Racial Profiling, Statistically Speaking.

Racial Profiling

First of all, what's racial profiling.

Racial profiling basically states that certain races are prone to committing certain crimes.

However, the problem with racial profiling is that it is based on statistics or past history. Statistics is just a representation of data collection.

Therein lies the problem with racial profiling.

See, African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to be arrested and end up incarcerated, statistically. This is because, statistically, African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to commit crimes. Therefore, statistically, it makes sense that African Americans and Hispanics are targeted by police more often.

Wait.

Where are these statistics coming from? Who's collecting and compiling this data?

Well, statistically, White people are the data collectors. Statistically, White people are the data compilers. Statistically, White people are the ones doing the arresting and incarcerating. And, statistically, White people are the ones who report this data.

Hmmm.

Am I wrong? Statistically, no. Statistically, I am right. Whites do collect, compile, and report these statistics - statistically, of course.

So, what? Does it matter that Whites collect, compile and report statistics?

Hell yeah!

Statistically, this nation, of mostly Whites, has been anti-non-white! From the very day the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, Whites have been the scourge of non-whites in North America from sea to shining sea. Statistically, that's true.

If you can deny that reality, please try to do so, statistically.

At any rate, since before the inception of this nation, African Americans and Hispanics have been targeted by Whites the most, statistically.

Targeted for what? Eh, let's not get into that.

And sure, many other people have been targeted, statistically. Ask the Japanese, Native Americans, Arabs. Or, check the statistics.

Statistics would show that the statistics for the criminal behavior based on race or ethnicity is severely skewed. By what? Racism.

Hey. You can't take one statistic and not the other. That's not how statistics work. Ah, but that is how racial profiling is being used by a mostly White majority, statistically.

Racial Profiling Misused

Have a look at this chart...
Hey, statistically, Whites make up over three-quarters of the marijuana users in the United States. However, statistically, African Americans and Hispanics make up more than 70% of those arrested and incarcerated for marijuana use. Check the statistics.

Hmmm.

Statistically, it would seem that local, state, and federal authorities don't do any racial profiling. If they did do any racial profiling at all, then wouldn't it make sense, statistically, that more Whites would be targeted, arrested, and incarcerated for marijuana offenses.

Also, if racial profiling is based on statistics, which set of statistics is being used. Think about it. If we're going by marijuana usage, then Whites should be targeted more. However, if we're going by crime statistics, the targeting, arrests, and incarceration of Blacks and Hispanics would make sense.
But, do current crime statistics - based on racism, statistically - justify the current state of racial profiling? Absolutely not!

Are you tired of statistics, yet?

I support racial profiling - REAL racial profiling - based on statistics that are not inherently skewed by the racist attitudes of those in power.

Does this mean that I want to see more White people arrested for marijuana offenses?

HELL NO! I want marijuana to be as legal as tobacco and alcohol for all of us.

However, if local, state, and federal authorities are going to racial profile people in general, wouldn't it make sense they follow statistics that aren't created through racism? Then again, that assumes they are actually racial profiling based on statistics and not just blatant racism.

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Budget cuts? Police first!! Episode 2

Episode 1: Budget cuts? Police first!!

I thought I'd relay a comment I left on an article I'd just read: Suspension for 3 Cops in Facebook Flap. In short, a few dumb ass cops were canned from their jobs due to racist and sexist comments on their Facebook pages. Here is my response to that article:

It's the economy people. You really think these officers would have been fired for these comments if states weren't looking for ways to cut down on the budget. Some of the greatest costs to cities and states happens to be bad police policy, where crooked cops get slaps on the wrist for the crimes they commit while badged.

Think about it. Look at the Oscar Grant murder. The family is suing the city for $50M. Ask yourself, how many of these lawsuits exist in your city, state, and across the nation? How many of them have been settled or already judged on? How many millions are these areas losing because of police misconduct?? Finally, police are being let go left and right all of a sudden where they'd just be placed on desk duty or something like that. It should have been this way all along.

Unfortunately, it takes a bad economy for people to think straight and start making cops accountable for their actions. Why should innocent taxpayers have to fork over millions to people that should never have been hurt in the first place only to continue paying some creep who was never good at his/her job in the first place?

