After Killing His Dogs, Police Admit Mayor Calvo Was Probably Innocent
The botched drug raid fiasco in Berwyn Heights, MD grows more embarrassing for Prince George's County police everyday. Their theory is now that a deliveryman was planning on intercepting the package:
Prince George's Police Chief Melvin C. High did not apologize to the Calvos or exonerate them completely in the case. However, he said police have discovered five or six other similar deliveries made in recent days to addresses where people inside had no knowledge of the delivery. He said he believed the Calvos were "likely" innocent but that police continue to investigate. [Washington Post]
It bothers me to no end that this whole mess seems to hinge in many people's minds on the ultimate determination of whether or not the Calvos had anything to do with the marijuana. While I agree that the destruction of innocent lives and property is one of the most disturbing consequences of our wildly out-of-control war on drugs, I think Police Chief High (don't laugh, not funny) is missing the point.
His officers shot two black Labradors, one of which was running away. It's just barbaric. A source who attended a memorial service for the dogs learned that the raiding officers didn’t even know the homeowner was the mayor until they began interrogating him. The point isn’t that he deserved special treatment, but rather that police didn’t even conduct a basic investigation of their suspects. They went in blind, and their subsequent violent actions owe much to the ignorance that guided them throughout the process. This type of policing is unacceptable categorically and without regard to one's occupation or even their involvement in drugs.
Worse yet, there's absolutely nothing unique or exceptional about any of it. As this very story unfolded we learned that a Lima, OH officer was acquitted of negligence charges after shooting a baby and killing her unarmed mother in a drug raid. He literally used the excuse that the sound of his fellow officers shooting dogs downstairs startled him, causing him to shoot at a shadow. That shadow turned out to be Tarika Wilson, who he killed while also shooting her baby's finger off.
Horrible drug raid stories have become vastly more common than they ought to be. The patterns are disturbingly familiar, the excuses are disturbingly unpersuasive, and the next similar disaster will occur disturbingly soon. Just watch.
cops gone wild
Comment posted by consfearacy on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 5:47pm- consfearacy
Drug Cop kicks open door and sees something black making a fuss and moving. Let`s all bow to the trigger.Get a white jury. Who cares? Mayor Calvo, is that you? Welcome to America.The Mayors mother-in-law could have turned around from the stove with a shiny object in her hand. And black skin. Bow to the trigger.The Prince George County { sheriff ] Spokesperson said " it was not a failed operation." Live on CNN today. In the DRUG WAR , the end always justifies the means. Never mind what happened at Mayor Calvo`s home. Or the countless others. In the end there was a drug bust. As long as it`s " those" people, no one seems to care.The Mayor probably didn`t care about this kind of activity until it affected him. What you send out will come back to you. When you least expect it. This is a prime opportunity for [ Obama} ? to inject civil rights into the election . I`d like to set up a production company and make videos for sale called "cop`s gone wild." The payoff would be to present it Congress and have it broadcast on "mainstream?" tv. Only problem though is that the Republicans would somehow filibuster. The Sheild was a good show. Mayor Calvo saying that kind of activity is "systemic" was the understatement of the year. Welcome to America. LAND of the " free."
Worse since 9/11
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/15/2008 - 12:27pmI was a Baltimore City police officer from 1972 - 1974, so I have firsthand knowledge that there have always been cowboys on the police force. However, even their worse shenanigans back then pale in comparison with the blatantly abusive behavior and excess routinely engaged in by today's law enforcement officials. It seems to me that, since 9/11 and the subsequent methodical stripping away of our basic rights and freedoms by cleverly named miscarriages of justice like the Patriot Act, law enforcement officials perceive themselves as God in a blue uniform, operating with no reasonable restraint. Something dramatic needs to be done to reign them in, but unfortunately I believe it will only get much worse in the days to come.
Yeah Sure
Comment posted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 3:52amThere is enjoying one's freedom and then there is being a drug dealer. You can grow your own weed just like you grow tomatoes. You start dealing the stuff, bringing around dirtbags, criminals and low-lifes, then you're endangering other people, thus infringing on their freedom.
