Gangsters in Blue

PSOSGT, a frequent commenter on CopBlock.org, submitted the following as a guest post. He didn’t think it would be published but after reading it I thought it would make a good blog, including my responses to his statements. PSOSGT’s statements are block quoted.

I realize this isn’t going to be posted, but I think these two stories shed SOME light as to why police don’t like people behind them, filming or just watching, while dealing someone else. Yes, we use the tired saying of “officer safety” but these are two examples that happened over 2 days that show why police get “jumpy” at times when people walk up to traffic stops, or any other investigation.

Cops can’t read minds. We don’t know if your going to talk, film, watch, or pull out a gun.

http://www.odmp.org/officer/21040-sergeant-david-enzbrenner

Sergeant David Enzbrenner was shot and killed in an unprovoked attack while assisting a code enforcement officer serve a nuisance order at a home near the intersection of 12th. and Division Streets shortly after 4:00 pm.

A person unrelated to the order suddenly approached and opened fire without warning, killing Sergeant Enzbrenner. The man then committed suicide. It is believed the man held a grudge against law enforcement officers because his father was serving a life sentence without parole in Louisiana.

Ah, it says that, “a person unrelated to the order suddenly approached and opened fire.” There was no preventing this, nor is there any one reason as to why this happened, other than some guy wanted to kill this guy. There was no camera involved in this case and a number of things can be distractions, so where do you draw the line? Or why even draw a line? If filming officers makes their job more dangerous then I suggest they stop forcing people to pay their salaries.

http://www.odmp.org/officer/21038-police-officer-i-deriek-w-crouse

Officer Deriek Crouse was shot and killed while making a traffic stop in the parking lot of the university’s Cassell Coliseum, near McComas Hall, at approximately 12:15 pm.

At some point during the stop, a suspect unrelated to the traffic stop approached his unmarked car and shot him once in the head as he sat in his vehicle. The suspect fled on foot to a nearby location on campus and changed clothes. He was located in the university’s I-Lot approximately 45 minutes after the shooting and committed suicide as a Montgomery County deputy attempted to contact him

Again, this seems to be a predetermined event. Maybe this officer was corrupt? Maybe he was in the wrong place at the wrong time? Maybe, just maybe, this was a good officer who paid the ultimate price for another’s mistake. Officers who die in the line of duty are honored – parade and all – yet when officers kill someone the deceased are criminalized.

Neither of these examples prove PSOSGT’s point, that officer need to be wary of people filming. For one, both officers were preoccupied with enforcing some sort of victimless crime – code enforcement and traffic stop – which could be part of the reason for such hate towards LEO’s. Second,  if someone had been filming they would have caught these murders on video and could have helped hold those responsible. In case it wasn’t justified, like when cops kill innocent people for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

PSOSGT goes on to say,

On a personal level, and I’ve said it before. Showing only 1 side to the story, without context isn’t going to win you any favors, or bonus points with people if you truly want to change how police conduct business.

Everyone has a bias, no matter what they say. It’s natural. If there is a bias, and we show one side of policing, I think it’s obvious by the name – CopBlock.org. Atleast we don’t tell you this is the “No Spin Zone” while we jam our beliefs down your throat. Also, I encourage anyone to look at the other side of the coin, watch COPS, visit PoliceOne.com and research as much as you can about police.

How many LEO’s have ever thought about starting their own police service, without the government’s permission, that actually protects people? Are any officers out there sick of the politics involved with their jobs? Forced to do things they don’t like, told what laws/actions to arrest people for? Wouldn’t it be great to sit at home – or do routine visits to costumers – and wait for someone who actually needs help to call you? Have you ever thought of working for yourself, rather than the man?

I agree with anyone who looks at a call, video, report, or cops actions and says, “that’s fucked up” or disagree with what happened. It’s common. But the vast majority of people out there have NO IDEA what or why an officer acted or reacted in any given situation. I think it’s just as important to see what is put INTO law enforcement, that the result of an officer doing his/her job.

