The Death of DC Suburban Mayor's Dogs Should Matter to Every American

[DogPoundPup]

This story is not just about an injustice done to one random middle class couple, or the death of two dogs. There are two critical lessons that are important to all Americans.

First, the civil liberties in our Constitution don't just protect "criminals" or "someone else". The Prince George's County Police had a warrant to search Calvo's home. They had apparently tracked the package from its origination point in Arizona. But they did not have a warrant to break down the door without knocking, tie him up or shoot his dogs. In fact the Courts have held that it is always unacceptable to kill pets in the course of searching a home.

Calvo was changing his cloths when the police burst in, handcuffed him in his boxer shorts and held him and his mother in law forcibly for two hours.

If that could happen to a completely innocent, middle class white suburban mayor and his wife, it could happen to anyone. Calvo said, "We were harmed by the very people who took an oath to protect us." That's why the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution, because our founding fathers, and mothers, had been harmed over and over by the police and armed forces of the British Crown and wanted a country where they were protected from the arbitrary power of the state.

For almost eight years George Bush has appointed judges who have undermined the Bill of Rights and make us all more vulnerable to the overwhelming police power of the executive branch. John McCain would undermine those protections even more dramatically because he would likely have the opportunity to make life time appointments for up to four members of the Supreme Court.

Like the prospect of making it easier to have your door broken down and your dogs shot - even if you're not guilty of anything ? Vote for John McCain.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-creamer/the-death-of-dc-suburban_b_117879.html

[liberalmuse]

1. I just now read about this!

WTF? If this can happen to the Mayor of a town and his family, and the police can just raid your home without the proper warrant, kill your dogs and fuck up your life, then I believe we are living in a fascist state. Labradors!? The most harmless dogs on the planet. Fucking jackbooted thugs.

[tblue37]

7. I posted about it this morning.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3749076&mesg_id=3749076

The thread has a lot of good comemntary.

[roguevalley]

19. it matters to me. the smaller one ran to hide and they shot her anyway

I would OWN that town if that happened to me. OWN IT!

[Butch350]

25. And all of that over some damn WEED!!! ???

[Th1onein]

2. I posted the phone number for the cops that did this.....

on another thread on this topic. You ought to find it and CALL THEM and express your outrage.

[spooky3]

47. I linked the addresses for the chief and sheriff in this thread, below.

[madfloridian]

3. I saw the CNN interview...broke my heart

Should not be happening in America.

[Th1onein]

4. Hey, you forgot: THEY delivered the drugs to him!

The cops delivered the drugs to his door and then broke it down!

[Webster Green]

5. I hate fucking pigs!

Every day we hear about some new outrage perpetrated by these fucking thugs.

Local cops are outfitted with commando type battle gear, which they love to dress up in to carry out their sadistic raids on harmless drug users. They get off on using their tasers completely unprovoked, and people are dying from getting tasered on a daily basis.

Enough is enough! Cops are the fucking enemy!

Mutherfuckers! :mad:

[loudsue]

9. It's become the reality in the republican run America....thugs rule.

This may be a good reason to arm the people. Those policemen were criminals and terrorists. THEY are the ones who should be jailed.

[bvar22]

11. That was the purpose of the 2nd ammendment.....

...so that we could protect ourselves from our government, not some invading army.

The Bill of Rights does not "grant" rights to people. It places restrictions on government.

[stlsaxman]

34. you mean the 4th Amendment, don't you?

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

[bvar22]

39. No, I meant the 2nd ammendment.... n/t

[LisaL]

6. Of course it could happen to anyone.

Those poor dogs.

[Quantess]

14. If it happened to a white, suburban, mayor

it really CAN happen to anyone.

[DCKit]

15. As I've been saying.

Had my "experience" in January. Though I couldn't be "whiter", I'm neither well-off or politically connected.

The "Don't Snitch" movement adopted by various minority communities is a direct response to fascism. We can only hope this episode illustrates how far we've fallen and spur a change to take us back to the rule of law.

It can, in fact, happen to you, whoever you are.

