Local Breaking Police News
6 hours ago
Country music world praying for Jelly Roll’s wife, Bunnie Xo
Thoughts and prayers are being sent to Bunnie Xo, the wife of country music superstar Jelly Roll, after her father died this week to his ongoing battle with cancer.“Hey Bill, I’m going to miss you,” Bunnie, whose real name is Bunnie DeFord, wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday, May 8. “You are still my favorite rock star and my hero. This one’s going to hurt. Rest easy and don’t make too many angels fall in love.”Bunnie’s father received a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis late last summer, Taste of Country reported. He was put in hospice in November, but made good progress afterwards, the outlet said.Bunnie’s Facebook post about her father’s death has gotten more than 14,000 comments as of Friday morning.“I love you sweet friend. I am so so sorry for your loss. Rest easy Bill,” singer Savannah Dexter commented on the post.Country music singer Priscilla Block also left a comment on Bunnie’s Instagram post simply saying, “sending a bunch of love.”
6 hours ago
Man traveled with guns and homemade ‘bombs' to the Satanic Temple, officials say
A 30-year-old Michigan man traveled to the Satanic Temple headquarters in Salem with guns, ammunition and homemade “bombs,” according to U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten. Luke Terpstra, of Grant, Michigan, was indicted Tuesday. He has been charged with transporting an explosive with the intent to kill, injure, or intimidate individuals or to unlawfully damage or destroy a building. He also faces a separate charge that he illegally possessed a destructive device.Officials said Terpstra traveled to Massachusetts with the weapons in September 2023. He had built several devices that he characterized as “bombs,” according to the indictment charges. Read more: Salem’s Satanic Temple could have right to invocations, report saysThe Salem Police Department said the fall trip might’ve been for “planning purposes.” As of January, there was no indication that he had any local help or that he acted with any accomplices, police said. In December, Totten’s office said Terpstra was telling others he had the “bombs” because he wanted to “blow up” the Satanic Temple. Officials found Terpstra had items used to make improvised explosive devices in January, including plastic container with coins attached to it and a piece of cannon fuse coming out of the lid; numerous metal carbon dioxide (CO2) cartridges; PVC pipe; ammonium nitrate; and hobby fuses.“On the one hand it is gratifying that our federal and local partners were able to thwart Terpstra. On the other, it is terrifying that he walked in our midst planning such violence,” the Salem Police Department wrote in January, adding that“an attack such as Terpstra was planning keeps us up at night.” Read more: Satanic Temple encourages ‘action’ on National Day of PrayerThe Satanic Temple, which opened its first official headquarters in Salem in 2016, and its members don’t view Satan as an evil figure, but as one who dared question authority. The group mostly advocates for the separation of church and state and is known for attempting to get its one-ton goat-headed idol statue put next to the 10 Commandments monument on public grounds.Another man, Sean Patrick Palmer, 49, of Perkins, Okahoma, was arrested and charged in April after officials said he threw a pipe bomb at the temple’s main entrance.
6 hours ago
Some NFL games are ‘likely’ heading to Netflix (report)
Netflix is reportedly on the verge of playing the part of The Grinch for NFL fans who want their games on normal television.John Ourand of Puck reports that Netflix is in the midst of negotiations with the NFL to carry its Christmas Day games this season. Ourand also notes that the negotiations are the reason why the league is late in releasing the 2024 schedule.The NFL’s 2024 schedule is set to be released on Wednesday, May 15.According to Ourand, a deal between Netflix and the NFL has yet to be officially signed. However, he reports that it “looks like” Netflix will carry two games on Christmas this season.Boomer Esiason, former quarterback and New York radio host, was the first to float the news of Netflix carrying NFL games earlier this week.Amazon Prime Video is currently the home of the NFL’s Thursday Night Football broadcasts. Meanwhile, NBC has recently experimented with moving some of its games to its streaming service, Peacock.As for Netflix, the streaming giant has been taking steps toward more live content in recent months. Netflix recently aired a live broadcast of The Roast of Tom Brady and is set to become the home of WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” broadcasts.The pending deal is the latest example of streaming providers branching out into live sports. For leagues, it represents a new platform to grow their audience with.But for fans, it can present a headache when trying to watch their teams.Putting Christmas Day games on Netflix would take those games off of television for the vast majority of viewers across the country. Although, the NFL typically has a deal in place where games must be simulcast on conventional TV channels in a team’s home market in the case of national broadcasts or streaming-only games.
6 hours ago
3 men zip-tied and pepper-sprayed cash courier before burning U-Haul, feds say
A trio of men are facing a series of charges in connection with a February 2024 armed robbery of a cash courier in Swansea in which they are accused of robbing the courier at gunpoint, zip-tying and pepper-spraying the man, and burning the vehicle they had stolen to flee the scene, acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua S. Levy’s office announced.Steven Madison, 38, of Bridgewater; Christopher White, 37, of Raynham; and Quentin McDonald, 35, of Brockton, are all charged with one count each of robbery interfering with interstate commerce, arson of property used in or affecting interstate commerce, and conspiracy. Madison and White are also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to Levy’s office.All three men made an initial appearance in federal court on Thursday and were detained pending a hearing on May 13.In the early morning hours of Feb. 19, two men were seen on video stealing a U-Haul van in Abington. Later, an armed courier working for a company transporting cash for cannabis companies arrived at a Swansea bank with more than $436,000 in cash to deposit.Prosecutors say the stolen U-Haul pulled up next to the courier and a man wearing a mask and a camouflage vest exited the van and pointed a gun at the courier before zip-tying the man’s hands behind his back. Another masked man then got out of the van and loaded the cash into the U-Haul, according to prosecutors. The pair tried to disarm the courier and forced him into the back seat of his own car, pepper-sprayed him and shut the door.Surveillance footage shows the courier was able to free one hand from the zip-tie and fired his gun four times in the direction of the U-Haul as it drove off before calling 911, Levy’s office said.After leaving the bank, the men are accused of driving the U-Haul to another location in Swansea where they met up with another man driving an SUV. Prosecutors say the men moved the cash they stole from the courier into the SUV, burned the U-Haul and fled the area.A trio of men are accused of burning a U-Haul they stole after an armed robbery, according to acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua S. Levy.U.S. Attorney's officeInvestigators say they identified Madison, White and McDonald as the men involved in the robbery and arson.In a search of Madison’s residence in Bridgewater Wednesday morning, investigators found $5,000 or more in cash in various amounts throughout the house, a Rolex watch worth nearly $50,000, a gun, ammunition and a sweatshirt similar to the one seen worn during the robbery, according to Levy’s office.Investigators also searched White’s home in Raynham, where prosecutors say they found zip-ties, a gun, ammunition and a black mask similar to the one worn during the robbery.Prosecutors say Madison and McDonald have previously been convicted of masked armed robbery, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and unlawfully possessing a firearm. White has prior convictions for larceny and receiving stolen property, according to Levy’s office.If convicted, Madison and McDonald could face up to 60 years in prison, while White could face a sentence of up to 45 years.