Truthfully speaking, I hope more terminations of police occur throughout the nation. For far too long, the police have been more of a liability than an asset. It's time certain officials start taking this burden more seriously. In times when we can't provide decent school books to our children or afford to keep a hospital open, there's no reason why any county, city, or state should tolerate the arrogance and willfullness of crooked police officers. How many more millions do we taxpayers have to shell out to victims of police misconduct or outright brutality before we come to our senses??

New York City

• $8.75 Million for brutalizing Abner Louima - 218 jobs (@ 40k/year for 1 year)
• $3 Million for the murder of Ousman Zongo - 75 jobs
• $3 Million for the murder of Amadou Diallo - 75 jobs
• $3 Million for the murder of Anthony Baez - 75 jobs

Chicago

• Loevy & Loevy, civil rights law firm, claims to have won $80 Million in settlements - 2,000 jobs

And we're not even discussing general court costs as well as any other costs associated with incarceration.

If I was getting paid to write these posts, I'd continue looking up this information. But I think my readers get the point. This nation can save a lot of money and a lot of jobs if these "officials" do something about police brutality.

I think Harrison officials are smart for getting rid of these officers BEFORE they create greater liabilities for the town!

Related Links:

• 08/15/08 The 48th Precinct of the Bronx, NY are PUNKS
• 12/08/08 Stupid Dirty Cops Got Caught
• 12/09/08 Police Corruption: What's Your Story?
• 01/17/09 Aha! Oakland Cops Getting Canned for Lying
• 01/20/09 President Obama, please address police brutality!
• 01/21/09 Police Corruption: Protecting Yourself Part 1
• 01/22/09 Police Corruption: Protecting Yourself Part 2
• 02/02/09 How dumb can a cop get?

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15 year-old girl viciously attacked by police

Normally, when I do a reaction post, I have a lot to say, especially when it has to do with police brutality. But, there aren't any words I can find to express the utter disgust for what occurred.

I saw this video on Huffington Post, article: Paul Schene: King County Deputy Caught On Tape Punching, Kicking 15-Year-Old Girl

In case you can't view it, within a matter of 20 seconds, two grown men wearing badges attack a 15 year old girl starting with a kick, followed by a short right cross to the face, after which her head is rammed into the corner wall. She's then taken down to the floor where the other officer helps to handcuff her and after she's handcuffed and pinned down by two grown men, one officer delivers two blows to her head, shoves her head into the hard concrete, and then carries her out by her hair.

"Schene, 31, pleaded not guilty to fourth-degree assault in Superior Court on Thursday."

Don't believe me, get to a computer and watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDg_IFHEau0

Imagine what African American males go through if this guy has the nerve to plead not guilty with video evidence of this brutality against a little girl. I should know, I've witnessed it first hand and was arrested for being a witness to it.

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Police Corruption: Victims R Us

Are Black and Hispanic folks safe?

White folks have it easy?

What about news reporters, women, children???

Things are much easier around the world, I bet.

The Cost of Bad Police Policy

This just really shows that it's never going to matter how much money is involved or the training given, police are bad for one reason: they're allowed to get away with it. And, even if they don't fully get away with it, very few actually will do any time in jail for the crimes they commit against innocent people. As long as they're protected, the people remain unprotected and we all deserve equal protection under the law.

And, who gets the bill when police officers get a slap on the wrist? Do you think police departments have "Oops We Hurt/Killed Another Citizen" insurance plan? Yes they do actually. That's what the tax payers are for, you and me. Every time you hear about a court case against a police officer, think about the funds it takes to prosecute/defend that criminal cop. That's some number of potholes the streets could fill. Think about all of the cases settled for five- and six-figures. That money represents the teachers we could hire, in quality and quantity, books for school, and music and arts programs. Now think about all of the seven- and eight-figure settlements. Cities could easily support new infrastructure programs, create more jobs, help strengthen the economy. Think about the toll on society as even decent law abiding citizens are more frightened of police than the criminals they're supposed to catch because they're one and the same.

