Gangsters in Blue

Politics is a form of violence. In a society where everyone has been brainwashed to worship democracy, this fact is intentionally disguised, but an objective assessment leads to this undeniable truth. The truth is Americans are just as base, violent, and oppressive as humanity has ever been. Democracy has not fixed this; it has only masked it with false language, artful systems, and an illusion of choice.

In democracy, theft by government is “taxation.” Murder by government overseas is “collateral damage” and murder by government domestically is “security.” Censorship,  arbitrary imprisonment, lack of due process, and vague laws further are justified by “security” concerns and are purportedly for the good of all, no matter the devastating consequences of such policies.  Murder and theft have not been mitigated, and violence is not on the decline because of civilization; they have simply been redesigned, repackaged, and resold by the most successful and brilliant PR campaign of all time.

Victims of such policies are placed in the odd situation of feeling helplessly tyrannized, while being told they voluntarily chose the particular circumstances they find themselves in, because they live in a democracy. Indeed, people are as violent, savage, and uncivilized as ever, but have managed to convince themselves they are evolved and actually value peace.

Thus, there is a reason people are told to avoid politics (and usually religion) in most social settings. No one says it is best to avoid discussion of music, food, exercise, or the arts. This is because at the very foundation of politics is the threat of violence. When people express an “opinion” on politics, it is not merely an opinion the way “I love Chagall’s use of colors” is an opinion. Two people arguing about Chopin will very rarely start to foam at the mouth in rage because whether you think Chopin’s style tends more toward melancholy, versus romance, there is no threat of violence implied in the discussion.

On the other hand, an “opinion” on politics is a declaration that you are willing to use theft, robbery, or violence (imprisonment) to force your opinion on the person you are speaking to. It is a decree that you are willing to send police with guns, or a SWAT team to someone’s house, in order to force your opinion down their throat, under the penalty of bodily injury. In its mildest form, it is an expression that you are willing to steal from someone (e.g. tickets, fines, taxes) in order to force your opinion upon them. When the falsely deified justification of democracy is removed, this is a translation of what people are really saying -

If political “opinions” were purely opinions, they’d look more like this -

The reason political debates get heated is because the practical effect of politics is reflected by Table 1, rather than Table 2. A discussion of politics is no more than two people screaming at each other about who is willing to use more violence in order to subjugate the other into compliance. Table 2 is a representation of pure opinions and the (relatively mild) implications thereof. Table 1 is a representation of how politics actually work. Behind every political opinion is the necessary assertion that you are willing to use some pretty egregious and violent tactics to force someone into submission. Despite many alleged strides in civilization, it appears people are all still pretty much cavemen – they are prone to beating their chests, rounding up posses, and using violence and fear to subdue dissent.

Sounds like a breed of people we are very familiar with here at Copblock – the police. Yet, unlike the police, most people, in their personal lives, do not demonstrate the behavior described in Table 1. Few people catch their children doing drugs, and believe it’s appropriate to beat them into submission, and lock them in the basement for years, as the police do. Few people see their friends or family making poor choices about their health or their lives and deem it proper to handcuff their loved ones, and lock them in a room to secure compliance, as the police do.

Arguably, people are capable of not behaving like violent lunatics, because most of the time, they do not engage in such tactics in their personal lives. Yet, it seems to be peoples’ vile self-righteousness, and sociopathy that leads them to believe it is acceptable for police to use such methods upon strangers, when it is never a path they would choose or accept for their loved ones.

“My kid shouldn’t be in jail for weed – but all those other kids out there – they are truly bad…. I can jaywalk/speed/roll stop signs safely, but everyone else is a goddamn idiot, of course…I, and people I know are capable of using drugs safely and in moderation, but everyone else is too dumb, and should be locked up for doing the same…” While these sentiments are embraced by most in society, they are most are prominently exemplified by politicians who have at times engaged in drug use or other illegal activity that could land them in prison. Instead, they are powerful, rich, or they are even Presidents. They can afford to have this hypocritical mentality, because it works for them. They are the lawmakers, and will usually indeed find a way to get away with actions that accord everyone else with severe punishment.

