Local Breaking Police News
16 hours ago
Reptiles slither into MassMutual show
SPRINGFIELD -- With a face only a mother could love, Olaf the gecko still got a lot of attention on Sunday.The scaley, green creature, from Mythical Exotics, was among the reptiles, amphibians and exotic animals at the Show Me Reptiles Show at the MassMutual Center. The family-friendly event allowed visitors to get up close and personal with a variety of exotic creatures, as well as shop for pet supplies, food and other related products from vendors. A plastic box containing Russian turtles got an emotional reaction from Mirranda Longo, of Granby. “I had one, so I always have a soft spot for them,” she said. “He was 23 years old.” Demonstrations and presentations provided an education on reptile care, behavior, and conservation. Matt Peterson, of Camo Constrictors, showed off his mischief of rats, for which he says there is a big demand. “We produce 1,500 to 2,000 rats a week,”he said.“These guys are hard to keep,” he added, pointing to his Extreme Double Rex variety, which some people refer to as “hairless” rats.The show also featured interactive exhibits that showcased a wide range of reptiles, including snakes, lizards and turtles. Reptile enthusiasts got opportunities to speak with experts and gain insights into the care and habitat needs of exotic pets.
17 hours ago
2 arrested after fight breaks out at The Big E on Saturday, police say
Police arrested two men accused of participating in a fight at The Big E on Saturday that left multiple people injured. James Stanley, of Haverhill, and Levi Stanley, of Amherst, New Hampshire, face charges of disorderly conduct, malicious destruction of property over $1,200 and assault and battery. James Stanley is also charged with unarmed robbery, West Springfield Police wrote in a Facebook post. The large fight broke out on Industrial Avenue around 5 p.m., according to police. Multiple people were hurt and police brought a number of people to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. Officers saw a “large group of individuals,” including some who were known to the department, fleeing the area and the fairgrounds onto Memorial Avenue. Police detained James and Levi Stanley near Gate 8 at The Big E on Memorial Avenue. Both men were issued letters of trespass for the fair. After they were taken to the police station, officers learned that James Stanley had taken items from at least one of the people he is accused of assaulting, according to the statement.
17 hours ago
This Massachusetts festival is all about cheese
A festival in Lee is very cheesy. The ninth annual Massachusetts Cheese Festival is coming to High Lawn Farm in Lee on Sept. 21. It lasts from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival will have workshops and demonstrations with chefs and cheesemakers. There will also be samples available and “dozens of Pairing Partners” to showcase products that accompany the cheese. Pairings include everything from wine to cider to hot sauce. There will be nine cheesemakers at the event, including High Lawn Farm. Some of the workshops will include “healing your gut with hot sauce” and a grand tasting with Boston Wine School. Tickets are $30 for adults. Children under the age of 12 are free. See below for the full list of cheesemakers: High Lawn Farm, Lee, Mass. Mozzarella House, Peabody, Mass.Mystic Cheese Company, Groton, Conn.Oake Knoll Farm, Foxborough, Mass.Pariva, New EnglandRound Table Farm, Hardwick, Mass.Smith’s Country Cheese, Winchendon, Mass.The Grey Barn and Farm, Chilmark, Mass.Thomas Farm & Dairy, Sunderland, Mass.
18 hours ago
WMass Girls Soccer Season Stats Leaders: See who leads as of Sept. 15
Note: Stats Leaders is based on results sent to MassLive as of Sept. 15. If a player or stat is missing, coaches should email sports@masslive.com.MassLive is highlighting the top stats leaders for each girls soccer category throughout the season. Take a look at the season’s top performers thus far below:
18 hours ago
WMass Field Hockey Season Stats Leaders: See who leads as of Sept. 15
Note: Stats Leaders is based on results sent to MassLive as of Sept. 15. If a player or stat is missing, coaches should email sports@masslive.com.MassLive is highlighting the top stats leaders for each field hockey category throughout the season. Take a look at the season’s top performers thus far below:
18 hours ago
WMass Girls Volleyball Season Stats Leaders: See who leads as of Sept. 15
Note: Stats Leaders is based on results sent to MassLive as of Sept. 15. If a player or stat is missing, coaches should email sports@masslive.com.MassLive is highlighting the top stats leaders for each girls volleyball category throughout the season. Take a look at the season’s top performers thus far below:
18 hours ago
WMass Boys Soccer Season Stats Leaders: See who leads as of Sept. 15
Note: Stats Leaders is based on results sent to MassLive as of Sept. 15. If a player or stat is missing, coaches should email sports@masslive.com.MassLive is highlighting the top stats leaders for each boys soccer category throughout the season. Take a look at the season’s top performers thus far below:
18 hours ago
2 taken to hospital after scooters collide with car in Mass.
Two people were taken to local hospitals, one with life-threatening injuries, after scooters they were riding collided with a car in Roxbury early Sunday morning, according to police.The crash happened around 12:09 a.m. at the intersection of Humboldt Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Roxbury, said Sgt. Detective John Boyle, a spokesman for Boston police. The driver of the car remained at the scene after the crash.The riders of two scooters were taken to a hospital following the collision, he said. Boyle said he did not have an update on either person’s condition as of Monday morning.
18 hours ago
The Big E weather: Here's when rain is expected
Opening weekend of The Big E in West Springfield was filled with beautiful days of sunshine. But rain could be putting a damper on a few days of the fair this week. There is a chance of rain Wednesday after 2 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. However, as of Monday morning, chances for rain later in the week remain low at 30%. There’s another chance for rain on Thursday. Chances are slightly higher at 40%. The rain is expected to clear up by Friday, leaving the day cloudy and a high of 75. Saturday is expected to be sunny again. The Big E is open rain or shine. The Big E was inundated by rain in 2023, which was some of the reason for a decline in attendance. Sunshine, unique food and Ludacris helped bring in more attendees to opening weekend of The Big E in 2024 than the year before.There were a total of 275,444 fairgoers in West Springfield from Friday-Sunday, with a record 121,854 attendees on Saturday.
