Gangsters in Blue

By Davy V.

To say that Rochester, NY Police Chief James Shepard’s latest, desperate attempt at gaining the community’s trust and respect with a promotional video titled, “RPD: Our Badge is Your Shield”, is in bad taste, would be a gross understatement.

To say it adds insult to injury, would not even come close.

On June 21, 2012, Israel “Izzy” Andino, a bipolar, mentally-ill young man, turned 20 years old.

Just a few hours later, 7 Rochester, NY Police officers executed Andino, in what neighbors described as a modern day firing squad, hitting Andino at least 11 times and riddled nearby homes with bullets, as young children were getting ready for school.

Andino had gotten in an argument with his mother, and left his home carrying a BB rifle.

Rochester’s corporate-run, mainstream news media spun and helped spread false rumors, by reporting that Andino had stabbed his mother, despite Andino’s own mother, Carmen Baez denying that she was ever stabbed.

What Rochester’s mainstream news outlets did not report was that Rochester Police officers had several opportunities to subdue Andino, including using bean bag rounds, and didn’t.

In fact, the Rochester, NY Police department didn’t even deploy their Emotionally Disturbed Persons Response Team, or “EDPRT”, even though the team was created in 2005, to deal with situations exactly like Andino’s.

Instead, officers followed Andino to Locust St., from a nearby grocery store parking lot, where video from the store’s surveillance cameras showed several RPD officers had plenty of opportunities to safely take Andino into custody, and didn’t.

After the 7 RPD officers simultaneously opened fire on Andino, RPD officials ordered the grocery store’s owner to shut down his business, as officials confiscated the video.

As Andino’s cold body lay uncovered on a Locust St. sidewalk for almost 8 hours, with Rochester, NY Police officers, and crime scene technicians stepping over him to take photographs, and collect evidence, the cover-up was under way, with Rochester Police Chief James Sheppard, and Rochester Mayor Thomas Richards calling the shooting justified, without the investigation being complete.

Fast forward to May 10, 2013.

The Rochester, NY Police department releases “Our Badge is Your Shield.”

The 5 minute, 10 second video which features Van Halen’s song “Right Now”, starts off with the 911 audio of the June 21, 2012 call for Izzy Andino.

In the video, an unidentified RPD officer is heard yelling into his radio “Shots fired! Shots fired! Man down!”, as a video clip shows the Locust St. and Dewey Ave. street sign.

What is clearly meant to be a Rochester Police propaganda promotional tool, and as I wrote earlier, another desperate attempt by an incompetent Chief James Sheppard, at trying to gain the respect and trust of the Rochester community, will backfire, just like every other attempt.

For Rochester, NY Police Chief James Sheppard to approve of a video which includes audio and video clips pertaining to such a disturbing injustice as the execution of a mentally-ill young man, by 7 trigger-happy cops, in a promotional video, in what almost seems to glorify the senseless death of a mentally-ill young man on his 20th birthday, is sick!

But wait… it gets worse.

The video was made by Rochester, NY Police officer Eliud Rodriguez, one of the 7 officers who executed Izzy Andino!

Click link below to read my original post about Izzy Andino’s execution

http://davyv.blogspot.com/2012/06/7-rochester-new-york-police-officers.html

Follow me on twitter https://twitter.com/davyvara

Rochester, NY Police Department’s Promotional Video, is a Disrespect to the Memory, and Family, of a Mentally-ill Man, who was Executed by 7 RPD officers is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

By Davy V.

The video, recorded by a Greece Olympia High School student begins with a female Greece, NY Police officer yelling at McCloud to “Keep walking!”

A male GPD officer dressed in plain clothes, then yells at McCloud, “Keep walking! Keep walking or you’re going to jail!”

“I’m not doing nothing”, the young man is seen and heard telling the officer .

“You’re blocking the sidewalk!”, the officer yells.

McCloud then tries to explain to the officer that he wasn’t blocking the sidewalk, and that if anything, the officer is the one who is walking towards him.

