| The Drug fLaws.com analysis of the drug laws by dennis mcbride |
| "Only in a police state is the job of a policeman easy." |
Michael Levine had more than 20 years as a
federal narcotics agent with more than 3,000
arrests and the seizure of several tons of illegal
drugs. Levine's brother David, a heroin addict
had committed suicide and his 15-year-old
daughter was addicted to cocaine. Terrified that
he might lose his daughter the same way,
Levine began to ponder a solution for it all.
Had all his law enforcement efforts “been for
nothing”? - thought Levine.
federal narcotics agent with more than 3,000
arrests and the seizure of several tons of illegal
drugs. Levine's brother David, a heroin addict
had committed suicide and his 15-year-old
daughter was addicted to cocaine. Terrified that
he might lose his daughter the same way,
Levine began to ponder a solution for it all.
Had all his law enforcement efforts “been for
nothing”? - thought Levine.
-Orson Wells
Levine drove a black Mercedes sedan that had
been seized from a drug dealer. While sitting in
his (legally) stolen car one day, Levine came up
with the idea (The Fight Back Community-Police
Anti Drug Partnership) that if drug buyers knew
that he was a cop, they would not come near him.
Even better, they might leave the whole area, as
the presence of the police alone could deter
buying and selling drugs. And it worked!
been seized from a drug dealer. While sitting in
his (legally) stolen car one day, Levine came up
with the idea (The Fight Back Community-Police
Anti Drug Partnership) that if drug buyers knew
that he was a cop, they would not come near him.
Even better, they might leave the whole area, as
the presence of the police alone could deter
buying and selling drugs. And it worked!
[After Prohibition; Fight Back;
Michael Levine; Cato Institute;
2001; pp. 91-117]
Michael Levine; Cato Institute;
2001; pp. 91-117]
And it is a system that will work whenever a city can hire 100,000 officers
and keep them posted on the streets - day and night. (24/7) (But then a
"ride into the country" will become a common pastime for Americans - sort
of how "Sunday drives" used to be, with a bit of a different reason of
course.)
Sadly, Officer Levine also lost his son Richard who also was a police
officer. Richard had been shot by a robber. Police presence will deter
robbers too. Has anybody thought of assigning police to every street all
hours of each day? Oh yeah, Levine did, but that was to ward off drug
trafficking.
and keep them posted on the streets - day and night. (24/7) (But then a
"ride into the country" will become a common pastime for Americans - sort
of how "Sunday drives" used to be, with a bit of a different reason of
course.)
Sadly, Officer Levine also lost his son Richard who also was a police
officer. Richard had been shot by a robber. Police presence will deter
robbers too. Has anybody thought of assigning police to every street all
hours of each day? Oh yeah, Levine did, but that was to ward off drug
trafficking.
2. From California to New York, police officers often
reward informants who help them to arrest drug dealers
with drugs they obtain from the arrests or prior encounters.
In Los Angeles, LAPD police officer Rafael Perez admitted
that he manipulated a homeless woman with crack cocaine
for her assistance in gathering information from a list he
had of suspected drug dealers; in Schenectady, New York,
police officers have been giving crack cocaine to addicts to
set up other addicts for the past 8 years, according to an FBI
investigation.
reward informants who help them to arrest drug dealers
with drugs they obtain from the arrests or prior encounters.
In Los Angeles, LAPD police officer Rafael Perez admitted
that he manipulated a homeless woman with crack cocaine
for her assistance in gathering information from a list he
had of suspected drug dealers; in Schenectady, New York,
police officers have been giving crack cocaine to addicts to
set up other addicts for the past 8 years, according to an FBI
investigation.
In San Antonio, Texas, ten cops were busted for protecting cocaine shipments,
dealing drugs, and stealing public money; in Gary, Indiana, a cop was indicted in
connection with a pair of drug-related killings and another for money laundering
and selling cocaine and heroin; more than a dozen convictions in Jacksonville,
Florida, may be set aside due to slayings and drug trafficking by the police there.
dealing drugs, and stealing public money; in Gary, Indiana, a cop was indicted in
connection with a pair of drug-related killings and another for money laundering
and selling cocaine and heroin; more than a dozen convictions in Jacksonville,
Florida, may be set aside due to slayings and drug trafficking by the police there.
[Adopted from: The Razor Wire
Vol. 5, No. 5; 2001
Vol. 5, No. 5; 2001
3. In 1992, Helen Anthony was a 59 year-old grandmother who lived in North
Philadelphia. Returning home from her job as a housekeeper, Mrs. Anthony was
confronted by the local police who would not allow her to go into her home. They
were there to enforce the destruction of her home of twenty-three years.
As part of a city program against drug dealing, certain homes were targeted to be
torn down. "My house ain't no drug den!" Mrs. Anthony pleaded. The cops refused
to listen. Two hours later the home was reduced to a pile of bricks and red dust.
When reporters inquired about the incident, the police referred to the age-old
clause: "eminent domain." When the city was informed they had the wrong house,
they offered to reimburse Mrs. Anthony. "The way the city treated her," opined her
daughter Geraldine Johnson, "she does not want to live in Philadelphia."
[Source: Live from DeathRow;
Mumia Abu-Jamal;
1996; p. 139-141]
Mumia Abu-Jamal;
1996; p. 139-141]
4. In the State of Washington, the North Central Washington Task Force
enlisted the help of an HIV positive prostitute as an informant who traded sex for
drugs. John Shearer was one of at least 11 men charged with drug offenses as a
result of this informant. Shearer successfully sued the State for using an
infectious prostitute as bait and settled for $37,000 in January 18, 2002.
enlisted the help of an HIV positive prostitute as an informant who traded sex for
drugs. John Shearer was one of at least 11 men charged with drug offenses as a
result of this informant. Shearer successfully sued the State for using an
infectious prostitute as bait and settled for $37,000 in January 18, 2002.
[Source: Prison Legal News; Dec. 2002; p. 32]
5. CALIFORNIA: On Nov. 17, 2002, the Redwood City police handcuffed
Ricardo Escobedo and subdued him with leg restraints after a he had threatened
a neighbor.
Escobedo was described with "incredible strength" as it took 8 officers to get him
into a police car to drive him out of the apartment complex.
The police were transporting him to nearby firefighters who were prepared to
wash the pepper-spray that they had doused his eyes with. In the minute it took
them to get to the firefighters, Escobedo was dead. “The county coroner found the
cause of death to be cardipulmonary arrest caused by excited delirium.
Methamphetamine found in Escobedo's system, along with an enlarged heart,
also contributed to his death, the coroner said." Escobedo was a father of two
children.
Ricardo Escobedo and subdued him with leg restraints after a he had threatened
a neighbor.
Escobedo was described with "incredible strength" as it took 8 officers to get him
into a police car to drive him out of the apartment complex.
The police were transporting him to nearby firefighters who were prepared to
wash the pepper-spray that they had doused his eyes with. In the minute it took
them to get to the firefighters, Escobedo was dead. “The county coroner found the
cause of death to be cardipulmonary arrest caused by excited delirium.
Methamphetamine found in Escobedo's system, along with an enlarged heart,
also contributed to his death, the coroner said." Escobedo was a father of two
children.
[Source: San Francisco Chronicle;
March 1, 2003; p. A23]
March 1, 2003; p. A23]
6. CINCINNATI: Nathaniel Jones, died from a violent
struggle he had with the police on December 3, 2003. A
video camera inside the police car recorded most of the
event and showed the officers repeatedly hitting and
jabbing the victim with their clubs. The coroner said the
beatings with the night sticks left bruises on his lower
body, but did not damage his internal organs. But the
viewer can SEE the officers hitting Jones in the UPPER
body and jabbing him as well. Even one jab from those
night sticks will damage a person's internal organ.
struggle he had with the police on December 3, 2003. A
video camera inside the police car recorded most of the
event and showed the officers repeatedly hitting and
jabbing the victim with their clubs. The coroner said the
beatings with the night sticks left bruises on his lower
body, but did not damage his internal organs. But the
viewer can SEE the officers hitting Jones in the UPPER
body and jabbing him as well. Even one jab from those
night sticks will damage a person's internal organ.
The police claim Jones was resisting arrest that the officers had not acted
improperly. The coroner claimed that Jones suffered from heart disease and
drugs and his weight were major contributing factors. But, "absent the struggle,"
Jones would not have died, said the coroner.
At 350 pounds, the 41 year-old man was quite an opponent as it can be seen him
lunging at the officers. But there was a 97 second gap in the video that Jones’s
family suggests could have explained why Jones fought with the police in the first
place. The coroner report accused Jones of being under the influence of PCP, and
suggested that this drug would cause a person to have enormous strength and
explain why Jones fought with the police. His aunt described him as a "friendly;
jolly, happy-go-lucky" father of two who was never violent or mean. "He was the
sweetest man you ever seen," said his aunt Diane Payton.
improperly. The coroner claimed that Jones suffered from heart disease and
drugs and his weight were major contributing factors. But, "absent the struggle,"
Jones would not have died, said the coroner.
At 350 pounds, the 41 year-old man was quite an opponent as it can be seen him
lunging at the officers. But there was a 97 second gap in the video that Jones’s
family suggests could have explained why Jones fought with the police in the first
place. The coroner report accused Jones of being under the influence of PCP, and
suggested that this drug would cause a person to have enormous strength and
explain why Jones fought with the police. His aunt described him as a "friendly;
jolly, happy-go-lucky" father of two who was never violent or mean. "He was the
sweetest man you ever seen," said his aunt Diane Payton.
[Source: New York Times; Dec. 4, 2003; p. A16]
7. ALEXANDRIA, LOUSIANA: A police officer shot a suspected shoplifter as
she drove away with her sister and child. Officer Vennie Powell, 30, fired nine
shots at the car hitting Sherry Pennington in the lower back and arm. The officer
was fired.
she drove away with her sister and child. Officer Vennie Powell, 30, fired nine
shots at the car hitting Sherry Pennington in the lower back and arm. The officer
was fired.
[USA Today; April 11, 2003; p. 13A]
8. The Rodney King beating is probably the most
widely known incident in recent times involving police
brutality.
In 1991, several Los Angeles police chased Rodney
King, stopped him, pulled him from the car and began to
beat him savagely. An onlooker, George Holliday,
widely known incident in recent times involving police
brutality.
In 1991, several Los Angeles police chased Rodney
King, stopped him, pulled him from the car and began to
beat him savagely. An onlooker, George Holliday,
videotaped the scene as officers Laurence Powell, and Timothy Wind struck King
over 50 times with their batons with Powell on one side and Wind on the other.
They took turns wielding the batons as one would a baseball bat. They kicked and
stomped him with Officer Theodore Briseno joining in.
over 50 times with their batons with Powell on one side and Wind on the other.
They took turns wielding the batons as one would a baseball bat. They kicked and
stomped him with Officer Theodore Briseno joining in.
| -Officer Laurence Powell; Police Transmissions; 1:13am |
“Officer Powell came up to the right of
him and in a matter of seconds, he
took out his baton, he had it in a power
swing, and he struck [King] across the
top of his cheekbone, splitting the face
from the top of his ear to his chin. “
him and in a matter of seconds, he
took out his baton, he had it in a power
swing, and he struck [King] across the
top of his cheekbone, splitting the face
from the top of his ear to his chin. “
| -Officer Melanie Singer; Trial testimony |
| “I was scared that this guy was under PCP.” |
| -Officer Laurence Powell; Trial testimony |
It was a brutal sight seen around the world as the report gathered interest.
- “What do we, ladies and gentlemen, as members of the community,
expect from our police? What is it that we want them to do? These
officers, these defendants do not get paid to lose street fights. They don’t
get paid to roll around in the dirt with the likes of Rodney Glen King. These
are not Robo cops, ladies and gentlemen, they hurt, they feel pain, they
bleed and they die just like everyone else. And we leave it to them to take
care of the mean streets. So that we can safely enjoy our lives”
| -Defense Attorney Michael Stone; Closing arguments |
The video was undisputed truth that the police in the US can be as brutal as
blamed of other countries.
King was later released from jail with out charges The officers’ defense? They
thought he was on PCP and if he was, they thought he would be dangerous.
Public sentiment was that the police had gone too far. 92% of Los Angeles
residents who saw the videotape believed that the police used excessive force in
arresting King. Despite the videotape, a jury in Simi Valley concluded a year later
that the evidence was not sufficient to convict the officers.
blamed of other countries.
King was later released from jail with out charges The officers’ defense? They
thought he was on PCP and if he was, they thought he would be dangerous.
Public sentiment was that the police had gone too far. 92% of Los Angeles
residents who saw the videotape believed that the police used excessive force in
arresting King. Despite the videotape, a jury in Simi Valley concluded a year later
that the evidence was not sufficient to convict the officers.
- “People, I just want to say, can’t we all just get along? Can we stop
making it horrible? We're all stuck here for a while. Let's try to work it out."
| -Rodney King |
9. Amadou Diallo, 22, an
unarmed African immigrant, was
shot 19 times from a total of 41
shots fired at him by 4 New York
City police officers on February 4,
1999. The officers said they
thought he was reaching for a gun.
The officers were charged with
second-degree murder.
unarmed African immigrant, was
shot 19 times from a total of 41
shots fired at him by 4 New York
City police officers on February 4,
1999. The officers said they
thought he was reaching for a gun.
The officers were charged with
second-degree murder.
10. In February 2005, five officers from Campbell County, Tennessee, broke
into the home of Eugene Siler and handcuffed him to a chair, whereupon they
began to torment him with threats and physical beatings in an attempt to rob him
of his money and drugs.There is a transcript of what took part for a portion of the
two hour torture because the event was recorded:
into the home of Eugene Siler and handcuffed him to a chair, whereupon they
began to torment him with threats and physical beatings in an attempt to rob him
of his money and drugs.There is a transcript of what took part for a portion of the
two hour torture because the event was recorded:
- "It's f****** over, son."
"We're going to take every dime you have today and if we
don't walk out of here with every piece of dope you got and
every dime you got, you're f---ing ass is not going to make it
to the jail,"
"You ain't done nothing but sold dope."
"We'll have to call a f---ing ambulance to haul your ass out of
here."
| NEWSPAPER HEADLINES: "Six Officers Fired for Botched Drug Raid Shootings." [Associated Press, November 3, 1998] "A Father Is fatally Shot by the Police in His Home, and His Family Is Asking Why." [New York Times, August 28, 1999] “Shooting Raises Scrutiny of Police Antidrug Effort.' [New York Times, March 25, 2000] |
Because the police did not have a search warrant and had beat Siler badly, they
rehearsed a concoction of how the police report was to explain Siler's wounds
and their actions:
rehearsed a concoction of how the police report was to explain Siler's wounds
and their actions:
- "Eugene, let me tell you how this is gonna work, OK?"
"We got here and guess what you did? You ran out the back
door. We chased you, OK? You fought with us, OK? We end up
fighting with you. You 'bout whupped all our asses, so we had to
fight back, OK?"
Whereupon, the police would say that after they caught Siler and restrained him,
they handcuffed him and took him back into the house. This would explain the
events quite tidly.
they handcuffed him and took him back into the house. This would explain the
events quite tidly.
The story would have worked, it was the word of five officers against a convicted
drug offender. But there was the tape.
On the tape can be heard the sounds of a slapjack the officers said they used,
punching and the painful screams of Siler as he begs them to stop - he has no
drugs or money to give them.
Why should we think these officers were intending to rob Siler? One officer is
heard to tell Siler:
drug offender. But there was the tape.
