Usually I focus on the Eastern District, because that is where I policed. But I was looking at stats for the Western District, where Freddie Gray died. Homicides in the Western went from a long-time record low (but still shamefully high) 21 in 2014 to a record high 66 in 2015. Holy mackerel, that’s a huge increase! (The Eastern went…
Welcome the NYPD’s “PD 382-152” (06-15), née UF-250, AKA Stop Report, just FYI: This new “UF-250” replaces the old “UF-250” from 2002 that made an unconstitutional mockery of reasonable suspicion as laid out in Terry v. Ohio. (Also FYI, the original form actually called a UF-250 is long dead; long live the UF-250!) If the goal is fewer stops, add…
Marilyn Mosby, Baltimore State’s Attorney, keep emphasizing that she comes from a family of cops: To the rank-and-file officers of the Baltimore City Police Department, please know that these accusations of these six officers are not an indictment on the entire force. I come from five generations of law enforcement. My father was an officer. My mother was an officer.…
I still can’t believe this guy got shot down by a cop playing whack-a-mole with his service weapon. The D.A. said: The evidence in this case shows the shooting to be accidental, and possibly negligent, but not criminally so. “This shooting is not justified, but also not criminal.” I don’t know if I buy the stutter-step no-double-tap explanation. But at…
The Sun on that BPD seat belt policy: Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Michael Schatzow said Porter showed a “callous indifference for life” when he deviated from department policies. Defense attorneys have said other police officers routinely break such policies, but Schatzow said those officers should not be considered “reasonable.” What’s interesting is that the “new” policy, says the department, came…
@PeterMoskos wins the “Most Profanity in One Quote” Award. https://t.co/Rt22OJRYjy — Jeffrey Butts (@JeffreyButts) December 5, 2015 I’m humbled and honored to win the Golden Middle Finger award. I’d like to thank all the sailors and pirates who taught me everything I know, gosh darnit. In all seriousness, this Guardian piece by Baynard Woods might be the first fair thing…
From the mayor on down to the officer on scene, the cover-up seems pretty big. Multiple false reports are very worrisome. Though a detective taking a statement from Van Dyke shouldn’t qualify as another false report. But Van Dyke’s partner, Walsh, is certainly culpable. Update: The New York Timessays “at least five other officers on the scene that night corroborated…
You want to know why cops are always bitching? You want to know how cops can feel like they’re the victims? You want to know what it’s like to be on trial for violating a General Order? (In the NYPD this in known as the Patrol Guide. Same thing.) Sun columnist Dan Rodricks is unfairly dismissive of the ignorance defense…
Here’s the recapof Day 4 of the trial of Officer William Porter. I’m not there and I’m no lawyer, so far be it from me to figure out what’s going on. But I’m having a tough time figuring out Porter’s role in a crime. Today seemed to be focused on seat belts. Gray wasn’t Porter’s prisoner. It wasn’t Porter’s job…
From the Twittersphere: "We do not transport injured people, we render aid" and call medic, Ofc. Porter wrote at police academy, instructor testifies. #PorterTrial — Scott Calvert (@scottmcalvert) December 3, 2015 "We made him write it"? Further proof police academy not to train and educate but cover department's legal ass. https://t.co/1eJx7ruVEx — Peter Moskos (@PeterMoskos) December 3, 2015 The idea…