Friday, August 19, 2016
Kamala Harris & Mike Ramos - futures linked?
Is San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos really going to be considered by Jerry Brown (for appointment to the State AG) should Kamala Harris get elected to the US Senate? I suppose other that the better smile and hair, we won't lose much. Neither prosecute cops for bad shootings it seems, which is a big issue these days. Both are relatively insular (e.g. if you are not politically important or can make a press release out of something they do with or against you), they don't seem to care and both seem to enjoy their mutual hugs. For example, next week Harris meets with an African American media group (which will undoubtedly lead to a photo op and some free political coverage), but in the time leading up to this confab has ignored pleas to prosecute some bad shootings where local DAs (like Ramos) are looking it seems for ways not to prosecute (and in one of the cases, a dying shooting victim is kicked by a Caucasian ride-along (riding along in civilian clothes with a County Sheriff Deputy-- even his name is being withheld from disclosure --must be a contributor!). Power ....unchecked...ain't it wonderful.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Hesperia Council has determined to consider an ordinance pursuant to Government Code Section 34886 to change to by-district elections
PRESS RELEASE by the FRIENDS of the CALIFORNIA VOTING RIGHTS ACT [FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Dateline 2/24/2016 Apple Valley]:
The Hesperia Council has determined to consider an ordinance pursuant to Government Code Section 34886 to change to by-district elections, since the City’s population is under 100,000. The City's attorney is preparing a staff report and draft ordinance for the Council’s consideration on March 15. The City will need to retain a consultant to assist in drawing the district boundaries, the Council must decide how many districts there should be, and hold at least two public hearings pursuant to Elections Code Section 10010 prior to introducing the ordinance.
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Comment: This is something that is long overdue. It is a start. Diligent follow-up is needed. Other jurisdictions needing attention include the school district in Hesperia, Highland, Adelanto, Victorville, Apple Valley and Barstow.
The Hesperia Council has determined to consider an ordinance pursuant to Government Code Section 34886 to change to by-district elections, since the City’s population is under 100,000. The City's attorney is preparing a staff report and draft ordinance for the Council’s consideration on March 15. The City will need to retain a consultant to assist in drawing the district boundaries, the Council must decide how many districts there should be, and hold at least two public hearings pursuant to Elections Code Section 10010 prior to introducing the ordinance.
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Comment: This is something that is long overdue. It is a start. Diligent follow-up is needed. Other jurisdictions needing attention include the school district in Hesperia, Highland, Adelanto, Victorville, Apple Valley and Barstow.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Why Mike Ramos Should Not Only Not be the State AG, he should probably resign from the DA's Office
The latest recap: http://sbcsentinel.com/2015/09/5788/ -- its a good read and shows what an embarrassment he would be to the State of California as an appointed State Attorney General should the current Californis State Attorney General for the State of California be elected to replace Barbara Boxer. Since Jerry Brown and Kamala Harris backed Mike Ramos (a lifelong Republican) in his San Bernardino County District Attorney re-election run (where a Democrat had announced his intention to run after only missing a runoff with Ramos four years before by a mere 4% points), stranger things have happened. I still want to know when anyone is going to ask and get an answer to what Ramos promised to deliver to Brown's & Harris' campaigns
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Grits for Breakfast: A reluctant scoop: Changing intepretations of DNA ...
Grits for Breakfast: A reluctant scoop: Changing intepretations of DNA ...: DNA has often been referred to as the gold standard of forensic evidence. And when comparing a single sample to a suspect, that's true. ...
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
The Long Green Mile Revisited: Florida Police Concealed DNA Evidence That Could Exonerate Man Accused In Quadruple Homicide--Does Our Law Enforcement Team Do the Same Just Once in a While to "Win"?
Article reporting the withholding of exculpatory evidence is @ http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2015/06/12/attorney-fdle-concealed-dna-evidence-quadruple-homicide/71150044/
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Florida's Department of Law Enforcement sat on DNA evidence for 2 plus years on exculpatory DNA evidence. Motions have been filed to dismiss arguing FDLE’s “conscious, willful and deliberate attempt” to conceal the DNA information [the defendant faces the death penalty].
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Until the Supreme Court requires ALL evidence and reports as generated to be simultaneously available for viewing to criminal defendants, this will not stop.
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Florida's Department of Law Enforcement sat on DNA evidence for 2 plus years on exculpatory DNA evidence. Motions have been filed to dismiss arguing FDLE’s “conscious, willful and deliberate attempt” to conceal the DNA information [the defendant faces the death penalty].
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Until the Supreme Court requires ALL evidence and reports as generated to be simultaneously available for viewing to criminal defendants, this will not stop.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
If We Can't Completely Trust Your DA to Toss Meritless Cases, Maybe Some Balance Can be Found in Developing Arrest Integrity Units??
What about developing arrest integrity units in police departments to
check, double check, triple check the evidence before forwarding the
case to the prosecutors office? If the integrity unit determines there
is not enough evidence to bring charges, then the suspect could be
released without being indicted. That way the number of false arrests and
convictions will drop. Any interest in this locally??
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In North Carolina , two innocent men were released on DNA evidence[ http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/03/us/2-convicted-in-1983-north-carolina-murder-freed-after-dna-tests.html?_r=0] considered by the court over 30 years later. Image a DA's office that would have embraced seeking that justice be done by testing decades sooner?
