The epidemic of mentally unstable cops in America: Fugitive Wis. cop was suicidal

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Memphis officer charged with using cocaine

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a Memphis police officer has been charged with possessing a firearm while using cocaine.

The U.S. attorney's office says 39-year-old James Erwin told federal agents that he used a controlled substance on Tuesday, when he took his work-issued Sig Sauer pistol to a friend's house. Prosecutors say Erwin acknowledged using drugs for four months.

Prosecutors also said someone told Memphis Police Department officers that he sold cocaine base to Erwin for several years, and that he took several of Erwin's personal items as security for Erwin's crack cocaine debt.

In a court appearance Thursday, Erwin told a magistrate judge that he plans to hire a lawyer.

About 25 Memphis Police Department officers have been arrested on various charges since January 2012.

Three Hamden cops suspended without pay for neglecting duty

Three police officers were slapped with unpaid suspensions for “being inattentive to their duty” while on the midnight shift, Chief Thomas Wydra confirmed Thursday.

Wydra would not provide specifics except to say that the behavior occurred this spring at a location he would not name and boils down to an officer not patrolling an assigned sector, and not carrying out assignments such as traffic enforcement and deterrent patrols.

“You’re in a fixed location, and therefore, if it’s for an extended period of time, you’re being inattentive to your assignment,” Wydra said.

The chief also would not name the officers involved, or the length of their suspensions. The Register has requested the information under the state Freedom of Information Act.

“One example of being inattentive to duty is if you are, for example, parked in a place for an extended period of time without any justification,” Wydra said. “In other words, you’re not writing reports, your supervisor is not aware of you being in a location for an extended period of time. You’re not on call at a particular location for an extended position of time. You are actually not currently assigned to any service call, and you are not conducting any other work, yet you are sitting in a marked police car for an extended period of time.”

Wydra said he learned in the spring that an “unknown number of officers” on the midnight shift were possibly acting inappropriately on duty.

He said the allegations at first did not revolve around a single officer, or even multiple named officers, but a specific location that was being abused.

An internal investigation by the department’s Ethics and Integrity Unit “produced verified allegations against three officers, that they were in fact engaging inattentively to duty assignment conduct,” Wydra said.

The officers “all received unpaid suspensions of varying degrees. I’m not going to reveal the numbers, but I think it’s important to know that there is due process here.

“The collective bargaining agreement here and our rules and regulations talk about progressive discipline, so each employee is entitled to that progressive discipline matrix,” Wydra said. “So one employee may have had more discipline than the other, and that’s where you might see a more severe penalty with one officer over another.” Wydra declined to divulge the names of the officers involved because of the “spirit” of the negotiations with union representatives and the final settlements negotiated with the officers.

“I’m not saying that information won’t be available for public consumption if it’s requested,” Wydra said, “But I am saying at this point in time I’m going to respect the spirit of our dialogue and not reveal it at this point in time.”

The Register filed a formal FOI request for the information with the town late Thursday afternoon.

“Obviously this is a serious issue,” said Mayor Scott Jackson. “I have every confidence in our chief, in our sworn officers and in the union that represents those sworn officers to take appropriate action.”

Police Commission Chairman Michael Iezzi could not be reached for comment.

Wydra said each of the three officers disciplined “took total responsibility for their actions,” “held themselves accountable,” and responded positively during both the investigation and when discipline was handed down.

“Taxpayers have every right to place the highest expectations on their police department, ” Wydra said, “whether that is in Hamden, Connecticut, or some other jurisdiction in this country,” ” Wydra said. “And we respect that. We understand that, and we agree with it. And so we do our best to ensure that our personnel recognize those high expectations.”

But Wydra stressed he believes his department and the people that work there, including the three disciplined officers, are “dedicated to executing their duties efficiently, effectively and to the best of their abilities.”

“We do recruit from the human race,” Wydra said. “Humans are prone to mistakes and failings, and I think it’s important that when those happen, when those mistakes happen, they’re acknowledged and accounted for, and then we move on, and get better.”

