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Riverside Police Department, California
The holiday shooting in 2000 of a 19-year-old minority woman by Riverside
Police has shocked and outraged the local community. The woman had a flat tire,
and had called the police and family for help. After locking herself in the car
for safety, she was shot by police officers with at least 27 shots fired. The
woman was unconscious, possibly having a gun in her lap for self-protection in
a bad area. As far as is known, the gun was licensed. Beyond this, the police
are unable to explain who shot first, etc. More than likely, this was a case of
unjustified police violence, as best I can determine by the current facts. But
the officers in question were cleared! Double standards clearly favor cops, again.
In October 2003 a teacher, Ron Mayfield, was falsely accused by one of his students, “Abdul,” of assault. Mr. Mayfield was suspended and Roanoke Police called to investigate. School Superintendent E. Wayne Harris and Vicki Price, then acting Director of Social Services failed to inform Abdul’s parents in a timely fashion. Abdul’s parents knew their son was disruptive and wanted the matter dropped. The parents stated they would have ordered their son to apologize to the teacher. But instead the teacher was suspended and not told anything by the school board. On October 11th Mr. Mayfield committed suicide by jumping off a 200 foot bridge, after legally parking his car in the lot near the bridge, making final calls on his cell phone including 911, and then dropping his cell phone on the sidewalk. No one from the Roanoke Police or school system bothered to tell Mr. Mayfield the investigation had cleared him several days before. The man was depressed and without any support fearing arrest by bully Roanoke Police and going to jail. The student has a documented history of disruptive behavior in the classroom which he denied, causing Mr. Mayfield to be falsely accused, suspended, and suffer the “death penalty” because of uncaring and insensitive police officers. At least half the blame for this wrongful death and ruined reputation belongs to the police who have no idea of how it is their duty to exercise discretion is a professional trust to protect the lives and reputation of innocent people who are the victims of vindictive false accusations.
Former Deputy Sheriff Vincent Sinclair was sentenced in February 2008 for kidnapping and robbing two Virginia drug dealers, using his badge and weapon. In a display of the true nature of the caliber of staff employed by this county, Sinclair spit on the prosecutor and a state investigator after being sentenced to 34 years in prison. He is one of 22 former cops busted for corruption in Operation Tarnished Badge/ Former Detective Patrick Ferguson is serving twenty years for the same crime.
This county is a hotbed of KKK and racist jack booted thug cops. There is a long history of lynchings, beatings, false arrests and more here. This agency is beyond any measure of trust or integrity.
A 70 year old woman was assaulted in January 2005 with a Taser Gun by Officer Hatie Jean Macon. A false arrest followed at the nursing home. The officer has been disciplined after the incident drew international criticism as a hand hold was required to be used first, but was not used in violation of department procedures. This department has a troubled history of racism and bad arrests.
Two officers have been charged with sexual assault in Watson Lake, Yukon in March 2009. There have been an increasing number of disturbing reports about botched investigations and bad arrests nationwide, casting doubt and destroying trust in the force. This might well be the tip of the iceberg,
In 2011 & 2012 more cases involving busted cops and false arrests emerged. Not much has changed here either.
On September 20th, 2005, Nurse Frederick Spencer stopped to render medical aid at the scene of a motor vehicle accident. He was not allowed to provide care, and was then arrested, spending the day in jail. The charges were dropped, and he is suing the city. What kind of cop would deny medical aid to an injured person, and then treat a nurse like this? Internal Affairs told him to “suck it up” and there was no basis for a complaint. I am a nurse and thoroughly disgusted by this incident. When I worked in San Antonio I had to deal with these cops in the hospital. They were too often arrogant, stupid, mean jerks.
Seven of its officers were busted on federal drug charges in past activity. This department has a long history of false arrests, beatings, illegal search and seizure of property and harassment. One man spent one month in the Beaxr County Jail because overzealous cops mistook the ashen remains of the man’s cremated mother for drugs. I have seen first hand the overuse of authority by San Antonio cops who legislate their own law, doing what they please. Sometime ago a member of the department used a chokehold on a Mexican tourist, killing an unarmed person. This is a goon squad out of control.
January 29, 2006, Sheriif’s Deputy Ivory Webb shot an unarmed Iraq veteran and Air Force Security Officer who was a passenger in a car involved in a chase. Deputy Webb appears to have ordered the man to get up, and shot him for getting up. A witness taped the shooting and Deputy Webb has finally been charged in March 2006 for attempted manslaughter, facing up to 18 years in prison if convicted. The investigation was too slow and the charges to light in the opinion of some who complain this agency is heavy handed with the unjustified use of force, as well as false arrests and racial profiling. The deputy is trying to make bail and has friends in the system trying to pull strings for him, but the judge has refused any further bail reductions. The victiom is recovering at home from the gun shot wounds and is luck to be alive.
For decades this agency has a long record of beating Mexican immigrants, false arrests and corruption.
In May 2008 Cynthia Sommer was ordered released after two years in prison when cleared of murdering her husband. There was no evidence to link her to the charges, as well as botched lab work. DA Laura Gunn relentlessly went after this widow and destroyed her family, including her four children. DA Laura Gunn caused this women to be held in prison and delayed her release, vowing to find evidence for another trial. This is just more judicial arrogance of an egotistical blowhard who care more about convictions than the truth; the DA’s office quietly admits it lacks any evidence.