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Police Corruption: Protecting Yourself Part 2

...continued from Police Corruption: Protecting Yourself Part 1

GUNS, GUNS, and more GUNS

Do not be afraid to own more than one gun which should include a shotgun. Don't expect to go to war with the DEA or the local police. You will lose. However, you want to make them think twice about coming into your apartment without any resistance. This will give you time to TALK to them so that you can come to a peaceful, non-fatal conclusion for the night. And, be sure to practice extreme safety when storing your guns especially if you have children.

Media Planning

Do not be afraid to gain media coverage of your particular incident. The worst thing for a police department is to have their criminal cops plastered all over the evening news. On the other side be prepared for someone to drag your name through the mud

One guy that does this, and whom I hate with a passion, is this NYPD clown, Pat Lynch. He's the Police BullSh*t Association president for these corrupt officers in New York City. No matter what happens in the news, regardless of who's right or wrong, Pat Lynch is out there doing his best to sway public opinion against victims of police brutality. This guy openly supports the WORST of the NYPD. While the lawyers may keep their mouths shut and the officers charged with crimes have a court-issued gag order, this animal comes out to "Lynch" anybody who speaks truthfully about police officers.

This is why you, as a private citizen, ought to know who to contact in your community when racist animals like Pat Lynch attack! These criminal advocates will drag your name through the streets in support of corrupt police. So, you need a potent mouth piece, not to speak badly about police as that's not needed, but simply to tell the truth to protect your name and image. Don't get "Lynched" in the media.

Legal Team

You and your lawyer are your legal team. If you don't have a lawyer that knows you, you don't have a lawyer. If you don't have a lawyer, you don't have a legal team. Get a lawyer on retainer as you would have a cell phone in your pocket. By keeping your mouth shut and collecting as much evidence as possible, you are doing yourself the biggest favor in court. It's because the police absolutely rely on the fact that there are no witnesses or anything recording their activities that they are able to get away with the crimes they commit against innocent people.

Get Political

Get to know your local politicians and their views on specific issues. They may be the problem as opposed to the solution. They may be the very ones advocating, promoting, or just ignoring these type of do-anything, harm anyone police tactics. At the end of the day, they speak for the people. If the people aren't talking, then who is being heard? Keep in contact with your local assemblyman on up to state senators and so on. You may find out the worst is true and may need to put your support behind the other person come election time.

Protect Yourself

An encounter with a police officer can be the most life changing event you'll ever experience. And, it won't be because you committed some serious crime. It will be because you were walking down the street and they were bored. It might even be a bet between two partners. It might be because they just wanted to play SWAT team. But, when they've decided to focus their attention on you, it will be the scariest rollercoaster of your life. They'll abuse you physically, emotionally, and mentally. And, it can last for months or years. The best way to see to it that this not be a bad situation for you is to put yourself in a position to have the police on defense.

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Police Corruption: Protecting Yourself Part 1

Intro

The police have so many tactics and little tricks they use against innocent people that it becomes difficult for an ordinary person to come out on top in the end. Back in the day, police departments practiced torture and coercion to get their way. Tens of thousands of people were forced to admit to thing they never did. This practice continues as police officers lob threats against you and your family. They're allowed to get on camera and make their case against you so that even if you do win, you're still guilty or tainted. It's because of these tactics that I wanted to discuss some ways to protect yourself against corrupt police officers.

Shut Up. Keep your cool.

Police officers like to provoke and escalate situations. They'll say and do anything to get that rise out of you. Don't fall for it. They want the altercation. They want a reason to fight with you. Think about it. They already have the upper hand - semi-automatic gun, baton, pepper spray, tazer and a walkie talkie so they can call their friends to join in on the fun of destroying your life.

Don't be the man that falls for this trick. Not only will they "knock your teeth in" but you'll end up going to prison for protecting yourself against harassment and abuse. Even worse, they may end up killing you and be treated as heroes for cold-blooded murder. This is why these police murders are so prevalent in society.