I think alot of us do see what’s put into law enforcement… law, which is simply words on paper that I may or may not agree with and enforce, which means if I don’t like it I’ll be punished. So, enforcement is what happens to those who don’t agree with the laws. And an officer’s job isn’t about what they believe but enforcing laws, even ones they know are bad/unconstitutional.

What do you think? Do cameras distract officers? Were these good examples to back that claim? Are people who aren’t police officers less creditable when discussing police issues? Would you hire a private company to provide you protection services if offered (instead of paying taxes to your local department)?

Why police don’t want you too close. is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Extraction teams caused a lot of panic during this year’s May Day General Strike for the Occupy crowd. Oakland Police sent large groups of officers into crowds of demonstrators to make surgical arrests. As many presumed, this type of police action created more problems then it solved. One “surgical arrest” would lead to panic, causing officers to arrest more people.

At one point there were there was at least 5 arrests taking place simultaneously, initiated after Oakland Police tackled a woman on a bicycle.

Thank you to Jacob Crawford of Oakland Copwatch for the video.

clip.

Video: Oakland Police use Concussion Grenades & Extraction Teams on May Day 2012 is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

By DAVY VARA

Why is it that people always refer to the New York City Police Department as the best police department in the country?

The N.Y.P.D. is actually one of the most corrupt police forces in the U.S. The department has a long history of committing some of the most heinous crimes
against innocent citizens. Take, for instance, the 1999 execution of Amadou Diallo, a 23 year old Guinean immigrant who was shot at 41 times by N.Y.P.D. cops Sean Carroll, Richard Murphy, Edward McMellon, and Kenneth Boss. Diallo, who was unarmed and simply had his wallet in his hand, was hit 19 times. Just over one year later, a jury acquitted all of the cops.

Also, Abner Louima, a 30 year old Haitian immigrant, who suffered severe internal damage when N.Y.P.D. officer Justin Volpe sodomized him with a broomstick in Brooklyn’s 70th precint. Afterwards, Volpe proudly displayed the excrement and blood stained broomstick to his fellow officers as he bragged that he had just “broke a man”. Volpe then threatened to kill Louima and his family members if Louima told anyone. Justin Volpe was later convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Sean Bell, executed by N.Y.P.D. undercover cops on the morning of his wedding day, in Queens. Bell had just left a club with friends when he was confronted by a plain clothes N.Y.P.D. cop who didn’t identify himself. When Bell sped off, the cop fired 50 rounds at Bell’s vehicle, killing Bell and severely injuring his friends. And, even though neither Bell or any of his friends had a gun, the N.Y.P.D. smeared Bell’s character after the incident, and his friends were under investigation instead of the cops!

During last year’s annual West Indian American Day Parade, N.Y.P.D. officers used facebook to post extremely disturbing comments, violating the department’s policy barring officers from making “discourteous or disrespectful remarks” about race or ethnicity. The facebook group, which totalled 1,200 members, posted comments from N.Y.P.D. officers such as Dan Rodney who stated “I say have the parade one more year, and when they all gather, drop a bomb and wipe them all out.”

Other comments from N.Y.P.D. officers included calling people “animals’ and “savages”. The comments on facebook, included references to West Indian and
African-American neighborhoods, and were so offensive that some N.Y.P.D. officers themselves posted warnings to other officers advising them to be careful that Internal Affairs “rats” don’t take notice of the comments. However, many didn’t seem to care, and went on posting comments such as “Let them kill each other”.

In a recent New York Times editorial piece, a strong point is made of the need for a “strong, independent agency to investigate serious complaints about New York City’s police force.” After several corruption cases involving the N.Y.P.D., including seven narcotics officers convicted of planting drugs on people, three officers convicted of robbing a perfume warehouse, eight current N.Y.P.D. officers charged with smuggling guns into the state, and a federal lawsuit accusing the N.Y.P.D. of engaging in racially biased “stop and frisk” incidents, there is serious doubt that the department can do an effective job addressing misconduct and corruption without outside help.

