Police Terror Squads
http://Mediafilter.org/guest/Pages/April.28.1998.18.55.33
ppp1-24.ruralnet.net.
http://Mediafilter.org/guest/Pages/April.28.1998.18.55.33
ppp1-24.ruralnet.net.
Within the Tri-county area there is a pattern of abuse of authority by members of the various police departments. Some of this abuse is done at the direction of the ruling class to intimidate the general population and maintain control. The rest of the abuse is a result of having people, who should never have been put into a position of authority into a position where they believe that they have the right to display that authority at will.
The following abuses have come to the attention of editorial staff at La Junta Net. More will be added as we become aware of them. We are sure that there are many more abuses, and we would be glad to display them here.
At least 3 officers on the La Junta Police Department regularly use drugs with teenagers and young adults within the city.
When officers find a person with drugs in their possession, the drugs may be confiscated, witch is the correct thing to do, but they are not always destroyed. Some officers keep the drugs to personal use or to trade for their drug of choice or sex. Other have used the confiscated drugs to plant as evidence on an otherwise innocent person who they know is doing drugs, but they just couldn't prove it.
Members of the local police departments routinely create evidence and falsify police reports. They have found that quicker, and easier to frame someone than to make an honest case against the person. And, because so many of the population lack the financial resources to fight back, the police win.
There is a policy within the La Junta Police Department, and a couple of others in the area to harass of teenagers. This is done first to show the teenagers, who is boss. Secondly, by keeping these young people on the defensive from an early age, as they grow up, the police believe that they will be more docile and easier to control.
In an effort to create evidence in a particular case, one La Junta police officer called in the person who he was trying to make the victim in the case. And, while this person had had some difficulty with the police in the past, she had done nothing wrong in this particular case. When the victim refused to change her story to what the officer wanted to hear, the officer called in the victim's probation officer, and with the help of the probation officer, threaded to send her to jail that day. When the victim again stated that she was telling the truth, the officer said, "I don't care what the truth is! Tell me what I want to hear, or you go to jail."
The police departments within the area routinely carry out illegal searches. They will course a person into allowing a search when there isn't sufficient evidence to obtain a search warrant. They have obtained search warrants based upon information they knew to be false. Judges in the local courts sign warrants without really looking at the information provided to see it it correct and sufficient. They conduct full body searches when only a pat down for a weapon would be authorized. They then use evidence illegally obtained against the individual.
Members of La Junta Police Department have bragged about their use of a scanner to monitor cellular and cordless telephone conversations. This illegal intrusion into the privacy of individuals is a violation of Federal Law. This doesn't bother the locals; they just see it as an easy way to get information.
Members of the local police department often take money, jewelry and other valuables while conducting searches. One of the reasons that they make such a mess when executing a search warrant is that it is then difficult for the homeowner to know what was taken. If your home is searched, and you have money or other valuables, you can expect to have some of it disappear.
There is a lack of experience and training in all phase of police work, on all of the departments within the Tri-county area. This most evident when there is a need for investigation. In most cases, the officer who took the initial call is assigned as the investigator. This individual has no formal training as a detective, and as such there is very little chance that the crime will be solved through the their efforts.
This lack of experience extends even to those who call themselves detectives, and of course collect higher wages because of it. In one case the city's detective saw physical evidence, a shoe impression, but didn't know how to collect the evidence. Rather than asking for help from the Sheriff's Office or CGI, he ignored it. This was the only evidence that linked the suspect to the crime.
Spanish speaking people have no rights! It is common for the police departments to totally ignore the rights of the Spanish speaking people in the area, this is especially true of the Mexican field workers. They are told directly that they have no rights because they aren't Americans. They are not in a position to question the authority of a police officer. If the police will abuse these the least able to defend themselves, then none of us are safe.
If you have had dealings with the police department before as a suspect in a case, you will not be listened to when you are a victim. The police have already taken that position, that you are trash, and you don't deserve their time. They may not take a report, and if they do, don't expect them to act on it.
The gang that can't shoot straight! Many of our local police officers can't qualify with their service weapons, the ones they carry everyday, and are most likely to have to use. This means they are a danger to everyone in the community except a bad guy they may have to shoot at.
If you are the victim of a crime, and the suspect is female and willing to "put out" for the investigating officer, don't expect a favorable resolution of your case. It seems that the local police can tell if a woman is telling the truth better when she is naked. When a woman is naked, the locals believe everything that she says, and of course, she didn't do it.
Why is it that there is a local police officer still on the job after a petition was signed by almost 1000 members of community attesting to his incompetence. If he were running for office in La Junta, 1000 votes would get him elected to most offices, or 1000 votes against him would insure that he wasn't elected.
Why is it that the police department stops investigation a crime when "all the evidence pointed to a suspect", yet when the case is taken to the DA, they say there isn't sufficient evidence? More favoritism or just incompetence?
Why is it that the Otero County Sheriff's Office ignores the fact that there is a twice convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and they refuse to take action. This person has been convicted of Bank Robbery and on a Drug Charge and has served time for the charges. The Sheriff's Office is aware of her history and the fact that she has the gun. She has brag about having it and has threatened people with it. Deputies have seen the gun when responding to incidents at her home. The facts in this case are well know to many on the department including the Sheriff. Maybe it is the fact that she is sleeping with a sergeant on the department that is protecting her.