State Upholds Braintree Cop's Firing, Questions Failure to Report Misconduct

The terminated officer allegedly tried to interfere with drug arrests in Braintree.

The Civil Service Commission last week denied the appeal of a Braintree police officer who was fired for allegedly trying to interfere with drug and drunk driving arrests.

In a decision issued Thursday upholding the town's termination of Paul Venuto in April 2012, Commissioner Cynthia Ittleman said the firing was justified because of Venuto's "serious misconduct," but also criticized the Braintree Police Department for allowing the incidents to go unreported for nearly three years.

Two separate incidents in 2008 and 2009, involving Venuto placing himself in the middle of a drug arrest and an OUI and cocaine arrest, were not officially examined until August 2011, when an alleged domestic dispute between Venuto and his girlfriend prompted then Chief Paul Frazier to order an internal investigation into Venuto's conduct.

Venuto was subsequently placed on administrative leave until Mayor Joseph Sulivan notified him by letter on April 2, 2012 that he was being terminated for engaging in conduct unbecoming an officer, undue influence, and interfering with the Course of Justice.

Several officers were aware of Venuto's attempted interference in the two arrests, Ittleman wrote in the decision, but did not report it as required under the department's regulations.

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FBI arrests Little Saigon businessman, cop in loan sharking probe

FBI agents arrested a Little Saigon businessman and a Westminster police officer early Friday, accusing the entrepreneur of running a loan shark operation and the officer of working as his "enforcer."

Kevin Khanh Tuan Do, who owns Do Design & Construction, allegedly worked with Anthony Duong Donner, a six-year patrol officer for the Westminster police. Donner was arrested when he showed up for work Friday.

A 39-page FBI affidavit said the two lived together in Fountain Valley while masterminding illegal activities. The OC Weekly first reported the arrests.

In 2011, Do lent $170,000 to a woman who wanted to open a Garden Grove coffee shop and a lounge in neighboring Westminster, charging her 5% interest per month, along with an annual interest rate of 60%, the FBI said.

Do, 38, allegedly directed Donner, 29, to collect payments from the customer and told the woman that if she didn't pay that the police would "interfere with her business" and cite her for driving under the influence, even if she wasn't drinking, said FBI Special Agent Joseph Paul Nieblas.

The woman told officials she was afraid of Do, and that officers working for Do "interfered with her business with patrol cars, doing car stops on employees after work, and entering the business to intimidate customers," Nieblas said.

Wiretaps enabled FBI agents to monitor Do's use of "local law-enforcement officials, including Donner, to intimidate payment" from the woman, the affidavit said.

Ga. police officer arrested in corruption sting

ATLANTA (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a metro Atlanta police officer and another man have been arrested on corruption, drug and weapons charges.

Investigators say Clayton County police officer Dwayne Penn conspired with accused drug dealer Adrian Austin to arrange a fake traffic stop involving a car they believed was holding six kilograms of cocaine.

Authorities say the person they were looking to set up was actually a confidential federal informant.

Officials say Penn and Austin waited while the informant conducted a staged drug deal with another undercover agent in Decatur Wednesday.

Investigators say Penn drew his gun on the informant, ordered them into his car, took four kilograms of fake cocaine and let the informant go with two kilograms.

The two were arrested soon afterward and it's unclear if they have attorneys.

Fairfax County cops execute another unarmed man

The Fairfax County Police shot an killed an unarmed man who was alone in his home. The police caused the situation, they escalated the situation and they handled it poorly and are expected to take several weeks to develop their justification story.

Police said they were responding….in force with a tank, a helecopter, a SWAT team, K-p units, and no less than 23 cops to a “Domestic dispute” but Geer was alone in the house. The victim of this police shooting this time was John Geer, age 46, a kitchen installer with no history of violence had to end in death.  He left behind two teenage daughters.

