Sometimes the courts actual make the right decision. It seems that if you go to Burning Man and get burned by the actual burning man by walking in fire, you can’t sue. Fair enough. Lowering the Bar brought this important legal decision to my attention. I went to burning man once. There’s some incredibly cool art and ideas there (and…
Help Wanted
There’s a Craigslist help wanted ad for chief of the BPD’s Criminal Investigations Division. Normally you would expect this position to be in internal promotion. Justin Fenton writes about this in the Sun.
Rain Prevents Crime
Duh. All cops know that. Rain keeps all the sh*ts inside. But apparently it’s breaking news to the New York Times. But I also think, despite what the article says, that rain reduces domestics as well. I don’t have the stats to back that up, but it’s certainly what I saw. Domestics don’t start because two people are cooped up…
Raiding Gay Bars
40 Years after Stonewall police are still raiding gay bars? Really?! And looking for… er… drunk people? If you can’t be drunk in bar, my God, where can you be drunk? Apparently some police were looking for gay men to beat up. The Fort Worth police chief said, “You’re touched and advanced in certain ways by people inside the bar,…
Civil Service and Affirmative Action
The Supreme Court ruled in Ricci v. DeStafano that a particularly bizarre form of affirmative action is unconstitutional. You can’t just throw out a test because you don’t like the results. In 2003 a firefighter’s promotional exam produced no black candidates. The city of New Haven threw out the whole exam and promoted no one. I’m against racial discrimination and…
I’ve been Pepper Sprayed
There are probably hundreds of police blogs out there. Too much chaff and not enough wheat. The only police blog I actually read is Pepper Spray Me. Each post is interesting and it’s all very well written and professionally presented. I hope and assume a book is on the way. Remember the equation: police book = movie-rights staring Denzel Washington…
C.I. vs. Criminal Bribery: Ethics
In answer to the comment section on the ethics of not helping law enforcement, my friend writes: 1. We expect that a customer has the same right to privacy that he enjoys in his home. It’s that simple. Plus, heck from a transaction perspective… it is the same as renting an apt or an office. 2. We actually do screen…
Testifying Crime Lab Techs
In the Supreme Court round up, I’m happy that 13-year-olds can’t be forced to strip for suspicion of carrying ibuprofen. Clarence Thomas once again comes out as the dufus court jester in the 8-1 decision: “Preservation of order, discipline and safety in public schools is simply not the domain of the Constitution.” No, Sir. But strip searches are. What is…
Right-Wing Talk Radio
I want to listen to right-wing radio more. To hear what you guys are saying. But it’s hard. Public radio isbetter. And doesn’t have all those damn commercials. I don’t mind listening to people I disagree with. Actually I love it. It’s boring to preach to the choir. Give me a William Buckley or a Milt Rosenberg or an Andrew…
C.I. Payments vs. Criminal Bribery [continued]
I’ve still very curious about all this and your comments make it all the more interesting. Here’s the law again: BRIBERY NOT INVOLVING PUBLIC SERVANTS S 180.00 Commercial bribing in the second degree. A person is guilty of commercial bribing in the second degree when he confers, or offers or agrees to confer, any benefit upon any employee, agent or…