Actually in the U.S. that is correct and they are presumed innocent. I know what you meant though: they were “allegedly undeserved targets of a police action”. It’s not worth everyone getting into a snit over.
ETA: I don’t think anyone will disagree that the police fucked up and clearly didn’t do their homework to determine ahead of time whether these folks were credible suspects who were likely armed and dangerous. They should have been had enough surveillance to get a better idea and also should have known it was the mayor’s house.
It’s worth noting that the suspicious package of weed was delivered by the police, not some courier, and that the residents initially refused to sign for it.
Furthermore, once news got out, the police announced that they’d had a no-knock warrant when they quite specifically did not.
It seems from all accounts this mayir is particularly clean-cut and an effective communicator. The FBI has opened an investigation.
One hopes that these extraconsitutional assholes are in for a world of hurt, but I doubt they’ll get anything that will leave their family grieving for years, which is what they’ve inflicted on the citizens they were sworn to protect.
Screw surveillance. The local cops, who knew the mayor well, and could have provided all the info desired, were intentionally not contacted by these gloryboys. They’ve been vocal in their unhappiness too.
Actually, the reason why folks are “getting into a snit over” this is not necessarily because of this particular instance, but that (to them) this is part of a larger overall pattern of police using paramilitary tactics to serve drug warrants with tragic or overly violent results. The fact that this happened to an elected official is the only reason this is getting the attention it’s getting, but to some who keep track of these things, it’s just another of a long line of similar instances, some of which have left people DEAD.
I just saw the sheriff* on the news about an hour ago. He’s still not apologizing. What a bunch of assholes. I thought there was a trend towards police trying to be friendly with the populace, but I must have imagined that.
It’s going to get to the point where every citizen’s every interaction with the law is going to end in gunfire.
*Maybe it wasn’t the sheriff, but a uniformed representative.
Oh, that I understand, but it looked like the Cynic and danceswithcats were squaring off over sematincs because cats just wrote something hastily. When I read his/her post I knew what he/she meant, no big deal.
But yes, there is very little I like conceptually about no-knock warrants because everything about seems to put everyone, good guys, bad guys, and innocent people caught in a mistake at a greater risk. Ts should be crossed, Is should be dotted, and there should never, ever be a case of “oop, wrong house”.
These guys didn’t have a no-knowck warrant, and when the mayor told them he was the mayor, it’s inconceivable that they didn’t believe him. How coul dthey possibly not know if they’d done the most cursory background check on their targets?
I just updated the WIkipedia article. (My WIkipedia name is “Paul in Saudi.”) I just did a Google for police misconduct in Prince George’s County. My goodness what a brutal, inept group.
At this point, I imagine an apology could be construed as an admission of guilt, and he’s probably been advised by his lawyer to avoid doing that sort of thing.
I’m sure that Dio understood what I meant, but hey-why let that get in the way of a good rant?
While I agree with you that attention should be paid to detail, I’d like to remind everyone that being Mayor doesn’t amount to a pinch of owl shit. Unless you’ve just emerged from the cave where you’ve spent the last 40 years, there have been no shortage of Mayors running afoul of the law.
I’m all for investigating this fuck-up and seeing those responsible punished. However, the perennial cop-haters on SDMB want hanging first, and facts later.
How ironic that in the thread I started, some are wringing their hands over the death sentence of some POS who raped and murdered two girls, and over here, with two dogs shot, I read that the police involved should be brutally punished. :dubious:
I’m going by memory here, but I just remember the same stuff that was in the OP, that it was the right house, they weren’t misidentified, etc.
I only noticed it as I was flipping through channels because they were showing a photo of the two murdered dogs.
FACT: The gang in blue burst in and killed somebody.
FACT: They did not have a no-knock warrant, making the above act no different than any other home-invasion murder.
FACT: They lied to cover up the previous fact.
That’s sufficient for throwing them under the jail. In a more just world, it would be sufficient for “outlawry” (i.e. placing them outside the protection of the laws they have shat upon) and putting them in general population without special consideration for their likelihood of meeting old acquaintances.
If not some one should call PETA, and avoid the “stuffed pork” at diners.
All attempts at humour aside, this smacks of
Over worked, underpaid, poorly trained, understaffed police force
dealing with
Shifting demographic and population increase
and
City council, or whom ever over sees police funding is out of touch and out of their mind.
and 3.5) Vote dammit! Vote in a City council(etc) that can and will deal with the issues instead of dumping it unto a police precent unable to properly , proffessionaly deal with it.
A dog isn’t human, but it’s manfiestly “somebody.” A family dog is a family member.
Let’s not forget that bullets go right through dogs and into back bedroons full of innocent, doe-eyed little white girls. Firing the bullet at a fleeing dog is basically saying “I don’t care if I hit one or seventeen little children, I’m getting me some fleeing Labrador.”
It’s not the cops’ fault that the bullets didn’t strike other parties; just luck.