MCKINNEY POLICE HALL OF SHAME

MCKINNEY POLICE HALL OF SHAME
Jun 19, 2007 | 11:53 AM
Category: News

Report This Post MCKINNEY, TEXAS POLICE HALL OF SHAME



IT SURE SEEMS to me that since the hiring of Doug Kowalski in 2000 as McKinney’s Police chief, we’ve seen an on-going pattern of continued corruption and criminal activity within our police department. If I remember correctly, Kowalski was apparently demoted for poor performance within the Dallas police department.

Kowalski was hired around the time as the infamous Dallas Police “pool chalk” scandal in which in which a dozen or so Latinos were framed for cocaine. It turns out, there was no cocaine – it was pool chalk – and an outright proven police frame job.

Kowalski ended up suing Dallas and left the department to become McKinney’s Police Chief. Unfortunately, it appears that our city then “inherited” some similar problems that were uncovered in Dallas; poor management, incompetence and outright criminal activity.

Examples follow below. While reading, note the lack of punishment and “deals” that these bums received for their crimes and incompetence. It is clear that the Collin County DA’s office is in bed with our PD and has forgotten their sworn oath to uphold justice.

Don’t the citizens of McKinney deserve better?



· Officer Joyce VanDertuin – Fatally Shot Innocent Homeowner; June 2001

A 31-year-old home owner was fatally shot in her home Tuesday afternoon by a police officer responding to a burglar alarm. Officer Joyce VanDeruin was investigating the alarm in the 1800 block of Meadow Ranch Road shortly before 1:30 p.m. when she saw a rear patio door ajar, said McKinney police Capt. Robert Dean.

"She called for backup and tried to enter the door," Capt. Dean said. He said the officer told investigators that the door was pushed forcefully back toward her as she tried to move through it.

"The door came back at her," Capt. Dean said, "and the gun discharged."

The bullet went through the door and struck Cathey Howard-Kalimah, who was inside the house. The bullet entered just above the deadbolt on the frame of the door and struck Ms. Howard-Kalimah in the upper chest, police said.

Apparently this officer’s training was so poor that she didn’t know enough keep her finger out of the trigger guard until she had determined the need for and had decided to shoot. An innocent homeowner paid the ultimate price.

· Officer Michael Valleau – Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child; April 2004

A McKinney police officer charged with 4 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child accepted a plea deal with prosecutors and has been placed on probation, according to Collin County court records.

Michael Patrick Valleau, who is also a U.S. Marine, will serve 10 years probation and pay fines for "inappropriate contact" with a 14-year-old female relative.

A grand jury originally indicted Valleau on four counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. The state dismissed the second, third and fourth charges in exchange for the plea bargain.

He was indicted by a grand jury on Oct. 12 on four first- degree felony counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, which carries a penalty of up to a life in prison and a fine as high as $10,000, according to the Texas Penal Code.

Valleau was one of two McKinney police officers who resigned from the department following allegations of sexual misconduct involving children in 2004.

· Officer Ian Hasselman – Third Degree Felony Indecency with a Child; June 2004

McKinney police officer Ian Hasselman was accused of exposing himself to his girlfriend in the presence of her 12-year-old daughter in June 2004.

In that incident, a woman reported that Hasselman drove his police cruiser onto the lawn of a children's playground near her apartment in the 700 block of Bumpas Street and began fondling himself within three feet of a woman and her 12-year-old daughter.

Hasselman later resigned from the McKinney Police Department and was arrested.

He was originally arraigned on a third-degree felony charge of indecency with a child, but a grand jury lowered his charge to public lewdness, a Class A misdemeanor. Hasselman signed a plea bargain with Collin County prosecutors last May for which he received 18 months probation, six days in jail (to be served on weekends beginning this week) and an $800 fine.



· Officer Randall Robert Vandertuin – Theft, Evidence Tampering and Extramarital Affairs; August 2004

Three years after a quadruple homicide stunned McKinney, the case remains unsolved with no new suspects. If there were an arrest, some defense attorneys wonder if the prosecution would be hampered by the questionable actions of the lead investigator in the case.

Randall Robert Vandertuin surrendered his peace officer's license in 2005 in exchange for not being prosecuted for taking police evidence to a girlfriend's house, according to court records recently obtained by News 8. Vandertuin also stole property, to include a rifle scope from the police department property/evidence room.

But that coupled with the fact that records show the married man had been reprimanded for having multiple affairs - including one with the officer who oversaw the police evidence room and another with a victim in a case he was working - damaged his credibility as a McKinney Police Department leader.

In a memo recommending termination, Capt. Randy Roland wrote that the affair with the victim "crosses a line of ethical conduct that when exposed will open this department and this city to ethical questioning with each and every case Detective Vandertuin has been involved in."

The Collin County district attorney's office also chose not to pursue charges, instead offering a pre-indictment settlement.

In it, Vandertuin admits to two felony charges of tampering with a governmental record - and agreed to permanently give up his peace officers license.

Assistant Chief Rex Redden admitted that Vandertuin violated the department's policies and likely committed a theft by taking the scope.

"Under the current atmosphere, we've opted not to prosecute," he said in an email. "We just don't need anymore negative publicity."

· Captain Ron Jones - Sexual Harassment; May 2007

McKinney police Capt. Ron Jones, the head of the McKinney Police Department’s patrol division, was placed on a five-day suspension last month after an investigation based on allegations of “violations of the code of conduct,” said Meredith Ladd, the MPD’s attorney.

Jones, 60, was placed on the five-day suspension for violating the department’s sexual harassment and professional conduct and personal bearing policies.



MCKINNEY POLICE DIS-HONORABLE MENTIONS

· Corporal Jessie Garcia - April 2006

Corporal Garcia has been involved in a number of suspicious “events” but is always cleared and is still on the street. For example, the beating of Mr. Tarver in which Garcia pummeled the 46 year black man with a back injury in the face at least six times before “macing” him. The police report states that Mr. Tarver had an aggressive look in his eyes - which in McKinney apparently gives police the right to attack and beat it's citizens.

Garcia has been involved in the unwarranted shooting of at least 2 McKinney residents during ridiculous and unnecessary SWAT team raids which endangered the lives of McKinney citizens and destroyed untold dollars worth of private property. (see Urquiza case, below).



· False Arrest of Christi Hernandez - 2006

The city of McKinney has reached a settlement with a woman who was wrongly arrested and jailed in January. Neither Christi Hernandez of Princeton nor city officials would discuss the details of the settlement, which has not yet been presented to the court.

McKinney police were trying to find Christy – not Christi – Hernandez, who has a different middle name, lives in a different town and has a different license plate number. The suspect also has a tattoo, the one thing that saved the innocent Ms. Hernandez from prosecution on felony drug charges. Those charges were dismissed but still show on her record.