I have been asked to link to this site by another group. You need to at least read and examine what is on this site and decide for yourself. The site is at:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeo9ewi/idrissstelleyfoundation/
Santa Fe Police, New Mexico
In January 2010 the city released a video of a teenager being pummelted by Officer David Smoker, with Officer Robert Hollingsworth and Officer David Rael looking on. Smoker and Hollingsworth were fired with Rael getting some form of discipline.
In October 2008 The U S Supreme Court halted the execution
of Troy Davis on death row who is most likely
innocent. Charges of intimidation of witnesses and sloppy police work taint
this case where an off duty cop was killed.He was executed in 2011. Another
cop murder.
Savannah Police face charges of heavy handed investigative techniques and many witnesses recanting their statements just one day before an inmate faced execution. This even though another man has confessed to the killing of the cop, according to affidavits; this same man identified Troy Davis as the killer. Davis claims he was arrested because of mistaken identity. The Georgia State Board of Pardens and Parole granted a last minute stay of execution in July 2007. The board must rule by October 17, 2007 on the application for clemency.
This department has a long history of close association with
the KKK and racism.
This department has quite a history including a shooting
of one officer by another in the police garage. Charges of racism and false
arrest are a part of the history of this agency over the years. The
Massachusetts State Police had to come in and show this crew how to clean up
the drug dealers and thugs.
In September 2007 a dramatic video surfaced on Utube showing Sgt James Kuehnlein threatening an innocent young male driver with “made up charges,” and to put him in jail. Usually the cops use these dashboard cameras to protect themselves, but this bright young lad installed one after another jerk St George cop gave him a ticket one year earlier. The video made quite an impression, with the discovery of the cruiser video tape “gone missing.” Scumbag Kuehnlein is on an unpaid suspension, with Chief Scott Uhrig claiming this not like the rest of the department. This is not what I hear, watch out for these predators.
In June 2007 a woman arrested for failure to appear for two traffic stops was found dead in St Louis Police custody, denied Albuterol by the cops and medical staff of Correctional Medical Services. No illicit drugs were found on autopsy, and her blood levels of Albuterol were zero. The paramedics couldn’t get to her for eight minutes, enough time to insure permanent brain death. She would have no way to communicate with the outside or get medical help, thus being forced to die in her cell without help. A new investigation has been ordered by Mayor Slay. The medical examiner stated her life could have been saved.
Police Officer Lewis McGee and Detective Mark Winger pled guilty to civil rights charges in the beating of an inmate, making false statements to the FBI to cover the facts up. Each is facing ten years in federal prison. The inmate suffered bodily harm as result.
St Louis Police likely falsely arrested and caused the execution of an innocent black man. Larry Griffin was convicted in 1981, and put to death in 1995 even though the first police officer on the scene, Michael Ruggeri admits to false eye witness testimony. Another man wounded in the attack, Walter Connors, stated Larry Griffin was not at the scene when the murder was committed. Mr. Connors was never called by the prosecutor or defense. The star witness, Robert Fitzgerald, has a long history as a failed jail house snitch. The prosecutor at the time still maintains the right man was executed. The case was re-opened, and results due in early July 2007.
This is another department with a long history of racial profiling, beatings, false arrest and worse.
Local constables, and the Resident Connecticut State Trooper stand accused of putting an innocent man in prison. A local property owner at the time, Steve Erickson, was very vocal about the problems in town government. Mr. Erickson charges he was attacked by a local man, and after defending himself, was arrested for the attack. He spent one year in state prison for a crime my investigation indicates he did not commit. The States Attorney, town officials, town constables and a local lawyer made no attempt to find the truth as it took the CT State Police one month to accept a statement from Mr. Erickson on how this man attacked him. The real attacker has a very long police record and regularly passes information to police on his brother criminals according to the statements given me. It appears the cops are protecting their source of information and silenced a political opponent at the same time. The former resident CT State Trooper left under very questionable circumstances as well, with a lot of publicity. The local people I know lack any respect for the law in this town, and ridicule them calling them “the town clowns.”
One man has asked to tell his side of the story about the police in Stafford Springs, CT. As Thomas Jefferson would have it, go to: http://www.freespeech.com/archives/001741.html
STARK COUNTY SHERIFF, Canton Ohio.
Male cops strip search innocent woman under false
arrest
In 2006 a woman was assaulted by her cousin, and called for help. Upon arrival this woman was upset, and injured. Instead of helping the woman, a deputy cuffed her and took her in to ask her some questions. The cops communication skills were poor and upset the woman. Then she was strip searched by male and female staff, and left naked in a cell for six hours without getting medical attention, being allowed to use a phone or the like. The cops claim they took her clothes for “her own protection.” She was falsely arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Her injuries included a cracked tooth, bulging disk and bruises. A federal civil rights lawsuit is underway as of February 2008 with a DVD of the strip search online at http:www.youtuibe.com/watch?v=qcsf~r12cjo
This kind of conduct would be expected from Hitler’s Gestapo or Sadam Hussein’s Secret Police, but in the USA? The outrage I felt reading this was such as not been felt in years. Sheriff Timothy A Swanson has defended his crews actions, stating the facts will come out in court later. This department and sheriff are disgusting beyond what words can express.
