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Post by Critique on Feb 2, 2007 3:40:55 GMT -5
February 02, 2007 By Greg Barnes ELIZABETH CITY — Former Robeson County deputy C.T. Strickland pleaded guilty Thursday to participating in the theft of federal drug seizure money. Sheriff’s Lt. Ricky Britt also pleaded guilty in a separate hearing in the same courtroom — in his case to pirating satellite TV signals. A clerk in the county’s Human Resources Department said Britt remained employed. The charges against Strickland and Britt emerged from the Operation Tarnished Badge investigation of corruption among Robeson County lawmen. More than a dozen officers have been charged, all but two from the Sheriff’s Office. Most of the deputies have pleaded guilty in exchange for their cooperation. They all had worked for former Sheriff Glenn Maynor, who has not been charged. U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle dismissed Strickland from a 12-count indictment that could have resulted in two life sentences for the former supervisor of the sheriff’s Drug Enforcement Division. Instead, Strickland will receive a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $500,000 fine and three years supervised probation in exchange for his cooperation against other former deputies charged in the four-year investigation. Two other former deputies — Roger Taylor and Steven Lovin — remain part of the indictment and face a trial scheduled for March. The trial is expected to be postponed again. Strickland entered his guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Elizabeth City. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Bradsher, Strickland was the supervisor of the Drug Enforcement Division when something less than $70,000 was taken by Strickland and other members of the division. As supervisor, Strickland oversaw the federal equity sharing program under which the federal government gives Robeson County a share of money recovered during drug seizures. Bradsher said Strickland and some of his deputies wrote false vouchers when they gave money to confidential informants to make drug buys. The deputies then pocketed the money, Bradsher said. He said Strickland ordered his deputies “to fix” the vouchers when the tallies didn’t correspond with the supervisor’s financial audits. Former Deputies Ricky Meares and Joey Smith, who worked under Strickland, pleaded guilty late last year to stealing money from the federal program. Strickland resigned from the Sheriff’s Office in 2003 as a result of the Tarnished Badge investigation. He was indicted last year on charges ranging from arson to beating up drug dealers. Lovin and Taylor face the same charges. Lovin is also accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars during drug interdiction stops along Interstate 95. Taylor is also accused of burning a pawnshop and giving drugs as payment to confidential informants. No date has been set for Strickland’s sentencing. He is free on $100,000 unsecured bail. Previously, he was being confined under electronic house arrest. Strickland, dressed in a suit and tie, declined to comment after the judge accepted his plea. Britt, the other defendant Thursday, is also awaiting sentencing. He could receive up to 5 years in prison. The hearings came as a surprise. Linda Ruffin, a federal clerk who schedules Boyles’ court cases, said Tuesday that the judge had only civil cases scheduled for this week. Ruffin said she would know if Boyle had other cases scheduled. She could not be reached Wednesday and Thursday. Bradsher, the federal prosecutor, declined to discuss Boyle’s court calendar before the hearing. The hearing came about two weeks after Boyle ruled against Strickland’s attempt to have his case dismissed on legal grounds. www.fayobserver.com/article?id=253513
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Post by Critique on Feb 2, 2007 3:40:55 GMT -5
February 02, 2007 By Greg Barnes ELIZABETH CITY — Former Robeson County deputy C.T. Strickland pleaded guilty Thursday to participating in the theft of federal drug seizure money. Sheriff’s Lt. Ricky Britt also pleaded guilty in a separate hearing in the same courtroom — in his case to pirating satellite TV signals. A clerk in the county’s Human Resources Department said Britt remained employed. The charges against Strickland and Britt emerged from the Operation Tarnished Badge investigation of corruption among Robeson County lawmen. More than a dozen officers have been charged, all but two from the Sheriff’s Office. Most of the deputies have pleaded guilty in exchange for their cooperation. They all had worked for former Sheriff Glenn Maynor, who has not been charged. U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle dismissed Strickland from a 12-count indictment that could have resulted in two life sentences for the former supervisor of the sheriff’s Drug Enforcement Division. Instead, Strickland will receive a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $500,000 fine and three years supervised probation in exchange for his cooperation against other former deputies charged in the four-year investigation. Two other former deputies — Roger Taylor and Steven Lovin — remain part of the indictment and face a trial scheduled for March. The trial is expected to be postponed again. Strickland entered his guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Elizabeth City. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Bradsher, Strickland was the supervisor of the Drug Enforcement Division when something less than $70,000 was taken by Strickland and other members of the division. As supervisor, Strickland oversaw the federal equity sharing program under which the federal government gives Robeson County a share of money recovered during drug seizures. Bradsher said Strickland and some of his deputies wrote false vouchers when they gave money to confidential informants to make drug buys. The deputies then pocketed the money, Bradsher said. He said Strickland ordered his deputies “to fix” the vouchers when the tallies didn’t correspond with the supervisor’s financial audits. Former Deputies Ricky Meares and Joey Smith, who worked under Strickland, pleaded guilty late last year to stealing money from the federal program. Strickland resigned from the Sheriff’s Office in 2003 as a result of the Tarnished Badge investigation. He was indicted last year on charges ranging from arson to beating up drug dealers. Lovin and Taylor face the same charges. Lovin is also accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars during drug interdiction stops along Interstate 95. Taylor is also accused of burning a pawnshop and giving drugs as payment to confidential informants. No date has been set for Strickland’s sentencing. He is free on $100,000 unsecured bail. Previously, he was being confined under electronic house arrest. Strickland, dressed in a suit and tie, declined to comment after the judge accepted his plea. Britt, the other defendant Thursday, is also awaiting sentencing. He could receive up to 5 years in prison. The hearings came as a surprise. Linda Ruffin, a federal clerk who schedules Boyles’ court cases, said Tuesday that the judge had only civil cases scheduled for this week. Ruffin said she would know if Boyle had other cases scheduled. She could not be reached Wednesday and Thursday. Bradsher, the federal prosecutor, declined to discuss Boyle’s court calendar before the hearing. The hearing came about two weeks after Boyle ruled against Strickland’s attempt to have his case dismissed on legal grounds. www.fayobserver.com/article?id=253513
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Post by Critique on Jan 26, 2007 2:27:38 GMT -5
January 24, 2007 Authorities raided the Harvey Police Department on Wednesday and removed materials, Illinois State Police said. Master Sgt. Luis Gutierrez, Illinois State Police public information officer, said his agency is assisting the Cook County state's attorney's office in the investigation. However, Gutierrez said, he would not comment on what was seized. Cook County state's attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin would not comment on the investigation. With a subpoena, the Public Integrity Unit of the Illinois State Police entered the Harvey Police Department and confiscated specific police records, Harvey Mayor Eric Kellogg said in a written statement issued through city spokeswoman Sandra Alvarado. "I stand in full support of the investigation and pledge full cooperation with the matter," he said. "As I have always stated, if there is any findings of misconduct of any of our officers or employees, I will push for the immediate termination of the individual or individuals involved. "Corruption and police misconduct is not and will not be tolerated by any means." www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2007/01/24/updates/breaking_news/doc45b7eb4d1e9f7016185444.txt
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Post by Critique on Jan 26, 2007 2:27:38 GMT -5
January 24, 2007 Authorities raided the Harvey Police Department on Wednesday and removed materials, Illinois State Police said. Master Sgt. Luis Gutierrez, Illinois State Police public information officer, said his agency is assisting the Cook County state's attorney's office in the investigation. However, Gutierrez said, he would not comment on what was seized. Cook County state's attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin would not comment on the investigation. With a subpoena, the Public Integrity Unit of the Illinois State Police entered the Harvey Police Department and confiscated specific police records, Harvey Mayor Eric Kellogg said in a written statement issued through city spokeswoman Sandra Alvarado. "I stand in full support of the investigation and pledge full cooperation with the matter," he said. "As I have always stated, if there is any findings of misconduct of any of our officers or employees, I will push for the immediate termination of the individual or individuals involved. "Corruption and police misconduct is not and will not be tolerated by any means." www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2007/01/24/updates/breaking_news/doc45b7eb4d1e9f7016185444.txt
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Post by Critique on Jan 21, 2007 2:56:24 GMT -5
January 20th 2007 A California man has filed a lawsuit claiming that police in Costa Mesa arrested him for drunkenness after he had a stroke. Salvador Jimenez is seeking $250,000 in damages, the Los Angeles Times reported. Lawyer Peter Nisson said a police officer repeatedly ordered Jimenez to stand, even though Jimenez fell over when he tried. Jimenez was taken to a hospital about 10 hours after his arrest, where the stroke was diagnosed. "If the officers were properly performing their duties, they would have called for a medical evaluation at the time he came into the jail," Nisson said. The lawyer said Jimenez is no longer able to work as a gardener. www.playfuls.com/news_10_10058-Suit-Claims-Police-Arrested-Stroke-Victim.html
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Post by Critique on Jan 21, 2007 2:56:24 GMT -5
January 20th 2007 A California man has filed a lawsuit claiming that police in Costa Mesa arrested him for drunkenness after he had a stroke. Salvador Jimenez is seeking $250,000 in damages, the Los Angeles Times reported. Lawyer Peter Nisson said a police officer repeatedly ordered Jimenez to stand, even though Jimenez fell over when he tried. Jimenez was taken to a hospital about 10 hours after his arrest, where the stroke was diagnosed. "If the officers were properly performing their duties, they would have called for a medical evaluation at the time he came into the jail," Nisson said. The lawyer said Jimenez is no longer able to work as a gardener. www.playfuls.com/news_10_10058-Suit-Claims-Police-Arrested-Stroke-Victim.html
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Post by Critique on Jan 21, 2007 1:33:53 GMT -5
ordered to undergo retraining and counseling.
Never Ever Ever "SERVE" The People!!!!
Never Ever Ever "PROTECT" The People (Property)!!!!
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Post by Critique on Jan 21, 2007 1:33:53 GMT -5
ordered to undergo retraining and counseling.
Never Ever Ever "SERVE" The People!!!!
Never Ever Ever "PROTECT" The People (Property)!!!!