Smoking is doobie is totally cool, but when you start making it a business, then that is a whole other ball game.
Justice
Comment posted by ph0ed1n on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 8:25am"You start dealing the stuff, bringing around dirtbags, criminals and low-lifes, then you're endangering other people, thus infringing on their freedom."
Alcohol "dealers" are doing the same thing, but that's allowable by the U.S. government.
The definition of justice includes the word fairness.
When the U.S. government decides which abuses or risks are legal or not (which the American foundation does not condone), Liberty disappears.
The U.S. government has no authority to ban something on the sole basis that it has a potential for abuse, which is what drug prohibition is all about.
That's not what happened here.
Comment posted by Scott Morgan on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 10:45amThis was just bad policing. Even dirtbags don't kill your dogs.
Dirtbags DO kill dogs (and other animals, and people-kids, etc)
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/08/2008 - 1:12pmnot to stray off the subject, but ARE YOU SERIOUS?
visit your local shelter or animal rescue to find out what people do to your dogs (and others-visit some foster kids, etc.)...law enforcement definitely isn't immune to dirtbags as members
I think you misunderstood
Comment posted by Scott Morgan on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 12:44pmWhat I meant is police killing people's dogs is a worse crime than most of the other crap that goes on in our communities.
Police lacked appropriate warrant
Comment posted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 9:23amThe especially egregrious aspect of the raid on Calvo was that police did not have a "no-knock" warrant, as they initially claimed. This makes their attack patently illegal. Those involved should immediately resign and indictments should be brought against the perpetrators. Note also that this will cost county taxpayers dearly as the county gov't spends our money to defend the indefensible.
Yup
Comment posted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 12:11pmHome Invaders Are Criminals... Didn't Have Warrant!
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/08/2008 - 3:22pmBullets are cheap...!
Please sign the petition to the Prince George PD
Comment posted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 3:32pmPlease visit www.petitionsite.com to sign the petition to be sent to the Chief of the Prince Georges PD about this horrible incident.
The Police Dept deserves to be FIRED Immediately! Then Sued!
Comment posted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 5:23pmThere is something SERIOUSLY wrong with this department and their "JOHN WAYNE WANNABE" officers who bust into a house without a warrant...CHASE DOWN a dog and shoot it. I hope the Calvos' sue the the bejeezes of them until they are BROKE, OUT OF WORK and HOMELESS. What complete scum.
Silver Lining?
Comment posted by puregenius on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 11:38pmAfter the anger subsides, I can only hope that this incident will make the mayor see the detriment the war on drugs have done to local police agencies.
I hope the anger doesn't subside... family members are dead!
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/08/2008 - 3:13pmAnd as far as I'm concerned the assholes responsible for this criminal act should be put down themselves.
Fact is a home invading pigs life is not worth the life of a home protecting family member.
Glad to hear the mayor is calling for a federal civil rights law
suit against the home invaders.... maybe his voice will have some weight and can draw overdue attention to the crimes of our gov't.
Bottomline: Kill my dog... and I'll kill you!
Black, White, Blue or Green
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/08/2008 - 8:01amYes, we welcome the Mayor to something not so atypical. I think we should be happy it happened to someone in politics b/c at least he's speaking out, blaming the police and government and being forceful about how horrible he was treated. The gov't does stink, big brother is watching but the only way to get full public outrage is to hear these cases one by one until something happens. If something happens. How disgusted are we ALL?
Kill my dog... I kill you!
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/08/2008 - 3:03pmQ. When is a home invading pigs life more important than a dogs life?
A. It's not... never has been... never will be!
God won't be able to help, or recognize, the home invading fuck(s) that kill my dog(s).
Be looking for you in hell fuckers!
Mayor Calvo
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/08/2008 - 3:56pmThis makes me sick. Redneck para-military punks that blow away the Mayor's dogs. Ever known a dog that could fire a weapon in his/her own defense?