According to Geer’s father,  Geer had been throwing his estranged wife’s belongings, she is 24 years old, into the front yard because she was leaving him, so she called the cops who marked the call as a domestic dispute. She was asked if there were guns in the house and she said there was. The weapons were under lock and key

There's a Maura Harrington listed at the same address where the killing took place.

Neighbors recalled him as even-keeled, outgoing and helpful. A search of police records in Fairfax County showed that Geer was found guilty of drunken driving in 2010 but no convictions for violent crimes or more serious offenses. A neighbor said he talked to Geer in the minutes before the police encounter. He said that Geer didn’t say anything suicidal but he was deeply shaken about the impending breakup.

For forty minutes the cops demanded that Geer, who stood at his front door, for forty minutes "They just continued to tell him: come out, come out, come out," said one witness.

Geer had not showed the cops any sort of weapon nor had he advanced toward them. He made no mention of harming himself or others. Geer’s hands were up in the air, seconds before he was gunned down because they were on top of the storm door. He as shot in the chest while slowly lowering his hands. He had no weapon in his possession and there was no weapon within his reach.

Shot in the chest, Greer pushed his way back into the house and bled to death. The heros from the SWAT team entered the house by way of tank one hour later and found Geer dead.

Homer police officer alleges corruption, improper tasing

HOMER — A Homer police officer says he is being punished for disclosing corruption within the Police Department connected to an FBI investigation into alleged civil rights violations, particularly the alleged improper use of Tasers by other police officers.

Officer Frank Evans said he is one of two officers recently suspended by Chief Russell Mills. Mills reportedly has stated he “fired” a third one.

However, Mills can only make recommendations for personnel action to the Board of Selectmen and that hasn’t been done yet. Evans said he, and possible the other officers, have asked the selectmen to intervene at their Sept. 9 board meeting since the department’s policy and procedures on disciplinary matters were not followed by Mills.

Controversy is not new to the police force. Earlier this year, the board rescinded a vote to disband it because of continual problems and a growing number of lawsuits.

One of those lawsuits, filed in 2010 by Vernecia Bender, was settled in her favor last month before going to trial. Her attorney, Nelson Cameron, said he could not disclose specifics of the monetary payout by the town. In her petition, Bender said she was stunned at least six times by Officer Roger Smith during an incident that occurred in 2009.

Two other lawsuits are pending. On Jan. 4, John Fitzgerald Heard, of Homer, sued Officer Willie Fred Knowles and the Police Department, alleging that in November he was stunned in the chest and neck, causing him to lose consciousness. And Kevin Boyd, of Homer, sued officers Smith and Van McDaniel on Nov. 23, 2011, alleging that on July 24, 2011 McDaniel stunned him several times while he was handcuffed.

The FBI in March raided the Police Department and seized the officers’ Tasers. They were returned later, and spokeswoman Mary Beth Romig told The Times in June the investigation had ended and no federal violations were uncovered. However, when contacted again last month, Romig admitted that statement was in error, adding she could not comment further on an ongoing investigation.

Young officially resigns from Waupun police

WAUPUN -- The Waupun Police Department accepted Lt. Brad Young’s resignation after he was charged with attempted burglary of three businesses in Green Lake County.

Young turned in his resignation in August after he allegedly forcefully entered Walkers Kollerville Restaurant near Green Lake at 1 a.m. Aug. 5. A detection system alerted the owners of the restaurant, who called the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

During an exterior search of the building a deputy observed a suspect exit the restaurant and run into a corn field. A foot chase ensued and the man was lost in the corn field.

Young was identified as a possible suspect, and he fled to northwestern Wisconsin. He surrendered a day later in Burnett County.

In Green Lake County, Young has been charged with the attempted burglary of Ted’s Piggly Wiggly in Markesan, J and T Foods in Berlin and Walkers Kollerville Restaurant near Green Lake.

In Barron County, two charges against Young have been filed; vehicle operator flee/elude officer and take and drive vehicle without consent.

Young was with the Waupun Police Department for 22 years.

