Another Cop Killed in a Drug Raid
This has the makings of another potential paramilitary drug raid legal drama:
An FBI agent was killed early yesterday near Pittsburgh during a raid on the home of a suspected cocaine dealer, who was taken into custody along with his wife. Federal officials later reported that the woman was being charged with the shooting.
…
A lawyer for the couple said Christina Korbe faces homicide charges in connection with Hicks's death, three Pittsburgh television stations reported. Station KDKA quoted lawyer Sumner Parker as saying the Korbes may have believed they were the victims of a home invasion. Federal officials said Christina Korbe was being held by state authorities in connection with the killing.As he was led away in handcuffs from the Allegheny County police headquarters yesterday, Robert Korbe blamed the shooting on other law enforcement officers.
"They shot their own guy," he told reporters. "I didn't shoot him." [Washington Post]
We just don’t have enough facts at this point, but if this turns out to be another case of a confused suspect mistaking police for burglars (or police shooting each other), then it’s something we’ll be discussing in more detail very soon.
Whether it’s a police officer or a suspect, it’s just tragic that so many lives continue to be lost during aggressive drug raids. I agree with Radley Balko who asks why Robert Korbe couldn’t have been arrested outside the home. Busting into people’s houses at 6:00 in the morning is a prescription for disaster. If police can’t find a safer way to do these raids, they need to look harder.
I agree that these sorts of raids are insane.
Comment posted by Anonymous on Mon, 01/12/2009 - 1:10amClearly,
These type of paramilitary raids belong more in the banana republics and what is now happening in the more and more autocratic state of Russia - not in the US.
It should also make us reconsider the drug laws in this country. Drug use - I believe - is more of a behavioral or medical problem than it is an issue for the cops to be involved in. What people do with say - weed - is their own personal business - where does the F**King government get off telling anyone that they are not allowed to smoke weed. I applaud the State of California - and i'm not sure if it's Oregon or Washington that allows it too.
If the authorities cannot do any better than this - such as arrest the persons away from their home - then maybe they ought to consider a new job - either acting on their own behalf or by being fired.
I also believe - given the timing of the raid; namely six in the morning more leaway be given anyone confirmed in shooting a cop. If someone comes on like "gangbusters" to my house at six in the morning I probably would shoot first and then ask questions later!! The charge for shooting a cop under these circumstances should be no more than manslaughter.
It seems to me that whenever a cop shoots someone - to beat the rap - they always say that they thought the other person had a gun - and then go on shooting the person even when they already have been shot and are laying dying face down on the ground (an x-ray of one of the long bones in the leg of a man who had been shot by the police showed a bullet that had entered the heel of the man - while he was lying face down - that had entered his heel and made its way half way up his leg!!) Exactly what happened in New Jack City one time. Needless to say the cops were acquitted when the trial was moved to Albany, New York and an all white jury found them not guilty (note: not guilty is not the same as innocent!!). All the man did who was shot is take a comb from his back pocket - he was then shot and killed by the cops!!!
People have told me that the cops in New Jack City want to kill people - and I believe them.
sociopathic and so theatrical...
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 11/21/2008 - 10:42amIt seems to be all about the showtime effect. Like at Waco etc. Law enforcement has stated that this approach works for the safety of cops. Wrong again. This prohibition makes everyone a potential victim. Stupid policy is as stupid policy does.
Home Invasion
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 11/21/2008 - 2:45pmWhat are we supposed to do when someone breaks down the door in the middle of the night? Why do we have the right to own guns if we can't protect our homes and family's from intruders? Why not just declare this county a police state and be done with it.
If some breaks down your door in the middle of the night, just sit there and do nothing, it might be the cops or someone who is going to do you harm, either way your screwed.
Are you serious?
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 11/21/2008 - 6:26pm"What are we supposed to do when someone breaks down the door in the middle of the night?"
It was 6 am. They announced themselves as police. Not even close to being burgled by "intruders" in "the middle of the night."
"Theatrical"? Hardly. Not like they had a camera crew outside.
How about expressing some sympathy for the man who died and his widow and child instead of sitting around indulging yourselves in petty and uninformed (and misspelled) critiques of the people who are out there protecting you.
This is dishonest
Comment posted by Scott Morgan on Fri, 11/21/2008 - 8:10pmIt was 6 am. They announced themselves as police. Not even close to being burgled by "intruders" in "the middle of the night."
Let's not pretend not to know why police do these raids at that time. The whole point is to bust in when the suspect is asleep. We all know that. And we all know that people who are asleep don't have their wits about them. They don't hear and process information as easily. We don't know all the facts yet, admittedly, but assuming that a 6 am announcement is easily understood by a sleeping suspect is ridiculous. If you're trying to surprise the suspect, don't act shocked when they are, in fact, surprised.
Yes, this is a tragedy. Of course it is. And I believe that the continued examination and criticism of how these raids are conducted will lead to better procedures that protect the safety of both police and the public.
Police raid
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 11/21/2008 - 9:32pmWhile it is an awful shame the FBI agent lost his life, I have to sympathize with the mother protecting her family. The whole situation is sad. I think if the investigation had been going on for months or even years, Robert Korbe could have been arrested at work. They obviously knew where he worked so they would've known there were 2 children at home. I know the Police identified themselves, but when people are busting in your house you're just wondering what the hell is going on. If she knew and believed it was the police what was the reason for the 911 calls? We can't just convict her because the person killed was Law enforcement!!!