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Post by Critique on Jan 21, 2007 1:25:09 GMT -5
January 20, 2007 BRADENTON, Fla. -- A police officer who reached out of his patrol car to drag a homeless woman's shopping cart 12 miles has been ordered to undergo retraining and counseling. Officer Nicholas Evans, who has been praised by homeless advocates and jeered by his peers, won't be suspended for 20 days as a lieutenant had recommended, Police Chief Michael Radzilowski said Friday. After arresting Marie Brooks on an outstanding warrant early one morning last week, Evans pulled her shopping cart alongside his cruiser to the county jail so Brooks wouldn't lose her meager belongings. The trip took him an hour. According to a police report release Friday, Evans, a three-year veteran of the department, bragged to colleagues that he had gotten the cart up to 40 mph. Department investigators concluded that Evans, 26, showed poor conduct for an officer because he brought negative attention to himself and to the department. Also, Evans was written up for failing to follow state laws -- towing a cart could be considered careless driving, the report said -- and failing to operate a vehicle safely. "Had the cart gotten away from Officer Evans and been struck by another vehicle, he would have been held civilly liable as well as the Bradenton Police Department," the report stated. Evans "failed to use his patrol car in a safe, prudent and expeditious manner." Pulling the cart was a "clearly careless and hazardous" decision that jeopardized the officer's safety, Brooks' welfare and the lives of other motorists. His attitude in a meeting with supervisors that night was "humorous," police said, and Evans "did not appear to be taking it seriously." Evans' wife disputed some of the report. Liz Evans said her husband estimated he topped out at about 25 mph for "extremely short" periods of times. Her husband would not brag about pulling a shopping cart, she said. www.local6.com/news/10802431/detail.html
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Post by Critique on Jan 21, 2007 1:25:09 GMT -5
January 20, 2007 BRADENTON, Fla. -- A police officer who reached out of his patrol car to drag a homeless woman's shopping cart 12 miles has been ordered to undergo retraining and counseling. Officer Nicholas Evans, who has been praised by homeless advocates and jeered by his peers, won't be suspended for 20 days as a lieutenant had recommended, Police Chief Michael Radzilowski said Friday. After arresting Marie Brooks on an outstanding warrant early one morning last week, Evans pulled her shopping cart alongside his cruiser to the county jail so Brooks wouldn't lose her meager belongings. The trip took him an hour. According to a police report release Friday, Evans, a three-year veteran of the department, bragged to colleagues that he had gotten the cart up to 40 mph. Department investigators concluded that Evans, 26, showed poor conduct for an officer because he brought negative attention to himself and to the department. Also, Evans was written up for failing to follow state laws -- towing a cart could be considered careless driving, the report said -- and failing to operate a vehicle safely. "Had the cart gotten away from Officer Evans and been struck by another vehicle, he would have been held civilly liable as well as the Bradenton Police Department," the report stated. Evans "failed to use his patrol car in a safe, prudent and expeditious manner." Pulling the cart was a "clearly careless and hazardous" decision that jeopardized the officer's safety, Brooks' welfare and the lives of other motorists. His attitude in a meeting with supervisors that night was "humorous," police said, and Evans "did not appear to be taking it seriously." Evans' wife disputed some of the report. Liz Evans said her husband estimated he topped out at about 25 mph for "extremely short" periods of times. Her husband would not brag about pulling a shopping cart, she said. www.local6.com/news/10802431/detail.html
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Post by Critique on Jan 19, 2007 4:21:14 GMT -5
January 17, 2007 By BOB FOWLER CLINTON - A $5.5 million federal lawsuit filed over an incident where two deputies fired 18 gunshots into an occupied van would go away under a deal approved Monday. Anderson County commissioners quickly OK'd the offer, which calls for the county to pay the plaintiff its $10,000 insurance deductible combined with an undisclosed insurance payment. In exchange, the lawsuit would be dismissed, county Law Director Jay Yeager told commissioners. "I think it's an opportunity to limit Anderson County's likely exposure,'' he said. If approved by a judge, the total payout to Karen D. Sartin would remain confidential, Yeager said. "We can't divulge the settlement," he said. "Nor can the other side." Sartin's attorney, Gregory P. Isaacs of Knoxville, said Monday afternoon it would be "inappropriate to comment" on the deal. An unarmed Sartin sat behind the wheel of her van, mired in a roadside ditch, when deputies Billy Giles and Bill McMillan fired their service revolvers into its grill and radiator. An in-cruiser camera captured the Nov. 18, 2005, incident, and that videotape was aired on national news networks. Isaacs filed the federal lawsuit against the county that alleged Sartin's civil rights were violated, and she suffered "physical and psychological abuse and harm." The deputies started chasing Sartin's van after noticing one of its brake lights was out and the van's license plate belonged on another vehicle. That low-speed chase ended when McMillan performed a rolling roadblock and forced Sartin's van off Norris Freeway. Then-Sheriff Bill White fired the two deputies, saying they violated sheriff's department policies. County commissioners on Monday voted to take the $10,000 deductible payment out of the county's rainy-day fund for emergencies. www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,kns_347_5284119,00.html
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Post by Critique on Jan 19, 2007 4:21:14 GMT -5