When this screw up became public, McKinney Police first claimed on TV that they had acted completely properly and took the opportunity to publicaly smear the reputation of the innocent Ms. Hernandez. It was only after a media frenzy ensued and the threat of a civil lawsuit was made that the department admitted their wrong doing.

· Bogus Military Attack Against Guillermo Urquiza 2006

McKinney police acting on information provided by an “informant” swore out an arrest warrant for 26 year old Guillermo Urquiza. They claimed Urquiza had for some reason contracted to have a McKinney police officer killed. They did not ask for or obtain a no knock warrant but simply a regular arrest warrant.



From the outset the police planned and executed a full scale military style attack on Mr. Urquiza and his home, where his mother also resided. Other than the fact that the police were “pissed off” there appears to have been no reason for such an attack. The attack was carried out by the SWAT team who were dressed from head to toe in black including ski masks and included the use of powerful and dangerous stun grenades and automatic military weaponry.



After horribly wounding Urquiza at least 7 times, the police then tried to charge him with 9 counts of capital murder. Mr. Urquiza apparently attempted to defend himself against what he thought were home intruders. According to sources, as he was being shot to pieces, he called out to his mother to call the police.



A Collin County Grand Jury refused to indict Urquiza on any of the charges trumped up by the McKinney police due to lack of any credible evidence. Instead they charged him with 2 counts of aggravated assault. This charge means he tried to protect himself from harm – as the laws of the state of Texas allow.




· Bungled Quadruple Murder Case

McKinney police arrested suspects in this infamous quadruple murders. However, they had to be let go due to lack of evidence. The case has been further set back by the actions of former officer Randall Robert Vandertuin, the lead investigator. Mr. Vandertuin, a married man, was allowed to resign from the force after being caught in multiple affairs (one with the surviving victim of the Wingfield murder case), theft (of the rifle scope utilized in the Wingfield murder case) and evidence tampering.

· False Arrest of Paul Woolsey 2002

The McKinney police held Paul Woolsey in jail for at least three days after they knew he was innocent of being the shooter at the McKinney Hospital. Mr. Woolsey was “tarred and feathered” by the various media outlets, supported by statements made by the police.

Mr. Woolsey, with his reputation in ruins, committed suicide after his release from jail. His estate has filed a civil lawsuit against the city and the police department.



· Unidentified SWAT Officer who discharged his firearm in a San Antonio Hotel - 2006

While wasting our tax dollars at a SWAT team "competition" junket, an unidentified McKinney police officer discharged his weapon inside his hotel. Luckily the bullet lodged in a water pipe in the hotel room wall before it could have killed an innocent bystander. This from “highly trained” SWAT members?

Attempts to determine the identity of the officer have been rebuffed, despite such knowledge being by law, public information.

· Asst. Chief Rex Redden on why the McKinney Police Department did not charge Officer Vandertuin.

Assistant Chief Rex Redden admitted that Vandertuin violated the department's policies and likely committed a theft by taking the scope.

"Under the current atmosphere, we've opted not to prosecute," he said in the email. "We just don't need anymore negative publicity."

THESE ARE JUST the things we find out about, what don’t we know? And the beat goes on and on and on…………

(sources: Dallas Morning News, McKinney Gazette, and News 8)

Police Officer Versus Citizen Safety

Police Officer V. Citizen Safety

When I was a kid, a long time ago, we were taught that police officers were our “friends” and to go to them if you were ever in trouble. I know today that may sound a little “Mayberry-esque” but things were really quite different than they are now. And along the way, things have changed – slowly; but nonetheless inexorably changed.

You see back in the day, police officer’s sworn duty was to “serve and protect” the citizens of the cities and town they worked in. They were equipped with common sense, dedication, love of their community, radios and a simple .38 caliber revolver. With these few tools they did what they were supposed to do: protect the citizens. (I will interject here that yes, there were some horrible racist and bad cops back then; but I am talking about the good cops.) Those police officers handled everything from bank robberies to speeding tickets, hostage situations, drugs and the all the rest of the things they are confronted with. And they did the job pretty darn well and were respected.

But, as I said somewhere along the way something has changed – and not for the good. Instead of “protect and serve” today’s police forces motto is “officer safety first”. Now one might ponder what is wrong with that? The answer is a lot is wrong with that. When “officer’s safety” trumps “protect and serve the citizens” we have a real problem on our hands.

Perhaps the best example of what I am talking about is the militarization of the police departments across the county, including right there in McKinney, Texas. Most notably this phenomenon takes on the form of paramilitary SWAT units. God only knows how much of our tax money has been and is being spent for these units to be equipped and trained as military units, instead of policemen. Such officers are now trained in military assault tactics and equipped with military rifles, grenades, explosives and sniper gear.

Now the “urban myths” are that this is necessary because:

• The Bad Guys Have And Use Military Equipment.

The truth is no, they don’t. Don’t believe me? Simply go to the U.S. FBI web site and look up the details of the 50 or so out of the current 900,000 or so police officers shot to death in each of the last several years. The VAST majority of death occurred by handgun’s, typically from 9mm down to .22 caliber. Most all were obtained illegally.

In my relatively long memory I can only remember one (1) incident where police anywhere, anytime in this country were confronted with bad guys with military equipment to include body armor. That incident was a bank robbery in Los Angeles which occurred a long time ago.

• Police Officers Face Much More Risk Than Before.

The truth is no, they don’t. With all due respect to police officers a simple look at the annual report of “Most Dangerous Jobs” compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show you that is another myth. Simply go to their website and see for yourself. In fact, so few police officers lose their lives each year that not only does the job not rank in the top ten most dangerous jobs – but the number of deaths is actually “statistically insignificant”.

Now before someone gives the “knee-jerk” response of any death is one to many – I agree with you. But consider this fact which can be found simply by going to the National Transportation and Highway Administration web site: you and I “Joe average citizen’s” are three (3) times more likely to be killed in a car crash than is a cop being shot and killed. Translation for all those who say cops “risk their lives everyday”: so do all of us. In fact, we take three times the risk just by driving our cars.

• Cops Are Fighting Terrorist and Hostage Takers.

This one is obvious. The truth is no, they are not. There have been zero incidences of SWAT teams fighting terrorist in this country. There have been cases of the police being confronted with hostage situations for sure. But no different than the hostage situations faced 40 years ago, and these were handled by good “protect and serve” policemen – not pseudo-army men.

If we do ever have a case of urban warfare being necessary such as an invasion or the like we have the National Guard – that’s what they are here for. Their job is not to police the citizens just as it is not the job of policemen to play army.

With SWAT teams having no actual valid purpose (other than admittedly it is fun to play army with real military equipment) the following question is begged:

“Why exactly, are we equipping our police forces with military equipment and training?”

I would suggest there are two answers to this valid question.