The N.Y.P.D.’s Internal Affairs Bureau, which is responsible for investigating complaints of police misconduct, failed to uncover any of these problems. In fact, they were brought to light by a local district attorney, the F.B.I. and, in one case, a New Jersey police department.

Recently, N.Y.P.D. officers, gathered outside State Supreme Court in the Bronx, for the unsealing of indictments against 16 of their fellow officers, who were arraigned on charges of corruption, after a three-year investigation into the N.Y.P.D.’s fixing of traffic and parking tickets, which in all cost the City of New York, close to $ 2 Million dollars. Officer Jose Ramos, a member of the N.Y.P.D.’s 40th precint, and whose suspicious behavior led to the ticket fixing investigation in the first place, was accused of two dozen crimes, including attempted robbery, attempted grand larceny, transporting what he thought was heroin for drug dealers and revealing the identity of a confidential informant. Ramos is facing up to 50 years in prison.

The officers yelled “Down with the D.A.” and “N.Y.P.D. Commisioner Ray Kelly, is a hypocrite.” Inside, more than 100 off-duty N.Y.P.D. officers lined the courthouse hallways and stood outside the courtroom. The officers prevented members of the news media from filming their colleagues by blocking cameras, grabbing lenses and shoving television camera crews into walls.

The outpouring of angry officers and their behavior was in violation of N.Y.P.D. policy which states “Conduct which brings discredit to the department or conduct in violation of law is unacceptable and will result in disciplinary measures.” Perhaps the best of example of the N.Y.P.D.’s disgusting, unprofessional conduct, despite always being lauded as the best police department in the country, is how at one point, the crowd of at least 350 officers outside the courthouse began chanting “E.B.T.” at people lined up at a benefits center across the street, referring to electronic benefit transfer, the way welfare recipients receive their food stamps and/or cash benefits. A court official who came outside to attempt to calm down the crowd of officers, was insulted with profanities by the N.Y.P.D. cops. The indicted N.Y.P.D. officers came out of the courthouse pumping their fists, as the crowd of their fellow officers burst into cheers. Once the rowdy crowd of N.Y.P.D. cops had cleared, the street was littered with refuse.

Eugene J. O’Donnell, a professor of police studies at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice makes a very powerful and telling point, in referring to the N.Y.P.D. when he said “The Police Department is a very angry work force, and that is something that should concern people, because it translates into hostile interactions with people.”

I don’t know about you, but I find it disgusting and downright deplorable whenever I hear the N.Y.P.D. being referred to as “The best police force in the country”. Are you kidding me?

Davy V.

———————-

Editors note – check out this video created after the actions of some NYPD employees at the 2011 West Indian Day Parade:

NYPD: Badges of Dishonor, Corruption and Murder! is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Guest Post by Katie McCall

I must apologize… this story is a little old. But the victims are still suffering and it needs to be told.

Meet the Hendersons: Father, Jeffrey, is a big, intimidating individual but tenderly in love with his children. Mother, Erica, is a very nurturing mother. Together they have six children and lived together without incident in their Pasadena, California home.

Are they typical parents? No. They keep a kosher diet, they homeschool
and breastfeed and homebirth. They follow orthodox Jewish law. But is being “different” a reason to have your rights trampled?

In May 2010, the police were called by a disgruntled neighbor who reported having “heard” Jeffrey slap their oldest child. The police responded by demanding entry. Jeffrey and Erica
refused their requests and instead had the children come to the front window next to their door to show that they had not been harmed. Here you can see Jeffrey and Erica refusing entrance prior to deciding to parade their children’s well being in the window:

The Henderson’s refuse entrance to the police in Pasadena

Apparently, visually seeing the children was not enough for the Pasadena police. Without a warrant they barged into their residence as the family sang Jewish songs of worship. They beat Jeffrey to the point he needed to be hospitalized, removed the children and gave them to DCFS and locked both Jeffrey and Erica in a cage.