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Fairfax County cops execute another unarmed man

The Fairfax County Police shot an killed an unarmed man who was alone in his home. The police caused the situation, they escalated the situation and they handled it poorly and are expected to take several weeks to develop their justification story.

Police said they were responding….in force with a tank, a helecopter, a SWAT team, K-p units, and no less than 23 cops to a “Domestic dispute” but Geer was alone in the house. The victim of this police shooting this time was John Geer, age 46, a kitchen installer with no history of violence had to end in death.  He left behind two teenage daughters.

According to Geer’s father,  Geer had been throwing his estranged wife’s belongings, she is 24 years old, into the front yard because she was leaving him, so she called the cops who marked the call as a domestic dispute. She was asked if there were guns in the house and she said there was. The weapons were under lock and key

There's a Maura Harrington listed at the same address where the killing took place.

Neighbors recalled him as even-keeled, outgoing and helpful. A search of police records in Fairfax County showed that Geer was found guilty of drunken driving in 2010 but no convictions for violent crimes or more serious offenses. A neighbor said he talked to Geer in the minutes before the police encounter. He said that Geer didn’t say anything suicidal but he was deeply shaken about the impending breakup.

For forty minutes the cops demanded that Geer, who stood at his front door, for forty minutes "They just continued to tell him: come out, come out, come out," said one witness.

Geer had not showed the cops any sort of weapon nor had he advanced toward them. He made no mention of harming himself or others. Geer’s hands were up in the air, seconds before he was gunned down because they were on top of the storm door. He as shot in the chest while slowly lowering his hands. He had no weapon in his possession and there was no weapon within his reach.

Shot in the chest, Greer pushed his way back into the house and bled to death. The heros from the SWAT team entered the house by way of tank one hour later and found Geer dead.

NOPD: officer suspended without pay after being booked with DWI in off-duty car wreck on I-10

NEW ORLEANS — A New Orleans police officer has been suspended without pay after being booked with drunk driving while off duty, the department said Sunday.

Officer Jayson Germann of the Gang Intelligence Unit was driving his take-home car when an accident occurred shortly after 2:30 a.m. Sunday, New Orleans Police Department spokeswoman Remi (REM-ee) Braden said.

Germann, 38, of Bush, apparently lost control of the unmarked 2002 Chevrolet Impala, hit a guardrail on the Interstate 10 twin span, swerved back and hit a 1999 Geo, State Trooper Nick Manale said in an email.

Fayetteville police officer charged with driving while impaired

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Authorities said a Fayetteville police officer was charged with driving while impaired after being arrested in Wilmington on Sunday. Fayetteville police said 32-year-old Kevin Smith was arrested around 1 a.m. while off-duty in a Toyota SUV.

Douglasville police officer charged with DUI after crash

DOUGLAS COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -

Douglasville police officer was charged with DUI after he was injured in a car accident Thursday morning. Georgia State police report Officer Torre Langley overturned his personal vehicle after striking a culvert. The accident happened just after midnight near the intersection of Highway 5 and Sweetwater Road. Langley was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and he is reportedly in the ICU. Georgia State police said a blood test was taken for alcohol impairment, and the results are pending. Langley was charged with DUI and failure to maintain lane.

Bethlehem police officer charged with DUI waives hearing

Bethlehem police officer Richard Hoffman is charged with drunken driving after an Aug. 8 crash, police officials said. (August 14, 2013)

 Hoffman, 34, had a blood-alcohol content of 0.16 percent, twice the state's legal limit to drive, Aug. 8 when he plowed into cars at East Broad and High streets in the city, police said. He admitted he had been drinking, police said.

North Charleston, South Carolina: An off-duty police officer was charged with driving under the influence after an accident. ow.ly/oaPvq

Ottawa County, Michigan: A sheriff’s deputy has been suspended for 30 days for “inappropriate behavior.” He was placed on unpaid suspension after an internal investigation. ow.ly/oawOC