The first one I already mentioned – it’s is fun to play army. This is particularly (and dangerously) true when SWAT teams in fact face no real or equivalent enemy. (An equivalent threat or enemy would be say, fighting the “insurgents” in Iraq.) It is a fact that most SWAT teams have so little purpose that their main use today is to serve search and arrest warrants. That is certainly not the often mouthed purpose of a SWAT team and is a colossal waste of taxpayer money.

Not to mention the danger to citizens literally introduced by the SWAT teams themselves. This country and the state of Texas have a tradition of law embodied in the “Castle Laws”. Put quite simply “A man’s (or woman’s) home is his castle” and if somebody attacks it you have every right under the law to defend it with deadly force to protect the lives, limbs and liberty of yourself and your family.

When a SWAT team is unleashed to serve a search or arrest warrant here is what happens in McKinney and in cities all over the country. They create an “operational plan” – this is a military assault plan of attack similar to what our fine soldier perform in Iraq. These assaults are almost always carried out after midnight when the occupants are asleep.

Within seconds, they breach the doors of the home with either battering rams or explosives. Then, they toss in highly dangerous “flash bang” grenades which produce a severe concussion wave, blighting light, deafening noise, smoke and intense heat capable of setting houses on fire. As an added bonus they can throw in tear gas.

Then pseudo-soldiers pumped full of adrenalin, trigger fingers twitching, in full army gear with military rifles attack the home Iraq style. In doing so – at their discretion – they may or may not announce that they are the police with a search warrant (the infamous “No knock/No announcement raid”). This latter point is a trifling anyway since the startled occupants by now can not see or hear anything due to the “flash bang” grenades doing what they are intended to do: disorient, blind and deafen the attacked occupants.

So here you have a ridiculously dangerous recipe for disaster:

• Pseudo-soldiers conducting a military attack on “innocent until proven guilty in a court of law” citizens, coupled with

• Citizens believing they are being robbed or worse availing themselves of their right to protect themselves against home invasions by unknown intruders.

And what has been the result? To my knowledge, at least 3 McKinney residents being shot (one to death) by the McKinney Police along with property damage – all to serve a warrant. The Urquiza case is a chilling example of what I am talking about.

Which brings me back to my second answer.

In McKinney, Texas as elsewhere the number one priority of our police officers has shifted from “protect and serve the citizens” to “protect ourselves at all costs”. That is why SWAT assaults, which are military attacks using overwhelming force, are being used. Danger to citizens and their state and constitutional rights be dammed.

An analogy that comes to mind would be for members of the very fine McKinney Fire Department to approach a burning building and go “WHOA! That could be dangerous to us, let’s drop back” as they hear the screams for help of citizens trapped inside. But that never happens. Why? Because firemen are true heroes in my book; they have absolutely nothing to gain yet they run into burning buildings to do what they are there for: “To serve and protect” citizens and their property.

In contrast, and with all due respect to good and honest police men and women, SWAT team assaults on citizens are an act of outright bullying cowardice. Particularly when they are utilized to simply serve a search or arrest warrant against our “innocent until proven guilty in a court of law” citizens.

There is no valid purpose to justify McKinney’s Swat team, the danger it brings to our citizens or the wasting of our tax monies burned up maintaining it.

Yes, being a police officer does involve danger at times. That comes with the territory, just as it does for fire fighters.

But when you, as a SWAT Team member, endanger the lives of our citizens simply to protect yourself – which is what SWAT team assaults in fact do – then you have no business being employed as a police officer. Quite frankly you are cowards.

Well, at least one thing is still true from my childhood years – Firemen are still heroes!

SWAT Teams and Balance

Every now and then I get a comment from some amazingly ignorant people. Despite making it very clear that I am against the militarization of our police forces - some numbskull says I should be "balanced" and show both sides. I am very clearly in concert with the use of a special force in hostage situations, etc. - which is very, very rarely the case when a SWAT team is deployed. Mostly it's just boys with toys playing wanna be soldiers.

First, a blog is typically about the author's opinion - some (like me) go to the trouble of researching and backing up their opinions with facts supporting their opinions. My opinions are also not based on support for or use of drugs. Frankly I don't care what an adult does as long as it doesn't impinge on the rights of others - I believe our founding fathers believed the same. It happens that I don't use drugs - or ever care to do so.

My opinions on this topic are based upon cops killing and maiming people, destroying property and terrorizing the people they are supposed to be serving and protecting. Some cops actually live and breath "protect and serve" - God bless them. But a whole lot don't. Unfortunately there are way too many "Al Bundy's" of the world in law enforcement - little education, no other way of having power and their best years were in high-school. They have to have respect legislated for them (remember it is an aggravated assault to spit at (even if you miss)a cop) - they have no tools personally to earn respect.

Second, mass media provides no balance at all - in fact, when it comes to the SWAT they glamorize them on shows like "COPS" and "(insert city name) SWAT". It is very rare indeed to find the media covering murders by cops. I don't use that term lightly - just look at the Kathryn Johnston case in Atlanta: ridiculous use of force, lies and cover ups by "dirty" cops, smear campaigns by the police department, and finally (surprisingly) - murder charges against the little thugs with guns.

Third, at least have some balls when leaving your opinions - are these numbskulls so afraid of showing their ignorance in their posts that they have to post as "anonymous"?

Fourth,how about providing some facts to back up your opinions?

P.S. - Why is it again that SWAT teams wear masks - supposedly to protect their identities against drug cartel members and the like - right? Well check out the SWAT section of various city police web-sites: half the time they include pictures, names and descriptions of SWAT team members. Huh??? Again boys with toys playing wanna be soldiers - against us. (Update: I note with satisfaction that the McKinney SWAT Team site no longer shows their pictures - I guess they got cauaght with their pants down in this one!)

Can anyone actually show an instance of a SWAT team busting anything other than someone who is innocent - or a very small time dealer or personal user? And we need para-military forces for that??? Funny how SWAT teams never seem to go up against the types of people they are supposed to be going against.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AGAINST COP: SPIT??

When you read those heart rendering reports about how dangerous it is to be a cop remember the adage about statistics and liars.

We already know from FBI and Bureau of Labor Statistics that cop fatalities by felony (being shot in the line of duty, etc) are extremely rare. Also remember when looking at this figure you have to discount the 4 or 5 times each year the cops shoot themselves:

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/10574920/detail.html.


In fact being a cop is actually one of the safest jobs around.

We also know the major reasons for cop deaths are traffic accidents - not being shot, etc. And, it appears, cops themselves are largely to blame for the increase in traffic related deaths because they don't wear seat belts (remember, they are above the law):

http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2006/12/27/more-police-dying-in-traffic-accidents/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.msnbc.msn.com%2Fid%2F16362182%2F&frame=true

Then we hear about all the times our porcine friends are assaulted. But once again - look again at the statistics. There is a HUGE difference between supposed assaults and actual non-lethal, non-felony related injuries - now why could that be?

Well it is quite simple really - anything from cussing, touching, yelling - even spitting is classified as an aggravated assault if a police officer is involved.