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September 16, 2024
Cops and Robbers Ain’t What it Used to Be
Seattle police car Photo: (Joe Mabel, CC Wikimedia 4.0 When I first heard about another bit of Emerald City lunacy, sadly, it didn’t surprise me. I hate picking on Seattle, after all, I worked for the Seattle Police Department (SPD) for over two decades. But why do they keep doing this… stuff to their cops? Many years ago, I was talking with a squad mate about the city’s micromanaging of police officers. He joked that before we knew it, they’d issue us pocket flowcharts to determine what we were allowed to do in a given situation. If A, then do B. If C, then proceed to D, unless E happens, and then reconsider A. This seems ridiculous, but it’s happening. This time, a Seattle police officer has been reprimanded for initiating a pursuit of an assault and car theft suspect who’d also rammed the officer’s patrol car—repeatedly—before escaping. Where’s the logic in saying an officer cannot pursue an assault, car theft suspect who’s also rammed a police car occupied by a police officer? Don’t look for logic; it’s not there. He was reprimanded specifically for failing to obtain a supervisor’s “authorization” to pursue. One issue is that the department’s pursuit policy is more restrictive than state law—which has not recently been what you’d call pro-cop. The officer explained that if he’d waited for authorization, “the suspect would have been too far gone for the officer to effectively and safely catch up.” Remember, the officer is the law enforcement official at the location. He’s reacting to the circumstances in real time, seeing, hearing, and feeling what’s happening at the crime scene. When your job is to enforce the law (catch the bad guys), your impetus is to act. Even if you argue that the officer was adrenaline-compromised at the scene, a supervisor terminated the pursuit, and the officer complied immediately. But that’s not enough, these days. A pound of flesh is required from cops. Here are some pertinent details. A Seattle cop was investigating a complaint from a car owner at his house that his vehicle had just been stolen from out front. Rather than merely take a report, which the powers-that-be seem to prefer over police work, the officer used the victim’s GPS tracker to locate the stolen car at a nearby fast food restaurant parking lot. That’s called good police work, if anyone is wondering. He and other officers made a plan to block the car and arrest the thief. However, when the officer implemented his plan, instead of surrendering, the driver allegedly, repeatedly, and “intentionally…” rammed his patrol car (violent?) before fleeing “at a high rate of speed.” So, here’s the list of alleged offenses: Assault 3 (violent) (felony) Vehicular Assault (violent) (felony) Vehicle Theft (felony) If course a cop should be able to pursue a violent felony suspect in such circumstances. Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG) President Mike Solan told KTTH talk show host Jason Rantz he believes the continual nitpicky “reforms” and “overhauling” of the city’s policies “leads to lawlessness…” referencing “the rise in crime since Black Lives Matter-inspired policies were implemented in Seattle and statewide.” Solan wonders how “you can have a suspect ram a police officer and… not being able to take that person into custody, or at least pursue them, to hold them accountable, at least put them in handcuffs for maybe perhaps a few hours in jail.” This is what cops have been reduced to hoping for regarding accountability. Since the incident involved violence, the original Assault 3 and the ramming of the officer in his patrol car, the officer felt justified in pursuing the suspect. Allow me to don my crusty cop cap. In my day, a pursuit for these offenses would not have been a question. In fact, not pursuing would more likely have been questioned. Rantz described at MyNorthwest.com that the pursuit was “brief,” during which “the officer drove through a red light…” at a clear intersection. The officer’s supervisor (sergeant) then called off the pursuit, and the officer discontinued immediately. So, how was the officer rewarded for his proactive police work? He was reprimanded for, well … once again, for doing police work. Rantz said, “the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) sustained a complaint by the officer’s supervisor for violating the department’s pursuit policy because the pursuit began without authorization.” (i.e., refer to flowchart). To give the sergeant the benefit of the doubt, these days, it’s likely the supervisor would have been disciplined if he or she hadn’t submitted a complaint against the officer. I don’t know if this was the case, but I’m going to choose to look at it that way until I hear otherwise. Think about how burdensome, even ridiculous it is for a trained, sworn officer to observe a violent crime in progress or a violent criminal fleeing and having to stop to get permission before pursuing. In the time it takes to get that supervisor authorization, the suspect will be long gone. If the officer doesn’t get the authorization, the suspect gets away. But, if the officer gets permission, he or she either has to drive at a higher rate of speed to catch up to the suspect or, more likely, the suspect gets away. Is anyone sensing a trend here? Solan also told Rantz, “‘I think it’s emblematic of… the policies that have handcuffed our ability to effectively do our jobs. And you become a police officer… to catch bad people doing bad things, to protect the public. But when we’re administratively handcuffed to prohibit us from doing so… the public is the victim…. And the administrative process… police officers now have to go through in terms of discipline are extreme.’” The investigative process alone has become disciplinary for officers regardless of the findings. In this case, Rantz points out the incident happened in mid-November 2023. But OPA didn’t interview the officer until late March 2024. Next, the officer didn’t find out until June 26th, 2024, that the reprimand was upheld. Is there any mystery that a torrent of officers keep flooding out the SPD exit? As Rantz put it, “nearly 700 officers… [have left] the department since the Seattle City Council embraced the defund movement.” But the following statistic is even more alarming. Since the start of 2024 through July, “61 officers…” have left SPD, “including 11 student recruits.” Now, back to that handy dandy officer pocket flowchart: If A happens: The suspect points a gun at you. Then B: First, obtain supervisor authorization to discharge your firearm at the suspect. If C happens: The supervisor eventually authorizes you to shoot. Then D: Disregard C; you probably won’t need it. Make a difference. Support the NPA.
