Feds: Many In FBI Cheated On Test On Your Rights

WASHINGTON — A Justice Department investigation has found that FBI agents, including several supervisors, cheated on an important test covering the bureau’s policies for conducting surveillance on Americans.

Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine said Monday that his limited review of allegations that agents improperly took the open-book test together or had access to an answer sheet has turned up “significant abuses and cheating.”

All of those who cheated “falsely certified” that they did the work themselves, without the help of others.

“This report reinforces that the FBI cannot police itself,” said Michael German, policy counsel to the American Civil Liberties Union. “There needs to be stronger oversight and stronger controls over the bureau’s use of its investigative powers.”

German also expressed concern about the surveillance guidelines themselves, saying they enable the targeting of people for investigation when there is “no factual basis to support that speculative belief.”

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Houston Cop Who Conspired With Other Cop To Defraud Hurricane Evacuee Kids Charity Out of $176k Sentenced To 16yrs

Houston, Texas

A Houston police officer who tried to bilk $435,000 via a bogus basketball league for hurricane evacuees has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Tracie Denise Bell, 41, had been with HPD for a dozen years when, prosecutors say, she conspired with a rookie cop to defraud the Houston Area Urban League. She eventually got almost $167,000 out of HAUL by billing it for expenses for several evacuee basketball leagues and camps that were non-existent.

The other former cop accused in the scheme, Kirshondra K. Richardson, 28, has yet to go to trial.

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Great Reference Guide - Tips on Recording Police Misconduct

How to Record Police Misconduct

Here at Disgraced Texas Badges, where we believe a bad cop or a dirty cop deserves to be called out, we are always on the lookout for new technology and those brave citizens that assist in pointing out dirty cops. Fortunately, over the past year, there has been a number of instances where dirty cops caught on tape have protected a few people, cases where our justice system has worked the way it was intended. So, we are proud to present a helpful tool in catching crooked cops.

A guide to the technology for keeping government accountable and creating a record of police misconduct.

http://reason.com/archives/2010/09/20/how-to-record-the-cops

Dallas County Deputy Constable Under Investigation For Lying Under Oath

Dallas, Texas

A judge has appointed a special prosecutor to investigate allegations of aggravated perjury against an elected Dallas County constable who is accused of lying under oath during a federal civil trial last year.

Judge Don Adams appointed local criminal defense attorney George E. Ashford III to investigate the allegations against Precinct 2 Constable Michael Gothard, court records show.

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2 Dallas Cops Fired Day After 5 Others Fired For False Reporting & Excessive Force

Dallas, Texas

Dallas Police Chief David Brown fired two more officers Friday, a day after he fired five others on unrelated matters.

Officer Clayton Woods, a nine-year veteran, was fired Friday for allegedly giving false information to supervisors and being absent without leave in December.

Officer Robert Dorst is accused of using "indecent or profane language" while performing his duties in late May 2009, according to the department. He also is accused of falsifying paperwork and using excessive force. Dorst was hired two years ago.

On Thursday, Brown fired Dwight Govan, Keith Ashley, Tayana McElrath, Daniel Babb and David Aguilar for a variety of infractions.

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Corpus Christi Cop Gets 90days Jail in Plea Deal for 3 Counts Sexual Indecency w/Child

Corpus Christi, Texas

A Corpus Christi police officer took a plea deal on Monday for jail time and probation for molesting a 15-year-old girl last year.

Julian Vasquez, 47, pleaded guilty to three counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact, a second-degree felony.

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Houston Police Officer Under Investigation After Caught On Bus Video Beating Student

Houston, Texas

A Houston ISD police officer is on leave and under investigation because of what a student says happened to him on a bus. The incident at the center of the allegations was recorded on camera.

It was on a bus outside Yates High School in southeast Houston Thursday afternoon where Molica Lewis says her son was so badly beaten that his face will never be the same.

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2 Dallas TX Cops Caught on Tape Beating Suspect; Officials Say Is So Enraging That They Cannot Release It

Dallas, Texas

Few people have seen the dashcam video of two Dallas police officers beating a man after a chase.


One city leader tells News 8 the images are so enraging that they could divide the community.

The officers are white; the cyclist is black.

According to the police report, it all started when officers say they saw Andrew Collins driving his motorcycle on the sidewalk. The officers said he took off and they followed, but didn't chase him.

Sources tell News 8, however, that the dashcam video tells a different story.

"From what I have gathered, it's pretty damaging," said Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway.

Sources say the tape shows the officers chased Collins — even going the wrong way at times.

News 8 has also been told that at one point you can hear an officer on the recording saying, "Get close to him so I can beat the [expletive] out of him."

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Fort Worth Officer Fired For Using Excessive Force Against Woman

Fort Worth, Texas

A Fort Worth police officer has been fired after he was caught on police helicopter video using excessive force against a woman in March who had just led police on a vehicle pursuit, according to a letter filed with the Civil Service Commission on Thursday.

Though the woman complied with police orders after finally pulling over, Officer Wes A. Featherston grabbed her left arm and intentionally tripped her, taking her face down to the ground while still holding her arm, according to the letter signed by Police Chief Jeff Halstead.

The officer then struck the woman with his left hand and repeatedly with his right knee, including a blow to the face that caused her head to snap backwards. As a result of the force used against her, the woman sustained bruises, a bloody nose and broken teeth, the letter states.

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Kermit Police Officer Gets Probation For Groping Employee At Donut Shop

Kermit, Texas

A former Kermit Police officer admits to abusing his badge.

According to the Winkler County Attorney, former Corporal James Slayton pled guilty on Wednesday to charges of official oppression.

Under the plea deal, he'll be on probation for one year, pay a $600.00 fine, and surrender his license as a peace officer.

According to a complaint filed earlier this week, Slayton touched a woman's breast in a Kermit donut shop where she worked.

He was also accused of performing a lewd act in the restroom.

Slayton resigned from the force when the accusations surfaced.

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Corpus Christi Police Officer Accused of Fondling Two Underage Girls

Corpus Christi, Texas

As a Corpus Christi police officer faces accusations of fondling an under age girl, a second alleged victim is now coming forward. On Friday Police Chief Troy Riggs placed Senior Officer Raul Rodriguez on paid administrative leave after learning of the first allegation. When news of the investigation broke, one woman says she could no longer remain silent. The alleged victim says she does not want to be identified because to this day she is still scared of the police. She claims that eight years ago while she was a sixth grade student at South Park Middle School and Officer Rodriguez was the School Safety Officer, he violated his position of authority and inappropriately touched her.

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