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Innocent Mayor's Home Raided For Drugs, Cops Kill Dogs

A travesty in Baltimore last month is finally getting the attention it deserves.

Mayor Cheye Calvo got home from work, saw a package addressed to his wife on the front porch and brought it inside, putting it on a table.
Suddenly, police with guns drawn kicked in the door and stormed in, shooting to death the couple's two dogs and seizing the unopened package.

In it were 32 pounds of marijuana. But the drugs evidently didn't belong to the couple. Police say the couple appeared to be innocent victims of a scheme by two men to smuggle millions of dollars worth of marijuana by having it delivered to about a half-dozen unsuspecting recipients.

Whoops, never mind.

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    What I want to know (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by CST on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 11:55:12 AM EST
    Who are the people that sent it, and what were they planning to do once the mayor opened the package?  Seems like a pretty dumb smuggling plan.

    Meanwhile, now the people of Baltimore will probably have to pay off the couple for their dogs (via tax money) because of a couple of trigger-happy cops who won't face any consequences...

    someone would take it from the porch (none / 0) (#51)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:22:20 PM EST
    after the delivery, they had done this in several places apparently but the "mayors" house got missed.  

    Parent
    Seems pretty half-baked (none / 0) (#63)
    by CST on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:47:57 PM EST
    Or maybe it was intentional...

    If I was selling drugs, I don't think I would miss 32 lbs of pot.

    Parent

    maybe the pick up person (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 02:24:19 PM EST
    was using the product and completely forgot the address..

    Parent
    half-baked (none / 0) (#75)
    by CST on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 02:30:15 PM EST
    pun intended

    Parent
    I can't imagine what I would (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by Xanthe on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 11:55:20 AM EST
    do if my two loving dogs were shot - OMG.  

    this fuels me (none / 0) (#79)
    by sociallybanned on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 06:19:55 PM EST
    You're not kidding! They would have to shoot me as well.  I would act crazy and throw myself around if I would've seen cops kill my furbabies. Cops are out of control these days with everything and there is nothing we can do.  Who do you call when cops go bad?  Their union protects them and we as citizens will just have to wait and see when our country finally turns into North Korea.  

    Parent
    Absolutely agree. (none / 0) (#80)
    by Thanin on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 10:24:55 PM EST
    They'd have to put me down too because theres no way I'd ever let anyone do that.

    Parent
    I was beyond shocked by this story (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by americanincanada on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 11:56:12 AM EST
    even before it got national attention.

    What justification did they have for shooting the dogs?

    Really stupid on the part of the cops (5.00 / 3) (#6)
    by SoCalLiberal on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 11:59:43 AM EST
    I mean, you don't just break into a mayor's house, tie him and his family up and kill the dogs.  That is cruisin for a bruisin.  Seriously.  Don't f**k with the mayor, that's a serious way to have the hammer come down on you.  

    That reminds me of how Daryl Gates used to occassionally have patrol cars park overnight in front of the homes of councilmembers who were virulently anti LAPD.  He did it in order to freak them out and play with their minds.  But he never had his officers enter any of their homes or Tom Bradley's, tie up the family, and kill the dogs in the name of a drug search.  

    This brings me to my final point.  This botched search reminds me of all that is wrong with the war on drugs.  When are we going to end this?

    Questions (5.00 / 4) (#8)
    by Lou Grinzo on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:02:10 PM EST
    Why were the police even involved?  Who tipped them off that drugs were on the premises?  Did the police even realize it was the mayor's house?

    On Bill Press' show this morning he said that the police interrogated the mayor and his wife in their home for four hours.  Since when do police do that long an interrogation at what is assumed to be a crime scene?

    This story stinks on ice.  I suspect that a lot more is going to come out of this, and it won't be pretty.