Personal Surveillance

As an African American male living in New York City, it becomes necessary to go the extra mile to protect yourself. While it is illegal for us to wear bullet proof vests although we're the ones mostly in need of such protection from police, we can at least maintain some sort of recording device on our person in the event that we are stopped by the police for any reason. I've been looking into mostly spy devices which are pretty costly. But, if I can wear something that will definitely record audio and video of police harassment at the time it's occurring, I'll at least feel that I can come out on top in the end.

Never expect a situation in which a police officer won't find a way to harm you. So, don't worry about trying to prevent it. Your best bet is to simply minimize it and use the evidence gathered from your personal surveillance to defend yourself in the future.

We all can't afford personal surveillance. It gets quite expensive, especially if you want to use devices in your car or property. However, we can afford stickers for our cars or pins on our chests that will allude to it. One thing police are afraid of is being caught on tape as is the nature of any criminal. If enough people can afford surveillance devices, it will play enough of a deterrent to police officers seeking to harm innocent people. I remember years ago a tenant set up a camera and a motion detector in front of the door to his apartment. He'd be alerted when anyone was near and could simply check the camera. It was big and bulky and very obvious but it worked and that's how he felt safe.

Reinforce your life

Many times police officers lie to get search warrants (and the judges know). Other times, it be a mistaken no-knock raid. Either way, they will bust in your door and destroy your life by either outright murdering you or splitting up your family - put your children in foster homes and try to get your spouse to turn against you.

• In case of Kathryn Johnston [link], a grandmother in Atlanta, she was mudered in her own home by police officers. And, they planted evidence in a botched cover up attempt.
  
• In the case of Alberta Spruill [link], a church going woman in Harlem, she was simply scared to death by no-knock raiding police officers.

And there are many more cases of these situations where the police or DEA may simply come into your home and ruin your life. These are things you want to prevent in your life because these women were elderly grandmothers just enjoying the rest of their days. And, they could be any one of us.

Get a heavy metal door that is reinforced into the house or apartment. Another good idea is to set up a double door situation in which they may break into the first one and be met with another much stronger door. Do not be afraid to put full-sized bars across all of your windows as well. None of this will stop the police from coming into your house. But, they will provide you enough time to protect yourself.

to be continued...

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President Obama, please address police brutality!

Dear President Obama

I am sure many of us are getting ready for Obama's inauguration or by the time they get to reading this blog they've already watched Obama get sworn in as our 44th President of the United States. During the time between Nov. 4th and now, Pres. Obama has asked the people to come up with ideas so that we can create a better tomorrow. Although my main concern with this blog is to discuss marijuana, there was already tons of support for that cause. In fact, marijuana policy was the absolute top cause on Change.gov. So, I decided to try to throw some wind behind an issue that devastates primarily the Black community: police brutality.

Brave my ass

For far too long, police officers from coast to coast have been able to hide and escape punishment while innocent young Black men are murdered mercilessly in the streets by those same officers. They hide behind advocates that claim police are underfunded, underpaid, or undertrained as if that truly is a reason a group of young Black men should fall victim to a barrage of bullets. They hide behind district attorneys who's only interest is to protect the city from lawsuits seeking money. They hide behind judges who could care less about anyone or anything. They hide behind politicians, mayors, and governors who succumb to illegal police unions that have the audacity to pressure an entire city into putting them above the law with special conditions and rules that ordinary citizens will never benefit from.

Stop Rewarding Criminal Cops

It's time that police officers around this nation be placed on absolute notice that their attitudes, tactics, and special rights are unacceptable in the United States of America. It's time that finally individual police officers be held accountable for their crimes against ordinary citizens. While, I am not against all police officers, I am against all criminal police officers. Unfortunately, I haven't met many decent police officers. So, I do believe police officers deserve special rules. However, those rules shouldn't be favorable for all police officers regardless of performance as it is now. There should exist rules and penalties that will be twice as detrimental to criminal cops while at the same time twice as gracious for a job well done.

Hold Them EQUALLY Accountable

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"

-Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

I've always felt that all police are bad in some way. When a police officer commits a crime, it's rarely a crime committed without the knowledge of another officer. For one police officer to get away with a criminal act, the other officer (or officers) must be an accomplice to that crime. It is my belief that with the responsibility given to, and willingly accepted by, police officers, they must be held accountable equally for the crimes they allow to occur.

