17 Detroit police officers indicted on federal charges

Freep.Com (???) ^ | 6/19/03 | BY DAVE ASHENFELTER, SUZETTE HACKNEY and BEN SCHMITT

[CFW]

Seventeen Detroit Police officers have been indicted on federal charges ranging from looting money from drug dealers and prostitutes to possession of stolen firearms.

All 17 were indicted on one count of conspiracy against rights, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Eight officers were charged with additional civil rights violations.

[nerdwithamachinegun]

This sounds like a season premiere episode of The Shield.

[OldCorps]

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you at the conduct of these Detroit police officers.

Shield, That's a tough show.

[newgeezer]

* William Melendez, 34, of Livonia, of the 4th (Fort-Green) Precinct, also known as Robocop

* Matthew Zani, 36, of Detroit, of the narcotics special enforcement section, also known as Spike

* Jeffrey Weiss, 32, of Dearborn, of the 4th Precinct, also known as Joker

Wonder what's with all the "a.k.a." BS. (Who cares?)

I suppose Zani will be hearing from Spike Lee's lawyers.

[joesnuffy]

Now will the state have to release and compensate all those these guys (and gal) arrested and falsified evidence against....?

[HurkinMcGurkin]

In some cases, the officers would take money from the people they confronted in exchange for not arresting them, according to the indictment.

That's the inherent result when actions which are not violations of individual rights are made into "crimes" and when the evidence of the "crime" and the "crime" itself are one in the same.

[coloradan]

Here's a rare case in which criminal police officers have been charged with deprivation of rights under color of authority. The Bang List is bumped to follow the charges of possession of stolen firearms. It would be nice if they were charged with one count for each offense, as citizens tend to be, instead of one charge total, as many are in this case.

[TroutStalker]

All 17 were indicted on one count of conspiracy against rights, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Eight officers were charged with additional civil rights violations.

Corrupt LEOs who abuse their authority should face a minimum or 25 years without parole. Those who are given privelege and authority above the rest of us should be held accountable to a higher standard.

[vin-one]

maybe limited charges, but cops in jail is no picnic.
corrupt LEO's get some payback

[KneelBeforeZod]

so is this the fault of the officers? or the fault of the brass who won't discipline the officers. Or maybe the fault of a criminal element that is invading police forces.

whats good for the goose...

[CFW]

The Bang List is bumped to follow the charges of possession of stolen firearms.

Thanks for doing that. You are right. It will be interesting to see if the cops are prosecuted to the same level as would be one of us "citizens".

[PaxMacian]

This sounds like the stories of many of the 2 Million plus people imprisoned in this country. But, then who's word is the judge going to take. Cops should be on camera every minute they are at work. Cycle the recordings so that everyone has a time frame in which they have a right to make a complaint.

[TroutStalker]

I like your idea. The cops want the public recorded, then they should be recorded as well. What's good for the goose ...

After all, if they have nothing to hide they shouldn't object.

[1rudeboy]

The difference being, of course, that the Shield is not filmed in a Third World Country.

[1rudeboy]

It will be interesting to see if the cops are prosecuted to the same level as would be one of us "citizens."

You must've missed the part about federal charges.

[Portnoy]

A buddy of mine works for the Detroit Police Department and says this is just the beginning...

Also...the party animal that is our Mayor, Kwami, has more dirt that will eventually come out...soon.

Stay tuned happy campers!

[coloradan]

You must have missed the part about "a single count" being filed against many officers. When citizens do something wrong, they typically get a dozen criminal charges, half of which are plea-barganing chips: Doing x, attempted x, aggravated attempted x, conspiring to commit x, possession of x-related tools, commission of x while committing crime y, doing y, attempted y, conspiring to commit y ... that is what is meant by seeing "if the cops are prosecuted to the same level as would be one of us citizens."

[1rudeboy]

Best read the article again. And the simple fact that these cops are being brought-up on federal charges kinda' deflates your notion of "unequal justice," doesn't it?

[archy]

It will be interesting to see if the cops are prosecuted to the same level as would be one of us "citizens."

You must've missed the part about federal charges.

Of course you're correct. The feds should treat them the same as they would anyone else.

Shoot their wives and children, kill the family pets with silenced assassination weapons, and then burn their homes down to conceal any evidence of federal misconduct. That oughta get their attention.

Of course, turn about is fair play. And I expect there are some Detroit cops who know about the FBI agents involved in helping kake Jimmy Hoffa disappear from the Red Fox restaurant parking lot near Selfridge Air Force Base on 30 July 1975.

-archy-/-

[archy]

Best read the article again. And the simple fact that these cops are being brought-up on federal charges kinda' deflates your notion of "unequal justice," doesn't it?

Nah. It's just a case of the feds eliminating some of their competition for the profits readily available from payoffs for assistance in the Detroit area narcotics trade. Those FBI pensions don't go very far nowadays, and the FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility has taken to polygraphing its own agents, since they've been such notorious liars in the past.

-archy-/-