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Law enforcement flock to Waco for gang conference
KXXV-TV ^ | June 19, 2015 | Grant Hermes

Posted on 06/19/2015 10:00:17 AM PDT by don-o

MCLENNAN COUNTY - Law enforcement officials from across the country met at McLennan Community College for four days for a private conference about policing the growth of motorcycle gangs.

The conference, put on by the Midwest Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Investigators Association out of St. Louis, MO, was scheduled before the Twin Peaks shooting May 17 after investigators saw rising tensions between motorcycle gangs on the rise in Central Texas.

"We do a considerable amount of talking about these confederations and coalitions... and try to make them understand a little bit the motives behind these is other than what they advertise," MOMGIA Executive Director, Steve Cook said.

Cook, who's gone undercover with motorcycle gangs in the past, agreed to allow News Channel 25 to report on the conference, but only until after it was over. This was to protect the identities of officers still undercover.

Behind locked doors, officers learned how motorcycle gangs operate, often dealing in drug and human trafficking. Gangs often transport and sell methamphetamine and have a structure similar to military or para-military organizations. Cook said they've seen an influx of gang members that are also a part of motorcycle clubs and club confederations.

"They're absolutely gangs. If you're wearing a 1-percent diamond and you're associating with the individuals these people and associating with the kinds of activities they are, they're a gang by any classification and to take it a step further, they're organized crime," Cooks said.

Cook said nothing much changed in what the officers were learning in the four day long classes because of the Twin Peaks shooting. He said the shooting is just the latest in a long line of biker gang related incidents across the country.

"It's rampant. They're spreading all across the country, all over the world for that matter...You're either going to pay attention to these guys or you're going to ignore them," Cook said.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: crime; gangs; ironic; irony; policebrutality; sgtpatrickswanton; sgtswanton; texas; texasgatortroll; waco
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To: Boomer

“Nine bikers killed. Nine church goers killed. Does this make the police who did the shooting as guilty as the crazy guy?”

Dude ... The bikers started the shooting, not the cops.


21 posted on 06/19/2015 10:44:38 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: TexasGator; Boomer
The bikers started the shooting, not the cops.

At least that's what the cops say.

Too bad the cops seized every cell phone in the vicinity that would have had video on it or else we'd be able to better judge who shot first.

Yep, too bad they seized all the cell phones when they arrested nearly everyone who was there.

Of course, we can trust the police to be honest when they're telling us what really happened.

22 posted on 06/19/2015 10:56:30 AM PDT by MeganC (You can ignore reality, but reality won't ignore you.)
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To: MeganC

“At least that’s what the cops say. “

And every eyewitness including the bikers involved.


23 posted on 06/19/2015 10:58:07 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: MeganC
Of course, we can trust the police to be honest when they're telling us what really happened.

There's one thing coming from the police that I DO believe. I believe Chief Brent Stroman when he says that his men were sitting in their vehicles when an altercation broke out.

And I gather, sitting in their vehicles, it is possible that they missed the signs that tensions were escalating. And they missed opportunity to act to defuse before it busted ugly.

24 posted on 06/19/2015 11:03:50 AM PDT by don-o (I am Kenneth Carlisle - Waco 5/17/15)
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To: TexasGator
You're quite wrong. From the Dallas Morning News:

In fact, Lori said, the biker community is rife with reports about witnesses who heard the discharge of lots of high-powered weaponry after a few initial pop-pop sounds of handguns. The reports sounded like they came from “muzzled or suppressed high-powered weapons,” said Lori, though she wasn’t there. The theory is that the heavy fire came from tactical police officers.

(…)

Isn’t it hard to identify supressed high-powered gunfire? Not for the biker community, many of whom are ex-military and have been around firearms a lot, Lori said. Speaking of that day in Waco, she said, “The Leatherneck Club was there. Different mom and pop groups. The Foreign Legion riders group. Many of them were veterans. You learn to differentiate.”

Looks like not all of the eyewitnesses agree with you.

25 posted on 06/19/2015 11:06:13 AM PDT by MeganC (You can ignore reality, but reality won't ignore you.)
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To: MeganC

You: You’re quite wrong. From the Dallas Morning News:

Your quote: In fact, Lori said, the biker community is rife with reports about witnesses who heard the discharge of lots of high-powered weaponry after a few initial pop-pop sounds of handguns.

Your quote supports the initial shootings were handguns ... The bikers started the shootings. Thank you.


26 posted on 06/19/2015 11:08:26 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: TexasGator

Look, bottom line for me is the mass arrests and unconstitutional bail amounts indicate the Waco police are trying to cover up something because justice is not served with mass arrests.


27 posted on 06/19/2015 11:12:12 AM PDT by MeganC (You can ignore reality, but reality won't ignore you.)
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To: MeganC

“Looks like not all of the eyewitnesses agree with you.”

‘said Lori, though she wasn’t there.’

Uh, for one to be an eyewitness, one has to be there.