Surprise, surprise! The courts eventually found that the accusation that prompted the violence was unfounded and dropped all charges including an obstruction charge for not opening the door to their home.

But the damage control was already insurmountable. Erica spent two months in county jail where she suffered the pains of breast infection and was denied treatment. She was restricted from breastfeeding her two youngest children who had been placed in foster care as a seven month old, and two year old. She was not given access to a breast pump. Jeffrey was held for three months. Both Jeffrey and Erica lost their home and Jeffrey lost his job for being a no show while in jail. When they got out they found themselves penniless and homeless. They shared their story shortly after their release in this interview.

As if that isn’t ugly enough, here’s where it gets really ugly. Because DCFS decided that even though the Henderson’s were not prosecuted and were NOT convicted of any wrong doing by the court, they were somehow entitled to keep their children anyway. According to DCFS, the Henderson’s were abusive because they refused to open the door for police and therefor put their children at risk of being injured by the battering ram the police department used to gain (unlawful) entry to their home. Consider the absurdity that is the state – police are not punished for their violent, unjustified actions; instead, their victims are.

DCFS required them to show up for several visits per week when ordered which were, of course, scheduled in the middle of the work day. These visits needed to be complied with or DCFS would note their disinterest and lack of involvement in resuming custody of their children. And then there were all of the department mandated classes they were ordered to attend. All of this kept them from employment and finding a home. And then the most logical step of all… DCFS also required them to provide “proper” shelter for their
six children, which in their eyes was a lot more lush than they had originally provided their children. Yet still they are attempting to meet every requirement. Even going above and beyond the department’s requests… bending over backwards and jumping through fiery hoops while the department sits and watched, entertained.

So, here we are. It’s now almost one year later. Where are the Hendersons? Well, the children still live in foster care and adoption is being fought for by the couple who have been caring for the youngest child. Most of their children are being held separately, not being fed the kosher diet their family raised them with, not attending the religious observances that are so close to their heart. Basically, the Hendersons are still desperately trying to reunite, despite a million miles of bureaucratic red tape.

Jeffrey has filed a habeas corpus and has made it public for anyone to see and use in their own defenses. He is resisting the assertion that the United States government has rights over his family. Interestingly, the Henderson’s youngest – a seven month old boy — had not yet had his birth registered when he was kidnapped by federal agents. He has no birth certificate and no social security
card. How can the United States government have any kind of say so in his welfare? How do they even know whose baby they took?

Those who believe badges grant extra rights apparently don’t just work in the police force.

In California, the Police are in the Business of Kidnapping Children is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Guest Post by Katie McCall

So often we hear stories about officers stepping out of line and aggressively asserting themselves without reason. But this story is different. This story is about a cop who tried to stop the violence.

Officer Regina Tasca has worked for the Bogota, New Jersey police departmentfor 11 years. She had an exemplary record. One day in April, 2011, she received a call to assist with the transport of a 22 year old male to the hospital because he was psychologically distraught. The call came in from his mother who was beside herself with worry for her adult son.

Officer Tasca arrived on scene and immediately began to put the man at ease. ”When the call came, I heard that a couple of officers from Ridgefield Park were coming to provide backup, which I thought was OK,” Tasca said. But when they arrived the young man grew nervous. “He noticed them and asked me, ‘Why are there other police offices here from another town?’ Then he said that he was leaving, and he moved maybe two or three steps when one of the Ridgefield officers jumped him.”

Sgt. Chris Thibault pounced on the non-aggressive man and tried to handcuff him. The second officer, Sgt. Joe Rella, “assisted” him by jumping on top and punching the unarmed man in the head. The man’s mother looked on and screamed helplessly for the cops to stop pummeling her son.

In the midst of the chaos, Officer Tasca, intervened. She did not assist her brothers in blue, but chose instead to pry the officers off of him and pull him to his feet.

Was she commended? Were the officers who tackled the passive male investigated? No, on both accounts.

