Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
We have cops and prison guards getting into drug war trouble from coast to coast this week, from San Diego to Chicago and from Florida to Maryland.
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Feature: Battle Over California's Nonviolent Offender Recovery Act Initiative Begins to Heat Up
In November, California residents will vote on a massive, complicated "treatment not jail" initiative known as the Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act (NORA) and appearing on the ballot as Proposition 5. Battle lines are now being drawn.
Chronicle
South Asia: Indian Newspaper Cheers On Anti-Drug Vigilantes
Anti-drug vigilantism is not unknown in India or some other parts of the world, but it's not usually cheered on by the press. This week, it was in India's Orissa state.
Chronicle
Latin America: Walters Continues US Attack on Venezuela Anti-Drug Efforts, Calls Chávez Policies "Global Threat"
Washington's war of words against Venezuela over its anti-drug interdiction efforts continued this week, as John Walters called the country a "global threat" because it does not cooperate in US anti-drug efforts.
Chronicle
Latin America: Embattled Mexican President Seeks More Money to Fight Crime, Drug Gangs
Mexican President Felipe Calderón staked his political reputation on doing battle with the drug cartels. Now, with prohibition-related violence at record levels and violent common crime also on the rise, he is looking for more money to save his legacy.
Chronicle
Europe: Irish Judge Balks at Unquantified Drugged Driving Test
An Irish judge has dismissed drugged driving charges against a young man based solely on the presence of marijuana in his system. That's not sufficient to prove impairment, he ruled.
Chronicle
Weekly: This Week in History
Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of years past.
Blog
Cheye Calvo Speaks Out Against the Police Tactics That Killed His Dogs
I had the opportunity to see drug war victim Cheye Calvo speak this afternoon at the Cato Institute, discussing the heavily-publicized botched drug raid in which police raided his home and killed his two dogs before discovering that he was actually the mayor and had nothing to do with the package of marijuana theyâd tracked through the mail to his address.
Calvoâs story is well known and video of todayâs event should be online soon (also featuring excellent presentations by Radley Balko and LEAP founder Peter Christ), so I wonât recap the conversation, except to say that I admire Calvoâs enthusiasm for pursuing accountability on behalf of the many voiceless victims of these same abusive police tactics.
But I would like to address a point raised by Radley Balko prior to the event:
I was reminded of this as Calvo described the horrific thoughts that ran through his head upon being ordered to the ground by armed men in his own home. He enumerated several distinct acts of incompetence and brutality that characterized the raid on his home and the killing of his dogs.
*That they never checked who owned the home before raiding and initially literally thought he was delusional when he claimed to be the mayor.
*That they argued their violent entry was his mother-in-lawâs fault for "compromising" their operation because she screamed when she saw them pointing guns at her through the kitchen window.
*That they continued to accuse him of behaving suspiciously even after learning who he was and observing considerable evidence of his innocence.
*That they essentially hunted his dogs down within the home, yet insist that the dogs "engaged" officers.
*That the police spokesman told the press that the raid had been conducted appropriately before anyone spoke with the Calvos to hear their side of the story.
This list just goes on and on. We would be dreaming if we thought that anyone would actually come forward to defend these things in a forum that provides equal time and allows questions. Fortunately, unlike so many botched drug raids before it, this incident isnât going to be forgotten. The FBI is currently investigating the officersâ actions and, to his credit, Mayor Calvo doesnât seem the least bit interested in letting this go.
Moreover, while there may well have been some actionable violations of protocol, I think the likely conclusion is that the totality of what took place here was essentially legal under Maryland law. While Iâd certainly be pleased to see some officers face disciplinary action, Iâm much more interested in whether political leaders in Maryland recognize the systemic conditions that brought this outcome about. And that wonât happen if a couple officers take the fall Lynndie England-style. Until the law itself is exposed as an instrument of violence against the innocent, we can be sure the next bloody botched drug raid fiasco is only days away.
Calvoâs story is well known and video of todayâs event should be online soon (also featuring excellent presentations by Radley Balko and LEAP founder Peter Christ), so I wonât recap the conversation, except to say that I admire Calvoâs enthusiasm for pursuing accountability on behalf of the many voiceless victims of these same abusive police tactics.
But I would like to address a point raised by Radley Balko prior to the event:
A few commenters have asked why no one taking the pro-hyper-militarized police position will be speaking. As I understand it, several possible candidates were invited, but none accepted. I've actually sought out several opportunities to debate this issue in the past, and had similar problems finding opponents.
I was reminded of this as Calvo described the horrific thoughts that ran through his head upon being ordered to the ground by armed men in his own home. He enumerated several distinct acts of incompetence and brutality that characterized the raid on his home and the killing of his dogs.