If you are not a politician however, you are not only a disgusting and violent human being for thinking this way, you are deluded. One of these days, the policies you support will come crashing down upon your own head, or that of your loved ones. And then it will be everyone else saying, “well I can drink, do drugs, and break laws responsibly, but that motherfucker [insert the name of your loved one here] deserved to go to jail/be shot by police because only the stupid ones get caught.” At the very least, you will be stolen from or robbed to fund programs, wars, or projects you find abhorrent and immoral.

Needless to say, if you support this type of political process, I believe you should rethink your ideology – if not for ethical reasons, at the very least for personal ones – unless you’re some kind of politician or government crony, you are not immune from some very tragic victimization.

Your Political Ideology is a Violent One is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

By Ian Freeman, blogger at FreeKeene.com:

Back in 2010, on a visit to the NH Attorney Genital’s office, we met “investigator” Dick Tracy. More recently, Copblock’s Ademo and I were in the area so we dropped in again with some more questions, this time meeting “investigator” James Brown. Neither man was interested in speaking on the record and Brown attempted to intimidate us into not recording. We did not stop. Here’s what happened:

Remember, it is supposed to be your right to record government bureaucrats in public places. Though, we know they don’t care about what your rights are, so there’s always a chance you could be aggressed against and caged. Sometimes it can be scary when they threaten you, but if you have backup also willing to not back down, your odds of walking away without being caged increase.

Just say NO – to demands you quit recording them.

Don’t Stop Recording: Meet James Brown is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Recently I was found guilty in my Chalking 8 trial, while highlighting those bogus charges we (Pete and I) met Frank and Mike, who took this video of Manchester Police Officer Murphy. The video went viral and received attention from several news outlets. Instead of taking a serious look at the actions caught on tape the city went into defense mode.

The Police, school and local government officials sought to criminalize Frank, Mike and myself. They expelled Frank from school, charged Mike as an adult (over a teenage fight) and charged me with three counts of wiretapping. Crimes the state says justifies caging me, at your expense, for 21 years.

I’ve been through this before in Greenfield, MA and am confident I can present my case, logically. The problem I face in Manchester that I didn’t have in Greenfield is the personal vendetta those in Manchester seem to have for me. After all, I was given the max sentence (with 10 months of it stayed for 2 years good behavior) for ‘resisting’ my arrest.

With that in mind I’ve thought long and hard about how I’d like to tackle this case. I’ve done all the homework, reading up on New Hampshire’s wiretapping law, talking with lawyers, brainstorming ideas with fellow activist and more and it’s come down to one thing, funding. Which is why I made this video asking for your help.

As stated in the video, I think a lawyer would be beneficial to ensure I have fair pre-trial hearings and ‘proper’ (in their eyes) procedure during trial. Considering this will be an expectation of privacy trial – and that public officials have none – it will be more difficult that my Greenfield trial. Yet, a win here could do wonders for activists in the “Shire” attempting to change coercive government actions.

That being said, I also know, and appreciate, the offensive tactic as well and when done properly, is mightier than the current justice system. In terms of risk, I end up taking more with this tactic, as these actions will be done outside the court room. The best part of this strategy is that the actions the government is trying to distract you from – excessive force, deletion of evidence and criminalization of those who question government – will be front and center. As this issue goes further back than just one phone call, the Manchester police have gotten away with murder (literally) for a while now.

Regardless of how this fund raiser goes, I’ll be in court, speaking the truth and defending my position on filming, recording and monitoring public officials. I would greatly appreciate you donating to either cause as it would help me (and other activists) further the message of police accountability. You can also buy CopBlock.org swag, which help funds our CopBlock activities, or contact me for video intro/outro’s and power post. For those unable to donate, sharing CopBlock.org content and social networks is just as good as FRN’s and I need/appreciate your support as well.

Thanks in advance.