There are other reports of illegal and wrongful strip searches including 15 year old girls, with guards making taunting remarks to nude subjects during these searches.
The sheriff is known for not providing needed training such as that common to many law enforcement agencies; Verbal Judo by Eugene Thompson, or Practical Police Psychology by Lawrence Miller. They would have known that crime victims sometimes lose control due to the deep layers of assault; they are not even able to tell a cop from the person who assaulted them. Had this deputy known this fact known by many of use nurses, the situation could have been handled with some class instead of subjecting this woman to a second assault. The woman covered herself with toilet paper for modesty and warmth for six hours in a cell, instead of getting help asked for and expected from a cop. This will color her opinion of all cops for life as she is still traumatized 15 months later.
This sheriff is reported to us as not listening to anyone, being very proud and arrogant, as well as stubborn. Now the taxpayers get to pay for his dysfunctional personality and deputies. These deputies are more of a threat than regular criminals.
Lt Robert Kennedy was arrested in late May 2007 for sexual assault on a boy, after a call to the CT States Attorney’s Office. The cop is out on bail on paid administrative leave, charged with ten counts of second degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. His computer was also seized.
Waterbury Police continue to drag their investigation of the disappearance of Billy Smolinski, even to the point of causing his mothers false arrest by Woodridge Police for putting up missing posters on phone poles. One of the suspects, Madeline Gleason went around and took down these missing posters, only to have the family replace them. On top of that Madeline
Gleason, a suspect who refused to take a lie detector test, but was eliminated as a suspect in direct contradiction of standard practice, has filed a false and harassing lawsuit against the mother to silence her. You can read her story at www.justice4billy.com Waterbury PD has so far refused to enter the DNA of the missing man into the national database as well.
Waterbury Police were forced in February 2006 to shut down ten “massage parlors” that were thinly disguised prostitution rings employing illegal aliens under slavery. Federal authorities have indicted the operators for trafficking in interstate sex rings and forced slavery of Korean women between New York City and Waterbury. It is a well known fact that Waterbury PD officers took in a lot of money in the form of kickbacks over the years by overlooking this practice. The State’s Attorney did not tell the cops in advance where they were going, which is not the first time in the history of the department. In years past CT State Police and federal agencies pulled raids in Waterbury, only to have the Waterbury cops show up in response to reports of “illegal parking and blocked streets.” When the Waterbury cops asked why they weren’t involved in the raids, the CT State Police pointed out the long history of corruption and tip offs to criminals by local cops. The local cops were stunned into silence and humiliated.
I am receiving complaints of false arrest, beatings and general intimidation tactics by officers. Lawsuits are in progress, so no further specifics at this time. This department is being sued by the ACLU for a botched raid made at the clubhouse of The Outlaws, on the pre-text of serving an arrest warrant for a person not there. They then took every ones picture, opened all the presents, illegally searched the house, and unlawfully seized a persons address book. This has a history of having been one of the most corrupt police agencies in the history of Connecticut. While I am no fan of The Outlaws, I find it repulsive to see cops acting like criminals.
I have an officer contact inside this agency who tells me that the corruption there is beyond belief.
In the 16 November morning Hartford Courant, Westport Police Detective Walter Broadhurst was suspended without pay after he was caught on camera stealing $20 from the purse of another detective. He was also found to have an unauthorized old key that would have opened the evidence room during the time when drugs were stolen from that room. He was further cited for entering a private home without authority and submitting a false police report to cover his tracks. Connecticut State Police are investigating this person and related incidents. As a result many former and current court cases are in question with defense lawyers taking notice.
In December 2006 Detective Marvin Kasowitz was named along with New Haven Detective Benjamin Alme for a false arrest of Rev. Walter Oliver. See New Haven Police above for details.
West Haven has a long history of false arrest and racism including one shop owner having been falsely arrested 150 times, some years ago.
In July 2006 West Hartford Police falsely detained and assaulted an innocent black man with a Taser. Chase E. Garrett was mowing the lawn when fired upon with a Taster, cuffed, dragged across the grass and paved lot. Officers then pulled his wallet and realized this was the wrong man. After the cops looked at each other in a stupid fashion, he was then released. Officers lied and said the man tried to run. Mr. Garrett was mistaken for his cousin who is wanted. There have been no apologies, or charges filed against the criminal cops either.
In June 2006 Officer James Parizo was charged with false arrest following an incident at Conard High School where a student, Francisco Acevedo filmed police in what has been charged as excessive force used in retaliation for an earlier student walkout and protest over immigration policies. Officer Parizo took the camera and memory card. Acevedo and his lawyer went to federal court to get the camera back, and prevent the destruction of the filmed evidence of police misconduct. Acevedo was suspended and will not be allowed to graduate with his class or attend the class party unless the federal judge issues an emergency order over freedom of speech issues. Acevedo was also arrested for breach of peace and interfering with an officer after following a vice principals order to stop filming. Lawsuits are expected. With the high rate of violent crime on the cities border with Hartford, one would think West Hartford PD has real work to do instead of this kind of petty political stuff that is obviously school administration abusing it’s authority to squelch political rights and free speech.
