MetaFilter posts tagged with police

A Russian policeman speaks out

twoleftfeet — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:40:26 -0800

During the last week, a senior detective in Novorossiysk, Russia named Alexei Dymovsky had a viral hit on YouTube with a series of videos (in Russian: 1, 2. With English subtitles: 1) complaining about working conditions, accusing officers of corruption, and claiming that he and other police were ordered to stage crimes in order to put innocent people in jail. Dymovsky was promptly fired, but the Russian government has since admitted that parts of the police have been turned into criminal businesses. More here and here.

Law and Disorder in the Wild Wild West

Crotalus — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:04:17 -0800

Maricopa County Sherriff Joe Arpaio is controversial to be sure. He has been accused of using his office to retaliate against critics, and he has thumbed his nose at the feds. Are his rank and file officers following his lead? What's up with this?

Cleveland serial killer highlights police indifference

bitter-girl.com — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:56:54 -0800

Alleged serial killer and convicted rapist Anthony Sowell is creating even bigger problems for the Cleveland police department, who have been accused of joking about missing victims, passing the blame onto those victims and outright incompetence. As of today, the body count is up to 10 (plus one skull), and people around the world are wondering what went wrong.

Safer Communities Together

moorooka — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:07:42 -0800

3 o' clock in the morning, you're buying a pie from the BP station, what must you always do? New Zealand police officer delivers a stern warning on the hazards of thermo-nuclear pies and becomes a Youtube Hit. Sergeant Baldwin says he was not being serious. "As a policeman if we can make people laugh then great because in reality what we do isn't funny," he said. Sergeant Baldwin says he is now being teased by his colleagues at the station.

How can one evict the homeless?

stinker — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:01:04 -0800

After a spate of recent deaths, efforts to rehabilitate homeless chronic inebriates in Anchorage now include involuntary confinement. Other city-wide efforts include a mayoral decree that established homeless camps should be scattered. In response to increased police activity and the absence of voluntary shelter options for inebriated homeless, John Martin mounted a one-man hunger strike to improve options for homeless in Anchorage (with particular concern for alcoholics), but was removed from his camp when he was found to be a registered sex offender.

"He was wearing his gun . . . going off on a screaming tirade, throwing his arms everywhere".

IvoShandor — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:38:17 -0800

When Northern Illinois University entered the national spotlight it was for tragic reasons. One of the university's public faces during the tragedy was University Police Department Chief Donald Grady. Now, the university is conducting a performance review of the chief after he spent three hours berating, yelling at, and trying to bribe a student journalist with a job at the university in exchange for favorable coverage. Grady is no stranger to controversy. Always seen as tough, he's been to Iraq, he even has a small Facebook fan club. He's always had a tenuous relationship with the local media and other local police departments. He's a life-long police officer who has left other jobs in controversy. Even while first responders were praised for their reaction to the NIU shooting some of Grady's decisions were criticized. This summer, NIU hired former Chicago police officer and Colorado State University police chief Dexter Yarbrough. Yarbrough resigned the CSU position after making controversial comments about the nature of the Chicago PD and under the cloud of a sexual harassment scandal. in March 2009. After he came to NIU, questions were raised about his hiring. In July, just days after he was hired, Yarbrough resigned his new patrol position at NIU. The Northern Star, NIU's student newspaper called for Grady's resignation in a strongly worded editorial October 8, which suggested the Yarbrough scandal pierced Grady's "seemingly impenetrable armor" and was "the fatal blow to Grady’s psyche".

Ai Weiwei hospitalised

WPW — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:41:46 -0800

Ai Weiwei, one of the leading Chinese artists of his generation, has undergone emergency brain surgery after being beaten by police. Ai attracted the attention of the authorities for his involvement in the Sichuan Earthquake Names Project, which aimed to gather the names of schoolchildren killed in the 2008 earthquake in southern China. He was confronted by police on 12 August in the city of Chengdu and beaten. The officers threatened to kill him. Since the attack he has complained of dizziness and headaches. In mid-September he entered hospital for surgery. “What does that say about our state, which is just getting ready to celebrate its sixtieth year of existence, when this is the answer to legal investigations?” Ai told the German media. He has since released pictures of himself in hospital. The attack and subsequent events have only filtered through to the Western media slowly, but could reignite the debate within the creative professions about engagement with China. Previous posts on Ai Weiwei, Sichuan.

The police chief has disbanded his force "until things calm down"

finite — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:41:25 -0800

JERICHO, Ark. — It was just too much, having to return to court twice on the same day to contest yet another traffic ticket, and Fire Chief Don Payne didn't hesitate to tell the judge what he thought of the police and their speed traps. The response from cops? They shot him. Right there in court.

Like a complete unknown

Seekerofsplendor — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:59:11 -0800

Two Jersey Shore cops stop Bob Dylan, taking an afternoon walk in Long Branch, NJ. Neither recognizes him. He has no I.D with him. but the situation is soon peacefully rectified. At least he didn't start up with them like he might have long ago.Don't think twice, it's alright.

"This is what happens to black men in America."

ocherdraco — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:19:59 -0800

Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates was arrested for "breaking into" his own home.

Military pictures from around the world.

Mitheral — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:14:42 -0800

Pictures of military subjects , many of them annotated, from all over such as Russia, Malaysia, Japan (Special Police), Ireland, Cyprus, Sri Lanka and Canada. Forum photo topics also include pre Great War, dogs (airborne), cats, aircraft carriers, riot police, women, destroyed tanks, camouflage, art, accidents, and daily threads of random images.