—–

Ademo’s First Hearing (video) – CopBlock.org
CopBlock Founder faces 20 years – Photography Is NOT a Crime
Ademo Responds to Charges by CopBlock
Manchester’s Chalking 8 by Cop Block
High School Student Catches Excessive Force on Video by Cop Block
Video shows West High student’s arrest by Mark Hayward in the Union Leader
West High student arrest video goes viral by Kathryn Marchocki in the Union Leader
Teen on school arrest: ‘I was goofing around’ by Mark Hayward in the Union Leader
Manchester students say videotape of arrest was not planned by Shawne Wickham in the Union

Defensive or Offensive? That is the Question… is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Following the March 17th, 2011 publishing of my book, “Exodus of Angels – The Murder of Harry Force” which is highly critical of local law enforcement, the District Attorney and local Judges, I became a non-person in Telluride, Colorado.

On September 23rd, 2011 I was jumped from behind, beaten and kicked unconscious in broad daylight by the local (who is well connected to the Denver Capitol ) County Democratic Chairperson. No arrests were made. I was never interviewed about the crime and nothing was done until I threatened legal action against the Town of Telluride. My attacker was then charged with a minor misdemenor bench warrant charge by the very D.A. I criticized in my book. BUT WAIT…It gets even more unbelievable.

I then had my cell phone taken by a incorrect warrant by local police telling me, “this might help you, there may be video of the assault on it”. I got my Android phone back three weeks later with all data erased. I was served a Contempt of Court Citation for violating a 2006 PRO for walking too close to my attacker (although no charges were filed against me) which resulted in the assault and am appearing in front of the very Judge I also criticized in my book. I am denied a jury trial and as the Judge barked at me in court, “I WILL DECIDE IF YOU NEED TO SERVE SIX MONTHS IN JAIL, DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME!

Amerika the corrupt.

- Albert Coney Heirich

Send your stories about police abuse, police issues or suggestions on improving police tactics to CopBlock.org, via the submission tab.

Telluride, Colorado Marshal’s Retaliate for Book is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

In the past couple of years, CopBlock has covered a wide range of stories involving police murder.  John Williams, a half-deaf, disabled, hobbling Native American man was basically executed in the streets of Seattle by on-duty officer Ian Birk. Birk was never criminally charged. Westpoint and Duke graduate Erik Scott was executed at Costco for no legitimate reasons when police were called to the scene. His killer of course was found to have been “justified” in the murder.

Trevon Cole, an unarmed father-to-be was shot and killed in his bathroom during a mistaken drug raid. Grandfather of 12, Eurie Stamps was similarly unarmed and killed during a botched drug raid. Former Marine Jose Guerena was shot multiple times by police during an alleged drug warrant entry by police. He lay dying for over an hour until he bled to death because police refused medical care. Allen Kephart was tasered to death for honking his car horn at police. Douglas Zerby was shot and killed for holding a garden hose spigot which police purportedly mistook for a gun.

The list goes on and on, but a girl can only maintain so many murder victims’ names in her head before going insane. At any rate, without exception, police involved in these murders were found to have acted reasonably or were determined to have been justified in their murder. Even before they were found to have behaved in a “justified manner,” they were not immediately arrested or charged (or ever arrested or charged).

On the other hand, in recent news, one Officer Dayle Long had the misfortune of murdering someone and actually not getting away with it. Long was drunk at a bar when a bystander ribbed him for not being good at playing darts. Long responded, “That’s why I’m a cop, I can do whatever I want to do.” Things got heated, and Long ended up shooting and killing a third man, Sam Vanettes, who was attempting to break up the fight. Surprisingly, Long was actually arrested and held on $1 million bail. This is a good thing. Barely, though (yay! A cop was actually treated like a normal person, for once!)

Long had one part right. Police pretty much can do what they please. They get away with murder with much more success than ordinary people. They certainly get away with more innocuous violations they engage in almost daily, such as driving while talking on cell phones (illegal in California, apparently except for the police), parking in red zones, parking in handicapped zones, speeding, jaywalking, etc.

The part Long failed to take into consideration is that the key to this distinction is the badge and the uniform. People don’t care about murder when it is committed by police in uniform. The response is usually, “well then [the victim] shouldn’t have disobeyed/talked back/drank alcohol/[insert petty violation here].” People most definitely don’t care when police in uniform break traffic laws, because of course police are just “doing their jobs” and “keeping people safe” by speeding, parking in fire lanes, and talking on their cell phones while driving. But when the uniform comes off, to a certain extent, they are viewed once again as regular old losers like the rest of us.