Instead, Officer Tasca was asked to turn in her weapon and was suspended. This week, she faces a hearing where she will possibly be fired.

And the two officers who did the tackling? They were never even investigated.

Unfit for duty? Perhaps they are right. She’s unfit for duty as the only ethical officer amongst the gangsters of her police department. But she IS FIT for service to citizens as a police officer, protecting and serving the public.

Thank you Officer Tasca. You remind us of what public service can be.

Crossing the “Thin Blue Line” is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

I’d like to know when Virginia Beach residents thought is was a great idea to give millionaires tour rides in the VBPD helicopter!? Whether the it is utilized as a nightingale backup, catch legitimate bad guys, or routine flight ops, the police helicopter is for O F F I C I A L USE ONLY! Let these millionaires hire private businesses to give theses people tours of the city if they want to fly that bad!

Below is the story conducted by the local news station.

WVEC.com

Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:34 PM
Updated Wednesday, Jan 11 at 6:42 PM

VIRGINIA BEACH — Virginia Beach is implementing a written policy to safeguard the use of its police helicopter.

13News obtained a draft administrative directive that allows the city’s Economic Development Department to use the police helicopter to provide aerial tours for clients on an as available, as needed basis.

A spokesman for Virginia Beach Police tells 13News that the police department “wholeheartedly” supports the draft administrative directive. He added the only major caveat would be that police work always takes precedent over the tours.

“We’re not here to give somebody a pleasure ride at taxpayers expense. I just think it’s the wrong way to go,” said Robert Dean.

Dean believes even though the economic development department would shift money from its budget to the police budget for fuel costs, the use of the police chopper for tours sends the wrong message.

“But to constantly use this helicopter for police and public safety expenditure for economic development is wrong,” said Dean.

A spokesperson for the City of Virginia Beach said the police helicopter is only used for economic development tours a few times a year.

The draft advance directive says that in order for economic development to use the helicopter for tours, the potential project must exceed $5 million in private investment, must create at least 50 new jobs, showcase multiple potential sites, and prospects must be aligned with the current targeted industry markets.

Council member Harry Diezel says using the police helicopter for economic development during downtime makes sense.

“It does not do well to just sit and to only use it when a call comes in. Those are highly sophisticated and highly maintained pieces of equipment,” said Diezel adding, “I don’t think any city has the luxury to just fence itself in and not deal with the larger community issues. That to me is what’s happening here.”

Virginia Beach has two police helicopters. Police departments in Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth and Hampton do not have helicopters.

Regionally, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police told 13News it does have a police helicopter; however, a spokesperson said it is only used for public safety purposes.

The city says the administrative directive could be finalized in the next few weeks.

-Kenny

Sent to CopBlock using the submission tab, click here.

Virginia Beach, Va. Police Dept Give Helicopter Rides to Millionaires is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

The below block quotes were sent to CopBlock.org via the submission tab. I decided to add my two cents into this post because I think Terrance missed a few points pertaining to Occupy events. He states:

I keep seeing so many of these OWS people getting busted by police videos. I get it, OWS wants… well, nothing clear. No defined goal… But what they are doing is trespassing into streets and impeding traffic, vandalizing public parks and roads and buildings… Then you film it and complain that your rights are violated when the police arrest you while trespassing and/or vandalizing. I only have one issue with this. You commit a crime, then you complain your rights are violated. Your being hypocritical with your actions and words.

How does one trespass on public property? How do you vandalize a public property such as a park? Isn’t public property owned by the people? I’m not justifying or saying I support these tactics – destroying private property is always wrong – but look at it this way.

Sure the Occupy movement has no clear agenda, goal or demands. IMO, that’s because there are so many government caused issues that everyone’s demands are different. When “the government” (via politicians – who claim to be working for you) forces you to comply with “the law” and punishes (with fines, prison or seizing property) those who refuse to do so, what other recourse do people have?