Threatening the merc's way of life

boo_radley — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:32:39 -0800

Debate over government-funded services heats up. [SLSO]

Craigslist: Less erotic than before?

stinkycheese — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:18:52 -0800

Acting on criticisms and pressure from law enforcement, Craigslist has announced it will shut down its "erotic services" category in the U.S. Reaction is mixed and some are suggesting that online prostitution will simply find a new name.

Don't hug me, bro!

HuronBob — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:34:23 -0800

Police in Denmark target bike riders. SLYT Police in Denmark take drastic steps to change the habits of bike riders...

A world in which knowledge is always a double edged sword

Electric Dragon — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:15:23 -0800

The Wire - David Simon's original pitch and series bible. "At the end of thirteen episodes, the viewer - who has been lured all this way by a well-constructed police show - is not the simple gratification of hearing handcuffs click. Instead the conclusion is something Euripides or O'Neill might recognize: an America at every level at war with itself." [Previously.] (via)

You'll never walk again

MuffinMan — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:25:06 -0800

20 years ago today, a crush of fans at the Leppings Lane entrance of Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium killed 96 people, among them the cousin of current Liverpool player Steven Gerrard (who has the dubious honour of being the youngest victim). Coming just 4 years after the Heysel stadium disaster, which killed 39 people and was officially blamed on Liverpool fans, and almost two decades of hooligan violence, the most obvious or convenient conclusion was that history had repeated itself. The intervening years have seen bitter recriminations, against the Police and also The Sun - who repeated the accusation that Liverpool fans brought about the disaster and disgraced themselves - and a government enquiry. Still, to this day, many feel the real story has yet to come out. *The post title is deliberately ironic. Although the subversion of Anfield's iconic son "You'll Never Walk Alone" predates Hillsborough, it is still occasionally chanted by opposing fans mocking the disaster.

Somebody's watching you...

desjardins — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:41:12 -0800

When the economy slows down, ticket writing speeds up. Traffic cameras spark anger from citizens. Researchers find that they increase crashes. Find the red light cameras near you. Download a free warning system to your iPhone or Blackberry. In Mississippi? You're in luck. Red light cameras have been banned. In the Chicago area? Too bad. Speed cameras are coming too.

The security is maximum and that's a law

Mayor Curley — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:43:16 -0800

The Wellesley College Daily Police Log is available online. Unfortunately, the individual days are PDFs. But it gives a glimpse into the gritty realities of day-to-day policing. Case Closed.

Beware of Internet Overshares

ericb — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:21:41 -0800

"Meet Officer Vaughan Ettienne, the bodybuilder who learned the hard way you shouldn't write like a thug online, or a jury might just suspect you of mistreating a suspect." Ettienne arrested Gary Waters for gun possession. At trial "the defense found things Ettienne said online and turned them against him." "Mr. Waters, on parole from a burglary conviction when he was arrested, beat the most serious charge, the felony possession of a 9 millimeter Beretta and a bagful of ammunition. He was convicted of resisting arrest, a misdemeanor."

Keepin' gay club nights safe for the Moral Majority.

markkraft — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:00:23 -0800

Homophobia is still alive and well in... San Francisco?! The DNA Lounge, the high-tech nightclub of former Mozilla/Netscape wunderkind Jamie Zawinski, has apparently run afoul of the local Alcohol Beverage Control board. In 2008, during a period of time when the DNA Lounge -- with SFPD and neighborhood approval -- successfully appealed an ABC decision blocking the club from offering all-ages live music, the ABC sent agents into the club during their GLBT nights, and are now trying to shut the club down for "lewdness", "discrimination", and "running a disorderly house injurious to the public welfare and morals".(NSFW!) The DNA is determined not to go quietly into this goodnight.

15 year old girl in holding cell beaten by Seattle Cop

ginky — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:16:29 -0800

15 year old girl in holding cell beaten by Seattle Cop Caught on Camera. 15 year old girl in holding cell beaten by Seattle Cop. Not surprisingly the cop's lawyer didn't want this video published.

Atlanta police sentenced for death caused by paramilitary-style drug raid

Joe in Australia — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:38:14 -0800

Three police officers were sentenced today for killing 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston in a paramilitary-style raid. The officers shot Ms Johnson five or six times and then handcuffed her while they planted drugs in her basement. She bled to death on the floor of her own home. The Agitator covers the story through a single headline headline. The officers will receive Federal sentences of between five and ten years each as well as - a nice touch - being forced to pay for her funeral.

Help the police

Kirth Gerson — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 04:45:30 -0800

"Republican politicians on Thursday called for a sweeping new federal law that would require all Internet providers and operators of millions of Wi-Fi access points, even hotels, local coffee shops, and home users, to keep records about users for two years to aid police investigations." To be fair, it's not just Republicans who like this idea.

Racism in Austria on the hot seat

Slash_fan — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:35:18 -0800

Racism in Austria is a problem that has been well documented for quite some time. With the recent rise of the far right political parties, however, things seem to be getting worse. The recent case involving an African American teacher who was mistaken for a drug dealer and beaten by the police however has the potential to bring some changes to the country.

ACPO: We're Private, You're Public?

terranova — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:59:49 -0800

What is the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)? It is a private company, financed by UK taxpayers, immune from freedom of information requests. It dictates police operations and sells police national computer data. It may also be engaged in covert domestic surveillance of what it deems as extremists: antiwar protesters, strikers, and others. According to an ACPO spokesperson ""there doesn't seem to be a single, commonly agreed definition."