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Shoot First, Ask Later - In Prince George's, a drug bust goes awry.
Washington Post ^ | August 7, 2008 | Masthead Editorial

Posted on 08/07/2008 6:50:55 PM PDT by neverdem

THE DRUG raid by Prince George's County law officers on the home of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo last week was a Keystone Kops operation from start to finish.

Acting on a tip that a 32-pound package of marijuana had been sent by Federal Express from Arizona to Mr. Calvo's home (addressed to his wife, Trinity Tomsic), Prince George's police swung into action. Which is to say they got on the phone, calling law enforcement agencies to see who might have a SWAT team available to bust the unsuspecting Calvo family. (It seems the police department's own team was tied up.) After being turned down at least once, they finally struck a deal with the Prince George's Sheriff's Office, whose track record with domestic disputes is extensive but whose experience with drug busts is slight. And it showed.


(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: banglist; berwynheights; cheyecalvo; donutwatch; mayor; pgcounty; waronsomedrugs; wod; wosd
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To: DCPatriot
Morgana...just noticed in the photo that the dogs have muzzles. Just saying.....

It's an ordinance in many cities = duh.

If you know anything about the breed, you'd know they're one of the least aggressive - just big, happy puppies.--- and did you miss the part about one being shot while he was trying to run away? Shooting peoples dogs in these raids seem to be par for the course. Needs looking into.

Just saying...

81 posted on 08/07/2008 8:16:13 PM PDT by maine-iac7 (No trees were killed in sending this message but a large number of electrons were terribly agitated)
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To: BOBWADE

If it had been pit bulls, I’d have applauded, Rottys I could understand, but to shoot a pair of labs looks like pure sadism.


82 posted on 08/07/2008 8:19:10 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: AIM-54

police have a cush job in california.

they’re union.

they don’t do a lot of the things that the public expected decades ago.


83 posted on 08/07/2008 8:21:58 PM PDT by ken21 (people die and you never hear from them again.)
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To: DCPatriot
Those aren't 'muzzles'.

Here's a clue. When you're ignorant of a subject, it's best to remain silent and be thought a fool than to post and remove all possible doubt.

Just sayin....

L

84 posted on 08/07/2008 8:22:15 PM PDT by Lurker (Islam is an insane death cult. Any other aspects are PR to get them within throat-cutting range.)
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To: satan
A good first step would be to outlaw these quasi-military SWAT teams with all their toys and fancy costumes.

It gives them delusions of grandeur and confuses them about their proper role -- which is to "protect and serve", not to break things and kill people (or dogs).

85 posted on 08/07/2008 8:26:33 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies Auxiliary (recess appointment))
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To: Wolfie
You just can’t run around doing this sort of thing to people who look like that.

I take it you haven't Googled a picture of the Sheriff.

 Michael Jackson, Sheriff

86 posted on 08/07/2008 8:26:41 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: Lurker; DCPatriot
Hey, it was an honest mistake, quit pilin' on! DC has already had that pointed out by at least 3 posters (including yours truly, who was late to the fair).

And folks who don't have dogs could mistake a head halter for a muzzle --

87 posted on 08/07/2008 8:30:10 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies Auxiliary (recess appointment))
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To: AnAmericanMother

I see your point, but here’s hoping that a few “tragedies in the line of duty” might make the rank-and-file SWAT members think twice about whether they want to be on a team lead by loose cannons and JBTs. I used to support the police. That has changed over the past several years, seeing more and more “incidents” of this type. I hate to say it, but that guy up in VA who shot and killed a cop who was part of a bogus no-knock raid and who got off is starting to looking like a hero, in some ways.


88 posted on 08/07/2008 8:31:21 PM PDT by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus (Here they come boys! As thick as grass, and as black as thunder!)
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To: NonValueAdded
Simple solution, the raid commander should lose his LEO credentials.

Insufficient.

89 posted on 08/07/2008 8:34:16 PM PDT by elkfersupper
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To: The Worthless Miracle
I;ll be interested to know what happened to these “officers”.

Internal investigation, officers actions justified and individuals exonerated.

That's almost always what happens...all while the gang members enjoy paid administrative leave.