The angry Greece Police officer then says “Fuck it, you’re under arrest!”, and grabs the young man, twisting his arms, and bringing him down on the ground.

Greece Police Captain Patrick Pelan told me that plain clothes officer is Sgt. James Carris, and the female officer is Valerie Cutt.

According to the teen who recorded the video, there was a fight at the high school, that did not involve the young teen who was arrested.

“They followed us off the property, and then the undercover officer came out of nowhere”, said the teen.

Captain Phelan sees it differently.

Phelan says that Greece Police were disbursing crowds, and that while most of the youths followed orders, McCloud did not.

“If he had walked away, he would have gone home”, said Phelan.

Captain Phelan also said that Corey McCloud took on a “fighting stance.”

“He was in a fighting stance, he had his hands in a fighting position, and he stuck his chest out”, said Phelan.

I couldn’t disagree more.

What I see in that video is bully, rogue Greece Police officers giving an unlawful order to a young man who was doing wrong, simply walking on a public sidewalk.

I also see a young man who tries to explain to officers that not only is he not doing anything wrong, but that in fact, it’s them, who are walking towards him and it’s them who are being confrontational.

“Fighting stance”?

Are you kidding me?

The young man is retreating, backing up, as he’s being cornered by GPD officers!

If anything, I see a young man with his the palms of his hands showing, in a retreating manner.

In fact, never does Corey McCloud use any expletives, unlike Sgt. Carris!

Phelan said that McCloud was charged with disorderly conduct.

I asked Phelan, what exactly did Corey McCloud do in order to be charged with disorderly conduct, but Phelan said that he did not have the criminal complaint in front of him, so he could not say.

I find it interesting that despite Phelan being adamant that McCloud did not follow what he calls lawful orders, he couldn’t tell me exactly what the young man is accused of, without reading the report.

When I asked Captain Phelan what he thought about Sgt. Carris telling a minor, “Fuck it, you’re under arrest!”, he did not hesitate in giving me an answer.

“The use of that kind of language is absolutely inappropriate, and we are dealing with that”, said Phelan, before adding, “It is not acceptable, and does not comply with our professional standards.”

However, Phelan would not say what “we are dealing with that.” meant.

It doesn’t surprise me that Captain Phelan is going to defend his officers’ actions, and justify the arrest of Corey McCloud, I mean that’s his job.

I will however say, that Captain Phelan was very professional in his conversation with me, something I don’t usually experience with law enforcement.

At one point in our phone conversation, when I asked Captain Phelan, who said he had not watched the video, for the names of the officers, Phelan actially logged on to my blog, and I could hear the video playing on his computer, as he watched it.

After watching the video, Phelan immediately gave me the names.

That’s more than I can say for Rochester, NY Police officials, who have given me a run around in refusing to release names of officers whom I have exposed, only for me to get their names on my own, anyways.

As for your comment Captain Phelan, that if Corey had walked away, he would have gone home, no sir, YOUR officers created, then escalated, a completely unnecessary situation.

Your Sgt., James Carris’ own words to a minor, “Fuck it, you’re under arrest!”, and your Sgt.’s behavior, caught on video, show that he was out of line!

Follow me on twitter https://twitter.com/davyvara

Greece, NY Cops in Disturbing Video of African-American Student Assaulted, and Arrested while Walking on Public Sidewalk, Identified as Sgt. James Carris, and officer Valerie Cutt is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

An 18-year-old Sebastian River High School senior is reportedly being charged with a felony and expelled from high school as a result of a consensual relationship with another female student. Kaitlyn Hunt started dating a 15-year-old student from her high school basketball team when she herself was 17. Kaitlyn’s father, Steven R. Hunt Jr., claims his daughter was kicked off the basketball team because the coach feared a same-sex relationship would bring unwanted drama. Steven Hunt explained, “The girl’s mother found out about the relationship, and, as the track coach and Criminal Justice teacher told me, the girl’s mother said that there’s no way her daughter could be gay. The mother then took reigns and is now attempting to place felony charges upon my own daughter.” According to her family, Kate’s girlfriend was a freshman student enrolled in courses with upperclassmen and a fellow player on the varsity basketball team with Kaitlyn. Although Kaitlyn was three years older than her girlfriend, they were friends in the same social circle.