Regular old losers can’t jay walk, speed, or murder with impunity. You have to have a uniform and a badge to do that. Long’s mistake wasn’t murder; his mistake was committing murder out of uniform. And as a side note to all you regular old losers out there, regardless of uniform, never honk your car horn at a cop or challenge his dart skills – someone could end up dead.

Tip to all cops: if you feel like murdering someone, be sure to do it on duty and in uniform is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

By Guest Writer Merijoe and George Sand

In the wake of the Kelly Thomas death, citizens of Fullerton demanded answers as to why the harmless, homeless, schizophrenic, man was violently beaten and ultimately killed by Fullerton police. Video footage of the event was available, but not made public immediately. The police department did not address the death immediately, but waited before suspending the officers.

City Council member Pat McKinley claimed it took 30 days for the police department to even address the Kelly Thomas issue because the police department did not appreciate the gravity of the situation – even though the before and after pictures of the victim very clearly depicted the “gravity” of what had transpired. Councilman McKinley, who is also a former Fullerton Police Chief, defended decisions to keep the video under wraps, and insisted the cause of death was undetermined. He further defended the officers by claiming the eye witnesses’ accounts were “exaggerated” and claiming that it was not physically possible for 6 men to beat one victim at the same time (see his heinous interview below, with some very compelling and on-point questions by the interviewer).

Another Council Member, F. Dick Jones absurdly said he did not know why Kelly Thomas died, because he had seen “far worse injuries” that were survivable.

The event sparked outrage, and has since led to a string of discoveries regarding Fullerton PD incompetence and malice. The Veth Mam case came to light as another incident in which a Fullerton officer Hamptom slapped a video camera out of Mam’s handsbecause Mam was filming another beatdown by Fullerton officers. Mam was jailed and charged with assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.

Officer Rincon was found to have arrested women, handcuffed them, and sexually assaulted them between 2005 and 2008 (more here).

Citizens of Fullerton were outraged at the patent failure of police to police themselves, as well as the incompetence, and perhaps willful ignorance of city officials. Thus, an effort to instigate a recall election was born, with Tony Bushala taking the lead. People of Fullerton have attended public meetings and protested at the police station in an effort to oust the incompetent people in government. In particular, the recall movement has focused on Council Members Pat McKinley, F. Dick Jones, and Don Bankhead.

In response, McKinley called the recall activists “uneducated” at an anti-recall fundraiser. Those in power also sent out mailers to Fullerton residents, reminding people that if they had signed the petition, they could recant their signatures. The mailer further went on to lambaste Tony Bushala.

According to activist Merijoe, Council Member Don Bankhead was peeved when he saw volunteers bringing awareness to the recall movement. His wife got into a screaming match with the volunteers, and eventually, they both went inside the grocery store, and had the manager call the Fullerton police to evict them from the premises.

“It is just never-ending buffoonery throughout the years from these 3,” observes Merijoe. “They boast that they served in the military for years and are stellar members of the community…Military background and excellent personal character are wonderful qualities, but they do not qualify any person to sit in public office…”

“Until they are able to respect the U.S. Constitution and represent the people who have voted them in office…they shouldn’t expect anything less than anger from the taxpayers who pay their bloated salaries,” says Merijoe. All petitions are due in by February 16, 2012.

Please visit the Fullerton Recall website for more information, or to contribute.

Fullerton recall efforts in the wake of the Kelly Thomas murder is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Doug Wylie posted up an article Friday over at PoliceOne.com about the marijuana legalization debate and what cops have to say about the issue. What’s most surprising is the poll results he posted about stating that 44% of cops on the site are in favor of legalization or on the fence, which is up from a 2009 poll they conducted that only recieved 36% in favor or on the fence.

It’s best to start with the reason marijuana is illegal in the first place, a history that has much to do with racism, control, and protectionism. For most of human history marijuana has been legal, and it’s use dates back to 7,000 BC. It had many uses, it was used for food, clothes, rope, paper and many other things. As a matter of fact, the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper. The first marijuana law in America was enacted in Jamestown Colony in 1619 ordering farmers to grow Indian hemp and you could actually be jailed for NOT growing hemp during shortages, it was even legal to pay your taxes with hemp at this time. The 1850 Census counted over 8,000 hemp farms in the US.