6 hours ago
Live updates from the Karen Read trial
The trial of Karen Read, a Mansfield woman charged in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe, resumes on Friday with witness testimony.Read, 44, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of O’Keefe, who was found cold to the touch and unresponsive on Jan. 29, 2022, outside of a home in Canton.Norfolk prosecutors charged Read after his death and stated that she struck O’Keefe with her SUV while driving intoxicated. Read’s attorney, David Yannetti, said during the trial’s opening statements that her car never struck O’Keefe and that others are to blame for his death.Jurors heard Wednesday and Thursday from friends of O’Keefe who went out drinking at two bars in Canton on Jan. 28, 2022.Witnesses last week from the Canton Fire Department testified that Read said “I hit him, I hit him. Oh my God, I hit him” on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022.Read pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter while driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash causing death.MassLive will update this story when testimony begins at 9 a.m. in Dedham’s Norfolk County Superior Court.— Read more: 4 takeaways from Karen Read trial: texts, taillight damage and first witnesses
7 hours ago
Sale closed in Shrewsbury: $1.1 million for a four-bedroom home
A spacious house located at 7 Bonnie Dell Lane in Shrewsbury has new owners. The 3,974-square-foot property, built in 1988, was sold on April 16, 2024, for $1,100,000, or $277 per square foot. This two-story home offers a roomy layout with four bedrooms and four baths. On the exterior, the house is characterized by a gable roof design, featuring roofing made of shingles (not wood). Inside, there is a fireplace. The property is equipped with forced air heating and a cooling system. In addition, the house features an attached two-car garage, providing ample room for vehicles and storage needs. The lot of the property is substantial, measuring 1.0-acre.Additional houses have recently been sold nearby:In November 2022, a 1,960-square-foot home on Main Street in Shrewsbury sold for $568,500, a price per square foot of $290. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Rice Street, Shrewsbury, in April 2022, a 3,155-square-foot home was sold for $750,000, a price per square foot of $238. The home has 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms.A 1,427-square-foot home at 877 Main Street in Shrewsbury sold in January 2022, for $84,727, a price per square foot of $59. The home has 3 bedrooms 1 bathroom.Real Estate Newswire is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to generate analysis of data from Propmix, an aggregator of national real-estate data. See more Real Estate News
7 hours ago
WMass Boys Lacrosse Top 10: Longmeadow takes top spot
To no one’s surprise, Longmeadow is on top of our first boys lacrosse rankings.The Lancers have dominated Western Massachusetts for years, and that hasn’t changed this spring. Longmeadow’s only loss so far this season has come at the hands of Duxbury. In the win column, the Lancers have impressive wins over Billerica, Medfield and Central Catholic so far this spring.
7 hours ago
Driver dies after being involved in crash with pedestrian, Springfield Police say
The driver involved in a crash with a pedestrian on Tuesday died, according to the Springfield Police department. The crash between the car and the pedestrian happened at the intersection of Bay and Tapley Streets around 10:25 p.m., Springfield police spokesperson Ryan Walsh wrote on social media Wednesday morning. The driver and pedestrian — who are both men — were taken to Baystate Medical Center with serious injuries.On Thursday, Walsh said the driver had died from his injuries. Only one car was involved in the crash, Walsh wrote. The Springfield Police Department’s Traffic Unit is investigating.
7 hours ago
Latino Counseling Center abre oficinas más grandes en North End de Springfield
Hace unos años, cuando el Latino Counseling Center aún era pequeño, se le preguntó si podía trabajar con estudiantes de la ciudad que necesitaran ayuda.“A nosotros nos preguntaron: ‘¿Pueden encargarse de las escuelas?’ y dije: no sé, pero vamos,” dijo María Silva, directora de operaciones del centro.Esa actitud de “vamos” ha sido la filosofía del centro desde que abrió hace cinco años en un pequeño espacio de oficinas en Liberty Street. El mismo permaneció abierto durante la pandemia de COVID-19, agregó programas y amplió su personal de los cuatro originales a los 82 actuales, y todavía está contratando.La agencia está en proceso de ampliación nuevamente. A principios de este mes, Jonathan Alicea, director de operaciones, y el resto de su personal y socios abrieron un edificio de oficinas nuevo y más grande en la esquina de las calles Dwight y Dover, llevando sus servicios al centro del North End para hacer el acceso aún más fácil.“Estoy orgulloso de ser parte de este viaje,” dijo Fernando Mattei, director de operaciones clínicas. “Nosotros somos bilingües y biculturales y nos allegamos a las familias donde están.”El Latino Counseling Center es una agencia sin fines de lucro que brinda servicios de salud mental a cualquier persona mayor de 5 años que los necesite. En los últimos cinco años, Silva estima que el centro ha brindado servicios a 9,000 personas a través de su clínica sin cita previa, programas escolares y muchas visitas domiciliarias.El centro está en proceso de obtener la certificación para brindar ayuda por abuso de sustancias. Ya hace algo de eso, ya que muchas personas con este trastorno también necesitan asistencia de salud mental, dijo Silva.Desde el inicio de la pandemia, la necesidad de atender a los niños es más aguda que nunca. Si bien los consejeros del centro trabajan con los niños en las escuelas, ellos también se aseguran de involucrar a los padres, algunos de los cuales pueden necesitar asesoramiento para ellos mismos, dijo Silva.El nuevo centro se construyó con fondos recibidos de los pagos de seguros de los clientes. Pero hay muchos casos en los que las personas que necesitan ayuda no tienen seguro. Cuando eso sucede, los consejeros brindan servicios de forma gratuita. Ellos también ayudan a los residentes a inscribirse en un seguro médico para que tengan acceso a todo tipo de atención médica, dijo Silva.El representante estatal Carlos González, demócrata de Springfield, asistió a la inauguración oficial y habló sobre el amplio alcance que puede tener el centro.“Esta es una inversión garantizada para el Estado porque si ayudamos a (una) persona ayudamos a una familia y cuando ayudamos a una familia, invertimos en la comunidad,” él dijo.El senador estatal Adam Gómez, de North End, dijo que está feliz de ver el centro en el vecindario porque lo hace mucho más fácil para las personas que necesitan ayuda.Algunos de los obstáculos para que los latinos accedan a la atención médica incluyen las barreras del idioma y la falta de transporte. Este centro brinda a la comunidad un lugar donde los médicos comprenden su cultura, así como un lugar donde pueden caminar para recibir atención.El centro está abierto de 8 a.m. a 8 p.m. y para brindar flexibilidad a las personas que no pueden salir del trabajo o que están cuidando niños, o ambos, y no pueden ir durante el horario habitual de 9 a.m. a 5 p.m., los sábados, dijo Silva.Traducido por Damaris Pérez Pizarro
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May 10, 2024
Unfinished Business: Investigating Cold Cases
By Stephen Owsinski Some criminal cases are tough to crack, but that doesn’t mean they are forgotten. Enter Cold Case detectives who, despite dormancy, unbox investigative files and endeavor to pick up the scent by backtracking then trek the trails until on-the-lam perpetrators are held accountable. Historical whodunnits make the news across the nation, heralding the seasoned investigators who stay on the course no matter how old, no matter how much longer it takes…until justice is served and closure is provided for loved ones of victims who were maliciously taken long ago. In New York City, NYPD Cold Case detectives emphasized how DNA results brought them closer to closing a 50-year-old murder: “’ Midtown Jane Doe’ cold case breakthrough comes after 50-year DNA match to 9/11 victim,” finally supplying the identity of a homicide victim whose investigators can now re-work the case differently/effectively. “With any investigation, especially homicide investigation, the first thing you need to have is a name to the victim because it gives you a starting point,” NYPD Cold Case Squad Detective Ryan Glas said. Det. Glas credited one of the former Cold Case detectives who initially worked the case, ultimately passing off his findings, relying on fresh-eyed investigators enabled by new details to sift further, until the mystery is solved. In