After Kaitlyn’s 18th birthday, her girlfriend’s parents sent the police to the Hunt residence, where she was arrested. Kaitlyn’s mother told The Examiner, “They are out to destroy my daughter, because they feel like she ‘made’ their daughter gay. They see being gay as wrong and they blame my daughter. Of course, I see it 100% differently. I don’t see or label these girls as gay. They are teenagers in high school experimenting with their sexuality — with mutual consent. And even if their daughter is gay, who cares? She is still their daughter.” Kaitlyn’s father wrote about the arrest, “My daughter was ripped out of her mother’s arms, hysterical. The police finally told us she was being arrested on probable cause.”

NYDaily News reports that Kaitlyn has been charged with two felony counts of, “lewd and lascivious battery on a child 12 – 16 years of age.” She has reportedly been offered a plea bargain of house arrest. Under these conditions, Hunt would be sentenced to two years house arrest and allowed to attend school or work only during that time. She would also endure one year of probation and attend sex offender counseling. Hunt’s mother, Kelley Smith, has until next Friday to accept what she calls the “outrageous plea offer” or take the case to trial.

If convicted, Hunt could face up to 15 years in prison and be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life.

Kaitlyn’s family took her story public on May 17 on a “Free Kate” Facebook page. Her mother wrote this personal message:

“Anyone who knows me, even a little, knows what kind of person I am. Anyone who knows my daughter Kate, knows how wonderful she is. Kate is an 18 year old senior about to graduate from SRHS. She has an exemplary record at school and home. She has always been a wonderful student, respected and well liked. She has cheered on the varsity cheer team all throughout high school, shes sung in chorus and was voted most school spirited. She has never been in trouble, ever, she truly is the model student and child. At the beginning of this school year, she started dating a fellow student, who happened to be another female. This girl also played varsity sports, was in the IB program, so she was in classes with upperclassman. There was an age difference between my daughter and the other girl, of 3 years, my daughter was older, however you would have thought it was the opposite by just looking at the girls. My daughter is tiny, looks very young, and the other girl looks much older and is much taller, either way there was a 3 year age gap. They were both students in the same high school, it was a mutual consenting relationship on both parts. This was unusual for Kate, she has always dated boys, but being the kind of mother I am, I didn’t want to make it a big deal. I talked to her about it, and figured it was just a social thing, times have changed and a lot of kids are experimenting, so I didn’t make much of it.”

Their family’s “Free Kate” Facebook page has more than 19,000 members.
In addition to the Facebook page, her family has also launched a website to share Kate’s story.

In response to those claiming the Hunt family is expecting special treatment because Kaitlyn is in a same-sex relationship, the Facebook page stated:

“The law needs to change, not only to protect Kate, but to protect the millions of teenagers, boys and girls, straight and gay, whose lives are regularly ruined because parents disapprove of their children’s sexual choices. We want justice for all 18-year-old high school seniors who have undergone criminal prosecution for exercising poor judgement in their dating life. Such students are not predators. They’re just kids.”

Under Florida’s 2007 “Romeo and Juliet” Law, an “offender” can petition the court to remove the need to register as a sex offender if the “victim in the case” is between 14 and 17 years old, “a willing participant in the sexual activity and no more than four years younger than the offender.” This law does not make it legal to have sexual relations with minors, but prevents the accused from being held as a sex offender. Historically the law has never applied in cases dealing with same-sex relationships.

Florida Teen Facing Criminal Charges For Relationship With Female Student is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

By Davy V.

A disturbing video shows Greece, NY Police officers arresting a young African-American teen, on Wednesday May 15, 2013, for no other reason other than him walking on a public sidewalk.

The video, recorded by a brave Greece Olympia High School student begins with a female Greece, NY Police officer telling an African-American teen to “Keep walking.”

