Sacramento cops shoot and kill yet another person. This time he was seventeen. Kid had a unloaded gun. Helping walk his blind friend to his home. Witness says cops never said a thing. Just started shooting.
“My friend turned around and said, ‘I’m guiding him,'" explained the witness. "Cops did not say ‘put your hands up’ or nothing, just started shooting.”
Ever since Sacramento County DA Jan Scully gave police carte blanche to shoot and kill anyone, anytime, for any reason, whaddya know, the rotten apples on the force have been taking her at her word....
Monday, July 9, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
Record numbers may force DA Jan Scully to resume investigation of officer-caused shootings and deaths
L.A. County law enforcement serves roughly 10 million residents. Sacramento County law enforcement serves roughly 600 thousand. Adjusting for size, if L.A. County officers shot and killed its residents at the Sacramento County rate, they would kill 200 people a year rather than 30….
Reporter Kim Minugh and a second Sacramento Bee editorial in the last few days examine the astonishing rate at which law enforcement is shooting and killing Sacramento County residents, and also examine District Attorney Jan Scully’s refusal to investigate.
According the the Bee editorial, “shootings by sheriff’s deputies have jumped to historic levels in Sacramento County.”[1] As Minugh reports, the first five months of 2012 alone there have been 10 shootings, involving 18 officers, with the result of six dead Sac County residents and three injured.[2]
Even County law enforcement, much to their credit, wants independent reviews of shootings. Although “in-house investigations and a review by the Sheriff’s Department’s appointed inspector general concluded all of the shootings appear to be justified,” notes the Bee, “to protect their own credibility, Sheriff Scott Jones, his inspector general and even the sheriff’s deputies union leader have all said they want independent reviews.”[3]
In its strongest statement to date, the Bee declares
If nothing else, Sheriff Jones, like any other good egg in law enforcement, realizes that the rotten ones in his department will make everyone else seem to stink. Residents of Sacramento County, like most people, have at least an inkling of how difficult, stressful, and life-threatening are the jobs of law enforcement. Most people understand that if a cop feels that its his or her life, or the life of a partner, versus the life of a suspect… well, that’s no choice at all. Most people also understand that every job has a few employees who should not be there. And when that job involves carrying a gun, then it’s absolutely crucial that rotten eggs are sorted. Residents of Sacramento County need to know that they cannot be gunned down by incompetent, rogue, or rotten cops with the blessing of the District Attorney.
7X MORE DEADLY THAN L.A. COUNTY: STAGGERING NUMBERS IN CONTEXT
Minugh’s excellent 1300-word article, “Surge seen in shootings by Sacramento County deputies” (June 8, 2012) provides some numbers on Sac County shootings by officers. “Less than six months into 2012,” writes Minugh, Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies are “already surpassing their 10-year record for the number of officer-involved shootings in a year.” Writes Minugh:
While 70% is indeed a drastic increase, it seems negligible next to Sacramento County’s numbers.
Let us break it down:
L.A. County law enforcement serves roughly 10 million residents. Sacramento County law enforcement serves roughly 600 thousand.
If LA County’s 54 dead represent a 70% increase, then the prior year’s rate (we’ll pretend it’s the “normal” rate) is roughly 30 residents killed by police per year. Thus the “normal” L.A. rate is 30 dead out of 10 million, per year.
The current figure for Sacramento County law enforcement is 6 dead out of 600 thousand, in six months. If this rate continues, then, there will be 12 dead out of 600 thousand for the year.
Thus, if we compare L.A. County’s “normal” rate” with Sac County’s current rate, we find
Reporter Kim Minugh and a second Sacramento Bee editorial in the last few days examine the astonishing rate at which law enforcement is shooting and killing Sacramento County residents, and also examine District Attorney Jan Scully’s refusal to investigate.
