"Almost half the people shot at by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies after reaching toward their waistbands turned out to be unarmed, according to a study released Thursday.
"Waistband shootings" are particularly controversial because the justification for the shootings can conceivably be fabricated after the fact, according to the county monitor's report, which was commissioned by the county Board of Supervisors and which analyzed six years of shooting data.
The monitor was careful to point out that the report wasn't indicating that deputies were being dishonest, simply that those shootings left the department vulnerable to criticism.
Merrick Bobb, who was hired as a special counsel to county supervisors after a 1992 report exposed serious problems in the department, also found an increase in shootings in which deputies didn't see an actual gun before firing. In those cases, the suspects may have had a weapon but never brandished it.
Those shootings jumped from nine in 2009 to 15 last year, according to the report. Last year also saw the highest proportion of people shot by deputies who turned out to be unarmed altogether."
"In one case, deputies came across a narcotics suspect sitting in his car outside his house. When the 35-year-old man saw the deputies, he appeared to reach under his seat. One of the deputies thought he saw a gun, covered by a piece of cloth. The man then sat up, holding the object to his chest, prompting the deputy to shoot him. The man was killed but no drugs or weapons were found, only a pair of jeans. The county eventually paid $750,000 to the victim's family.
The analysis also found that 61% of suspects who were shot at by deputies were Latino, 29% black and 10% white. Even compared to Sheriff's Department arrest rates, Latinos and blacks are overrepresented, the study concluded.
In shootings in which deputies shot at a suspect before seeing an actual gun, all but two of the suspects were black or Latino."
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-unarmed-shootings-20110923,0,2452551.story
Sep 23, 2011
Sep 20, 2011
Sep 14, 2011
Woman detective sues SDPD for sexual harassment
"SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A veteran San Diego police detective is suing the department and four members of the force, claiming male detectives created a hostile work environment by making offensive sexual comments and slurs and posting photos of men and women in suggestive poses, court papers show.
Deborah W. Burger, a 22-year veteran of the department, alleging sexual harassment, failure to prevent discrimination and harassment, gender and age discrimination and retaliation."
---
"Among other things, Burger claims that Cerar and other male detectives used derogatory terms when referring to sexual assault victims.
Two male detectives covered their cubicles with inappropriate sexual photos, and, when told to take them down after Burger complained, harassed her, according to her lawsuit.
Burger also claims that male detectives were treated better than their female counterparts, and that when she complained to SDPD internal affairs, she was harassed and endured retaliation."
http://www.cbs8.com/story/15455396/woman-detective-sues-sdpd-for-sexual-harassment
Deborah W. Burger, a 22-year veteran of the department, alleging sexual harassment, failure to prevent discrimination and harassment, gender and age discrimination and retaliation."
---
"Among other things, Burger claims that Cerar and other male detectives used derogatory terms when referring to sexual assault victims.
Two male detectives covered their cubicles with inappropriate sexual photos, and, when told to take them down after Burger complained, harassed her, according to her lawsuit.
Burger also claims that male detectives were treated better than their female counterparts, and that when she complained to SDPD internal affairs, she was harassed and endured retaliation."
http://www.cbs8.com/story/15455396/woman-detective-sues-sdpd-for-sexual-harassment
Sep 13, 2011
Sep 12, 2011
Horn honkers cited near protest over man's death
"(09-12) 11:13 PDT Fullerton, Calif. (AP) --
Fullerton police have cited drivers who allegedly honked their horns near a protest over the death of a mentally ill homeless man after a violent confrontation with officers.
Fullerton police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich says officers had received complaints about drivers honking excessively and holding down their horns at weekly Saturday protests.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/09/12/state/n111349D18.DTL#ixzz1Xm5brtGS
"
Fullerton police have cited drivers who allegedly honked their horns near a protest over the death of a mentally ill homeless man after a violent confrontation with officers.
Fullerton police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich says officers had received complaints about drivers honking excessively and holding down their horns at weekly Saturday protests.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/09/12/state/n111349D18.DTL#ixzz1Xm5brtGS
"
Sep 11, 2011
'Contempt' for Not Standing on a Broken Leg
"RALEIGH, N.C. (CN) - A man who was eating a taco at a Raleigh bus stop says a cop swept-kicked him to the ground, broke his leg and arrested him, then hauled him before a judge who sentenced him to 30 days in jail for contempt, because he could not stand on his broken leg.
Lynwood Earl Artis sued Raleigh police Officer James Rollins, Wake County and its sheriff, and others, in Federal Court.
Artis said that after buying his dinner at the Armadillo Grill, he "quietly began to eat his taco, waiting for the bus," when Rollins "approached Artis on foot ... and asked if a beer was his."
"Artis leaned forward and saw what appeared to be a discarded can of beer that had been concealed from his view" by a newspaper rack. He says he told Rollins, "'Why, Officer, if that beer were mine, I would be enjoying it with my meal.'" And he resumed eating his taco.