"SYCAMORE, Ill. (AP) -- A 51-year-old northern Illinois man is facing aggravated assault charges after authorities say he spit out of his truck window at a police officer. The officer was not hit [with the spit]"

"He could face up to a year in jail if he's convicted of the assault charge. He is free on $100,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 5."

So like the school yard bully who finally gets bitch-slapped and then goes crying to the teacher you have whining cops charging people with aggravated assault for not getting hit with spit.

What lame pussies!

"Click It, Or Ticket" - Unless You're A Cop

We've all seen the ads on mandatory wearing of seat belts: "Click It, Or Ticket" the announcer intones as a county mounty hands out ticket after to ticket to people not wearing their seat belts.

I know this is going to be shocking - but just guess what the most prevalent reason for the rise in police deaths in 2006 over 2005? Police not wearing seat belts and dying in car crashes!

As reported by the Associated Press:

"Fatalities climb 16 percent over 2005; failure to wear seat belts cited

Updated: 6:30 a.m. CT Dec 27, 2006
WASHINGTON - Police officers who can ticket you for not wearing a seat belt sometimes ditch their own restraints, a factor that may have contributed to a double-digit jump this year in law enforcement traffic fatalities, according to a new study."

"The choice may explain the 16 percent increase in officer fatalities in traffic-related crashes this year over 2005, according to the report Wednesday by the Memorial Fund and the Concerns of Police Survivors.

According to preliminary statistics compiled through Monday, traffic fatalities claimed the lives of 73 of the 151 officers killed in 2006. This compares to 63 officers killed in traffic accidents in 2005, the groups said."

I really, really have to keep reminding myself:

"The law only applies to citizens, not cops", "The law only applies to citizens, not cops", The law only applies to citizens, not cops,".............


Nick

Indianapolis SWAT Officer Loses His Assault Rifle

Well here we go again.

Just like in Florida last month we have a case where a police officer's weapons were stolen from his car. According to WISH-TV:

"The officer was attending a church function when the thieves broke into his vehicle and took the guns. One was a Christmas present for the officer's son. The other was the officer's police issued AR-15 assault rifle."

Luckily these guns have been recovered. But again you have to wonder why they were not better secured.

Given all the narcisistic SWAT team shows everybody knows the cops keep their assault rifles lying around in their trunks. One wonders why they weren't better secured by a locking rack. Gun owners who respect the responsibility of owning a firearm usually have guns safes in their homes. Further they don't advertise where their guns are kept as on the SWAT glam-shows.

I also think there's some irony here. The cop involved had bought his son a rifle for Christmas. Personally I think that is a great thing and hopefully his son will be well trained and enjoy firearms throughout his life, whether for target shooting, hunting or self protection.

But (and here's the irony I see) if your house is invaded by a SWAT team - say for instance one of the many wrong address raids - the police will confiscate your legally owned firearms (read that steal - because you will never, ever get them back again - they just "disappear") and make a big splash in the paper seeking to justify their actions by saying "such and such firearms were recovered".

It is one of their typical tactics - they f*ck up - but then attempt to discredit the homeowner by saying he had guns implying the person was a "bad guy" - oops I mean a "Tango" - that's the proper cool term used by SWAT Teams.


Oh and if you ever do want to see your "confiscated" legally owned firearms again - try hanging around gun ranges where cops shoot - you'll find they really enjoy using your treasured stolen property.

Nick

SWAT Team - I Shot The Sheriff - Actually He Shot Himself

"Six people were detained after a drug raid at a home in the 4000 block of North Bonita Street in Casa de Oro, authorities told NBC 7/39.


Officials said the officer was hurt when he tripped in the messy yard and accidentally shot himself in the foot.

Officers used flash bangs to enter the homes while serving search warrants on two homes."

This news found at

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/10574920/detail.html

is very interesting for a number of reasons:

Professor Kraska has pointed out people believe that SWAT team members are highly trained to some set professional standards. They are not. Most teams "do their own thing". I am not saying there is no training at all - but I am saying there is no standardized approved training at either the state or Federal level, to my knowledge.

Hence you get Barney Fife here literally shooting himself in the foot. Doesn't every sane gun owner in the world (and one would think in particular, a SWAT Ninja) at least know to keep their finger out of the trigger guard - until you have made the decision to shoot?

There is a video and a 10 picture "slide show" included in the article. Take particular note of the slide show at:

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/slideshow/news/10574996/detail.html?qs=1;s=1;dm=ss;p=news;w=400

In both pictures #4 and #5 note that there are no identification patches on the front of the officer's uniforms. There clearly are patches on their shoulders and backs. This is not unusual, I have found plenty of pictures of SWAT teams on raids that have identification on the shoulders and back - but not on the front.

So just what is the home owner supposed to think is happening when Ninjas dressed in black, with no visible ID, throwing flash bangs (and mumbling an unintelligible "police") burst into their house in the middle of the night? That his home is being invaded by thugs of course!

Again on the flash bangs: they are dangerous concussion bombs designed to deafen, blind and disorientate people. Houses and people have been set afire during raids by these things.

I always about choke when the pseudo-army men say they announced themselves and had identification and the occupant clearly should have known it was the police attacking --- after they've thrown in flash bangs. I don't know how they can say it with a straight face.........


Finally, start counting the times where you read a SWAT team shot and/or killed somebody because the person shot "pointed a gun at them". Unless the person is suicidal - no sane person would do that when confronted with one of our Ninja armies.

Isn't it more likely, that as in this case, Ninja Barney's finger twitched on the trigger and blew somebody away again?

But the same rather nonsensical excuse gets used and accepted over and over again.

Nick

SOCIOPATHS AND THE SWAT TEAM

Quite a number of articles have been written about the “wrong” types of people being drawn into the ranks of SWAT teams. For example, Al Lorentz, former Marine sniper; former Airborne Ranger in the Texas National Guard wrote:

"I have a confession to make, as a professional soldier: I don’t like SWAT teams. I don’t like the concept of SWAT teams. I don’t like the way SWAT teams are deployed. And, having trained many SWAT team members, I don’t like very many of the ‘men’ in the SWAT teams either. Nothing personal you understand, I just have a low tolerance for cowards who brutalize and terrorize people and pretend that it makes them some sort of hero. While I realize that there are some exceptions to this (you know who you are), by and large SWAT teams are populated with authoritarian cowards, sociopaths, thugs, goons, and other human refuse."

Norm Stamper former Seattle Police Chief in his excellent book “Breaking Rank – A top Cops Expose’ of the Dark Side of American Policing” has expressed similar views about the wrong kind of people at times becoming members of the police.

Readers are directed to the following site:

http://frazierphotography.wordpress.com/2006/03/03/mckinney-texas-swat-team/


which shows the McKinney Texas SWAT team in action – all to the tune of Hed Pe’s metal song “It's Killing Time”. Be sure to listen to the lyrics.