September 16, 2024
National Police Association Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Protect Police Officers from Abusive Inclusion on “Brady” or “Giglio” Lists
Alamy Stock Image The National Police Association (NPA) has filed an amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Captain Manuel Adams, Jr., a law enforcement officer challenging his inclusion on a “Giglio” list—an unregulated registry of officers whose credibility has been called into question, effectively barring them from future employment in law enforcement. The case, Adams v. City of Harahan, Louisiana, seeks review of a Fifth Circuit ruling which determined that Captain Adams could not pursue a due process claim despite being terminated and added to a Giglio list based on false allegations. The “Giglio” listing, unregulated and lacking transparency, effectively prevents officers like Adams from working in their chosen profession ever again. The NPA’s brief urges the Supreme Court to take the case and establish due process protections for law enforcement officers unfairly placed on such lists. “The use of Giglio lists, which originated from legal standards set by Brady v. Maryland and Giglio v. United States, has grown into an unregulated system that often ruins the careers of innocent officers without proper legal safeguards,” said NPA spokesperson Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith (Ret.). “Captain Adams’ case represents the type of due process violation the Court needs to address, ensuring that these lists stop being used as a tool for arbitrary punishment.” The NPA contends that Captain Adams, like many others placed on Giglio lists, is effectively barred from continuing his career in law enforcement, satisfying even the Fifth Circuit’s extreme standard. The amicus brief calls on the Supreme Court to safeguard officers’ due process rights, and address the lack of oversight surrounding Giglio lists, which too often include names based on unverified or false accusations. In this case, the Supreme Court’s decision would have wide-ranging implications for officers and agencies nationwide, making it a critical issue for the law enforcement community. The NPA’s amicus brief can be read here. The National Police Association is represented by Robert S. Lafferrandre and Jeffrey C. Hendrickson of Pierce Couch Hendrickson Baysinger & Green, L.L.P., in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. About The National Police Association: The National Police Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit Educational/Advocacy organization. For additional information visit NationalPolice.org ###
September 15, 2024
‘We Pay Our Respects in Sweat’: Honoring First Responders Fallen on 9/11
By Stephen Owsinski The first half of today’s title of this article is credited to the fine folks at the Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association, of which the union staff and service members simulated the heroic efforts of first responders, weighted down by duty gear, who unhesitatingly scaled thousands of steps to save lives impacted by cowardly terrorists slamming planes into the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. “WE PAY OUR RESPECTS IN SWEAT. Today, in honor of every American who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, we each climbed 2,200 stairs. 48,400 stairs total. “God bless every man, woman, and child whose life was forever changed on this morning, twenty-three years ago today [September 11, 2024]. Our hearts, and our votes, are also with every surviving first responder who is now fighting cancer and disease as a result of their 9/11 service. (Photo courtesy of the Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association.)“Our people run into what others flee. It is our honor to be their Union.” Those are the words posted by the leadership at the Sun Coast PBA, a law enforcement union representing cops in Florida. For the 4th Annual 9/11 Stair Climb, the SCPBA climb involved police union members/LEOs from various agencies in southwest Florida. (Photo courtesy of the Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association.) The current recruit class undergoing training in the Miami Police Department academy in Florida also sweat it out for the fallen, offering brief footage and a photo deck illustrating the class stairclimbing at a local stadium. More than 1,000 people participated in the annual 911 Memorial Stair Climb in El Paso, Texas, per KFOX 14 News. “Having a whole community coming together from different organizations — from PD to military — just showing the ultimate sacrifice that our brothers and sisters made that day, it was a great turnout and it’s just beautiful to see that unified command.” Those are the words of Jaqueline Manriquez, an El Paso firefighter whose attendance and sweat on the stairs goes beyond a decade. On 09/11/01, first responders in New York City “were not thinking about the global scale of the attack, they were only thinking about helping their community, the people trapped in the buildings, and just going into a burning building without knowing if they were ever going to come back — and most of them did not,” said El Paso Fire Department spokesperson Enrique Duenas. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, and military personnel conducted their climb in remembrance at the Sun Bowl, a jurisdictional venue. Similarly, members of the Phoenix Police Department (already mourning the line-of-duty death of one of their own) scaled the bleachers in a stadium in their neck of the woods. With full gear and totes of water, each man and woman did the work of climbing the equivalency of stairs as cops and firefighters did on 9/11/01. On that fateful day, the weight of the world got heavier. On these stadium steps simulating feats to honor the fallen, the duty-gear weight is exacerbated by the mental baggage that morphed from some American public heralding public safety professionals to denouncing them rabidly. Nevertheless, onward and upward they go! From a spokesperson: “Phoenix PD gathered with fellow first responders and the community to pay respects at the annual 9/11 Tower Challenge in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11/2001. (Photo courtesy of the Desert Diamond Arena.) “The World Trade Center’s Twin Towers each consisted of 110 floors (2071 steps), and each year thousands of people across Arizona walk, climb, and run the stairs to remember. This includes firefighters in full gear, police, military, and bomb squad personnel alongside civilians of various ages, abilities, and backgrounds.” I dug into Phoenix PD’s archived pages and discovered heartrending imagery of geared-up first responders participating in previous years’ Tower Challenge, commemorating fallen NYPD, FDNY, and other heroes whose final act of duty was on soil forever referred to as Ground Zero. (Photo courtesy of the Desert Diamond Arena.) The stadium seats in that picture are tagged with photographs of both New York City police officers and firefighters who ran in, climbed until they ran out of steps and time, horrifically succumbing to the unspeakable crush of buckled skyscrapers that would, in time, give way to a monumental memorial site. Taking steps and sweating it out in a different way, Doral, Florida, police Chief Edwin Lopez donned his athletic wear and duty belt, clutched an American flag, and took to the streets. (Photo courtesy of the Doral Police Department.) Chief Lopez’s method of remembrance is respectfully reflective of FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller who on the morning of September 11, 2001, ran from the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, and into lower Manhattan, until he arrived at the Twin Towers. According to the folks at Tunnel to Towers Foundation, having just finished his tour of duty and headed home while listening to his scanner, Firefighter Siller overheard that a plane just pierced the first Tower and the havoc that ensued immediately: “Stephen drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but it had already been closed for security purposes. Determined to carry out his duty, he strapped 60 lbs. of gear to his back and raced on foot through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave up his life while saving others.” The Tunnel to Towers Foundation announced that on Sunday, September 29, 2024, “nearly 40,000 people will participate in the 23rd Annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk NYC. “The 5K course retraces the final footsteps of FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller on September 11, 2001.” Perhaps Doral Chief Lopez is training for that grand event. Nowadays, any footage of New York City’s skyline includes the 9/11 Memorial Tower, a construction including two pools where both Twin Towers previously jutted skyward, their respective hulks containing stairwells used by heroes whose patches were emblematic of NYPD and FDNY services. Since (and because of the tragic event of 9/11/01), the death toll is still chronicled due to health-embattled first responders who somehow managed to survive…only to be seriously affected by inhalations caused by the collapse of the Towers. Another 9/11-related casualty was recorded mere days ago… The FDNY Foundation “joins the FDNY in mourning the passing of retired FDNY EMS Lieutenant Anthony S. Cozzino of Station 43, who succumbed to his WTC [World Trade Center] illness on Saturday, September 7, 2024. Lieutenant Cozzino was a 26-year veteran of the department.” On the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), 19 different classifications denote how law enforcement officers perished in the line of duty—9/11 Related Illness is one of them. Line-of-duty-deaths listed under the “9/11 Related Illness” category spans 20 pages of entries! That equates to 480 first responders…and climbing. Make a difference. Support the NPA.
September 14, 2024
Code 3: Light ‘em Up!
By Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed.D Not gonna lie, running lights and siren is still a thrill. These days for me it’s only when I am doing a ride with an agency for research, but the red, white, and blue swirling lights and the pulse of the siren makes my brain generate adrenaline and I’m ready for action. Emergency vehicle warning systems have improved over the years. Technology, experience, research, and lawsuits have influenced the change. A balance of adequately warning the public without disorienting drivers and officers alike may still be elusive. According to manufacturers’ accounts of lights and siren history, horse-drawn fire wagons led the way in making a racket to clear traffic. The fabled Dalmatian canines, with their strikingly loud bark, would run ahead of the fire carriage while the fireman on the wagon would ring a bell to clear the way. Vintage television and movies show the red spotlight, the revolving bubble-gum light mounted like a pimple on the roof of a patrol car, and the Adam-12 style dual red lights fashioned from old taillights. Sirens were once air-operated permutations of musical instruments developed in the late 1700s. Since compressed air was necessary to operate the noisy contraption, for a short time whistles were attached to exhaust pipes but were deemed to be too shrill and annoying. It wasn’t until the 1960s that electronic sirens came into use, replacing mechanical sirens. They were smaller and louder with a variety of sound options. Some jurisdictions used different tones and patterns for fire equipment, police vehicles, and ambulances so that motorists and pedestrians could tell what type of vehicle was headed their way. Some still say they can tell the difference between first responder vehicles by the tone of the siren, but limiting sounds to one type of service is no longer practiced. Siren sounds are often changed by responders as they enter an intersection for a higher level of alert. Many cities have traffic lights engineered to favor responders at intersections with a green light. The traditional sound is the wail, the British sound is the hi-lo, and the other woo-woo is the yelp. Low-frequency tones, called the howler, have been successful in attracting attention not by their volume but by actually projecting waves that can be felt by motorists. Fire and EMS vehicles are often equipped with an air horn that sounds like a freight train. That sound is hard to miss but has the risk of startling motorists. The federal government stepped in to establish minimum standards for emergency lighting under the auspices of several different agencies, adding to state laws that regulate both the designation of what an emergency vehicle is and the motorists’ responsibility to yield to them. The colors of lights are thought to have been designated as red and blue to be visible to even the color blind. Some states limit what type of vehicles can display which color, but most lighting systems integrate a variety of colors including yellow, green, and white. A green as the primary stationary light has been designated for the command center for easy recognition in a major event. With the limited visibility of front-facing lights, the light bar configuration became popular in the 1970s. Ally spotlights on the sides obscured the vision of drivers approaching a police vehicle perpendicularly, leading to side crashes even with emergency equipment running. The visibility of emergency lighting from the side resulted in one popular V-shaped design and the eventual addition of side lighting on most police cars in recent years. The profession has also learned that when the trunk lid is up, the roof lights are obscured, so lights are now typically attached to the interior of trunk lids or SUV tailgates. The brightness of warning lights increases visibility but can be distracting and disorienting to motorists. Police officers operating outside their squad cars at car stops and crash scenes are often blinded themselves or invisible to motorists behind a curtain of light. Impaired drivers are particularly dangerous as they tend to be attracted to the light rather than exercising care to go around. Dozens of officers are killed or injured annually from being struck on roadsides. Technological advances include LED lighting, which is brighter with reduced draw on car battery life. Strobe lights are still popular with their pulsing visibility. Low-profile lighting for mounting in the cars’ interior has improved in visibility since the days of Kojak’s famous teardrop light. The variety of patterns, colors, and locations in modern emergency vehicles is designed to make motorists take notice and give old retired cops a reflexive adrenaline rush. Make a difference. Support the NPA.
September 12, 2024
Before the Badge: From Nursing Hospital Patients to Tending to Inmates
By Stephen Owsinski When we hear or read about first responders, nurses are sometimes mentioned. They are at the ER doors when ambulances roll in with exigent cases requiring triage amid gory and graphic realities. Registered nurses tend to patients before an ER physician broadens the charts. Some patients are inconsolable and feisty, engendering de-escalation techniques. Sounds a lot like what is always on the plate of law enforcement officers, huh? It is definitely comparable, minus the duty belt cops where and all the perils that come with policing the mean streets and jailing some evil people. I discovered a young lady whose prior career trajectory in health administration wound up electing to take a course in criminal justice while pursuing her nursing degree. Before the badge, Kayla Scott “was pursuing a Health Services degree at Florida Gulf Coast University when she selected a Criminal Justice course as an elective. That class changed her whole perspective, and Scott switched to a double major in Criminal Justice and Forensic Studies.” Double major means grasping the reins of two horses…which will always garner my respect for whoever demonstrates hard-working ways and having an alternate plan. A trait that serves well in law enforcement: A backup plan. “The things we learned about in that CJ [criminal justice] class were so exciting and I just became enthusiastic about pursuing a law enforcement career,” Scott said. “It’s something I found I had a passion for.” Remembering my college experience, I majored in criminology but my brain cells were also excited with material engendering psychology, sociology, and marine biology. I can relate to the passion she talks about. Well before my police career would commence, I always harbored the oft-mentioned notion of cops wearing many hats and putting a melting pot of knowledge to use as they go from call to call. Ms. Scott may have had the same mindset… According to a bio from the Lee County Sheriff’s office in southwest Florida, “While attending FGCU [Florida Gulf Coast University], Scott worked in the Emergency Room at Lee Memorial Hospital.” Ms. Scott chimed in: “One of the things we had to learn there was how to de-escalate situations with patients who were upset or became unruly.” With that analogy and transition, a juncture segued to a change in plans: she traded her stethoscope for a five-point star and spent long shifts around people who were caught doing bad things and incarcerated. Speaking of junctures, Ms. Scott could have continued her studies in Health Services and Criminal Justice, combining both as a nurse working in the Medical Section of the jail. (Photo courtesy of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.) Instead, she opted to go all-in. She applied, was accepted, and attended a police academy, accomplishing state certification as a law enforcement officer. Per the Lee County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson: “While completing her studies at FGCU, Scott went through the academy in 2019 and was hired as a Corrections Deputy. She began working nights at the main jail.” (Photo courtesy of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.) In retrospect and touching upon her experience working at the hospital, Scott says, “I developed a calming voice, and I think that serves me well in my current position in Booking [at the Lee County Jail].” Although I never worked in the detention aspects of law enforcement, during my visits to our county jail (entering arrestees into our criminal justice system), I never had glee over being in lockup facilities. The hate is palpable; irresponsible people love threatening cops who catch them, acting out, catching additional charges while in custody behind many bars and several vault-like doors. In a nutshell, I respected detention deputies who had the unenviable responsibility of maintaining jail populations containing many people who went against the grain of society and wound up with severely curtailed liberty. That often evokes desperation and anger in some. Who do they typically act out against? Jailers. Peace officers who staff the jails (confinement up to one year or less) and prisons (beyond one year of incarceration after conviction) often find themselves in the reticles of hardened types whose life course largely comprised being locked up. Deputy Scott experienced the tension of working around/with folks jailed until the courts decide their fate… [embedded content] “It was a little intimidating, at first. Starting out so young and having to give commands to inmates who are older took a little time, but I had great training and supervisors.” However, her perspective conveys balance: “I’ve always enjoyed being able to help people and we have that opportunity here. For some people, it’s their first time being arrested and coming to jail, so emotions and tensions can run high. I try to be a calming voice and explain the process, the next steps, and things like that. Yes, they are inmates, but [they are] people too, and I try to develop a rapport with them.” Seems Ms. Scott’s university studies, positive outlook, and humanitarian heart have scored dividends. In May 2024, she was promoted to Master Corporal, affording more time for administrative duties such as decision-making, operational success, and the usual reams of paperwork involved in law enforcement roles. Like any cop climbing the ladder by stellar work and dedication to duty, Master Corporal Scott listened to her superiors and paid it forward by training newer recruits in detention services of the sheriff’s office… “My supervisors have pushed me in a good way and have helped me get where I am. I’m also a Field Training Officer [FTO] so I help new hires get situated. I’ve trained a lot of the younger guys we have here.” Like Master Corporal Scott, I thoroughly enjoyed my time as an FTO training our department’s newest cops, sharing shifts in a cruiser, and experiencing everything that came along with each tour of duty. Before I factually learned about the part of her I am about to share, I had a growing feeling that Master Corporal Scott had no intention to rest on her laurels. In 2022, she once again dipped her toes into education, attending graduate classes for which she earned a Master’s Degree in Management conferred by the University of Florida. “I’m grateful for the opportunities LCSO has provided,” Master Corporal Scott noted. “Morale is high here at the jail and supervisors are rooting for all of us to succeed. That makes it a great place to work, and I enjoy what I do.”One more thing: Master Corporal Scott is a married mother of three children, an eight-year-old son, a five-year-old daughter, and an 11-month-old daughter with whom she does “mommy things.” Make a difference. Support the NPA.
