Pregnant woman stunned by Springfield police files lawsuit

By John Reynolds

A pregnant woman who was stunned by Springfield police with a Taser last year in the Best Buy parking lot has filed a federal lawsuit against the city and two officers who arrested her.

Lucinda White, 30, of Springfield alleges that Officer Edward Higginson used excessive force and falsely arrested her on March 30, 2013. Also accused of false arrest is Officer Mark Cordes.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court Wednesday, does not list a dollar amount for the damages being sought.

Police said White was involved in a minor car accident in the Best Buy lot, 3193 S. Veterans Parkway. Frederick Thomas, White's boyfriend, who was not involved in the crash, started yelling and cursing at the other driver and the officer taking the report, police said.

Thomas allegedly refused to calm down, so the responding officer requested backup. Nearly a dozen squad cars responded. At the same time, police said, White became angry and interfered with officers.

When officers attempted to arrest White, she allegedly resisted, prompting an officer to apply a one-second “drive stun” to White's thigh.

A “drive stun” is when an officer holds the Taser against someone and applies a shock. It does not involve firing the projectiles and is intended to cause pain without incapacitating the person.

A few days after the initial arrest, police reviewed the incident and determined that the department's policy on Taser use was not violated.

White was arrested and is facing a charge of resisting a police officer. That case is pending in Sangamon County Circuit Court.

White's lawsuit paints a different picture of the arrest.

The lawsuit states that White, who was eight months' pregnant, was “acting in a peaceful and non-threatening manner” when Higginson “forcefully grabbed White, tasered White and forcefully caused White to fall to the pavement.”

“The force used upon the person of plaintiff, White, who was visibly pregnant with child, was unnecessary and unreasonable,” the lawsuit contends.

The lawsuit adds that the Springfield Police Department has a “pervasive and unconstitutional custom, practice and policy of allowing and condoning the use of excessive force by its police officers against pregnant women.”

The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages as well as attorneys' fees, costs and litigation expenses.

City spokesman Nathan Mihelich said city policy prohibits commenting on pending litigation.

White's attorney is Michael J. Goldberg of Chicago.

Minnesota police chief busted for prostitution, waits over a month to quit

The former top cop of Robbinsdale, Steven Smith, was arrested in February for allegedly soliciting a prostitute in another town.

BY STEPHEN REX BROWN

A suburban Minneapolis police chief was arrested for allegedly soliciting a prostitute last month — but stayed on the job until Saturday.

Robbinsdale’s former top cop, Steven Smith, was one of 11 people who allegedly responded to a Backpage.com escorts advertisement, police in nearby Coon Rapids said in a release.

Smith, 45, kept working until Saturday — four days after a Coon Rapids cop happened to recognize him from his mugshot, Capt. Cary Parks confirmed to the Daily News.

The towns are 20 minutes apart.

He had no identification on him indicating he was a police officer [at this time of his arrest],” Parks said, explaining why no one realized they’d cuffed the high-profile suspect.

He was to enter a plea Monday on misdemeanor prostitution charges but his attorney was granted a continuance.

Cops said Smith had offered to pay $150 in cash for sex and $50 more not to use a condom, MyFox9 in Minneapolis reported. Cops said he used the name "Scott" as an alias.

Robbinsdale's mayor, Regan Murphy, said he was shocked to learn of the reason for Smith’s abrupt resignation.

“All I ask is moving forward, we’ve got someone in place that’s going to do a fantastic job, and to judge the department and city on actual interaction during work in Robbinsdale rather than one individual, off duty, in another town,” Murphy told CBS Minnesota.

Coon Rapids cops says the department is not obligated to notify an employer if one of its employees is arrested.

State policy requires cops notify their department within days of an arrest.

“Anyone answering a Backpage or other similar ad that says to meet in Coon Rapids, don’t do it. You will be arrested no matter who you are,” Coon Rapids 

Officer suspended while police investigate off-duty actions

TROY, N.Y. – The Troy Police Department is investigating the off-duty actions of one of their own.

Troy Police have not said, yet, what is the focus of the investigation. They did say that the matter is of a serious nature. It surrounds veteran officer Michael Johnson.