In Seattle, these punks who become cops are because they are losers who "need" to be told what to do. When I was in the Army, the MP's I knew wanted to become members of the FBI or CIA when they got out. Why?
To kill people and "clean the streets".
Mayor Calvo should sue the ass off his Nazi's patrols. And he WILL win!
Killing the dogs first is standard operating procedure
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/08/2008 - 5:20pmIt doesn't matter if they are the sweetest dogs in the world and they are running away to hide. The cops kill your dogs to shock you into compliance. The unstated message is, "Listen MF'er, WE ARE GOD FOR YOU RIGHT NOW. We have the authority and power to kill your dogs and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it. And if you don't STFU and do exactly as you're told YOU'RE NEXT!"
Generally, the combination of shock, fear, and emotional loss causes the "perps" to comply.
I hope that Mayor Calvo uses this case to expose and end this despicable practice.
Attempted Murder!
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/08/2008 - 8:34pmThe Terrorist agents should be tried for attempted murder and acts of terrorism. If you don't think that they are terrorist look up the state department’s definition of terrorism.
Terrorism: is "the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion."
Coercion: is” the act of compelling by force of authority.”
The "war on terrorism" is as phony as the "war on drugs".
acts of terrorism
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/08/2008 - 8:36pmThe Terrorist agents should be tried for attempted murder and acts of terrorism. If you don't think that they are terrorist look up the state department’s definition of terrorism.
Terrorism: is "the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion."
Coercion: is” the act of compelling by force of authority.”
The "war on terrorism" is as phony as the "war on drugs".
Scott...
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 11:10amyou said you would edit-out the violence stuff,right? Although I must admit, the Calvo case has got me in a "HEAD ON RESISTANCE MODE",myself.
Understood
Comment posted by Scott Morgan on Thu, 08/14/2008 - 10:02pmBut look how well Calvo's dignified response is playing with the press. We cannot beat the police at their own game. We must be stoic and peaceful in order to expose their frantic violence as the public embarrassment that it truly is.
beyond arrogance
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 12:10pmWith each passing day, chief high and sheriff jackson express increasingly contemptible attitudes.
chief high:
"...regret that they were victimized by drug dealers..."
Sorry chief, but no matter how you try to spin it, they were victimized by you.
sheriff jackson:
"....extremely upset that the Calvos had called for and been granted a civil rights review by the FBI. He asked the public for patience while his staff conducts its own internal review,......."
sheriff jackson:
"I will not put up with disrespecting this community and using this badge for more than what it is. This badge is a ray of hope and a beacon of light"
sheriff, how long do you have to practice to say stuff like this with a straight face ?
From the Washington Post article:
".....The sheriff's department, which provided its swat teamf for the raid....."
Are we to understand that the prince george's county police were shopping around for some mercenaries, and the sheriff's department had some for hire?
sheriff jackson:
".....you really don't have time to deal with that dog......You have to secure and go......."
I guess even the sheriff could no longer bring himself to declare that one of his employees felt threatened by the dogs, especially the one that was running away.
chief high and sheriff jackson, not to worry. As despicably as your departments have acted, and as belligerent as is your attitude towards the people who unfortunately have to pay your salaries, you will come out of this unscathed. You always do.
Not this time...
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sun, 08/10/2008 - 11:11am...sheriff ActionJackson is up against a peoples wall of anger and an FBI investigation.He's desperate, and he's over and out. Dead dogs he made,dead dog he is.Has been a long time coming and it could'nt happen to a bigger prick.Bet he cries a lot when he's forced to resign.
Um...
Comment posted by Anonymous on Wed, 08/20/2008 - 12:31amI think the best outcome would have been if the cop dropping the drugs on the doorstep was shot during a citizen's arrest for a felony-in-progress. Since that didn't happen, I'll settle for the sheriff and his deputies swinging by their fat, arrogant necks.
big brother
Comment posted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 1:31amIs there no end to the insanity of the drug war ? What ever happened to the land of the free ? Is this kind of law enforcement the way of the future ? In my day it was America home of the free and the brave. Now it's America home of the law and the brave.