On the tape can be heard the sounds of a slapjack the officers said they used,
punching and the painful screams of Siler as he begs them to stop - he has no
drugs or money to give them.
Why should we think these officers were intending to rob Siler? One officer is
heard to tell Siler:
- "There's nobody knows we're f---ing here; we're doing
this on our own."
The tape indicates that Siler is handed a form that states Siler gave his consent
for the officers to search his home. As Siler apparently refuses to sign it, the
beating resumes.
for the officers to search his home. As Siler apparently refuses to sign it, the
beating resumes.
- "Look, you sign this ( expletive ) or I'm gonna hit you again,"
"One. Two..."
| "Shoot his f---ing ass." |
More punching and screaming is heard. The officers tell him he is going to die:
"I want to help you," Siler says.
"I want to help you," Siler says.
| -one officer to another |
- "No, I don't want your help. I want you to sign that form
'cause you're the one we want and we got 'cha, and if you
don't sign it, you probably won't walk out of here."
At this point, Siler is threatened with electrocution.
One officer describes how they will take a battery charger, hook some wires to it
and attach it to his testicles. [NOTE: In the federal indictment of these officers, it
is alleged they did in fact rig up a device and clamped it to Siler's testicles. The
indictment also charges that an officer pointed his gun and threatened to shoot
Siler. Do these tactics sound recently familiar?]
An officer tells another: "Shoot his f---ing ass."
One officer describes how they will take a battery charger, hook some wires to it
and attach it to his testicles. [NOTE: In the federal indictment of these officers, it
is alleged they did in fact rig up a device and clamped it to Siler's testicles. The
indictment also charges that an officer pointed his gun and threatened to shoot
Siler. Do these tactics sound recently familiar?]
An officer tells another: "Shoot his f---ing ass."
- "Eugene, you're gonna sign this right here or I'm gonna f---
ing put a bullet in your damn head, and we're gonna f---ing
plant this BB gun.
"Hey, Eugene, what loss do you think it's gonna be to us if
you die, buddy? It's going to be no loss to us."
This portion of the tape has Siler gasping for air now and suffering a heart attack.
But the officer demands Siler tell him where he has hidden drugs or money.
Although the tape lasted only 45 minutes, the ordeal went on for two hours. In the
indictment, it was alleged that the officers forced Siler's head underwater in both a
fish tank and a toilet.
But the officer demands Siler tell him where he has hidden drugs or money.
Although the tape lasted only 45 minutes, the ordeal went on for two hours. In the
indictment, it was alleged that the officers forced Siler's head underwater in both a
fish tank and a toilet.
| [Source: StopTheDrugWar.org and Media Awareness Project] |
This is the other side of police work that goes on daily in this nation. These
officers see themselves as drug warriors - military soldiers in a civilian setting.
The enemy is seen as foreign and evil as would be expected from a US soldier.
The tactics are the same. The reasoning is probably the same as well - "The
means justify the end."
officers see themselves as drug warriors - military soldiers in a civilian setting.
The enemy is seen as foreign and evil as would be expected from a US soldier.
The tactics are the same. The reasoning is probably the same as well - "The
means justify the end."
RELATED READINGS:
- 1. The State vs. The People; The Rise of the American Police State; by
Claire Wolfe and Aaron Zeiman answers the question, "Is America
becoming a police state?"
- "A police state is brutal, yes. But it
is also persuasive, its premises
seem reasonable, its actions
necessary for the good of all. That
is precisely why it is a danger to
us.***[T]he United States is
fulfilling the police state model,
all in the name of social
betterment or security. It’s not a
pleasant picture."
- 2. Dirty Tricks Cops Use (And Why They Use Them);
by Bart Rommel.
- A cop plants drugs on a private
plane, then seizes the plane for
police department use;
- Police leave blank tape at the
beginning of an illegal
interrogation, then go back and
record themselves reading the
suspect his rights;
- How vigilante cops conduct an
"execution";
- and much more.
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