September 11, 2024
The National Police Association Provides Written Testimony in Support of New Jersey Assembly Bill 2378 to Strengthen Penalties for Assaulting Law Enforcement Officers
Matt Gush / Alamy Stock Photo The National Police Association (NPA) has provided written testimony to the New Jersey Assembly in support of Bill 2378, which seeks to upgrade penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers. This legislation responds to the rise in violence against police officers by increasing the legal consequences for such offenses. The written testimony is here. Assembly Bill 2378 would elevate the penalty for assaulting a law enforcement officer from a fourth-degree offense (or third-degree if the officer is injured) to a second-degree offense, carrying a prison term of five to ten years and fines of up to $150,000. The bill also prevents offenders from entering guilty pleas to lesser charges or merging the assault with other crimes. Additionally, the bill that increase penalties for assaults involving bodily fluids. If an officer is injured during such an assault, the offense would become a second-degree crime. The bill mandates testing of the offender for potential disease transmission, providing peace of mind and safety for officers exposed to potentially harmful pathogens. With assaults on police officers reaching a 10-year high, the need for this legislation is clear. The FBI reported over 79,000 attacks on officers in 2023, while the Fraternal Order of Police found that officer shootings have increased by 60% since 2018. These attacks range from ambushes and shootings to physical assaults, including stabbings. In New Jersey, several recent incidents highlight the dangers officers face. In Galloway Township, an officer was slashed in the face, with many other assaults being committed. These incidents underscore the necessity of stronger deterrents to protect those who serve and protect. “Assaulting a police officer is not just an attack on an individual—it’s an attack on our community and public safety.” “This bill ensures that those who target law enforcement officers face serious consequences,” said Paula Fitzsimmons, Legislative Director of the National Police Association. The National Police Association commends Assembly members William Spearman, Alex Sauickie, and Wayne DeAngelo for sponsoring A2378. We urge the New Jersey Assembly to pass this important legislation, sending a strong message of support to law enforcement officers and reinforcing the rule of law. About the National Police Association The National Police Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on education and advocacy for law enforcement. For more information visit NationalPolice.org ###
September 11, 2024
Border Bedlam for Local Cops, and Illegal Migrants Attempt to Board School Busses
By Steve Pomper Photo (Wikimedia CC 2.0) Isn’t it well past time to stop the crime spree committed by the violent criminals hiding within the deluge of illegal aliens allowed— encouraged and even assisted—to enter the United States? The glut of reports of illegals committing everything from minor offenses to major violent crimes should be enough, but apparently, it isn’t. This concerns me because these dangerous border policies result in criminals illegally entering the U.S., which produces increased crime that residents suffer, and local cops must handle. I bristle whenever illegal immigration proponents defend “illegal” immigrants by blanket claiming “immigrants” commit crime at lower rates than native born Americans. Well, even if that’s true for legal immigrants (which is likely), is it true for illegal immigrants? A recent story about the illegal alien arrest rate recently reported by the NYPD destroys the “lower crime rates” fake narrative. So does common sense. We’ve heard too many reports of heinous illegal migrant crimes like the murders and rapes perpetrated across America. You’d think that would be enough to make folks change policies. But it seems even those crimes aren’t bad enough for some officials. Now, there are reports of illegal migrants attempting to board school buses transporting children in southern California. There were two incidents reported within two days, a mere 11 miles from the border in San Diego County. According to FOX News, “A group of around 20 suspected illegal migrants attempted to board a school bus picking up elementary students in California on Wednesday, according to local reports, worrying parents.” If you’re a normal parent or grandparent of young children—anywhere in America, your heart just skipped a beat, right? And let’s not forget the recent reports of Venezuelan gangs effectively taking over apartment buildings in Colorado (and other states) as reported by CBS. “[T]he gang has engaged in violent assaults, threats of murder, extortion, strongarm tactics, and child prostitution as they have exerted a ‘stranglehold’ on the Aurora apartment complex.” Victim residents (many are reportedly also illegal aliens) feel forced to move and landlords forced to sell. The political arguments regarding the border don’t matter, here. For me, it’s not about the political but the criminal, which we need to stop. The truly sad thing is that we know it is possible to shut down the border. How do we know? We have the best evidence. It’s been “shut down” (controlled) before and recently. Shut down doesn’t mean illegal crossings drop to zero. That will never happen. It means the CBP is in effective control of the border, as they should be. So, what about that popular leftist refrain that “immigrants” have a lower crime rate than native-born Americans? That’s probably true of legal immigrants. But how can that be true of illegal immigrants? After all, every single person crossing the U.S. border illegally has broken American law. Jasmine Garsd, for example, writing at NPR, asserts, “The claim that immigration brings on a crime wave can be traced back to the first immigrants who arrived in the U.S. Ever since the 1980s and ’90s, this false narrative saw a resurgence.” See the trick? “The claim that immigration brings on a crime wave….” No one’s saying (legal) immigrants are the cause of a crime wave. In fact, we’re specifically not saying that. We’re saying illegal immigration is bringing crime, which we see every day with our own eyes. Of course, people exist who don’t like any immigration. But I can’t think of anyone I know who thinks like that. The people I know support legal immigration, especially since most Americans (like me) descend from legal immigrants. The proponents of illegal immigration just lump all immigrants, legal and illegal, into one pool to get the stats that match their