Cops get busted for framing woman in car accident

[Vinsanity]

Ruh Oh: Florida drops all charges against woman framed by police for traffic accident

A Hollywood, Florida police officer rams into the back of a woman's car. Three other cops arrive on the scene and they concoct a fictional story about a cat jumping out of a car, and the officer thinking it's a pedestrian, thereby causing the accident. They then pinned a DUI charge on the woman. The cops even went so far as to change the angle of the pictures to make it look like the woman swerved in front of the police car. And it gets worse from there -- and it's all caught on the video. One of the officers says on tape (NSFW language), "I don't lie and make things up ever because it's wrong, but if I need to bend it a little bit to protect a cop, I'll do it -- She's freaking hammered anyway."

[NomisR]

Well, at least it was not a black man this happened to. 

[giant_mtb]

Didn't they ever think about the fact that everything they say/do is recorded/taped?

[TurboDan]

Hope they all get what they deserve, including the drunk driver. Why the cops didn't just turn off their emergency lights (and thus the cameras/recorders) is beyond me. Traditionally, the recording only is active when the lights are on except on some very high-end remote broadband systems.

My question, however - Why was the DUI dropped? Was she not intoxicated or did they just decide to drop ALL of the charges because there was some underhanded things going on in general? The fact that the one cop said "She's hammered anyway" makes me think she probably WAS drunk.

[dazzleman]

Crooked cops like that are bad.  I don't care if they rough up criminals, but it's not right to set up an innocent person like that.  I hope they get slammed hard.

[GoCougs]

Scary if it's just one; downright nightmarish that it was a collusion of four.

[Tave]

One of our friends at college was struck and killed by a patrol car while he was in a crosswalk. His family faced an extreme uphill battle afterwards, dealing with the fraternal, insulary nature of the LE community.

[James Young]

One of our friends at college was struck and killed by a patrol car while he was in a crosswalk. His family faced an extreme uphill battle afterwards, dealing with the fraternal, insulary nature of the LE community.

Law enforcement is probably second only to the Catholic Church in their classic institutional behavior.

[Raza]

How big did they say this fucking cat was?  If I saw a 5'+ cat I wouldn't stop for shit, even if I did hit something!

[rohan]

Law enforcement is probably second only to the Catholic Church in their classic institutional behavior.

Not even remotely in the top 7.  UAW- Education associations/teachers- congress- firefighters- military services- naacp- they're all far far worse than anything you'll ever find in Le. 

[jadewolf123]

Not even remotely in the top 7.  UAW- Education associations/teachers- congress- firefighters- military services- naacp- they're all far far worse than anything you'll ever find in Le.  

Is it true cops think of firefighters as a bunch of goons living in a frat house? Because if the job is like that sign me up

[bing_oh]

Is it true cops think of firefighters as a bunch of goons living in a frat house? Because if the job is like that sign me up

I don't have any problems with the hose pulling, dalmation molesting, basement saving, nozzle jockeys. Dunno where the rumors of this LE/firefighter animosity come from...

And, they're actually underworked, overpaid goons living in a frat house.

[NomisR]

I don't have any problems with the hose pulling, dalmation molesting, basement saving, nozzle jockeys. Dunno where the rumors of this LE/firefighter animosity come from...

And, they're actually underworked, overpaid goons living in a frat house.

Unless they're in CA I guess which gets a big share of the fires. 

But from the firemen I've encountered when I got in the accident in the Element, the firefighters seems be making fun of the police dept's slow response time compared to their own, saying.. "oh look, here they come with their donuts now." 

[TurboDan]

It's actually pretty rare to find paid firefighters in suburban New Jersey. They're all volunteer squads.

[TBR]

Unless they're in CA I guess which gets a big share of the fires. 

But from the firemen I've encountered when I got in the accident in the Element, the firefighters seems be making fun of the police dept's slow response time compared to their own, saying.. "oh look, here they come with their donuts now." 

The firefighters that cover campus don't seem to be particularly quick. I have been involved in 3 false alarms and each time they took at least 20 minutes to get here though the station is all of half a mile from campus.

[NomisR]

The firefighters that cover campus don't seem to be particularly quick. I have been involved in 3 false alarms and each time they took at least 20 minutes to get here though the station is all of half a mile from campus.

CA > NC

[dazzleman]

They probably know it's a false alarm and take their time getting there.  That's one of the dangers of false alarms.

[TBR]

They probably know it's a false alarm and take their time getting there.  That's one of the dangers of false alarms.

They might think it is a false alarm, and they would probably be right, but there is no way to know. It seems to me like when there's a possibility that a chemistry building or a dorm with 200 college students is on fire you rush. I mean our smoke detectors are uber-sensitive for a reason (one of the alarms was set-off by hair spray!), dorms are very dangerous places in event of a fire.

[Catman]

Unless they're in CA I guess which gets a big share of the fires. 

But from the firemen I've encountered when I got in the accident in the Element, the firefighters seems be making fun of the police dept's slow response time compared to their own, saying.. "oh look, here they come with their donuts now." 

If you were lounging around on a couch, positioned in an area that afforded easy response to a certain area I would think response should be good.  A lot of times police are sent all over the place and are often covering another area that is busy so response may be slow.  That being said in my town we beat the FD to calls more often than not. 

[bing_oh]

If you were lounging around on a couch, positioned in an area that afforded easy response to a certain area I would think response should be good.  A lot of times police are sent all over the place and are often covering another area that is busy so response may be slow.  That being said in my town we beat the FD to calls more often than not.

