# Blackwater/Xe front "American Police Force" to run big jail (& be the police?) in small Montana town **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 2, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302 "2009-10-02T01:01:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/41 "2009-10-02T17:02:05Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Scamming who? Where is the required pot of money to suck up? Who is going to write them checks? Scamming the town of Hardin, Montana, who hired them to run the prison. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/42 "2009-10-02T17:10:32Z")
But they’re broke! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/43 "2009-10-02T17:20:30Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Scamming the town of Hardin, Montana, who hired them to run the prison. That’s unclear. They might have leased the prison from the town. And now they may be sniffing around various prison systems looking to rent space to them, to house the overflow from other prisons. And looking to various police agencies to provide training services – the training facility they will build if they get enough contracts from police. It could be quiasi-legitimate, if the contracts fall into place to finance it all. And if it doesn’t, it may these end users who will take the hit. And the Mlwaukee Examiner article doesn’t say it’s a scam at all. It says it might be, or might be a small operation trying to bootstrap its way up into the big leagues. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/44 "2009-10-02T17:55:05Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > But they’re broke! Well, APF wouldn’t have made the deal if they didn’t think they could get revenue out of it from **somewhere.** Maybe they know something we don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/45 "2009-10-02T18:01:48Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Well, APF wouldn’t have made the deal if they didn’t think they could get revenue out of it from **somewhere.** Maybe they know something we don’t. I guessing that there’s pirate gold buried under the town. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/46 "2009-10-02T18:24:47Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I guessing that there’s pirate gold buried under the town. Yes, few people are aware of Montana’s history as a port for buccaneers and seadogs . . . ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/47 "2009-10-02T20:13:58Z")
Of course, while you’re digging for the treasure you’ll have to dress up as ghosts to frighten everybody away. ---
**Author:** ![i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f07891/32.png) [@i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/i_am_a_scientist)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/48 "2009-10-02T20:15:15Z")
you fools are underestimating their resolve, APF thrives on adversity and competition. From the “[Our Competitors](http://www.americanpolicegroup.com/competitors.html)” section: > [@](#): > > Our competitors are efficient diligent, & attentative. They make us search for ways to improve our services. Our competitors would take our business if they could. This keeps us alert to what we have. If we didn’t have competitors we’d be incompetent & unattentative; we need the discipline they enforce on us. We salute “Our Competitors”, they have been good to us, God Bless them all. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/49 "2009-10-02T20:33:58Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Of course, while you’re digging for the treasure you’ll have to dress up as ghosts to frighten everybody away. Agreed. Body armor and assault rifles just don’t do the job. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/50 "2009-10-02T20:34:43Z")
> [@i\_am\_a\_scientist](#): > > you fools are underestimating their resolve, APF thrives on adversity and competition. From the “[Our Competitors](http://www.americanpolicegroup.com/competitors.html)” section: If you hadn’t have provided a link, I wouldn’t have believed you. Good God. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/51 "2009-10-02T20:35:32Z")
> [@i\_am\_a\_scientist](#): > > you fools are underestimating their resolve, APF thrives on adversity and competition. From the “[Our Competitors](http://www.americanpolicegroup.com/competitors.html)” section: Mark Twain once said a town too small for one lawyer could easily support two. No doubt the same applies to mercenary outfits. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/52 "2009-10-02T20:35:50Z")
They would’ve gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for those meddling kids! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/53 "2009-10-02T20:39:11Z")
Ummmm I think they also admit to being a criminal enterprise [here](http://www.americanpolicegroup.com/american_private_police_force.html) > [@APF](#): > > Some of our services include Kidknapping & Ransoms for ransom, ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/54 "2009-10-02T20:40:43Z")
> [@Indyellen](#): > > They would’ve gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for those meddling kids! You beat me to it! **5** : I’ve gotta bag of… uh… hamburgers for you. All you have to do is to come out into the dark shadowy part of Montana where no one can see you. **Indyellen** : Okay. ---
**Author:** ![i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f07891/32.png) [@i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/i_am_a_scientist)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/55 "2009-10-02T20:48:25Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Ummmm I think they also admit to being a criminal enterprise [here](http://www.americanpolicegroup.com/american_private_police_force.html) And something called “[covert pregnancy testing](http://www.americanpolicegroup.com/check.html)” wtf? I wish I was a hacker, I’d add “1930s Style Death Ray” to its selection of hardware. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/56 "2009-10-02T20:54:51Z")
> [@i\_am\_a\_scientist](#): > > And something called “[covert pregnancy testing](http://www.americanpolicegroup.com/check.html)” > > wtf? > > I wish I was a hacker, I’d add “1930s Style Death Ray” to its selection of hardware. What, it’s not there already?! “Covert pregnancy testing” presumably would require collecting a sample of your wife/GF’s urine without her knowing about it. Hilarity ensues! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/57 "2009-10-02T20:56:15Z")
“We’ve completed our covert pregnancy testing, ma’am, and we can confirm: your husband is pregnant.” ---
**Author:** ![i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f07891/32.png) [@i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/i_am_a_scientist)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/58 "2009-10-02T21:03:00Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What, it’s not there already?! It’s not there, and it can’t be an editorial oversight because they include “extremely organized” among [institutional qualities](http://www.americanpolicegroup.com/american_police_force_about.html). ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/59 "2009-10-02T21:05:16Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What, it’s not there already?! > > “Covert pregnancy testing” presumably would require collecting a sample of your wife/GF’s urine without her knowing about it. Hilarity ensues! That’s easy. Send a “comedian” to the front door who makes her laugh so hard she pisses herself. They should also offer covert abortion services. Send an even funnier comedian to the door to make her laugh so hard she spontaneously aborts. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302/60 "2009-10-02T21:07:23Z")
[http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MT\_MONTANA\_JAIL\_CAOL-?SITE=CAANR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MT_MONTANA_JAIL_CAOL-?SITE=CAANR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT) I stink at formatting. > [@](#): > > BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) – A California company’s bid to take over an empty jail in rural Montana appears to be unraveling, with an attorney involved in the project cutting ties Friday and a second company, once named as a subcontractor, denied any involvement in it. > > Those moves followed revelations earlier in the week that Michael Hilton - the lead figure of the company, American Police Force - is a convicted felon with a history of fraud and failed business dealings in California. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-xe-front-american-police-force-to-run-big-jail-be-the-police-in-small-montana-town/512302.md?page=4)