Indiana, Cold Case detectives exhausted themselves investigating the unsolved murder of an elderly farmer. “A man imprisoned since last year has been indicted on murder and other charges in the 2012 slaying of a retired farmer found shot to death in his western Indiana home,” indicated an Associated Press report conveying new police findings, concluding an arduous Cold Case investigation. “Detectives have investigated more than 275 tips, conducted nearly 170 interviews, and searched many areas of land and water in the Sullivan County area as part of the still-open investigation.” Sometimes, in the process of Cold Case investigators revisiting case files, reconsidering details, and re-interviewing people, breaks in cases evolve… One case came down to the wire, whereby the killer, during an interview with Cold Case detectives, confessed to murdering a mother and child, leading investigators to their remains. While cops, forensics staff, and coroners were at the prescribed burial site unearthing remains of the two homicide victims of long ago, the killer died. According to Fox News reporter Andrea Vacchiano, “The case was cold for over two decades when the FBI began re-investigating in 2021.” Recent transpirations concluded the case with a coming-clean declaration made by the murderer: “On Tuesday, officials from the West Virginia State Police said that the confession was made during the first week of April. West Virginia State Police Capt. R. A. Maddy said that Webb was on his deathbed and ‘looking to come to Jesus at that point’.” Some Cold Cases come to an end after plenty of years, thanks to unrelenting police work by law enforcement professionals staying the course. Conversely, other whodunnits remain dormant… Unfinished Business The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) in Tampa, Florida, has dedicated a team of seasoned detectives and elicits the help of anyone out there who may have been around when heinous victimizations have occurred historically, unknowingly possessing relevant information (or have a hunch and are now ready to come forward), aiding investigators in sewing up loose ends. HCSO created a podcast called “Unfinished Business,” specifically relegated to Cold Cases and the investigators assigned to work them until solved. Police academy instructors touch upon Cold Case concepts, seeding in the minds of recruits that every time they are at a crime scene, considering each scintilla as potential evidence is crucial. (Photo courtesy of the Maryland State Police.) One of my department’s crime scene technicians (civilian capacity) almost always expanded the periphery beyond what was considered reasonable. His profound prowess for evidentiary substance was typically ultra-focused and duly disciplined, leaving no stone unturned…running out of stones to check under. Forensics and evidence collection play a huge role after many years have passed, along with real-time parties. Despite this, though, sometimes criminals make every effort to tidy their abominations. Throughout my law enforcement career, there were several re-openings of cold cases initiated by various veteran detectives whose convictions to cuff the perpetrators were impassioned to the extent they’d metaphorically bleed their fingernails digging for new clues. There is zero ambiguity when it comes to the term “unfinished business.” HCSO’s organization is large enough to convene investigative personnel for their Cold Case Squad. These squads or units are ordinarily composed of extraordinarily experienced detectives, some out of police retirement, looking for leads and working until closures are accomplished… “In 1983, Marie Porter’s life was stolen when she was senselessly murdered inside her home in Plant City, leaving behind a mystery that has not faded. Decades later, our cold case investigators with Team HCSO are digging into new evidence to find her killer and solve this crime. “Listen now to our latest episode of Unfinished Business and join us as we work to uncover the truth behind Marie Porter’s murder.” The sheriff’s office published a brief video of a cold case they are working on, aided by the FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Sunshine State’s equivalent of the FBI): [embedded content] As mentioned by the cold case investigator in that footage, forensics is always crucial in solving cold cases, justly extending accolades to scientists in crime labs performing “phenomenal” investigative studies, and often managing to conclude cases with long-awaited clues leading to identification resulting in the apprehension of phantom fugitives. The reality-based hit series “Forensic Files” is a great depiction of how deep investigators dig when it comes to cold cases. Aptly named “Cold Case,” albeit fictionalized, was another hit series illustrating the detectives who doggedly run down every lead, longshots and all. Meeting of the Minds Although Cold Case Units are generally modest in staffing, investigators typically scour the existing files and “read it like a book,” as HCSO’s cold case investigator offered in a brief video examining the unsolved homicide of Tammy Fickey who was bludgeoned to death and found in a grassy area in 2005. Paying meticulous attention to detail, especially when some pieces do not align, is the forté of these specialized detectives. They sit down and dissect evidence, bandy-about questions, consider possible scenarios, run down leads (no matter how minute), generate supplemental reports, and consistently pound the pavement until something/someone shakes out, determinedly taking the aged investigation in new trajectories. The Baltimore County Police Homicide Cold Case Squad developed an online accounting of all its unsolved historical cold cases so that viewers anywhere can glean the synopsis of victims and perhaps have memory jogged. (Photo courtesy of the Baltimore County Police Homicide Cold Case Squad.) As you may have read/heard, this brand of investigator sometimes candidly attests how cold cases and the victims remain stuck in their psyches, often culminating in vicarious trauma. Despite the breadth of investigative experience cold case detectives possess, the modest staffing sometimes engenders civilians in the overall analysis and progress of the case. Non-profit organizations focused on aiding detectives investigating cold cases are enlisted for research purposes, extra legs in the search-and-rescue realms, and general input. Project Cold Case is one such example. While on light duty in my police career, I experienced a few occasions whereby I was fortunate to sit in on Cold Case meetings during which detectives analyzed investigations opened many moons ago, with the long arm and the short arm circuited exhaustively. (Photo courtesy of the Detectives’ Endowment Association.) One factor always present in discussions about Cold Cases is the respect for fresh eyes and ideas from newly added LEOs whose gumshoe personas help jumpstart unsolved dormant cases by rendering novel perspectives, even remote ones. [embedded content] The Broward County, Florida, sheriff’s office Cold Case Unit attributes are similar to HCSO’s, including a broadcast series intended to stir memories of the viewing public. “Investigating and solving cold cases takes patience, outside-the-box thinking, and fresh eyes. In hopes of solving some of the agency’s most perplexing cold cases, the Broward Sheriff’s Office is launching a new cold case video series, entitled “Open and Unsolved,” a BSO press release stated. You never know when a break may come, or how, until all considerations are investigated. Open minds detect scant nuances that may morph into the proverbial “break in the case.” In all of this, Cold Case detectives become pseudo-family members to loved ones of the victimized whose end-of-life circumstances wouldn’t finalize until many years later. “The passage of time should not delay the quest for justice,” Broward County Sheriff Tony said. “BSO’s Cold Case Unit detectives leverage new technologies and bring a fresh perspective to these investigations in hopes of bringing a measure of peace to the victims and their families.” The ludicrous defunding of the police may have hindered many law enforcement units around the country, in effect downsizing investigative roles, further hampering investigations of Cold Cases. Nevertheless, the beat goes on… According to BSO’s public information officer, the South Florida-based law enforcement agency “created a Cold Case Unit that is staffed with three detectives and a crime analyst. The unit investigates cold-case homicides and cold-case sex crimes.” Despite the macabre circumstances of many Cold Case files, there are fastidious investigators whose steadfast nature shows up every day and stays the course until the elusive monsters who think they got away with murder are cuffed and finally brought to justice.