narrative. It doesn’t surprise me that (legal) immigrants, generally, would have a lower crime rate. Aside from incarceration or fines, they are also liable for deportation if they are convicted especially of a violent crime or other felony. On the other hand, as I mentioned, illegal immigrants have a 100 percent crime rate, having broken the law just by entering the country. Then, even if the majority commit no additional crimes, the ones who do are committing crimes that shouldn’t have happened because they shouldn’t be here. Here’s one more example of the extremists’ flawed, biased reporting, writing, “[A] former President… has spoken of immigrants as criminals and mentally ill people….’” This is an obvious reference to the reports of illegal immigrant criminals and mentally ill people sent to America, hidden among other illegal migrants by unscrupulous leaders who are taking advantage of the bad U.S. border policy. The difference between a legal and illegal immigrant is enormous. Yet NPR insists on using the word “immigrants,” unencumbered by the necessary descriptor, illegal to make their false point. About the claim “immigrants commit fewer crimes than native born Americans,” let’s add “illegal,” and look at the New York Post story I alluded to earlier. “Migrants flooding NYC’s justice system — making up ‘75% of arrests in Midtown’ — as ‘pathetic’ sanctuary city laws handcuff cops.” That 75 percent is the type of statistic illegal immigration opponents are referring to when addressing the crime increases. It’s about the crime associated with illegal immigration, not legal immigration. Legal immigration belongs nowhere in this discussion and only is so because pro-illegal immigration advocates insist on conflating the two. We can’t trust statistics that any of the legacy media promote because their pro-illegal immigration agenda is so obvious. Either way, regardless of what the extremist media contend, those NYPD officers are dealing with a 75 percent illegal immigrant arrest rate. That’s a real consequence for real victims and for the real cops making the arrests. Make a difference. Support the NPA.
September 9, 2024
The Peril and Promise of Well-Being Checks
By Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed.D In the category of never knowing what is behind the door, getting a call to check on someone’s well-being is among the most unpredictable and potentially dangerous calls an officer can get. According to a study published this year by the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, “Calls to police to check on the well-being of individuals were 74 percent more likely to be associated with fatal injury than police responses to an incident where shots had already been fired. This includes wellness checks that did not explicitly involve threats or harm before an encounter with police.” Calls to police for wellness checks (often referred to as welfare checks, a term that can cause some confusion among civilians) typically come from relatives or friends who have not heard from the subject in a normal time frame and don’t live close enough to readily check on them. The call may come from a neighbor who hasn’t seen a resident for a while. Other calls come from concerned persons who have had some contact with the subject and believe that something just isn’t right. Delivery persons, especially letter carriers, may note that mail or newspapers haven’t been picked up or the yard hasn’t been cared for as usual. Social workers and other caregivers may discover a change in a subject’s personality or behavior. The caller may or may not be able to provide important information to responding officers about the subject’s health or behavior, including suicidality, recent upsetting life events, or mental health crises. Social workers or mental health practitioners have been increasingly used as an asset in suspected mental health crisis calls. In some jurisdictions, these non-law enforcement (NLE) responders may go to the home or last known location on their own. Given the irresponsible and inaccurate reporting that police are terrible at handling the mentally ill, these programs have garnered support. We don’t know how successful this approach is in having more successful outcomes or alleviating the volume of calls for law enforcement, since NLEs have no burden of documenting their interactions like law enforcement must do, and many of these interactions may be behind privacy barriers. Another silent statistic with NLE responders is how many are initially or eventually turned over to law enforcement due to the potential of danger. We also don’t know how many assaults on NLE personnel are associated with those responses. Most NLE programs are not operational 24/7, so comparative outcomes when they are available or not are hard to measure. A more popular model of responding to suspected mental health crisis calls is the co-responder program where a NLE is partnered with a police officer, or available to respond simultaneously to help assess and manage a person in crisis where there is no criminal activity or immediate danger is discovered. The report states “The data we reviewed suggests that behavioral health calls are a common interaction preceding injurious shootings by police,” says Cassandra Crifasi, PhD, MPH, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. “We recommend improving social services to make responding to behavioral health calls safer for everyone. Public support is high for these approaches including nonpolice mobile units, diversion to mental health services, and a police and mental health co-responder model.” That’s peachy, but if a call turns violent, it ceases to be a co-responder’s call. Suicidal persons can be homicidal, and “talking them down” would be great, but negotiating with an armed person who is placing others at risk is not tactically sound. Since, according to the National Institutes of Health, 31% of deaths happen at home, many well-being checks result in a death investigation. At home deaths under medical care, such as hospice, while expected, don’t necessarily preclude investigating the possibility of homicide. Unattended deaths require a Coroner’s response. Some deaths with obvious wounds can seem like murder but may be suicide, and vice versa. We need not get into detail about what police officers deal with at death scenes, but it can be the stuff of nightmares. To be sure, there are many happy endings. Police are able to render aid, find out that the phone simply died, or find that Grampa just wanted to go camping and didn’t tell anyone. But getting a request to check on Aunt Gertie is to open a door to the unknown. Make a difference. Support the NPA.
