San Jose Police Using Head Cam’s.

San Jose Police Photo AP Of Officer with Head Cam

 

San Jose Police have begun a pilot program “head cams” in which video cameras are being placed on the heads of Police Officers to record their actions. 

More and more we are observing news media, bloggers and amateur video’s of police interaction with civilians. Usually it’s the controversial incidents that wind up on YOUTUBE such as Police using force against a person or group of people. Recently one such video posted on YOUTUBE stirred strong emotions   Police Officer displayed his gun where a large crowd had gathered and were throwing snowballs. 

Most Police Agencies now have vehicle dashboard mounted cameras to record incidents. The are material evidence which can bolster the police narrative of events. If  police misconduct occurs it will also be documented and both departmental and criminal discipline may result.  Digital plate readers are now being used, as well as all types of recording devices in what Jeremy Bentham described as invisible omniscience. 

Is it logical technological progression for Officers paid by the public to record their daily performance. Is it overly intrusive. If Police are recorded 24/7 should teachers, pilots, judges, elected officials also be required to wear such a device?

Police Line Of Duty Deaths Inrease In 2009

AP Photo Of Oakland Police Officers Killed In Line of Duty In 2009

One of the conventional thoughts of wisdom has been that as the economy headed south, crime would rise throughout the nation. The so called economic – crime correlation. In many parts of the nation the opposite is true crime has not increased dramatically.

However Police Officer’s deaths in the performance of duty has increased compared to last year. USA Today reports that for the first half of 2009 there has been a 20% increase in Police Officer line of duty deaths. You have to keep things in perspective as the totlal number of Officers slain or killed on duty is the lowest since 1965.

White House Gate Crasher Narcisistic Traitors and Burglars

“Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live.”Oscar Wilde

The recent White House crashes’ are indicative of much larger problems facing society.  ( see http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/27/national/main5799865.shtml ) They break down all borders and test everything in  feeding their insatiable unbridled  appetite of selfishness. I have problems with this couple and they way in which they embarrassed the President, his administration, the Secret Service and the nation. Yet they are not alone their conduct is repeated everyday by millions of narcissistic Americans

In one photo they are standing with the Marine White House Guard, young men chosen no doubt because of their bravery and outstanding performance during war-time operations. They took pictures with real  war national heroes. They used the heroes because  in their world the Marine Guard were nothing more than Madame Trudeau Wax Museum props. Trust me they have no shame, they have no guilt and will demand they be viewed as patriots for exposing lack Secret Service security measures. That the President’ was holding a State affair to honor his guest surrounded by important guest who could improve relations between two nations has now been overshadowed by this criminal act.

Tareq and Michaele Salahi are not alone but they raise the bar on deviant behavior without borders. They are Traitors and  Burglars they intentionally, and knowingly trespassed into the White House with the conscious objective to self promote themselves with a reckless disregard for the trouble and embarrassment they would cause to the  nation .

No doubt heads will roll, but the proximate cause of this was these two low life’s. Mark Sullivan who rose threw the ranks to be the Director of the Secret Service may be fired because of these two. ( See http://www.secretservice.gov/director.shtml). 

Without being a conspirator guy did these folks act alone. Was someone bribed to allow these phony’s to obtain high level clearance?  Just as with the wizards of wall street they don’t care about anyone, anybody, anyhow, they just want their money, their publicity. That they embarrassed the  President the White House staff and Secret Service is inconsequential. Just like Wall Street and the Banks  that they harmed the nation and good health of the nation they got their piece of the pie and the hell with everyone else.

Judge Spinner Relives Suffolk New York Home Owner of Mortgage

 

Judge Spinner relieves Homeowner of Mortgage to Penalize Lender

 

 

Yesterday on Long Island New York Judge Spinner  in INDY MAC v YANO HOROSKI  http://www.courts.state.ny.us/courts/10jd/suffolk/pdf/foreprogramrules.pdf held in  essence that a bank who is seeking foreclosure against a homeowner  whose is in default must act in good faith http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/good+faith and negotiate in good faith in an attempt to medicate damages.  The Judge stated ” The judge concluded that the banks’ conduct was “wholly unsupportable at law or in equity, greatly egregious and so completely devoid of good faith that equity cannot be permitted to intervene on its behalf.” However he went further stating that the banks conduct made him believe they would repeat this conduct, and a penalty would not therefore be a deterrent.  SO HE EXTINGUISHED THE ENTIRE DEBT.