May 8, 2024
Politician Shows What Not to Do When Pulled Over
By Steve Pomper Police Traffic Stop (Photo: versageek, creative commons) In keeping with the NPA’s mission to educate the public about what cops do and why they do it, here’s yet another example of what not to do on a traffic stop, generously provided by one of America’s principled public servants. This avoidable traffic kerfuffle happened in Upstate New York, courtesy of Monroe County (Rochester) District Attorney Sandra Doorley. After a Webster police officer clocked her at 55 in a 35-mph zone, he tried to pull her over, but Doorley refused to stop. Reportedly, since she now had some time on her hands, she decided to use it to call the Webster police chief and tell him she was “not a threat…” and “would talk to the officer at her house,” which was nearby. How neighborly of her, right? The officer arrives at Doorley’s house. Several other officers are already there (when drivers don’t stop it make cops justifiably nervous). She holds out her cellphone as he approaches (yeah, cops love it when you do that, too). It’s the chief. The New York Post reported, upon learning she was the DA, the officer explained, “I’m doing my job. You say you’re the DA?” “I am THE DA…” Doorley answers, as she gets her badge out of her car. She also calls the officer an “a-hole” (cops really love that one, too). When the officer attempts to explain the stop to her, she says, “I know the law better than you…” (and the love just keeps on comin’). When the officer asks her “Why didn’t you just stop?” Doorley, out of all the things she could have said, chose, “I didn’t feel like stopping on Phillips Road at 5:30.” The officer told the DA, “That’s not your choice. You know that.” X-Post Link Of course, she knows that. She’s the friggin’ DA. Not even Her Grace gets to decide where the stop will take place. The trained police officer behind her will decide that based on multiple considerations including her, public, and officer safety. Doorley said, “I thought I’d stop in my driveway. I thought it would be easier.” Sure. For her. An officer only knows that the driver is either delaying or attempting to elude—for some unknown reason. Is the driver drunk, holding drugs, in possession of an illegal weapon, running from a crime— or has a body in the trunk? The officer is not psychic and must be prepared for the worst. At one point, the officer notes she admitted she was doing 35 in a 55 and, after explaining she’d been dealing with a triple homicide from over the weekend, she said, “Do you really think I care if I was going 20 mph over the speed limit?” Well, I guess she would know an incriminating statement—when she utters one. The truculent DA then demands the officer just “write me the ticket.” He tells her that this incident has surpassed the ticket stage because she’s turned it into “an arrestable offense.” It’s likely the officer may (or may not, 20 mph over a 35-mph limit is significant) have given her a warning, perhaps offering some professional courtesy once he learned she was the DA. I wrote in detail about this type of traffic dust up in my book, Is There a Problem, Officer (The Lyons Press, 2007). A shameless plug, I know, but DA Doorley really could have used some of the advice in that book. Finally, Doorley tells the officer she’d had a “really bad day… dealing with murders in the city” and a medical issue with her husband. She might have offered that “bad day” excuse after stopping for the officer immediately when she saw his lights and heard his siren. He likely would have understood if she’d given him half a chance and treated him respectfully. To be fair, she later issued a tepid public apology in a video statement. According to WHAM 13 News, in a statement, Doorley said, “Once I realized that the intention of the car was to pull me over, I called the Webster Police Chief to inform him that I was not a threat and that I would speak to the Officer at my house down the street. The Webster Police Officer followed me to my house and issued me a speeding ticket for my speed of 55mph in a 35mph zone. I acknowledged that I was speeding and I accepted the ticket. “Nobody, including your District Attorney, is above the rule of law, even traffic laws. Anybody who knows me understands without a doubt that I have dedicated my entire 33 year career to the safety of this community. My work to ensure the safety and respect of law enforcement is well proven time and time again. I stand by my work and stand by my commitment to the public safety of Monroe County.” I’ll give her (a smidgeon of) the benefit of the doubt that any official offering an apology may earn these days when so many dodge taking any responsibility. She’d also said, she “had no intention of using her position to receive a benefit.” While she may not have been trying to get out of a ticket, didn’t she still use her position to receive a benefit?” After all, calling the officer’s boss and being able to “stop” for the officer at a place of her choosing—her house—rather than where the offense occurred, is a benefit, right? Once at her house, officer could have immediately arrested her, and they could chatted at the station. Instead, he simply issued her the ticket she might have gotten had she just stopped and cooperated in the first place. In the end, she was rewarded for her bad behavior or not fully punished for it. One commenter on FB wondered how many people who broke the law while having “bad days” she’d prosecuted over her career. I suppose we can take comfort that the local and national public scrutiny has been uncomfortable for her, and that may deter her from future similar bad behavior. And, reportedly, the state is investigating the incident. Better yet, believing in second chances, (after all, we all really do have bad days), Doorley also mentioned getting some additional training. I’d recommend the training I wrote about here at the NPA in which Arizona civil rights activist and police critic Reverend Jerrett Maupin took part. He learned a bit about what it’s like on the streets for cops Let’s just say, I hope it would be as eye-opening for the DA as it was for the reverend.