Same here. It's a rare call that we don't beat the FD to the scene. I've been to a few house fires where we've actually had to go in and evacuate occupants because of FD's response time.

[Catman]

Rolling traffic jams, that's what they are.  Every time we get traffic sorted out and everyone squared away they come on scene with their stupid trucks and block the road.

[NomisR]

Same here. It's a rare call that we don't beat the FD to the scene. I've been to a few house fires where we've actually had to go in and evacuate occupants because of FD's response time.

Like I said.. CA > whatever other FD..

But LBPD probably sucked ass to begin with.  I got in an accident right next to a police station which ironically is right next door to a Krispy Kreme and they could've simply walked someone over.  But I guess that's how protocol works. 

[Catman]

Like I said.. CA > whatever other FD..

But LBPD probably sucked ass to begin with.  I got in an accident right next to a police station which ironically is right next door to a Krispy Kreme and they could've simply walked someone over.  But I guess that's how protocol works. 

Typically, the PD is not manned to respond to calls, the patrols do that.  The PD is manned for in place operations.  Most of the sworn personnel in the station are there to supervise operations or they are dispatchers and clerks.  If you get lucky and a patrol happens to be in the station then you'll get a quick reponse, otherwise your proximity to the PD has little to do with response time.  Unlike FD's we don't sit around the station waiting for a call.  Patrol officer's are assigned patrol sector/beats and that's where they need to be.

[Submariner]

Law enforcement is probably second only to the Catholic Church in their classic institutional behavior.

Dude...it's getting really, really old.

[MX793]

The firefighters that cover campus don't seem to be particularly quick. I have been involved in 3 false alarms and each time they took at least 20 minutes to get here though the station is all of half a mile from campus.

Is it a professional or a volunteer departments?  Keep in mind that volunteer departments don't typically have many firefighters actually at the station waiting to roll out, they have to wait for the firefighters to get to the station from wherever they might be (at work, at home, the mall...) and then they suit up and get rolling.  That can really add to the response time.

[TBR]

Is it a professional or a volunteer departments?  Keep in mind that volunteer departments don't typically have many firefighters actually at the station waiting to roll out, they have to wait for the firefighters to get to the station from wherever they might be (at work, at home, the mall...) and then they suit up and get rolling.  That can really add to the response time.

It's a big enough town that I would think it would be professional, but I suppose it could be volunteer.

[BENZ BOY15]

It's a big enough town that I would think it would be professional, but I suppose it could be volunteer.

......or you could be like San Diego and not even have a unified fire department. Basically, it's a clusterfuck of a million different state, local, volunteer, rural and other agencies. This is despite the fact that San Diego is very fire prone.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/05/us/05fire.html

Typical Republicans who want all the services, but don't want to pay for them.



The consolidation movement here appeared to gain ground in the wake of the wildfires of 2003, the deadliest in the state?s recent history. The fires burned 280,000 acres. Fifteen people died, including one firefighter, and 2,232 homes burned. The debate was renewed in October, when 10 people died and 350,000 acres burned as fires, fueled by Santa Ana winds, tore through the county.

The San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission, which helps shape the county?s public agencies, voted 7 to 1 Monday to approve a first phase of consolidation among the county?s 65 fire departments. That phase would combine seven rural fire districts that cover 1.4 million acres and serve 50,000 people in rural and sparsely populated eastern San Diego County, where many wildfires originate.

SIXTEY FIVE fire departments! One county. 

[MX793]

......or you could be like San Diego and not even have a unified fire department. Basically, it's a clusterfuck of a million different state, local, volunteer, rural and other agencies. This is despite the fact that San Diego is very fire prone.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/05/us/05fire.html

Typical Republicans who want all the services, but don't want to pay for them.



The consolidation movement here appeared to gain ground in the wake of the wildfires of 2003, the deadliest in the state?s recent history. The fires burned 280,000 acres. Fifteen people died, including one firefighter, and 2,232 homes burned. The debate was renewed in October, when 10 people died and 350,000 acres burned as fires, fueled by Santa Ana winds, tore through the county.

The San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission, which helps shape the county?s public agencies, voted 7 to 1 Monday to approve a first phase of consolidation among the county?s 65 fire departments. That phase would combine seven rural fire districts that cover 1.4 million acres and serve 50,000 people in rural and sparsely populated eastern San Diego County, where many wildfires originate.

SIXTEY FIVE fire departments! One county. 

65 fire departments in a county doesn't surprise me in the least.  You generally have 1 fire department (with one or more stations) per city, town or village.  I don't know of any county that combines all fire departments into one agency.  I think there were 4 or 5 (maybe more) different fire departments within six miles of where I grew up.

[S204STi]

65 fire departments in a county doesn't surprise me in the least.  You generally have 1 fire department (with one or more stations) per city, town or village.  I don't know of any county that combines all fire departments into one agency.  I think there were 4 or 5 (maybe more) different fire departments within six miles of where I grew up.

I think our county has at least two departments, one for the FoCo area, one for Loveland and Estes Park and surrounding areas.

[TurboDan]

65 fire departments in a county doesn't surprise me in the least.  You generally have 1 fire department (with one or more stations) per city, town or village.  I don't know of any county that combines all fire departments into one agency.  I think there were 4 or 5 (maybe more) different fire departments within six miles of where I grew up.

Yeah, usually most larger towns have a couple different fire companies. In New Jersey, there is a county Fire Marshall that investigates fires and stuff like that, but the individual fire companies are all over the place. Seems to work out OK.