The WHPD was sued by a man after he charges being wrongfully arrested while trying to drive his wife to the hospital. His wife was about to give birth to a baby. The charges of assault on an officer were later reduced to breach of peace. It is charged that instead of helping, the police officer falsely arrested an innocent man trying to drive just a little above the speed limit.
This department and two of it’s officers were featured in an Hartford Advocate article that detailed how an innocent man was threatened with arrest for refusing to pay a local towing service an illegal service charge. The man was grabbed, held and threatened with arrest, in violation of state law. The matter is required to be settled through civil process with police having no legal authority to act. The tow truck service owner is a buddy of this department. The WHPD Internal Affairs refuses to detail what action was taken against the officers and has blocked arrest warrants. Watch this department as they have a long history of problems including racism.
Officer Angelo Moscato was forced to ask prosecutors to drop charges of sexual assault against a Nigerian immigrant working as a cab driver. The man was falsely arrested by West Haven Police after a 15 year old girl made up the charges to get out of paying a cab fare. Arrested on May 8th 2006, he was released on May 24th after inconsistencies in the girl’s story forced the police to back off. No charges against the girl or the police have been brought
West Haven has a long history of false arrest including 150 charges in years past against a local businessman for speaking up against the department. All 150 charges were dismissed when an outside review revealed the abuse. Many other incidents of racism and physical abuse have been reported over the years. These cops are clearly unprofessional to say the least.
In August 2008 three cops were removed from duty, with two quitting, following a dashcam recorded beating of a handcuffed citizen. The victim suffered a broken jaw and bruised eyes. Officers Louis Schwartz and Jason Zangara were fired, with Officer Kurt Graham deciding to resign. Charges are in question against this falsely arrested Spanish man.
In June 2008 a 47 year old man died in custody after being imporoperly restrained. The man stopped breathing after being cuffed and thrown in a cruiser, having stopped breathing which was discovered upon arrival at the police station. The man was most like cuffed with his hands behind his back, and placed prone. Any trained cop or psychiatric nurse knows this cripples the diaphragm, causing suffocation. This is gross negligence at the very least.
This is one department having a long history of false arrest, brutality and racism.
In February 2009 Luzerne County Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michasel Conahan were indicted for taking bribes to fill the cells of a private juvenile jail they had “arrangements” with. They are now in prison. About $2.6 million in payoffs were taken from PA Child Care LLC and Western PA Child Care. The judges were accused of “riding roughshod” over the civil rights of children, often only taking one or two minutes to sentence thousands of youths to months in jail for minor offenses such as stealing change or prank notes. The two judges have agreed to plead guilty. Many children were forced to appear without lawyers in direct violation of a Supreme Court ruling in 1967.The judges will spend more than seven years in federal prison. Meanwhile the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court had to void all the cases heard by these crooked judges. A class action lawsuit has been filed demanding the private jail return the money for victims and all convictions be reversed with records being expunged. This scandal has been described by all as the “worst in history.” Still in March 2009 the state has yet to release a clearly innocent young man after over 600 days in jail, as reviews to overturn and expunge slowly get underway. Other court officials including Sandra Bulo have pleaded guilty and are cooperating with federal investigators. Legal experts think this is just the tip of the iceberg.
In December 2007 a federal jury awarded a couple 15.5 million dollars for their false arrest resulting in being sent to death row, only to have DNA prove sheriffs deputies framed them with falsified evidence. The woman almost decided to kill herself in prison, but decided not to; this story melted the jury into tears. Still no apology or owning up to this criminal act of deception by the sheriff.
Hotel owners have filed a lawsuit against Sheriff Paul Kaupas after charges were dropped following false arrests in a bungled ID Theft investigation, with dramatic raids just before election day. The charges include acting with “:deliberate, reckless indifference,” and manufacturing false charges. The owners, Koreans, almost lost the business they spent thirty years building because of loss of reputation. A confidential informant was staying at the hotel, and had used other people’s credit card numbers to pay his bill; the owners reported this to the cops, only to be falsely arrested. This is what you get when you use sheriff’s instead of real police, sending out a boy to do a man’s job.
Headlines were blazing in The Chicago Tribune about the rape of a man while in custody, and how officers forced the victim to recant his story. A jail guard named “Snowball” saw the attack and failed to stop it. Hospital tests confirmed a sexual assault, but two goon guards stopped on the way back to the jail prior to his release, and forced the man to recant the complaint. A lawsuit is in progress.
Another lawsuit is in progress for a woman who suffered a brutal beating in an area without cameras, by the Emergency Response Team.
Another innocent man is headed towards dismissal of rape and murder another man was convicted of the crime. In a typical act of North Carolina judicial arrogance Forsyth County DA Tom Keith reviews the case to see if he should be prosecuted. The other man also admitted to having acted alone. This innocent man discovered and attempted to report the crime, and spent 39 months in jail for trying to tell the cops. This should be a no-brainer, find the innocent ma not guilty and let him go free. Welcome to North Carolina justice; red neck sheriffs.
Officer Scott Nugent was charged with causing the death of a handcuffed man, while in handcuffs. The victim was a black man. The trial is set to commence in the near future.