    Actually, they tied up (5.00 / 3) (#23)
    by camellia on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:33:06 PM EST
    the mayor and interrogated him and his mother-in-law for a number of hours, with the two dead black Labs right there with them.   Berwyn Heights is a small town in Prince George's County, Maryland, part of the DC metro area.  There have been innumerable incidents with the police in PG County over recent years, and it seems that there is a major problem in that jurisdiction.  The WashPost has been reporting pretty extensively on this since it happened, and it looks like this is going to go a lot further.

    Parent
    omg (none / 0) (#52)
    by sj on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:23:44 PM EST
    Actually, they tied up the mayor and interrogated him and his mother-in-law for a number of hours, with the two dead black Labs right there with them.  

    I just lost a much loved dog.  It would be easier to recover from the interrogation.  I am filled with horror and pain.  

    Parent

    There's a war on.... (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:03:22 PM EST
    the dogs are collateral damage.

    Apparently we all think a few dead dogs, a few dead people, and a prison population through the roof is a small price to pay...drug-war supporting democrats and republicans get elected year after year after year.  This must be the society we want...look in the mirror if you want someone to blame, and good luck washing that damn spot off your hands.  All of us.

    But... (none / 0) (#12)
    by Edger on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:08:00 PM EST
    you must feel safer now that the dogs are dead and Calvo has been terrorized, no?

    Whoops, never mind...

    Parent

    I won't feel safe... (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:22:07 PM EST
    until the thought of an armed invasion of a home in search of a box of dope is considered the definition of insanity.

    Just as we now would consider an armed invasion in search of a box of lettuce insane.

    In other words I won't feel safe for the rest of my life.

     

    Parent

    The "world" (5.00 / 0) (#29)
    by Edger on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:49:59 PM EST
    lost it's mind a long time ago.

    I saw it on TV....

    Parent

    I'm losing mine... (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:03:39 PM EST
    right behind the world.

    We lost our ability to reason somewhere along the line....must have.  How else can you explain the war on drugs?

    Parent

    The problem was that he didn't (none / 0) (#48)
    by samtaylor2 on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:16:58 PM EST
    have an assault rifle to defend his "kingdom".

    Parent
    You only have the rights... (none / 0) (#53)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:28:10 PM EST
    you can defend...you've got a point.

    I abhor guns...I prefer my Louisville Slugger home defense system.  Might be time to rethink that stance.

    Parent

    Must be the drugs (none / 0) (#71)
    by Edger on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 02:09:07 PM EST
    Sorry, I mean the TV's....

    Parent
    WTF? (5.00 / 3) (#11)
    by angie on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:06:55 PM EST
    Nothing about this story makes sense to me. This smuggling scheme looks like the work of Cheech & Chong.  If the drugs were already in the possession of one of the guys (fedex guy) -- why didn't he just keep the package in his truck, or take it to his own house or some other neutral delivery spot? Why deliver them at all and take the risk of one of the innocent addresses coming home or one of the neighbors seeing some strange guy pick up the package from the front porch? Also, if the police knew enough to be investigating the smuggling, didn't they know the addressees were innocent? Why the raid? Further, didn't they know this was the mayor's house and maybe they didn't need to come in guns blazing?  Finally, why kill the two labs -- were they trying to lick them to death? What the heck is going on in Baltimore?

    Watched this on the news this morning (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:08:53 PM EST
    Saw the photo of the couple with their dogs.  Two Very nice black labs with the popular gentle leader muzzles on them.  If you don't want to go for all that obedience training stuff they had the best equipment you can get your dog to go on walks around other dogs and people...they are more expensive too.  They must have loved their dogs a lot.  Can't believe this happened to them over pot.  I don't like weed, it makes me way too stupid and I need no help there but let me get this straight.......cops bust in and kill pet dogs that belong to the retrieving breeds over a box of weed?  Who do they open fire on when its growing in a ditch?  And the cops haven't even apologized?  If heads don't roll this isn't my country anymore!

    Agreed! (5.00 / 2) (#24)
    by Molly Pitcher on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:33:30 PM EST
    I was in MD when the news broke; worse even than when TN deputies shot a dog at a car stop (monetary  recoupment, but could never be enough).  GL is what my dog wears, tho' he's trained (not a muzzle; could still bite).  When we visited a nursing home it was his signal to be quiet and on best behavior.  Supposedly like mother's nip on neck.