[frebrd]

8. BASTARDS! n/t

[uncle ray]

10. incidents like this are the reason we need the drug war stopped.

it's too bad though, that only drug users care enough to take any action, in general, straight folks don't give a damn what happens to users.

i have little optimism that it will get any better either. i was well aware of the abuses of power etc. present in the drug war well before 9/11, when the gov't escalated their war on ALL US citizens. they've been doing this shit for many years, and it keeps getting worse. the terror attacks gave them the excuse to increase their power, which proved that it isn't about controlling drugs at all, but about controlling people, ALL of us. the * administration was ramping up a huge effort to target drugs and porn right before the 9/11 attack, they dropped that plan in a hurry because the "terror threat" worked much better to achieve their goals.

it's going to take a lot more innocent folks doors getting bashed in before people really care. these people are lucky, they are so squeaky clean they got charged with nothing. in the vast majority of cases like this, even with bogus evidence and lying or unreliable informants, most people have something illegal to be found and busted for, and no means to fight the system. most can barely afford to fight a possession/paraphernalia charge, they sure can't afford to contest the legality of the search that illegally found their stash.

[Fumesucker]

52. You're completely correct

Particularly when you say "straight folks don't give a damn what happens to users".

I did not speak up when they came for the druggies, because I was not a druggie.

Wait until it is a family member of yours that gets caught up in the infinitely ponderous wheels of American "justice".

[malaise]

12. But but but

M$M won't bring on s panel for this -Edwards now 24/7 coverage.

[Uncle Joe]

13. Page# 1 chapter #1 in the ongoing saga of the ludicrous Orwellian fiction; "The War Against Drugs"

<snip> The Labrador and his accomplice aka "Black Lab" and "Black Labette" well known drug runners in the seamy crime ridden underworld, had it coming and they got it, being shot while trying to flee the premises by courageous law enforcement officers investigating a package of the evil weed being shipped directly to their house via FEDEX. Said the officer taking them down, "Their crimes against humanity couldn't be tolerated anymore, let this be a lesson to pot smoking breeds of any kind, justice knows no bounds!" <snip>

[spooky3]

16. WaPo reported that (a) the FBI has been called in to investigate and the

sheriff is extreme upset about that (no shit, Sherlock! if they do their job correctly, your ass is toast) and (b) the professional standards are that harming an animal is to be avoided and done only as a LAST RESORT.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

17. The police are becoming law breaking monsters.

[MNBrewer]

23. becoming?

[LiberalEsto]

18. The cops in that county are out of control

The Washington Post Metro section often has stories about the outrageous, out of control behavior of various law enforcement agencies in Prince Georges County, Maryland.

Although the phony drug arrest and the shooting of the mayor's dogs was a little bit more egregious than their usual behavior, it does not surprise me. The cops won't see any consequences, either. They never do over there.

[yy4me]

28. I may be wrong but does not one certain VP live in

Prince Georges County? Along with a certain guy known as Rummy?

If that is the case, it is just one more notch in the old 44. Got to keep all that canine riff-raff out of the neighborhood.

This sounds like the most phoneyed-up story I have read in ages. How rovial.

[spooky3]

43. I don't think so. PGC is predominantly African-American middle class.

[LiberalEsto]

49. I think they're in Anne Arundel County nt

[High Plains]

20. We need congressional hearings on police abuses.

This kind of thing goes on every day of the year.

Tazers.

SWAT raids.

Informant abuses.

Mass stop and frisk searches (New York City).

The drug war and drug war policing.

It is way past time to rein in abusive law enforcement. Maybe it's too late.

[SOS]

21. Fourth Amendment

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated"

This raid was a crime, far worse than the box of pot the cops left on his porch.

[KG]

22. but, but, we don't live in a police state!

:eyes:

[MadMaddie]

24. This is not an anomoly....this happens on a regular basis

This type of activity by police has been going on in minority and poor neighborhooods for a long time.

The mayor and his mother in-law are lucky to be alive at this point. I believe the police knew whose house they entered illegally. What if the mayor had a gun for protection and didn't know who it was? He would be dead.

These cops must be prosecuted and these kind of forced entry tactics for drugs must be stopped. To shoot a dog that was running away because it was frightend breaks my heart and the other was defensive because someone was breaking down the door.

The war on drugs especially marijauna has been a tradgedy from the beginning.

[valerief]

26. I wonder what the blackboots *really* got out of that home. It's clear

the weed package was a setup. What did the mayor know/have that the blackboots were ordered to retrieve?

[judasdisney]

27. Methinks the shooting was sub rosa

A mayor near D.C. could hypothetically know revealing information about some sensitive topic.

The incident is exactly the type of "sending a message" m.o. that Rove and other Neocons are known for.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

29. Heartbreaking story.

But I'm not surprised by it. This is not the country I grew up in during the 1960's and 1970's and sure as hell isn't the same country that my father and uncles fought for in WWII. I truly believe we live a facist state, it just hasn't been announced by the corporate media and the Pukes.

