A Few Bad Apples

Prosecutorial and police misconduct are often dismissed as just a few bad apples doing a few bad apple-ish things. But what happens when it’s entrenched and systemic and goes unchecked for years? That looks to be the case in Orange County, California, where the situation got so completely out of hand this spring that Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals issued an order disqualifying the entire Orange County District Attorney’s Office (that’s all 250 prosecutors) from continuing to prosecute a major death penalty case. [More]

Who thinks this is the only barrel full, and that the same findings could not be reproduced throughout the (former) Republic?

Funny, how "progressive" Slate knows how corrupt everything is, yet still does everything in its power to ensure a monopoly of violence entrusted to the abusers, and to condemn the egalitarian power-sharing afforded by the uninfringed right to keep and bear arms. It's part of that differing "solutions" to the same perceived problem I referred to in the previous post.

[Via Michael G]

We're the Only Ones "A Few Bad Apples" Enough

Schenectady's Corporation Counsel John Van Norden said, "If you abolish the police department you still have a need - not an obligation - but a need to police the community. You would need something in transition. Declaring martial law would be one way to bridge the gap." [More]

Got that?

The whole damn department is so damn corrupt they can't field a police force. So much for the "few bad apples" theory.

Then they admit they have no obligation to protect you.

So do you think they'll let you protect yourself?

Hah! Not when the option of establishing complete tyrannical control is still on the table.

Last night when I read this story, I laughed. This morning, reading it again, I don't find it funny at all.

[Via Andre]

We're the Only Ones Just a Few Bad Apples Enough

Evidently just a few, because only "hundreds" are being reported. [More]

But they're really big apples.

Big raging apples.


WHAT THE HELL YOU LOOKIN' AT...???

[Via Jeet]

We're the Only Ones Flying the Friendly Skies Enough

Since 9/11, more than three dozen federal air marshals have been charged with crimes, and hundreds more have been accused of misconduct, an investigation by ProPublica, a non-profit journalism organization, has found. Cases range from drunken driving and domestic violence to aiding a human-trafficking ring and trying to smuggle explosives from Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the rest of us get strip-searched and have bottles of lotion confiscated, and they are the "Only Ones" who can be trusted with guns.

Right.

"We can reassure the public that these dedicated professionals go out there every day and put their lives on the line to make sure that everyone is safe," Bray says. "I don't want them to be tarred by … a few allegations from a few years ago."

Keep braying, weasel-worder.

"We're getting the cream of the crop," then-TSA spokesman David Steigman told reporters. "The people who are going into the air marshal program are the best of the best."

Let's see, 3-4,000 air marshals, "753 documented cases of misconduct by air marshals over 20 months..."

Yeah, just a few "bad apples" there.

I've never abused a position to smuggle drugs into the country. I've never lured young boys to my room and abused them. I've never tried to hire a hit on my wife.

I don't drink and drive, I don't beat my family, I don't take bribes, commit bank fraud, hire escorts, pad expense accounts, pull guns in parking disputes, leave guns in lavatories, discharge guns negligently, get into bar fights and fire guns, deal in stolen property...

And the government says these thugs are more trustworthy than you and I are.

And their solution, of course, is to throw more money at the problem, form Quality Assurance teams...as if those of us who live our lives responsibly and with respect for not infringing on our fellow man require any oversight or special training beyond our own sense of "do unto others," which is all any human being really needs--any human being who's not a sociopath...

I'm getting sick and damned tired of these ethically retarded amoral parasites treating responsible adults like they're the children. And that these abuses all happened on a republican administration's watch angers me even more.

[Via Les K]

We're the Only Ones Pimping Enough

Prosecutors charged a veteran King County sheriff’s deputy Thursday with helping his estranged wife work as a prostitute, stealing department ammunition and illegally delivering testosterone in a case that could implicate other deputies and commanders in the department. [More]

And the story gets even better, with ammo, brass, domestic assaults and...

“The worst part about this is the culture that existed that allowed this to happen”...

What, you mean that culture we've been discussing here on a regular basis for years?

Say, those are quite a few "few bad apples"... why, if I didn't know better, I'd start to think it's systemic and pervasive, and that someone would do something about it. You know, before people are left with no choice but to either suffer continued outrageous abuses with no "legal" defense or recourse, or deal with intolerable conditions themselves...

I know, I'm just a cop basher. I haven't goose-stepped a mile in their jackboots. And the next time I'm in trouble, I should rescue myself instead of expecting them to come protect and save me.

[Via Jeet]

Making Us All Look Bad

Anybody know this a$$+@!=?

Thank him.

Perhaps we should borrow from the "Only Ones" playbook and start using that "few bad apples" analogy. Those of you inclined to leave comments on such sites, do remind the readership of all those in uniform who also prove untrustworthy--having that kind of ammo is one of the reasons I maintain the archive.

