Posted on 08/27/2014 3:37:04 PM PDT by Bobka
The Tacoma Police Department apparently has bought — and quietly used for six years — controversial surveillance equipment that can sweep up records of every cellphone call, text message and data transfer up to a half a mile away.
You don’t have to be a criminal to be caught in this law enforcement snare. You just have to be near one and use a cellphone.
Police Chief Don Ramsdell, through a spokeswoman, declined an interview request to talk about the police department’s apparent purchase of a Stingray device and associated technology. The department cited a nondisclosure agreement it has with the FBI.
The police department did offer to have a lieutenant review The News Tribune’s questions but only if they were submitted in advance so that they could be vetted to determine whether they violated the FBI agreement. The newspaper sent questions, and the department said it would respond Wednesday (Aug. 27).
Earlier this month, city officials blacked out portions of relevant purchase documents requested by The News Tribune.
Deputy City Attorney Michael Smith redacted much of the identifying information on a May 2013 invoice for the equipment, saying disclosure “would allow the identification of confidential pieces of technology.”
However, unredacted portions of those public records as well as other documents reviewed by The News Tribune indicate the Police Department has had the ability to wirelessly search neighborhoods since as early as 2008.
The Police Department appears to have updated its equipment last year with money authorized by a City Council whose members now say they didn’t know what they were buying.
“I’ve got to find out what I voted on before I comment,” Councilman David Boe said Monday. “This is new information.”
Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/08/26/3347665/documents-tacoma-police-using.html?sp=/99/289/&ihp=1#storylink=cpy
women cops are far worse than men. they go for their gun under way more conditions a male officer wouldn’t have to. being smaller and weaker, they find themselves in many more “officer feared for their safety” situations.
They don’t need no steeking search warrants!
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