Detroit News Editorial Asks That Fugitive Soccer Mom Be Set Free.

This extraordinary case needs to run through the Michigan Parole Board and Governor’s commutation program at a record speed. I hope that the parole board sees things the way I do and so many kind people that have stepped in to help Marie Walsh.

Read today’s editorial here.

International Extradition And The Death Penalty

Fugitive Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean was bagged by Mexican cops in San Juan De La Vina, Mexico. Laureau was on the lam after being accused first of rape and then later killing the very pregnant, Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, 20. Police believe the killing was an ill-fated attempt to silence Lauterbach’s testimony against Laurean.

There is a simple lesson for all people on the run from a capital offense in the United States. International extradition has a price in most of the civilized world. That price is there will be no extraditions without a guarantee that the death penalty wont be sought or imposed on the accused.

Most convicted killers don’t live to see a prison death chamber because of the decades long chain of appeals involved in these cases. However spending time on Death Row is really hard time compared to even super maximum state prison general population housing units.

Touching foreign soil did much more than save Laurean’s life. Even if he serves a maximum term he will have his custody status reviewed and reduced with good behavior. That would never happen if he was under a death sentence.

I won’t comment on just what Laurean deserves more than a fair trial and conviction only after guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Laurean has already been convicted by blood thirsty television and blog offerings in their usual rush to judgment.

Spending most or all of your useful life in prison has to be pure Hell with the crappy food, an end to hetro-sexual relations, and any form privacy. Being subjected to victimization at the hands of career criminals with nothing to lose does not enhance the quality of life. Life in prison may be much worse than death.

I hate the death penalty because it gives government the ability to kill its own citizens. Sooner or later that power gets out-of-control as we have seen in Europe, Asia and the Middle East in recent history. Can we trust the politicians we were never that fond of not to abuse their power?

Releasing Prisoners Because Of A Government Fiscal Crisis

This is a no brainer for me. We all know that dangerous and violent criminals are young. As criminals age their crimes decrease accordingly. A purse snatcher for example can’t do those escape sprints at 45 or 50 like he could at 25. Maturity also tames those who like to engage in risky behavior.

Life in prison is supposed to be just that. However the truth is life or at least the quality of life is really over for prison inmates and everyone for that matter when, disease, blindness, hearing loss and the inability to simply walk brings disability.

Our prisons have become nursing homes with significant health care costs. That’s over and above the cost of security over senior citizens behind bars.

The solution is simple if prisoners are so old or so disabled they are no longer a threat let them out. That’s far better than letting out a 25 to 45 year old burglar, robber or rapist early. That means people like Charles Manson, Sirhan Sirhan, other high profile ageing convicts will get their diapers changed in a nursing home.

There are thousands of dangerous young criminals that society needs protection from. We should not waste valuable prison real estate on anyone who is feeble and helpless.

It Looks Like Plea Agreement Time For Howard Morgan

No, I still don’t know what sparked this wild mess. The news here for Howard Morgan is not good. A Chicago jury voted 11-1 for conviction on the most serious charges. Racially charged cases seem to end in acquittal if the cops were White and the defendant Black. Here the jury must have found compelling evidence that Morgan tried to unlawfully open fire on uniformed cops after a minor traffic violation.

Morgan can count on being retried and barring some new evidence for the defense it looks like a long prison sentence for Morgan is in the cards. Howard Morgan needs to fold his cards and get the best deal he can get. Whatever happens now won’t be pretty.

Emotions have run very high on this tale of extreme violence and accusations. For my merely asking questions about what happened on this blog I’ve received a few very offensive anonymous comments that had to be deleted because of the language alone. I hope they did not come from cops.

I never took sides on this story because I could never figure a motive for the total war that took place. On any given day this kind of traffic stop would have become a time for cops including Morgan to all give each other the secret FOP handshake and all continuing with a smile.

Big Gun TV News Producer Seated On Spector Jury

As the jury selection is nearing completion the big buzz is about a person selected that lists his occupation as a high profile TV news producer. Apparently this journalist’s duties caused him to gather information about the Spector case. The defense has not run scared and allowed the journalist to stay and judge Spector. The defense is obviously totally convinced the facts and evidence will clear the legendary record producer of charges he murdered the beautiful Lana Clarkson.

Many legal experts say this is risky for the defense, kind of like seating a cop on the jury. I suggest that a journalist will be more inclined to deal with the facts and not guess his way to a verdict.