According the the Bee editorial, “shootings by sheriff’s deputies have jumped to historic levels in Sacramento County.”[1] As Minugh reports, the first five months of 2012 alone there have been 10 shootings, involving 18 officers, with the result of six dead Sac County residents and three injured.[2]
Even County law enforcement, much to their credit, wants independent reviews of shootings. Although “in-house investigations and a review by the Sheriff’s Department’s appointed inspector general concluded all of the shootings appear to be justified,” notes the Bee, “to protect their own credibility, Sheriff Scott Jones, his inspector general and even the sheriff’s deputies union leader have all said they want independent reviews.”[3]
In its strongest statement to date, the Bee declares
District Attorney Jan Scully needs to reconsider her decision to stop investigating police shootings. Officers who shoot people in the line of duty need to know their actions will be scrutinized, and so does the public.[4]
If nothing else, Sheriff Jones, like any other good egg in law enforcement, realizes that the rotten ones in his department will make everyone else seem to stink. Residents of Sacramento County, like most people, have at least an inkling of how difficult, stressful, and life-threatening are the jobs of law enforcement. Most people understand that if a cop feels that its his or her life, or the life of a partner, versus the life of a suspect… well, that’s no choice at all. Most people also understand that every job has a few employees who should not be there. And when that job involves carrying a gun, then it’s absolutely crucial that rotten eggs are sorted. Residents of Sacramento County need to know that they cannot be gunned down by incompetent, rogue, or rotten cops with the blessing of the District Attorney.
7X MORE DEADLY THAN L.A. COUNTY: STAGGERING NUMBERS IN CONTEXT
Minugh’s excellent 1300-word article, “Surge seen in shootings by Sacramento County deputies” (June 8, 2012) provides some numbers on Sac County shootings by officers. “Less than six months into 2012,” writes Minugh, Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies are “already surpassing their 10-year record for the number of officer-involved shootings in a year.” Writes Minugh:
It’s a sharp uptick when compared to years past. The Sheriff’s Department, which serves 627,000 people in unincorporated Sacramento County and Rancho Cordova, has averaged about six shootings a year in the last decade, with a record nine in 2006. In 2011, there were five, three of them fatal.[5]According to the Associated Press article published two days after Minugh’s article and the Sac Bee editorial, Los Angeles County has also seen a drastic increase not only in shootings by officers, but deaths of alleged suspects.
The number of “suspects” killed by police in Los Angeles County has risen nearly 70 percent in 2011 over the previous year. The Los Angeles Times reports Sunday that 54 people were killed by law enforcement in 2011 countywide.[6] [NB: 22% of those killed were unarmed.--CP]
While 70% is indeed a drastic increase, it seems negligible next to Sacramento County’s numbers.
Let us break it down:
L.A. County law enforcement serves roughly 10 million residents. Sacramento County law enforcement serves roughly 600 thousand.
If LA County’s 54 dead represent a 70% increase, then the prior year’s rate (we’ll pretend it’s the “normal” rate) is roughly 30 residents killed by police per year. Thus the “normal” L.A. rate is 30 dead out of 10 million, per year.
The current figure for Sacramento County law enforcement is 6 dead out of 600 thousand, in six months. If this rate continues, then, there will be 12 dead out of 600 thousand for the year.
Thus, if we compare L.A. County’s “normal” rate” with Sac County’s current rate, we find
- If LA officers killed residents at the Sac rate, they would kill 200 people a year rather than 30.
- If LA was experiencing the Sac County rate, the headline would not have said “LA Co. fatal police shootings rise by 70 percent” but would have said “LA Co. fatal police shootings rise by 566 percent.”
- If we adjust for jurisdiction sizes, then Sac County officers shoot and between 6 and 7 persons for every one person shot and killed by LA County officers.
DA Jan Scully's wrongful convictions
Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully claims rate of wrongful convictions is “infinitesimal,” in spite of report noting 80+ in her county alone, resulting from withheld evidence, perjury, and use of perjured testimony by prosecutors and law enforcement….
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Jan Scully: Homicide OK, but workers’ comp fraud a felony
In June of 2011, Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully announced that her office would no longer investigate officer-involved shootings or any in-custody deaths. Even after receiving an unexpected $5+ million for her office, shortly after the announcement, Scully reiterated that she would not resume any investigation of deaths at the hands of law enforcement in her jurisdiction. Since then, law enforcement has broken all previous records for suspect shootings, with the toll of casualties and deaths quickly mounting.
In June of 2012, however, exactly a year after Scully’s shocking announcement, the DA announced that she had filed felony charges against a now-retired officer in the California Highway Patrol.
The officer’s alleged crime? Collecting checks for a back injury that DA Scully says isn’t injured enough. The officer was “captured on surveillance video-tape lifting 30-pound objects and moving furniture,” says Scully’s office, according to the Sacramento Bee.[1]
Although DA Scully appears resolutely unmoved even when officers gun down mentally-ill persons (see Jonathan Rose), Scully announced on June 8 that “felony workers’ compensation insurance fraud” and “attempted perjury” had moved her to file felony charges against retired officer Brian Christopher Hansen.[2] (How, precisely, one can be charged with “attempting” perjury, is anyone’s guess–but that another story.)