But then came the racism factor. In 1910 the Mexican revolution spread across the border and there started a rash of bad feelings between the smaller hemp farms and the larger ones who were using cheap Mexican labor. The Great Depression followed and when jobs became scarce, California passed a law outlawing “preparations of hemp” or “loco weed” as many Mexicans smoked marijuana.

Utah followed by outlawing marijuana after Mormons who traveled to Mexico were bringing the weed back to the state and smoking it. Targeting Mexican-Americans,  8 other states passed laws outlawing marijuana between 1915 and 1927. One Montana legislator, after the state outlawed marijuana in 1927, was quoted as saying,

When some beet field peon takes a few traces of this stuff… he thinks he has just been elected president of Mexico, so he starts out to execute all his political enemies.

A Texas legislator was quoted as saying,

All Mexicans are crazy, and this stuff [marijuana] is what makes them crazy.

In the East, it was all about stopping the “Negroes” from smoking it, as it was part of the Jazz scene sweeping the Eastern United States. Said most newspapers in 1934

Marihuana influences Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on white men’s shadows and look at a white woman twice.

Alcohol prohibition was written into the Constitution because the view at the time was that the Feds did not have the power to outlaw alcohol and drugs (alcohol is a drug, so that’s like repeating yourself) therefore Congress passed the Harrison Act in 1914 to tax cocaine and opiates. If you did not follow the law you found yourself in a lot of trouble with the Treasury Department. Therefore, in 1930, the Treasury Department created the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, thus starting the all out war on marijuana. The following quotes are attributed to the founding Director Henry Anslinger

There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others.”

“…the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.”

“Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death.”

“Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.”

“Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing”

“You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.”

“Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.”

Anslinger then introduced the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, complete with racist remarks and stories of ax murderers who were high on the drug.  The legislation passed and the rest is history as they say.

Going back to the article in question, the debate was brought up after a Border Patrol agent  was fired for telling a coworker during idle chat that cross border violence would cease if the drug war was ended. A belief that isn’t really that uncommon amongst police officers. I know more than one police officer here in my small town that really has no problem with marijuana smokers. I’ve witnessed in person, a cop walk in on people smoking pot and done nothing about it, not even give them a warning.

But can a police officer actually be fired for voicing this opinion? It happens, as the New York Times has reported. Those cops in the story that were fired for their pro-legalization are now likely to win big settlements from their departments.

This revelation may upset some pro-drug war cops, like the ones cited in the PoliceOne article. It shows that alot of cops are actually against the drug war, and the poll numbers found by PoliceOne.com probably would be closer to 50/50 if more cops were not afraid of speaking out. But now that they are seeing they can speak out and win money because of it, you may see this more and more. I’d love to see the poll results in a couple years.

What these anti-legalization cops do not understand, is that their belief kills innocent, peaceful people. Domestic drug law enforcement has killed 48 people in 2011 (as of December 9), the latest being 24 year old Samyr Ceballos of Santa Monica, California. After being investigated by the police, he was followed home and tazed after refusing to get out of his SUV. Cops then claim he reached for his gun and was then shot and killed. Police are refusing to release the names of the officers after threats from a local gang.

Which brings me to my next point, gangs are what they are because of prohibition. Al Capone would have been a nobody had alcohol never been outlawed, and big time notorious gangsters these days would be nobodys if not for drugs being outlawed. When you outlaw something like drugs and weapons, it just goes underground, where lots of shady and dangerous people make a profit off of it. They will do whatever it takes to transport these things to the people that want them because the demand is still there. The more police crack down on drugs, the more dangerous the work becomes for the gangs to get their products to their clients, therefore the price of those illegal products rises.

And to be able to move the products, they have to buy off police officers, which is where corruption comes from. Border Agents, sheriff deputies and local cops everywhere are being bought off by drug cartels in order to look the other way when shipments come in to their jurisdiction. And can you really blame them? These people have families to feed and take care of and who can’t resist a little extra cash? Men are easily corruptible, a lesson I reinforce to my daughter everyday, it’s the danger of having too much power.