Hudson Police Chief Ed Moore, however, confirmed that Johnson was pulled over on March 10 by Hudson City officers as he left a house that was well-known to police. The officers said a passenger in Johnson's car was arrested after being found in possession of heroin.

Two police sources close to the investigation said the passenger was Johnson's brother. A female passenger was also in the car.

Moore said Johnson told police that he is a Troy Police Officer and claimed he had no knowledge that there were drugs in the car. He said Johnson was not found doing anything illegal and was not arrested or charged.

In 2012, Johnson was stabbed in the leg by two men he pursued into a wooded area near the Martin Luther King Jr. apartments while off duty.

Troy Police said the current internal investigation began about a week ago.

County faces trial in police brutality lawsuit

dlehman@poststar.com

QUEENSBURY -- A state Supreme Court justice has ruled against Warren County in a woman’s lawsuit that accuses county sheriff’s officers of brutality and false arrest, setting the stage for a trial later this year.

Supreme Court Justice David Krogmann denied a request by the county to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Martha Philion in connection with her arrest on a disorderly conduct charge in October 2009.

Philion, 73, has alleged her right shoulder was “seriously and permanently” injured when sheriff’s officers took her into custody after she cursed them in front of her home.

Sheriff’s officers had gone to Philion’s home on Coolidge Avenue after receiving a call from someone who was concerned about the welfare of her adult son, Thomas “Neil” Beatty.

Officers Scott Rawson and Kurtis Glenn went to the home, but Beatty would not come out.

Beatty was facing felony child sexual abuse and child pornography charges at the time, and had been told by his lawyer not to have contact with police unless they had a warrant, Philion told police.

He came to the door, but when the officers insisted they be allowed to speak to him, Philion became irate and cursed at them, according to court records.

That resulted in her being charged with disorderly conduct, a noncriminal violation. She could have been charged with the weightier misdemeanor of obstructing governmental administration, but police filed the lesser charge instead, county officials claimed in court papers.

The disorderly conduct charge was dismissed 12 days later, and Philion filed a lawsuit seeking unspecified monetary damages in 2011.

The lawsuit alleges Philion was injured when she was “taken down” on her porch. Warren County Sheriff Bud York said he had no comment on the matter because of the pending litigation.

The lawyer appointed by the county’s insurance carrier, Gregg Johnson, had asked Krogmann to throw out the lawsuit. But the judge concluded that Philion had not committed disorderly conduct because there were no members of the public present to witness her alleged actions.

Krogmann also concluded she was “arrested without probable cause,” so the use of force to arrest her was not justified. The ruling sets up a trial in the coming months, barring an appeal or settlement.

Philion’s lawyer, Daniel Stewart, said he had no comment on the case Tuesday.

The case was the subject of an executive session at a recent county Board of Supervisors meeting, with no action taken afterward. County Attorney Martin Auffredou said the lawsuit was still pending as of Tuesday.

“There have been some settlement discussions,” Auffredou said.

Beatty pleaded guilty to a felony count of possession of a sexual performance by a child and was sentenced in 2010 to 1 to 3 years in state prison. He was paroled in February 2012.

Charged After Rumsfeld Protest, Local Activist Alleges Wrongful Arrest by Boston PD

by Jonathan Adams (Staff)

BOSTON/Downtown Crossing – A local activist is suing a Boston Police Department officer for allegedly wrongfully arresting and charging him during a protest of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s visit to Boston.

Shaun Joseph filed a lawsuit in federal court in Boston on March 14 against Boston Police Sgt. David O’Connor, alleging that O’Connor falsely claimed he was assaulted by Joseph.

Rumsfeld, who was speaking at the Old South Meeting House in September 2012 to promote his new book, was derided by local activists who called him a war criminal and highlighting his key role in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to the complaint, the protesters held a “peaceful demonstration,” and “peaceably marched and chanted their slogans without any problem,” for more than an hour.

It is claimed that Joseph, who does not have a criminal record, “helped organize the event and was present for the protest rally.”

During the protest, the complaint alleges that O’Connor “approached a female protester and told her that she could no longer use a bullhorn without a permit,” but then a short time later “a male protester started using the bullhorn.”

It is alleged that O’Connor “ran towards the male protester and attempted to grab it out of the protester’s hands.”