I wonder if this guy is really what he seems? I want information on him--who is he? Does anybody know him? How long has he been involved, or is he? Any chance this is deliberate?

[Via JFCA]

Watch this Video

Watch it now.

No doubt just a few bad apples. Plus if he'd have done what they asked, he'd have never gotten in trouble.

Right?

I know that checkpoint--I've driven through it many times. The road to Yuma has long stretches of mountains and desert where you're literally on your own, miles and miles away from any help. It's a hell of a thing to make a man choose between his family's safety and the potential loss of his freedom.

I'm lucky I didn't get what I deserved. I'm sure if I had, there'd be no shortage of critics saying I made us all look bad.

But back to the video: I must point out we only have one side. I must also point out that if what he says is an accurate representation of what happened, any beasts who would do this to a citizen are domestic enemies.

[Via Ron W]

We're the Only Ones Gratuitously Sporting Enough

The lawsuit (“Gun Trouble,” Mobtown Beat, June 6, 2012) claims that detective Erik Socha and Cpl. Anthony Kidwell led raids on the Bords’ home and auto-repair business that were based on a bad warrant “in order to intimidate” David Bord and cause him “economic injury.” The operations also were undertaken “for gratuitous sport rather than for proper law-enforcement purposes,” according to court documents, and Socha and Kidwell, when presented with all the proper firearms paperwork after the raids, said “save it for court,” that the paperwork was “wrong” or “bull***t,” and “words to the effect” that David Bord “would never get his property back.” [More]

Just a few bad apples, no doubt. I love the way the one punk thug "spilled his guts" and feels like he's been thrown under the bus.

This story is several month old. I just learned about it from Of Arms and the Law, where Mr. Hardy makes a relevant observation.

Are Bloomberg’s cops the ‘only ones’ who can be trusted with guns in NYC?

And as for those who would dismiss this as “a few bad apples,” admittedly, out of the 35,000+ full-time and 4,500 auxiliary officers on the force, these few recently-documented reports represent a small percentage.

But then again, just look at what the dishonest citizen disarmament fanatics do to make the case that gun-owning citizens--who jump through all the hoops to carry firearms for self-defense--are a murderous threat because of anecdotal incidents involving an even smaller percentage of the total population of concealed carriers. [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner commentary rejects the notion that you and I can't be trusted with a gun because we don't work for the government.

We're the Only Ones 'You Got 30 Minutes' Enough

Two city police officers have been suspended without pay after prosecutors accused them attacking a Domino's manager while on duty. Rodney Clark and Courtney Solomon are both charged with disorderly conduct, harassment and making terroristic threats for the incident that occurred on Tuesday, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said in a statement. [More]

Hey, it's Jersey. It's not like any state where citizens allow themselves to be effectively disarmed has to worry about what the mundanes think.

Just a few bad apples?

This is the latest episode of bad news for the police department. Eleven cops, including the former police chief, have pleaded guilty in federal court to collecting pay for off-duty jobs they did not perform. Earlier this month, another officer was sentenced for striking a man with his police car during an arrest. Four others face charges related to a scheme to falsify timesheets. Four additional cops were indicted last year on charges related to a high-speed police pursuit that ended in a fiery crash...

[Via William T]

We're the Only Ones with Budding Careers Enough

A Winter Haven police officer is accused of pilfering a "marijuana bud" following the department's seizure of marijuana plants from a home. [More]

See, if you're going to steal someone elses's plants, it's important that you follow official department protocol.


Let's see, the "few bad apples" metaphor doesn't seem to work well here.  Maybe "a few stems and seeds," but otherwise it's great sh...?

And I wonder if this will qualify for Chuckie's reporting proposal?

[Via Ed M]

We're the Only Ones Not Excessive Enough

Lund says he was feeding ducks at the park on Nov. 25, 2006 when officers with their guns drawn surrounded him and ordered him to raise his hands over his head. The suit claims Lund told the officers he could not raise his arms above shoulder level because of a disability but was tackled, handcuffed, dropped repeatedly on the ground and dragged across concrete. [More]

Plus, the reason he was approached in the first place is because of a vendetta by a person who had already wronged him.

Most disturbing are the assorted comments from "Only Ones" who think their brother officers deserve to be able to assault innocent 74-year-old disabled war vets and give them blood clots on the brain with impunity. No doubt they are some of those "few bad apples" we hear about, or do you think they might be more representative than the apologists care to admit?

One thing's for sure. As far as this crowd is concerned, it is "us vs. them."

The opinion is here.

[Via Al N]

UPDATE: Looks like the title-linked article has been removed. Wonder why.

UPDATE 2: Thanks to Tom in comments, we can preserve the comments by these exemplary public servants. Be sure you click on the profile links, so you can see just who it is that thinks this is a great way to protect and serve the public. I'm pasting them below anticipating the cache will go away at some point. I'm not sure if I can be legally ordered to take this down or not or if fair use and public interest will prevail, so view it/copy while you can.