I say lets start the conversation where the conversation begins, why are people in the parks and streets anyways? Maybe the endless wars in the Middle East, troubled economy and growing police state have something to do with the increased displeasure for government controls (ie, laws). One day people, like those at occupy, will realize the common factor – the cancer to most any social problem today – the government.

This is something Terrance has over looked as well.  Using his logic, the people have a right to protest or assemble as long as they don’t break the law. Yet, as you seen in the Occupy movement, the government (police and politicians alike) create city ordinances and/or state laws against being on public property at certain times (that they decide as they go). Yes, this is confusing because as I stated above, public property is owned by everyone but regulated by few.

How can a government that claims to be the freest in the world arrest people for peaceful assembly and free speech? Or, on a small side note, cage the most people than another country in the world? Isn’t Freedom of Speech, the right to peacefully assemble and to be free to live your life  the pilars of some crazy government document that was written hundreds of years ago? Why aren’t people questioning the government as much as the protestors Terrance?

The police do NOT decide who breaks laws in these OWS marches/camps. They only follow their orders which is to clear out the camps/rallys when they become a problem. I love what this website does when it comes to accountability, but come on.

Don’t be the NEED for change, be the change that is needed.

I could go on about police and their ability to use discretion, or the fact that most of the violence at Occupy events happens after the police initiate force. Instead, I’ll agree with you. “Don’t be the need for change, be the change that is needed” is exactly what every officer should be telling themselves before they go out on their shift. Start with those who believe badges grant extra rights.

OWS Isn’t a play on rights, it’s vandals at work. is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Just a small time city scam, but still annoying. I got a letter yesterday from an old friend, the pig. It informed me that I owed $35.00 for overnight parking. It was originally $25.00 they added $10 for being late paying it. That’s fine, except I never saw that ticket, the letter was the first time I even knew I was fined.

There are assholes who think it’s funny to yank tickets off peoples windshields, I think that’s what may have happened to me because I never saw a ticket on my car.

The city is running a great scam. The law is no parking between 2AM and 6AM. The people who wrote that law know damn well there is not enough off street parking, so they are raking in that ticket money from the night cops. Thanks to ASSHOLES helping them by pulling tickets off of windshields they are getting even more $$. Here is the REALLY fun part. If you want to fight the ticket Mass charges you a court fee to do that, so even if you win you get almost nothing back.

The ticket was given out at the end of Feb. Boy do they LOVE to give out tickets at the end of the month. It’s like someone slapped a wasps nest; you can’t drive 20ft without seeing a cop car.

Guy Fawkes
Pretty minor compared to other shit cops do, like murder homeless people but I was still pissed.

Submitted using CopBlock.org’s submit tab. .

Service I didn’t want is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

This would be a for sure finalist in this months “Featured Content of the Month” contest. Per the YouTube channel hosting the video:

Hostile Houston Cop comes after two innocent guys video taping at a Wal-Mart in SouthWest Houston for NO REASON, the men were held against their will before later being hand-cuffed to be arrested but released after another cop came to their rescue. The incident was only resolved after the cop tried to bribe and threaten the men to ERASE this footage or go to JAIL…. (This is a REAL police officer of the Houston TX Police Department. Apparently he works part-time as a guard for Wal Mart after his shift. This information was CONFIRMED by the other police officer who came to our rescue on the scene and who’s information will remain anonymous for being a better person although they also took the bad cops side when it came to erasing the footage before our release. We made them think we erased it so YOU could see this for yourself. Also what you see in this video is the FIRST contact made with the police officer which was initiated by HIM. Had he ordered we stop video taping Wal Mart or just to plain STOP video taping we would have been happy to comply, but his issue was “Don’t record ME!!” when my friend asked “What? Stop Recording?” the officer replied only with “NOT ME” and both of us confirmed he was not being recorded on purpose and continued with our harmless film which would probably have NEVER even surfaced had he not done what you see here) The police department also denies this as one of their own even while his information is public knowledge. We have yet to hear about him being in anyway punished for his actions so your help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks for watching!