September 7, 2024
‘National Police K9 Day’ Illustrates Honorable Tales
By Stephen Owsinski Some might call it fate that National Police K9 Day was celebrated during Labor Day weekend 2024. I call it an ideal illustration of the always-paying dividends of dogs in policing, unrelentingly pursuing justice by sleuthing and capturing bad actors preying on innocents. Per a press release from the Bradenton Police Department, “National Police K9 Day is celebrated each September 1st, honors police dogs, and memorializes K9s who gave their lives in the line of duty.” Similarly, the growing popularity of therapy dogs (comfort dogs) pillaring sworn and civilian men and women on the frontlines, ensuring public safety, is a remarkable element helping institute wellness in those who serve. Law enforcement canines diligently work, fulfill duties, score cool catches to admire and respect, recalibrate stress in cops and dispatchers, and are rewarded with copious petting sessions complemented with a chewy treat or a fave toy. Belly rubs from squad members work well, too…no bones about it! Bloodhounds’ super-sniffers routinely pick up the trails of missing persons and fugitives, leading handlers to them and returning them home. Airport police K9s patrol labyrinths comprising massive terminals and the gobs of people that traverse through them, ensuring public safety. Accolades are synonymous among police K9 handlers and citizens alike: visit any police agency’s social media sites and you’ll read a slew of comments indicative of awe, respect, and honor for working dogs in law enforcement capacities, including roll call stuff. (Photo courtesy of the Antioch Police Department.) Let’s check a relatively new dynamic duo of a police officer and his young canine… K9 Stark’s police-dog handler posted the following admiration and respect he has for his partner, a 3-year-old Dutch Shepherd whose name is “a nod to Tony Stark, or Iron Man”: “Thankful for my boy for teaching me the best parts of this job. I love the community I have walked into when a leash was handed to me and I would know nothing of it if not for the amazing K9s fighting the good fight all across the nation. Thank God for good dogs like these.” (Photo courtesy of Stark the Dutch.) Like many other law enforcement canines, K9 Stark exhibits the discipline and diligence of a true crimefighter who will trek violators and unearth their nefarious ways, stopping at nothing until justice is served. I viewed a training exercise posted by his assigned handler. Take note of K9 Stark’s unbridled glee over being a good boy whose stellar police performance and unmistakable will to please his partner is most evident in his body mannerisms, namely his tail that can likely propel a maxed-to-capacity cruise ship in deep seas. Although law enforcement agencies have among their staff filed training officers (FTOs) to teach recruits about policing society, and canine cops instruct newer K9 handlers how to fight crime with their assigned dogs, there is a two-way street in dynamic duos of dogs and human handlers, with teachable moments for both species. Of course, K9 Stark completes the mission with ease and sits poised…until his handler provides a treat as a reward for another job well done. (Photo courtesy of Stark the Dutch.) Self-Discovery As much as certified canine professionals teach dogs new tricks and ensure their skills are honed to stratospheric heights, the script can be flipped a bit, with handlers letting go of the leash and watching the working dog rely on its senses without much, if any, direction and prompts from the human counterpart. “Allowing a dog to figure things out on their own, maybe with a slight push here or there is one of the most valuable things the folks that taught me to work a dog passed to me. “You can see in the beginning, Stark gives me a good solid change and response but doesn’t specify where it is. To start nailing down odor source rather than just being ‘in odor,’ I let him off lead and let him self-discover. Some handler guidance, just to keep him in the right area…and you can see the difference yourself.” On the midnight shift, when the radio miraculously quieted down a tad, our department’s canine teams deployed in clandestine locales and trained Dog Days Remembered As certified law enforcement officers, police canines are accorded the same dignity and honor when they go down in the line of duty. Lately, there’s been a bevy of K9s injured or murdered while performing dutifully. Similar to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial wall in Washington, DC, paying homage to police dogs killed in the line of duty, localized versions commemorating the phenomenal work put in by canines have sprouted up in counties and cities in many states. With the annual National Police K9 Day highlighting service dogs doing their part to combat crime and paying the ultimate price, human counterparts gathered to honor their four-legged fallen who worked to the bitter end. Some police dogs perished In Tampa Bay, there is the Regional Law Enforcement K9 Memorial. Based outside the Temple Terrace Police Department, a suburb of Tampa, the regional monument depicting a diligent duty dog is solidly framed with red bricks on which are names of deceased police dogs and their end of watch (EOW) date etched into the rectangular stones (seen in today’s cover photo). Law enforcement agencies from several counties comprising the Tampa Bay region attended. Some officers in the group were personally impacted when their assigned canine partner went down right before their eyes. During National Police K9 Day, surviving partners ponder in quiet repose, with a focus on the sole brick that forever bears their slain partner’s name and the date of the final call. (Photo courtesy of the Bradenton Police Department.) Ceremonially, class-A uniforms are donned, prayer opens the convocation, honorable speeches are offered from a podium, and single-stem roses are offered to cops for personal placement on the monument’s level. And if you listen during moments of silence, you can likely hear a dog bark, whether from up above or from somewhere right around some knees. One of the law enforcement feats I have been harping on is the bonds forged between police dogs and cops. Wellness programs increase among America’s public safety organizations, many having one or more therapy dogs (comfort dogs) to befriend and from whom unconditional love and tacit counsel are norms. Lately, I have noticed a growing philosophy among people. Namely, dogs provide a degree of companionship beyond what our species offers. Whether from duty-related endings or some form of cancer, police canine handlers’ lives are inextricably altered. The somberness at police canine funerals and memorials dedicated to working dogs partnering with police personnel is a testament to the tremendous abilities, super skills, and righteous roles fulfilled by animals working in public safety. Make a difference. Support the NPA.
September 6, 2024
That Menacing Armored Vehicle
By Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed.D There was an old theory called Spontaneous Generation in which life springs from inanimate substances. For example, when grain is left on the barn floor, rats mysteriously show up. The ancients concluded, therefore, that rats arise from old grain. It is laughable now, but the vestiges of this erroneous theory of causation remain among those who object to protective equipment for law enforcement officers. When some of my colleagues in Colorado law enforcement were preparing for the 2008 Democrat Convention in Denver, a letter or protest appeared in the Denver Post decrying the fact that shields and gas masks were being requisitioned. He claimed that if police in aggressive riot gear appeared it would create a riot! The same thinking forced police officers all across the country to face civil disturbances in their street uniforms, subject to the rocks, bottles of urine and bleach, bricks, and fireworks so prevalent in recent years. No one blames firefighters in bunker gear with big trucks for starting the fire. Police deserve the same consideration. One piece of equipment panned by critics is the armored vehicle. Especially those that come painted in green or camouflage, often because they are military surplus, another thorn in the side of police critics. In a recent NPA article by this writer, the vulnerabilities of standard police vehicles to bullets and other attacks make reliance on the vehicle for protection anything but a guarantee of safety. Images of bullet-ridden doors and windshields, burned-out carcasses, and the crumpled metal of patrol cars rammed by offenders are never far from the latest news. The solution for moving police officers into dangerous territory for response and rescue is the heavily armored vehicle. The discussion on armored personnel carriers (APCs) has to start with dispelling the notion that any civilian police agency uses “tanks” – the military tracked vehicles with heavy weapons and a turret topped with a high caliber machine gun. I am so confident that these do not exist, I offer the first reader to find one in actual use by American civilian law enforcement a $100 reward from my personal account. What can come from military surplus, from both American and international stocks, are a variety of vehicles designed to withstand attack and get responders safely to an unsafe scene. When the US forces in Iraq found that their vehicles were subject to roadside bombs, the military, with surprising speed, deployed the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected armored carrier, known as the MRAP. At a cost to the military of up to over one million dollars, civilian police agencies have obtained them for the cost of transportation. Free, of course, is never free, as the cost of maintenance and repair can be heavy on small budgets. But budgets are at the heart of obtaining MRAPs or any of the other number of armored vehicles from surplus. These are not the most desirable protective response vehicles, because the civilian market for new APCs is available and custom designed for law enforcement needs. The quarter million dollar price tag is prohibitive for most agencies unless grants and multi-agency partnerships are available. Custom designed APCs can include high clearances for use in flooded areas, battering rams for heavily barricaded structures, floor portals for rescue or deployment, bulletproof skirt panels, tires that won’t go flat, ramps for multi-story buildings, or nozzles for fighting fire. These vehicles can typically hold a SWAT squad and equipment and even deploy robots to enter areas to search for persons or explosives. The list of features can include an interior fire suppression system, air conditioning for extreme heat conditions, optics for night vision, and loudspeakers to communicate with suspects or victims. If a community wants officers to be able to effectively move into an active shooter situation, rescue a person in a barrage of gunfire, or slosh through flooded streets to answer a call for help, they’ll support the acquisition of an APC. Make a difference. Support the NPA.