• 

  copdog5515

  about 1 month ago

  8 comments

  Sounds like a good ruling from the bench ! So rare these day's.

• 

  LIDARguy

  about 1 month ago

  180 comments

  Ok, why does he need $10 million? I hope he continues to get what he deserves - absolutely nothing.

• 

  OFFICER_K_CPD

  about 1 month ago

  1234 comments

  Cool

• 

  Irishcop1961

  about 1 month ago

  2094 comments

  Lets hear for the Judge

• 

  Gtoli

  about 1 month ago

  776 comments

  Hopefully the third Officer will fair as well.

• 

  blueline111095

  about 1 month ago

  220 comments

  Glad too see a judge using his head

• 

  CaptainDan166

  about 1 month ago

  758 comments

  I've sat where those officers are sitting, at the wrong table! It was the one of the toughest few weeks in my life. Glad the officers made it and thank you to the Judge.

• 

  Jason_Reel

  about 1 month ago

  1390 comments

  Alright!!!! There is a Judge out there with some common sense.

• 

  phudson

  about 1 month ago

  342 comments

  At leasat the judge could see through the BS.

• 

  DeputyDuck

  about 1 month ago

  750 comments

  Finally one for the good guys

We're the Only Ones Crashing Enough

Four Hollywood police officers are accused of faking a crash report - and it was caught on an officer's dashboard camera..

Authorities say Francisco rear-ended a car in February and then arrested the driver on drunken driving charges. [More]

See how the "Only Ones" automatically assumed a mere citizen is just something to be used and discarded?

That all four of them so readily conspired in this could severely shake my faith in the "few bad apples" theory if I didn't want to believe in it so desperately...

[Via Ed M]

UPDATE: John G tells us charges against the woman have been dropped.

That really seems to irk a few of the dimmer commentators...

We're the Only Ones Overpowering Enough

Ex-officer at Otter Creek prison charged with rape [More]

Just a few bad apples, right?

He's 6th Otter Creek worker accused of sex with inmates

Hey, when it comes to "Only Ones," six is a few, right?

And yeah, I read it's a privately-run prison. Hey, it's all sanctioned by the state, and economic fascism just expands the opportunities for abuse.

We're the Only Ones Sweet Enough Already Enough

I made a big mistake, there's no sugarcoating it," Ganley said in court.[More]

He says with a straight face as he sugarcoats it...

A mistake is when you forget to carry the two.

This trusted public servant intentionally violated several laws, repeatedly and for years, that he would have destroyed someone else's life over. And note "he claimed [it] was quite common among fellow law-enforcement officers."

More evidence to support the "Just a few bad apples" meme, right?

Now Hulk MADDD! So just suck up and obey, and don't make him angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry.

Naturally, the judge gives him probation.

"The Only Ones."

[Via Jeet]

We're the Only Ones Mishandling Enough

Seventeen officers who formerly worked in the unit have been disciplined, with seven of the officers no longer working in the department.. [More]

Well, at least we've established it was only a few bad apples...

[Via bondmen]

We're the Only Ones Corrective Enough

If 13 is "a few bad apples," how many were in that particular barrel? [Read]

[Via several of you]

We're the Only Ones Skimming Enough

A former Shelby County narcotics detective has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for stealing money confiscated from drug dealers. [More]

What, you mean that's not considered armed robbery?

I certainly am glad he got off so lightly. Why, if that federal judge had treated him like someone really dangerous, say, Wayne Fincher or David Olofson, that could really erode some of the benefits of being an "Only One."

Hey, if the sentence is under a year, does that mean he's not a "prohibited person," either?

And in our continued confirmation that it's just a few bad apples, we must note:

Some four dozen area law enforcement officers from six agencies have been named in corruption cases in the past six years, often with cash-laden drug dealers as their targets.

Gee, you'd think such draconian punishments would discourage this sort of thing.

[Via FFFW]

We're the Only Ones "Bully for You!" Enough

But in cases in which it's a defendant's word against a police officer's, the benefit of doubt often falls to the cop.

Except when there's video...

The clerk on duty the night that Lopez confronted Lawless told investigators that three times after the incident, police officers spoke with him about the security tape and that two asked if he would erase it. [More]

See, it's only a few bad apples. And of course:

A hearing to determine what discipline, if any, will be imposed on Lopez is still pending.

Nice. Assault a girl with a deadly weapon. What a despicable, cowardly sociopath. And these are the "Only Ones" the evil and the stupid think should be "permitted" to carry guns because they consider you and me--what were their words?--"untrained and dangerous individuals".

[Via Brian F]

We're the Only Ones in the Majority Enough

The latest indictments bring the total number of indicted BGF gang members and their affiliates to 44. Of those, 27 are Baltimore corrections officers. [More]

Just a few bad apples, I'm sure...

[Via William T]