A male GPD officer dressed in plain clothes, then yells at the young man “Keep walking! Keep walking or you’re going to jail!”

“I’m not doing nothing”, the young man is seen and heard telling the officer .

“You’re blocking the sidewalk!”, the officer yells.

The young man then tries to explain to the officer that he wasn’t blocking the sidewalk, and that if anything, the officer is the one who is walking towards him.

The angry Greece Police officer then says “Fuck it, you’re under arrest!”, and grabs the young man, twisting his arms, as bringing him down on the ground

The female Greece Police officer is then seen on the video yelling at the young man who is recording, “Keep walking!”

“I’m waiting for my friend”, the teen recording the video is heard saying.

“Your friend is going to jail!”, a plain clothes officer replies.

According to the teen who recorded the video, there was a fight at the high school, that did not involve the young teen who was arrested.

“They followed us off the property, and then the undercover officer came out of nowhere”, said the teen.

I will be updating this post soon.

Follow me on twitter https://twitter.com/davyvara

Greece, NY Police officer: “Fuck it, you’re under arrest!”, as he is Caught on Video Violating African-American Youth’s Civil Rights! is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

By Davy V.

Almost two years after she made international headlines, shortly after she was arrested by Rochester, NY Police officer Mario Masic for video recording him conducting a racially profiled traffic stop of an African-American motorist in front of her home, Emily Good will announce she is running for Monroe County, NY Sheriff.

Good will run on the Green Party ticket, in what is sure to be a tough battle to upset incumbent Republican Patrick O’Flynn who has been Monroe County Sheriff since 2001.

Among her top priorities if elected Sheriff, Good says she will refuse to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or I.C.E.

“As Sheriff I would pledge non-cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement because I believe that we are a country of immigrants, we are a county of immigrants, and it is no place in our job to harass our neighbors and fellow workers, so I would not cooperate at all with I.C.E. as several Sheriffs throughout the country have done.”

Good also said she would call for mandatory video recording of all interrogations, as well as installation of dash cams in all Monroe County Sheriff’s vehicles.

“We know that police and sheriffs and law enforcement are legally allowed to lie… videotaping confessions and interrogations would help us keep an eye on potential abuse, manipulation, lying and false confession signing that happens”, said Good.

As for having dash cams installed in Monroe County Sheriff’s cruisers, Good sums it up best in one sentence.

“We’ve seen in many cases that dash cams can provide some accountability for our law enforcement, which we really need, here in Monroe County”, Good said.

Emily Good will hold a press conference, officially announcing her candidacy, Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the Civic Center Plaza, between the Hall of Justice and the Public Safety building.

Follow me on twitter https://twitter.com/davyvara

Emily Good to Run for Monroe County, NY Sheriff is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

By Davy V.

A Rochester, NY Police officer, driving ‘K9-3″ cruiser, left his partner “Hawk”, inside the hot Durango SUV for over an hour, on Monday, as he went to an appointment, inside an air conditioned doctor’s office, behind the Calkins Corporate Park office complex, off Red Creek Drive in Henrietta, NY, arriving at approximately 1:25 p.m., and leaving around 2:45 p.m.

Although the rear windows in the police SUV were down, leaving the cages to allow some air to flow in, and the front windows were rolled down a bit, the vehicle was parked under direct sunlight, with no shade whatsoever.

Patients and staff walking by the RPD SUV were startled when “Hawk”, a beautiful German Shepherd greeted them with loud barking

There are actually two disturbing stories here.

First, this officer’s behavior show yet another example of Rochester Police officers misusing taxpayer dollars, in this case, driving outside the RPD’s jurisdiction, to another town, for personal reasons.

Second, leaving an innocent dog in a hot vehicle, for over an hour, with no shade, albeit, windows down.

A call to dispatch confirmed RPD K9-3 unit was “on duty”, and the dispatcher said they had no knowledge the officer was out in Henrietta.