Windsor Police now find themselves involved in a mess with the Windsor Volunteer Ambulance, which they are involved in the administration of. Many members have quit leaving American Medical Response covering the calls. Reports reaching me say that the political and financial health of the WVA are at best in “grave” condition, with the existence of the WVA in serious question. Reports have reached me that WVA went from $600,000 in the bank to $30,000 in the red, in short order. Reports are they bought a fish tank, wall plasma TV, replaced the kitchen and furniture, bought unneeded new bikes for the bike team, went off mission to start a dive team, replaced a car smashed up by a certain officer as well as not waiting for rotation dates to buy two more new ambulances, on top of one that had to be replaced. There have been several investigations at the local and higher levels involving allegations of significant misconduct. On top of that there was an election where the ballots were tainted by several irregularities, and a clique of members led by then Assistant Chief Daniel Savelli, now Chief of Operations, called a “Special Meeting” and voted to overturn the Grievance Committee, reinstating a tainted election, making Ransford Smith Jr . the new president, before Mr. Smith left to become EMS Coordinator at Bloomfield Ambulance, where he only lasted a few short months. We have a large number of witnesses from that Grievance Committee meeting to back up this statement. Chief of Operations Daniel Savelli is the son of the founder, the late Douglas Savelli who left WVA service under dishonorable conditions as a convicted sex offender for a sexual assault charge involving an incident within the WVA building. His son has vowed to carry on his “daddy’s work.” The mayhem has not just reduced the level of service provided by WVA, but has spilled over to Bloomfield Volunteer Ambulance, a reliable service run by The Bloomfield Police Department. See the section on Bloomfield Police on the previous page.
In June 2006 a report was published of a man who experts say was coerced into a false confession for sexual assaults he could not have possibly committed, lying in jail without any hope of release after being pressured into “plea bargains” in Connecticut facing a long sentence while the officials convene a conference to prevent false confessions in vulnerable people who lack mental capacity, have head injuries or are mentally retarded. This is too late for one man. Windsor Police detectives are charged with getting this “confession” for Rhode Island authorities.
In 2005 this police department hit the wrong apartment on Broad Street punching down the doors, throwing Robert Zimnoch to the floor and holding a gun to his head. They apologized and withdrew when they realized the mistake. Within a year they hit another wrong house again on Criags Rd, sending an innocent women to the hospital with an asthma attack. Had they searched the utility and town property records, it would have been obvious the house was sold a month earlier, thus making the warrant invalid. Lawsuits are pending in both cases against several police departments who provided officers for the raids.
A Windsor Police Sergeant, Chris McKee was arrested for DUI by Bristol Police after a party given in his honor. I have yet to hear of any disciplinary action or legal penalty against this man, who to the best of my knowledge is still an officer.
In April 2004 Officer Dennis Adams was arrested and charged with threatening a women he was dating with a gun It is charged Adams threatened the woman with the release of tapes of the two having sex, and made a threatening phone call from his cell phone wile on patrol duty.
In August 2004, Officer Charles Bagley was arrested after a search recovered stolen lap top computers and other property belonging to the Windsor Police Department. The search followed three charges of domestic violence.
Another innocent man was freed off death row after spending ten years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Mr. Alan Gel had is conviction overturned on 18 February 2004 by a jury. The fact that police and the District Attorney in the original trial had withheld massive amount of evidence from witnesses that indicated Mr. Gel could not have committed the crime. In fact he was in jail when the murder was committed. Prosecutors relied on falsified statements by two witnesses who cut a deal to get reduced sentences. There is now a moratorium on death sentences being carried out in North Carolina as a result of this case and the Darryl Hunt case (see Winston-Salem Police). Charges of misconduct and worse are starting to emerge from this and other cases in North Carolina. This is another police agency to avoid.
WINDSOR LOCKS POLICE, CT
In October 2010 off duty Officer Micheal Kostinen, the son of Sgt Robert Kostinen, hit and killed a 15 year old boy who was riding home on his bike. Video evidenced obtained by The Connecticut State Police shows Michael Kostinen drinking in a nearby bar and waliking in a very unsteady way, just before the accident. Other evidence indicates him being present at a sports drinking party in East Hartford immediately before going to the Suffield Tavern, and drinking six hours straight before the accident, when he was headed to another party. On top of that his police co-workers failed to obtain an alcohol test, with his father, Sgt Robert Kostinen, being present on scene and in charge. Officer Michael Koistinen was arrested by the Connecticut State Police on NOV 18, 2010, charged with first degree manslaughter, second degree manslaughter, negligent homicide with a motor vehicle and attemot to commit tampering with physical evidence. He is out on $50K bond, while his father, Sgt Robert Koistinen was fired after being arrested for interference with an investigation, it being said by the Connecticut State Police that aid was given to prevent criminal charges from being filed against his son. Sgt. Robert Koistinen has a well deserved reputation as a hard nosed cop who busted many citizens for the smallest offense, as well as being a skilled politician, gossip monger and responsible for pushing out honest cops, according to inside sources. A direct “order” was issued by former Chief John Suchocki that no will have anything to say about the case to anyone as they circle the police cars to protect their own. The family was told nothing, and figured out something was not consistent; they hired a lawyer and now the truth has come out. State’s Attorney Gail Hardy had the State Police take over the case from The North Central Municipal Regional Accident Reconstruction Team, where there are many friends of these two cops. The State Police have also examined a very long skid mark. It’s pretty obvious what happened, and the townspeople are very angry at the cops, speaking in anger while voting at a town meeting to bring in an outside investigator from Boston. Time will tell if Sgt. Robert Koistinen like being an inmate, as his son faces 10 years after police destroyed the chain of custody for key evidence. Maybe they can share the same cell. It turns out that this drunken cop was rejected by five police departments and required six extra months to retest after failing required training. The psychologist expressed concerns over Michael being “inmature,” but the police commission hired the son of one their own. This accident has the legislature looking at new laws to prevent losers like this from working as cops. The state police investigated the other cops, including Sgt Robert Koistinen, for possible obstruction of justice, and two on duty cops who responded to the scene of the fatal accident, for a cover up to protect another cop. The Police Commission met on Wednesday, December 8, 2010, firing Officer Michael Koistinen, upon the request of the former chief. Chief John Suchocki and the rest of the department will also be subject to an outside review ordered by First Selectman Steve Wawruck, after it emerged that Police Chief John Suchocki told state police he had not conversed with Officer Michael Koistinen after the crash, but an East Windsor EMT told the state police of overhearing the chief talking to Koistinen, saying “worry about yourself right now.” The first thing Michael Koistinen was worried about was his “probation,” and not the dead teenager on the ground, that this drunken cop had just run over.