January 17, 2007 By BOB FOWLER CLINTON - A $5.5 million federal lawsuit filed over an incident where two deputies fired 18 gunshots into an occupied van would go away under a deal approved Monday. Anderson County commissioners quickly OK'd the offer, which calls for the county to pay the plaintiff its $10,000 insurance deductible combined with an undisclosed insurance payment. In exchange, the lawsuit would be dismissed, county Law Director Jay Yeager told commissioners. "I think it's an opportunity to limit Anderson County's likely exposure,'' he said. If approved by a judge, the total payout to Karen D. Sartin would remain confidential, Yeager said. "We can't divulge the settlement," he said. "Nor can the other side." Sartin's attorney, Gregory P. Isaacs of Knoxville, said Monday afternoon it would be "inappropriate to comment" on the deal. An unarmed Sartin sat behind the wheel of her van, mired in a roadside ditch, when deputies Billy Giles and Bill McMillan fired their service revolvers into its grill and radiator. An in-cruiser camera captured the Nov. 18, 2005, incident, and that videotape was aired on national news networks. Isaacs filed the federal lawsuit against the county that alleged Sartin's civil rights were violated, and she suffered "physical and psychological abuse and harm." The deputies started chasing Sartin's van after noticing one of its brake lights was out and the van's license plate belonged on another vehicle. That low-speed chase ended when McMillan performed a rolling roadblock and forced Sartin's van off Norris Freeway. Then-Sheriff Bill White fired the two deputies, saying they violated sheriff's department policies. County commissioners on Monday voted to take the $10,000 deductible payment out of the county's rainy-day fund for emergencies. www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,kns_347_5284119,00.html
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Post by Critique on Jan 26, 2007 0:48:47 GMT -5
January 25, 2007 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS — Two lawsuits are seeking amendment today (January 25, 2007), adding that City of Harvey Police Officers have engaged in such a widespread pattern of abuse that Mayor Kellogg and Police Commanders Gentry and Keel are fully implicated in the corruption. Ranicka Stone (Stone v. City of Harvey, et al., 06 C 5001) was forced to perform fellatio on Officer Tyrone Johnson (who has since pled guilty to this crime). Many other officers have been similarly charged, the lawsuit alleges. “The fact that Officer Johnson thought that he would be able to get away with torture only demonstrates that the mayor is deliberately putting his head in the sand and not properly disciplining and terminating officers,” according to the Stone’s complaint. The mayor’s indifference to officer misconduct comes as no surprise as he has hired at least two officers into high positions (Commanders of the Police Department), notwithstanding prior and significant discipline of these officers. Darnell Keel has been disciplined, charged, and/or been the subject of investigations for hiding information of his own physical abuse and oral threats directed toward civilians. After being hired as Commander, the suit alleges, Keel is alleged to have made many racial remarks directed towards white officers. Commander Gentry, long after he became commander, has been well known for his gang membership in with the Vice Lords. He eventually was terminated for criminal activity. The other amendment in McKnight v. City of Harvey, 05 C 1970, alleges the same acts of misconduct as does the Stone case, but the time period to submit allegations against the Mayor and Commanders Gentry and Keel has expired. The Law Offices of Blake Horwitz, a police misconduct law firm, serves clients in the City of Chicago and around the country. Mr. Horwitz has had many successes in the field of Police Misconduct, including a $28,000,000.00 verdict against the City of Chicago, the largest police brutality verdict in the Midwest. www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-25-2007/0004513478&EDATE=
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Post by Critique on Jan 26, 2007 0:48:47 GMT -5
January 25, 2007 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS — Two lawsuits are seeking amendment today (January 25, 2007), adding that City of Harvey Police Officers have engaged in such a widespread pattern of abuse that Mayor Kellogg and Police Commanders Gentry and Keel are fully implicated in the corruption. Ranicka Stone (Stone v. City of Harvey, et al., 06 C 5001) was forced to perform fellatio on Officer Tyrone Johnson (who has since pled guilty to this crime). Many other officers have been similarly charged, the lawsuit alleges. “The fact that Officer Johnson thought that he would be able to get away with torture only demonstrates that the mayor is deliberately putting his head in the sand and not properly disciplining and terminating officers,” according to the Stone’s complaint. The mayor’s indifference to officer misconduct comes as no surprise as he has hired at least two officers into high positions (Commanders of the Police Department), notwithstanding prior and significant discipline of these officers. Darnell Keel has been disciplined, charged, and/or been the subject of investigations for hiding information of his own physical abuse and oral threats directed toward civilians. After being hired as Commander, the suit alleges, Keel is alleged to have made many racial remarks directed towards white officers. Commander Gentry, long after he became commander, has been well known for his gang membership in with the Vice Lords. He eventually was terminated for criminal activity. The other amendment in McKnight v. City of Harvey, 05 C 1970, alleges the same acts of misconduct as does the Stone case, but the time period to submit allegations against the Mayor and Commanders Gentry and Keel has expired. The Law Offices of Blake Horwitz, a police misconduct law firm, serves clients in the City of Chicago and around the country. Mr. Horwitz has had many successes in the field of Police Misconduct, including a $28,000,000.00 verdict against the City of Chicago, the largest police brutality verdict in the Midwest. www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-25-2007/0004513478&EDATE=
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Post by Critique on Jan 1, 2007 3:30:52 GMT -5