The complaint claims that Joseph then “went over, put his hands on the bullhorn and tried to tell defendant O’Connor that he was an organizer and that he would take custody of the bullhorn and make sure that no one used it.”

At this point, it’s alleged that O’Connor “falsely claimed that he was being assaulted” by Joseph, claiming that he been “struck him in the right forearm ” in a kind of karate chop.

It is then claimed that another Boston Police officer pulled Joseph to the ground, but that he complied by putting “his hands behind his back for handcuffing without any assistance from police officers.”

The complaint alleges that O’Connor “falsely claimed” that Joseph had “resisted the arrest by holding his arms underneath him and did not remove his hands without assistance from police despite orders to do so.”

It is alleged that O’Connor “had no warrant for the arrest … no probable cause … and no legal cause or excuse to seize him.”

After his arrest, it’s alleged that Joseph was “placed in a holding cell and held for approximately three hours,” and that O’Connor allegedly “intentionally prepared and submitted a false police incident report containing the above-fabricated facts,” causing “a criminal complaint to issue against Mr. Joseph charging him with assault and battery on a public employee and resisting arrest.”

According to the complaint, Joseph was arraigned on these charges on September 27, 2011, and that for 18 months, though he claims he “knew that he was innocent, he feared that he might be convicted of the false charges.”

It is stated that the criminal charges against Joseph were dismissed by the Commonwealth on the day of his trial on March 7, 2013, and it’s alleged that as a result of O’Connor’s actions, Joseph “endured emotional pain and suffering,” and “remains upset that he was arrested and falsely charged with crimes he did not commit.”

Open Media Boston requested statements from the Boston Police Department and the city's Law Department, which represents the city and the police department in legal issues, but did not receive a response.

Joseph's lawyer could not be reached for comment before the filing of this report.

Las Cruces officer charged with hit-and-run quits

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - A Las Cruces police officer has resigned after being charged in a hit-and-run accident in which his personal vehicle allegedly knocked down a road sign on Interstate 25.

   

Police spokesman Dan Trujillo says 30-year-old Michael Clifton resigned Friday from the police force.

   

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports Clifton resigned four days after he was charged in the accident that occurred earlier this month.

   

Clifton faces misdemeanor charges of careless driving, leaving a crash scene, failure to give notice of a crash and failure to give a written report related to the crash. He also faces a petty misdemeanor charge of tampering with evidence.

   

He's scheduled to be arraigned April 2 in Las Cruces Magistrate Court.

Citizens: Fire Pittsburgh cop for teacher arrest

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A white police officer should be fired for arresting a black teacher after a community meeting that addressed police relations with Pittsburgh's black community, a board that investigates citizen complaints of police misconduct has concluded.

The non-binding recommendation Tuesday from the Pittsburgh Citizen Police Review Board that Officer Jonathan Gromek be fired was first reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (http://bit.ly/NTwZDI ).

The recommendation from the panel was much harsher than the letter of reprimand Gromek received in November after an internal police investigation, a punishment the city's police union criticized as too severe.

Mayor Bill Peduto and acting police Chief Regina McDonald have 30 days to respond to the recommendation, and indicate if they'll accept it, reject it or modify the board's findings. A police spokeswoman declined to comment Wednesday, and Peduto's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The recommendation stemmed from an incident on June 26 when the teacher, Dennis Henderson, 38, was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after he reportedly commented about Gromek driving by at a high speed as Henderson stood near his parked car.

The district attorney's office withdrew the charges against Henderson — who spent about 12 hours in jail after his arrest — because they stemmed from Henderson exercising free speech.

Henderson sued, with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, after Gromek was reprimanded in November. Said Witold Walczak, the ACLU's legal director in Pennsylvania, "it's hard to imagine ... a stronger case of misconduct."

Henderson had just left a meeting of the Community Empowerment Association, which seeks to address problems in poorer black neighborhoods, and that night, had discussed ways to improve communication and trust between the black community and the police.

Henderson was speaking to a photographer for the New Pittsburgh Courier, a newspaper that covers the city's black community, in the street next to Henderson's car when Gromek's patrol car drove by close enough that Henderson and the photographer pressed against Henderson's car for safety.