See http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202435781738&rss=newswire

Facts. Ms Yano Horoski a college professor refinanced her existing mortgage and refinanced the residence for $ 292,500.00 with an adjustable whose interest rate went from 10% to 12%. Part of the monies in the refinancing went to her husband’s home doll collection business. Apparently due to some financial and medical issues they could no longer afford the mortgage. As such they approached the lender. The Judge held that the family made several efforts to mediate the matter including one in which her daughter would purchase the home.   But the law firm  Steven J Baum http://www.mbaum.com/SJB/index.jsp attorney would not agree to anything but foreclosure.

Steven Baum is the dominant law firm in New York representing banks in foreclosure sales and “short sales”. They never permit any changes in a contract, and in fact are aggressive . In their contracts they only give a purchaser 30 days to obtain a mortgage and if you don’t monetary penalties kick in which are in my opinion draconian and penalize purchaser’s unfairly.

I’m glad the Judge slammed the lenders and their attorney who all benefit from taxpayer “TARP” bailout monies but treat consumers like garbage.

 

 

Bart Police Actions Are Not Indicative of Police Brutality

Police Critics Cry "brutality" in Bart Officer's Removal of Man From Train.

A video has been taken in which a uniformed ”BART” Police Officer uses physical force to remove a disorderly man from a subway train. ( for the video see http://officer.com/web/online/Top-News-Stories/New-Video-Puts-BART-Police-on-Guard/1$49478 )

The Officer responded to multiple 911 calls of an intoxicated man eschewing racial profanity on board a public train. Armed with those facts he went to the assistance of the public who had called him for help. And the Officer did just that by himself he removed a disorderly persons who  now drinks on the train most likely  because his previous venue for being an A-HOLE  was taken away as legitimate bar owners,  bouncers and bartenders  banned him from their establishments because of his uncivil behavior.  ( Lawyers never sue those places just the government in hopes they settle out of court )

Officer’s are permitted under the law to use physical force to restrain a person.  Just as an emergency physician makes decisions based upon training and experience, so do police officers.   While verbal communications are frequently used to command an individual they are only used where feasible. Here the Officer makes a decision to remove the man rapidly and thus protect the citizens from potential harm.  

Police misconduct which is now labeled “brutality” ( defined as ruthless, cruel or harsh see http://www.thefreedictionary.com/brutality)  is over and misused by those who are anti police.  In this video nothing ruthless, cruel or harsh intentionally took place.  The Officer correctly took physical charge of an apparent emotionally charged individual. The Officer doesn’t know if he is high on a controlled substance, armed with a weapon or in need of medical treatment.  Removing him from the train protects citizens from a possible dangerous man and the Officer places himself at physical risk in a possible mano e mano encounter.

If the window was made out of shatter proof glass such as plexi- glass I doubt this video would have raised an eye. It is standard police procedure to “brace” a person against a wall. This allows a Police Officer to protect himself and the subject from injury. Here the Officer used the lowest level of force “physical” to control the subject but for the glass shattering no one would have been injured.

Police supervisors and elected officials have an affirmative obligation to support the police when they act properly. I see nothing in this video which displays aggressive misconduct. In fact the Officer himself was injured the video recording has witnesses stating the police acted properly and the officer quickly handcuffed the man to prevent further injury.

If San Francisco as a city is opposed to this encounter they will chill officers from doing their duty. They will not proactively engage criminals nor put themselves at risk for fear of civil lawsuits, personal injury and loss of employment.

This was an unforeseeable accident in which glass shattered.  This is not police misconduct and far from police brutality.  For the local tv coverage see http://cbs5.com/local/bart.officer.injured.2.1328017.html

Peru Police Catch “fat” Murder Incorporated

Peru Police Arrest Homicidal Crew Which Sold Human Fat

The BBC announced that Peru Police have arrested an apparent killing organized syndicate which killed innocent persons to obtain the fat from their bodies to sell to cosmetic companies. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8369674.stm

Over 60 person may have been murdered solely for the “fat” content of their bodies. The poor folk were lured by the prospect of employment and then slaughtered so the killers could extract their fat. They than sold it to European nations for use in the cosmetic industry.  The motive for this crime is money as human fat reportedly sells for$15,000.00 a gallon.