All along I’ve said the facts and evidence are on Spector’s side. The same cannot be said for thirty-year old allegations made by people who had failed relationships with Spector. Judge Larry Fidler has allowed ancient accusations that were not deemed worthy of a court intervention back then to be tried in his courtroom today in order to sway the jury on the current matter being examined.

In the end we will find that this prosecution was a giant waste of taxpayer’s money and that Spector was outrageously victimized by the system. My safe bet is that Spector will walk free and live out the remainder of his life, watching strangers pointing their fingers at him wherever he goes. Our world is far from a perfect one.

Watch complete trial coverage via live video right here.

Aide To Sen. James Webb D-VA Busted For Gun Law SNAFU

An executive assistant to Senator Jim Webb was arrested for packing a loaded by Capitol Hill Police while entering the Russell Senate Office Building. Just what was the violated law? Why none other that the one recently struck down by the Court of Appeals.

What’s beyond funny that congressmen and senators can carry guns under the rules they made for themselves. I guess our politicians should never, ever have to suffer from the same laws that they demand all other Americans must live under. The same royal rules did not help Webb’s staff member carrying the good senator’s gun for him while he parked his car.

It will be fun watching this case float through the legal system.

Rod Bernsen’s Sex Case Is Unraveling Faster Than The Speed Of Sound

Rod Bernsen of course is the honorably retired LAPD sergeant and former TV newsman who was accused of the sexual molestation of two boys on a cruise ship.

Okay, I told you so. I did not believe that the story from two unnamed Utah boys who are cousins made any sense. I smelled a rat somewhere and so does the FBI. The case agent is a 23-year veteran of the FBI and also happens to be an accomplished profiler and child crime expert. That expert is Special Agent Jennifer Eakin who made it very clear she does not believe the stories she was told by the two accusers.

Prosecutors knew about this explosive defense evidence from the very beginning and withheld it from the defense and the court in lawless abuse of the long established American case law handed down in Brady vs. Maryland.

Finally, On February 6, 2007 Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Donahue advised Bernsen’s lawyers about their nasty little mess. Are all prosecutors clones of Mike Nifong of the infamous Duke Lacrosse Rape Case?

Along the way the prosecutor has filed secret documents that will never be subject to public or media scrutiny. The prosecution also tried and later backed off an attempt to let the accusers testify by videotape denying Bernsen the right to confront his accusers in court.

Now the question is, will the prosecutor do the right thing and dump this case that screams loudly of REASONABLE DOUBT? Or will the US Attorney bankrupt an honorable man, by putting him through an unnecessary criminal trial?

Read Court Motion Here.

The Prosecutor’s disclosure letter.

Update:
MINUTES OF IN CHAMBERS ORDER by Judge S. James Otero as to Roderick Bernsen. Pursuant to the stipulation of the parties, the Court sets the evidentiary hearing to determine the admissibility of testimony of the government expert on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 8:00 a.m Court Reporter: Not Present. (cbr, ) (Entered: 05/23/2007)

Horrific Beating By Chicago Policemen Caught On Tape

An off duty 20th District tactical officer is in very hot water today for his Feb. 19th, apparently unprovoked attack on a lady bartender on Chicago’s Northwest side. I like to avoid these stories but this one needs attention.

Officer Anthony Abbate, 38 faces a two to five-year prison term for Aggravated Battery along with swift and certain firing from the position of public trust he’s held for over 12 years.

In addition to the Aggravated Battery felony charge is an allegation of witness tampering.

Officer Abbate has destroyed his own future and brought tremendous embarrassment down on all of his fellow officers with his shocking behavior.

I will be following this case through the court system and you can learn the results right here.


A Chicago Tribune with security video can be seen here.

District Of Columbia Handgun Ban Struck Down.

Washington DC--It’s a great day for the Bill of Rights in America! A three judge appellate court panel just ruled that the Second Amendment is a right of the people, not just militias. The decision overturned a low court ruling that upheld the ban in light of a legal challenge by area residents.

This has strong implications for the entire nation and will affect gun bans in California, New York, and Illinois. The next step is an appeal by gun ban proponents to the United States Supreme Court.

Read the opinion here!

With other pro-freedom rulings made in recent years it may well mean that American’s right to keep and bear arms has real meaning.

Tales From The Twilight Zone?

Orlando- Astronaut Lisa M. Nowak was on one more, way-out mission. This time not in space but in her overactive imagination which was overloaded with intrigue and perhaps thoughts of homicide.

