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