    My dog is harnessed in the car; I learned from the TN incident!  

    And, yes, I bet they don't apologize--this country is going in a direction I don't like.  Can you say "dictatorship"?

    Parent

    Not Baltimore, Prince George's County (5.00 / 3) (#14)
    by souvarine on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:11:34 PM EST
    Berwyn Heights is inside the DC beltway.

    Indeed... (none / 0) (#21)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:31:15 PM EST
    Baltimore has enough problems on their own without adding things that don't happen there.

    Parent
    It these crazy cops... (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by desertswine on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:22:05 PM EST
    that need to be on leashes.

    "The case is the latest embarrassment for Prince George's County officials. A former police officer was sentenced in May to 45 years in prison for shooting two furniture deliverymen at his home last year, one of them fatally. He claimed that they attacked him. In June, a suspect jailed in the death of a police officer was found strangled in his cell."

    Yep, just another (none / 0) (#36)
    by alsace on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:55:38 PM EST
    day in PeeGee County.  I've been congratulating myself for years for passing up some apparently "good buys" there when I was house-hunting.

    Parent
    I've been following this for a couple of days (5.00 / 2) (#19)
    by ChrisO on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:22:55 PM EST
    Apparently the parcel was targeted by a drug sniffing dog in transit, so the cops were following the package, not investigating the smuggling ring. And according to Mr. Calvo, they refused to believe he was the mayor, so I'm guessing they weren't locals.

    The whole smuuggling plan does seem kind of idiotic. All I can think of is that the tracking system somehow requires a package to actually be delivered, but I'm just guessing there.

    Being a pet owner, I'm guessing that despite all the turmoil the most distressing thing for this couple is the loss of their dogs. I try to be sympathetic to the stress cops must be under when they enter a home, but it does seem that they will kill a dog just for being large.

    The bottom line is the same as everyone else is saying. The war against marijuana is an incredible waste of resources, not to mention the damage to human lives. And you know a lot of the people supporting this war were pot smokers in college, at least. It seems that public opinion is slowly turning, however. I'm hoping it will get to the point where national politicians can argue for legalization without fear of ruining their careers.

    Large dogs (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by miriam on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:47:00 PM EST
    are no more protective of their family and home than smaller dogs.  My 30 pound Shetland Sheepdog would attack without question if anyone tried to break into our house.  He's ordinarily a very mellow fellow, but any dog worth its salt will protect his own.  This outrageous story is the result of absolute idiocy and the assault on the "search and seizure" amendment to the Bill Of Rights.  I hope this couple sues big time.

    Parent
    I don't only hope they sue big time (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by angie on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:52:39 PM EST
    I hope they win big time!

    Parent
    Seems to me I have seen chihuahuas (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:56:37 PM EST
    that appear like they would like to tear you limb from limb.  I have NEVER seen a nasty tempered lab.  I am sure there must be some, but they are few and far between.

    Parent
    I am not a dog person (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by CST on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:03:24 PM EST
    But labs are an exception.  They are definitely way friendlier than your average dog.

    Parent
    They'll shoot a large black dog (5.00 / 0) (#49)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:17:23 PM EST
    for just looking at them. The Chi's will get more of a break.

    I have a large enough dog that she would be shot vs given the benefit of the doubt. Which is a horrible thing to think about.

    There's a serious lack of dog knowledge in our police depts.

    Parent

    the drug war is a joke. (none / 0) (#20)
    by hellothere on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:28:29 PM EST
    sure the police have to protect themselves but this parody of a drug war brings out the worst in people as shown here. i hope the mayor sues them. he may not have recourse here however.

    the loss of a beloved pet due to circumstances like this is tragic and could have been avoided.

