Who Watches The Watchers

Crime Lab Scandal Leaves Mass. Legal System In Turmoil

"A scandal in a Massachusetts crime lab continues to reverberate throughout the state's legal system. Several months ago, Annie Dookhan, a former chemist in a state crime lab, told police that she messed up big time. Dookhan now stands accused of falsifying test results in as many as 34,000 cases. As a result, lawyers, prosecutors and judges used to operating in a world of 'beyond a reasonable doubt' now have nothing but doubt. Already, hundreds of convicts and defendants have been released because of the scandal. Now, the state's highest court may weigh in on how these cases should be handled." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCrime Lab Scandal Leaves Mass. Legal System In Turmoil

Second New York cop confirms illegal arrest and ticket ‘quota’ system

"A second New York Police Department officer confirmed Wednesday that the department’s management continued using a system of quotas for arrests and citations even after the legislature explicitly banned the practice. Officer Pedro Serrano, 43, said he was labeled a 'rat' for refusing to bring in the 20 citations and one arrest per month required of him. Serrano also confirmed that the police union had accepted the quota system. Audio published Tuesday features another witness, officer Adhyl Polanco, speaking to a representative of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, who says the union trustees are okay with the requirement." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSecond New York cop confirms illegal arrest and ticket ‘quota’ system

Oakland Cops’ Violent Past to Be Kept from Jury

"Oakland residents have filed scores of misconduct complaints against the two police officers who shot and killed Derrick Jones, a 37-year-old barber, in 2011. The two cops, Omar Daza-Quiroz and Eriberto Perez-Angeles, had previously been involved in the killing of another man. In addition, records show that there have been 74 use-of-force complaints lodged against Daza-Quiroz alone. Nonetheless, a federal judge ruled last weekend that jurors in a civil trial involving the Jones shooting must not learn about the officers' troubled histories or know of the department's failure to correct their behavior." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOakland Cops’ Violent Past to Be Kept from Jury

Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll resigns over Internet gambling scandal

"Florida’s Republican lieutenant governor on Tuesday resigned amid questions about her connection to an Internet gambling firm that that is being investigated for racketeering, money laundering and lying about how much it donated to veterans. Carroll submitted her resignation to Gov. Rick Scott (R) on Tuesday after she was interviewed about her links to Allied Veterans of the World, a nonprofit which operates Internet cafes in Florida. Allied Veterans co-owner Jerry Bass, his lawyer and two top officers from Jacksonville’s Fraternal Order of Police were arrested on Tuesday after a raid on Internet cafes run by the nonprofit." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFlorida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll resigns over Internet gambling scandal

French minister in charge of combating tax avoidance resigns over Swiss bank account

"Jérôme Cahuzac, French budget minister, resigned on Tuesday night following the opening of a judicial inquiry into a secret Swiss bank account allegedly held in his name but which he has repeatedly denied having. His resignation was announced by the Elysée Palace following weeks of mounting pressure on the Socialist politician. The move by prosecutors to open a full investigation into the Swiss UBS bank account he allegedly used to hide assets from the tax authorities, made Cahuzac's position untenable and deeply embarrassing for the Socialist government as he was the minister in charge of combating tax avoidance." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrench minister in charge of combating tax avoidance resigns over Swiss bank account

How the System Treats a Good Cop

"As a New York City Police Officer assigned to the 81st Precinct, Adrian Schoolcraft became disillusioned when supervisors talked about manipulating crime statistics and carrying out illegal arrests. Schoolcraft blew the whistle – and immediately paid a steep price. A police strike force raided Schoolcraft’s apartment and forcibly confined him to a mental ward at Jamaica Hospital under the care of Dr. Isak Isakov, supposedly to prevent him from harming himself. He was held there for six days. An internal investigation validated nearly all of Schoolcraft’s claims – yet nobody has ever been punished for his abduction and false imprisonment." Continue reading →

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Former Santa Fe cop arrested for printing counterfeit $100 bills

"Former Santa Fe police officer Anthony Rivera and brother Dominic were arrested Sunday and charged with overseeing the production of fake $100 bills, created using $20′s that were stripped of their color using paint thinner. The two men, 44 and 34 respectively, were arrested along with 20-year-old Tyler Ament and accused of creating more than $1,200 in counterfeit currency. Police broke the case last week after Ament tried to use one of the bills at a gas station and a clerk turned him away. Ament returned to the gas station for cigarettes after buying jeans at a local Kohls and officers were waiting for him." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer Santa Fe cop arrested for printing counterfeit $100 bills

Cruelty and Criminality Combine in the Vernal, Utah Police Department

"Vernal, Utah resident Ben Mahaffey had barely said goodbye to his wife of 58 years before the local police barged into the couple’s bedroom without invitation or permission. Just minutes after Mahaffey’s wife Barbara died of cancer, the police strode into the house claiming that they had a right to examine the couple’s medicine cabinet. But on at least thirty occasions in 2011, Vernal Police Detective Ben Marland Murray visited the home of Russell Wayne Smithey and Candy Jean Holmes to conduct 'pill checks'. The couple suspected that the officer was secretly stealing their medications, and eventually caught him doing so by way of a hidden camera." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCruelty and Criminality Combine in the Vernal, Utah Police Department

3 Chicago-suburb cops accused of robbing drug dealers, selling cocaine

"Three Chicago-area cops robbed drug dealers of their stash while executing search warrants, then turned around and sold the heroin, cocaine and marijuana, pocketing the cash, prosecutors said Thursday. Schaumburg police officers John Cichy, 30, Matthew Hudak, 29, and Terrance O’Brien, 47, 'did it all for the thrill' prosecutor Audriana Anderson told a court. Prosecutors say the men were caught on surveillance video and audio recordings robbing local dealers of drugs and cash as they executed search warrants on homes and cars." Continue reading →

Continue Reading3 Chicago-suburb cops accused of robbing drug dealers, selling cocaine

New York ‘cannibal cop’ convicted of kidnapping plot

"New York City police officer Gilbert Valle was convicted on Tuesday of conspiring to kidnap and eat young women. The New York Times reported that Valle could be sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping conspiracy, and also faces a five-year jail sentence for using a law enforcement database to research potential victims. During the trial, prosecutors highlighted internet records showing Valle, who became known as the 'cannibal cop,' visiting several websites devoted to fetishes involving the kidnapping and cooking of young women." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew York ‘cannibal cop’ convicted of kidnapping plot