Even the sweetest stories raise an eyebrow

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July 02

Even the sweetest stories raise an eyebrow

Police get 6 lb., 9 oz. break from bad guys

STOCKTON - In a city where the police force is chronically understaffed and the jail is regularly overcrowded, delivering a baby is a rare pleasure for a lawman.

"It ranks up there as one of the best things you ever do," said Stockton police Sgt. Jay Wagner, who along with Officer Mitchell Tiner helped deliver a baby boy in downtown Stockton early Saturday morning. "Most of our contacts are negative; this was positive."

Already three days overdue, expectant mother Roxanne McKay, 22, thought she was preparing for a long, difficult labor when she began suffering intense pains around 7:30 a.m. After showering and getting dressed, she and her boyfriend jumped in the car and headed for the hospital from their residence on Charter Way.

They had made it as far as the police station when the baby started to come. McKay told her boyfriend to pull into the parking lot on Market Street and get help from police.

McKay's mother has since questioned the wisdom of that decision. "Police officers are not paramedics," McKay said her mother told her. But she remains adamant she made the right call.

"They're close enough," she protested. "Better than having a chef do it!"

Wagner was loading his patrol car for the start of his shift when he saw the couple's white GMC Yukon pull into the department's parking lot.

McKay's boyfriend, whom she would not identify out of concern for his privacy, jumped from the car and began calling to officers for help. Wagner and Tiner rushed to McKay's aid, and the baby, a 6 pound 9 ounce boy described by his mother as a "wolfman" for his thick head of hair and baby muttonchop sideburns, dropped right into Wagner's grasp.

"When I approached the car, the baby was already crowning," he said. "There was no where to go but my hands."

Paramedics later took mother and child, her seventh, to St. Joseph's Medical Center, where they remained Sunday.

Wagner, who performed with dexterity and aplomb, must have received some sort of special training that prepared him for delivering a baby. Right?

"Whoa, no!" Wagner said.

As a rule, police don't get much more than basic first aid training, he said. Beyond that it's all experience and instinct, said Wagner, who has two teenage children of his own.

Wagner, a 22-year veteran of Stockton's police force, has never delivered a baby in the line of duty. He's savoring the experience. Since the delivery, Wagner says, some of his colleagues have taken to calling him "Doctor."

On Sunday, Wagner paid a visit to McKay in the hospital, where they discussed her son's career prospects and a possible name - she's leaning towards Alfonso, and considering Jay as a middle name, despite Wagner's protestations.

Wagner said he hopes this won't be the lad's last brush with police.

"I'm trying to recruit him," he said. "We're so short right now we might have to kick up our efforts."

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22 with 7 kids???? For the love of God!!!!