In June of 2012, however, exactly a year after Scully’s shocking announcement, the DA announced that she had filed felony charges against a now-retired officer in the California Highway Patrol.
The officer’s alleged crime? Collecting checks for a back injury that DA Scully says isn’t injured enough. The officer was “captured on surveillance video-tape lifting 30-pound objects and moving furniture,” says Scully’s office, according to the Sacramento Bee.[1]
Although DA Scully appears resolutely unmoved even when officers gun down mentally-ill persons (see Jonathan Rose), Scully announced on June 8 that “felony workers’ compensation insurance fraud” and “attempted perjury” had moved her to file felony charges against retired officer Brian Christopher Hansen.[2] (How, precisely, one can be charged with “attempting” perjury, is anyone’s guess–but that another story.)
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Sacramento County law enforcement officers charged with “illegally buying and selling high-powered pistols”
With the grim-faced leadership of Sacramento’s law enforcement community
looking on, federal officials described an elaborate scheme Friday that
they say involved police and deputies illegally buying and selling
dozens of high-powered pistols to make thousands of dollars in profit.
The case, which dates back to the summer of 2011, has ensnared at least four area law enforcement officers, including two Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies [Deputies Ryan McGowan, 31, and Thomas Lu, 42] charged in federal court Friday.
The case, which dates back to the summer of 2011, has ensnared at least four area law enforcement officers, including two Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies [Deputies Ryan McGowan, 31, and Thomas Lu, 42] charged in federal court Friday.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Sacramento County Child Protective Services employee “accused of locking children in garage ‘for hours without food or water’, taunting boy as ‘faggot.’”
The state forbade Blancho Brumfield from ever working in a facility
licensed by the department – except when it came to her job as a child
abuse investigator for Sacramento County.
In 2007, the state Department of Social Services revoked the foster care license of a Vallejo woman whom the agency accused of locking children in her garage “for hours without food or water” and taunting one foster boy with the words “faggot” and “queer”....
From the SacBee:
In 2007, the state Department of Social Services revoked the foster care license of a Vallejo woman whom the agency accused of locking children in her garage “for hours without food or water” and taunting one foster boy with the words “faggot” and “queer”....
From the SacBee:
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Sac County police to children: “Just say ‘yes’ to oral violation
Regardless of whether the individual is an adult or a juvenile, they are capable of giving consent. We don’t require the consent of a parent if we’re doing it with someone of a younger age.
–Deputy Jason Ramos of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.
That unfortunate quote comes from the mouth of none other than the spokesperson for the long-suffering Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.
In conjunction with District Attorney Jan Scully, Sacramento County and City police alike routinely reinterpret the law as necessary. Presently, they see no problem with getting up in the orifices of middle-school kids.
According to Sac County law enforcement, parents also don’t need to be notified that their children are being interviewed as part of a homicide investigation. Parents don’t need to be notified that the police are taking DNA swabs from their children’s orifices, samples that will go exactly nowhere, afterwards, except into a database. It’s all perfectly legal, says law enforcement, even if they say so themselves.
“These are interviews, not interrogations,” Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Ramos told ABCNews.com. “They are all consensual,” chirped Ramos. “Once it’s done, there is a mechanism in place for school administrators to notify parents.” [1]
Yeah, once it’s done, then you notify the parents. That’s how it works.
Even John Myers, a professor at the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, told the Sacramento Bee “There is nothing under California law that prohibits DNA collection of consenting minors.” [2]
Nothing, that is, except that children are not legally able to consent.
Leading child-abuse expert: “Kids can consent.”
“I think the answer is,” Myers said, apparently unsure, “kids can consent, and if they consented and it was knowing and intelligent, [law enforcement] can do the search.” [3]
Yes, you heard it here, folks. John E.B. Myers, allegedly one of the country’s most respected experts on child abuse (though expert for the prosecution, most often) “thinks” that middle-school children can consent to what might appear, to lay people, as oral rape.
–Deputy Jason Ramos of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.
That unfortunate quote comes from the mouth of none other than the spokesperson for the long-suffering Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.