The Drug War is also costing alot of money to enforce, it pads the budgets of police departments, which is why a lot of cops are in favor of it. It allows them to get more money from the federal government, which they use to buy more guns and, nowadays, tanks. But police departments aren’t immune from this recession, as departments nationwide have been laying off officers to save money across the board. But Philadelphia found a way to fight back against this, they essentially decriminalized small amounts of marijuana posession and actually saved $2 million.

Michael S. Rozeff wrote a short piece on the Lew Rockwell blog over the summer about the unintended consequences of the drug war,

1. The state forbids something, like drugs.

2. Production MUST therefore be illegal, and production will occur because the demand doesn’t disappear when the drug is made illegal.

3. Going illegal is a necessary condition for all those who are willing to  produce and supply the drug. The profit motive remains, even heightens, and so there will always be people who will go illegal.

4. The people attracted into the illegal business are going to be the people who already have the least inhibitions about doing anything immoral and illegal. They are the ones most willing to take risks.

5. Competition is all within illegality. This means that moral rules that govern peaceful competition do not prevail among the suppliers. They therefore select among any actions and rules that bring them survival, profits, and growth. The most effective means of gaining market share and preventing the incursion of rivals within a situation of illegal rivalry will include a reputation and readiness to kill and maim so as to enforce one’s will.

6. The means include corrupting law enforcement. This is virtually a necessity and always occurs in these conditions. The results include gang warfare. It also includes uneasy peace among gangs and division into territories and fiefdoms.

7. The competition need not lead to the practices mentioned in this article whose aim is to find and groom the most merciless killers. Yet it probably happened in the 1920s gangs that this mode of competition also prevailed as the many stories of Capone suggest. Most gangster movies also depict that the more brutal gangsters rise to the top.

One thing the government is either ignorant about, or just ignores, is that they can’t even keep drugs out of their own prisons, so how they can they keep them out of the entire country? Marijuana, as is the case with most every outlawed drug, has many health benefits. One of the most recent findings is that it may make you a better driver.

An amazing study authored by professors D. Mark Anderson (University of Montana) and Daniel Rees (University of Colorado) shows that traffic deaths have been reduced in states where medical marijuana is legalized.According to their findings, the use of medical marijuana has caused traffic related fatalities to fall by nearly nine percent in states that have legalized medical marijuana (via The Truth About Cars).

Legalizing Marijuana: Police Officers Speak Out (A response) is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

This post was sent to us via CopBlock.org’s Submit Tab.

There are so many people who have said that Marion County, West Virginia’s Justice system is one of the worst places to find yourself in trouble. I agree, based off my own past and current experiences. They seem to do what they want here and ignore where they are wrong.

I was arrested, in January of 2011, on a Malicious Assault charge in which there was no thorough investigation on both parties; there was only consideration on the alleged victims behalf. The alleged victim had no witnesses to the said crime and I, as the defendant, did. How was I accused of Malicious Assault when I was the one who took the alleged victim to the hospital and I signed their hospital release form? What is the definition of MALICIOUS? I was released on bond one month afterwards. I was later arrested again, around 49 days afterwards, for Violation of the Restraining Order. I saw the alleged victim in one store as I entered my appointment in another location. I did not approach or speak, and kept a maximum distance between me and the the alleged victim. The alleged victim wrote in their statement that I had no reason to go into the place I went, when actually I had proof that I did have a reason; in writing and on another document. I was again released on bond. Two months later we went to court for my Bond Revocation which was continued and the “IDEA/SUGGESTION” from an “OUTSIDE SOURCE” to place me on Home Confinement, to “SHUT the ALLEGED VICTIM UP”, was granted in court that day although it was ABSOLUTELY NOT ORIGINALLY part of either one of my bond conditions.

In June of 2011, we went to Family Court and none of us were sworn in! The alleged victim stated that they lived with me in their original Order of Protection court document, yet lied in Family Court stating that they did not live with me prior to and during the alleged criminal accusations filed against me in January of 2011. I was accused of making more than three times more than I did at my job, which I indicated was WRONG. I had documented proof from my legitimate job. Changes were made in Family Court after our hearing and during my absence concerning the Final Court Order. It seems the Judge made a seemingly audible biased cheer toward my absence. I purchased the Family Court DVD Transcript and all I have mentioned concerning that case is on that DVD.

To brings things up to date, the alleged victim has been trying to contact me. They told the Prosecuting Attorney what they were doing, then went as far as filing a Court Petition to dismiss the charges. The Prosecutor was furious more so at me and said I was already indicted and that the State had taken over the case. The Petition to dismiss charges against me by the alleged victim was, of course, denied. What also seems wrong to me, is that the Prosecutor told me that we both violated the restraining order even if she approached me. I also think that it is unfair that if the alleged victim admitted breaking the restraining order, directly to the Prosecuting Attorney, then why didn’t the alleged victim get arrested?

There is more to this case. As with many other cases here, if there was an investigation by the RIGHT authorities or people, they would find so much police misconduct, unjustified cases, violations of ethics, violations of human rights, abuse of power, improperly investigated cases and a lot of  unprofessional conduct within the Justice System in Marion County, West Virginia.

I have filed an appeal in my Family Court case in June of 2011, and haven’t heard anything. I am also still waiting to go to court for my Malicious Assault case. I have a court appointed lawyer whom I had doubts about until recently. I think mine and other’s cases, who obviously seem to get no justice here, need to be urgently looked into and these unfair authorities need to be exposed. I have been trying to get direct and useful help (here and elsewhere online), but haven’t been able find any. Please help us here in WV! Thank you and thank you for this site.

Obvious Unfair Justice System in Marion County, WV is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Part 2 of a series on how Florida’s most despicable police officers continue to remain on the job is both enlightening and frightening. A Herald-Tribune investigation found that thousands of Florida officers remain on the job despite arrests or evidence of crimes that would result in incarceration for any ordinary person.

Reprehensible behaviors by these “rogue” officers (thousands of them, actually) include sex with prisoners, rape of teenage girls, and domestic violence. In each of these cases, state law enforcement officials allowed the officers involved to retain their badges. Other activities these heroes in blue have engaged in include less concerning crimes of extortion, drug trafficking, and attempted murder (read more here).

The Herald-Tribune investigation further found such behavior was not isolated. One in 20 active law enforcement officers in Florida had committed moral character violations (drugs, violence or other crimes) “serious enough to jeopardize their career.” It is interesting the Herald-Tribune phrases this fact in this manner. It should be revolting enough that police are engaged in such activities at all, but the focus of the issue seems to be on the fact the behavior is so bad that they could actually lose their jobs (which quite frankly, doesn’t happen very often – read more here).

The Herald-Tribune article, reflecting the attitudes of most people, fails to acknowledge police are always breaking the law. They break the very law they swear to uphold on a daily basis – jaywalking, speeding, parking in red and handicapped zones, talking on cell phones while driving, running stop signs, etc. People see police doing these things everyday, but are not concerned because police are allegedly “doing their jobs” and “serving people.”

Somehow, people believe that even though speeding, talking on cell phones while driving, and parking in fire lanes are all illegal for the protection and good of the people, it is ok when police are break laws because 1. they deserve some leniency for the good work they do and 2. they need some leniency in order to properly do their job – i.e. police need to break the law in order to enforce it sometimes, and need to behave dangerously in order to prevent danger.

So why should we care if police are raping, trafficking drugs, or committing extortion? If the logic was correct to begin with, there’s no rational reason to draw the line arbitrarily at parking and driving violations. If  ”protecting people” is furthered by breaking the law once in a while, and “doing your job” is an excuse for breaking laws, then surely the same applies to rape, drug crimes, and extortion.

If one’s knee-jerk reaction to people (such as us here at Copblock) bitching about cops breaking parking and driving laws is, “shut up and get a life hippie! He’s just doing his job! He’s out there risking his life to protect you” – that very same response should apply when people like us bitch about cops raping teenagers, beating their wives, and abusing their kids.