May 7, 2024
Fallen Cop’s Daughter’s Speech at State Police Memorial Symbolizes Law Enforcement Solidarity
By Stephen Owsinski As the annual commemoration of fallen law enforcement officers upon us, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, is typically followed by respective states holding their vigils and remembrances of LEOs slain in the line of duty. Recently, from April 28-29, 2024, the Florida Fraternal Order of Police held its Evening of Remembrance in the Sunshine State’s Capitol in Tallahassee. There, Aleena Kondek, daughter of slain Tarpon Springs Police Officer Charles R. Kondek, Jr., gave a heartrending speech that touched upon the continuous embrace of her family by the law enforcement personnel who worked with her father, all of whom, nine years after the world lost a selfless policeman who adored his loved ones beyond measure, still serve as surrogates in the everyday lives of Officer Kondek’s spouse and children. [embedded content] As depicted throughout the entire speech given by Aleena Kondek, especially noted are the two flanks attired in police uniforms —one her brother, Officer Andrew Kondek who now serves as a Tampa International Airport PD cop, and the other, Officer Larry Bird who serves as a Tarpon Springs PD officer, aka uncle— honorably demonstrating the tapestry of law enforcement, tightly woven after one of their own is mortally wounded in the line of duty. (Photo courtesy of Teresa Kondek.) As a retired policeman whose career was served in Florida (not too far from the Kondek homestead), this brand of compassion for and pillaring of a fallen officer’s family remains a gestural testimony with profound attributes in police culture. (Photo courtesy of Teresa Kondek.) As Aleena articulated, in every imaginable event and milestone or hardship she and her siblings and mom experienced, badges and blues buttressed events and showed up in Charlie Kondek’s stead. Blue blood not only runs deep but also chronicles a full calendar that is unfailingly adhered to, graciously catering to needs known and unknown. Indeed, law enforcement culture shoulders its members’ loved ones. That compassion and camaraderie is profoundly pervasive. And it flows both ways… The Kondek family is also deeply giving, especially concerning the police profession and the first responders who earnestly deserve rest and relaxation away from it all…in a mountain-range tract of land with a structure dedicated to cops seeking a retreat to decompress. Charlie K’s Kabin Approximately two years ago, in May 2022, the National Police Association published a piece availing the Kondek family’s project: Charlie K’s Kabin. What I wrote then was this: In the months preceding December 2014, Tarpon Springs, Florida, police officer Charlie “K” Kondek, Jr. relished the thoughts of a retirement home built somewhere up in the mountains. A humble abode in which he and his beloved family could switch gears and enjoy solitude afforded by nature, leave long burdensome patrol shifts behind, and live happily ever after. Then a menace came along and unloosed mayhem…shattering the Kondek family’s police-retirement plans. An armed evildoer upended personal plans for which the Kondeks harbored high hopes. Since then, Teresa Kondek and her children, like police families are known to do, re-envisioned the dream… Enter Charlie K’s Kabin, a construction blueprint manifested as a retreat for law enforcement officers and their respective loved ones to remotely exhale the grief collected from police work and inhale fresh air…far away from menace and mayhem. Sort of a slice of Heaven designated for those who fight the good fight against the tsunami of hellacious matters. (Architectural rendering representing Charlie K’s Kabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. Photo courtesy of Teresa Kondek.) I also wrote something about everything the Kondek family pillars, namely the law enforcement community: Teresa is nothing less than a Mother Teresa for law enforcement, public safety, and first responder families everywhere. Her Giving Back to Blue covenant contains myriad gestures honoring the law enforcement community. One need only check her website to chronicle how widely scoped she and her children are with respect and honor for police officers and their families. We bow our heads and fold our hands together in prayer before, during, and after National Police Week 2024, honoring all slain LEOs. The words spoken by Aleena Kondek at the Florida Fraternal Order of Police Evening of Remembrance event resemble the heartfelt sentiments harbored by those who are also members of Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), especially at a time when America’s peacekeepers who paid the ultimate price are solemnly commemorated with the soft glow of candle lights during a vigil in their eternal honor.
May 6, 2024
Beware the “Gotcha” Question
By Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed.D I was listening to an interview on a local NPR-affiliated radio broadcast about the Aurora, CO case of Elijah McClain, who died in police custody resulting in felony criminal charges for three police officers and two paramedics. The interviewer asked the attorney being interviewed why one of the officers on the scene was not charged since he “Threw McClain on the ground for no reason.” This is a classic “gotcha” question in which a reasonable question is surrounded by a presuppositional statement, in this case that the officer acted criminally. The person being interviewed, as in this case, addresses the legitimate question in good faith without challenging the editorial presumption. By ignoring the premise of the interviewer that the officer acted “for no reason”, the person answering gives tacit validation to the premise, leaving the listener to believe that the officer did act irrationally. Law enforcement officers speaking for their agency must tread carefully during interviews with the media. Perhaps more importantly, the public must be aware of these tactics, whether perpetrated intentionally by the media or not, which can perpetuate bias against the police and give rise to misinformation. A reasonable response to such a question would be to point out the presumptive preface to a question and be clear about why it is inaccurate before addressing the underlying legitimate question. The person being interviewed must also be aware that only a fragment of the interview will be used in the article or news report. Even in a live conversation streamed in real-time may be edited for a subsequent story. That means that any statement must be measured by its potential to be taken out of context. Police leaders have learned a lot about dealing with releasing information to the public. Often their hands are tied and their lips are sealed by laws governing confidentiality, preserving evidence, risking tainting a jury pool, or speaking before confirming the information shared. Juveniles and sexual assault victims are protected by law. Revealing police investigative methods and tactical procedures can also imperil police effectiveness.The public may demand answers that the police don’t have or can’t divulge. Law enforcement officers other than the agency’s PIO (public information officer) can be trusted to make statements to the press if given clear policies and training, but most police departments prohibit or discourage doing so. They must know that there is no such thing as speaking off the record. They must know to whom a reporter should be referred. They must relay only known and verified facts and avoid emotional responses or political commentary. They must not make a statement that will later be contradicted, especially by a higher-ranking officer. Officers on a crime scene perimeter can be targets for aggressive reporters looking for insider information so that they can bring out their “breaking news!” logo and say “You heard it here first!” Of course, the media have a job to do and most are respectful to first responders and need to keep relationships cordial both ways. A challenge with social media is that everybody can become a reporter. Anyone with an X account or YouTube channel (and more venues popping up all the time) and a cell phone can make live reports from a scene with whatever narrative they want to create for better or worse. Savvy law enforcement leaders will be sure to monitor those kinds of accounts because many dimwitted offenders have chronicled their criminal activity on social media. The transition from print, television, and radio news to instant social media drove many changes for law enforcement. During the Michael Brown case in 2014 in Ferguson, MO, police chief Thomas Jackson scheduled a press release for conventional media, but the story of Brown’s death had already been told on social media with an anti-police narrative from which we have yet to recover. Moreover, when the Chief showed evidence that Brown had been involved in a strong-arm robbery prior to his contact with Officer Darren Wilson, the public outcry by detractors painted Jackson as manipulative, defensive, and unapologetic rather than presenting legal justification for police contact. Jackson’s efforts to mollify his critics and his community failed and he resigned six months later. Although transparent communication with the public is an important component of public trust, law enforcement can also remember their own application of the Fifth Amendment and exercise the right to remain silent.