Police say Nowak wore diapers for her 12-hour drive from Houston, Texas to Orlando, Florida so she would not have to stop just like she always did on her space missions. This time her program may well been to abduct and kill her rival, Air Force Captain Colleen Shipman who Nowak believed was in a relationship with Bill Oefelein, another NASA astronaut. Nowak followed Shipman to an airport parking lot and sprayed her with a defense chemical.

A steel mallet, several feet of rubber tubing and hand-written directions to Shipman's home were recovered by police from Nowak's car, which was parked at a nearby Orlando LaQuinta Inn.

Apparently the lovesick space-lady told Orlando police detectives her tale that we can count on to be developed into a major motion picture. Could it be time for yet another Twilight Zone movie?

Actor Ryan O’Neal Arrested After Malibu Family Disturbance

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officers responded to a call for help from this actor’s palatial Malibu estate involving a rhubarb between Ryan O’Neal, 65 and his son Griffin O’Neal, 42. An unidentified 22 year-old, pregnant girlfriend of the younger O’Neal was somehow injured in the melee.

The younger O’Neal purportedly went after his dad with a fireplace poker. The elder O’Neal allegedly fired a single shot that sent the younger O’Neal running away.

Let’s review this… A younger, stronger man assaults an older weaker man. The younger man has converted a fireplace poker into a deadly weapon. The elder man stops the attack with a shot that injures nobody. The elder man owns the house. So far nobody has been charged with causing injury to the pregnant female. Add to this that the younger man has a criminal record and the senior man does not.

I’m sorry, but I can’t see a valid reason to arrest Ryan O’Neal for anything at all. I always thought they sent every Los Angeles County deputy sheriff to police academies. Where did they teach those officers to arrest senior citizens for defending themselves? Perhaps they were trained in Red China or maybe Cuba rather than in the USA?

It remains to be seen how this mess shakes out. I’d like to think the O’Neal family bonds might well be stronger than whatever caused this Malibu mini-riot. In any event I’d like to think that the Los Angeles County D.A. is smarter than these Malibu gendarmes and quickly drops the case.

An update: Griffin O’Neal’s injured, pregnant girlfriend has been identified as 22 year-old Joanna Berry. Both Berry and Griffin O’Neal are represented by, The Queen Of The Bottom Feeders, lawyer Gloria Allred. Allred is asking for problems with the California State Bar since her two new clients have competing interests.

It looks like Allred is going to make a claim for injuries caused by Griffin O’Neal because they happened in Ryan O’Neal’s home. Figure that one out. Of course Allred is always looking for piece of another sleazy book deal.

Erickson Case Figure Up For Re-Sentencing

Chicago--Two Deputy U.S. Marshals were killed during a wild 1992 escape attempt by bank robber Jeffrey Erickson. One was retired Chicago police officer Harry A. Belluomini and fellow marshal Roy Frakes.

Now an accomplice to the escape, Robert Burke is being re-sentenced for his part in this horrible crime. The family of hero, Harry A. Belluomini is asking for assistance from fellow coppers to let the trial Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer the gravity and impact of this crime on this close-knit police family and the entire community.

Below is a letter from Belluomini’s family:

Re: Robert BURKE 01CR1049

We are asking for your help, in writing letters of concern to Federal Judge Rebecca PALLMEYER, who will be presiding over a re-sentencing hearing on March 7th, 2007, regarding convicted federal prisoner Robert BURKE.

Our father, Harry A. BELLUOMINI was a retired Chicago Police Detective working at the Dirksen Federal Building for the U.S. Marshal Service, when on July 20th, 1992 he was shot and killed by Jeffery ERICKSON, an escaping bank robber. ERICKSON had used a smuggled handcuff key to release his handcuffs. He then disarmed a Marshal’s intern, shot and killed Deputy US Marshal Roy FRAKES, and shot our father, all occurring in the basement of the Federal Building. Our father was able to return fire before dying, mortally wounding ERICKSON. ERICKSON realizing that he was dying, took his own life on the ramp leading from the basement to Jackson Blvd that fateful afternoon.

During 2005 Robert BURKE was convicted of supplying the handcuff key, that facilitated ERICKSON’S attempted escape. (BURKE had been a fugitive, before his arrest, hiding in England before his extradition.) Judge Rebecca PALLMEYER presided over this trial and sentenced BURKE to the maximum penalty allowed by law. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the conviction, and suggested that the case go back to the trial judge for possible reconsideration of the sentence.

We are asking that letters be sent to Judge Rebecca PALLMEYER, requesting that her initial sentence be maintained, and that BURKE be sentenced again to the maximum allowed by law.