Houston Cop goes CRAZY is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

A visit to Oceanside will open your eyes to the health problem of what seems to be the entire police force!

You know, in my opinion there is nothing wrong with putting on a little extra weight. But driving around in Oceanside, California the other day, I was shocked at how may overweight police officers I saw. We’ve all seen the movies where they make fun of cops as being frumpy and heavy and a whole lot of ‘not too bright’. And we’ve all heard the donut eating references a million times. But it would seem that sometimes stereotypes are born of truth.

Driving downtown on my way to the beach I happened to pass two police officers within a couple blocks of each other. Both were overweight although I didn’t think anything of it at the time. Not until I stopped at a local coffee house at about 9:00 in the morning did the health problem of Oceanside’s police department become glaringly apparent. There were several police officers in the shop (don’t ask me why so many were in uniform not working at the exact same time) and absolutely ALL of them were in possession of a few more pounds than is normally healthy. One of them was what I would refer to as grotesquely overweight.

Normally I don’t care about peoples’ weight however when we are talking about public servants, people who are supposed to protect us, I have some pause for serious thought. You know, if my wife or my girlfriend just happened to be robbed or worse yet, sexually assaulted, I realize that if she screamed for help and one of these guys was nearby and able to respond, there is no hope in hell that they would be able to catch the perpetrator. Unless the officer is not lounging around in a coffee shop and is lucky enough to be in a vehicle, in all likelihood the ‘suspect’ is going to get away! That is just not acceptable! So I have to ask the obvious…what the hell is up with Oceanside, California?!? Are there no physical standards to speak of? Are there standards but nobody on the force is taking them seriously? Are there no repercussions for those who don’t meet the standards? The military has physical standards so what’s going on with the police?!?

Some can laugh at cops in general for being out of shape but the fact of the matter is that it is NOT a laughing matter when for some unforeseen reason you have to depend on their services and protection. If they aren’t willing to take care of themselves then how are they going to take care of you?!? It is unfortunate that such is the case and that I even have cause to write about this issue but it is what it is….sadly.

- Jeremy Bruger

This is the article that has started the whole fiasco. The local news in San Diego has picked up on the story and has asked to interview me on my observations and the subsequent ‘anonymous’ threats I have received. I am making some calls to other departments in the area to see if I can get the IP addresses tracked of the individuals making threats and WILL press charges accordingly. This could potentially blow up since Oceanside has already had quite a few problems within their police department

UPDATE: [sent before first post could be published]

I recently published an article (above) about my observations on the overwhelming amount of heavy police officers in Oceanside. Then I received an angry response in my email inbox from a gentleman (I use the term VERY loosely) who claims he works for the Oceanside police department. He said that when, not if, but WHEN he finds me, he is going make sure I “get what I deserve!” To protect myself, I am writing this article for Triond. This way if the guy IS a police officer and something happens to me, people will be aware of what’s going on.

I didn’t expect to make police officers in Oceanside angry when I pointed out my observations that so many officers there are overweight. My concern is merely that I fear for peoples’ safety if crimes are being committed and the criminals are able to outrun the police. I will look into the legality of it, but I plan to return to Oceanside to take pictures of various police officers that I observe so the public can view the pictures and see the extent of the problem. I’m not talking about one or two random officers out of 10. I’m seeing over 50% as not just slightly overweight but grossly overweight! One guy was so large that I would be willing to bet money his uniform is custom made because it is far larger than any standard size.
To the guy claiming to be a police officer there in Oceanside: Dude, act a little more professional! If you ARE a police officer, realize that I will not be intimidated by your threats. I welcome you to track me down and lay your hands on me. You will not stop me from writing the truth. If it makes you so angry then maybe you should simply exercise so that you can better protect the citizenry instead of threatening them! Your little tirade only gives me more to write about and the motivation to go down there and take the pictures needed to prove my point.

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Shocking Oceanside California Police Department Health Issues is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights