Comments on: Denver Stuff

By: Michael Chaney

Michael Chaney — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:07:40 +0000

It was a black man. In law enforcement, that’s usually a positive confirmation that they’ve got the right guy.

Yeah, probably guilty of *something*, right?

By: Mister DNA

Mister DNA — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:38:45 +0000

emphasis added

The second is that they relied on a confidential informant who was either confused or outright lied to them, and did no other checking before rushing in and attacking a guy. He looks nothing like the suspect that they were after.

It was a black man. In law enforcement, that's usually a positive confirmation that they've got the right guy.

By: JJH2

JJH2 — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:34:09 +0000

It seems pretty silly to actively dislike the ACLU because of their “record” on the 2nd Amendment – since they really don’t have one. The national organization has a “position” on the 2nd Amendment, which I happen to think is entirely wrong, but they don’t litigate the issue. As far as I’m aware, the ACLU has never represented a party or filed an amicus brief in any case directly involving the 2nd Amendment. It strikes me as a tad churlish to weigh an organization’s position on one issue so greatly compared to its actual activism on behalf of so many others.

By: Michael Chaney

Michael Chaney — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:51:21 +0000

That story has two interesting elements, and you hit the first. The guys weren’t in uniforms, and couldn’t understand why he didn’t follow their “orders”. So they taze him and claim if he’d just followed orders they wouldn’t have done that. It’s simply bizarre that they can get a good job and yet be so utterly clueless.

The second is that they relied on a confidential informant who was either confused or outright lied to them, and did no other checking before rushing in and attacking a guy. He looks nothing like the suspect that they were after.

It’s starting to look more and more like we need a federal-level law that simply says if you’re not in an official uniform, you’re not a cop. Period. You lose *all* protections. So undercover guys do surveillance or whatever, but when it’s time to do the job, so to speak, uniformed officers have to come in. And I don’t mean their SWAT team play uniforms. In that case, this turns into simple assault and attempted kidnapping.

We shouldn’t have to do that- and we wouldn’t if everyone would just act like grown-ups- but these guys seem to be lost on the fact that *anyone* can say “I’m a cop, do what I say”. The uniform can be faked, but at least it puts up a barrier.

By: pc

pc — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:14:09 +0000

#7 | Michael Chaney

I can’t understand why a guy on a basketball court might resist when a bunch of plainclothes officers run up on him. I mean, here’s some guy that comes off the bleachers in a t-shirt with a cut-off t-shirt on top. Of course that’s a law enforcement officer!

The cops should have shown up in a clown car. At least then everyone would have known who they were.

By: Stewart Vardaman

Stewart Vardaman — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 05:20:52 +0000

Heh…that was fun. I’d have had a hangover if it hadn’t been a “school night” for me.

Great to met Jon Caldara. His antics at the RTD (Denver transit agency) inspired me to get interested in transit policy 10 years ago.

By: perlhaqr

perlhaqr — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:18:09 +0000

I also learned this morning what a high-altitude hangover feels like (hint: it’s less pleasant than a normal-altitude hangover).

This is why living at altitude and visiting the coast is awesome. :D

By: Michael Chaney

Michael Chaney — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:30:44 +0000

Sorry, more threadjack:

U.S. Marshal Taser Wrong man
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e47_1245351007

Original:
http://www.fox4kc.com/wdaf-story-taser-mistake-marshals-041609,0,7163100.story

A metro man and father of four found himself caught up in a case of mistaken identity after he was yanked off a community center basketball court and tasered by U.S. Marshals.

Surveillance video released on Friday shows Stuart Wright, 30, was playing basketball at the Grandview Community Center when U.S. Marshals, acting on a tip from an informant, surrounded him with guns drawn and hit him with a Taser.

By: Michael Chaney

Michael Chaney — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:03:02 +0000

I’m actually not fond of the ACLU (although I like the *idea*) for a couple of reasons. First is their atrocious record on the 2nd amendment, which highlights one difference between liberals and libertarians. The last time I went to their site they still had people moronically arguing the standard canard about “militias” and ambiguities and such. Second is that they they seem to lump Christianity with guns, and seem to have some chip on their shoulder in that regard. I’m all for separation of church and state, but they seem to go looking for controversy where there is none. And that seriously hurts their credibility in other areas.

They’re not as bad as Rush Limbaugh thinks but they’re not saintly, either. Still, I give credit where it’s due, and it’s definitely due in this case.

By: Mattocracy

Mattocracy — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:04:35 +0000

I have grown rather fond of the ACLU now that I’m not buying into conservative talk radio bullshit anymore. Other than the Institute for for Justice, the ACLU might be one of the best nonprofit organizations out there still fighting government power expansion.

If they could only get on board the 2nd amendment, I’d be pretty happy with them.

By: Michael Chaney

Michael Chaney — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:21:06 +0000

ACLU sues TSA over kidnapping of Ron Paul staffer:

http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-18-2009/0005046676&EDATE=

Good news!

By: scott in phx az

scott in phx az — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:42:54 +0000

How much of a “gun-nut” are you Radley?

By: chance mcgee

chance mcgee — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:02:24 +0000

Did you pull a gun on any fastfood workers while you were there?

http://cbs4denver.com/investigates/denver.police.suspension.2.1049330.html

By: billy-jay

billy-jay — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:56:05 +0000

You should come to Tokyo.