    Parent

    Tracking system smacking system (none / 0) (#31)
    by angie on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:51:23 PM EST
    Your point about the "tracking system" still doesn't work for me because the fedex guy could pretend to deliver them -- the tracking system doesn't have gps in it -- it relies on the delivery guy to punch in the info that the package was delivered. So I still contend this smuggling scheme belongs in the books as one of the dumbest criminal plans ever.
    But thanks for your other info -- the dog detecting the drugs & the cops not knowing the mayor -- at least those two points are a little cleared up for me.
    Still -- this police department needs some serious overhauling stat.

    Parent
    A headline read (none / 0) (#73)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 02:18:08 PM EST
    that, to the mayor and his wife, the dogs were like their children.  I saw the picture, and these were two box-headed well-bread labs.  I suspect their temperaments were very good.

    I think it was Cesar who said "labs have the hunt instinct, they just don't have the kill instinct".  In other words, they'll come find you, see what you're doing, but they have no idea what to do next.

    As owner of two labs, I agree.

    Parent

    new path to vengence (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:02:58 PM EST
    mail your enemy some pot in a not very well packaged package.
    this is almost unbelievable.


    It's not new.... (none / 0) (#44)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:07:06 PM EST
    people using the police to snuff out the competition in the black market trade, or simply set-up somebody you don't like, is older than the drug war itself.

    Parent
    wonder if that happened here (none / 0) (#47)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:11:29 PM EST
    I can hardly believe that no one said, hey, thats the mayors wife.

    Parent
    can we call it the War on Dogs now? (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by blogtopus on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:08:52 PM EST
    I have a small mutt who just can't keep quiet when she hears a stranger's voice at our door (or a knock or doorbell, for that matter), and we don't even try to keep her quiet anymore. Sorry Dog Whisperer, we tried using your technique but it ain't happenin'.

    If Officer Friendly and McGruff came running through our front door, she'd be dead, horribly so.

    I don't want to blame the cops themselves for this, but you have to ask yourself if they own dogs, and if not, if they'd have acted differently if they'd had owned dogs. You'd figure with all the tazer-happy cops out there, that would have been the first approach.

    Honestly, this country is getting really draconian.

    actually, for PG County Police, (5.00 / 2) (#76)
    by cpinva on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 03:04:29 PM EST
    this is pretty mild. had they shot the people as well, then you might have had a story, maybe. the PG County Police have been a huge problem since i first moved to the DC area (1963); they are legend  across the country for their lack of discipline and leadership.

    if you didn't know better (and i don't), you'd almost think they go out of their way to hire the K-Mart rejects for the force. years ago, when my office was across the hall from the local FBI office, if i happened to mention the PG County Police to any of the agents, they'd just roll their eyes, nothing they did surprised them in the least.

    apparently, the locals likes them some nutcase police force, because it hasn't changed, for the better, ever.

    Totally outrageous (none / 0) (#1)
    by andgarden on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 11:51:04 AM EST


    Did the dogs attack....was there reason (none / 0) (#5)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 11:57:24 AM EST
    to shoot them?  And you think the police would make very sure they had reasonable cause for this bust....this is reprehensible.

    From what I have read (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by americanincanada on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 11:59:49 AM EST
    they had black labs who were described by friends and neighbors as docile dogs who rarely barked.

    Having had a lab cross and now a Golden I highly doubt those dogs were attacking anyone. They were probably scared. The yahoo news reports said one dog was shot while running away.

    Parent

    I knew a guy whose boat was boarded (5.00 / 0) (#50)
    by inclusiveheart on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:21:42 PM EST
    by the US Coast Guard with a sniffer beagel and when his cat attacked the dog when it found the cat in its hiding place - the "brilliant" coast guard officer tried to shoot the cat - which also happened to be down below on the boat where that hull thingy is which needs to not be holey if one wants to keep the boat from sinking.  The guy actually knocked the gun away from the hull of the boat and probably only because the boat was registered in Canada he was not arrested from saving the boat, the dog, the cat and possibly all their lives - the officer with the gun probably would have been stupid enough to insist that they all stay on a sinking ship searching for drugs...  Ugh.

