This week's LEO bloopers (March 14-20, 2010)

[seamusTX]

NJ: A former police officer pled guilty to conspiracy in a case that may have sent 185 people to prison on false charges:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homep ... 14622.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

New Orleans: A former police officer was charged with conspiracy for covering up police shooting of unarmed people after Hurricane Katrina:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... wD9ECLSC00" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/us/25orleans.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


San Antonio: Two officers were suspended for using their patrol cars for purposes other than assigned duties:
http://www.kvue.com/news/state/Two-San- ... 25492.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

IA: A police officer stopped a woman on suspicion of drunk driving. She said she would "do anything" to avoid being arrested. He thought of something. He was subsequently fired:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... al-assault" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

KY: A police captain is accused of misdemeanor assault of a minor:
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/03/19/1188 ... ed-of.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CA: An officer is suspected of propositioning the wife of a criminal suspect. It would not be his first unprofessional relationship with someone involved in a criminal case:
http://www.sgvtribune.com/crime/ci_14703885" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

PA: One current and one retired officer are accused of stealing firearms from the evidence room:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index. ... ed_of.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

RI: A police officer is on trial for allegedly committing rape while on duty:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... QD9EH3VF00" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

IN: A former police officer and city council member is accused of taking a bribe in an FBI sting:
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/22890577/detail.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim
[Fixed incorrect New Orleans link]

[surprise_i'm_armed]

seamustx:

Has there ever been a satisfactory answer to

"Who guards the guardians?'

SIA

[C-dub]

Oops. The New Orleans link and the San Antonio link are the same one.

[seamusTX]

Oops. The New Orleans link and the San Antonio link are the same one.

Sorry, I fixed it.

- Jim

[seamusTX]

Has there ever been a satisfactory answer to
"Who guards the guardians?'

To the extent that police are answerable to elected officials and independent courts, I think so.

We also have multiple levels of checks and balances:

• Local police can be investigated by sheriffs and DAs.
• County officials can be investigated by state police and the attorney general.
• The state police are answerable to the governor and legislators.
• The federal Justice Department can investigate everybody.
• Federal law enforcement is answerable to Congress.
• Civilians can sue officials in federal courts.
• News media can investigate and stir up public opinion, which elected officials respond to.

It's not a perfect system, but no system is. It's a lot better than countries that have national police forces and prosecutors and courts that are not independent.

- Jim

[cheyb]

thats some pretty messed up stuff

[PeteCamp]

News media can investigate and stir up public opinion, which elected officials respond to.

After last night, I think you might have a pretty tough time proving that one.

BTW Don't ever post that on GlockTalk. They have some serious problems with folks who will defend anything an officer does.

[seamusTX]

As examples of what journalists can accomplish, see some of the recent Pulitzer awards:

• 2008 Walt Bogdanich and Jake Hooker of The New York Times. For their stories on toxic ingredients in medicine and other everyday products imported from China, leading to crackdowns by American and Chinese officials.
• 2008 Staff of Chicago Tribune. For its exposure of faulty governmental regulation of toys, car seats and cribs, resulting in the extensive recall of hazardous products and congressional action to tighten supervision.
• 2007 Brett Blackledge of The Birmingham (AL) News. For his exposure of cronyism and corruption in the state's two-year college system, resulting in the dismissal of the chancellor and other corrective action.
• 2009 [Finalist] Paul Pringle of Los Angeles Times. For his meticulously researched stories that, in the face of threats, exposed financial abuses by the head of California’s largest union, leading to investigations, the leader’s departure from office and repayment of misappropriated funds.

http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Investigative-Reporting" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[marksiwel]

News media can investigate and stir up public opinion, which elected officials respond to.

After last night, I think you might have a pretty tough time proving that one.

BTW Don't ever post that on GlockTalk. They have some serious problems with folks who will defend anything an officer does.

Their are accounts of French Welcoming the Germans into France, so you know

[jimlongley]

As examples of what journalists can accomplish, see some of the recent Pulitzer awards:

• 2008 Walt Bogdanich and Jake Hooker of The New York Times. For their stories on toxic ingredients in medicine and other everyday products imported from China, leading to crackdowns by American and Chinese officials.
• 2008 Staff of Chicago Tribune. For its exposure of faulty governmental regulation of toys, car seats and cribs, resulting in the extensive recall of hazardous products and congressional action to tighten supervision.
• 2007 Brett Blackledge of The Birmingham (AL) News. For his exposure of cronyism and corruption in the state's two-year college system, resulting in the dismissal of the chancellor and other corrective action.
• 2009 [Finalist] Paul Pringle of Los Angeles Times. For his meticulously researched stories that, in the face of threats, exposed financial abuses by the head of California’s largest union, leading to investigations, the leader’s departure from office and repayment of misappropriated funds.

http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Investigative-Reporting" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

And then, of course, we have Fords blowing up, well documented and meticulously researched.

I think "Quis custodiet custodes?" was meant to be a rhetoical question.

[ELB]

As examples of what journalists can accomplish, ...

And of course there is Walter Duranty's Pulitzer...

[seamusTX]

Can you come up with something that happened less than 70 years ago?

- Jim

[jimlongley]

Can you come up with something that happened less than 70 years ago?

- Jim

Janet Cooke?

[seamusTX]

Sure, and I'll give you Jason Blair for free and not mention Jeff Gannon (oops, sorry).

There are bad apples in every profession. Most organizations, including the police, find them and get rid of them. The fact that individuals are imperfect doesn't condemn the entire profession.

- Jim

[marksiwel]

Sure, and I'll give you Jason Blair for free and not mention Jeff Gannon (oops, sorry).

There are bad apples in every profession. Most organizations, including the police, find them and get rid of them. The fact that individuals are imperfect doesn't condemn the entire profession.

- Jim

I'm thinking about stealing that and putting that as my sig