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Gang Member Cop Pleads Guilty

By TChris, Section Misconduct
Posted on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 11:45:07 AM EST
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by TChris

A former Atlanta police officer, once honored as "Officer of the Year," admitted in federal court that he was a lieutenant in the Diablos gang -- and that he assisted the gang with crimes such as robbery and drug trafficking -- while working as a cop. David Freeman entered a guilty plea to a federal civil rights violation that was based in part on his misuse of police authority "to help in the abduction of a rival gang member who was severely beaten."

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    Gang Member Cop Pleads Guilty | 11 comments (11 topical)
    Re: Gang Member Cop Pleads Guilty (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 12:21:35 PM EST
    I guess the Fraternal Order wasn't providing enough "structure".

    Re: Gang Member Cop Pleads Guilty (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 12:26:28 PM EST
    Interestingly, I used to go out with a guy who drove a Harley and was in a motorcycle "club" ("It's not a gang...it's a club"! for those who remember SNL). The interesting part (that I'll share here lol) is that a majority of the members had other family members in Law Enforcement. The mutual backscratching between "the gang" and "the law" led me to look at "the law" as operating very similarly to a gang. I won't bore you with all the comparisons, but from a female perspective, they all came across (on both sides) as quasi-adult, testosterone-charged versions of the Little Rascals.

    Re: Gang Member Cop Pleads Guilty (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 12:29:20 PM EST
    In reviewing my posting, I see I need to qualify my statement by saying that I understand that gangs and law enforcement are different entities with different goals and missions. So please don't jump on me. I wanted to share my experience as indicative of the fine line that exists between seemingly opposing views. From my perspective, this wasn't such a big leap.

    Re: Gang Member Cop Pleads Guilty (none / 0) (#4)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 12:39:03 PM EST
    No pre-emptive apologies necessary mfox...besides I agree, most police departments are similar to gangs. They both look out for their own to a fault, tend to skirt the law, think less of others not in the gang, and I distrust both equally. Be an individual...don't join some group, be it a gang or a police dept., to gain an identity.

    Re: Gang Member Cop Pleads Guilty (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 12:45:14 PM EST
    mfox at February 10, 2005 01:26 PM ...The mutual backscratching between "the gang" and "the law" led me to look at "the law" as operating very similarly to a gang... republicans / executive america democarats / unions military / defense industry congress / lobbyist fda / pharmaceutical co.'s ...stop the world i want to get off...

    Re: Gang Member Cop Pleads Guilty (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 12:54:05 PM EST
    kdog at February 10, 2005 01:39 PM No pre-emptive apologies necessary ... lol i can't wait to see were esle our new strategy of pre-emption will lead.

    Re: Gang Member Cop Pleads Guilty (none / 0) (#7)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 12:57:23 PM EST
    I use "pre-emptive" 100 times a day now, I'm hooked!
    republicans / executive america democarats / unions military / defense industry congress / lobbyist fda / pharmaceutical co.'s ...stop the world i want to get off...
    Amen to that brother, so true.

    Re: Gang Member Cop Pleads Guilty (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 09:38:59 PM EST
    Her in my little part of this world, yesterday i saw an hispanic cop with ms-13 on his hand, interesting, he was pointing at a car as i walked by. talking with his boss. i understand that Nationally over 3000 cops have got to prison for drug deals, murder, rape and name it.

    Re: Gang Member Cop Pleads Guilty (none / 0) (#9)
    by kdog on Fri Feb 11, 2005 at 07:15:42 AM EST
    understand that Nationally over 3000 cops have got to prison for drug deals, murder, rape and name it.
    Makes sense to me...cops and criminals are in the same business...the misery business.

    Re: Gang Member Cop Pleads Guilty (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Feb 11, 2005 at 09:19:33 AM EST
    Ok a little insight goes a long way, but may just render you an insight junkie. I have owned and ridden Harleys for 36 years. Back when it was far from socially acceptable. I still ride and still consider myself a bit of a rebel. But whether riding as an active clubber, or pure independent, I have never equated the free spirited biker brotherhood with the paramilitary scum that wear badges. Bikers come together for a good time, where cops come together to serve and protect each other.

    Re: Gang Member Cop Pleads Guilty (none / 0) (#11)
    by kdog on Fri Feb 11, 2005 at 11:23:00 AM EST
    Point taken Lee. I'd rather hang w/ bikers than cops, even considering I have had past experiences with both groups. The biker only wanted to kick my arse, the cop wanted to take my freedom. Of the two, I'll take the arse-kicking every time.

    Gang Member Cop Pleads Guilty | 11 comments (11 topical)