    Parent
    They shoot dogs (none / 0) (#10)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:03:24 PM EST
    if they 'think' they will attack. We had a cop here shoot a Dal in a backyard as he was running through chasing a suspect. We've had others also, but I remember this one because it was a Dal. They would more than likely shoot mine as I've seen her reaction when she thinks I'm in danger (man of fire escape, door popped open in the middle of the night, etc) I don't think I would have time to give her the "all clear" . . .

    Parent
    The dogs were walked regularly (none / 0) (#15)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:12:20 PM EST
    Dogs usually exposed to that much outside social activity and of the Lab breed seldom Attack in a police officer threatening manner but they will bark at intruders.  I suppose barking at the police over weed should get you a bullet........NOT!

    Parent
    According to the earlier reports in the Washpost, (none / 0) (#78)
    by camellia on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 03:25:02 PM EST
    neither dog attacked.  They were "present" when the cops broke in, one was shot then, and the other was apparently running away to the back of the house when he was shot.   Here's a link to one of the stories in the Post today:

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/07/AR2008080702161.html

    I hope this brings some national attention to the situation in PG County, and I hope these nice people get some satisfaction although I know nothing can help them to get over the pain of losing their dogs.

    Parent

    where's the outrage? (none / 0) (#16)
    by diogenes on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:18:59 PM EST
    The police raided a house with a large package of marijuana, shot the dogs, and everyone's outraged.  The outrage should be directed at the real criminals who are the people who sent the marijuana to a presumably unknowing person and perhaps tipped off the cops as retribution against the mayor.    

    The outrage... (5.00 / 5) (#22)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:31:30 PM EST
    should be directed first and foremost at the law...which gives the state the right to break down your door and shoot your dogs on an anonymous tip.

    Second, again at the law which makes possesing a box of plants a crime.

    Parent

    Makes cops no better than the (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by inclusiveheart on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:02:55 PM EST
    violent drug dealers they say they are protecting us from - that's the outrage.  That's the outrage.

    Crime is going to happen - what defines us is how we respond to it - if we are creating more chaos and tragedy in our pursuit of criminals then I think we are making the situation worse - not better.

    Parent

    sniffer dog... (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by kredwyn on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:03:26 PM EST
    was the tip off with regards to the package.

    There was no retribution aimed at the mayor's wife, the person the package was addressed to.

    The guys running the shipping ring have been arrested. Looks like they've pulled this switch up on a number of unsuspecting people.

    Goes to show you...check where that package came from before you bring it into the house.

    Parent

    The thing is that there is no way (none / 0) (#54)
    by inclusiveheart on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:30:50 PM EST
    that the husband would have been able to determine absolutely that the shipper was unknown to his wife.

    Furthermore, this really begs the question: How is it that if it was the wife's package and it had not yet been delivered to her personally, the police were allowed to effectively arrest the husband and her mother?  I regularly take packages for my neighbors - they do the same for me - if there were ever a situation like this where you accepted a package for a neighbor - it seems pretty outrageous to think that you'd be tied up and have your dogs killed as a result.

    Parent

    I don't know... (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by kredwyn on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:35:20 PM EST
    But I do think that there was a good amount of overkill on the part of the police.

    Problem is that if they'd been guilty...and not the mayor of the town, this'd be a blip on the Metro page.

    Parent

    The problem is (none / 0) (#82)
    by JamesTX on Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 01:46:48 AM EST
    that if it weren't the mayor, husband and wife would have already been indicted and someone would explaining to them the how it was in their best interest to plea bargain for one of them doing time and the other getting probation.

    Parent
    happened to one of my clients (none / 0) (#83)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 01:58:06 AM EST
    they raided, killed his show dog but found drugs and it never made the news. I referred him to a civil lawyer to see if he had a case against the cops and the lawyer advised he likely wouldn't win. This was a long time ago but I remember it because he gave me a picture of the dog which for some reason ended up in my desk drawer instead of his file for years.