CALL ROCHESTER, NY POLICE CHIEF JAMES SHEPPARD (585) 428-7033

Follow me on twitter https://twitter.com/davyvara

Rochester, NY Taxpayer Dollars at Work: RPD officer Leaves his K-9 Partner “Hawk” in Hot Vehicle for over an Hour, While he goes to Doctor’s Appointment is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Submitted by November Yankee

The manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombing suspects offered the nation a window into the stunning military-style capabilities of local law enforcement agencies. For the past 30 years, police departments in the United States have benefited from the government’s largess in the form of military weaponry and training, and incentives offered in the ongoing “War on Drugs.” For the average citizen watching events such as the intense pursuit of the Tsarnaev brothers on television, it is  difficult to discern between fully outfitted police SWAT teams and the military.

The North Hollywood Shootout of 1997 is often touted by police as the reason behind the militarization of their forces. In that incident police engaged two bank robbers heavily armed with military-grade machine guns, and armored from head to toe in military-grade bullet-resistant Kevlar. The robbers were eventually killed, and though several officers were injured, there were no other deaths. Nonetheless, this became a rallying point to arm not only SWAT teams and regular patrol officers with military-grade weaponry.

The militarization of police has not been limited to pistols and rifles. Some of this has been more subtle and psychological, such as new uniforms. Police have traditionally worn a blue uniform, usually with a tie, shined shoes, conveying a respectable and formal appearance. Today that trend has been broken, and police have donned military-style tactical apparel, in an intimidating black color. While one may not see this shift in styling as a major concern per se, it reflects the shift in the mindset of police, from public servant, to militant occupier. This is a shift wherein the police now no longer see a public to be served, but a public to be controlled.

This mindset of an undeclared guerrilla war being played out on the streets of America has led to extravagant spending by police departments on military-grade hardware. This is particularly true in the post-9/11 era, where the public has been duped out of freedoms and tax dollars under the guise of “protecting the homeland” from Muslim fanatics. This is despite the fact that an American citizen is 8 times more likely to be killed by a police officer than a terrorist.

In one instance, a man armed only with a golf-club was shot dead by police executing a search warrant targeting a woman they knew had already moved out of the home. They went ahead with the no-knock raid anyway, and shot this man dead in the process. (See video - Dead Bang: Man Shot Dead By Home Invaders).

While some view these types of situations as isolated incidents, incidents like this will happen more frequently as police try to justify their budgets for increased spending on everything from new cruisers every year to military-grade tanks and armored vehicles. In another instance, police stormed a neighborhood with snipers and a tank to evict old lady. It is not uncommon that police now frequently apply military-grade force is applied for mundane and run-of-the-mill police situations.

The Results of the SWAT Transparency Bill have been disturbing. The problem also goes beyond local police departments. Since 9/11, we now have the Department of Homeland Security, reminiscent of the Gestapo national police force. DHS is both a domestic spying apparatus, and a showcase for military hardware in civilian dress. It’s not just new agencies, or regular police departments that are getting paramilitary upgrades. Government agencies that should have nothing to do with law enforcement are increasingly armed. (More here - Why does the Department of Education need a SWAT team?)

In Boston, we saw our first widely publicized instance of martial law in the United States. Not only were the police and Federal agents fully-equipped with heavy military-grade equipment, they were acting in direct violation of the 4th Amendment. (More here - Families Ripped From Homes By Police In Watertown).

Some Americans were shocked by this vulgar display of paramilitary might. Sadly, there were many Americans who cheered the triumph of martial law, even in its failure to locate the suspect who purportedly justified this violent invasion. Thanks to propaganda and the lobotomy of social consciousness, all too many Americans would echo a, “If You’re Not a Terrorist…Prove It” type sentiment.

The lines blurred even further Monday as a new dynamic was introduced to the militarization of domestic law enforcement. By making a few subtle changes to a regulation in the U.S. Code titled “Defense Support of Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies,” the military has quietly granted itself the ability to police the streets without obtaining prior local or state consent, upending a precedent that has been in place for more than two centuries.