9:48 AM | Blog it | News and politics

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	Jody Lynnwrote: This IS a dead space! Dec. 11
	BLOGGER HELPERwrote: You lousey pigs! Nov. 27
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	Alien Hunterwrote: Various community groups have criticized police brutality. These groups often stress the need for oversight by independent citizen review boards and other methods of ensuring accountability for police action. Copwatch is a U.S.-based network of organizations that actively monitors and videotapes the police to prevent police brutality. Umbrella organizations and justice committees (often named after a deceased individual or those victimized by police violence) usually engage in a solidarity of those affected. Amnesty International is another organization active in the issue of police brutality. Tools used by these groups include video recordings, which are sometimes broadcast using websites such as YouTube. Police Brutality Case Caught On Tape Man In Video Punched, Maced Repeatedly NEW YORK -- The tape tells the story: A man already in handcuffs was struck and maced by a New York City Police Department officer. FeedRoom Police Brutality Alleged Images Of Alleged Brutality The incident happened in the very same precinct where Abner Louima was brutally attacked. In fact, the officer involved was assigned there right after the Louima torture case to diversify the stationhouse. Now, that officer is charged with a vicious assault that was all captured on home video. In the video, one can see 26-year-old Anthony Carty, already in handcuffs, being subdued by at least six police officers. Many of the onlookers shouted to officers to "ease up," and moments before that, witnesses say Carty was sprayed with pepper spray or mace. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NewsChannel 4's exclusive interview with the victim, Anthony Carty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Then, while being escorted to a waiting patrol car and held by three other police officers, Officer Charles Dorcent, a five-year veteran of the NYPD, struck Carty, who was already handcuffed. The incident then enraged a growing crowd of spectators. FeedRoom A Case Of Police Brutality?: Exclusive Interview With The Victim According to Carty, the whole incident began as an innocent argument during a softball game here in Prospect Park. While it's still unclear why the officers from the 70th Precinct responded, Carty says several players and officers got into a heated argument. That's when Carty an officer maced a player, and that's when Carty says he intervened. That's also where the videotape begins. The man behind the lens of this home video camera provided the tape exclusively to Newschannel 4. Because of the nature of the images, and concern for his safety, he has chosen not to appear on camera even in silhouette. After the incident, he followed Dorcent to make sure his face, precinct, and even the plate number of officer Dorcent's patrol car were recorded. While the images of Carty being stuck are disturbing, the person who shot the tape told Newschannel 4 that he was more outraged when Carty was maced at least two more times by another officer before being placed into the backseat of the patrol car. "This is an obvious and outrageous abuse of police power," said Carty's attorney, Rudolf Silas. Silas says what officers may not have known at the time is that the macing sent Carty into respiratory distress. Carty has a history of asthma. Silas says while Carty was inside the patrol car, his wife tried to tell officers about her husband's asthmatic condition, only to be arrested herself. A short time later, police officers did remove Carty from the car, and put him into an ambulance. "There is no allegation of a weapon being used, no allegation of alcohol or any drugs (being used that would influence) his behavior," Silas said. "From the look of the video it appeared as though he was wobbly, not fully conscious, and certainly not flailing his legs flailing his arms, biting ... not doing anything that might be perceived as provocation." At the hospital, Carty was treated for several bruises and received eight stitches to his upper lip -- injuries his attorney says are a direct result of the beating at the hands of Dorcent. On Thursday, in an exclusive interview police Commissioner Ray Kelly agreed to talk about the incident. "It was an inappropriate use of force," Kelly said. "The officer was immediately suspended. Internal Affairs Bureau investigators took the complainant to the district attorney's office. An investigation with the district attorney's office was conducted, and the officer was ultimately arrested." Sources tell Newschannel 4 its likely Dorcent may not be the only officer facing possible criminal charges. The incident occurred on Aug. 11. However, law enforcement sources confirm that it was nearly three weeks before any action was taken. When Newschannel 4 asked the commissioner if his office was concerned that the incident had not been reported to either Internal Affairs, or the district attorney's office until three weeks after the incident, Kelly said the following: "All aspects of this incident -- of the event and the surrounding circumstances of the event -- are under investigation by our Internal Affairs Bureau." Silas believes without the videotape evidence, this case would have likely been swept under the rug. "I'm convinced but for this tape ... the tape makes it very clear that this was an unprovoked assault, it takes it out word against word, and it lays it out in an objective fashion for all of us to view and reach their determinations," Silas said. On the day of the incident, Carty was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest and obstruction, and those charges are still pending. Newschannel 4 contacted the attorney for Dorcent, and he declined comment on the case. Dorcent was arrested by internal affairs, and he was charged with assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. Copyright 2002 by WNBC.com. Police brutality cases on rise since 9/11 WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors are targeting a rising number of law enforcement officers for alleged brutality, Justice Department statistics show. The heightened prosecutions come as the nation's largest police union fears that agencies are dropping standards to fill thousands of vacancies and "scrimping" on training. Cases in which police, prison guards and other law enforcement authorities have used excessive force or other tactics to violate victims' civil rights have increased 25% (281 vs. 224) from fiscal years 2001 to 2007 over the previous seven years, the department says. During the same period, the department says it won 53% more convictions (391 vs. 256). Some cases result in multiple convictions. Federal records show the vast majority of police brutality cases referred by investigators are not prosecuted. 