2006-12-27 By Jared Allen NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – The year 2006 will be one that many will always remember – and many more can only hope to forget – as scores of public officials were taken down in public corruption scandals from Memphis to Chattanooga. And at the tale end of the year, Nashville has seen its own share of public corruption cases broken by a U.S. Attorney's Office that has changed drastically in recent years. The most notable Tennessee case, of course, was the joint FBI-TBI sting operation Tennessee Waltz, where in 2005 state officials, including five current and former legislators, were arrested for participating in a set-up bribery scheme to push legislation on behalf of a face company, E-Cycle Management. Operation Tennessee Waltz led to the arrest of state Senators Kathryn Bowers, John Ford and Roscoe Dixon – all of Memphis – Ward Crutchfield of Chattanooga and Rep. Chris Newton of Benton. Also caught up and arrested in the sting were a Hamilton County school board member and county commissioner, as well as a Shelby County commissioner and former county administrator. But there were others charges with federal public corruption offenses, some here in Nashville. Last week, Ford was indicted again – this time out of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nashville – for allegedly profiteering off of the steering of TennCare contracts toward companies he consulted for. The very same week, the Nashville U.S. Attorney, Craig Morford, joined Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas to announce the indictment of Ernest B. Cecil, a Metro narcotics detective, for allegedly assisting his nephew run a cocaine operation in Nashville. That indictment followed a January federal indictment against Cecil’s alleged partner in crime, Metro Officer Charles Williams, and a May indictment against Memphis Police officers Terrance Harris and Ted Williams, both of whom were also charged with drug-related crimes. But the spate of bad news has meant, especially in Nashville, that law enforcement is enjoying success at cracking down on public corruption. That is a change from years ago – when Tennessee Waltz was just being organized – when federal officials had to run the operation out of the Memphis U.S. Attorney’s Office, even though it was targeted at the legislature in Nashville. But thanks to the reform work of former U.S. Attorney Jim Vines, who left office two months ago to return to the private sector, the Middle Tennessee U.S. Attorney’s Office is joining the ranks of its sister offices. Now that work is bearing fruit. At the same time, though, many local officials say Morford deserves his share of the credit for ensuring that numerous investigations never missed a beat. And as Tennessee is now learning, much of the last five years worth of legwork was aimed at catching corrupt public officials. “The work that Jim Vines and [Assistant U.S. Attorney] Zach Fardon started here, it’s some of the most important work that we do because it’s extremely important that everyone knows as we’ve said here today that no one is above the law, including the people who make the law and including the people who enforce the law,” Morford said last week after announcing the indictment against Cecil. “In some ways, these are the most important crimes we can investigate and prosecute because if we don’t do these, it affects the integrity of the system and it affects everything else that we do,” Morford added. Serpas said that in the three years he has been at the helm of the Metro Police Department, he’s seen the U.S. Attorney’s Office grow into an able partner at combating corruption. “This is no slight on Mr. Vines, but in the four weeks Mr. Morford has been here, of the three huge things that were bothering me personally, two of the three have been knocked out already,” Serpas said. “Once Mr. Morford got on board, he moved quickly to bring us to where we are today, and I’m very, very appreciative of that.” In an interview last week, Vines said he did not believe Morford – who is best known as the U.S. attorney who cleaned up Youngstown, Ohio, which had been known for decades as the most corrupt city in America – was brought to Tennessee to fight corruption. But as 2006 showed, there is plenty of corruption in the Volunteer State to fight. Two years ago, before Tennessee Waltz even began, Tennessee was ranked as the 12th most corrupt state in the country, according to the Harvard Institute of Economic Research, having endured 275 corruption convictions between 1990 and 2002. www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=53816
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Post by Critique on Jan 1, 2007 3:30:52 GMT -5
2006-12-27 By Jared Allen NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – The year 2006 will be one that many will always remember – and many more can only hope to forget – as scores of public officials were taken down in public corruption scandals from Memphis to Chattanooga. And at the tale end of the year, Nashville has seen its own share of public corruption cases broken by a U.S. Attorney's Office that has changed drastically in recent years. The most notable Tennessee case, of course, was the joint FBI-TBI sting operation Tennessee Waltz, where in 2005 state officials, including five current and former legislators, were arrested for participating in a set-up bribery scheme to push legislation on behalf of a face company, E-Cycle Management. Operation Tennessee Waltz led to the arrest of state Senators Kathryn Bowers, John Ford and Roscoe Dixon – all of Memphis – Ward Crutchfield of Chattanooga and Rep. Chris Newton of Benton. Also caught up and arrested in the sting were a Hamilton County school board member and county commissioner, as well as a Shelby County commissioner and former county administrator. But there were others charges with federal public corruption offenses, some here in Nashville. Last week, Ford was indicted again – this time out of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nashville – for allegedly profiteering off of the steering of TennCare contracts toward companies he consulted for. The very same week, the Nashville U.S. Attorney, Craig Morford, joined Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas to announce the indictment of Ernest B. Cecil, a