If a group of police officers can be awarded equally for a job well done, so should that group of police officers be charged equally for any crimes committed, even though not all were equal in activity. Why should one officer be held accountable, if at all, when the others allowed a crime to be committed? I ask this question because it's their sworn duty to uphold the laws. This is a duty they sought and accepted, an oath of position. When a police officer chooses to ignore criminal acts or go along with the criminal group, he turns his back on his community, his family, and himself. The penalty of breaking that oath should be equal to the crimes allowed to take place. If an officer murders a man in cold blood, so should every officer who bears witness to that crime be accountable for murder, if they could have done something to stop that murder from taking place.

Solutions

"The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men"

- Plato, The Republic

In New York City, when a young Black man is murdered by the NYPD, we can count on Al Sharpton to be there to denounce police tactics. The most important thing he does is ask for a person that is independent of the current system. The problem is that the people of New York City can not rely on the current system because there is an absolute conflict of interest. The same attorneys that try cases against do so at the will of the police departments that are directly responsible for filing charges against an individual. Therefore, it conflicts with their interests to try cases against police officers that they once worked with. The next option is to rely on Internal Affairs. The problem with this is that Internal Affairs are made up of the very same people who used to work at the NYPD, another conflict of interest.

New and Separate Agency

If we are to begin holding police officers accountable for their crimes against people, there needs to be a complete disconnect with the current system of checks and balances that is inherently unbalanced and leaves police wholly unchecked. I propose that we completely abolish any state-run internal affairs organization and put in place of it a federally run organization whose sole responsibility to maintain the integrity of police departments. They should be held to the highest regard in society with proper funding, lawyers, judges, and enforcement to uphold the Constitution. They should be given complete access to computer systems and tracking systems employed by the local police. They should be allowed to tap phones without warrant. Most importantly, they should be easily accessible by the people.

Overhaul Police Procedures

Beyond a federal agency, there needs to be a complete overhaul of police procedures starting with real transparency. A statistical summary of individial police officers should be made freely available to the public. In keeping all records secret, requiring special requests that may take weeks or months to fulfill, the police do a disservice to citizens. No one has any idea who works in their community and the police are made to be secret themselves operating without accountability. Police officers should be judged individually and completely as well as be reprimanded. On the same token, citizens can recognize real heroes within the department and give them the proper respect due to a police officer who does his job well.

Sincerely, President Anthony Taurus

President Obama, I am sure the community, especially those affected by police brutality the most, have ideas they'd like to share with you. I'd like to see fundamental changes in the way police are governed and treated. I like to see a return to community policing where police officers know the people of the neighborhood and the people know them as well. At the same time, the people ought to have greater access regarding their local police departments in the future and not less as has been the case for the past 50 years. We have to stop assuming the local justice system is not tainted or biased against the people they're supposed to serve.

As we've learned with the economy, there is a difference between theory and practice. Republican economic theories sound good but they did not work, obviously. While, in theory, the current justice system should work, in practice, it truly does not work. Today, we live in a time where notorious gangs are on equal footing, as it pertains to safety and trust, with police officers. Citizens, and even children, are in fear of the very people meant to protect them. Something must be done about these problems.

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Police Corruption Tactics

Intro

It's always been a wonder exactly what ways the corrupt police officers charge and get people convicted of crimes they didn't commit. While I can't imagine to know every single way they spread their dirt, I can definitely point out some things that people in general should watch out for in the event they're confronted with a typical police officer.

Lying

Of course this is the most common of police tactics. Police officers lie big and they lie small. It's the small lies that do the most damage. For example, when I was arrested for witnessing police brutality on a young Black man, the police officer who arrested me was not the officer who wrote up the report. Instead, they got a Puerto Rican officer to lie on the report saying that he arrested me when in fact, he wasn't even actually there!

Bait & Switch

I confronted the officer because I didn't get a chance to see the real arresting officer's name or number. The guy that arrested me was some short, fat white guy with beedy eyes. He's the same officer I witnessed pepper spray that young Black man AFTER he was already beaten and in the back of the cruiser on two separate occasions. The Puerto Rican officer explained to me that the arresting officer is not always the one to write the report and I'd be dealing with him, instead.