May 5, 2024
The NPA brought the #SupportThePolice message to Dover, DE last weekend. Next: Officer Rita Goulet Brings the NPA #31 to the ARCA Menards Music City 150 in Nashville.
Images from Dover Next: Saturday, May 11 at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway 8:30 p.m. Live stream on FloRacing.
May 2, 2024
Rescuing Children from Abuse
By Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed.D The prime directive for police officers is to protect the innocent, and there are none so innocent as children. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), there were 558,899 victims of child abuse and neglect across the United States in 2022. In addition to the wounds to small bodies, children exposed to violence, crime, and abuse whether experienced directly or indirectly can lead to serious detrimental consequences lasting long into adulthood. Children who are exposed to violence are more likely to experience failure in school, depression, substance use, antisocial behavior, and dysfunctional relationships in adulthood. Child abuse victims are more susceptible to online abuse as well. Child abuse is broadly defined as causing hurt to a child or teen by inflicting physical pain or injury, as well as making a young person feel worthless, having sexual contact with them, or failing to provide food, care, or shelter. More formally, federal law identifies child abuse as “a set of acts or any act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or an act or failure to act, which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.” According to the HHS, “most victims of child abuse experienced neglect, accounting for 76% of all cases. Physical abuse was reported in 16% of cases, while sexual abuse was reported in 10.1% of cases. Additionally, 0.2% of cases involved sex trafficking. Girls were abused more often (8.7 per 1,000 girls in the population) than boys (7.5 per 1,000).” There is no definitive profile of a person who perpetrates abuse on a child. It can happen to all types of children in all types of families. Rarely is abuse a single event, but occurs with regularity and tends to grow more severe over time. While most parents fear that their child will be victimized by a stranger, most victims are abused by someone with legitimate access to the child. Most often, a parent, family member, caretaker, or someone close to the family is the perpetrator of child abuse. According to the HHS report, most individuals who committed child abuse in 2021 were the victim’s parents (76.8%). In cases of predatory child sexual abuse, perpetrators may maneuver themselves into situations where they have access to a child. For this reason vetting and supervising child care workers, youth program volunteers, and other trusted persons in regular contact with children. Some predators will go so far as to get an apartment close to their target, establish a relationship with the parent of a targeted child, or hang around places where children gather. The process of grooming, which establishes trust and access to a targeted child, can be methodically accomplished over time – even years – by a predator. Since the advent of the internet, the opportunity to get access to children and teens anonymously has exploded. In cases of physical injury to a child law enforcement personnel often have difficulty determining if a child’s injury is accidental or deliberately inflicted. Questioning medical personnel, witnesses, and the persons reporting the injury is essential in order to compare the injury to the account of how it happened. False claims that the child hurt themselves or fell out of bed can often be disproved if the story behind the injury is inconsistent with the physical evidence, especially signs of repeated injury. Police investigations are best done in partnership with social services agencies or other specialists. Trained interviewers specializing in questioning suspected victims often conduct the interviews in specially designed child-friendly rooms. Non-verbal children may reveal signs of abuse in art or play. Investigators must be especially careful to avoid suggesting, by their questions or subtle body language, what they want the child to say or reveal. In the enthusiasm to prove abuse, it is vital to try to avoid wrongly accusing loving parents of being the perpetrators. Certain medical conditions, including sudden infant death, as well as truly accidental injuries that can occur with active kids even with the most watchful caregivers can look like abuse. Police officers are an essential link in getting justice for children and protecting them from further harm. It is among the most difficult tasks they are called on to do.
May 1, 2024
After Horrific Ambush on LEOs in Charlotte, the Caliber of America’s Cops Prevails: ‘Yet Somehow Today They All Got Up to Do it Again’
By Stephen Owsinski Another infamous day recorded in the annals of our brave, forward-stepping law enforcement officers felled by a crazed gunman harboring zero value for life unfolded on April 29, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina, resulting in four cops slain in the line of duty and several others hospitalized. In total, eight law enforcement officers were ambushed and shot in one incident! I set out to write about it. I stared at a blank screen. I envisioned the police families numbed by yesterday’s horrors that ended police lives and upended others in Charlotte, NC. I brewed morning coffee, signed into social media, and there it was—a meme statement spoken by an unknown individual addressing yesterday’s mass ambush of justice-serving law enforcement professionals: “Yet somehow today they all got up to do it again.” Those always-applicable words are befitting the significant losses yesterday and echo the valiant nature of our country’s cops. The horrific details of this mass ambush primarily poured in via the police-oriented sights to which I subscribe. My temples throbbed. My heart hastened. To Him, I muttered, “Dear God!” Only one legacy media entity posted what happened in Charlotte, and it wasn’t introduced as “Breaking News,” either. No shock there. Following the steady flow of information from police sources, the report of one US Marshal killed surely hit home. Then reports of three LEOs felled updated the death toll in that one event. Two of the three slain LEOs were NC Department of Corrections officers deputized as US Marshals, assigned to a specialized task force, the concept of which the NPA reported on previously. A bit thereafter, the chronicled account tallied a fourth casualty: Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD Officer Joshua Eyer succumbed to gunshot wounds at the hospital, from which crime-fighting brothers and sisters saluted and stood at attention as his body was boarded for the somber trek to the Medical Examiner’s Office. Given legacy media typically provides details wrongly…carelessly conveying little of the substantive nature when it comes to our cops under fire and undervalued, we derive fact-based accounts from involved law enforcement authorities, the family fighting the good fight against bad actors: “Today, we tragically lost three U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force members in the line of duty. Five additional officers were struck by gunfire. This includes four CMPD officers and an additional officer from an assisting agency. One of our CMPD officers is still in critical condition. The heroic actions of these officers are a testament to the dangers our law enforcement officers face daily. Today, some of our colleagues made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of our community. We are grateful for the bravery shown by all officers and outpouring responses from our neighboring agencies.” That was posted by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Via the US Marshals: “Our hearts are heavy tonight for the lives shattered by today’s horrific shooting in Charlotte, NC. We mourn the loss of our Deputy and two Task Force Officers. We are grateful for all the support, and we keep the families and colleagues