Metro narcotics detective, for allegedly assisting his nephew run a cocaine operation in Nashville. That indictment followed a January federal indictment against Cecil’s alleged partner in crime, Metro Officer Charles Williams, and a May indictment against Memphis Police officers Terrance Harris and Ted Williams, both of whom were also charged with drug-related crimes. But the spate of bad news has meant, especially in Nashville, that law enforcement is enjoying success at cracking down on public corruption. That is a change from years ago – when Tennessee Waltz was just being organized – when federal officials had to run the operation out of the Memphis U.S. Attorney’s Office, even though it was targeted at the legislature in Nashville. But thanks to the reform work of former U.S. Attorney Jim Vines, who left office two months ago to return to the private sector, the Middle Tennessee U.S. Attorney’s Office is joining the ranks of its sister offices. Now that work is bearing fruit. At the same time, though, many local officials say Morford deserves his share of the credit for ensuring that numerous investigations never missed a beat. And as Tennessee is now learning, much of the last five years worth of legwork was aimed at catching corrupt public officials. “The work that Jim Vines and [Assistant U.S. Attorney] Zach Fardon started here, it’s some of the most important work that we do because it’s extremely important that everyone knows as we’ve said here today that no one is above the law, including the people who make the law and including the people who enforce the law,” Morford said last week after announcing the indictment against Cecil. “In some ways, these are the most important crimes we can investigate and prosecute because if we don’t do these, it affects the integrity of the system and it affects everything else that we do,” Morford added. Serpas said that in the three years he has been at the helm of the Metro Police Department, he’s seen the U.S. Attorney’s Office grow into an able partner at combating corruption. “This is no slight on Mr. Vines, but in the four weeks Mr. Morford has been here, of the three huge things that were bothering me personally, two of the three have been knocked out already,” Serpas said. “Once Mr. Morford got on board, he moved quickly to bring us to where we are today, and I’m very, very appreciative of that.” In an interview last week, Vines said he did not believe Morford – who is best known as the U.S. attorney who cleaned up Youngstown, Ohio, which had been known for decades as the most corrupt city in America – was brought to Tennessee to fight corruption. But as 2006 showed, there is plenty of corruption in the Volunteer State to fight. Two years ago, before Tennessee Waltz even began, Tennessee was ranked as the 12th most corrupt state in the country, according to the Harvard Institute of Economic Research, having endured 275 corruption convictions between 1990 and 2002. www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=53816
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Post by Critique on Jan 5, 2007 18:45:28 GMT -5
(Please Ignore Beatings, Rapes, Killings, Drug Dealing, Robberies, etc. By New York City Police Officers)12/06/2006 By Stephen Witt In the wake of the Queens shooting in which one man was killed in a hail of 50 police bullets, City Councilmember Kendall Stewart last week called a meeting between Brooklyn South’s top police brass and local community leaders, residents and clergy. The meeting was held at the Tabernacle of Praise Church, 1098 Utica Avenue. According to Stewart, the media was not invited in order to avoid anybody riling things up through grandstanding. Among the police brass in attendance were Patrol Borough Brooklyn South Commanding Officer Joseph Fox, Inspector Tom Harris, the commanding officer of the 70th Precinct and Inspector William Aubry, the commanding officer of the 67th Precinct. “We feel anytime these incidents take place, let’s learn from them and let our leaders and police know how to communicate with one another. We have to look at cultural differences and see if we can bridge the gap in understanding one another,” said Stewart. “There will always be mistakes. We cannot legislate humility. We cannot legislate professionalism and courtesy, and those are things that make a community better,” he added. Stewart said the meeting, among other things, let local residents know that should an incident take place the facts are looked at first and the local leadership and police communicate with each other. “Just because an incident took place doesn’t mean we should lose trust in our police system,” said Stewart. “No matter how you look at it, the police need us and we need the police, and although some police might be not trained properly or have some problems with other ethnicities, you can’t condemn the entire police force for an incident like this,” he added. Stewart it is important to look at the Queens incident and come up with ways it can be prevented from happening again. “We’re not into fanning the flames. We are into educating the police and constituents and the leaders,” said Stewart. “In general, what one has to do is focus on the concept of the solution rather than the concept of the problem,” he said. Lt. James Woods, of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South community affairs, said Fox helped facilitate the meeting with Stewart and it was a meeting with “no edge.” Elected officials, police, religious leaders, parents and children in attendance spoke about some preventive measures that can be taken to make police and community relations more harmonious in Brooklyn South, said Woods. “We also talked about protocol -- what young people can expect to be asked about when being approached by police and, vice versa, what police can ask and what they can do when they do questioning,” said Woods. “There was genuine concern and meaningful information by everyone in attendance,” he added. Woods said that although the meeting was timely, it could be meaningful anytime and that it reflects Fox’s philosophy that the community and police do a lot of interacting to understand each other’s concerns. “We put forth effort and the community reciprocates and that’s what we want people to tell us when there’s an