Thoughts
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 11/21/2008 - 10:40pmWhen I was a prosecutor in Baltimore City I had cases with those officer. He testified in court for me. He struck me as a good man, which was unusual. I am very sad that he is dead. Having said that, I don't agree that these house raids are necessary or wise(I also don't agree with the drug war). If someone breaks into my house I am pulling out my gun and firing back. Arrest people at work. Arrest them on the street. Arresting people at their homes when it is not necessary is reckless and stupid. I would like to see some of the law enforcement people who approve these raids put on trial for involuntary manslaughter or even second degree depraved heart murder.
Bill Cooke
www.tobaccoland.us
www.undertakerpress.com
Re-Legalize Coca, coca tea, Vin Mariani, coca-cola, and cocaine
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 11/21/2008 - 11:31pmFour U.S. presidents, two Popes, Thomas Edison, Freud, and many other notables drank cocaine wine. Millions enjoyed REAL Coca-cola. Millions used effective and tasty coca medicinals for a wide range of ailments. And yes, millions of people safely and wisely used cocaine powder for a quick pick me up, all of this when these products were legal. No one was being killed, robbed, or ruined when it was legal. No one was shooting talcum powder or being put in jail when the noble coca and it's products were legal. Gangs were scarcely known. Most drug warriors just can't seem to picture the real history and the real differences between pre and post legal times. All these drug warring morons can finally do, after you kick their asses with their searing illogic is to scream"Well, what about the children?" You fucking morons---hundreds of children get killed each year in Philly and Oakland turf wars alone. Thanks to you and your insane drug war.
I'd like to make booze and coffee illegal and see what happens. WHEN WILL DRUG WAR MORONS GET IT??????
"Sympathy for the man who died"?
Comment posted by rita on Sat, 11/22/2008 - 1:59amOh, please! How many lives did HE deliberately destroy during his career? How many children did he leave fatherless, motherless, homeless? Does anybody want to pretend that HE ever had one ounce of sympathy for any of his victims?
The stormtroopers attacked me at 6:30 a.m. I live in a 12' x 50' moblie home, and I didn't hear the word "police" until I was face down on my bedroom floor with a gun to my head. Oh, they "knock" alright -- with a battering ram. And they "announce" by screaming like banshees. That way, the neighbors will report that THEY heard the word "police"; inside the house, however, all you hear is your door breaking, your kids crying and your dog barking.
My mother always taught me not to call people names, but anybody believing that any of this is done to protect us is just plain stupid. And, if their objective really were to stop drug use and drug trafficking, there were any number of DAYS when they could have rounded up a dozen drug users and seized all kinds of illegal substances at my house. Much more manly to attack a couple of sleepy adults and maybe a few small children, so they wait until after midnight, after everybody has gone home and taken their drugs with them, and anything left in the house is hidden safely out of sight and, apparently, out of the range of wonderdog's sense of smell. Fewer drugs, but fewer witnesses, too.
Drug raids are engineered to terrorize, destroy the lives of individuals and shatter families. They have nothing to do with protecting the public or upholding the law. They have to stop. Period.
Too bad. Tough luck. It's
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sat, 11/22/2008 - 11:18amToo bad. Tough luck. It's all part of the risk of the job. He knew the chances when he signed on and went along for the drug-raid. No tears shed by this writer over a dead G-man. There's an EASY solution to preventing future occurrences and we ALL know what that is but politicians are lacking the integrity to take the proper and needed steps.
Sad. And so is ruining the lives of people who've hurt nobody
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sat, 11/22/2008 - 8:57pmor nobody but themselves. A lot of people rotting away before their time because of this slimy little war of some Americans on other Americans and their families. Alcohol supremacist bigotry running wild. People should be held responsible for their actions that mess with others, not for their failure to choose killer alcohol as their drug of choice. In case any of you Christians out there have forgotten, Jesus hated hypocrisy. Or as you would say, Jesus hates hypocrisy. Your drug laws need to show your Lord a little respect!
Oh, go have another drink, you jokers...
I feel bad for the cop which
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sun, 11/23/2008 - 5:10amI feel bad for the cop which was killed. It is true that these drug trafficking people should be put behind bars.
Idiots
Comment posted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/24/2008 - 7:23pmYou're all a bunch of idiots. And half of you can't spell. Go to hell, including you, "former prosecutor." You're the scariest and stupidest of them all because you don't even have the excuse of being uninformed.
idiot writer
Comment posted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/25/2008 - 11:05amYou are probably a cop and your colors are showing. What about the mayor who had both of his dogs shot right in front of his family. That was all a mistake and there are many more mistakes made by cops in these stupid drug raids. People are dying who cares about spelling.
game gold
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 02/20/2009 - 4:13amI hope i can get aoc gold in low price, and then i can
save some money.
Yesterday i bought conan gold
for my friend. i want him like it. i will give age of conan gold to him
as birthday present. i like the cheap aoc gold very much.
I usually buy the aoc money and keep it in my store.









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Sociopathic Policing
Comment posted by Anonymous on Thu, 11/20/2008 - 11:28pmThese police raids are sociopathic.
Just to prevent evidence from being flushed- as if that were more important.
Assuming that the 'laws' were valid, the suspects could be arrested as they left their houses.
Those in charge of these police policies need psychiatric help if not prison.