Padding

I asked the officer what I am being charged with and I find out the charges are disorderly conduct and inciting a riot. This is amazing being that I was in my bedroom, 2nd floor, in my underwear watching from the window. Finally, when I get to arraignment the prosecutor reads off the report and the officer claimed that I was hanging out of the window, yelling obscenities, and I threw something at them that "nearly missed him". Basically, they were trying to paint me as a crazy person in this report. The judge really homed in on the throwing incident because he wanted to know if it missed or it hit. The prosecutor couldn't explain it because the officer never showed up to the arraignment, obviously. Why would the fake cop show up when he wasn't even there?

It's funny because if I did throw something or did hit a police officer, why wasn't I charged with that "crime"? It's because they wanted the disorderly conduct and inciting a riot to stick to me without the blow out of a real trial and case in court. Imagine what it would be if I really did hit that officer! Come on! It would have to come out as to why I would do all of that. They don't want "the whole truth and nothing but the truth" to come out in court especially when they're busy fabricating reports.

To conclude

This is not anything new folks. This is not isolated to my situation. Simply look at the articles and links posted above. Police officers from coast to coast, north and south, are typically liars. They need to lie because that's the only way they'll ever get their "shits and giggles". As dumb and ignorant as most police officers are, especially the ones who think this doesn't apply to them, it's impossible for them to actually do their job.

They're simply too stupid.

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Aha! Oakland Cops Getting Canned for Lying

Oakland to fire 11 cops in search warrant case [SF Gate via Drug Law Blog]

Let's keep this one short and sweet. Simply put, these dirty cops were caught falsifying evidence to judges to get search warrants so they could play SWAT on innocent people. Because these idiots were caught lying the city of Oakland has to suck up not one but TWO class-action lawsuits. For the record, when you see "class-action", it means a lot of people's lives have been negatively affected by these 11 dirty bastards.

Police are their own problem

What's really sad about this case is that although these police were caught red handed, the other officers and attorneys are bringing out every excuse in the book to support these animals. First there's some crap about not training the officers by the attorneys for the lying cops. I have to wonder, what kind of training is required to teach ADULTS to not lie? Is that not something you learn as a child from your parents? Did these animals grow up without any morals? With the way these police officers act around the nations, it's totally possible they did grow up without morals or home training. I wouldn't be surprised if they lift their hind legs to use the bathroom.

And don't think this is just Oakland. Remember Michael Mineo? He's the guy that was sodomized by an NYPD officer in the daytime in a train stration. Even two other police officers corroborate the story told by Michael Mineo. Let me rephrase, other police officers supported the victim's story. So, how do other NYPD officers react to this dirty cop sodomizing another man? They come to the court to taunt Mineo and call him a faggot!
And here's that article: Police taunt subway accuser

Seriously, how in the hell am I to have respect for police officers when they do things like taunt a victim who was raped. And, the very few that do actually have the balls to be REAL cops and tell the truth end up being drummed out of the force in some way shape or form. So, even when REAL cops do exist, they don't last long in the department.

The Real Reason They're Being Fired

Let's be honest people. How often do we ever get a chance to see police officers actually be reprimanded for the willful abuse of their authority. The NYPD still consists of cold blooded murderers among the typical liars, thieves, pimps, addicts, and so on. This is because the NYPD protects themselves along with the judges and attorneys that also help protect the crooked cops. So, upon reading...

"These terminations are difficult for the city, but they show that honesty and integrity are non-negotiable for officers in the Oakland Police Department," Russo said. "The terminations demonstrate that the Oakland Police Department's internal review systems and reform measures are operating soundly and in the interests of justice."

...I called BULLSHIT! Police departments do not FIRE police officers. It simply doesn't happen. They will do their best to protect their members. Paid leave is the WORST thing a police officer will ever face even after cold blooded murder.