    Parent
    We have a "system" in my building (none / 0) (#60)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:38:36 PM EST
    all the delivery guys buzz the 2 downstairs apts as someone is usually there and packages get left by the stairs. I get buzzed on occasion and it's usually a heavy package that the delivery guys will carry up for me. I work at home and receive quite a few packages and nobody knows if I know the sender or not.

    Parent
    a hideous and heartbreaking story (none / 0) (#25)
    by kempis on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:37:19 PM EST
    How horrible. I hope these poor people recover from this trauma--and the idiot cops who make one dangerously stupid decision after another are fired. We don't need fools like that to be employed in jobs that arm them.

    The cops... (none / 0) (#33)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:52:34 PM EST
    are just hired guns following orders, we don't blame the privates for the Iraq occupation, we shouldn't blame the cops here.  Yes, if would be heroic for the cops to lay down their arms and refuse to carry out such tyrannical orders...but that is asking a lot.

    Place the blame where it duly lies...on congress and the president.  Every congress and every president as long as I've been alive.

    Parent

    Having worked with some DC (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by inclusiveheart on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:10:40 PM EST
    cops in the old days - I'd say that these cops are to blame.  The guys I worked with wouldn't have done something like that.  Even when we had a really dangerous and violent guy in our store, it was not the cops that initiated the violence that ensued after the guy was spotted stealing - they were all about keeping it cool - for the safety of everyone involved - including the safety of the shop lifter.

    Parent
    I don't doubt... (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:31:41 PM EST
    they were overly aggressive and trigger happy...but the ultimate blame lies with the law that gave the police the right to break down that door and enter that home.

    As far as I know the police didn't break any rules...once they are given the right to enter they have a right to shoot and kill if they feel threatened.  We need to take away that right to enter.

    Parent

    The latest report is that they did not (5.00 / 4) (#68)
    by inclusiveheart on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:58:36 PM EST
    have what is called a "no knock" warrant - they broke the rules.  The scary thing is that the police are now claiming that they disregarded the guidelines of the warrant because the mother-in-law screamed because she was frightened when they stormed up to the front door - more information to factor in is the fact that this was a SWAT team - not just your average police - who would be quite scary looking if they stormed the front of your house.  The little dog ran away from them - almost makes me want to cry thinking about the fact that it ran to another room frightened and the police cold-bloodedly shot it.  They could have easily just shut the door behind the dog and called animal control.

    Finally, and most importantly - had this not been a mayor - had this been an average person - or even a real drug dealer - the police's disregard for the guidelines of the warrant would be just a blip on our radar screen of injustices like this that go on every day in this modern era.  The cops know the rules - they need to follow them if they expect the rest of us to do so too - more and more cops are disregarding these rules - god only knows how many people who've suffered that SWAT team's intrusions before this incident.  The national media don't care when it some poor old black lady in the projects who gets her door battered down by mistake - they don't bother to pay attention to these incidents - until it is some upstanding middle class white mayor who gets his civil rights abused - then they're all over the story.  It is sickening.

    Parent

    that was my thinking (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by kempis on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:42:40 PM EST
    I'm not big on the "following orders" justification. I actually give a lot of credit (and thus some blame)to individuals.

    Most cops, I believe, use their heads well. So do most soldiers. Some panic or are simply unfit for jobs that combine adrenaline and guns.

    Parent

    I'm not big on it either.... (none / 0) (#65)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:53:57 PM EST
    police and soldiers do have a duty to disobey unjust orders, and are ultimately responsible for their actions.  I agree with that.

    But if we simply write it off as "bad cops" and ignore the law that allows such things to happen, such things will keep happening.

    This tragedy, and the untold others like it, all stem from bad law.

    Parent

    I am not writing them off as simply (none / 0) (#69)
    by inclusiveheart on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 02:01:27 PM EST
    "bad cops", but I am not going to give them a break by saying they were "just doing their jobs" either.

    Parent
    No excuses for them.... (none / 0) (#72)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 02:09:11 PM EST
    from me.

