Protecting And Serving: Cop (mis)behavior and consequences general discussion

[Abhorsen]

I'd like to see your evidence for this. Are you using a transcript of the second court case or some other way of getting exact words? Because as pointed out in the 1992 transcript posted above, a large number of medical witnesses all concurred, it seems unlikely that all of them would have made the same mistake. Do you know exactly what he really said?

Shaken baby syndrome is a problem with the brain, not blunt force trauma to the stomach. From the WestLaw article linked, it's clear that everyone agreed there was a distended stomach, and other problems there, which was initially diagnosed as blunt force trauma.

Now this (definitely biased, I'm just using it as a source for two facts here, a quote and something else) article has this quote from Sabrina:

"When Clive [Stafford-Smith, a British attorney and campaigner to end the death penalty,] took my case years later, he went to the hospital and got Walter's records and found out that he had a kidney disease," she says.

And

A medical examiner also testified that he had changed his opinion on the cause of death and now believed it was due to the kidney condition.

And it is the same medical examiner according to this article:

Sabrina Butler-Smith

State: MississippiConvicted: 1990Exonerated: 1995Race: BlackDNA used in exoneration? No Reasons for wrongful conviction:False or misleading forensic evidence Official misconductFalse confessionSabrina's Wrongful Conviction Sabrina Butler-Smith was a Mississippi teenager when she became a victim...

www.witnesstoinnocence.org

In addition, the medical examiner changed his opinion about Walter's cause of death, which he now believed occurred due to a kidney malady.

In short, it wasn't Shaken Baby syndrome, nor accused of being shaken baby syndrome.

Yes, the prosecutor's last sentence edged too close to the fifth amendment for comfort. If he hadn't gotten cocky and made that last jab the case may not have been overturned at all. But again, that's hardly police misconduct and is actually some very mild prosecutorial misconduct, as I said, this is more a quibble about procedure than any established violation worthy of being in this thread.

I honestly had the same initial opinion about it being a quibble for procedure, but then I remembered how pissed the judge was in the Rittenhouse case, and it made me think that this isn't a minor thing. It being "reversible error" tends to give credence to that, as I know that frequently trials have errors that don't get overturned, but really the yelling from the Rittenhouse judge stuck with me. Basically, I figured my initial impression about this was wrong.

 

[Bear Ribs]

Shaken baby syndrome is a problem with the brain, not blunt force trauma to the stomach. From the WestLaw article linked, it's clear that everyone agreed there was a distended stomach, and other problems there, which was initially diagnosed as blunt force trauma.

Now this (definitely biased, I'm just using it as a source for two facts here, a quote and something else) article has this quote from Sabrina:

And

And it is the same medical examiner according to this article:

Sabrina Butler-Smith

State: MississippiConvicted: 1990Exonerated: 1995Race: BlackDNA used in exoneration? No Reasons for wrongful conviction:False or misleading forensic evidence Official misconductFalse confessionSabrina's Wrongful Conviction Sabrina Butler-Smith was a Mississippi teenager when she became a victim...

www.witnesstoinnocence.org

In short, it wasn't Shaken Baby syndrome, nor accused of being shaken baby syndrome.[

Oh for goodness sakes, I didn't say it was shaken baby syndrome, I already said I presented Shaken Baby Syndrome as an example of how medical experts can change their opinion on the cause of an injury without it being a case where they were clearly lying or engaging in misconduct, because science does in fact move on at times.

As far as those sites, I'd be willing to revisit the subject if we can get a court decision, transcript, or anything really that gets us in spitting distance of his exact words. But those articles leave out a lot of important details, like Sabrina telling them she'd punched the baby in the stomach, that she'd claimed to have fed the baby milk mixed with tylenol but the autopsy showed nothing in his stomach, or her making up an imaginary babysitter/neighbor police proved didn't exist. Those things all made her look super suspicious and are the reason I feel this isn't a case of cop or prosecutorial malfeasance. That being the case, I can't help but wonder if they're not leaving other stuff out, and under the concept of guilty before innocent don't feel we can fairly say the doctor was committing some sort of fraud when he said he'd changed his mind.

I honestly had the same initial opinion about it being a quibble for procedure, but then I remembered how pissed the judge was in the Rittenhouse case, and it made me think that this isn't a minor thing. It being "reversible error" tends to give credence to that, as I know that frequently trials have errors that don't get overturned, but really the yelling from the Rittenhouse judge stuck with me. Basically, I figured my initial impression about this was wrong.

Judge Shroeder was a mite pissed there because the attorney had tried to do an end-run around him on the issue three or four times at that point, in direct disobedience to a directive Shroeder had already given him, as well as arguing directly with the judge and getting caught lying. Frankly, Shroeder was being pretty patient at that point.

Vid of it here


Note that both the defense and the judge emphasize that the prosecutor is "experienced." It's pretty common for newb prosecutors to overstep there and it's usually just given a slap on the wrist. The temptation to influence the jury by suggesting refusal to speak means the defendant is hiding something often gets irresistible.

 

[Abhorsen]

 

[DarthOne]

Jesus Christ…

 

[Jormungandr]

Jesus Christ…

Seconded.

What in the ever-loving fuck...?

 

[Abhorsen]

This, I will say, was actually handled correctly by the department, in that the guy got arrested and charged (hopefully the DA gives this guy a huge sentence). But I posted this here more because of the mental stuff and forcible hospitalization.

That girl has permanently lost her gun rights. I'm pretty sure there's no way to actually restore them.