So, you want to know why the city of Oakland is really firing these dirty liars? Hey, even I don't know but, I can take an educated guess. How about the economy? Cities and states are looking for any way to cut down on their expenditures. The worst expenditure any city or state can have is a class-action lawuit which can, and most likely will, amount to multi-million dollar pay outs. And Oakland has TWO of them right now.

And you know what, they just had another case in which the city had to pay out $10.5 million. Another bad expenditure is to keep proven dirty cops on the force. Beyond that, it's costly to send the message to other police officers that their risky behavior will be protected by the city in the future. That's 11 paychecks the city of Oakland won't have to cut to these mongrel dogs which is money that can be used for more important things around the city.

Last Call

And, that's hopefully a message to other police officers around the US to actually do their jobs PROPERLY for once! I hope that other cities in the US follow suit, especially here in NYC where a good portion of police officers need to be pink slipped starting with the 48th precinct in the Bronx. The memory of that 18yo beaten by five officers while already handcuffed on the ground as other officers stand around and watch will NEVER escape my memory simply because they arrested me for being a witness to their crime.

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Stupid Dirty Cops Got Caught

Background [CBS7 news report]

As I was perusing my marijuana-related news site, I came across, Cops 'Busted' for Raid on Fake Grow Op [Reason via High Times]. Seems our old friend, Barry Cooper is at it with Kop Busters. Barry Cooper rented a house in Odessa, TX to set up a grow operation. The great part about it is that they were growing two tiny Christmas trees (no taller than a foot each from what I saw in the video). The theory is that if police were as honest and straight as they claimed, this grow operation should go undetected. Obviously, it didn't.

Who's Barry Cooper

Barry Cooper is a veteran law enforcement officer and anti-drug-war lecturer made famous throughout the anti-drug-war community for his film Never Get Busted Again Vol. 1. During the course of his eight year career as a drug enforcement officer he made more than 800 drug arrests, 50 vehicle seizures and confiscated over $500,000 in cash and assets.

Barry Cooper is a man who saw something wrong with the system. He realized that he was being lied to about marijuana and sought to effect change. In many rights, he's still a law enforcement officer. He's just brave enough to do something about the dirty police tactics that corrupt his duties. Where he was considered a hero to many during his time as a police officer, he's more of a hero without the badge because he didn't need the badge or a gun to do the right thing.
Never Get Busted [website | youtube]
Kop Busters [website]
Marc "Prince of Pot" Emery interviews Barry Cooper

How We Know Cops Were Crooked [Raw Footage]

First of all, this grow operation was 100% legal as there is nothing illegal about growing plants indoors much less Christmas trees (just in time for Christmas too). Secondly, the only people who knew about the grow operation were Barry Cooper's staff.

So, new questions are raised:

1. How did Odessa police "know" there was an "illegal" grow operation?
2. How did they obtain a warrant to raid the location?

First of all, the police did NOT know about the grow operation. With no marijuana and no way to know there was marijuana in this house, the police, the people you trust with your lives, had to have found out illegally. But, even then, with that illegally obtained "evidence" how did they go about obtaining a search warrant? Lies beget lies. They had to have lied on to get the warrant. If they knew for a fact there was marijuana being grown on this property, there would be no way for the police to lose. But, they did indeed lose.

Now that we know Odessa police lied to obtain this information, we want and deserve real answers to those questions. What did the police do, illegally, to target this location? Exactly, what did they use to lie to obtain the search warrant? While we can guess at a few things, we'll never know unless the police stop lying. But, lies beget lies.

Why Set Up A Grow Operation: Yolanda Madden

Well, it seems this isn't the first time Odessa police have lied.. go figure. In 2005, Yolanda Madden was set up by the very same police department in a methamphetamine scheme in which the police informant planted evidence on her. But, this is not some lie to get Yolanda off. The informant admitted planting the evidence on Yolanda. She's currently serving 8 years in federal prison on distribution charges because the police set her up near a junior high school. If you don't know, many counties, cities and states apply harsher punishment when dealing drugs within a school zone.

Yolanda Madden is just an example of the police corruption that exists all over the United States. As long as innocent citizens continue to get targeted by police for their own fun and excitement, we'll continue to have these problems. This should let people know that we are all at risk from police, innocent and guilty.

