupy UC Davis protesters with pepper spray, John Pike, is appealing for worker’s compensation, claiming psychiatric injury caused by the Nov. 18, 2011, incident. Pike ceased to be a UCD employee in July 2012. He remains entitled to retirement credit for his years of service, a UCD spokesperson said at the time, but he was to receive no other payout. If Pike receives disability benefits, it will cover income, health and other benefits until he turns 65. Pike, whose annual salary was $121,680, remained on paid leave for eight months while the pepper-spraying was investigated." Continue reading

Continue ReadingPepper-Spray Lieutenant Appealing For Worker’s Comp

Los Angeles sheriff gives comedian award for racially-motivated routine

"The sheriff for Los Angeles County is facing criticism for presenting an award to a comedian who told a series of racially-motivated jokes at a luncheon held Wednesday, leaving some in the crowd feeling very uncomfortable. About 600-700 people were present for Wednesday’s lunch, put on by the Peace Officers Association of Los Angeles County, according to The LA Times. Officers in full uniform were roaring with laughter during the lunch as comedian Edwin San Juan cracked racially-motivated jokes spiked with sexually explicit language and ethnic slurs targeting African-Americans and people of Asian descent." Continue reading

Continue ReadingLos Angeles sheriff gives comedian award for racially-motivated routine

Paris suburbs erupt in violent protests over veil ban

"The violence kicked off Friday evening, when some 400 people protested near the Trappes police station, southwest of Paris. They set fire to bins, destroyed bus stops and hurled stones at police who responded with tear gas. A 14-year-old boy suffered a serious eye injury and several police officers were also hurt. The veil ban, introduced in 2011, has outraged many in France’s Muslim community, which at an estimated four million is western Europe’s largest Muslim minority. Officials say more than 700 women have been stopped since the ban was introduced. The growing visibility of French Muslims has also sparked a backlash from nationalists." Continue reading

Continue ReadingParis suburbs erupt in violent protests over veil ban

In Profit-Sharing Scheme, Oklahoma DA Used Contractor for Highway Drug Stops

"An asset forfeiture scheme that utilized a private security contractor to stop vehicles on Interstate 40 in Caddo County, Oklahoma, has been shut down after garnering strong criticism. Beyond paying the private operators to train police, the contract DA Hicks agreed to in January gave Desert Snow 25% of all assets seized during training days and 10% of all assets seized even on days the contractors were not present. Hicks told The Oklahoman he hired the contractors 'because his drug task force had little success on drug stops' and because 'he hoped to make money for his office from the drug stops because of a loss of federal funds.'" Continue reading

Continue ReadingIn Profit-Sharing Scheme, Oklahoma DA Used Contractor for Highway Drug Stops

Feds put heat on Web firms for master encryption keys

"These demands for master encryption keys, which have not been disclosed previously, represent a technological escalation in the clandestine methods that the FBI and the National Security Agency employ when conducting electronic surveillance against Internet users. If the government obtains a company's master encryption key, agents could decrypt the contents of communications intercepted through a wiretap or by invoking the potent surveillance authorities of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Web encryption -- which often appears in a browser with a HTTPS lock icon when enabled -- uses a technique called SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer." Continue reading

Continue ReadingFeds put heat on Web firms for master encryption keys

Man facing criminal charges for swimming across river from Canada to U.S.

"Around 11:30 p.m. Monday night, a neighbor called police saying that she had lost sight of Morillo in the river. Morillo came ashore in the U.S. at Detroit’s Renaissance Park, turned around and started home. It was then that he saw the rescue boats and helicopter. 'As soon I saw the helicopters going by and the boats looking for me, I was like ‘Oh, this is really stupid,’' Morillo told the Star. The Canadian Coast Guard picked up Morillo on the Ontario side of the river. He was arrested and charged with public intoxication and swimming in a shipping channel, which carries fines from $5,000 to $25,000. The Canadian Harbor Authority is inspecting the incident." Continue reading

Continue ReadingMan facing criminal charges for swimming across river from Canada to U.S.

Cop Fired for Speaking Out Against Ticket and Arrest Quotas

"Hanners blew the whistle on the department's tactics and was eventually fired for refusing to comply and keep quiet. He says that each officer was required to make 100 contacts each month, which included tickets, arrests, field interviews, and warnings. This equates to 72,000 contacts a year in a 50,000 person town. His claims are backed up by audio recordings of his superiors he made. The Auburn police department declined requests to be interviewed for this story. The police chief singled out by Hanners retired this July, citing medical reasons." Continue reading

Continue ReadingCop Fired for Speaking Out Against Ticket and Arrest Quotas

“Why did you call the police? They don’t help you.”

"In May of last year, Los Angeles resident Veronica Cornejo called 911 to report that her mentally disturbed brother was agitated. Three Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched and, as is always the case when police intervene, things became immediately and immeasurably worse. The invaders barged into the home without invitation, dragged all five family members from the house, and threw them to the ground. Veronica — who suffers from a heart condition — tried to explain that she was the one who had called for help. Her father, Jorge, told the deputies that they should expect a lawsuit. That prompted one of them to punch the 53-year-old man repeatedly." Continue reading

Continue Reading“Why did you call the police? They don’t help you.”

Pennsylvania police chief: ‘F*ck all you libtards out there, you take it in the a**’

"The mayor of Gilberton, Pennsylvania is standing by her city’s police chief despite a series of profanity-laced and threatening videos. In a video that has received wide attention, police chief Mark Kessler repeatedly tells those upset by his use of profanity to 'go f*ck yourself' as he fires various automatic weapons. Mayor Mary Lou Hannon told The Morning Call that Kessler had the right to express himself. The city would 'not take action to quash free speech, whether or not each member of council or any member of council agrees with it.' In one video, Kessler berates 'libtards' and warns of an armed rebellion against the government." Continue reading

Continue ReadingPennsylvania police chief: ‘F*ck all you libtards out there, you take it in the a**’

NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly defends stop-and-frisk in appeal to public

"With his law enforcement legacy hanging in the balance, New York City’s police chief has turned to the media to defend his most controversial initiatives. Kelly has come under intense criticism for the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk practices – which disproportionately impact communities of color – and surveillance of Muslims both in and out of the department’s geographic jurisdiction, resulting in multiple lawsuits. With Bloomberg’s tenure coming to an end, Kelly’s future is uncertain. President Barack Obama said Kelly would be 'very well qualified' to head the Department of Homeland Security. Others have disagreed." Continue reading

Continue ReadingNYPD commissioner Ray Kelly defends stop-and-frisk in appeal to public