Also note the comments to the site by Officer Damian Guerrero who leads the McKinney SWAT team:

“i was one of the team members in the pictures. those came out freakin awesome!!! very motivating!!!
Comment by Damian Guerrero — October 10, 2006 @ 2:30 pm”

Readers should know that Damian has been involved in shooting citizens before (eerily reminiscent of Officer Christopher Long - the cop charged with murdering Peyton Strickland) under very suspicious circumstances. (Watch the dockets of Texas Federal Courts for more to come on our boy Damian and his band of ninjas.)

Here we don't simply have another example of an out of control, unneeded SWAT team - this one has a difference - they have a theme song! Just imagine how cool they feel breaking into private homes, shooting the places up, endangering occupants and neighbors all while humming their very own theme song "It's Killing Time"? HOW MOTIVATING!

Watch and listen to the video, read Damian’s comments and then make your own opinion regarding sociopaths and certain SWAT team members. Nick has his own opinion (protected under the First Amendment) – you can draw your own.



Nick

SWAT Team - Advantages v Disadvantages

From "Breaking Rank: A Top Cops Expose' of the Dark Side of American Policing"

By Norm Stamper - 34 year police veteran and former chief of the Seattle Police Department

Enjoy!

Nick

A Rational and Objective Examination of the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Police Paramilitary Bureaucracy (PMB)



Advantages

Gives cops a chance to play soldier


Disadvantages

Reduces crime fighting effectiveness
Dampens enthusiasm for risk taking
Distances police from community
Breeds ignorance and arrogance
Discourages imagination and creativity
Slows pace and quality of decision making
Encourages dishonesty
Tolerates sloth
Wastes time and money
Cultivates a culture of deceit
Protects incompetence within the ranks
Creates sinecures within management
Rewards machismo
Winks at abuses of civil liberties
Invites wrong kind of police candidates
Promotes obsequious ass-kissers
Teaches low tolerance of ambiguity
Demands blind, often misplaced loyalties
Supports heavy-handed conduct
Hides mistakes
Accepts Excuses
Institutionalizes mediocrity
Laughs at bigotry
Crushes differences in worldviews
Homogenizes employee diversity
Gags, censures, or exiles internal critics
Creates barrier to effective communication
Undermines officer safety
Sniffs at “family-friendly”employee policy
Fosters corruption
Rejects accountability
Snubs community activists
Stonewalls the media
Ignores excellent performance
Disregards constructive employee advice
Does violence to employee morale
Safeguards the police “code of silence”

SWAT Team - Member Charged With Murder

"The difference between the quasi-military and the civil policeman is that the civil policemen should have no enemies. People may be criminals, they may be violent, but they are not enemies to be destroyed. Once that kind of language gets into the police vocabulary, it begins to change attitudes."
- John Alderson, The Listener, 1985




From the Charlotte Observer Posted on Tue, Dec. 12, 2006. The italics and bold type are mine in an attempt to highlight the absurdity of the SWAT teams actions and thinking.

The raid follows an all too familiar pattern: a)SWAT team used unnecessarily to serve a warrant, b)SWAT team unnecessarily destroys private property, c)in this case SWAT team shoots an unarmed man (killing him), d)the original SWAT team accounts of what happened are lies. (note: it was the coroner who discovered that the bullets had penetrated something "probably the door" prior to Strickland being hit. Then SWAT's story began to unravel).


We should follow this case closely - it is directly "on-point" with the problem of paramilitarized (SWAT) police forces and most importantly - addresses the issue of accountability of the officers involved and the people responsible for sending out a SWAT team in the first place.

Nick

Ex-deputy indicted in death of student
PlayStation-case charge is 2nd-degree murder
MANDY LOCKE
(Raleigh) News & Observer

WILMINGTON - A former New Hanover County sheriff's deputy was charged with second-degree murder Monday in the fatal shooting of an unarmed teenager accused of stealing PlayStation 3 video game systems, the district attorney said.

Cpl. Christopher Long, 34, was indicted in the death of 18-year-old college student Peyton Strickland, who was shot Dec. 1 when deputies and police from UNC Wilmington raided a house he shared with roommates.

Long mistook the attempt to break down Strickland's door for the blast of a gun, then fired the shots that killed Strickland, New Hanover District Attorney Ben David said in court Monday.

Long, dismissed three days ago, was part of a heavily armed unit of New Hanover County Sheriff's deputies who knocked on the door of the house Strickland and two roommates were renting at 533 Long Leaf Acres Drive in Wilmington.

Strickland went to the foyer, then looked back at his roommate and stepped back into the living room, where the young men were playing a video game like the stolen one the authorities had come to find, David said.


Noise mistaken for gunfire

Another deputy, peering at Strickland through three small windows in the door, took that as a sign that the 18-year-old Durham native was refusing to answer the door, David said.

The deputy then banged a battering ram against the door -- which the DA said Long, a deputy for 12 years, mistook for a gunshot. Long fired three times through the door. Two bullets struck Strickland, a Cape Fear Community College student, in the head and chest, eventually killing him, the district attorney said.

Long, a graying, stocky father of two, stood before a judge Monday afternoon and practically whispered the words "yes, sir" as the judge asked him whether he understood the charge facing him. Long stared straight ahead as David told the judge that Long's actions were reckless and that use of his weapon wasn't justified.

"No one else thought they were under attack," David said. David, however, did not release a report by the State Bureau of Investigation on the incident and vowed to not speak about the case outside court.

Two other deputies who had been placed on paid leave -- Larry Robinson and Greg Johnson -- have been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing. They fired their weapons with Long and killed Strickland's dog, Blaze.

"This indictment is an important first step in holding accountable everyone responsible for Peyton's death, but it is only a first step," said his father, Donald Strickland, an attorney in Raleigh. "Still to be held accountable are those who put a SWAT team at the door of an 18-year-old college student who was unarmed."

Long waited all day in the New Hanover Courthouse, his attorney, Michael McGuinness, said Monday. But he did not get a chance to tell his side of the story, McGuinness said.

`Model deputy'

Long, a New Hanover County native, has taught law enforcement classes at Cape Fear Community College, McGuinness said. He was earning $43,323 a year as a full-time member of Emergency Response Team, a unit that he has helped lead, McGuinness said.
Long, who McGuinness said has received death threats, posted a $50,000 secured bond Monday evening.

New Hanover County Sheriff Sid Causey said Monday that Long had been a "model deputy." Causey said that his deputies refused to "abandon" Long and will raise money for him and his family for the holidays. Causey fired the 10-year veteran Friday.

UNCW police were expecting a high-risk situation Dec. 1 when they went to search for one of two stolen PlayStation 3 video consoles taken from Justin Raines, a UNCW student from Apex.