of all officers involved, in our thoughts.” As depicted in the United States Marshals Service post, law enforcement officers across America will once again shroud their respective justice badges with mourning bands while they go about their daily duties. This harkens back to the statement above… Despite the macabre scene in Charlotte, NC, cops Everywhere, USA, will suit up, boot up, hug and kiss their loved ones, and valiantly march out the door to confront the unambiguous dangers of policing…as illustrated yesterday with a batch of badges orchestrating the perilous arrest of a violent felon whose pedigree contains weapons use. [embedded content] As respective law enforcement agencies’ personnel arrange funerals for the fallen in the line of duty, similar operations by the US Marshals, county sheriff’s offices, and municipal police agencies are ongoing as you read this material. Indeed, cops of all stripes serving various jurisdictions are saddled with sadness yet endeavor to carry forth the mission of first responders, unhesitatingly. Often elbow to elbow, working scenes the psyche will not soon forget (if ever), other public safety entity members shoulder somber burdens such as this. “Our brothers and sisters in the City of Miami are with you” was posted by the Miami, Florida, fire department. (Photo courtesy of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.) One of my initial thoughts when this tragic event unfolded and details were coming in, was how America’s law enforcement heroes —those who don a justice badge— are mentally and physically prepping for the upcoming National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in May 2024, saying farewell to the fallen. As final preparations are made in DC, where thousands of cops and loved ones of LEOs convene in commemorative moments, the tabulation of fallen officers uptick, by several more as of April 29, 2024…
April 30, 2024
Tell CA Governor Newsom to Keep the Killer of 2 Year Old Priscilla Hernandez Behind Bars
On December 3, 2011, David Leonardo was watching his girlfriend’s daughter while his girlfriend was out. Instead of caring for the toddler, he beat two-year-old Priscilla Hernandez to death. An autopsy confirmed she had been abused before. Leonardo was convicted in 2014 and was sentenced to 15 years to life for second-degree murder. However, because of one of California’s insane pro-criminal laws, Penal Code section 3051, subdivision (h), Leonardo, who was 25 when he murdered Priscilla, qualifies as a “Youthful Offender”, and gets favorable parole hearings. Leonardo was granted parole on October 26, 2022, only eight years after conviction. Governor Newsom reversed the parole board’s decision so Leonardo remained incarcerated. On April 23, 2024, Leonardo was granted parole again. It is up to Governor Newsom whether he will reverse the parole board this time as well. To tell Governor Newsom to keep Leonardo incarcerated visit his contact page which includes an email form. In the upper right of the page select the topic “Parole – Governor’s Review”. For purpose select “Request for Help”. In the message field include David Leonardo’s CDCR number which is AS9564. The National Police Association’s Educational, Legal, Support, and Policy missions cost money, even sponsoring Facebook posts to alert Californians as we did with this message. If you’d like to assist please contribute below.
April 30, 2024
The National Police Association awards a grant to the Somerset, KY Police Department’s Shepherds Watch program
(Indianapolis) April 30, 2024 – The National Police Association announced today it has awarded the Somerset, KY Police Department a $1000.00 grant to assist with funding their Shepherds Watch program. Shepherds Watch is a contemporary crime prevention and investigation tool that utilizes the effectiveness of partnerships between police and the community. Security camera owners can enroll their cameras, which not only helps deter crime, but assists law enforcement in its overall crime prevention strategy in all neighborhoods. The Somerset PD seeks to compile a list of every security camera in Somerset that’s business-owned or residential-owned. This list will help police officers locate cameras that may have captured the movements of criminals, missing persons, or anything else crucial to an investigation. The department does not have remote access to cameras. They come to the location and look at the video footage, under the owner’s supervision, and only with permission. More information is available here: https://www.cityofsomerset.com/shepherds-watch/ The National Police Association (NPA) is a 501(c)3 Educational/Advocacy non-profit organization. For additional information visit NationalPolice.org. ###
April 30, 2024
More Serious Criminals Receiving More Light Sentences
(Photo: Bob Jagendorf Creative Commons) By Steve Pomper I was an officer on one of Washington State’s first (it may have been the first) “Three Strikes law” (a 1993 voter-passed initiative) court cases. The law required that after a person is convicted for a third (qualifying) violent felony, which he was, it’s off to the hoosegow for life. I had no problem with that. This stiff sentence is not something the “system” was doing to him because he controlled his criminal actions. He decided to commit violent crime, not once, not twice, but three times (and got caught), obviously not learning his lesson. And if you think three is too low a number, it’s very likely he’d committed several other violent crimes for which he was not arrested, charged, prosecuted, convicted, and imprisoned. No criminal is that unlucky to be arrested for the only three violent felonies he committed. The thing that got me was when one bleeding heart I knew asked me if I could sleep at night knowing that I helped send this “human being” to prison for life. “Like a baby,” I answered. I saw him as an adult who’d made his own choices, which included making other people’s lives miserable, and now he’d suffer the consequences he’d earned. Various jurisdictions combined several cases for this guy’s trial, which included an armed robbery of a gas station and other violent felonies I can’t recall. In my case, this charming individual had kicked in the door of a 90-something-year-old man, knocking him down, and stealing—of all things—his banjo. That’s a home invasion robbery, folks. Testifying in court, I was thinking about the victims, not the suspect. At any rate, some of this state’s soft-on-crime activists, legislators, judiciary, and prosecutors have sought to hollow out the law almost since its inception. One result was to resentence 114 three-strikes convicts to lighter sentences. Of course, this negates the law’s original intent and pretty much assured that there would be victims out there who will be injured or killed who would not have been had the original convictions remain in place. And that’s what happened. One of those victims was 14-year-old Chelsea Harrison whom (one of the 114 resentenced) Roy Russell, 45, had, according to prosecutor Jim Senescu to KGW 8 News, “raped, beaten and strangled to death and her naked body was dumped upside down in the shower….” X-Post Link Russell’s is one of the more egregious cases. Convicted of second-degree murder, instead of 21-30 years, the judge recognized his danger to society and “sentenced him to life under the state’s three-strikes law. For years, Russell had refused to admit he’d killed Harrison. But, in a sick twist, allowed by Washington’s pro-criminal legislature, after the law changed, he admitted to the murder, which, perversely, allowed him to qualify for resentencing. It gets worse. Beginning in the 1980s, Russell had been convicted of several felonies, “including armed robbery, kidnapping, theft and arson.” There’s no way this slime should ever have been anywhere near leniency or any benefit of the doubt. In 1998, after a judge sentenced him to life for the first time, under the three-strikes law, Russell appealed a kidnapping conviction. In 2001, another judge decided, since he’d been convicted of the kidnapping in Arizona, it “did not qualify as a strike under state law.” The judge did not have to rule that way, but he did, and a 14-year-old Chelsea Harrison paid the price. KGW reported, “His life sentence was lifted and he was released from prison not long before he met Chelsea Harrison.” Anti-law-and-order radicals lament efforts to establish mandatory life sentences for violent criminals like Russell. But what choice do people who prefer—you know—law and order have when legislators, prosecutors, and judges abuse their discretion? Washington passed the Chelsea Harrison Act “to close the loophole that allowed Russell to escape his first life sentence, expanding Washington law to include felony convictions in other states.” Not to be outdone, in 2021, the radical left lawmakers passed Senate Bill 5164, giving Russell another opportunity at undeserved freedom. Senescu said, “Now we’re back to — he only has two strikes. It’s a deplorable thing that the lawmakers did.” To show you how toxic Washington State’s criminal justice system is, the prime sponsor in the legislature for SB5164 was former state Senator Jeannie Darneille. After leaving the Senate, she was tapped to become the Assistant Secretary of the Women’s Prison Division. KGW said none of the bill’s co-sponsors would speak with them, including Darneille. Darneille recently retired from state service, according to the DOC website, “after [a] distinguished career” . X-Post Link Three-Strikes laws, like in Washington State, happen when charging and sentencing become too lenient, even for heinous crimes as in the Russell case. At the NPA, I recently wrote about the New York Speaker of the Assembly who “doesn’t believe raising penalties is ever a deterrent to crime.” There’s also the shamefully lenient sentence a judge handed down to a convicted Indiana cop killer, which amounted to a five-year prison sentence. And there’s the San Francisco judge who sentenced a man convicted of stabbing a 94-year-old woman multiple times only to probation. Then there’s a story out of Gwinnett County, Georgia, that, again, boggles the mind and can make cops wonder why they even do the job. According to WSB TV 2 Atlanta, Stoney Williams, a suspect in a murder-for-hire case, who’d been in jail awaiting trial for allegedly “ordering a hit on his ex-girlfriend and business partner, Courtney Owens,” will serve only “house arrest and probation” under a plea bargain with Gwinnett County. Why the light sentence? Gwinnett County “may have run out of time to try the case.” Reportedly, the DA “may have missed the deadline, impacting their ability to prosecute the case.” Essentially, they lost track of the court calendar in a murder case. Prosecutors said Williams allegedly hired suspect Wesley Vickers to kill Owens who was reportedly killed after witnesses said a suspect “walked in, shot Owens, and then took off.” Vickers, was arrested a month later and “charged with felony murder, malice murder, and aggravated assault.” Williams denied he paid Vickers to kill Owens. The glitch seemed to hinge on Williams having asserted his right to a speedy trial. In a major case like this, how did the DA not keep track of speedy trial constraints? Doesn’t that come during Lawyering 101 early in law school? However, I won’t outright condemn the DA’s office because I don’t know what happened, and people make honest mistakes. However, while in the past I might have read something like that and immediately paused, remained disturbed, but understand that technicalities do happen. Still, today, with so many “glitches” allowing criminals off with light or even no sentences, I don’t pause so much as come to a screeching halt as my jaw hits the floor. I also have to wonder why these “errors” so rarely go in the other direction.
April 29, 2024
The Criminal Calculus
By Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed.D The head of the New York State Assembly is a good example of today’s progressive crime philosophy as it progresses in the wrong direction. Carl Heastie is Speaker and is described by commentator Steve Pomper in a recent NPA article as rejecting the fundamental idea that laws can change behavior. “Heastie, whose position as head of the Assembly is especially powerful, doubled down on his remarks Tuesday, telling reporters in Albany, ‘I simply just said I do not believe that increasing penalties deters crime, and I’d love somebody to give me an example as to when that happened.’” Heastie’s challenge was to prove a common sense principle that has been at the core of criminal justice policy since the early 1800s. It was England’s Jeremy Bentham who articulated the Utilitarian Theory. Simply stated, he held that people are rational actors when deciding on their behavior by what he labeled the hedonistic calculus. Humans engage in behavior that enhances pleasure and reduces pain. Is it worth risking years in prison for the possible gain of a few thousand dollars from a bank robbery? Obviously, most people decide not to rob banks. Of course, there are plenty of reasons why more people don’t rob banks, but for people whose personal ethics wouldn’t automatically perish the thought, those who might consider the treasure don’t take the risk of getting caught or even getting shot. The study of victimology intuitively tells us that some people are more vulnerable to crime than others because they are easier targets and therefore increase the chance of their perpetrator being identified, caught, and punished. Any parent, any school teacher, and any coach will tell you that unpleasant consequences work in regulating behavior. Even a reward-only system where bad behavior is ignored and good behavior is rewarded depends on the value of the reward to the individual. In other words, the pain/pleasure calculus is central to decision-making. Bentham, of course, expanded on his thesis saying that the consequences must be swift, certain, and severe in proportion to the offense. Those with sympathies for offenders must recognize Bentham’s progressive philosophy about punishment for criminals. He advocated against the widespread use of the death penalty, torture, and different penalties for the poor than for the rich. His swift, certain, and severe formula was conditioned on a presumption of innocence, due process, and proportionality. These principles are seen in our Constitution. The swiftness of punishment requires that, with appropriate regard for the pace of the judicial process, the sentence occurs reasonably close enough to the offense that the offender makes the cause-effect connection. When we see offenders released without safeguards prior to a trial on a violent offense, such as no bail release, we often see new crimes committed before the original crime has been prosecuted. If we trace the real criminal history of persons sentenced for a crime, we would see in most cases a pattern of police discretion, victim discretion, prosecutorial discretion, and judicial discretion that has allowed years of predatory behavior to go without the deterrence of swift accountability. Certainty of punishment is also a casualty of the legal requirements for trial and the standard of proof required for a verdict. Bentham would agree with the core value of our justice system that incarcerating innocents must be avoided even at the cost of releasing the guilty, but uncertainty due to poor prosecutions and overburdened systems is ultimately a correctable flaw. As for severity, one needs only to look at the wave of legislation over the past decade to redefine former felonies and misdemeanors, legalize and decriminalize substance abuse behavior, restrict police from basic operations, and broaden the excuses of trauma and mental illness for criminal behavior. Many legislators, like Speaker Heastie, think that punishment itself is wrong and ineffective, advocating for more mental health services. No one wants those with mental conditions that limit their quality of life to go untreated, but if politicians continue to believe that the criminal mind can change through compassion and persuasion alone, they haven’t been a crime victim yet.