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In North Carolina , two innocent men were released on DNA evidence[ http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/03/us/2-convicted-in-1983-north-carolina-murder-freed-after-dna-tests.html?_r=0] considered by the court over 30 years later. Image a DA's office that would have embraced seeking that justice be done by testing decades sooner?
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
What Does $650,000 Police Violence Settlement Teach Us About the Local Culture of Official Violence?
Main article re settlement: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-settlement-san-bernardino-deputy-beating-20150421-story.html
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Moral of the story #1--if you are white and have video showing the San Bernardino Sheriffs nailing you, you get a settlement when sheriffs beat the crap out of you? This guy should thank the Channel 4 chopper pilot big time.
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Moral of the story #2 -- A white guy needed to get beaten up to get the FBI's attention?
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Moral of the story #3 -- It is ok to ignore the underlying problem. San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon leads this crew and despite suspensions and disciplinary actions, it has happened over and over again (many other cases of excessive force out there)--while stepping down at this point is premature (like the last 3 appointed-then-elected San Bernardino County Sheriffs have done) maybe he should consider getting some real help for his crew which seems to suffer from some need to inflict needless bodily harm as this blogger suggested to him nearly a year ago in a face-to-face conversation and more recently to the County's outside lead defense lawyer. It is sad the underlying disturbance is not being addressed. Is it PTSD from seeing so much violence? Is it people carrying to work pent up frustrations and venting it? Is it inadequate screening for violent propensities (the bully that grew up and now has a badge)? Suspending or firing the few that get caught, does not solve the underlying problems--it simply teaches them to control themselves when the scene might be monitored.
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Moral of the story #4-- The department has a tolerated policy of dropping the "protect and serve" when it comes to suspects. When a suspect comes under control, that is not the time to inflict a whooping or teach em.
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Thoughts to ponder:
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Let's see if any prosecutions follow, not just suspensions. My bet is San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos (who ran on a joint ticket with John McMahon for re-election) will find every way not to--Mike Ramos does not want the rep of prosecuting cops in his run (or pitch for appointment to the State Attorney General if Kamala Harris wins her bid for US Senate (and neither does current State AG Kamala Harris want to pick this up--who does not want that cop prosecutor handle on the eve of her election run for US Senate).....so don't ya think the Sheriff in this County has figured that out?
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The feds--well, let's see if they broaden the inquiry to include other senseless acts of violence and the policies that not just tolerate it, but deny its existence, then claim it's isolated and when confronted with the specifics, they then slant their investigation to criminalize the victim and finally, defend the senseless and unjustified violence as a warranted use of force.
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Something needs to be said about domestic peace being put at risk. If people know that they will be shot or beaten up when they surrender, and no one gets prosecuted, what incentive do they have to stop and submit to authority?
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Another thought....don't you think the various people of color have note that it took a white man getting beaten up to spring a settlement for a civil rights violation. Is also the message that white guys need to get beaten up to get the FBI's attention?
.
Moral of the story #1--if you are white and have video showing the San Bernardino Sheriffs nailing you, you get a settlement when sheriffs beat the crap out of you? This guy should thank the Channel 4 chopper pilot big time.
.
Moral of the story #2 -- A white guy needed to get beaten up to get the FBI's attention?
.
Moral of the story #3 -- It is ok to ignore the underlying problem. San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon leads this crew and despite suspensions and disciplinary actions, it has happened over and over again (many other cases of excessive force out there)--while stepping down at this point is premature (like the last 3 appointed-then-elected San Bernardino County Sheriffs have done) maybe he should consider getting some real help for his crew which seems to suffer from some need to inflict needless bodily harm as this blogger suggested to him nearly a year ago in a face-to-face conversation and more recently to the County's outside lead defense lawyer. It is sad the underlying disturbance is not being addressed. Is it PTSD from seeing so much violence? Is it people carrying to work pent up frustrations and venting it? Is it inadequate screening for violent propensities (the bully that grew up and now has a badge)? Suspending or firing the few that get caught, does not solve the underlying problems--it simply teaches them to control themselves when the scene might be monitored.
.
Moral of the story #4-- The department has a tolerated policy of dropping the "protect and serve" when it comes to suspects. When a suspect comes under control, that is not the time to inflict a whooping or teach em.
.
Thoughts to ponder:
.
Let's see if any prosecutions follow, not just suspensions. My bet is San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos (who ran on a joint ticket with John McMahon for re-election) will find every way not to--Mike Ramos does not want the rep of prosecuting cops in his run (or pitch for appointment to the State Attorney General if Kamala Harris wins her bid for US Senate (and neither does current State AG Kamala Harris want to pick this up--who does not want that cop prosecutor handle on the eve of her election run for US Senate).....so don't ya think the Sheriff in this County has figured that out?
.
The feds--well, let's see if they broaden the inquiry to include other senseless acts of violence and the policies that not just tolerate it, but deny its existence, then claim it's isolated and when confronted with the specifics, they then slant their investigation to criminalize the victim and finally, defend the senseless and unjustified violence as a warranted use of force.
.
Something needs to be said about domestic peace being put at risk. If people know that they will be shot or beaten up when they surrender, and no one gets prosecuted, what incentive do they have to stop and submit to authority?
.
Another thought....don't you think the various people of color have note that it took a white man getting beaten up to spring a settlement for a civil rights violation. Is also the message that white guys need to get beaten up to get the FBI's attention?
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