The most objectionable aspect of the regulatory change is the inclusion of vague language that permits military intervention in the event of “civil disturbances.” The rule provides that federal military commanders have the authority, in extraordinary emergency circumstances where prior authorization by the President is impossible and duly constituted local authorities are unable to control the situation, to engage temporarily in activities that are necessary to quell large-scale, unexpected civil disturbances.

Bruce Afran, a civil liberties attorney and constitutional law professor at Rutgers University, calls the rule, “a wanton power grab by the military,” and says, “It’s quite shocking actually because it violates the long-standing presumption that the military is under civilian control.”

A defense official who declined to be named takes a different view of the rule, claiming, “The authorization has been around over 100 years; it’s not a new authority. It’s been there but it hasn’t been exercised. This is a carryover of domestic policy.” Moreover, he insists the Pentagon doesn’t “want to get involved in civilian law enforcement. It’s one of those red lines that the military hasn’t signed up for.” Nevertheless, he says, “every person in the military swears an oath of allegiance to the Constitution of the United States to defend that Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.”

Sadly enough, the “presumption” of the constitutional law professor is false, and the unnamed defense official is correct. The military is not under civilian control, and has not been for roughly 150 years. Specifically, the authorization is called General Orders No. 100: The Lieber Code,

…which reads in part…

“1. A place, district, or country occupied by an enemy stands, in consequence of the occupation, under the martial law of the invading or occupying army, whether any proclamation declaring martial law, or any public warning to the inhabitants, has been issued or not. Martial law is the immediate and direct effect and consequence of occupation or conquest.

The presence of a hostile army proclaims its martial law.

2. Martial law does not cease during the hostile occupation, except by special proclamation, ordered by the commander-in-chief, or by special mention in the treaty of peace concluding the war, when the occupation of a place or territory continues beyond the conclusion of peace as one of the conditions of the same.

3. Martial law in a hostile country consists in the suspension by the occupying military authority of the criminal and civil law, and of the domestic administration and government in the occupied place or territory, and in the substitution of military rule and force for the same, as well as in the dictation of general laws, as far as military necessity requires this suspension, substitution, or dictation.

The commander of the forces may proclaim that the administration of all civil and penal law shall continue either wholly or in part, as in times of peace, unless otherwise ordered by the military authority.”

The military is already prepared to start rounding up American citizens. (More here - New Military Transport Raises Concerns).The militarization of our local police forces is not simply a by-product of the times we live in. When you understand the real laws, when you understand history, you see that the local police are acting under the authority of the military, as a proxy.

Through revisionist history taught to us in classrooms and school books, the Civil War has been idealized as some great volcanic movement of freedom against racial oppressors. Even though it took another century after that for black folk to actually get civil rights, we are taught that the Civil War was all about liberating slaves.

They say that history is written by the victor, and the Civil War is no exception. The Civil War had nothing to do with freeing the slaves. The Emancipation Proclamation was a tactic of economic warfare against the rebellious Confederacy, it had nothing to do with equality for blacks.

“I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in anyway the social and political equality of the white and black races – that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality.” -Abraham Lincoln, 1858

“My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it.” -Abraham Lincoln, 1862

So what was the Civil War really about then? The same thing that most rebellions are born of – a rejection of tyranny and oppression. In that instance, it was a confederation of states who rejected Federal authority over the sovereignty of independent states.

And from those days to this, the United States has existed, not as a Constitutional Republic, but under a declared state of martial law.

The preceding compilation contains excerpts from an article from Before It’s News.