The Real Problem: Judges

We can play this game of "cat and mouse" with police departments around the nation as much as we please. In the end, it comes down to what happens in the court room. When police officers set innocent people up, informants misinform, and evidence is fabricated, it's all left up to the judge to decide what's fair and what's NOT fair. Far too often, it's the judges that take the word of police over other people. When you have entire police departments acting criminally, it's up to the judges to do a better job of protecting the people from the animals that attack them.

The very reason police corruption exists is because the judicial system allows it. The people ought to begin chastising and scrutinizing the judges for their decisions to allow evidence that was obviously illegally obtained. If this continues, then what's the point of the US Constitution and other laws. Police officers can not continue to choose what laws they decide to follow and enforce. As long as judges continue to allow this activity, there's no reason for police to stop being badged criminals.

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Gay Marriage: The Sickness

Where I Stand

First of all, let me explain where I stand on a few things and you'll probably guess where this post is going. You'll definitely understand my attitude and rational.

I don't like homosexuality. More specifically, I don't like male homosexuality. The idea of two hairy men coming together to "smash" each other disgusts me. And, that's why I don't do it. There are a lot of things I can't, don't, and won't do - crack, heroin, fellatio, door-to-door sales, necrophilia, etc etc etc. At the same time, there are a lot of things I do that others won't do - eat meat, watch girl-on-girl pornography, cunnilingus, smoke marijuana, etc etc etc.

The point is that we all do things that others may or may not do. But, what does it matter? As long as what I am doing doesn't hurt you and what you're doing doesn't hurt me, why should either one of try to prevent or prohibit the other from doing it. Homosexuality doesn't affect me. It doesn't affect anyone but the people who engage in it. So, I don't see myself supporting any measure that treats homosexuals as second-class citizens.

We are all human beings first. Any categorization after that is arbitrary as it pertains to society as a whole.

Arguments Against "Gay Marriage"

I recognize there are two arguments against gay marriage. These are not separate arguments but different arguments in their intent to shape gay marriage. The first stems from outright hate of homosexuality altogether. This argument is against anything that would promote or even accept the concept of homosexuality. The second fights over the definition of the word itself: "Marriage is the union between man and woman." Supposedly, they don't mind civil unions but they don't want to "share" their definition of marriage. Neither argument is of any real relevance as both are based on ignorance and stupidity.

America's HIV: Blending of Church and State

The very reason there is a separation of church and state is because our forefathers were sick and tired of the twisted ways people, specifically the royalty of England, use religion to limit and/or pervert an ever changing and growing society. Examples of this perversion include justifications for slavery, rape, incest, murder, torture and more. President mis-elect George W. Bush said that God told him to do certain things. Those things lead up to well over 4000 American military troops dying along with the senseless slaughter of near 1,000,000 Iraqi and Afghan people. Bush is a prime example of someone who is religiously perverse and wielding the power of the presidency of the United States.

It's this same limitation and perversion of religion coupled with an unconstitutional blending of church and state that gives life to the "sickness" this nations suffers. It's like the AIDS virus, corrupting and distorting the cells one by one until eventually the body turns on itself in a vicious civil war shutting down organ by organ until the entire body falls. One ramification of this nation's "sickness" is the persecution of gays through the denial of marriage. While I will not assume our forefathers anticipated this specific issue, they did anticipate these types of issues. By separating church and state, they give the future the freedom from this "sickness" to decide their respective present.

Marriage vs Civil Union: The Solution

The United States government should recognize civil unions in general and disassociate itself with any religious concept of marriage altogether. That is, all marriages, heterosexual and homosexual, are civil unions and will be respected as such. Civil union should be, and are, considered legal agreements between two people to share a life together. Marriage, as it is defined by any church, will not have any respect with the US government.

Allow me to introduce a possibly new concept. All civil unions should be agreements that are decided upon before the marriage takes place. In other words, just as two people sit down to settle terms for a divorce, they should sit down to settle terms for a civil union much like a prenuptial agreement but for ALL civil unions. There would be an absolute default civil union option. While Congress should define it, I am thinking something along the lines of a 50/50 split is said civil union fails in divorce.

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