This is one of the most appalling crimes I can imagine treating a fellow human as nothing more than lard. It is sickening and the world must see if this is being replicated in other third world nations.

For years I have heard rumours that Police would be called to a location and would find a body covered in ice and cotton gauze which were to stabilize a person whose vital organ ( kidney) were criminally removed by human traffickers. See http://www.vachss.com/help_text/organ_trafficking.html Some say this is false and an “urban legend” see http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/horrors/a/kidney_thieves.htm. Yet this incident in Peru makes you think twice as evil is omnipresent in society. We already know that in third world nations , poor and indigenous folks are exploited and sell their organs in order to survive and the monies they receive for such

Here are some links for this horrific crime.

1.http://humantrafficking.change.org/blog/view/is_fat_the_new_sex

2.http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/beauty/human-fat-in-cosmetics-20091120-ipqu.html

South African Police Kill 3 Year Old Child.

A recent shooting of a  three year old toddler  Atlegang Phalane wielding a pipe who was shot and killed and other shootings of young persons have made the public and authorities question the justification and authority of South African Police. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8354961.stm  and see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/6539648/South-African-boy-3-shot-dead-by-police.html 

Rightfully so the public is outraged at the incident and are justifiably questioning when police may discharge their guns in the performance of their duty.  The father of the child is quoted from the latter article stating ” the cop just stood bye sucking a lollipop as if nothing happened.”  To hear that account makes is chilling, and assuming such an account to be true  would be evidence of a gross indifference to human life. If such non verbal communication was displayed it is evidence of a cold, mean, wanton and dangerous agency not accountable to the public they serve and it’s leaders should be removed.

 

The most difficult decision that a Police Officer may have to make is whether to shoot or not to shoot. In the NYPD and most other cities and state we have strict guidelines which supercede the N.Y.S. and Federal Constitutional laws governing justification in shooting an individual. ( N.Y.S. Justification law see http://ypdcrime.com/penal.law/article35.htm )

In South Africa the police may shoot at fleeing persons,  ( see http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/Politics/1057/6b50c2cf0c1940a5a24feff9efabfdc1/12-11-2009-06-06/Zuma_SA_crime_more_violent )which is not permissable in New York. 

In 2008 107 South African Police Officers were murdered during the performance of duty. This is an extremely high number of fatalities and directly correlates with the violence the nation is experiencing. ( see http://allafrica.com/stories/200909070585.html ) In 2008 in all of the United States 138 Officer’s died in the line of duty ( see http://www.odmp.org/year.php?year=2008 ).

In 2008 South African Police encounters( custody and actions ) resulted in the death of 912 persons.The murder rate in South Africa is 5 times that of our nation. ( See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate ) South Africa has seen an unbridled increase in violence which is reeking havoc and as a result the economic well-being of the nation is eroding.  For if folks don’t feel safe they won’t live or work in a city, state of nation. 

Symbolic of the terrible crimes in South Africa a female lesbian national soccer player Eudy Simelane  ( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudy_Simelane )was the victim of a “corrective rape” she was stabbed over 12 times gang raped and thrown in a river. see http://www.newser.com/story/70068/s-african-gets-life-in-rape-killing-of-lesbian-soccer-star.html

Nothing good can come from the death of a three-year old. However, it appears that as a nation this death, and that of the soccer star reflect a national anomie which if goes unchecked will be a fatal carcinogen to the nation. In the Christian Science link below even the Ambassador to the U.S. was stalked coming home from the airport and gunfire was exchanged with his attackers.

Topical Sites to Visit:

One website displays graphic images of farmers who in the post apartheid decades were murdered. See http://southafrica-pig.blogspot.com/2008/06/sas-agricultural-sector-under-siege.html 

Human Rights Watch http://www.hrw.org/en/node/79205

African National Congress http://www.hrw.org/en/node/79205

Christian Science monitor on crime in South Africa and the dreams of post apartheid not realized http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0824/p09s01-coop.html

Atlanta Police Officer Indicted For Shooting Man In Face

Off Duty Atlanta Police Officer Reginald Fisher has been indicted for shooting Tramaine Davis in May of 2008 outside an Atlanta Development Authority Apartment Complex. See http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-man-shot-in-175565.html

 In my opinion a Police Officer who maintains secondary employment as an armed security guard is foolish. It is only a matter of time for something to go wrong.  And so it did for Atlanta Police Officer Reginald Fisher who has now been indicted by a grand jury shooting Tramaine Davis in the face.( photo above)

It’s impossible to act in a civilian capacity after being trained to react as a Police Officer.  More importantly you don’t have the tools to act in a professional capacity ( i.e. radio, communication support, back up, non lethal weapons, a partner and a full depth of the person, place of situation you are dealing with).

40 Second Gap In Video Tape Furnished By Victim to Press

Fox News http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/iteam/I_Team_Video_Sheds_Light_on_Shooting_051509 has presented a video that shows the Mr. Tramaine Miller entering a residential complex. His family has stated he was there to visit a relative who is a quadriplegic. He was in the complex at night and stayed for less than five minutes.

According to a video of an unidentified Police Officer at the scene that night who shockingly speaks to the press states that the Officer saw the man make a furtive movement in or about a car he was entering parked outside the apartment building called “City Views at Rosa Burney Park Apartments which is owned by the Atlanta  Development Authority. ( see http://www.atlantada.com/)

The press states that Officer Fisher has only one year with the Department. ( See http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-man-shot-in-175565.html)  Further it appears that the Officer was out on bond due to a domestic incident in Clayton County where charges are pending.

Accorrding to the local paper  http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2009/06/12/man_shot_in_face.html there may be an open “gun useage” charge pending against the officer.

Mr. Davis is recovering but he is unable to work as the injuries have been slow to heal and disabled him He has a 12 year old child and his wife is struggling with the mortgage.

This is an interesting case due to the gap in the video. I will be adding information as I can get a hold of it.

Needless to say a bad situation for the young Officer. Atlanta Police starting salary is about $40,000.00 See http://www.atlantapd.org/index.asp?nav=Career capping out at $57,0000.00   Assuming he was working this unauthorized secondary employment to make ends meet. It appears the temporary cash infusion may have permanently ended his police career.

Crime and The Public Comfortably Numb

It’s a fact of life the journalistic community reports about daily crime but whether we here it on the radio, surf it on the web or tune in on the television to many the facts of the incidents are treated like the national weather report. A NIMBY attitude regarding crime surrounds Americans thinking but what is really scary is that Americans are comfortably numb about crime.

This week a 92-year-old senior was killed by a bullet as she sat in the sanctuary of her home. The accused killer is only 15. eehttp://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/10/teen_suspect_ar.php and http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/10/22/2009-10-22_cops_closing_in_on_arrest_in_.html Attending what is suppose to be a cherished memory of High School a 15-year-old girl is gang raped for over two hours and no one calls 911. See  http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/27/california.gang.rape.investigation/index.html A priest is working in his church and is stabbed over thirty times by and employee of his parish. See http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/custodian_stabbed_priest_times_cops_nBNLIykQI1m3Zp9fAV2kyI

The  aforementioned crimes  and the facts surrounding the incidents are a precursor to the future and an  indicator of the type of  society  we have become . The late Senator Hubert H. Humphrey stated”  the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped. “

The questions begets itself  What has America Become? The answer is a sizable portion of Americans have no boundaries they are engaged in their own personal jihad devout of personal responsibility, and void of any care and emotion to those they have harmed. And if  caught the jail time  is short a temporary stop on their road to ruining more persons as nearly 70% of all violent felons return to prey again.  ( Recidivism rates See:  http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm#recidivism

President Obama and his Attorney General recently commented about juvenile crime after a Chicago teen was killed by alledged gang members. For the video see http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/video_derrion_albert The President and Attorney General Holden responded to this killing by giving Chicago a $500,000.00 grant aid. See http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2009/October/09-ag-1084.html and http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvppserv/index.html

But money is not enough to solve the problem.  One problem causing juvenile crime to rise is the prevalence of one family head of household families.  A study by the Cato Institute  ( see http://www.cato.org/testimony/ct-wc67.html ) stated that a full 70 % of incarcerated juveniles come from single family homes.  According to educational studies a full 50% of marriages wind up in divorce ( See http://www.cardinalpointsonline.com/opinions/marriage-should-still-have-value-in-society-1.1946012 ) therefore  and immediately the children from divorced parents become ” at risk” juveniles.