According to his lawsuit, Henderson said, "Wow!" — referring to the speed with which the officer was driving down a narrow street.

Gromek then turned around, stopped and confronted both of them and asked Henderson, "Do you have a problem?" eventually arresting the teacher when he and the photographer started using a cellphone to record the encounter as onlookers gathered.

Gromek's attorneys have argued in court papers that he handcuffed Henderson and took the other actions only for his own safety as the crowd gathered.

Alabama Cop Shoots Two Family Dogs, Kills One And Injures Second

By Khier Casino

An Alabama police officer shot two dogs, killing one and injuring a second, after entering a closed backyard while searching for trespassers.

Mark and Lynn Yeager, of Mobile, Ala., buried one of their dogs after seeing the officer shoot him in their yard, FOX10tv.com reports.

“I understand that they’re trying to do their job. My dog was trying to do his job and there has to be a happy medium,” said Mark Yeager. “I don’t think they used good common sense.”

According to police, officials apprehended two individuals near Murphy High School who ultimately fled. Officers say they were pursuing the suspects and eventually went into the Yeager’s yard, awakening the two pets who they say were aggressive toward the officers.

“I saw the policeman backing up with his gun pointed – heard two shots,” said Yeager. “I went ballistic. I mean I couldn’t believe it. He lay there about 15 minutes and I sat there and petted him and talked to him till he died.”

Kevin Kelly has been identified as the Mobile Police Department officer who fatally shot the homeowner’s dog, according to LagniappeMobile.com.

Mobile police and Internal Affairs both responded, and investigations are being conducted into the shooting of Yeager’s dogs.

The other dog, Bovidea, was shot in the ear. The Yeager’s are focusing on the surviving dog’s recovery.

"Common sense will tell you to knock on the door of the residence and let them know that there was some people running around that could be dangerous. If they had done that then at that point in time I would have told them never to come into my backyard or I could've got the dogs inside where they belong in their kennels, and everything would have been fine," Yeager told local CBS affiliate WKRG-TV.

The Yeagers are not happy with what police are telling them and they are left with questions they want answered. They intend to write a letter to the city councilman and the Mobile Police Chief.

According to FOX10 News, police eventually arrested the suspects.

Petition calling for suspension of officer in dog shooting reaches 4,300 signers

By Marc Martinez, FOX 10 News

PHOENIX (KSAZ) -

It's been a week since Winter the dog was shot by a Phoenix Police officer. That officer said he felt threatened when the dog charged him.

An online petition to have the officer who shot Winter suspended has grossed more than 4,300 from all over the world.

"We really just want to see him just acknowledge that  shooting Winter wasn't an appropriate response and maybe be better trained on when is the appropriate time to fire your weapon," said Effie Craven.

Craven started the online petition. She lives on the property where Winter was shot.

An officer responding to a possible stolen car call went to open the gate to talk to Winter's owners who live in a guest house, in the backyard. That's when the officer says Winter came out of the yard and began biting him.

He fired three shots to protect himself.

Craven says she feels the officer overreacted in the situation.

The Phoenix Police Department says after an investigation the officer will not face any disciplinary action, since no policies were violated.

The Department issued a statement explaining their decision:

"The public is always very passionate about how animals are treated, and the Phoenix Police Department understands this emotion. Unfortunately very few people have the facts about what occurred that night."  

As for Winter, she suffered two gunshot wounds but is on the road to recovery.

"I think she's gonna heal up just fine, she's out being a dog," said Craven

Dyersburg Police Officer Suspended After DUI Charges

By Erica Williams

DYERSBURG, Tenn. -- Dyersburg Police are short one officer after he was charged with driving under the influence.

Troopers said Lt. Jimmy DeSpain was arrested early Sunday morning in Lauderdale County. Arrest records show DeSpain failed field sobriety tests and blew a .092 in his breathalyzer, well over the legal limit.

"I think the same charges should be brought against him as they would me or you," Don Carden, a Dyersburg resident said.

DeSpain's personnel record show this is the first time he's been in trouble with the law since joining the department in 1993. He's had no disciplinary write-ups and has even received dozens of awards.

Some residents say they still hold officers to higher standards.

"I think he should be dismissed from his duties because he should be teaching our younger generation not to do those things," Carden said.

Dyersburg City Mayor John Holden said in a press release issued on Tuesday, that he considers DeSpain a respected member of the police department.

DeSpain is on administrative leave without pay, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Officer suspended after brother’s drug arrest in city

Kinderhook man suspected of buying 10 bags of heroin

Officer suspended after brother’s drug arrest in city By Arthur Cusano Columbia-Greene 

A Troy police officer was suspended and is under investigation after Hudson police arrested his brother, who is suspected of buying heroin in the city March 10, according to police.

Troy Police Officer Michael Johnson was suspended following the arrest of his brother, Lucas Johnson, of Kinderhook, on March 10 in Hudson, according to Troy Police Department spokesman Capt. John Cooney. An investigation into the matter is ongoing, he said.

“He was suspended for 30 days without pay,” Cooney said Tuesday. “He’ll either be exonerated or face disciplinary charges.”

Johnson has been with the Troy police force since 2005, Cooney said. The police investigation was expected to be finished fairly quickly, he added.

Hudson Police Chief Edward Moore confirmed the arrest of Lucas Johnson, 27, of Kinderhook, at 10:23 a.m. where he was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor.

Moore also said Johnson’s brother Michael was driving the car that was pulled over by police. Johnson was in possession of 10 bags of heroin, but his brother was not charged because he did not commit a crime, he said.

“We did not arrest that officer,” Moore said. “He didn’t have narcotics on him.”

Moore said he did not want to give any additional information on the arrest at the present time. He said his department has been in contact with the Troy Police Department concerning the arrest.

***

Ex-cop kills himself on Interstate in Tennessee

March 26th, 2014 8:04 am by CHATTANOOGA TIMES FREE PRESS

JASPER — The wanted man who authorities say killed himself Tuesday alongside Interstate 24 in Marion County was a former police officer who had been in trouble with the law before, Times Free Press archives show.

Charles Keith Murphree, 44, committed suicide between the towns of Jasper and Kimball on the westbound side of the interstate, bringing traffic to a halt Tuesday afternoon.

Murphree, a former police officer in Ider, Ala., was wanted in DeKalb County, Ala. Authorities identified the vehicle he was driving at the Western Sizzlin' restaurant at the Jasper exit. Authorities then followed Murphree west on Interstate 24 for a few miles before he took his own life, officials confirmed.

Colchester cop pleads not guilty to DUI

BURLINGTON, Vt. -

Prosecutors say it was an argument outside a Colchester bowling alley sports bar that was the first red flag. An eyewitness allegedly overheard Jeremy Wyskiel, 36, and his girlfriend fighting about the off-duty officer being too drunk to drive.

"This is a crime that affects everybody in the community; everybody drives on the roads. So, this case is a priority and we're going to treat it like any other case," Chittenden County State's Attorney T.J. Donovan said.

The eyewitness allegedly followed the officer's car north on Route 7, telling police Wyskiel was speeding, swerving and almost went off the road. The six-year veteran of the Colchester Police Department was later arrested on suspicion of DUI, a charge he denied in court Thursday.

"The police did their job here," Donovan said. "Once Colchester Police responded and knew it was one of their own, they called in another department. Vermont State Police came in and did the processing in this case."

Wyskiel told a state police investigator he was stressed at work and reached out for help. On the night in question, he claims, he had a shot of mint schnapps, 2-3 beers before bowling, and another 2-4 beers at the bar before he drove.

"I've just now become aware of some of the allegations," said Brooks McArthur, Wyskiel's lawyer. "I think it's unfortunate. Jeremy is a well-respected officer."

Wyskiel is the second Chittenden County cop McArthur has defended against DUI allegations in the last eight months. Burlington's Deputy Chief, Andi Higbee, took a plea deal, admitting to a lesser charge. He has since retired.

"They have a hard job. They work incredibly long hours. It's a dangerous job," Donovan said.

Wyskiel, a former Coast Guard petty officer, refused field sobriety and preliminary breath tests. But back at the barracks he consented and blew 0.217-- nearly three times the 0.08 legal limit-- 2.5 hours after he had been spotted driving.

The judge released him, but banned him from drinking alcohol or carrying a weapon. He must also undergo alcohol and mental health assessments.

"He's doing everything right here. And that's something we think should happen not only in the interest of Mr. Wyskiel, but in the interest of public safety," Donovan said.

"If there are any issues, he going to address those issues," McArthur said.

Wyskiel remains on administrative leave while his case plays out. Prosecutors say he is legally allowed to drive, pending the outcome of a civil suspension hearing.

The Colchester Police Department is also conducting its own internal personnel investigation.

Ex-APD cop admits receiving kid porn

Former Albuquerque police officer Nelson Begay, 32, pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to receiving child pornography.

Begay was arrested on Nov. 13 after investigators determined that a computer at his Northeast Albuquerque home was being used to share files containing child pornography. Shortly before his arrest, Begay resigned from the Albuquerque Police Department, according to the Department of Justice.

In his plea agreement, Begay admitted using file-sharing software to download and share child pornography in November 2012, including a video that was a compilation of many video clips of minors performing sexual acts.

Begay has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has not been scheduled.

He faces a maximum federal prison sentence of five to 20 years in prison. Under terms of his plea agreement, Begay will be required to pay $1,000 in restitution to one of the victims whose image appears in one of the videos found on Begay’s computer. He also will be required to register as a sex offender after he completes his prison sentence.

Man Who Claims He Was Beaten And Falsely Arrested Receives $1.1 Million Settlement

The Dallas City Council has voted to approve a $1.1 million settlement for a man who claims he was beaten and falsely arrested by a police officer.

Ronald Bernard Jones, 62, spent 15 months in jail following the incident, which led to his being charged with two felonies -- both later dismissed.

On December 18, 2009, Jones was stopped by Officer Matthew Antkowiak as he walked down Reunion Boulevard. What happened next became a matter of dispute between officer Antkowiak's account and the surveillance footage.

The Dallas Morning News reports:

A police report stated that Jones threw a beer can at Antkowiak, which is not seen in the video. The officer also told investigators that Jones turned around suddenly while he was frisking him on the squad car hood, so he took him to the ground and engaged in a struggle.

The officer claimed that he hit his head hard on the pavement and was disoriented after that, according to the investigation. He told a sergeant that Jones began to choke him and kicked him so hard between the legs that he was actually lifted off the ground.

But that's not what surveillance footage obtained by WFAA showed.

"Had the videos not surfaced, it's likely that Mr. Jones would have been convicted of this and served a very long prison sentence," said his attorney, Don Tittle.

According to WFAA, a pair of dash cam videos show multiple officers holding down Jones, with one kicking him several times.

Still, police arrested Jones and charged him with aggravated assault of a public servant and cocaine possession, both felonies. Those charges, however, were dismissed in 2011.

Antkowiak left the police department in January 2012. The other officers were cleared.

House arrest for ex-officer who took bribe

Joseph A. Slobodzian, Inquirer Staff Writer

The judge said he couldn't believe the sentence he was imposing. A "gift," he called it - three months' house arrest and six years' probation for a former Philadelphia police officer who took $5,000 and skipped court so a man he arrested on gun charges could skate free.

"It was an honest mistake, but the worst decision I ever made," Jonathan Lazarde said Thursday before his sentencing by Common Pleas Court Judge Robert P. Coleman.

The judge seemed surprised by the statement and, before sentencing Lazarde, seemed to be reconsidering. Coleman told defense attorney Jack McMahon, "I'm still stuck on 'honest mistake.' "

McMahon argued that Lazarde had pleaded guilty and was sorry for what he did: "Don't hold against him a poor choice of words that were not that articulate."

Lazarde, 28, resigned last April after almost six years of duty. One month later, the officer, who had been assigned to the 35th District in the Olney area, was arrested after city prosecutors alleged that he offered to skip a court appearance for the gun defendant, guaranteeing acquittal.

The man contacted authorities, who monitored a meeting in which the man met Lazarde and handed him $5,000 in cash.

The officer was stopped by Internal Affairs officers as he left the meeting. Police said Lazarde's hands and pants pocket tested positive for an ultraviolent dye with which police treated the money before the meeting.

Lazarde - the son of a retired city police officer, and married with four children and a fifth on the way - pleaded guilty in January to a count of using a communication device, his phone, to commit a crime. The District Attorney's Office dropped bribery and extortion charges.

Assistant District Attorney Frank Fina told the judge that Lazarde's conduct "was a serious matter" but said he did not object to Lazarde serving his sentence on house arrest because his position as a former police officer might put him in danger in prison.

Coleman said conduct like Lazarde's tarnished the reputation of the department and makes prosecuting criminals more difficult.

"I've had two trials where I considered there was overwhelming evidence of guilt and the verdicts were not guilty," Coleman said. "The only argument they had was the police had to be lying."

Police commissioners weigh Beck’s decision not to fire officer who lied

By Adam Poulisse, Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck’s decision to suspend an LAPD officer with strong family ties, overruling a disciplinary board’s recommendation to fire him, has sparked criticism.

Shaun Hillman, 33, was suspended for 65 days by Beck for denying a heated altercation at a Norco bar that was caught on tape in January, according to several media reports. Hillman allegedly used a racial slur and pulled a handgun during the fight but later lied about it in an LAPD internal investigation.

The board unanimously recommended that Hillman be fired.

The issue was brought up by L.A. Police Commission president Steve Soboroff at Tuesday’s Los Angeles Police Commission meeting, but he didn’t mention anybody specifically other than Beck. State law prohibits going into specific details of a disciplinary case.

“The question is, do we, in evaluating the direct reports ... take into account all aspects of what’s going on, including the areas that we may disagree? The answer is, of course we do,” Soboroff said.

The situation has elicited questions of favoritism, as Hillman’s father is a former LAPD officer and his uncle is former Deputy Police Chief Michael Hillman. The discussions align with the commission’s evaluation of extending Beck’s contract another five years.

“In the evaluation, of course this information comes up, (as well as) all the other information we collect,” Soboroff said. “Our evaluation is happening right on the cusp (of the situation), so are we asking for more and more information to do the evaluation right? Of course we are.”

Beck was on a scheduled vacation at the time of Tuesday’s meeting. Soboroff declined to comment further.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents LAPD’s rank-and-file officers, also wouldn’t comment on the personnel issue.

The disciplinary board weighs evidence and recommends ways to deal with disciplined officers, then their decision goes to the chief.

“The chief of police can lessen the penalty but cannot give a penalty that is greater than what is recommended,” LAPD spokesman Commander Andy Smith said.

According to several reports, Beck has agreed with 98 of the past 100 disciplinary board decisions to fire an officer.

“Chief Beck occasionally disagrees with the board,” Smith said.

Ex-girlfriend: Bunnell officer used daughter's identity to lure teen boys on Facebook

By Jason Wheeler, Flagler County Reporter

BUNNELL --

Michael Stavris, the Bunnell police officer who was arrested and accused of setting up a fake Facebook account to solicit young boys for sexually explicit pictures, was using his daughter's identity, according to his ex-girlfriend.

Stavris' ex-girlfriend also has an injunction for protection against domestic violence placed against the police officer, who has been suspended without pay. The woman claims Stavris has threatened suicide unless she agreed to continue their relationship.

Stavris, 30, was arrested and charged Tuesday on two counts of computer pornography and one count of criminal use of personal identification information. His bond was set at $125,000. He has been released from the Flagler County Inmate Facility.

The injunction is temporary, and a judge is expected to issue a ruling on April 3.

Stavris was a police officer in Edgewater from 2008 to 2009 before leaving to take a position with the Duval County School District, where he worked as a school security officer from 2009 to 2010. His job had him patrolling school campuses after school hours and on the weekends. He had no interaction with children.

Rockport officer accused of sending lewd photos speaks out

ROCKPORT, IN (WFIE) -

A 14 News Update on the story about a Rockport police officer who was suspended after allegations she sent lewd pictures of herself.

A Rockport Police Officer has been suspended following allegations of sending lewd photos of herself.

Officer Dawn Krantz has been suspended for three weeks without pay for conduct unbecoming a police officer.

In addition to this, Krantz is to be evaluated at Southern Hills Mental Health or an equivalent facility.

No one from Mayor Harold Goffinet to Police Chief Dale Meredith is ready to give any kind of official statement on this matter.

The notice does not specify what was in those texts. It also doesn't specify whether those texts were made while on duty or in Krantz' personal time.

We tried to reach out to Krantz, police Chief Dale Meredith, Mayor Goffinet and Hargis, but no one is willing to make an official comment on the matter right now.

That officer is speaking out.

Officer Dawn Krantz posted on our 14 News Facebook page overnight.

As we reported on Wednesday, Krantz was suspended for three weeks without pay for conduct unbecoming a police officer.

According to a disciplinary notice from the Rockport City attorney-- there are allegations that last September, Officer Krantz texted inappropriate images and messages to someone in the community.

Last week a report of that activity was taken by the city attorney and submitted to the City of Rockport for review- the suspension is a result of that review.

Krantz took to our Facebook page to thank everyone who has supported her.

She writes:

"I accept full responsibility for my actions and I want to assure everyone this incident occurred on my personal time with my personal phone.

I do realize my actions have affected my family, my friends and my community. My actions have also affected my Police Departments reputation, which we all have worked very long and hard to build.

I want to thank Rockport Mayor Harold Goffinet, Rockport Board of Public Works/Safety and Rockport Police Chief Dale Meredith for handling this incident the way that they did.

I look forward to returning to work and continuing to serve the City of Rockport."

In addition to that 21 day unpaid suspension, Officer Krantz is supposed to be evaluated at Southern Hills Mental Health or an equivalent facility.

Oklahoma Cop Shoots, Kills Family’s Dog, Says it Was ‘Awesome’

                                                                         

“Did you see her collar fly off when I shot her? That was awesome!”

Adan Salazar

An Oklahoma police officer shot and killed a family’s dog and later laughed about it to a responding animal control unit, reports claim.

On Wednesday, Ardmore resident Sarah Jo Ellen Brown reportedly arrived home to news that her family’s pit bull dog “Cali” was dead.

“When the owner, Sarah, got there, the officer said, ‘We shot your dog, she’s dead,” a Change.org petition launched in Cali’s honor states.

According to multiple sources, Ardmore Police Sergeant Brice Woolley responded to a call regarding a dog that had escaped and was wandering the neighborhood.

“I’m not waiting for animal control,” Sgt. Woolley allegedly stated as he grabbed his shotgun to confront the doomed pooch.

As pictures show, Sgt. Woolly, who works the day shift patrol in Ardmore, next shot the dog, killing it immediately. “She had done nothing to provoke the officer,” the Change petition, which has been signed over 2,900 times, notes.

“Did you see her collar fly off when I shot her? That was awesome,” Brown claims Woolly bragged to the responding animal control officer, who supposedly replied, “We’ll just write in the report that it tried to attack you and others in the neighborhood.”

Sgt. Woolly has a checkered past with the department. Woolly’s name last year appeared in a complaint lodged by one of his fellow officers, who claimed he suffered “intentional infliction of emotional distress,” among other trauma, at the hands of the department.

Last year, Woolly was also specifically named in a complaint by an Ardmore citizen accusing him of multiple violations, including conducting a warrantless entry and search of the citizen’s home.

“Fuck you bitch! What do you think about this? I hope you enjoy jail bitch. I’ve finally got you on something and you’re going back to prison,” Woolly is reported to have told the person.

Way back in November 2000, Woolly, who at the time worked for the Tishomingo Police Department, also shot and killed 36-year-old Jeff Wayne Baxter, who he claimed had attacked him. “Facts came out in the lawsuit and Brice Woolly’s account of the murder didn’t correspond with the dash cam footage. The City of Tishomingo settled that lawsuit in the murder of Jeff Baxter,” an article at TheFreeThoughtProject.com claims.

“During the lawsuit proceedings, it was discovered officer Brice Woolly failed multiple psychological exams required to be a police officer. At some point, Woolly was allowed to join the ranks.”

In the days since the incident transpired, a Facebook page has been created dedicated to seeking “Justice for Cali.” A walk in memory of Cali is scheduled to take place tonight, and a group is also planning to assemble at the Ardmore police department Saturday, with over 580 people already pledging to attend. As for legal remedies, the page’s admin says it “is being handled.”