Military Troops Patrol Grand Central Terminal After 9/11

Pentagon Updates Regulations For Open Military Dictatorship is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

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UPDATES WILL BE POSTED BELOW

These are three of the documents from the ROBIN HOOD of KEENE collection housed at Cop Block’s Scribd channel:

"If Ticketed" Flyer used by Robin Hood of Keene

KEENE Petition for Injunctive Relief 2013-05-09 by CopBlock

KEENE Petition for Injunctive Relief ATTACHMENTS 2013-05-09 by CopBlock

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SUPPORT ROBIN HOOD OF KEENE
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• Bitcoin: 1PRPhRRoxekgLwgqXxBKGTJ9La5EwSXcJJ
• PayPal: robinhoodofkeene@gmail.com
• Snail Mail: Keene Activist Center, 75 Leverett Street, Keene, NH 03431
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CONNECT WITH ROBIN HOOD OF KEENE
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• http://Facebook.com/KeeneRobinHood
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[last updated 2013.05.18]

ABC News, The Union Leader, Huffington Post, Seacoastonline.com, New York Daily News, UPI.com, WCVB Boston, My Fox Boston, CBS Local, Free Keene1, FreeKeene2, Washington Times1, Washington Times2, The Atlantic Cities, Reuters, NBCNews.com, MSN News, ABC 57 News,  Daily Mail, WHDH-TV, The Epoch Times, Irish Independent, NBC2 News, KDVR.com, Examiner.com, KFYI, Business Insurance, Death and Taxes, Pakistan Daily Times, The Times, Newstalk, New Hampshire Public Radio, Justice News Flash, FoxReno.com, ABA Journal, Kansas Watchdog, msnNOW, Great Mountain Outlook

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Robin Hood of Keene Targeted by the King’s Agents is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Rochester, NY Police cruiser E-67 and City Parking Enforcementparked on same side of street, as children’s family membersthey ticketed. Photo by Davy V.

By Davy V.

At least a half a dozen family members of Rochester elementary school children attending the annual Nick Zona Track Meet at East High School on Thursday May 16th, walked back to their cars to find  parking tickets under their windshield wipers.

Now, it would be hypocritical of me to in any way, shape or form condone parking illegally, especially since I regularly expose law enforcement officials parked illegally.

However, it was more the show of force, on behalf of Rochester Police officers who obviously had nothing better to do in a city riddled with real crime, than to ticket cars of family members attending their children’s field day, that just rubs me the wrong way.

The event, is named after the late Nick Zona, the former Health and Physical Education Director for the City School District.

The track meet helps students learn the importance of hard work, cooperation, teamwork and sportsmanship.

Approximately 25-30 cars parked on Culver Rd., right in front of the East High School grandstand, and family members were already sitting down in the stands, when an announcement came over the PA system telling people that they had to move their vehicles, and find parking elsewhere.

Rochester, NY Police officer and parking enforcement employee harassing elementary school children’s family members.Photo by Davy V.

This caused dozens of people to hurry and move their vehicles, and rush back in order not to miss their children’s participation in the track meet.

A woman at Jeffrey Ellis Carl Cabinetmakers, located on the corner of Culver Rd. and Leighton Ave., and directly across the street from the East High School bleacher stands, called 911 to report that several vehicles were parked on the wrong side of Leighton Ave.

Interestingly enough, the photo at the top right, shows the classic example of ‘Do as I say, not as I do’, a Rochester, NY Police cruiser, and a City of Rochester, NY Parking Enforcement vehicle can be seen parked on the same side of the street as the cars they ticketed!

This could all have been avoided, if the Rochester City School District had planned in advance, to accommodate family members, being able to park their vehicles, without being ticketed.

Rochester, NY Police officer in cruiser E-51has nothing better to do, than to harass family membersattending children’s track meet.Photo by Davy V.

“This is the first time in four years that I have gotten this information, this is supposed to be a positive event”, said Carlos Cotto, Rochester City School District executive director of health, physical education, and athletics.

“There should have been announcements before people parked, so they wouldn’t have had to move their cars after they had already settled in”, Cotto said to me, before adding, “I put a call in to Chief Sheppard, because he has always been supportive of this event.”

“Supportive”?

How sad that the Rochester, NY Police department, would show up in force like they did, to an event named in honor of a School district employee, and all for parking violations.

Follow me on twitter https://twitter.com/davyvara

Rochester, NY Police Department and City Parking Enforcement Show Up in Full Force to Ticket Elementary School Children’s Family Members at Track Meet! is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Submitted by Eric

Not “buckling up for safety” can get you killed all right – by a cop.