*That they never checked who owned the home before raiding and initially literally thought he was delusional when he claimed to be the mayor.
*That they argued their violent entry was his mother-in-lawâs fault for "compromising" their operation because she screamed when she saw them pointing guns at her through the kitchen window.
*That they continued to accuse him of behaving suspiciously even after learning who he was and observing considerable evidence of his innocence.
*That they essentially hunted his dogs down within the home, yet insist that the dogs "engaged" officers.
*That the police spokesman told the press that the raid had been conducted appropriately before anyone spoke with the Calvos to hear their side of the story.
This list just goes on and on. We would be dreaming if we thought that anyone would actually come forward to defend these things in a forum that provides equal time and allows questions. Fortunately, unlike so many botched drug raids before it, this incident isnât going to be forgotten. The FBI is currently investigating the officersâ actions and, to his credit, Mayor Calvo doesnât seem the least bit interested in letting this go.
Moreover, while there may well have been some actionable violations of protocol, I think the likely conclusion is that the totality of what took place here was essentially legal under Maryland law. While Iâd certainly be pleased to see some officers face disciplinary action, Iâm much more interested in whether political leaders in Maryland recognize the systemic conditions that brought this outcome about. And that wonât happen if a couple officers take the fall Lynndie England-style. Until the law itself is exposed as an instrument of violence against the innocent, we can be sure the next bloody botched drug raid fiasco is only days away.
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In The Trenches
Press Release: First Global Conference on Methamphetamine in Prague, Czech Republic, Sept. 15-16
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For More Info: Luciano Colonna
September 10, 2008 +00 (1) 801 635 7736 (USA); [email protected]
FIRST GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON METHAMPHETAMINE TO ADDRESS 65 BILLION DOLLAR MARKET IN PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC, SEPTEMBER 15-16, 2008
Experts >From 22 Nations Will Gather to Examine the Intersection between Methamphetamine, Public Health, Law Enforcement, and Civil Society.
PRAGUE, Czech Republic, September 9 ÂÂÂÂ-- While illicit production and use of synthetic drugs has stabilized in North America and Europe, it is on the rise in much of Asia and the Middle East, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said Tuesday. The global market for amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), worth an estimated 65 billion dollars in wholesale and retail sales combined, has stabilized or shown signs of decline in North America, Europe and Oceania but the problem has shifted to new markets over the past few years, the office said. According to Luciano Colonna, Chairman of the 2008 Global Conference on Methamphetamine, the use of ATS also continues to be used at an alarming rate in many parts of Eastern and Central Europe, the Russian Federation, and South Africa, with 36 million using ATS at least once on 2008. Colonna said that ATS are now more popular than heroin and cocaine combined.
The First Global Conference on Methamphetamine will provide an arena for the worldâs foremost scientists, leaders and professionals working on issues of drug use to come together to discuss a wide variety of topics centering on methamphetamine. The Conference will take place in Pragueâs City Hall on Monday & Tuesday (September 15-16 2008).
As the first event to gather global experts from a wide diversity of fields, the conference is assured to be an unparalleled event. Confirmed speakers from USA, China, Australia, Thailand, Russia, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Israel, Poland, Iran, Slovakia Ukraine, Czech Republic, Great Britain and the United Nations will address the conference theme of âScience, Strategy and Response.â Representatives from international agencies, civil society, academia, science, law enforcement and others will have the unique opportunity to discuss key issues including: Treatment, HIV, Trafficking, Production, Environmental Impact, Law Enforcement, Policy, Current Research, Regional Updates, and Innovative Global Approaches.
As nations struggle to develop appropriate responses to methamphetamine, it is crucial that the most current scientific research, information, and best practices be available to those seeking to implement solutions. The primary goal of the First Global Conference on Methamphetamine is to provide a context for this important work to take place.
FOR MEDIA: A press conference will take place at the conference site at 10 AM, Monday (September 15, 2008. The major sessions of the conference are open to reporters. Site visits, photo opportunities and interviews can be arranged. For journalists not traveling to Prague, interviews and briefings with key spokespeople and presenters can be arranged on request.
Sponsors and Partners include: The Czech Republic, Charles University, the City of Prague, Network Environmental Systems, Podane Ruce, Cranstoun Drug Services, Sananim, Institute Scan, Systems, Inc, and The Thorne Group.
Website: www.globalmethamphetamine.com
Contact: Luciano Colonna Chair, Executive Program Committee - 2008 Global Conference On Methamphetamine +00 (1) 801 635 7736 (USA); [email protected]
Contact: Andy Lawson, Lawson Communications +420 775 035 757 (Europe); [email protected]
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