'CODE OF SILENCE': Milwaukee beating case collars 'bad cops' University of Toledo law professor David Harris, who analyzes police conduct issues, says it will take time to determine whether the cases represent a sustained period of more aggressive prosecutions or the beginnings of a surge in misconduct. The cases involve only a fraction of the estimated 800,000 police in the USA, says James Pasco, executive director of the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the nation's largest police union. Even so, he says, the FOP is concerned that reduced standards, training and promotion of less experienced officers into the higher police ranks could undermine more rigid supervision. "These are things we are worried about," Pasco says. For the past few years, dozens of police departments across the country have scrambled to fill vacancies. The recruiting effort, which often features cash bonuses, has intensified since 9/11, because many police recruits have been drawn to military service. In its post-Sept. 11 reorganization, the FBI listed police misconduct as one of its highest civil rights priorities to keep pace with an anticipated increase in police hiring through 2009. The increasing Justice numbers generally correspond to a USA TODAY analysis of federal law enforcement prosecutions using data compiled by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. Those data show 42 law enforcement prosecutions during the first 10 months of fiscal year 2007, a 66% increase from all of fiscal 2002 and a 61% rise from a decade ago. David Burnham, the co-founder of the TRAC database, says prosecutions appear to be increasing, but "more important" are the numbers of cases prosecutors decline. Last year, 96% of cases referred for prosecution by investigative agencies were declined. In 2005, 98% were declined, a rate that has remained "extremely high" under every administration dating to President Carter, according to a TRAC report. The high refusal rates, say Burnham and law enforcement analysts, result in part from the extraordinary difficulty in prosecuting abuse cases. Juries are conditioned to believe cops, and victims' credibility is often challenged. "When police are accused of wrongdoing, the world is turned upside down," Harris says. "In some cases, it may be impossible for (juries) to make the adjustment." Jan. 8
	Alien Hunterwrote: Various community groups have criticized police brutality. These groups often stress the need for oversight by independent citizen review boards and other methods of ensuring accountability for police action. Copwatch is a U.S.-based network of organizations that actively monitors and videotapes the police to prevent police brutality. Umbrella organizations and justice committees (often named after a deceased individual or those victimized by police violence) usually engage in a solidarity of those affected. Amnesty International is another organization active in the issue of police brutality. Tools used by these groups include video recordings, which are sometimes broadcast using websites such as YouTube. Police Brutality Case Caught On Tape Man In Video Punched, Maced Repeatedly NEW YORK -- The tape tells the story: A man already in handcuffs was struck and maced by a New York City Police Department officer. FeedRoom Police Brutality Alleged Images Of Alleged Brutality The incident happened in the very same precinct where Abner Louima was brutally attacked. In fact, the officer involved was assigned there right after the Louima torture case to diversify the stationhouse. Now, that officer is charged with a vicious assault that was all captured on home video. In the video, one can see 26-year-old Anthony Carty, already in handcuffs, being subdued by at least six police officers. Many of the onlookers shouted to officers to "ease up," and moments before that, witnesses say Carty was sprayed with pepper spray or mace. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NewsChannel 4's exclusive interview with the victim, Anthony Carty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Then, while being escorted to a waiting patrol car and held by three other police officers, Officer Charles Dorcent, a five-year veteran of the NYPD, struck Carty, who was already handcuffed. The incident then enraged a growing crowd of spectators. FeedRoom A Case Of Police Brutality?: Exclusive Interview With The Victim According to Carty, the whole incident began as an innocent argument during a softball game here in Prospect Park. While it's still unclear why the officers from the 70th Precinct responded, Carty says several players and officers got into a heated argument. That's when Carty an officer maced a player, and that's when Carty says he intervened. That's also where the videotape begins. The man behind the lens of this home video camera provided the tape exclusively to Newschannel 4. Because of the nature of the images, and concern for his safety, he has chosen not to appear on camera even in silhouette. After the incident, he followed Dorcent to make sure his face, precinct, and even the plate number of officer Dorcent's patrol car were recorded. While the images of Carty being stuck are disturbing, the person who shot the tape told Newschannel 4 that he was more outraged when Carty was maced at least two more times by another officer