Who Watches The Watchers

New Orleans Police Department To Wear Cameras

"The 'body-worn cameras' are not mandated under a federal consent decree governing NOPD reforms that Mayor Mitch Landrieu signed last year with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Serpas said the body cameras are a major step that other police agencies across the country have embraced, both to protect the public and to forestall false complaints against officers. 'Imagine a day in the city of New Orleans, in the not too distant future, where every single time we pull over a car, we ask somebody who they are or what they’re doing, that that entire incident is audiotaped and videotaped,' Serpas said. 'We’re very excited about it. It’s coming.'" Continue reading →

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Texas lawman sentenced to 1 year prison for protecting drug smugglers

"A Houston-based federal judge Monday ordered a former Starr County lawman to spend a year in prison after he admitted to taking money from drug traffickers in exchange for police information. Ramirez was arrested on March 12. He pleaded guilty a month after to a violation of the Hobbs Act, which deals with public servants taking bribes. According to court records, from January 2006 to September 2008, Ramirez accepted about $30,000 from drug traffickers in exchange for the location of Texas Department of Public Safety troopers. Before his arrest, Ramirez was in charge of the jail division for the Starr County Sheriff’s Office." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTexas lawman sentenced to 1 year prison for protecting drug smugglers

Officer indicted for illegal drug prescriptions, fake disability claims

"Authorities say Driscoll, who was in his police uniform, went to a CVS Pharmacy in Burlington on July 10, seeking to obtain Percocet pills. Burlington police were notified and an investigation was launched. Officials allege Driscoll had presented five fraudulent prescriptions to CVS pharmacy between May and July of 2013, and that he received more than 260 Percocet tablets through these false prescriptions. Officials said they also learned Driscoll passed false prescriptions for pain medication at an Osco Pharmacy in a Burlington supermarket. In all but one instance, Driscoll is accused of dropping off and picked up medications while in his police uniform." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOfficer indicted for illegal drug prescriptions, fake disability claims

Delcambre officer accused of altering pain med prescriptions

"A Delcambre police officer has been arrested after being accused of altering his pain medication prescriptions. Police Chief James Broussard asked Louisiana State Police to investigate, and state police detectives discovered Raleigh Cheramie, 38, altered his prescriptions seven times between March 2013 and August 2013, according to Trooper Stephen Hammons. 'He would alter them so he could receive more than the prescribed number of pills,' he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDelcambre officer accused of altering pain med prescriptions

Lawsuit Claims New Haven Police Violated Civil Rights

"According to his attorney, Diane Polan, Luna was riding his bike on Crown Street on the morning of Sept. 25, 2011, when he noticed the incident and stopped to record it on his iPhone. It's not clear exactly what Luna saw, but Polan said he 'observed several police officers interacting with civilians.' Those officers confronted Luna and placed him under arrest. His phone was confiscated and the video erased, according to Polan. Polan said Luna is a former photojournalist. He was charged with interfering with an officer and was held overnight at the police department. The charges were brought before the New Haven Superior Court and later dropped." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLawsuit Claims New Haven Police Violated Civil Rights

Kentwood police chief pleads not guilty to stealing burglary proceeds

"Kentwood Police Chief Gregory Newton, arrested earlier this year in an evidence tampering case, pleaded not guilty Thursday in 21st Judicial District Court. Newton, 59, was arrested following a citizen’s complaint that $2,000 was missing from money recovered in a burglary in late 2012, State Police has reported. Newton and another officer drove to Pike County, Miss., to retrieve $11,000 that was confiscated from two juveniles accused of stealing the money, state police said, but only $9,000 was returned to the victim of the burglary. Newton remains free in lieu of $50,000 bail. If convicted, he faces up to five years and a fine of up to $5,000 on each count." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKentwood police chief pleads not guilty to stealing burglary proceeds

Deputy facing charges of sexploitation in critical condition after fiery crash

"An Egg Harbor City police detective in critical condition from an automobile accident Monday, Sept. 23 was charged Tuesday, Sept. 24 with official misconduct for exploiting his position as a police officer in order to engage in sexual conduct with several women, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced Wednesday. The charges allege that Hadley exercised his official function as a police officer in order to obtain benefit for himself, specifically sexual contact. The charges allege that while performing his official duties, Hadley took part in sexual acts with four different women on various occasions, from January 2010 through May 2013." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDeputy facing charges of sexploitation in critical condition after fiery crash

Greek police arrest one of their own while raiding neo-Nazi party’s offices

"A 45-year-old officer, who is working as the bodyguard of a Golden Dawn lawmaker, was detained during the raid at party offices in central Greece, a police source said. The links between Golden Dawn and police have come under intense scrutiny in Greece after the murder of an anti-fascist musician by an alleged member of the party. Further raids of Golden Dawn’s offices are expected in coming days, the police source said. Capitalising on a rise in social tension in the debt-stricken country, Golden Dawn was first elected to parliament last year with nearly seven percent of the vote, winning 18 seats out of an overall 300." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGreek police arrest one of their own while raiding neo-Nazi party’s offices

Cop assaults camerawoman after being caught soliciting a bribe

"He was supposed to protect and serve. Instead, a DeKalb County police officer has resigned in disgrace after admitting he solicited a bribe and became violent after he noticed someone shooting video of the transaction. Brown can be seen in the video rushing over to the woman and knocking the phone to the ground. That sparked a confrontation between the Brown, Water and several of her friends. The next day, one of the women filed a complaint with the department’s Center Precinct. He cited car expenses, child support and low pay as reasons he solicited the bribe." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCop assaults camerawoman after being caught soliciting a bribe

Former deputy gets two weeks work-release for burglary

"A former Snohomish County sheriff's deputy convicted of burglary was sentenced Friday to two weeks on work release. A King County Superior Court judge granted James Hager a first-time offender waiver, allowing him to participate in work release. He faced up to three months in jail. A jury convicted Hager of second-degree burglary. He was accused of stealing a wood-burning stove, stove pipe and some cedar flooring from a vacation home in the Skykomish area. Hager was off-duty at the time. When the allegations surfaced in November he was placed on administrative leave. Hager was fired in January. He had been a deputy for six years." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer deputy gets two weeks work-release for burglary