Rogueregime sent me this link to Electronic Village documenting 36 taser-related deaths in 2009. That’s far more than I suspected. I repeat my position: the taser is an excellent less-lethal weapon, an alternative to lethal force. The taser is not acceptable as a “less-than lethal” weapon because it, well, kills.
Terror Case Serious
The New York Timesreports: Documents filed in Brooklyn against the driver, Najibullah Zazi, contend he bought chemicals needed to build a bomb — hydrogen peroxide, acetone and hydrochloric acid — and in doing so, Mr. Zazi took a critical step made by few other terrorism suspects. … “The ingredients here are quite scary,” and the government’s statements have had none…
Bedbugs!
John Jay College pretty much closes for nothing (Jewish holidays excepted). We’ve never had a snow day since I’ve been there. I’m not even certain if classes were canceled on Sept 11, 2001. So this came as a major surprise. Classes in North Hall are canceled. Luckily, I rarely enter North Hall. My classes continue as scheduled. Bedbug are a…
Officers Down
Four officers shot, one very seriously. In a “no-knock” drug raid in New Jersey. Wayne Parry of the A.P. reports: Lakewood Patrolman Jonathan Wilson was shot in the face during the raid, and was in critical but stable condition at a local hospital. Authorities said they were cautiously optimistic he would survive despite being grievously wounded. … As soon as…
Balto Murders
Baltimore is number two in murders, after Detroit. (Brings to mind that old t-shirt… you Baltimore cops know the one I’m talking about.) Peter Hermann writes: The 107 people charged with murder last year had accumulated a combined 1,065 prior arrests – 380 related to guns and 99 related to drugs. The 234 people killed last year had a combined…
Dirty money
Cops stealing from a drug house. Too bad the FBI was watching. Now one is going to the Federal Penn for a couple decades. Such cases are inevitable with the war on drugs. All drug cops are not corrupt. But almost all corrupt cops deal with drugs. It’s just too easy to rationalize stealing dirty money. 26 pending major-felony cases…
A gun bill and state sovereignty: A two-fer
At least for conservative in the Tennessee legislature. For me it’s just a one-fer. I like states’ rights. And though I don’t like guns, I think the gun folks here are absolutely right. Perhaps those who support medicinal marijuana and other states’ rights issues should appreciate the parallels. “An effort by the federal government to regulate intrastate commerce under the…
I love a parade!
Two police officers who chased and Tasered a 76-year-old man driving a tractor in [Glenrock, Wyoming’s, annual Deer Creek Days parade] have been fired. … Police say Grose, who was driving an antique tractor in the parade, disobeyed Kavenius’ traffic command. That led to a short pursuit and the Taser use. … Grose, a retired truck driver, said he’s unlikely…
The Day the Police Came Crashing Through His Door
In the Washington Post, Cheye Calvo, the mayor of Berwyn Heights, MD, writes about his experience: I remember thinking, as I kneeled at gunpoint with my hands bound on my living room floor, that there had been a terrible, terrible mistake. … In the words of Prince George’s County Sheriff Michael Jackson, whose deputies carried out the assault, “the guys…
NYPD Confidential
Leonard Levitt writes a good column. He has some harsh words for the NYPD Intelligence Division and the recent NYPD/FBI/terrorism case. The Intelligence Division under Cohen and his crony, Assistant Commissioner Larry Sanchez, is operating as a mini-CIA with no accountability and with no model to guide it. Now it appears that these lone wolves appear to have mishandled the…