Internet photo a factor

An anonymous caller had pinned the robbery and assault on Strickland, roommate Braden Riley of Apex and another friend, Ryan David Mills of Durham.

After spotting an Internet photo of Mills, 20, smirking in a picture with two other boys and holding weapons, UNCW police feared Strickland and his buddies could be armed and dangerous, according to a search warrant.

They leaned on deputies from Emergency Response Team to secure a safe entry.

"The original crime was a violent offense," UNCW police chief David Donaldson said Monday. "We had information from a Web site that there were weapons inside the residence. Mr. Strickland was involved in a series of violent assaults."

Riley, 21, of Apex, and Mills, who is from Durham, have been charged with armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and breaking and entering a motor vehicle in the PlayStation 3 thefts.

They were arrested after the raid.

Riley was Strickland's roommate, while Mills lived at another residence.

SWAT Team - Is Police Work All That Dangerous?

A while back I became interested in the question of whether or not Police work is as dangerous as it is made out to be.

To find out I compared the number of police deaths by felony and accident provided by FBI reports for 2005 to vehicle (auto & motorcycle) fatalities provided by the NHTSA for 2004 (complete 2005 statistics were not available).

While any life lost is a terrible thing – the news is that our officers do not seem to be suffering an inordinate amount of fatalities. I am having trouble wording that last sentence – but from a statistical standpoint I think you understand what I am saying. My belief going in was that the risk of death would be much higher.

Jim Gordon of the American Police Hall of Fame (thanks for the help Jim) notes there are approximately 660,000 police officers employed in the United States. The statistics I found from the FBI were roughly 100,000 less than that figure, but a footnote to these stats says that not all departments report in. So, I've used the lower FBI number for conservatism's sake.

See tables below:


Traffic Fatalities YE 2004 (Source NHTSA)

Licensed Drivers YE 2004 198,889,000

Fatalities YE 2004 38,444

Percent Fatalities 0.02%



Police Fatalities YE 2005 (Source FBI)

a) Death By Felony


Registered Police Officers 561,844

Killed in the line of duty (50 by shooting) 55

Percent Fatalities 0.01%

Police Officers death by felony are only one half as likely as is an ordinary citizen dying while driving a vehicle


b) Death By Accident

Registered Police Officers 561,844

Killed by accidents (mostly traffic) 67

Percent Fatalities 0.01%


c) Death by Felony and Accident Combined


Registered Police Officers 561,844

Killed by accidents and felonies 122

Percent Fatalities 0.02%

Police Officers deaths are no more likely than that of an ordinary citizen dying while driving a vehicle.

According to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics being a cop is far from dangerous, statistically.

Scott Berridge, an Economist with the Bureau of Labor Statistics Office of Publications and Special Studies tells me that "Neither police nor firefighters rank among the top 10 most dangerous jobs in relation to injuries or fatalities, see

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cfoi.pdf

page 4. Also see page 10, table 3 for data relating to protective services".

Cops Are Simply Not "Out-Gunned", Either.

The FBI statistics referenced above for 2005 also show literally no statistical evidence that our police forces are being “outgunned”. Only 2 of the 50 deaths by non-accidental firearm discharge ( there appears to be 4 incidents of officers fatally shooting themselves) are associated with calibers used by assault rifles – that is another unexpected piece of good news. By far the FBI statistics show that our officers outgun the bad guys by a huge margin. The vast majority of police fatalities by gunshot are from handguns of 9mm down through 22 caliber.

So, I guess this is good news - but far different than what the media would have us believe. It also kind of makes you wonder why we need so many SWAT teams armed with military weapons, armored vehicles, grenades and the like...............

Nick

Man Sues City After SWAT Team Shoots Him

Earlier today I sent the following letter and article by David Holden of the Huntsville Times (see below) to my City Council Members:

Dear Members:

Wow - a SWAT team shoots a cripple innocent man, investigates and clear themselves (now there’s a surprise), and the city is getting sued for $7.5 million dollars!

I’ll bet the city council just can’t wait for the publicity, professional and personal liability – and of course the expenses to the city. Most intriguing, of course, is how the jury will react when they place themselves in the position of this poor man, woken from his bed in the most violent of attacks against his home and personal property and think of how they would have reacted? Add to this their reaction when they realize as I suspect that the SWAT members are lying about what really happened.

And then the city council gets to explain to the taxpayers that they don’t carry enough insurance to cover this kind of liability.

Do we really need a SWAT team in our town?


Nick Charles

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Man shot by SWAT team sues city
Lawyer says police raided wrong house; $7.5 million sought
Friday, December 08, 2006

By DAVID HOLDEN
Times Staff Writer david.holden@htimes.com

"A Limestone County man who was shot by Huntsville Police Department SWAT team members has filed a $7.5 million damage claim against the city.

The four officers were in the wrong house when they shot Kenneth Wayne Jamar during a drug raid June 27, said Jamar's attorney, Mark McDaniel. He said Jamar, 50, was also unarmed.
McDaniel filed the suit for injuries that Jamar allegedly suffered during the raid. The allegations in Jamar's claim contradict accounts by the police.

The four officers were cleared in August after an investigation by a police shooting review board. A brief statement released by the police then said the officers were justified to use deadly force because the man they shot was pointing a pistol at them.

"Being armed in your house is your constitutional right," McDaniel said. "And you have a right not to have the government break in and fire 16 shots at you."

The shooting occurred as the SWAT team was helping federal agents serve arrest warrants in the area as part of a two-year undercover drug investigation.

Federal officials held a news conference that same day about several arrests in the early morning hours to dismantle a notorious drug ring.

Despite all the information gathered by the law enforcement agencies before the raid, the officers burst into the wrong house and shot the wrong man, McDaniel said. The wrong house was marked on an aerial photograph supporting the arrest warrant, McDaniel said.

"Mr. Jamar's name does not appear on the search warrant nor does his address," he said. "Mr. Jamar was asleep and unarmed in his bed when the City of Huntsville Police Department SWAT team broke into his home and proceeded to fire upon his person with assault rifles at close range."

The federal search arrest warrant was to be served at 13355 Honey Way in the Madison portion of Limestone - the residence of Jerome Wallace, Jamar's nephew. Jamar lives at 13389 Honey Way.

Jamar was already bedridden after two heart attacks and other physical problems, McDaniel said. "He has a pacemaker in his chest and has to use crutches to walk," he said.

Lawyer: 16 shots fired

The officers fired 16 shots into the room, and Jamar was stuck by five bullets, said Marcus Helstowski, a lawyer in McDaniel's firm. Jamar was wounded in the foot, hip and groin, he said.
The officers were searching for Wallace, who lived in a trailer that was 200 to 250 feet west of Jamar's residence, Helstowski said.

Wallace was arrested while watching the commotion that had gathered near his uncle's home. He is scheduled for trial in federal court in January on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The shooting review board report said the officers identified themselves as police before they crashed through two doors and encountered Jamar. The statement said he was standing in the middle of his room pointing a pistol at the officers when they kicked open the door.