90 posted on 08/07/2008 8:37:16 PM PDT by elkfersupper
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To: neverdem
Law enforcement officers are justifiably cautious during drug busts

"Caution"? I keep reading all the time about these raids on innocent people and the people on both sides who get hurt as a result, even though the whole point of the drug war is to protect the public. The point is that the cops threw caution to the wind and they didn't give a rat's rear end of the people they would hurt as a result of their screwups. This is criminal incompetence, but some people seem incredibly eager to excuse it. Sheriff Michael Jackson shouldn't just be embarassed. He should resign.
91 posted on 08/07/2008 8:39:49 PM PDT by dr_who
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To: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus
Unfortunately, if somebody shot back the SWAT team's response would probably be to kill everybody in the house.

On the upside of the civil damages side, we had a bunch of out of control SWAT types shoot a little old lady dead in her house here in Atlanta. Then they lied about it to try to cover it up, claiming a CI told them drugs were being dealt out of the house.

Several of them were criminally convicted and sent to prison. The family of the little old lady filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the City of Atlanta, I think they may have settled but am not sure.

I know some folks up thread said they never heard anything more about the story. We have heard a LOT here in Atlanta!

92 posted on 08/07/2008 8:40:26 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies Auxiliary (recess appointment))
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To: Politicalmom

That sounds all well and good but how would you get the deputies to wear them?


93 posted on 08/07/2008 8:42:23 PM PDT by lastchance (Hug your babies.)
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To: AnAmericanMother; DCPatriot
I hereby tender my public apology to DCPatriot.

DCPatriot, I trust this will suffice to set things right between us.

If not, please let me know what will.

When I'm right, I stand my ground. When I'm wrong, I admit it.

I was wrong.

L

94 posted on 08/07/2008 8:43:33 PM PDT by Lurker (Islam is an insane death cult. Any other aspects are PR to get them within throat-cutting range.)
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To: DCPatriot
“They shot the dogs....one that was running away.

All they had to do was knock on the door with the warrant in a suit and tie....but not PG County.

Maybe it’s because they’ve become deadened by their daily encounters with the ‘civilians’...and I use that term lightly.

It’s ridiculous and something needs to be done to rein this in.

Just two weeks ago, a cop-killer prisoner was found dead in solitary confinement...being watched every 15 minutes...at 10:30AM.”

When I was in the service in the 70’s and posted at Walter Reed we were strongly warned that if you were stopped by PG County you were to freeze with hands on the wheel, eyes straight ahead, and not speak until spoken to. Move very slowly and preface your movement with an explanation of what you are about to do. We were told PG County Leos were rather quick on the trigger due to “negative interactions with the locals”.

I was stopped by PG county once due to confusion with my registration tags (out of state plates) and the Leo seemed to have trouble reading them. It was pucker time for about 2-3 before he told me to go.

95 posted on 08/07/2008 8:44:34 PM PDT by Polynikes (Yo, homie. Is that my briefcase?)
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To: dr_who
Sheriff Michael Jackson shouldn't just be embarassed. He should resign.

Can I shoot his dog first?

96 posted on 08/07/2008 8:45:31 PM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: DCPatriot

PG’s jail as well is a festering overcrowded craphole as well. Poorly run by an utterly incompetent staff. PG’s government is corrupt and a total waste. I know this on first-hand experience, but I cannot disclose how due to fear of losing my job.


97 posted on 08/07/2008 8:45:35 PM PDT by PAMadMax (Islam is a disease....)
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To: AnAmericanMother

Those two look like a couple of happy puppies. I have two springers and they are they same way. They are kid’s dogs, just two happy guys who love you and everyone else and if they suspect you don’t love them back they will offer you each and every one of their toys until you do. The “SWAT cops” shooting those two would be like walking on to a kindergarten playground and just shooting the children. I hope the national news and radio programs pick this story up and run with it. It must stop.


98 posted on 08/07/2008 8:48:23 PM PDT by GBA
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To: neverdem
Coming from Berwyn Heights, there is a four in five chance the mayor is a democrat, really a liberal. Now that he has been mugged by the sheriff, I wonder if he will change for the better or worse.
99 posted on 08/07/2008 8:48:49 PM PDT by LoneRangerMassachusetts
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To: ken21
they don’t do a lot of the things that the public expected decades ago.

They don't even investigate property crimes here.

However, this morning during rush hour, there were 8 of them standing on 2 freeway overpasses running laser with a total of 24 unmarked race cars and 6 motorcycles on a toll collecting mission.

100 posted on 08/07/2008 8:51:53 PM PDT by elkfersupper
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