That’s what happened to Deland, Florida resident Marlon Brown about a week ago. Brown was killed – run over – by Deland Police Officer James Harris, who pursued him with his squad car after Brown tried to run away on foot after being stopped over a seatbelt violation (see here).

Brown, a popular neighborhood barber, hadn’t done anything to anyone. His “crime” was to have asserted self-ownership, which in a slave society is the gravest offense. He probably thought to himself – I am a grown man. No one has any more right to demand I wear a seatbelt than they have a right to insist I eat my veggies or wear a sweater because it’s cold out. Whether eating veggies or wearing a sweater on a cold day – or “buckling up for safety” – is a good idea or a bad idea is  no one else’s business. Certainly not a cop’s. Aren’t cops supposed to fight crime? When did the job of a cop become parenting or life-coaching at gunpoint? Who the hell are these people to point guns at me over my decision to not “buckle up”?

Brown likely had such thoughts as he saw the wig-wag lights of Officer Harris in his rear view. Then, he probably got mad. I know I would have. You are driving along, minding your business, causing no harm to anyone. Then you glance up and see the bright lights – and the buzz-cut head – of Officer Unfriendly. This costumed menace is about to threaten you with violence and – at minimum – shove a piece of paper in your face that will demand what amounts to a ransom payment, or else (“else” being jail).

And so, Brown attempted to flee. It ended up costing him his life.

Officer safety was never at issue. Brown merely tried to get away from an obnoxious costumed thug who had no business bothering him in the first place. But that was sufficient to justify summary execution by motor vehicle.

It is not an isolated happenstance anymore. Hardly a week goes by without some godawful report of a citizen being killed by cops over absolutely nothing. A murder – and that’s exactly what this was – prefaced by some petty affront to the authority of someone in a state-issued costume. Talk back, dare to question – and the Tazers come out. Attempt to ward off the blows – and you will hear “Stop Resisting!” as the blows continue to rain down. They may or may not stop at merely a beating, or a kicked-in skull.

Marlon Brown learned just how far it can go. A witness to the event, Sabrina Waldron, stated, “After the car hit Marlon and landed on him the back end of it was up in the air.” Thus ended Brown’s life.

Was it worth it? Was it right? A man is dead – for no reason. Or rather, for a very bad reason.

In a sane society, Officer Harris would have had no legal pretext for bothering Marlon Brown. He may have looked askance at him for electing to not wear his seat belt – just as I may look askance at a grossly obese person ordering a double cheeseburger and 64 ounce Coke – but insofar as Officer Harris’ legal authority was concerned, he (in a sane society) would be powerless to intervene. That’s how it ought to be. For the same reason, most of us (dear god, let us hope) do not want costumed men with guns rousting us out of bed to go for morning jogs or to supervise our dinner menus, threatening us with nightsticks and Tazers and guns if we don’t abide by their “recommendations.”

That is where we are headed if people do not come to their senses, and learn to discipline their inner busybody – if only for their own sake. Because most definitely, what goes around will come around. You may find it appalling that some people choose to go unbuckled. Resist the desire to insist they do so. Because if you do insist, you’ve just given license to the inner busybodies of all those people out there – among whom, no doubt, there will be busybodies who just can’t abide something about the way you live your life, whether it be some “risky” hobby, or some “unhealthy” habit. No small corner of what used to be your life will be left to you. You will be chained to a collective and compelled to Submit & Obey.

The antidote to this horror is self-ownership. You own you. I own me. Neither of us has any claim on the other that’s enforceable at gunpoint. Feel free to suggest or to recommend, but when it comes to the use of force, the one and only legitimate justification is self-defense. Otherwise, leave me alone – and I will leave you alone.

If that had been the law in Deland, Florida, Marlon Brown would still be alive.

And James Harris would not be a murderer.

Read the original post here.

Seatbelt Laws Can Be Deadly is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights