# Games Cops Play (With Stolen Nude Cellphone Pics) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 3, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543 "2014-11-03T18:55:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/1 "2014-11-03T18:55:34Z")
I guess now we know [the real reason](http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Disturbing-texts-in-CHP-officers-nude-photo-5846327.php) for all the law-enforcement [public](http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/2014/09/25/68c4e08e-4344-11e4-9a15-137aa0153527_story.html) [displays](http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nypd-bratton-vows-push-apple-google-smartphone-encryption-article-1.1978719) of butthurt about smartphone security improvements: > [@](#): > > California Highway Patrol officers have been sharing explicit photos of female suspects for years as part of a “game,” an officer implicated in the scandal told investigators, court records show. > > CHP Officer Sean Harrington, 35, of Martinez, acknowledged to Contra Costa County prosecutors that he had forwarded photos from the cell phone of a woman he had arrested in a DUI case, sent them to his own phone and had shared them with at least two other CHP officers, according to a search warrant filed in Superior Court. > > Harrington said he had done the same thing to at least six other female arrestees in the past several years, authorities said. After taking arrestees’ photos, officers would share pictures with one another and exchange comments about each woman’s looks, Harrington told district attorney inspectors. Harrington said he first learned of the practice while working for the CHP in Los Angeles, investigators said… ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/2 "2014-11-03T19:16:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Harrington has had his peace officer powers revoked and is on desk duty, authorities said. CHP Sgt. Diana McDermott said she did not know of any other Bay Area CHP officers who had been similarly removed from patrol duty. Desk duty? Am I naive in thinking that he has been turfed in advance of his termination, and that this will happen to other officers involved? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/3 "2014-11-03T19:50:40Z")
Am I understanding correctly (not having followed the links) that officers are forcing arrested women to strip for these photos? ---
**Author:** ![TheSeaOtter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed655f/32.png) [@TheSeaOtter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSeaOtter)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/4 "2014-11-03T19:55:24Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Am I understanding correctly (not having followed the links) that officers are forcing arrested women to strip for these photos? I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not, but no. They’re ‘just’ stealing images already on the arrestee’s phones. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/5 "2014-11-03T20:15:33Z")
> [@TheSeaOtter](#): > > I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not, but no. They’re ‘just’ stealing images already on the arrestee’s phones. And sending them to their fellow miscreants. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/6 "2014-11-03T20:39:30Z")
And they’re being punished for it. The system works. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/7 "2014-11-03T20:46:48Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And they’re being punished for it. > > The system works. For the few cops who got caught doing it. How many others did it we don’t know. I’m sure pictures are being deleted all up and down CHP land. Polaroids under your underwear in your underwear drawer were much safer. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/8 "2014-11-03T20:54:49Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And they’re being punished for it. > > The system works. > [@](#): > > Harrington has had his peace officer powers revoked and is on desk duty, authorities said. CHP Sgt. Diana McDermott said she did not know of any other Bay Area CHP officers who had been similarly removed from patrol duty. Oh, the terrible punishment of moving from the mean streets to an office! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/9 "2014-11-03T21:02:05Z")
> [@TheSeaOtter](#): > > I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not, but no. They’re ‘just’ stealing images already on the arrestee’s phones. No sarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/10 "2014-11-03T21:21:14Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And they’re being punished for it. > > The system works. That’s more information that is in the OP. I certainly hope that you are correct, that they are being punished. Punished, btw, would be firing. Desk duty…not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/11 "2014-11-03T21:27:21Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > That’s more information that is in the OP. I certainly hope that you are correct, that they are being punished. > > Punished, btw, would be firing. Desk duty…not so much. They will never put administrative punishments ahead of criminal investigations. One can ruin the other since there is a much lower threshold for proof. The article said the prosecutor will announce this week if there is enough evidence to charge and with what. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/12 "2014-11-03T21:32:14Z")
How exactly does this forwarding of pictures work? Wouldn’t there be a record or some kind of electronic trail? My email certainly keeps track of all outgoing mail. Do texts not do this? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/13 "2014-11-03T21:56:33Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > For the few cops who got caught doing it. How many others did it we don’t know. We will never be able to catch everyone guilty of a particular crime - that doesn’t mean the system has failed, it just means the system is not omnipotent. > [@](#): > > Polaroids under your underwear in your underwear drawer were much safer. The best way to avoid your naked pictures being stolen is to not have naked pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/14 "2014-11-03T22:16:36Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > How exactly does this forwarding of pictures work? Wouldn’t there be a record or some kind of electronic trail? My email certainly keeps track of all outgoing mail. Do texts not do this? …my understanding was that they were texted from the phone, and then probably deleted from the phone. But the phone logs were synched with her I Pad: and she discovered the images were sent when she checked the logs. If the two weren’t synched she would never have known. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/15 "2014-11-03T22:21:55Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > We will never be able to catch everyone guilty of a particular crime - that doesn’t mean the system has failed, it just means the system is not omnipotent. > > The best way to avoid your naked pictures being stolen is to not have naked pictures. Or not to let thieves and perverts be cops, that might work. Nah, that’s crazy talk. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/16 "2014-11-03T22:22:08Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > That’s more information that is in the OP. I certainly hope that you are correct, that they are being punished. > > Punished, btw, would be firing. Desk duty…not so much. The latest news is that one officer is facing two felony counts for computer theft in this case. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/17 "2014-11-03T22:22:25Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The best way to avoid your naked pictures being stolen is to not have naked pictures. **Smapti** , I commend you on your restraint. You managed to wait a full 12 responses before blaming the victim. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/18 "2014-11-03T22:25:47Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > **Smapti** , I commend you on your restraint. You managed to wait a full 12 responses before blaming the victim. And don’t tell people they should lock their doors, either - that’s blaming the victim instead of the robber. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/19 "2014-11-03T22:33:55Z")
If I thought you actually had sympathy for the victim instead of for the poor misunderstood cops, your response might carry more weight. ETA: since you seem utterly clueless on this topic, let me clarify. Yes, if you don’t have naked pictures on your cell phone, it is difficult for people to find them. That is mind-numbingly obvious and completely unnecessary to point out. _Everyone already knows that._ Yet you continue to point stuff like this out anyway. That’s why it comes across as blaming the victim. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543/20 "2014-11-03T23:09:50Z")
It’s messed up, but I am far from surprised. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-cops-play-with-stolen-nude-cellphone-pics/703543.md?page=2)