In January 2011, the family filed a civil suit against former Chief John Suchocki, Sgt. Robert Koistinen, former officer Michael Koistinen and the Koistinen family, responding officer Paul Sherakow and responding officer Robert Lacasse. They plan to sue the Town of Windsor Locks as well. The owner of the bar, Jacek Bucior, was sued for serving an obviously drunk customer and then allowing Officer Michael Koistinen to drive away, then causing the fatal accident.
Other cops have gotten into trouble too. Former Sergeant MacDugald tried to stop the arrest of his son;
both were arrested and the cop “retired’” after this cops was getting involved
with a sixteen year old girl he met during an investigation over parental
sexual abuse. Years ago Officer Bertussi was
caught stealing money out the wallets of arrested people; he “retired.” Another
cop’s kid was a driver in a fatal motor cycle accident, passing himself off as
a passenger. The cop’s kid never got anything out of it. Other cops have been
involved in drugs, bookmaking on duty, safecracking, and beating people up.
Most of the dirt never was seen because it was covered up. The late Officer Kenny Kersias died in an accident after leaving a bar, once being
put on leave for two years following the theft of medication from a local
pharmacy safe. Several other former officers left hastily under mysterious
circumstances.
The chief was forced to “retire,” as well as two more cops will be fired while looking at possible charges as well A new outside chief was hired from out of the region to clean up this cesspool. The citizens spoke openly to the press at the special town meeting to authorize $30,000 for the outside investigation, stating the general loss of confidence in their local police. Not one citizen spoke in favor of the police. That says it all. The first pick for the chief’s job withdrew his acceptance in January 2012, by email. A new Chairman of the police commission was elected, and it appears very few people are willing to clean up this mess. Who can blame them?
In early 2012 Judge Hartsfield, Forsyth County Courts, was suspended for ticket fixing involving members of her church. There are questions as to why this minority female is not in jail, but can remain a lawyer and return to the bench. Officers Rudolpho Zermeno and John Patterson Berry were both arrested for assault on a female, and got put in jail. Meanwhile the appeals drag on for a man in prison most likely framed by Winston-Salem cops: the Silk Forest case. Dispatcher Raymond Edwards Kish was arrested for possession of child pornography in May 2012 and got put in jail too. We have criminals in police cars loose in the city. What next?
In 2011 & 2012 the cops are trying to keep a low profile as the Silk Forest Case winds it’s way through appeals. It will probably take a federal judge to free another innocent man.
In January 2011, Chief Scott Cunningham announced a local TV version of “Cops” to show the public how cops are trained. In November 2010, the department issued a finding that there was no reason to reopen the Silk Forest case. A civilian panel ruled “no confidence” in the department, while an innocent man will be forced to wait in jail for a federal review.
In March 2010 Chief Scott Cunningham admitted that key pieces of evidence were never tested in the Silk Forest case. An innocent man is likely stuck in jail because of the stubborn resistance of former DA Tom Keith and the cops. It has been decided to change “some procedures,” but will that get another innocent man out of jail? Not if the DA has anything to say about it. Many other cases are likely to be re-opened as well so hang on for a rough ride. This is one police force you should not trust at all. Throw them out, call your lawyer but call The Forsyth Sheriff if you have to, call the good guys.
In January 2010 another overturn freed an innocent 17 year old black male, falsely arrested and convicted for robbery at an ATM. Even though the money in his pocket was not the same denomination was the ATM money, DA Tom Keith and The Winston-Salem Police got a conviction. The victim was also unable to identify the innocent man, who was sent to prison. It appears little has changed following two other overturns in Winston-Salem as racism and inept cops rule the streets.
In October 2009 Officer Mark D Cottone was charged with larceny and fired. The good news is that Forsyth County District Attorney Tom Keith retitred in December 2009! This racist man pushed his “law and order” mentality, tying the hands of his own staff, putting innocent people in prison. The cops have lost their best friend that let them get away with anything. Lets hope the new DA not be like is pal, Mike Nifong, the duisgacred Durham County DA.
In September 2009 another innocent man was freed after 14 years in prison for a double rape DNA proves he didn’t do. He was falsely arrested by this department with the help of flawed eye witness identification. They are facing a third overturn in the Silk Forest killing as well. This remains a problem department fair warning to anyone; do not trust these cops! Even the District Attorney, Tom Keith, is under fire for racist remarks with calls for him to resign. He continues to fight freeing a third most likely innocent man in The Silk Forest murder; the cops are going to investigate themselves on this matter due to the City Council giving them low marks of confidence and openly questioning the truthfulness of the lead detective in the report that secured the conviction.
Now The Darryl Hunt Project is active, as an answer to the framing and false arrest by this department. You can look them up at www.darrylhuntproject.org
In late July 2008 the new chief, Scott Cunningham, was bragging to the press about how great his cops were doing, solving a bank robbery in just one day. The rest of the story were the facts that the suspect stuck around afterwards, and used his own vehicle in the robbery. So if the suspect is guilty, he is dumb as dirt and it wouldn’t take much intelligence for a cop to find him at a local motel. The new chief says he is “impressed with the department,” and has not yet found anything in file cabinets that he doesn’t like. He has yet to admit the racism and lazy thugs that locked up an innocent man for 19 years, until DNA freed Darryl Hunt. He claims to be reaching to thirty community leaders; a publicity stunt and damage control with carefully chosen folks, after Darryl Hunt. He needs to admit the fault of the department and take action against the cops that violated human rights. While he claims to listen, mostly to his cops, we see not action to arrest and convict the criminal element within the department. We figure at least seven to ten cops need to become inmates. We see no results. Our local office gives failing grades as of early August 2008 to the new Master of Whitewash. Sources on the street tell us the local police “could care less about Darryl Hunt and still think he is guilty!” This kind of “business as usual” culture has to change, but don’t count on it.
In June the city hired a new police chief from Cary, NC. Scott Cunningham has his work cut out for him as a huge cesspool of bad cops and culture needs cleaning up. Time will tell if he is Mr. Clean or just another good ole boy, and we will be watching as we now have an office active in Winston-Salem. Local cops beware, we are watching you, don’t mess this one up.
In January 2008 one local cop was overheard bragging about how anyone “who doesn’t do what I say, gets tasered!” Other cops laughed as he said this. The cop let on about made up charges to cover the use of this deadly weapon. This cop has stripes on his uniform so this is the leadership speaking.
We have heard many complaints of cops removing females from their homes without decent clothing, even taking pictures of them.
In December 2007 another case is headed for overturn,
another innocent man, Kalvin Micheal
Smith, having
spent 10 years in prison. There was no evidence to link this man to the crime,
except recanted testimony from a jail house snitch; real credible don’t you
think? Police and DA misconduct has emerged as well. The local paper carried another story front
page about the Forsyth
District Attorney Tom Keith refusing cooperation and actively
resisting requests by The North Carolina Innocence Project to work on cases for
inmates with evidence of being in prison as actual innocents. Even Duke Law
Professor Jim Coleman has publicly criticized Tom
Keith for not backing up promises to work with Duke’s Innocence
Project, and dragging his feet on requests. Tom
Keith tries to explain this as the result of the heavy workload his
office has, while innocent people rot in prison. It’s
time for a recall in Forsyth County to remove Tom Keith! Tom Keith fought the overturn of Darryl Hunt and tried to
keep this innocent man in prison. This man is a fox guarding the henhouse,
looking out for the cops first and their “image.” Is this DA a
racist, and why do black men stay in prison as actual innocents while this man
“studies” cases? Does Tom Keith have a tailored white sheet in his garage? Ever
since receiving public criticism, he has slowed down freeing actual innocents. I have talked with local lawyers who tell me Darryl Hunt
was kept in prison due to political pressure, as Forsyth County DA Tom Keith
and the police refused to admit a mistake.
The police chief ordered new, science based ID systems implemented to prevent this from happening again. The chief had her own top brass countermand her, even sharing messages with the other law enforcement agencies that “The Winston-Salem Police Department will never change!” This made it’s way to the front page of the paper. Guess what, the brass are feeling the heat in a political melt down because the chief’s order stands. This type of thing shows the lack of integrity and honor too common among North Carolina lawmen.
Another innocent man walked out of prison just in time for Christmas 2003. Darryl Hunt spent the last 18 years in prison for a rape-murder DNA links to another man. Another person has been arrested and confessed to the crime, yet in still yet another act of judicial arrogance, Mr. Hunt was forced to put up $250,000 bond until returning to court on 6 February 2004 when the false conviction was finally overturned “with prejudice.” The Forsyth County DA, Tom Keith, aggressively tried to put him back in prison! Charges of racism and incompetence have been leveled against The Winston-Salem Police Department in this case. The man is lucky to be alive given the long documented history of KKK led blind justice and the death penalty in this state. The State of North Carolina manipulated him into taking a lowball settlement of $358,000 for 18 years in prison, when the national average for settlement is $1,000,000 per year. This is a case I remember from living there in 1985 and they made quite a sensation of it. Shame on the WSPD. How many other innocent people has this department put in prison?
Do not even talk to any WSPD officer or cooperate with them in any fashion possible as this case has divided the citizens, many of whom are black, against a jack booted racist thug police agency! The case has damaged the image of the city nationwide as the truth finally came out. These cops are unsafe to deal with or be around! Be careful and run the other way if you can. Now the state has put together an “Innocence Commission” to stop innocent people from being convicted in the future, but they stacked the commission with all law enforcement people. How about some actual innocents who spent time in jail for some balance?
