MORE From the Kinder, Gentler Justice System

[Kennedy 0]

Not only are the police and governments not required to protect you, not only can they remove your ability to protect yourself, but aparently whenthey loose a killer in your neighborhood by mistake, they're not responsible for that either.

http://www.indystar.com/articles/3/169366-8683-009.html

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Police absolved in killings by man wrongly freed
St. Joseph County police not liable for crimes of suspect who didn't post bond, court rules.

August 11, 2004

In what the Indiana Court of Appeals deemed a "tragic mistake," the St. Joseph County Police Department let Phillip Stroud out of jail without posting bond because someone typed the wrong information into a computer.

Two months later, in September 2000, Stroud killed three construction workers. He is now on Death Row.

Tuesday, a panel of the appeals court unanimously ruled that the Police Department cannot be held liable for mistakenly releasing Stroud because it is protected under government immunity laws.

The families of the three victims -- Wayne Shumaker, Corby Allan Myers and Lynn J. Ganger -- sued the department in 2001, claiming negligence. A Marshall Circuit Court judge ruled the lawsuit could proceed and that the department wasn't entitled to immunity.

The appeals court disagreed, ruling that the law clearly says government entities and employees aren't liable if, during the course of official business, something bad happens because a law isn't enforced. In this case, Stroud, now 25, was let go without posting a $5,000 bond on a charge of dealing cocaine.

According to testimony at his trial, Stroud killed the three men during a burglary.

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
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[peacefuljeffrey 0]

Okay, so the police are protected from liability for their fuckups, like letting someone out mistakenly, and that person then murders others.

Um, what if the police abuse that "immunity" -- start doing their jobs with such utter apathy and contempt for their responsibilities that they do this three, four, seven, eighteen, four hundred times?? Does the liability immunity extend no matter how egregious the incompetence and misfeasance? Does it extend no matter how many times they can be shown to not have taken proper care and precautions?! What are the limits of protection for cops who can fuck up with impunity even when it costs innocent people their lives?

Can you imagine having a job where even your FATAL mistakes don't bring a shitstorm to envelope you?

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-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[Kennedy 0]

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Um, what if the police abuse that "immunity" -- start doing their jobs with such utter apathy and contempt for their responsibilities

I've got bad news for you Jeffrey: too many cops have that apathy for responsibilty. That's one (relatively small) reason I'm becoming a cop - we need good ones.


disclaimer: I said too many, not most.

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

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Um, what if the police abuse that "immunity" -- start doing their jobs with such utter apathy and contempt for their responsibilities

I've got bad news for you Jeffrey: too many cops have that apathy for responsibilty. That's one (relatively small) reason I'm becoming a cop - we need good ones.

disclaimer: I said too many, not most.

Do some good, man.
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-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[Kennedy 0]

What was inscribed on the first rifle I ever fired...?

Oh, yeah.

"Do good, and fear no man."

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*

[wmw999 2,588]

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I've got bad news for you Jeffrey: too many cops have that apathy for responsibilty. That's one (relatively small) reason I'm becoming a cop - we need good ones.

And I hope you do -- you'd most likely be a good one.

Just remember that the system is bigger than you are, and don't get disillusioned when it's clear that the system is fucked. That's when cops, social workers, nurses, and a lot of others get jaded and apathetic.

Because the next day is still a new day, and the next situation is still a new situation.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)