[janetblond]

30. I hope he SUES the Police Dept and WINS! nt.

!!

[Faygo Kid]

31. Agreed. I live in Maryland, and people are pissed. Sadists must be punished.

Those who ordered the raid, and those who carried it out, must go.

Had lunch today at a beautiful historic inn, and folks at two nearby tables were talking about how upset they were that this could happen. It wasn't conducive to a relaxed lunch, but it was the truth. People are pissed, and this story won't go away soon.

[madrchsod]

32. one of the first sites i read this was the right wing cato institute

even the right wing thinks this is`t right...

[spooky3]

45. Cato is libertarian, and this type of incident would anger libertarians.

Classic example of government overstepping its bounds, running roughshod over the rights of citizens, and ignoring the Constitution.

[LibertyLover]

33. I live in Maryland too in a county adjourning PG county

and was frightened to read about the raid. But what was even worse was that the chief of the PG police who carried out the raid informed the mayor's mother-in-law that it was her screaming when she saw the police on the house's lawn that precipitated their breaking in. And he is incredibly pissed that the mayor has called in the Feds to investigate whether or not his and his family's civil rights were violated. All I can say is - to damned bad turkey.

[Usrename]

35. Is it fascism yet?

Really, not yet?

[nankerphelge]

36. Police who shot the dogs...

should be jailed. Absolutely unacceptable.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

38. Melvin High, Prince George's police chief, to resign

Its not enough, but here's something. Oh he has a history too.

Melvin High, Prince George's police chief, to resign
July 31, 2008 - 8:44am

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) - Prince George's County Police Chief Melvin C. High is resigning next month.

High announced his decision in an e-mail to staff members Wednesday.

The 63-year-old has been chief of the 1,600-member department for five years. He came to the county from Norfolk and had been an assistant chief in the D.C. police department

High says he'll step down Aug. 31.

___

Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com

http://www.wtop.com/?sid=1451330&nid=25

He should have been FIRED. Not allowed to resign.

[spooky3]

44. You can write to the chief here (also, there is more info from him):

http://www.goprincegeorgescounty.com/Government/PublicSafety/Police/index.asp?nivel=foldmenu(1)

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

40. Prince George’s County Sheriff Michael Jackson. - needs to be fired

The E List: Prince George’s County Sheriff Michael Jackson
August 9th, 2008 by P. Kenneth Burns
Now to the latest addition to our honor roll of people who disrespects the intelligence of the constituency….Prince George’s County Sheriff Michael Jackson.

Jackson is being added for a number of reason, including not apologizing for the flawed drug bust on the home of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo.

In his first interview with The Washington Post since the July sting, Jackson said that he was upset that the Calvos had called for and been granted a civil rights review by the FBI. Jackson said, “We hold everyone to the highest standards. I will not
put up with disrespecting this community and using this badge for more
than what it is. This badge is a ray of hope and a beacon of light.”

As far as the civil rights review, “I’ve been here 19 years, and this agency has been in existence since 1696. The Office of the Sheriff of Prince George’s County has never
been under a civil rights review or no one has ever called for the
Department of Justice to come in. There is no reason, there
has been no reason, and as long as I’m here there will not be a reason
for it.”

You mean to tell me sir that because you are the Sheriff, all is right with the sheriff’s office? You guys made a mistake and are not owning up to it. As far as your other assertion that there is no reason for a federal review, oh I beg to differ.

...more here http://www.marylandpolitics.us/archives/703

[spooky3]

46. here's where you can write to the sheriff (and more info):

http://www.goprincegeorgescounty.com/Government/JudicialBranch/Sheriff/index.asp?nivel=foldmenu(6)

[LiberalEsto]

50. It's about TIME someone looked into their agency

Long past time.

The impression I get is that PG County is run like some kind of Wild West town where the sheriff and police chief think they are the law. I live next doo in Montgomery County and frankly, I'm afraid to drive in PG for fear of the cops.


Link to an interesting post on the PG cops:

http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/04/killer-cops-next-to-dc/

[Seldona]

37. It happened to a white man?

LIKE, OH MY GOD! CALL IN THE CAVALRY.

[savistocate]

41. Resign this demonic creature NOW

next month? aug 3lst? All of them need be charged indicted tried in open court.
Prince George--indeed.

[savistocate]

42. In time parallel with Cheney-vil Bush Rove gang

[spooky3]

48. The chief and sheriff are African-American.

[Redstone]

51. Uh, well, YES. What a horrific story of abuse of power.

Redstone