issue,” said Woods. “People are pretty free to tell us what’s on their mind and that’s the way it should be.” Woods and others also praised Harris and Aubry as outstanding commanders of their respective precincts, who are both proactive and aggressive in fighting crime, but also strong communicators with the community. Ed Powell, the 70th Precinct Community Council president, said he was impressed with State Sen. John Sampson’s speech of how solutions begin with a healthy family structure and then people become involved in their community. “It begins with the nuclear family and extends out into the community,” said Powell. “The bad cops are more apt to do something if the community family isn’t together, and also the criminal finds more opportunity.” Community Board 17 Chair Lloyd Mills said it was a good meeting in that everyone was able to meet Chief Fox and his commanding officers, and residents were able to share their concerns, ask questions and get them answered. “The police have to play a part and we as citizens have to play a part. It’s a partnership and we have to work together,” said Mills. “How police approach individuals is very important. A bad approach can start a riot in a church and a good approach can prevent one,” he added. www.courierlife.net/site/news.cfm?newsid=17559653&BRD=2384&PAG=461&dept_id=560114&rfi=6
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Post by Critique on Jan 5, 2007 18:45:28 GMT -5
(Please Ignore Beatings, Rapes, Killings, Drug Dealing, Robberies, etc. By New York City Police Officers)12/06/2006 By Stephen Witt In the wake of the Queens shooting in which one man was killed in a hail of 50 police bullets, City Councilmember Kendall Stewart last week called a meeting between Brooklyn South’s top police brass and local community leaders, residents and clergy. The meeting was held at the Tabernacle of Praise Church, 1098 Utica Avenue. According to Stewart, the media was not invited in order to avoid anybody riling things up through grandstanding. Among the police brass in attendance were Patrol Borough Brooklyn South Commanding Officer Joseph Fox, Inspector Tom Harris, the commanding officer of the 70th Precinct and Inspector William Aubry, the commanding officer of the 67th Precinct. “We feel anytime these incidents take place, let’s learn from them and let our leaders and police know how to communicate with one another. We have to look at cultural differences and see if we can bridge the gap in understanding one another,” said Stewart. “There will always be mistakes. We cannot legislate humility. We cannot legislate professionalism and courtesy, and those are things that make a community better,” he added. Stewart said the meeting, among other things, let local residents know that should an incident take place the facts are looked at first and the local leadership and police communicate with each other. “Just because an incident took place doesn’t mean we should lose trust in our police system,” said Stewart. “No matter how you look at it, the police need us and we need the police, and although some police might be not trained properly or have some problems with other ethnicities, you can’t condemn the entire police force for an incident like this,” he added. Stewart it is important to look at the Queens incident and come up with ways it can be prevented from happening again. “We’re not into fanning the flames. We are into educating the police and constituents and the leaders,” said Stewart. “In general, what one has to do is focus on the concept of the solution rather than the concept of the problem,” he said. Lt. James Woods, of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South community affairs, said Fox helped facilitate the meeting with Stewart and it was a meeting with “no edge.” Elected officials, police, religious leaders, parents and children in attendance spoke about some preventive measures that can be taken to make police and community relations more harmonious in Brooklyn South, said Woods. “We also talked about protocol -- what young people can expect to be asked about when being approached by police and, vice versa, what police can ask and what they can do when they do questioning,” said Woods. “There was genuine concern and meaningful information by everyone in attendance,” he added. Woods said that although the meeting was timely, it could be meaningful anytime and that it reflects Fox’s philosophy that the community and police do a lot of interacting to understand each other’s concerns. “We put forth effort and the community reciprocates and that’s what we want people to tell us when there’s an issue,” said Woods. “People are pretty free to tell us what’s on their mind and that’s the way it should be.” Woods and others also praised Harris and Aubry as outstanding commanders of their respective precincts, who are both proactive and aggressive in fighting crime, but also strong communicators with the community. Ed Powell, the 70th Precinct Community Council president, said he was impressed with State Sen. John Sampson’s speech of how solutions begin with a healthy family structure and then people become involved in their community. “It begins with the nuclear family and extends out into the community,” said Powell. “The bad cops are more apt to do something if the community family isn’t together, and also the criminal finds more opportunity.” Community Board 17 Chair Lloyd Mills said it was a good meeting in that everyone was able to meet Chief Fox and his commanding officers, and residents were able to share their concerns, ask questions and get them answered. “The police have to play a part and we as citizens have to play a part. It’s a partnership and we have to work together,” said Mills. “How police approach individuals is very important. A bad approach can start a riot in a church and a good approach can prevent one,” he added. www.courierlife.net/site/news.cfm?newsid=17559653&BRD=2384&PAG=461&dept_id=560114&rfi=6
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Post by Critique on Jan 10, 2007 15:42:02 GMT -5