He says Rollins asked him for ID, then "Without either warning or being told he was under arrest, Rollins grabbed Artis by his still taco-laden arm, and spun Artis around with great force, which pivoted Artis on his left leg and sent the hapless taco flying.
"Rollins twisted Artis' arm behind his back and then swept-kicked Artis' legs from the side and threw him to the ground."
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/09/02/39495.htm
Lynwood Earl Artis sued Raleigh police Officer James Rollins, Wake County and its sheriff, and others, in Federal Court.
Artis said that after buying his dinner at the Armadillo Grill, he "quietly began to eat his taco, waiting for the bus," when Rollins "approached Artis on foot ... and asked if a beer was his."
"Artis leaned forward and saw what appeared to be a discarded can of beer that had been concealed from his view" by a newspaper rack. He says he told Rollins, "'Why, Officer, if that beer were mine, I would be enjoying it with my meal.'" And he resumed eating his taco.
He says Rollins asked him for ID, then "Without either warning or being told he was under arrest, Rollins grabbed Artis by his still taco-laden arm, and spun Artis around with great force, which pivoted Artis on his left leg and sent the hapless taco flying.
"Rollins twisted Artis' arm behind his back and then swept-kicked Artis' legs from the side and threw him to the ground."
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/09/02/39495.htm
Sep 6, 2011
Modesto police shoot suspect in high-speed chase
"MODESTO, Calif. -- Modesto police say officers shot and injured a man who led police on a high-speed chase.
The Modesto Bee reports (http://bit.ly/nj2ORk) the incident began early Monday when an officer heard gunshots in Modesto's Mellis Park area and saw a pickup truck fleeing the scene.
Lt. Rick Armendariz says officers tried to stop the driver, but the suspect kept driving until police used a spike strip to deflate the truck's tires.
Officials say the suspect rammed a police car with an officer inside before the pickup got wedged against a tree. The officer was not injured.
Armendariz says three officers fired into the pickup and hit the suspect, who was taken to a nearby hospital.
The three officers were placed on paid administrative leave while officials investigate the shooting.
Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/05/3886240/modesto-police-shoot-suspect-in.html#ixzz1XClT7Wmi"
The Modesto Bee reports (http://bit.ly/nj2ORk) the incident began early Monday when an officer heard gunshots in Modesto's Mellis Park area and saw a pickup truck fleeing the scene.
Lt. Rick Armendariz says officers tried to stop the driver, but the suspect kept driving until police used a spike strip to deflate the truck's tires.
Officials say the suspect rammed a police car with an officer inside before the pickup got wedged against a tree. The officer was not injured.
Armendariz says three officers fired into the pickup and hit the suspect, who was taken to a nearby hospital.
The three officers were placed on paid administrative leave while officials investigate the shooting.
Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/05/3886240/modesto-police-shoot-suspect-in.html#ixzz1XClT7Wmi"
Sep 4, 2011
San Diego County Deputy Arrested In Palm Desert For Hit-And-Run
"PALM DESERT, Calif. -- A San Diego County sheriff's deputy was arrested in Palm Desert on felony hit-and-run and driving under the influence.
Sheriff's department spokeswoman Jan Caldwell told the San Diego Union Tribune that the deputy, Barbara Crozier, is currently on paid administrative assignment while the incident is being investigated.
Riverside County sheriff's deputies arrested Crozier Tuesday after getting reports that a car had run into a water fountain at a country club.
Investigators determined that Crozier was suspected of being involved in a hit-and-run accident several hours earlier at a Palm Desert apartment complex."
http://www.kesq.com/news/29077814/detail.html
Sheriff's department spokeswoman Jan Caldwell told the San Diego Union Tribune that the deputy, Barbara Crozier, is currently on paid administrative assignment while the incident is being investigated.
Riverside County sheriff's deputies arrested Crozier Tuesday after getting reports that a car had run into a water fountain at a country club.
Investigators determined that Crozier was suspected of being involved in a hit-and-run accident several hours earlier at a Palm Desert apartment complex."
http://www.kesq.com/news/29077814/detail.html
Sep 2, 2011
Shoreline protest over fatal police shooting
"The mother of a man fatally shot by Shoreline police last month stood on North 185th Street on Thursday, only inches from traffic, holding a sign and a megaphone.
"Police killed my son," yelled Tatiana Albrecht to passing cars. "I loved you, my son."
David Albrecht was shot and killed Aug. 10 — his 22nd birthday — in front of his family home in the 700 block of North 200th Street.
Police were called to the house after Albrecht reportedly put a knife to his throat and threatened to kill himself."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016085498_shoreline02m.html
"Police killed my son," yelled Tatiana Albrecht to passing cars. "I loved you, my son."
David Albrecht was shot and killed Aug. 10 — his 22nd birthday — in front of his family home in the 700 block of North 200th Street.
Police were called to the house after Albrecht reportedly put a knife to his throat and threatened to kill himself."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016085498_shoreline02m.html
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