The need to conduct a national search for a Police Chief in urban communities seems to indicate that there are no qualified candidates within their hundred or thousands of officers. If that is accurate, there is something sadly wrong with the recruiting, training and promotion of officers in that agency. The Cincinnati, Ohio Police Department […]
The conviction of Kim Potter
This must begin with the statement that the death of Duante Wright was tragic and avoidable. However, the criminal conviction of the police officer who caused the death raises a number of issues which will likely be addressed at the appellate level. The family of Mr. Wright has suffered an irreparable loss, that is unarguable. […]
Qualified Immunity
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals based in Cincinnati, Ohio, known as one of the more liberal Appellate Courts, has reversed a Federal District Court ruling denying qualified immunity to deputies involved in a fatal shooting in Tennessee. The case, Cunningham v. Shelby County, Tennessee (6th Cir. 2021) 994 F.3d 761 revolves around a woman […]
A challenge to police use of force
The Wisconsin Law Review has published a paper titled, “The Invisible Rules That Govern Use of Force” authored by Ion Meyn. Having just read the sixty-five page report, it is filled with errors, misquotes, and bias as it challenges the policies of law enforcement agencies. The problems: (1) The article uses the phrase “rule-resistance” countless […]
Weaponizing Federal Law Enforcement
The Department of Justice announced that they have charged the four police officers who were involved with the death of George Floyd. They took this action even though Derek Chauvin had already been convicted in state court and the other three officers are awaiting trial. The officers are charged with violating Floyd’s civil rights under […]
Media with an agenda
CNN was once a professional news organization created by Ted Turner. It is now a partisan provider of biased and inaccurate reporting designed to change the narrative of law enforcement. On Sunday, May 1, CNN aired a one hour piece titled, “United Shades of America.” It was narrated by an African-American male who exhibited a […]
Cop suspended for video
Nate Silvester, an officer with the Marshal’s Office in Bellevue, Idaho, who mocked basketball legend LeBron James in a viral TikTok video, has been suspended without pay pending an internal investigation. The video has caused controversy as line officers across the country decry the agency’s action as a violation of the officer’s First Amendment rights. […]
Louisville, Ky.
The Attorney General announced that the Civil Rights Division will open an investigation into the policies and practice of the Louisville, Kentucky Metro Police Department. That announcement was followed by a press conference in Louisville where the newly appointed Police Chief and political leaders who announced their total support of the investigation. The result is […]
The Ultimate Goal
There is a multi-level approach to the dismantling of the United States government system. In order to accomplish this goal, the protection level must be destroyed. It begins with making each in-custody death appear to be improper and overzealous. The George Floyd case and conviction were intended to send a message to cops that they […]
An interesting question
I received a text from a former law enforcement officer that said: “Ok,,,is it just me, or has the world of LE collapsed in on itself? I do not recall there being so many excessive use of force incidents and certainly not so many cases where a child is shot and killed. What the hell […]
Vengeance or Justice
The real question is whether the protestors outside of the Hennepin County Court House in Minneapolis are seeking justice in the death of George Floyd or whether they actually just want vengeance. The Murder trial of the police officer seen on video kneeling on the neck of Mr. Floyd started this week with the selection […]
Another twist
A Columbus, Ohio police officer involved in a deadly shooting has been indicted by a Grand Jury. The indictment charges the former officer with Felony Murder, Felonious Assault, and two counts of Dereliction of Duty. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by the Ohio Attorney General. On December 22, 2020 officers Adam Coy […]
A fitting tribute
Officer Brian Sicknick became one of only five civilians to lay in state in the Capitol rotunda in what was a fitting salute to a true hero. His remains were moved to a waiting hearse with two lines of Capitol Police officers and hundreds more standing at attention in formation on a cold Washington morning. […]
Damned if you do, Damned if you don’t
Two Federal Bureau of Investigation agents were killed and three others wounded in Sunrise, FL where they were serving a search warrant for Child Pornography. The suspect was also killed. The specific role of the five agents is unknown as to whether they were part of the tactical response or there as investigators. That is […]
When does is stop?
A police officer responding to a call is surrounded by people who are beating on his vehicle and his windows in Tacoma, WA. Is being vilified because he drove into the crowd fearing for his life, but not a single word of criticism for the people who were involved in the outrageous conduct from the […]
The Capitol Fiasco
The fiasco at the U.S. Capitol last week obviously failed miserably and there are calls from Democratic members of Congress for heads to roll. Those cries were made after the Capitol Police Chief and the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate had also both announced their resignations. In a television interview Chief Michael Sun told […]
We have reached FailSafe
It was never about “defund the police.” It was never about “Trump is not my President.” It was never about “Black Lives Matter.” It is not about conservative or liberal or republican or democrat. It is all about the intolerance of people who disagree are the enemy and they must be destroyed. Violence should not […]
a recent use of force case worth reading
Use of Force: Officer Involved Shooting – Goffin v. Ashcraft
Smell the coffee Chicago
With record breaking violence in many big cities across the country, police agencies are looking at ways to reduce the numbers. Cincinnati, Ohio, in conjunction with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio announced a program which should have an impact on the violence. Cincinnati has already […]
The Breonna Taylor debacle
The death of a young woman in Louisville, Kentucky has started a firestorm that extends throughout the United States. It stemmed from the execution of a valid search warrant signed by a Judge. The “No Knock” warrant is a special request allowing the officers to execute in nighttime hours without identifying themselves. It requires sworn […]
The stupidity of politicians
The City Council of Louisville, Kentucky just passed an ordinance prohibiting “NO KNOCK” warrants within the City of Louisville. The death of Breonna Taylor is a tragedy. Louisville narcotics officers served a NO KNOCK warrant on a drug dealer, but served it at the wrong house. Taylor’s boyfriend opened fire when the officers made entry […]
George Floyd
George Floyd did not deserve to die in the manner that he did and his death was the result of a criminal act by a Minneapolis Police Officer. That said, his death was not worthy of all five major networks covering every minute of the services in his behalf. There has never been national coverage […]
Is there something wrong with our priorities?
A helicopter crash tragically takes the lives of nine people and the national news spends countless hours covering the story. Not because of the loss of lives, but because a retired professional basketball player was onboard. A police officer dies protecting the life of someone they do not know and the national news coverage is […]
A new strange case
In what gets ever stranger, a Grand Jury in Oklahoma City has indicted a Blackwell, Oklahoma Police Lieutenant for second degree murder in the shooting death of a 34 year old female who had fired at police officers and others. It is reported that the Grand Jury based their decision on the number of shots […]
Changing Minds
At the close of the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville, TN, where I was signing my police novels, a woman walked up and told me that police officers need to be screened better. I asked her what she meant and she responded that the psychological screening was woefully lacking. I informed her that the […]