Dec. 13, 2006 BY KEVIN HARTER A 22-year-old Roberts woman told a Hudson city commission on Tuesday that she and her boyfriend were walking away from a bar fight in March when a Hudson police officer assaulted them. Testimony began Tuesday in a Hudson Police and Fire Commission hearing to decide whether to fire Sgt. Robert D. Oehmke who has been accused of using excessive force. Meredith Senich testified that the officer grabbed her by the hair, then slammed her against his squad car. Several witnesses testified Tuesday, as did Oehmke's former boss who said he had to talk with Oehmke about his temper in the past. There is "substantial evidence" to justify firing Oehmke, who has a history of using excessive force, said attorney Ryan J. Steffes, hired by the city to represent interim Police Chief Paul Larson at the hearing. Larson has recommended the 15-year veteran be fired. Oehmke, who has been suspended with pay from his $59,000 job since April, is accused of using excessive force and filing a false report. He is expected to testify later in the hearing, which could last until Thursday. The testimony of several witnesses will show that while Oehmke was placing Rodney Dale, of Roberts, under arrest there was little, if any, resistance, Steffes said in his opening remarks. And Oehmke was not justified in striking the handcuffed Dale or pulling Senich down by her hair, Steffes said. The incident began after a fight broke out in Dick's Bar and Grill, Senich told the independent five-member commission. Her boyfriend and others had been forced out of the bar by staff, and the fights continued outside. The couple was walking away when Oehmke arrived and singled them out, Senich said. The officer grabbed Dale by the throat, then assaulted Senich when she tried to intervene, she added. Oehmke did not ask for identification or for any information, she said. "He pointed at Rodney and said, 'You come here.' … Then he dragged Rodney back to the car. I followed, asking why he was being arrested." Dale also told Oehmke, "You have the wrong guy," she said. Oehmke "grabbed (Dale) by the throat and slammed him on the hood of the car." Senich said she then called Oehmke a "crooked cop," and he reached back, grabbed the 95-pound woman by her shoulder-length hair and "slammed her onto of the hood of his car." Senich's complaint prompted the investigation, former Hudson Police Chief Dick Trende testified. Trende retired in May. Trende testified he had written a memo in 2003 on the use of excessive force after Oehmke had been accused of repeatedly striking a man whose hands were cuffed behind his back. The former chief said he also had spoken with Oehmke after the 2003 incident because of his "temper and propensity for using force." Oehmke, who did not testify Tuesday, is expected to do so during the hearing that is scheduled to continue today. He is represented by Gordon McQuillen, a Madison-based attorney for the Wisconsin Professional Police Association. McQuillen did not make an opening statement Tuesday. If the commission fires Oehmke, he can appeal the decision to the St. Croix County Circuit Court. www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/16225969.htm
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Post by Critique on Jan 10, 2007 15:42:02 GMT -5
Dec. 13, 2006 BY KEVIN HARTER A 22-year-old Roberts woman told a Hudson city commission on Tuesday that she and her boyfriend were walking away from a bar fight in March when a Hudson police officer assaulted them. Testimony began Tuesday in a Hudson Police and Fire Commission hearing to decide whether to fire Sgt. Robert D. Oehmke who has been accused of using excessive force. Meredith Senich testified that the officer grabbed her by the hair, then slammed her against his squad car. Several witnesses testified Tuesday, as did Oehmke's former boss who said he had to talk with Oehmke about his temper in the past. There is "substantial evidence" to justify firing Oehmke, who has a history of using excessive force, said attorney Ryan J. Steffes, hired by the city to represent interim Police Chief Paul Larson at the hearing. Larson has recommended the 15-year veteran be fired. Oehmke, who has been suspended with pay from his $59,000 job since April, is accused of using excessive force and filing a false report. He is expected to testify later in the hearing, which could last until Thursday. The testimony of several witnesses will show that while Oehmke was placing Rodney Dale, of Roberts, under arrest there was little, if any, resistance, Steffes said in his opening remarks. And Oehmke was not justified in striking the handcuffed Dale or pulling Senich down by her hair, Steffes said. The incident began after a fight broke out in Dick's Bar and Grill, Senich told the independent five-member commission. Her boyfriend and others had been forced out of the bar by staff, and the fights continued outside. The couple was walking away when Oehmke arrived and singled them out, Senich said. The officer grabbed Dale by the throat, then assaulted Senich when she tried to intervene, she added. Oehmke did not ask for identification or for any information, she said. "He pointed at Rodney and said, 'You come here.' … Then he dragged Rodney back to the car. I followed, asking why he was being arrested." Dale also told Oehmke, "You have the wrong guy," she said. Oehmke "grabbed (Dale) by the throat and slammed him on the hood of the car." Senich said she then called Oehmke a "crooked cop," and he reached back, grabbed the 95-pound woman by her shoulder-length hair and "slammed her onto of the hood of his car." Senich's complaint prompted the investigation, former Hudson Police Chief Dick Trende testified. Trende retired in May. Trende testified he had written a memo in 2003 on the use of excessive force after Oehmke had been accused of repeatedly striking a man whose hands were cuffed behind his back. The former chief said he also had spoken with Oehmke after the 2003 incident because of his "temper and propensity for using force." Oehmke, who did not testify Tuesday, is expected to do so during the hearing that is scheduled to continue today. He is represented by Gordon McQuillen, a Madison-based attorney for the Wisconsin Professional Police Association. McQuillen did not make an opening statement Tuesday. If the commission fires Oehmke, he can appeal the decision to the St. Croix County Circuit Court. www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/16225969.htm
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