The officers shot Jamar after he disobeyed several warnings to drop his weapon, the report said.
Report conceded mix-up

The report acknowledged that Jamar was not a target of the investigation and that the officers had a search warrant for 13355 Honey Way. The report did not explain why officers raided the wrong house.

The Limestone County Sheriff's Office investigated and said it found no reason to pursue charges against the officers. Sheriff Mike Blakely was not available for comment Thursday.
The police officers did not verify nor confirm the address nor the identity of occupants of the residence where the search was to be served, McDaniel said.

McDaniel said he hired a forensics expert to analyze the paths of the bullets. He declined Thursday to reveal the findings of his expert.

McDaniel said the police were negligent and careless in their execution of the warrant. The city failed in its duty to properly supervise its officers, he said.

City Attorney Peter Joffrion said Thursday that it is against city policy to comment on pending claims or litigation.

The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment on the suit. "


I hope Mr. Jamar wins every penny and more and these SWATANAZI's get brought up on at least attempted manslaughter...........

Nick

WHY THE SWAT TEAM WEARS BLACK MASKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT RUMMINATIONS

Another letter to a City Council regarding the need for SWAT teams:


Dear City Council Members,


The following excellent article was written by Darryl Eberhart, Editor of “Tackling Tough Topics” and is submitted for your edification and consideration. This article yet again leads to the question of why do we need a SWAT team in our City? What are the cost benefits of having and maintaining it, etc.? You know, the questions that nobody can or will answer……..

When reading, keep in mind that the SWAT warrants issued in our city are typically based upon “informants” (i.e. people who got busted and are currying favor with the Police) and are rife with pages of inane boiler plate such as: (note - below, actual examples of the “probable causes” typically listed in our City’s warrants are emphasized in bold letter’s and words such as “[person]” substituted for “drug trafficker”.)

“That drug traffickers [persons] maintain books, records receipts, notes, ledgers, airline tickets, money orders and other negotiable instruments, hotel receipts, and other papers relating to the transportation, ordering, sale and distribution [of their legal home business]of controlled substances, and that these books, records, receipts, etc. are maintained where [persons] drug traffickers have ready access to them”.



“Those drug traffickers commonly [persons] maintain addresses and/or telephone numbers of their associates in the trafficking organization. That these records are often kept in computers for ready access.”



“That [persons] drug traffickers take or cause to be taken photographs and videos of themselves, their property, [their children and loved ones] and their product. That the drug trafficker [persons] usually maintains these photographs.”



As anybody with half a brain can see they are not probable causes – everybody does these things. Yet our SWAT team uses such nonsense as the above to justify “no-knock” raids on citizens houses. Makes interesting news and sure to raise 4th amendment issues in a Federal Court and with juries – don’t you think?

It is probably a good idea when trying to figure out the cost of maintaining a SWAT team to recognize that the cost involved can include those derived from Federal Lawsuits against the police department, the City etc. (as entities and for the personnel involved - personally and professionally – of course).

The sole purpose of these notes is to again ask you to consider the need for a SWAT team in our City and if there is a need – to publicly justify that need with a valid cost benefit study.

Respectfully,

Nick


--------------------------------------------------------------

From “Tackling Tough Topics”

“This issue is dedicated to courageous, honest police officers (i.e., peace officers) all across America who "protect and serve" in their local community WITHOUT trampling upon the God-given, Constitutional RIGHTS of the American citizens. It is also dedicated to retired police officer Jack McLamb, to his outstanding periodical "Aid & Abet Police & Military Newsletter", and to his great book Operation Vampire Killer 2000.All emphasis throughout this newsletter, unless otherwise noted, is by the editor of "Tackling the Tough Topics (TTT)", Darryl Eberhart.

HERE ARE SOME RELEVANT QUOTES:

"I have a confession to make, as a professional soldier: I don’t like SWAT teams. I don’t like the concept of SWAT teams. I don’t like the way SWAT teams are deployed. And, having trained many SWAT team members, I don’t like very many of the ‘men’ in the SWAT teams either. Nothing personal you understand, I just have a low tolerance for cowards who brutalize and terrorize people and pretend that it makes them some sort of hero. While I realize that there are some exceptions to this (you know who you are), by and large SWAT teams are populated with authoritarian cowards, sociopaths, thugs, goons, and other human refuse."

"SWAT teams usually deploy with tremendous odds assuring the success and safety of the officers involved, but also creating a climate of fear, intimidation, hostility, and danger for the innocent-until-proven-guilty suspects. Too often, the SWAT team instead becomes judge, jury and executioner. …SWAT teams only like to ‘play’ when they are assured of an easy victory. When was the last time you ever heard of the SWAT teams taking on the Hells Angels? Usually we read about them taking out some innocent and elderly citizen instead.

*(Nick’s note: such as Kathryn Johnston in Atlanta – to this day we have not been able to uncover the actual number of bullets fired at Ms. Johnston – killing her instantly. Estimates run as high as over 100 shots fired. Or Sean Bell in New York – where over 50 shots were fired into the car of 3 unarmed men, killing Mr. Bell on his wedding day)*

SWAT teams are deployed to kill and destroy, which is not the mission of the police department. …The goal of the military is to kill and destroy, something that is in direct contradiction to the stated mission of the police department to ‘protect and serve’. Because of this, SWAT teams tend to attract police officers who are tired of protecting and serving and want to kick some tail…"

"SWAT teams also get military training and afford the sociopaths who apply the opportunity to pretend they are warriors which they are not. Warriors fight other warriors; cowards and thugs attack civilians. SWAT teams afford the cowardly or unqualified the opportunity to live out their Walter Mitty fantasies of military conquest, glory and heroism; all without having to take significant risks or suffer the personal hardship involved with being a real soldier."

– Al Lorentz, former Marine sniper; former Airborne Ranger in the Texas National Guard



And of course:

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall NOT be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States

*(Nick’s note: So personal and legal property taken by a SWAT team from a person who is not the subject of a warrant – constitutes theft by a SWAT team and is in direct violation of the 4th amendment)*



I. Introduction

The first three quotes used in this issue of "Tackling the Tough Topics (TTT)" were taken from an excellent editorial entitled "Police State: SWAT Teams and Toy Soldiers" by Al Lorentz (former Marine sniper & former Airborne Ranger in the Texas National Guard). His editorial can still be read in its entirety by visiting the great web site: prisonplanet.com and "clicking" on Al Lorentz. Editor of TTT most highly recommends you read this editorial, and that you also check out some of the other great news analysis on prisonplanet.com and on infowars.com.

Editor of TTT, a 20-year military veteran, wholeheartedly agrees with the editorial written by Al Lorentz.

II. Those ‘Good Ole Days"

In the America of the 1940s and 1950s we did not have "hordes" of armed federal agents or SWAT teams roaming the countryside shooting up the citizens. Yes, there were some armed federal agents, and they did from time to time actually shoot up some legitimate "bad guys".

We definitely seemed to have a different "mentality" in America back in the 1940s and 1950s about "law enforcement". Most police work was handled at the local level. If the local police needed assistance, it would generally be provided by the local sheriff and his deputies or by other police departments in the local area. Sometimes the State Police would assist the local police. But generally, most incidents of violent crime and potentially-violent situations were handled by the local police or the County Sheriff’s Department (with a few exceptions).

If a genuine "bad guy" needed to be apprehended, several police officers, or sheriff deputies, or a constable would arrest the "bad guy" without shooting up the neighborhood. Most arrests on individuals for whom a warrant had been issued were generally not made at 2 or 3 A.M. in the morning. The "bad guy’s" home generally did not become a "battle zone" since the local police and sheriff deputies would not have dreamed of doing a military-style assault on a citizen’s home in the middle of the night or early morning hours that would endanger the citizen’s spouse and/or children (or the citizen’s neighbors).



Also, local police generally did good "detective" work in order to arrest the "bad guy" in such a manner as to NOT recklessly endanger other citizens. Sadly, this has all radically CHANGED – and NOT for the good!

*(Nick’s note: SWAT teams don’t use the term “bad guys” they use cool terms for the (“innocent until proven guilty”) citizens such as “TANGO” and they have all sorts of cool hand signals like we used to use when playing army as kids).*
III. Dynamic Entry & Black Ski Masks

Somewhere in the late 60s SWAT teams started appearing in large metropolitan areas in the USA. Significant changes in some "police duties" were introduced. The motto to "protect and serve" started to recede somewhat, and the "militarization" of a portion of America’s police departments began in earnest. Certain segments of large police departments began to train as – and look like – paramilitary units! These "specialized" police units began training in such tactics and operations as: sniper training, dynamic entry (of buildings), crowd control, and later – gun confiscation.

Originally, these "militarized" police units were only supposed to be used for hostage rescue situations. Hostage rescue teams (HRT) were formed in some cities. Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) teams were also formed. These SWAT teams were issued military-style assault rifles, sniper rifles, tactical shotguns, body armor, military helmets, gas masks, flash grenades, jack boots, black ski masks, and sometimes even armored personnel carriers.

Editor of TTT would like to say a few words about "black ski masks" and black uniforms. These black ski masks were issued to SWAT team members to supposedly "protect their identities" from drug dealers, etc. Sadly, the black ski masks also conceal the identity of these SWAT team members from innocent citizens they far too often abuse. SWAT team members have had a bad reputation for killing innocent-until-proven-guilty American citizens – thus the "concealed identity" often comes in quite handy.

Editor of TTT learned both the Russian and the Arabic languages while in the U.S. military, and knows a little about the "international terrorist" business. And let me tell you who was wearing the "black ski masks" back in the 1970s – it was the "terrorists"! (Anyone remember the Munich Olympics in 1972, and the Arab terrorists who wore ski masks?) Of course, there were bank robbers who also wore ski masks! So, in the "good ole days", the bad guys (the criminals and terrorists) wore ski masks, and the good guys did NOT.

Also, black uniforms are supposed to "intimidate". Anybody remember the color of the infamous German SS soldiers – why, it was BLACK. So why do these SWAT teams dress in black uniforms, wear black ski masks, and often wear helmets that closely resemble the German Army helmets of World War II? And just who are these SWAT teams trying to intimidate?

When the Nazi SA and SS goons went to arrest citizens in Germany, they at least knocked on the door first. Here in the USA, the SWAT team shows up at 2 A.M. or 3 A.M. or 4 A.M. with overwhelming firepower, with flash bang grenades, etc., and they do NOT knock! Instead, they "kick in" the door (or, they use a battering ram) and charge into the house creating an extremely dangerous situation! Why? Because if anyone or anything moves, such as the family dog or cat, SWAT team members far too often start "blazing away" with a whole lot of firepower! The results are often a dead or wounded spouse, a dead or wounded child, a dead or wounded pet, and even sometimes a dead or wounded fellow SWAT team member! Possibly worst of all, SWAT teams sometimes go to the wrong address, or their "informant" has lied to them, and so they burst into a home and MURDER innocent American citizens! These killings by SWAT teams have happened so frequently that some large metropolitan areas were forced to disband their SWAT teams. (Did you know that the main cause of death for SWAT team members is "friendly fire" from fellow SWAT team members?)

*(Nick’s note: Christopher D. Pongratz, ERT Supervisor, Auburn Police Department personally confirmed to me that for SWAT teams “an increasing trend is more and more officers are being shot by other officers. There have been several articles in various law enforcement publications in which officers have been shot by other officers “)*

Alex Jones, syndicated radio & TV talk show host has documented many of these SWAT team atrocities on his "Alex Jones’ Show" that airs over short wave, internet, satellite, and on AM & FM radio stations. He had also documented some of these SWAT team atrocities in his excellent "Police State" videos. Editor of TTT most highly recommends that you visit Alex Jones’ web site at infowars.com for information on the subject of SWAT teams and the emerging police state here in America; for information on Alex Jones’ outstanding video tapes; and for broadcast information on the "Alex Jones’ Show". Please also visit www.prisonplanet.com .

IV. Summary & Bottom Line

Yes, Editor of TTT knows that American society has changed a lot from the 1940’s, 1950s and mid-1960’s – and most of that change has been for the worse. Sadly, there are a lot more criminals, thugs, and nasty characters out there on the streets of America than there were back then. But the answer to this problem is definitely NOT SWAT teams that trample all over the Fourth Amendment with their jack boots – not to mention killing, maiming, and terrorizing many American citizens far too many of whom become innocent victims of a military assault on their home!

SWAT teams are NOT performing "protect & serve" police-type duties. They are MILITARY-style assault teams whose mission often is to "kill & destroy". We need to go back to the type of arrests made in the 1940s and 1950s where citizens’ lives were NOT recklessly endangered by no-knock, kick-in-the-door, dynamic entries of homes in the wee hours of the morning.

Editor of TTT agrees wholeheartedly with the earlier-listed quote by Mr. Lorentz:

"SWAT teams also get military training and afford the sociopaths who apply the opportunity to pretend they are warriors which they are not. Warriors fight other warriors; cowards and thugs attack civilians. SWAT teams afford the cowardly or unqualified the opportunity to live out their Walter Mitty fantasies of military conquest, glory and heroism; all without having to take significant risks or suffer the personal hardship involved with being a real soldier."”

------------------------

Great article eh?

It bears repeating that the sole purpose of these notes is to again ask you to consider the need for a SWAT team in our City and if there is a need – to publicly justify that need with a valid cost benefit study.

Out of the Mountains: Drug War horrors

Out of the Mountains: Drug War horrors