Who Watches The Watchers

Minneapolis cop who allegedly had sex with underage girls is jailed

"A Minneapolis police officer is in jail after his arrest for allegedly having off-duty sexual encounters with several girls between the ages of 12 and 14, according to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office. Investigators from the Brooklyn Center Police Department were alerted that Bradley Schnickel, 32, used social media to contact a female and sent inappropriate messages to her. The investigation widened and multiple possible female victims were identified, authorities said. Cmdr. Paul Sommer of the Sheriff's Office declined to provide a number." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMinneapolis cop who allegedly had sex with underage girls is jailed

Miami police officers caught on camera allegedly ignoring 911 calls, report says

"The Miami Dade Police Department has fired a sergeant and two officers and suspended three others without pay in what is considered one of the worst incidents of delinquency in the department's history, CBS Miami reports. The accusations vary against each officer, but they include: failing to respond to emergency calls, pretending to be on calls when they weren't and falsifying police records, according to the station. The officers-- an entire squad assigned to patrol a large area of Kendall, Fla. -- were followed and caught on surveillance video by Internal Affairs in 2010, but it wasn't until September 2012 that they were ultimately disciplined, the station says." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMiami police officers caught on camera allegedly ignoring 911 calls, report says

2nd trial begins for officer accused of robbing motorists

"A suspended Indianapolis metro police officer accused of robbing motorists during traffic stops went on trial Monday. David Butler, 53, is standing trial for the charges for a second time, after jurors failed to reach a verdict the first time around. Butler is charged with three counts of robbery and three counts of official misconduct. He is accused of robbing three Hispanic men during traffic stops. In opening statements, prosecutor John Kieffner sharply criticized Butler, saying he took advantage of his power and his badge to serve himself instead of serving the public." Continue reading →

Continue Reading2nd trial begins for officer accused of robbing motorists

Cop who coerced woman into sex in East St. Louis only one of many public-sector criminals

"A former East St. Louis police officer who lied to federal agents about demanding sex from a traffic violator was vilified in federal court here Thursday as a prime example of poor law enforcement that fosters rampant crime in his community. Carpenter did more than violate and degrade a woman by using the threat of an arrest to intimidate her into giving him oral sex in an isolated, closed park, they said. As part of the sentencing process, prosecutors listed police officers, politicians, businessmen and others who had lied, cheated, robbed taxpayers, threatened witnesses and committed other serious felonies." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCop who coerced woman into sex in East St. Louis only one of many public-sector criminals

Sexual predator investigator probed for sex with teenage boy

"The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is investigating misconduct by a longtime Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy for allegedly having sexual contact with a teenage boy. Lt. Rick White, 51, who investigated sexual predators in his 24 years of service, was placed on paid administrative leave on Oct. 23, 2012 after the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office initiated an investigation, according to Sara Balmes, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office. She said that while he was on paid leave he submitted paperwork to retire on Dec. 26." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSexual predator investigator probed for sex with teenage boy

Cop charged with stealing from home he was sent to check on

"A 12-year veteran of the Northbrook Police Department charged with felony counts of residential burglary and official misconduct has been put on unpaid administrative leave, officials said this morning. The charges were announced Thursday after investigators allegedly caught Patrol Officer Enrique Guzman on video stealing jewelry from a home he had been sent to check on. Northbrook police and the FBI recorded Guzman, 34, stealing a fake diamond ring from a Northbrook residence where he had been told that a door had been left open Wednesday afternoon, according to court documents." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCop charged with stealing from home he was sent to check on

Honesty is Not a Job Requirement for Police Officers

"If you lie to a police officer, you can be charged with a crime. When – not if—a police officer lies to you, he’s carrying out a legitimate function of his job. That’s what former prosecutor Val Van Brocklin explained in an essay. Former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper estimates that the typical police officer will lie several times during his daily duty shift. In a 2009 ruling, the Washington State Supreme Court upheld a decision by an arbitrator reversing the termination of Kitsap County Sherriff’s deputy who had been fired for lying and other misconduct. The court agreed that honesty was not an essential function of a law enforcement officer’s job." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHonesty is Not a Job Requirement for Police Officers

Judge calls D.C. police officer charged with child sexual abuse a ‘danger’

"A District Court judge Tuesday ordered a veteran D.C. police officer to remain jailed after a second woman came forward to say he had sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager singing in a church choir he directed. During a preliminary hearing, D.C. Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz called Wendel Palmer a 'danger' who targeted adolescent girls. The hearing was for a charge that he repeatedly sexually abused a girl, beginning when she was 11 years old and lasting nearly three years." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJudge calls D.C. police officer charged with child sexual abuse a ‘danger’

Former Lake County sheriff’s officer seeks lighter sentence for weapons trafficking

"Kabella, 42, and former officers Joseph Kumstar and Ronald Slusser, all of Crown Point, were indicted on charges of conspiring to use Lake County Sheriff's Department letterhead to buy automatic machine guns and laser sights intended strictly for law enforcement departments or the military and selling the parts for a profit online. The laser sights are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Kabella, Kumstar and Slusser have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy and tax fraud charges and are awaiting sentencing. The three have since resigned from the Lake County Sheriff's Department." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer Lake County sheriff’s officer seeks lighter sentence for weapons trafficking

The Type of Man Who Wants You Disarmed

"A lawmaker brandished an AK-47 on the floor of the House of Delegates in a wild stunt aimed at rallying support for tougher gun laws. Del. Joe Morrissey, D-Highland Springs, pulled the weapon out shortly after the day's session got underway. Morrissey was disbarred and lost his law license in 2003 after attacking a man — beating him with a large ring around his finger. According to legal brief filed on behalf of the victim, Morrissey shouted, 'I’m going to kill you. I’m going to beat your head in,' and then attempted to make good on his promise. When the man attempted to escape his beating, Morrissey 'smashed his head into the corner of a brick wall.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Type of Man Who Wants You Disarmed