    It's gonna keep happening from coast to coast until we change the law...that's the point I'm trying to stress.  You could have the most compassionate and well trained cops in the world and people will still die unnecessarily at the hands of bad law.

    Parent

    the "following orders" justification (none / 0) (#81)
    by Mr Natural on Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 12:00:29 AM EST
    was formerly known as the Nuremburg Defense.

    Think about it.

    If you watch television cop/prosecutor shows, you're watching the inculcation of authority worship and obedience.  There are even a few shows specializing in desensitization: 24 being the worst, but the COPS (Bad Boys, Bad Boys) brand of reality shows run a close second.


    Parent

    That's the way it was... (none / 0) (#58)
    by kredwyn on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:36:31 PM EST
    when I was managing a bookstore in Wheaton too.

    Parent
    There is a difference (none / 0) (#56)
    by Jen M on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:35:08 PM EST
    between police officers and soldiers.

    In a free society that is.

    Parent

    sort of... (none / 0) (#59)
    by kredwyn on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:38:30 PM EST
    remember that many of our soldiers who do come home will sign up to be cops, firefighters and so on after they get out of the service.

    A friend of mine is a cop and in the Reserves...in addition to having an MA in the history of some obscure ancient culture.

    Parent

    a diffence in training (none / 0) (#67)
    by Jen M on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:57:27 PM EST
    and responsibilities

    I know there are soldiers who become police officers and vice versa.

    I have also lived in countries where the army was the law enforcement.

    There is a difference.

    Parent

    I know there's a difference in training... (none / 0) (#77)
    by kredwyn on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 03:06:42 PM EST
    but just because you're trained differently, that doesn't mean that the other training disappears.

    Parent
    This is truly revolting and horrific (none / 0) (#26)
    by Montague on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:43:36 PM EST
    in every possible way.  

    The way to end the so-called war on drugs is to legalize drugs, de-criminalize possession and use, legislate instead that you can't drive while under the influence, and fund rehab centers.  That would take the profit motive out of drugs.

    Police Bust Down Mayor's Door (none / 0) (#27)
    by Doc Rock on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:46:03 PM EST
    They didn't even have the kind of search warrant that authorized their door-breaking, no-knock fascist flustercuck!

    Exigent circumstances. (none / 0) (#32)
    by oculus on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:51:34 PM EST
    Why didn't law enforcement apologize? (none / 0) (#30)
    by oculus on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:51:10 PM EST
    Because the Mayor, his wife, and his mother-in-law have probably already filed their 42 U.S.C. section 1983 lawsuit against the city and the officers.  $$$, including punitive damages, at stake.  

    I hope they bankrupt... (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:53:39 PM EST
    the city.

    Parent
    This story... (none / 0) (#38)
    by kredwyn on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:59:17 PM EST
    has been playing out here for the past week or so. It's crazy.

    First, they had a no knock warrant. Then, maybe they didn't.

    The mayor's been pretty cool about the cops doing their jobs. This thing has been a complete and total mess from the moment the judge signed off on whatever warrant he signed off on.

    But Calvo's pretty torn up about his dogs being killed.

    Incredible (none / 0) (#62)
    by buffrn on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:47:34 PM EST
    What kind of stupid pigs do they have there in Prince Georges County?  Shooting dogs, bounding old women and assaulting a mayor?  These idiots are allowed to have badges and guns?  Criminey, those poor people in that county need to arm themselves for defense from these nazi cops!

    Well... (none / 0) (#64)
    by Ave on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:52:12 PM EST
    My heart goes out tot he family for being held up and i do feel bad for the animals.  But i'm not outraged at all honestly.  This kind of thing happens all around the country, but to much less affluent people that don't have the support or the means to fight back.  


    Yeah... (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:57:18 PM EST
    more often than not human beings end up riddled with bullet holes...not animals.

    My anger is for the human victims first, canine second.

    Parent

    Jeralyn (none / 0) (#70)
    by DJ on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 02:06:56 PM EST
    o/t but John Edwards is on now admitting to affair.

    so sad