Former ATF Agent Pleads Guilty (to stealing money, planting drugs and framing innocent people.)

ktul.com ^ | 05/06/2010 | ktul.com

[Chode]

i've seen it done....

[gundog]

He’s a pig-eyed sack of shit. Color me surprised.

[oneolcop]

Guys: If you read all my posts, you'd see that I have no pity for crooked cops: NONE, not one little bit, not even a little teensey bit.

I think they should all get what's coming to them.

My point is that they do the same stupid things we all do. Now why would that be? Hmmmmmm let me think...Oh, because they're human.

But that's not, apparently, enough of a point for y'all, so let's try to look at it another way:

In East Germany, before the fall of the Berlin wall, in the old USSR, in Venezuela, do you think the TV and newspapers blast out breathless news stories about the abuses of cops? I don't think so. Why, because everybody already knows the cops are dirty. Everybody knows that they're thugs, Everybody expects to (and do) get shaken down. NO BIG NEWS

But here in our good ol' USA, it's news because it' outside of what we expect. It's outside of most folks personal experience. THAT'S MY POINT I'm not saying that cops don't do the kind of stuff they're accused of; I'm saying of course they do. But, ask yourselves What is the reason it makes "news"?

If you think it's because all cops are corrupt; because all cops do it (whatever "it" is), then you have to assume that all commercial pilots take naps, get nookie in the cockpit, land on the wrong runway, kill masses of people when they make mistakes, etc.

See guys, it's an exercise in logic not a body count.

My head isn't in the sand. In my career, I sent two cops to prison and fired a bunch.. Bad cops stayed far away from me because they knew I'd catch them. Now I know that some of you have had a bad cop experience. My point is this is America, we have the right to raise holy hell about bad cops. Just don't paint all the good ones with the same brush. Yes, cops have the authority, given them by the people, to take away someone's life, to take away their liberty, but most don't abuse that authority.

IMHO, there are whole organizations that are corrupt. BATFE is one. We should go after them with a vengeance. But to say or imply that a corrupt organization is the norm is trying to live your lives with "Half your brain tied behind your back". And you're no Rush Limbaugh. END

[Poison Pill]

This guy needs to be in jail.

general population

[Manly Warrior]

Friend;

So, how do you tell them apart when you are a joe pulled over for a traffic stop or whatever)? When they declare Prob Cause and search, lo and behld, you learn for the first time you are a druggie?

If cops wore say, orange badges that flashed and said “bad cop”, I guess we could know.

Anyone who swears and oath of office and violates it should be publicly made spectacle of, and there should be specific mandatory sentences for such “officers” of the US Constitution and respective governmental departments they represent.

I like you, was known in my carreer as hell on wheels for those that did not stand firmly on ethical behaviors and professional performance of duty. Big deal, we are both (apparenlty) put out to pasture.

Thanks for your service

[oneolcop]

Well sir, That's a tough one, particularly if you're looking to be reactive, i.e. try to get out of a situation you're already in.

What I found in my career, cops go where there is crime. You don't see them in "nice" neighborhoods, you see them where there is a pretty good probability that something nefarious is going on. You very seldom see cops in churches, nursery schools and rose gardens. So, I guess I'd say, if you don't want to slip, don't go where it's slippery. OTOH, if you want to avoid bad cops proactively, you need to be involved with the local government, the press and police leadership to make sure they are all doing their job.

In past posts, I've posited that it's really important to make your concerns known to police bosses. Make sure that they know what's going on with their subordinates; and in the process, find out if the leadership is "looking the other way" or even actively encouraging the abuse of their authority and the rule of law. If you aren't satisfied with the outcome of this go to the elected officials in your area. Find out if they are part of the problem or of the solution. If they're part of the problem, go to the state attorney general with specific facts and make a formal complaint, and so on.

I'm not saying it's an easy road to take, but it's better than living with corrupt, abusive law enforcement officers.

Just the other day, I was in a discussion about people bringing out cameras and recording LEO's as they operated. I believe that law enforcement has nothing to fear from the public recording their actions.

As I told my men & women, "Do your job like your mother was looking over your shoulder and make her proud of you."

I'm not opposed to publicly exposing and severely punishing bad police behavior, what I object to is the inference that because some cops are dirty, all cops are dirty.

[microgood]

I'm not opposed to publicly exposing and severely punishing bad police behavior, what I object to is the inference that because some cops are dirty, all cops are dirty.

You make good points here. The only caveat I would add is that during Prohibition eras, like during the twenties and now, the number of corrupt police as percentage of the force goes up considerably because of the temptation cause by the extreme and untaxed profits.

The FBI estimated during Alcohol Prohibition that about 70% of the field agents were on the take. Once it ended, the FBI did not want them and so they formed the beginning of what is now the ATF and DEA.

As long as drug prohibition continues, there will be a higher than normal rate of public corruption, including the police.

[sig226]

"We should go after them with a vengeance. But to say or imply that a corrupt organization is the norm is trying to live your lives with "Half your brain tied behind your back". And you're no Rush Limbaugh. END"

I never said I was Rush Limbaugh. Stop circling the wagons.

[Ken H]

Agree. We should have listened to Milton Friedman 20 years ago instead of Bill Bennett.

An Open Letter to Bill Bennett

Wall Street Journal, April 1990
by Milton Friedman

-snip-

Illegality creates obscene profits that finance the murderous tactics of the drug lords; illegality leads to the corruption of law enforcement officials; illegality monopolizes the efforts of honest law forces so that they are starved for resources to fight the simpler crimes of robbery, theft and assault.

Drugs are a tragedy for addicts. But criminalizing their use converts that tragedy into a disaster for society, for users and non-users alike. Our experience with the prohibition of drugs is a replay of our experience with the prohibition of alcoholic beverages.

-snip-

http://www.fff.org/freedom/0490e.asp

[Manly Warrior]

Ol’ Cop;

Agreed. Back to the conundrum-just how do you KNOW which one?

Logic dictates that a law-abiding citzen assumes the worst, acts most professional and respectful, but budges not an inch in dealing with any LEO or any for that matter.

Assertiveness, knowing your rights and the basics of the law and being confident are requirements.

POint in fact-was “interviewed” by a SHP and SD recently on a back road-they stopped me while looking for a runaway etc.

Apparently ran my plates and during the “interview” the SHP asked me “when I was going to tell him whether I was carrying”? I replied, “When you ask me if I am-according to MO state code. Are you asking? If yes, I am indeed carrying, if not, none of your business per 571” He smiled and replied “I like that-you know the law and are willing to make me follow it”.

We had a nice discussion after that. He asked me to keep an eye out for a blue such and such vehicle, a male subject with a beard and a red-haired teenage female (I was driving a simliar colored vehicle and indeed, wearing a short beard).

I do not go where I know trouble may be-but nevertheless, I have every legal and moral right to go anywhere I am willing to venture-it called freedom. If by virtue of being somewhere “slippery” means I subject myself myself to closer LEO scrutiny, well, I can swim. My record and behavior stands for itself.

Best;

[CodeToad]

The WOD is nothing but tyranny.

[oneolcop]

Excellent points. Personally, I don’t have a problem with the locals, but when I travel out of state, I’m ready to do just what you said. I would say to the youngsters who might read this: Practice how you’re going to behave, what you’re going to say, what subliminal messages you send. It will make a big difference in how you are treated.