The present disposable society and all the talk of “greening” are noble goals, but we have to look at how we are treating the most vulnerable in society. Recent criminal events indicate we are failing.

 

 

Banks Pimping The U.S. Taxpayers.

Pimping is vogue today and it’s  traditional definition of a person who solicits others to engage in prostitution has changed. A television show  named ” Pimp my ride” is illustrative of the modern definition. In the show they select a clunker vehicle , recondition and renovate the car with every fancy accessory in the book. The best part is the clunker owner expends no capital to for the work, nor does he physically get his hands dirty However Banker’s  are acting like the latter definition and the  “ho’s” are the U.S. Taxpayers adding another meaning to the oldest profession and vice in society.

Now some facts last week a prospective  client came to me and wanted to purchase a two family home in one of New York City’s Boroughs. The sales price was $3335,000.00. They  stated they could only afford a down payment of 3.5%.  I advised them that in the current mortgage market  this would be difficult.

He than presented me a pre-approval letter from a major bank.  He further presented a pre-approved for an additional $35,0000.00 I was shocked and alarmed could a major bank be reverting back to practices that caused our economic tsunami?

I sincerely yet erroneously assumed the banks were back to the negligent/reckless lending practices and they are but with a new twist it’s the U.S. Tax Payer playing the “HO”, the banks are just pimping Uncle Sam a/k/a the FHA Federal Housing Authority.

A recent study by Grant Thornton LLP, Banking Executives stated the current mortgage  crisis was caused by ” lax  underwriting standards, political emphasis on increasing home ownership and lack of oversight of the mortgage industry“.  See http://www.allbusiness.com/banking-finance/banking-finance-overview/11742540-1.html for the full report in pdf, See http://www.nubank.com/stories/200905_GrantThorton/GrantThorton16.pdf

Traditional professional lending standards required a would be  home buyer intending to purchase a home to ; place 20% down, have a good credit score; a satisfactory appraisal and verify employment.

A pimp is defined as a man who solicits customers for a prostitute. See http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pimp A prostitute is defined as to devote to corrupt or unworthy practices.

The FHA is encouraging bad lending practices touting ” its easier to qualify ” , specifically  borrowers to place as little as 3.0 down on the purchase of a home and they don’t even have to prove they saved the money the down payment may be gift from a friend, relative or charity.   They go further  you can have a ” less than perfect credit score”, See http://www.hud.gov/fha/choosefha.cfm

And placing a cherry on top of their theory you can have your cake and eat it to  FHA will give you another whopping $35,000.00 to “renovate” the premises under their 203K program.  Several banker’s pimping this to the max are advertising this program ” love the location hate the house  203 K is the answer.

I was wrong the banks have become mere conduits for the Federal Government’s FHA.  In the example above the borrower could place down a mere $12,500.00 and purchase a home. Additionally the FHA would give them monies above the homes appraisal value to finance so called “renovations” under their 203 K  rehabilitation loan program. See http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/203k/203kslrp.cfm

A primary reason for our current recession and anemic economic situation was the banking industries lending unprofessional lending practices. This included  breaking with the past lending practices which required a borrower to place 20% down on a home.  They took it further allowing borrowers to place little or no down payment, no verification of income, false appraisals and simultaneously issuing a 2nd mortgage frequently a home equity loan and all with adjustable loan rates.

Here a realtor/banker brags about the program http://activerain.com/blogsview/958614/fha-renovation-loan-203-k-you-love-the-location-but-hate-the-house

For a full non biases footnoted review of our current subprime mortgage causes and solutions  New York Law School did a detailed study the federal government should read it. See  http://www.nyls.edu/user_files/1/3/4/30/59/65/68/Capstone070802Complete.pdf