In other words, many of you people out there who claim to be shocked and horrified when police are out raping people and beating kids are pretentious assholes. You actually think it’s ok. I know this because you are the type who vomits up the same platitudes over and over again about how police need some leniency because their jobs are difficult. You are same people who go, “hmm, that makes sense” when you hear of a cop murdering someone, and receiving a lighter sentence because the judge took his past “service” into account.

You are the same people who pretend to feel bad for these tragic victims of police violence, but then turn around and say, “but of course, we need government police! The world would be chaos without them” even as government police everywhere are beating, killing, violating civil and/or constitutional rights, and committing crimes. Even though basic logic dictates that government police by definition will always lack accountability, and be far more open to corruption and abuse because government police cannot easily be fired, replaced, or punished. This is also demonstrated by the Herald-Tribune report.

The Herald-Tribune reported the number of serious violations is far higher than state records would reflect, as  local agencies failed to report cases and faced no consequences for neglecting to do so. (What a surprise – you mean the government doesn’t want government agents to look bad? It can’t be!) In fact, the Union County Sheriff’s office hasn’t reported a single instance of misconduct in about 26 years.

Further, it was extraordinarily difficult to fire officers who repeatedly misbehaved. One Frederick Currie had a history of domestic violence, and was even arrested for child abuse. He was also involved in stalking an ex-girlfriend, as well as sexual battery. Officials attempted to fire him twice, but were unsuccessful, because of of police union power, and state laws which clearly favor police officers over ordinary peons. Some of the crimes by police may be occasional or rare, but the law and the system’s preferential and lenient treatment of murderous, violent, and criminal officers is not an accident.

Currie may only be one man, but remember that thousands of officers were exposed by this Florida report, and that in one agency, not one case of misconduct had been reported for 26 years. This is not a freak occurrence. This is not a case of a few bad apples. This is an institutional and intentional result of government monopoly over protection services.

Thus, anything short of calling for complete abolition of government police, is a pathetically apologetic stance toward police brutality. Anything short of advocacy for the end of government police is in effect sympathy for institutionalized rape, murder, and plunder.

If you support government police, you support institutionalized rape, murder, and plunder is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

This post was sent to us via CopBlock.org’s Submit Tab.

After reading about the atrocities committed by police on this blog, one has happened in my backyard. And just like many of those examples, police, again, get away with murder. Literally.

It began (click here for more) early in the morning of November 6th, 2010 in Mount Joy Borough, PA.. Robert Neill, age 61, called police like a dutiful citizen to report being harassed by neighbors. Somehow he ended up dead.

The government report, which of course is only one side of the tale since the other can’t tell his, reports that he became “combative and aggressive,” and was enraged when they tried to calm him down. Instead of doing the appropriate thing and leaving, they of course try to “do something”.  That something lead to his death. He was shot by Tasers, at least twice, as well as being pepper sprayed. The official cause of death was from an abnormal heartbeat (maybe because his heart was shocked with electricity).

I can imagine the scene like this: Mr. Neill calls the cops to complain about noisy neighbors. The cops arrive, find nothing, and try to talk to him. Its the middle of night, he’s already angry about the harassment, and now they don’t get what he is talking about. Understandable that he may have been angry at the whole situation. He walks toward them upset about why they can’t understand his complaint.

A normal person in this situation would try to talk, and barring that,  just leave and get out of there. Instead, the cops attack him because they feel “threatened” (AWWWWWW). They get more cops to attack him. Now, does anybody in their right mind expect an angry person who is being tased and attacked to get less angry? Only the protected class of government agents would think this is a good idea. So, he ends up dead because of their actions.

If this happened to anybody but government agents, they would be thrown in jail and charged with manslaughter. But predictably, since they aren’t lowly citizens, they are cleared of all wrong doing by the state Attorney General. (click here for more) There is nothing else released about the incident; no officer names and no justification except “the cops did nothing wrong.”

That is unacceptable in a just society. The cops should be in jail for their actions. Instead, their superiors and cohorts cover for them and the state justice system lets them get away scott free for killing a man, for a reason nobody knows.

I’m disgusted, and I’m going to go protest in front of the police station. Even if there is no official justice, at least I will make this murder uncomfortable for those responsible.

Matthew Butch

Familiar Refrain: Police Cleared in Murder of Man is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights