Cop suspended
after grabbing suspect's throat
An Austin cop named Kenneth Conner has been suspended for 15
days after grabbing the neck of a combative suspect and yelling obscenities at
him. It’s the latest in a number of disciplinary actions where Austin officers
lost their cool. Austin cops put out an annual report into use of force. The
latest, the 2011 Response to Resistance report found that year there were: 3,030
reports of use of force
Greensboro
NC police officer fired, another suspended after investigation
An officer with the
Greensboro Police Department has been fired and another has been suspended as
the result of the city’s investigation into the department’s response to a
student apartment complex. The police department conducted an internal
investigation and turned its findings over to the city council. As a result,
one officer was suspended for violating a general conduct rule for “failing to
report his use of force,” Miller said.Miller says another officer was fired for
violating the department’s “truthfulness directive” during the investigation.
State
law enforcement officials have arrested an Opa-Locka Florida cop
State law enforcement officials have arrested an Opa-Locka
Florida cop on charges of kidnapping, battery and tampering with a victim. Florida
Department of Law say German Bosque
punched a victim in 2011 while responding to a domestic incident. FDLE also
allege Bosque later illegally handcuffed and detained him at the police station
when the victim tried to file a complaint.
Federal
Jury Finds Meriden cop Guilty of Using Unreasonable Force,
Obstructing Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office June 03, 2013
Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the
District of Connecticut, and Kimberly K. Mertz, Special Agent in Charge of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal jury in New
Haven has found Meriden Police Officer Evan Cossette, 26, guilty of one count
of using unreasonable force and one count of obstructing a federal
investigation by preparing a false report. The trial before United States
District Judge Janet Bond Arterton began on May 28, and the jury returned its
verdict this afternoon after deliberating for less than three hours.
According to evidence at trial, on May 1, 2010, Cossette and
another Meriden Police officer responded to a reported hit-and-run incident.
After identifying “P.T.” as the driver likely involved in the hit-and-run
incident, the officers placed him under arrest. Cossette transported P.T. to
the Meriden Police Department and escorted a compliant and handcuffed P.T. from
the squad car to the holding cell. Once inside the holding cell, Cossette
firmly shoved a retreating P.T., causing him to fall backward and strike his
head on a cement cell bench. P.T. suffered a 12-centimeter gash to the back of
his head and lost consciousness. P.T. was then transported to the hospital for
treatment.
Cossette obstructed justice by making false and misleading
statements, as well as material omissions, in his report relating to the arrest
and processing of P.T. in order to cover up and create a false justification
for his assault upon P.T.
“We thank the members of the jury for their thoughtful
consideration of the evidence,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Daly. “Our system
of justice cannot tolerate abuses by police officers, and today’s verdict helps
preserve the integrity of a profession that is entrusted with protecting our
liberties as well as our safety.”
“As law enforcement officers, we are measured by a higher
standard because we are both sworn and privileged to uphold the United States
Constitution,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Mertz. “We must meet that
standard with unfailing integrity and honor. Those who cannot meet that
essential standard should not be wearing a badge. While there is no joy in
today’s guilty verdict, we know that justice has been served.”
Judge Arterton has scheduled sentencing for August 28, 2013,
at which time Cossette faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.
Meriden
Ct. cop Evan Cossette resigned
Meriden Ct. cop Evan Cossette resigned after being convicted
of using unreasonable force against a prisoner in the police department lockup.
He was convicted Monday of violating the civil rights of Meriden resident Pedro
Temich and lying in a police report. He faces up to 30 years in prison when he
is sentenced in August. Authorities say Temich fell and fractured his skull
after Cossette pushed him in a jail cell in 2010.