Please address your letters as follows:
U.S. Probation Office
219 South Dearborn Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60604

With heart felt thanks,

Police Officer Karen BELLUOMINI-BLANC, assigned to Unit 050,
Police Officer Michael BELLUOMINI, assigned to Unit 059, and
Police Officer Anne BELLUOMINI, assigned to the 025th District.

BLA Cop Killers Nabbed After 36 Years!

SAN FRANCISCO- 51 year-old, Sergeant John V. Young was murdered on August 29, 1971 during a racist attack on a police station.

The police station was emptied of officers who had responded to an earlier bombing at another location, two men entered the police station and stuck a 12-gauge shotgun through an opening in the bullet proof glass that separated the waiting area from the rest of the police station. The suspects fired between five and ten shotgun blasts, killing Sergeant Young and wounding a civilian employee of the department. Both gunmen then fled from the station house and into a waiting getaway car. Both suspects were later determined to be members of the Black Liberation Army.

Now eight suspects were arrested and charged in connection with Sergeant Young's murder. Advances in forensic investigation and renewed efforts to solve cold cases netted this group of urban terrorists.

Covert Weapons And Officer Safety

My Friends at Second City Cop recently called attention to a website alerting officers to the potential threat of hidden weapons they may encounter out on the street.

Weapons possession by the law-abiding should never be a crime but unfortunately too often that's the case in cities and states where politicians voted away the Second Amendment. I have no problem with most or all of the things shown on this site and recognize that normally law-abiding folks will employ some ways to hide needed self-defense weapons. Legitimate self-defense or carrying weapons should never be a crime except for convicted felons or criminals carrying or using them during the commission of a crime.

Our law enforcement officers have a real risk from every kind of assault or threat. These items are rare but officers can never become complacent. Every officer needs to follow his or her training, be aware, and safe.

Cop Killer Executed

Huntsville, TX--Yes, I hate the death penalty even for convicted cop killers. My biggest fear of an innocent man being put to death does not apply here. Tonight Jonathan Moore, 32 was strapped down to the table and put down like a bad dog. Before he died he looked his victim’s widow, Jennifer Morgan in the eye and said, "It was done out of fear, stupidity and immaturity. It wasn't until I got locked up and saw the newspaper; I saw his face and smile and I realized I had killed a good man."

Moore went to his death with both grace and dignity after he repeatedly apologized for killing a young San Antonio police officer, Fabian Dominguez, 29 who interrupted a burglary in 1995. Moore was only 22 years old when he put in motion an ugly 12-year ride to Hell for himself.

More acknowledged that he was a disappointment for his family and friends. Not even this execution will reverse the severe damage and grief caused by an insane criminal act. For some strange reason I find comfort that Moore has been freed from his demons. If there is redemption perhaps Moore has been forgiven.

As for capital punishment it may be kinder to the killers than a lifetime in a cage with other convicts. This adds up to two young lives wasted as now two families suffer.

A 40 Caliber Nightmare Is Caught On Tape.

So you’re confident that that .40 caliber S&W service round will keep you safe. Maybe you’ll have second thoughts after you see this video. One hot summer night in 1994 Tempe and Mesa Arizona police were involved in a pursuit with this suspect who ran into a stranger’s apartment to hide after being shot TWICE in the chest. He was shirtless and you can see the blood pumping out of those two wounds.

What’s really frightening is just how agile this fellow is as he struts to the ambulance. If he was not handcuffed and had a knife or a gun, ask yourself if he could still hurt you, your partner or a hostage?

If your jurisdiction demands that officers carry either the 9MM or the .40 Caliber S&W it’s time to show this video to your bosses and lobby to have the .45 ACP round authorized. The switch may well reduce the screaming by self-appointed community activists about how many rounds police had to use on a suspect.

The really talented and courageous video journalist, Karen Kelly, shot this tape. Karen was always in trouble with the cops for getting too close to the action. Tapes like these exonerate cops from bogus allegations far more often than incriminating them for misconduct.

My advice to all cops dealing with photojournalists is to let them get as close to your prisoners as possible. Chasing them away is really dumb. They can well document that the suspect is not injured. Letting the news bunnies ask questions is another gift when the suspects lie or implicate themselves. Remember Miranda vs. Arizona does NOT apply to questioning by reporters. The prosecutors always love showing tapes of wisecracking or deceitful suspects to juries during trials.

A note: I edited the tape to display this suspect’s fabulous strut to the ambulance twice.
Learn from the tape and please pass it around in the interest of officer safety.