And if we make it easier to put people in mental health units, we could end up in a worse situation: people that are disliked being confined without just cause. Yes, there are crazy people who would be best served by forcible mental institutionalization, but there are a lot of normal people with a weird conspiracy theory who would be harmed by it, and other people taking advantage of it as well..

 

[colorles]

This is a story that has been gaining more notoriety around the the internet, and, as of right now September 3, 2023, has 127 additional parts written about it by the same news site. But here is part 1:

Canton Cover-Up Part 1: Corrupt State Trooper Helps Boston Cop Coverup Murder Of Fellow Officer, Frame Innocent Girlfriend - TB Daily News

Also known as the Canton Cover-Up. Textbook story of local, state and federal corruption and thugs dressed up as officials.

Updates of this story: the reporter who has been bringing all of this to light, Aidan "Turtleboy" Kearney, was arrested last Wednesday on a bunch of felony "witness intimidation" charges. State police also searched his house and confiscated a bunch of computers and phones.

Massachusetts shells 'Turtleboy' blogger with criminal charges in First Amendment fight


Howie Carr: ‘Turtleboy’ arrest a big career-booster

 

[Jormungandr]

Updates of this story: the reporter who has been bringing all of this to light, Aidan "Turtleboy" Kearney, was arrested last Wednesday on a bunch of felony "witness intimidation" charges. State police also searched his house and confiscated a bunch of computers and phones.

Massachusetts shells 'Turtleboy' blogger with criminal charges in First Amendment fight


Howie Carr: ‘Turtleboy’ arrest a big career-booster

Well, that's not suspicious at all, is it?

I wonder if they'll "find" *cough* something incriminating or damning on his PC, like CP.

 

[posh-goofiness]

Well, that's not suspicious at all, is it?

I wonder if they'll "find" *cough* something incriminating or damning on his PC, like CP.

Remember kids, always use full disk encryption with a long password to unlock. Also, password protect your BIOS. None of that TPM shit. It's a trap.

 

[colorles]

Well, that's not suspicious at all, is it?

I wonder if they'll "find" *cough* something incriminating or damning on his PC, like CP.

I didn't want to say that in my post.

It doesn't help that he was already accused of some sexual crime when he was a school teacher over a decade ago. Most likely a bullshit accusation; but it would be easy to spin a narrative against him. Which I imagine is the plan because he has pissed off way too many powerful and connected people.

 

[Captain X]

 

[Abhorsen]

So I figure I'll toss in a story of exactly how to handle a screw up. These cops are amazing and should be applauded for what they did here. They didn't even need lawyers, they went far beyond what was legally required to do what was morally required.



In short, they had a warrant for a guy who was innocent and posted it, and resulted in the guy lost his job. The cops here publicly apologized, communicated with his boss to get his job back, then also compensated him for his lost wages.

 

[Cherico]

So I figure I'll toss in a story of exactly how to handle a screw up. These cops are amazing and should be applauded for what they did here. They didn't even need lawyers, they went far beyond what was legally required to do what was morally required.



In short, they had a warrant for a guy who was innocent and posted it, and resulted in the guy lost his job. The cops here publicly apologized, communicated with his boss to get his job back, then also compensated him for his lost wages.

this was good work every one screws up every one makes mistakes but owning up to it and making amends is what makes for a good person.

 

[IndyFront]

So I figure I'll toss in a story of exactly how to handle a screw up. These cops are amazing and should be applauded for what they did here. They didn't even need lawyers, they went far beyond what was legally required to do what was morally required.



In short, they had a warrant for a guy who was innocent and posted it, and resulted in the guy lost his job. The cops here publicly apologized, communicated with his boss to get his job back, then also compensated him for his lost wages.

That's awesome. It's based as fuck when law enforcement and military actually has some goddam street smarts for a change

 

[bintananth]

That's awesome. It's based as fuck when law enforcement and military actually has some goddam street smarts for a change

Here in Indianapolis we recently got this ...

Marion County constable arrested for carrying handgun

Police learned of Telesavalas Siggers' previous convictions and employment with the constable's office during "an unrelated case."

www.wthr.com

This isn't the first time a deputy constable has been arrested and his boss has also been arrested within the past month:

Center Township Constable arrested on official misconduct charges

MARION COUNTY, Ind. — A law enforcement official in Center Township has been charged with official misconduct and other felony charges after being arrested this week. Center Township Constabl…

fox59.com

 

[bintananth]

There was also some housecleaning in Center Township:

Embattled Center Township constable fires all her deputies after legal issues

INDIANAPOLIS — The Center Township constable said she is cleaning house following a series of legal issues. The embattled constable has terminated all of her deputies. The move comes af…

cbs4indy.com

Yup, every single one of them got a pink slip.

 

[King Arts]

There was also some housecleaning in Center Township:

Embattled Center Township constable fires all her deputies after legal issues

INDIANAPOLIS — The Center Township constable said she is cleaning house following a series of legal issues. The embattled constable has terminated all of her deputies. The move comes af…

cbs4indy.com

Yup, every single one of them got a pink slip.

So a cop was arrested for carrying a gun as a felon, but how did he become a cop in the first place?

 

[Rocinante]

So a cop was arrested for carrying a gun as a felon, but how did he become a cop in the first place?

Sounds like they never background checked him before hiring him.

 

[bintananth]

Sounds like they never background checked him before hiring him.

Got it in one.

 

[Aaron Fox]

To be honest, we're going to need to centralize (and thus standardize) the police forces in the US, and on the double. No more of this 'dozens upon dozens of fiefdoms' nonsense.

At gunpoint if need be.