28 posted on 06/19/2015 11:12:51 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: MeganC

“Look, bottom line for me is the mass arrests and unconstitutional bail amounts”

Please document the basis for your claim that the bail is unconstitutional ...


29 posted on 06/19/2015 11:21:08 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: MeganC

I would respectfully suggest that you ignore the obvious trolling going on here.


30 posted on 06/19/2015 11:24:22 AM PDT by don-o (I am Kenneth Carlisle - Waco 5/17/15)
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To: All

https://www.facebook.com/WacoPoliceDepartment?fref=nf

Just posted

Twin Peaks Update # 2

We are expecting to release in the early part of next week, the timeline of events that we now know led to the shootings at Twin Peaks. Pending approval of this information to be released, it will detail what we discovered in the month prior to May17th.

Twin Peaks Update #2
The investigation of the Twin Peaks shooting is continuing in conjunction with the FBI, ATF, Texas DPS, Texas Rangers, and the TABC. We are making progress in the case. We want to remind our citizens it will be a lengthy process. Some of this is due to the complexity and scope of the case and also the need to rely on other entities to complete certain forensic and lab test.

As with most criminal cases, suspects, witnesses and victims cooperation can be instrumental in the pace of the investigation. With the Twin Peaks Incident, detectives are having an even more difficult time getting cooperation from those involved. Every measure will be taken to ensure a thorough and comprehensive case can be transferred to the District Attorney.

Our vehicle forfeiture part of the investigation has neared completion. Those affidavits have been given to the McLennan County District Attorney and have been processed by them through the courts. Each affidavit contains different yet specific information on the Twin Peaks Shooting case and may be obtained through the McLennan Co. District Clerks office.

To date we have seized 17 motorcycles, 8 trucks and 2 SUV’s for forfeiture. We have released 91 motorcycles and 62 autos to their registered owners and 20 motorcycles and 9 autos to their lien holders after repossession orders were received.

There are a variety of reasons as to why vehicles may not have been seized and they include:
Many of the vehicles had an extremely high lien amount in relation to the value of the vehicle.
A number of the vehicles are from outside of the Waco area. They were registered to someone other than the person who drove it to Waco.
Other unique situations that were identified during the investigation, such as registered owners who were deceased (unrelated to the Twin Peaks incident), vehicles that were improperly registered salvage vehicles, etc.


31 posted on 06/19/2015 11:29:11 AM PDT by don-o (I am Kenneth Carlisle - Waco 5/17/15)
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To: don-o

“A number of the vehicles are from outside of the Waco area. They were registered to someone other than the person who drove it to Waco.”

Interesting tidbit. I thought a biker’s hog was precious to him.

Here we have people with motorcycles staying home and people not owning motorcycles going into a gang war. WTF?


32 posted on 06/19/2015 11:49:19 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: don-o

And the nazi plan continues.

Paging Joseph Goebbels...Joseph Goebbels please pick up the white courtesy phone for a message.


33 posted on 06/19/2015 11:52:06 AM PDT by mabarker1 (congress, The Opposite of Progress.)
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To: mabarker1
"And the nazi plan continues."


34 posted on 06/19/2015 12:05:40 PM PDT by TexasGator
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To: don-o

“I would respectfully suggest that you ignore the obvious trolling going on here.”

Any poster or information you disagree with, is “trolling?”


35 posted on 06/19/2015 12:32:55 PM PDT by truth_seeker (come with the outlws.)
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To: truth_seeker

The main tool of the troll is accusation. It’s a form of psychological torture, to break you down by turning your words against you, twisting your statements and pounding away at one aspect of your viewpoint.


36 posted on 06/19/2015 12:35:47 PM PDT by don-o (I am Kenneth Carlisle - Waco 5/17/15)
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To: don-o

“The main tool of the troll is accusation. It’s a form of psychological torture, to break you down by turning your words against you, twisting your statements and pounding away at one aspect of your viewpoint.”

So you are the big cheese her, and those who disagree with your opinion, get called “troll” and “liar” by you, or “boot lickers” by others?

Plenty of people disagree with your hostility towards Law Enforcement, but they aren’t calling you names.

Why not just let the discussion take place?


37 posted on 06/19/2015 12:50:34 PM PDT by truth_seeker (come with the outlws.)
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To: don-o

Sound advice, thank you.


38 posted on 06/19/2015 12:59:17 PM PDT by MeganC (You can ignore reality, but reality won't ignore you.)
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To: truth_seeker
Plenty of people disagree with your hostility towards Law Enforcement,

There it is. I have posted no hostility to law enforcement. You accuse me of something I never did. Classic troll tactic.

39 posted on 06/19/2015 12:59:43 PM PDT by don-o (I am Kenneth Carlisle - Waco 5/17/15)
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To: MeganC

Please pardon me for engaging a couple of them. I am done, but I wanted some clarity as to what it is I object to in the way they choose to participate on these Waco threads.


40 posted on 06/19/2015 1:04:02 PM PDT by don-o (I am Kenneth Carlisle - Waco 5/17/15)
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