September 5, 2024
Epic Fail: Austin, Texas’ Experiment with Extremist Anti-Police Lunacy
By Steve Pomper “Rogue Prosecutor” Travis County DA José Garza, 2024 Photo: (CBS Austin, CC 3.0, Wikimedia) What do we know for sure about police staffing shortages and crime increases across America? That the one follows the other—every time! And what do officer shortages follow—every time? An intentional dereliction of duty by officials responsible for providing public safety to the community. And, once again, this story about public safety neglect involves the George Soros-funded Travis County (Austin, Texas) DA José Garza. You may remember him. He’s the guy who’d much rather prosecute cops than criminals. Cops who were just doing their jobs and criminals released to continue to prey on innocent Texans. According to FOX News’ Brie Stimson, Delwin Goss, a resident of Austin’s Montopolis neighborhood, told KVUE TV, “It’s making the hair on my arms stand up. To hear eight, nine, 10 shots. Just bam, bam, bam. Where are those bullets going?” As the saying goes, what goes up…. He also expressed a concern that city and county officials responsible for public safety should heed: “I don’t want to be shot sleeping in my bed.” Seems reasonable to me. Stimson also wrote that “Austin Police Association President Mike Bullock addressed the officer shortage Thursday, writing on X, ‘500 officers short has a real impact on businesses and Austinites who expect to be able to safely run a business and live in Austin. We’re so close to having a contract that can make significant progress towards ending the staffing crisis. Question now is if the city will actually prioritize making it happen.’” X-Post Link Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly recently commiserated with Officer Bullock, telling him, “Our staffing currently at the police department is a direct result of the failed policy that was passed in 2020 to remove funding for the police department.” Thank you, Councilmember Kelly for pointing out what normal people already know but that Austin’s and Travis County’s anti-cop extremists need to hear. Defund the Police doesn’t work—every time. This brings us back to the officials responsible for putting citizens and law enforcement at such risk, particularly the cop-hating, criminal-loving DA Garza. I and my colleagues have written about Garza’s nefarious exploits several times at NPA, spreading the word about his anti-cop misfeasance. And he just keeps doubling down. Links to other NPA Austin/Garza-related articles: Travis County DA José Garza Has Austin Citizens Transitioning from Weird to Worried by Doug Wyllie Did Austin, Texas Soros-Funded DA, Break the Rules to Persecute Cops? Travis County Soros-Funded DA José Garza Indicts Austin Police Sgt. Josh Blake Another Travesty in Travis County, Texas’ Criminal Injustice System Austin, Texas Social Justice Prosecutor Rebuffed Again. Accused Former Officer Acquitted In one article about the acquittal of former APD Officer Nathaniel Stallings, “the most recent Austin officer to be acquitted,” I wrote, “There doesn’t seem to be a lot of actual police misconduct in Austin, the Texas state capitol. So, it seems Travis County District Attorney José Garza has to pretend there is apparently by making some up.” I also wrote, “FOX reports, ‘More than two dozen police officers have been indicted during Garza’s first two years in office, including 19 who are facing charges for their alleged misconduct during social justice protests in 2020.’” This is the definition of extreme—and of the abuse of power [link added]. Garza does this even as he repeatedly drops charges against pro-Hamas rioters, as reported by the Texas Tribune: “Travis County Attorney drops charges against 79 more UT-Austin protesters. “The arrests were the result of the second police crackdown on pro-Palestine demonstrations at UT-Austin. The first protest, on April 24, resulted in 57 arrests, which were also dismissed.” If you’re keeping score, that’s more than 24 cops indicted to 136 rioters charges dismissed. X-Post Link As reported by Dalton Huey, Josh Hinkle, and Cora Neas at KXAN News NBC earlier this year, residents filed a petition to remove the “rogue prosecutor” Garza from office. The complaint claims the following, which I believe he’s clearly demonstrated: Defendant singles out law enforcement officials by automatically, indiscriminately, presenting charges against them to grand juries; Defendant maintains a “do not call to testify” list of law enforcement officials [cops] who he deems unfit to testify and disqualifies from serving as witnesses for the State of Texas; and, Defendant refuses to prosecute a class or type of criminal offense under state law. To further show his bias against police officers, “The 21-page petition goes on to detail policies and evidence that allegedly show violations of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure such as presenting cases to grand juries that are not supported by probable cause and discriminatory practices specific to law enforcement officers.” I bet he’d refuse to prosecute a criminal even if he confessed to the crime and had “probable cause” tattooed across his face. Save Austin Now co-founder Matt Mackowiak described “DA Garza’s reign of terror for our community, ignoring the wishes of crime victims, attacking law enforcement and enabling criminal activity through an indiscriminate refusal to uphold his oath and prosecute violent crimes.” According to Tony Plohetski at KVUE TV, via msn.com, after an X user described as “pro-police” (Oh, the humanity!) posted an “easy to find” public record, which happened to contain Garza’s home address (which I don’t condone but, in this case, don’t lose any sleep over, either), he had to get—irony alert—police protection. Apparently, Garza is so unpopular that he had to request that already short-staffed (largely, his fault) constables provide him with security at his home, thus further stretching Travis County residents’ threadbare law enforcement services. Goss added, about Montopolis, “They’re [the police] not out here protecting me or my 85-year-old heart transplant neighbor or the widow that’s in her 70s next door.” Austin seems to consider itself a “special—weird” place set apart from traditional Texan sensibilities (i.e., common sense). Austin’s progressive officials appear to consider themselves “more virtuous” than other cities’ leaders. But we see what their Austin sensibilities have gotten them. High crime, a surge of fentanyl deaths, and a critically depleted police department. Perhaps if Austin were more like most of Texas, the residents of neighborhoods like Montopolis could sleep through the night without being awakened by gunshots. But, I guess that’s too much to ask from officials like DA Garza? Make a difference. Support the NPA.
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