before being placed into the backseat of the patrol car. "This is an obvious and outrageous abuse of police power," said Carty's attorney, Rudolf Silas. Silas says what officers may not have known at the time is that the macing sent Carty into respiratory distress. Carty has a history of asthma. Silas says while Carty was inside the patrol car, his wife tried to tell officers about her husband's asthmatic condition, only to be arrested herself. A short time later, police officers did remove Carty from the car, and put him into an ambulance. "There is no allegation of a weapon being used, no allegation of alcohol or any drugs (being used that would influence) his behavior," Silas said. "From the look of the video it appeared as though he was wobbly, not fully conscious, and certainly not flailing his legs flailing his arms, biting ... not doing anything that might be perceived as provocation." At the hospital, Carty was treated for several bruises and received eight stitches to his upper lip -- injuries his attorney says are a direct result of the beating at the hands of Dorcent. On Thursday, in an exclusive interview police Commissioner Ray Kelly agreed to talk about the incident. "It was an inappropriate use of force," Kelly said. "The officer was immediately suspended. Internal Affairs Bureau investigators took the complainant to the district attorney's office. An investigation with the district attorney's office was conducted, and the officer was ultimately arrested." Sources tell Newschannel 4 its likely Dorcent may not be the only officer facing possible criminal charges. The incident occurred on Aug. 11. However, law enforcement sources confirm that it was nearly three weeks before any action was taken. When Newschannel 4 asked the commissioner if his office was concerned that the incident had not been reported to either Internal Affairs, or the district attorney's office until three weeks after the incident, Kelly said the following: "All aspects of this incident -- of the event and the surrounding circumstances of the event -- are under investigation by our Internal Affairs Bureau." Silas believes without the videotape evidence, this case would have likely been swept under the rug. "I'm convinced but for this tape ... the tape makes it very clear that this was an unprovoked assault, it takes it out word against word, and it lays it out in an objective fashion for all of us to view and reach their determinations," Silas said. On the day of the incident, Carty was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest and obstruction, and those charges are still pending. Newschannel 4 contacted the attorney for Dorcent, and he declined comment on the case. Dorcent was arrested by internal affairs, and he was charged with assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. Copyright 2002 by WNBC.com. Police brutality cases on rise since 9/11 WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors are targeting a rising number of law enforcement officers for alleged brutality, Justice Department statistics show. The heightened prosecutions come as the nation's largest police union fears that agencies are dropping standards to fill thousands of vacancies and "scrimping" on training. Cases in which police, prison guards and other law enforcement authorities have used excessive force or other tactics to violate victims' civil rights have increased 25% (281 vs. 224) from fiscal years 2001 to 2007 over the previous seven years, the department says. During the same period, the department says it won 53% more convictions (391 vs. 256). Some cases result in multiple convictions. Federal records show the vast majority of police brutality cases referred by investigators are not prosecuted. 'CODE OF SILENCE': Milwaukee beating case collars 'bad cops' University of Toledo law professor David Harris, who analyzes police conduct issues, says it will take time to determine whether the cases represent a sustained period of more aggressive prosecutions or the beginnings of a surge in misconduct. The cases involve only a fraction of the estimated 800,000 police in the USA, says James Pasco, executive director of the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the nation's largest police union. Even so, he says, the FOP is concerned that reduced standards, training and promotion of less experienced officers into the higher police ranks could undermine more rigid supervision. "These are things we are worried about," Pasco says. For the past few years, dozens of police departments across the country have scrambled to fill vacancies. The recruiting effort, which often features cash bonuses, has intensified since 9/11, because many police recruits have been drawn to military service. In its post-Sept. 11 reorganization, the FBI listed police misconduct as one of its highest civil rights priorities to keep pace with an anticipated increase in police hiring through 2009. The increasing Justice numbers generally correspond to a USA TODAY analysis of federal law enforcement prosecutions using data compiled by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. Those data show 42 law enforcement prosecutions during the first 10 months of fiscal year 2007, a 66% increase from all of fiscal 2002 and a 61% rise from a decade ago. David Burnham, the co-founder of the TRAC database, says prosecutions appear to be increasing, but "more important" are the numbers of cases prosecutors decline. Last year, 96% of cases referred for prosecution by investigative agencies were declined. In 2005, 98% were declined, a rate that has remained "extremely high" under every administration dating to President Carter, according to a TRAC report. The high refusal rates, say Burnham and law enforcement analysts, result in part from the extraordinary difficulty in prosecuting abuse cases. Juries are conditioned to believe cops, and victims' credibility is often challenged. "When police are accused of wrongdoing, the world is turned upside down," Harris says. "In some cases, it may be impossible for (juries) to make the adjustment." Jan. 8

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