See the Waterbury Police, CT for their role in the abuse of the Smolinski family in the disappearance of their son Billy. One of their local politicians has engineered a cover up.
In August 2007, news emerged how the SWAT Team hit the wrong address, in this case an empty house, violating policy by throwing a flash grenade inside the house. The cops cursed upon being told they hit the wrong house. The chief is backing up his goon squad. Civilians nearby blew the cover up to the press.
In August 2007, Officer Brian W Benedict was sentenced to seven months in prison for drug dealing, followed by seven months of home electronic confinement. This cop was distributing the drugs used by body builders such as GHB & GBL, cocaine and ecstasy. Another of Worcester’s finest, Officer Heriberto Arroyo was convicted in June 2007, on the testimony of Benedict, who plead down. It is plain Worcester still has scum in the ranks of it’s police in 2007.
In October 2006 the City of Worcester paid $250,000 to a man who charged he was beaten by Worcester Police after his questionable arrest in 2003. Police charge the man uttered insults at them. The man charged he was removed from a holding cell, and police knocked his legs out from underneath him. The man further charged the police had made racist remarks about him first. After the man began to urinate blood he asked for medical help, which was denied. Upon making bail at midnight he went to a city hospital and underwent emergency surgery. The videotape of the booking area was erased while under the command of Sgt James Johnson, now a Lt. The city states the tape was not erased in a nefarious fashion. Charged in the suit were officers Shane M Marcotte, Jason E Farion, Daniiel Fallon III, Jonathon M Cotter, Sgt Carl J Supemore and Lt James Johnson. The suit charged excessive force, assault, battery, failure to intervene and/or report misconduct, and failure to supervise and/or discipline. Why didn’t any of these cops go to jail?
This department has a history of corruption, brutality, racial profiling, false arrest and more.
In August 2007, Jail Security Guard Matron Francie Melanson was busted for stealing medications belonging to inmates being held in the county jail annex and courthouse in East Brookfield. She was caught on camera after complaints. It required an investigation by the Massachusetts State Police to clean up this mess. The case was moved to Lawrence District Court due a conflict of interest. Melanson has been a Matron Guard since 1993.
ZION Police, Illinois
An innocent man walked free after five years in jail, after being beaten into a “confession.” The Lake County DA and cops forgot about checking for DNA once the “confession” was forced under torture. A federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed in December 2010.
Officer Wayne Simones has been charge with federal civil rights violations for a violent takedown of a woman during a medical call which appears to be a false arrest. The woman spent four days in the hospital with a broken jaw and was found not guilty of obstructing police. The woman has sued police for $11.3 million.
Akron PD, Ohio
Akron Police and the courts falsely arrested a 14 year old girl for running away to avoid testifying against a sexual predfator, illegally placing her in a county jail. An appeals court ordered the girl released. Why did not the police protect her after returning her home? This department has other issues with racism and brutality as well.
In January 2012, a new chief took over cleaning house, to restore trust in the department. Good luck to him as it will be a very long uphill battle.
In November 2006 a former Captain of this department was arrested for DUI in Plainville. Daniel Britt was a controversial figure while employed, and lived up to his reputation by refusing to take a field sobriety test and driving on an expired license. During his colorful term of service Britt was the subject of internal affairs investigations for being intoxicated at the scene of a crime, DUI, and making racist comments on a pirate radio station with other officers.
A Hartford judge dismissed charges against Mr. Quincy Smith, falsely arrested on motor vehicle charges including evading responsibility. Mr. Smith was arrested even though he has no drivers license, has no car, has no record and the physical description of the suspect didn’t even come close. The department ignored the other Mr. Smith when told the facts and the innocent Mr. Smith contacted police to clear up the mess! In spite of these facts the department fought relentlessly to gain a conviction. These folks are inept and lack respect for basic human rights. We hear a lawsuit is in the works.
In late June 2007, this department saw Officer Bobby Cutts Jr. arrested for the brutal murder of his pregnant girlfriend. Her body was found in a wooded area with the fetal remains also recovered. He has been charged with two counts of murder and is being held in the Stark County Jail, on suspension from the Canton Police Department.
As of November 2006, Officer Roy Collar is under investigation but not suspended after being charged with sending a picture of his genitals to a woman he arrested while on the DUI Taskforce. He was taken off the DUI Taskforce.
This department has not escaped the national publicity of the corruption scandal involving the now former Governor John Rowland who has resigned to escape impeachment while under federal investigation for taking kickbacks from state contractors and friends. While the former governor pled to a one year prison term he has since served, Ct State Police Major Gregory Senick was arrested in early July on the charges of larceny and conspiracy. It is alleged that Senick bilked the state for over $10,000 in the upkeep of is almost rent-free state owned home. The new Governor, Jodi Rell demanded his badge, gun and car back. The owner of the property maintenance company, Joesph Murphy was also arrested. The former Commissioner of Public Safety, Arthur Spada spent more time doing radio shows than supervising state police; his laissez-faire style has put the department in crisis. The department has very little of a reputation left as a result; this has damaged the good troopers who remain honest.