Back in February, the La Junta Police was involved in a high speed chase with a member of the community because he "ran a STOP sign." The truth was, they just new that he was doing something wrong and wanted an excuse to stop his car and conduct a questionable search. In La Junta, running STOP signs is a way of life. If you don't believe it, drive 5th Street from one side of town the other, it is a rare day that someone doesn't cause you to stop after they have ignored a STOP sign. The above incident happened in the middle of the night when the chances of an accident were even less. Why just the other day, I was following a police car up Colorado, and at 5th Street, they tapped the brakes to allow traffic to clear and rolled through the intersection without stopping.
When was the last arrest for prostitution made in La Junta? Not for a long time is my bet, you see the police are part of the sex for sale game in La Junta - while not making any money from it, they do sample the goods. There is a wide spread net of women who are willing to provide personal service for a price in this area. Their ages range from 15 to over 40. At least one beauty operator with a tanning operation whose clients were mostly male - prides herself on her ability to "give great head". Local teens often deal sex for drugs, and in all the bars there are those who for a "small gift" will make your night less lonely. In fact, officers involved in the Drug Abuse Education Program have used their access to at risk girls to target those they will lead into this sorted life.
Why was a La Junta Police vehicle parked in the Las Animas Dairy Queen on Thursday, April 16 at 8 pm? Isn't La Junta fast food any good. This officer who was 20 miles out of his patrol area endangered that safety of all of the citizens by leaving the city unprotected for well over an hour. Not to mention the extra 40 miles put on a city vehicle.
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What a rant! With such socialistic tripe, it's no wonder there's no support for moderate or progressive politics in this country! By the way, it has been ruled that scanning cordless or cellular phone transmissions is COMPLETELY legal. Putz.
Hey thorbypig! Whats up? Why don't you go oink to your pig police masters about being such a suckup! So far i'm the only human who has wrote on this article. Because thorby is a yankee flag waving pig goon! WE MUST TAKE THE PIG COPS SNOUTS AND RUB THEM IN THEIR OWN EXCREMENT JUST TO SHOW HOW FILTHY THEY ARE!
No Surpises here the Courts are corrupt,the cops are corrupt ,the judges are the same,the prosecuter is corrupt,they are all on the public feedbag,When will you sheeple learn? learn to fight back or forever lick the jackboot,
What a bunch of B.S. Do you have any proof to back up any of the accusations that you made?
my civil rights were violated also,by the manchester new hampshire police dept.i have a video tape which shows the police falsifying a police report,along with a illigal search,and seizure. the video tape now is in the hands of attorney joe kelly lavassuer of manchester,new hampshire. i only hope,and pray that if martha stewart can face charges for lying,than so can the police.
the manchester police are caught on video tape,falsifying a police report,along with a illigal search,and seizure. the video tape is now in the hands of attorney joe kelly lavassuer of manchester,new hampshire.i only hope,and pray,that if martha stewart can be convicted of lying,so should the manchester police.
my civil rights were violated also,by the manchester new hampshire police dept.i have a video tape which shows the police falsifying a police report,along with a illigal search,and seizure. the video tape now is in the hands of attorney joe kelly lavassuer of manchester,new hampshire. i only hope,and pray that if martha stewart can face charges for lying,than so can the police.
I think your full of SHIT.
Hollywood police have undertaken to purge the city streets of the homeless. However, some non-homeless persons get wrapped up in the City's scheme to "rid the city of homeless scum." For information on the subject, go to: http://groups.msn.com/terrorisminblue
The la junta police deparment is known for police burtality this is most know if ur not white they are racist to all the hispanic,black,and native americans in the community. As a citizen of la junta colorado i have to say that these basterds need to be stoped cause i'm fuckin tired of them always harasing me
I had owned a night club in Tampa Florida for seven years. Before I ever opened the doors I was threatened that were going to be narcotic trafficking in the club by a sheriffs deputy (Rocky Rodriguez). Not long after we opened I received numerous reports that it was true and I went to the FBI to report the activity, their advise was to tell the sheriffs office, too witch I replied, it is the sheriffs office (I had called the sheriffs office before to report criminal activity going on and begged them to come inside to stop it, the officer said it was private property and there was nothing he could do and took off in his cruiser). A lot of information came from strippers pressed into working for these criminals and they wanted to turn on these guys but no one would help. After going to the F.B.I. to report the criminal activity I started receiving death threats. I then had one of the drug dealers get in my face and say I was playing both sides of the law. To make matters worse one of the other dealers went to my accountant, told her I was a racist questioned my books and then told her that he was Keith Hamilton of Floridas A. B. T. When she gave me his physical description I confronted him in the club and told him what I thought of him. It turns out that this is not the real Keith Hamilton but a dealer with the sheriffs protection. A gun was planted in my apartment in Saint Petersburg and I reported it to the F.B.I. where again nothing happened. In the seven years I had owned the club I had been witness to extortion, prostitution, planting of evidence, narcotic trafficking, perjury, grand theft, mail tampering, assault, to list but a few of the criminal activity done under the protection of the Hillsboro Sheriffs office. I have since closed the club and filed a suit. Any help to bring light to my investigation would be welcome. For the more on the police corruption in Tampa Bay being ignored by local government. Please go to HitOnceHitHard.com Its the Motto of Corruption in Tampa Florida Sincerely J. Andy Gallogly