In conjunction with District Attorney Jan Scully, Sacramento County and City police alike routinely reinterpret the law as necessary. Presently, they see no problem with getting up in the orifices of middle-school kids.
According to Sac County law enforcement, parents also don’t need to be notified that their children are being interviewed as part of a homicide investigation. Parents don’t need to be notified that the police are taking DNA swabs from their children’s orifices, samples that will go exactly nowhere, afterwards, except into a database. It’s all perfectly legal, says law enforcement, even if they say so themselves.
“These are interviews, not interrogations,” Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Ramos told ABCNews.com. “They are all consensual,” chirped Ramos. “Once it’s done, there is a mechanism in place for school administrators to notify parents.” [1]
Yeah, once it’s done, then you notify the parents. That’s how it works.
Even John Myers, a professor at the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, told the Sacramento Bee “There is nothing under California law that prohibits DNA collection of consenting minors.” [2]
Nothing, that is, except that children are not legally able to consent.
Leading child-abuse expert: “Kids can consent.”
“I think the answer is,” Myers said, apparently unsure, “kids can consent, and if they consented and it was knowing and intelligent, [law enforcement] can do the search.” [3]
Yes, you heard it here, folks. John E.B. Myers, allegedly one of the country’s most respected experts on child abuse (though expert for the prosecution, most often) “thinks” that middle-school children can consent to what might appear, to lay people, as oral rape.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Sacramento County Sheriff's Deputy David McEntire Kills Unarmed, Mentally-Ill 24-Year-Old as Family Watches in Horror
Ever since Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully announced that she would no longer investigate fatal shootings by police officers, or any in-custody deaths, it is perhaps unsurprising that Sac County law enforcement is now breaking all records, by a several-hundred percent increase, in killing civilians. Even unarmed ones. Even mentally-ill ones.
The Sacramento Bee reports:
The Sacramento Bee reports:
On Jan. 17, Ted Rose called the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department for help with his mentally ill son. By the end of the night, his son was dead at the hands of a deputy.Nearly three months after the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Johnathan Rose, his family is speaking out about what they witnessed that night and raising questions about the actions of the deputy who ultimately shot Johnathan.
“Our whole life has been turned upside down,” said Johnathan’s mother, Dee Rose. “It’s like a nightmare you can’t wake up from.”
Saturday, February 25, 2012
DA Jan Scully Gives Police the OK to Shoot and Kill Anyone
 |
| Lamont Harmon, who was unarmed, walking to his mom’s house, when he was first tasered and then shot multiple times by police, is just one of numerous people shot and killed by law enforcement in Sacramento County since District Attorney Jan Scully announced that she would no longer investigate officer-involved shootings or any in-custody deaths. |
In June 2011, DA Jan Scully announced that budget cuts might force her to give some prosecutors their pink slips. As a cost-cutting measure, the DA explained, she would no longer review officer-involved shootings. Moreover, her office would cease to review any in-custody deaths of suspects, regardless of circumstances.[2]
Just three months later, a settlement with Chevron earned Sacramento County $6.5 million, with $5.1 million going directly to the DA’s office[3]. Scully called the settlement “fortuitous” and was pleased to announce that her office would now avoid layoffs.
When asked, however, Scully made clear that her office, regardless of the $5 million, would not resume investigations into officer-involved shootings or deaths. [4]
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Sac DA Jan Scully's free-pass to trigger-happy cops results (surprise) in record shootings and deaths
No Longer Investigated by DA’s Office, Sacramento County Officer-Involved Shootings and Deaths Break Records
In the first 37 days of the year, sheriff’s deputies have killed two suspects and wounded three others....
Editorial: Are shootings by deputies being fully reviewed?" The Sacramento Bee. Feb. 8, 2012. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/08/4246863/are-shootings-by-deputies-being.html
It may turn out to be merely a statistical blip that already this year, Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies have fired at six suspects. That’s more officer-involved shootings for the department than in any recent full year except 2009, when there were seven.
In the first 37 days of the year, sheriff’s deputies have killed two suspects and wounded three others....
Editorial: Are shootings by deputies being fully reviewed?" The Sacramento Bee. Feb. 8, 2012. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/08/4246863/are-shootings-by-deputies-being.html
It may turn out to be merely a statistical blip that already this year, Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies have fired at six suspects. That’s more officer-involved shootings for the department than in any recent full year except 2009, when there were seven.
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