Now NBA players are doing it, expressing their views on racially motivated issues which have been created by haters. The recent grand jury decisions which have cleared police officers of criminal misconduct in use of force cases which have resulted in deaths has stirred a wave of violent protests across the country. And professional athletes have gotten involved to promote an agenda which supports the protesters'.
The truth of the matter is that the deaths have not been racially motivated and the cries of racism we hear from the haters is a fallacy. While they apparently lack the understanding of the reason police had to use force the haters clearly understand that in our society squeaky wheels get greased. Make enough noise and you will be appeased irregardless if you are right or wrong.
Hard working, honest Americans of all colors are generally not racist. Sure, there are hate groups across the racial spectrum but they only represent a fraction of our population. As a 26 year law enforcement veteran I can tell you that there is no deep seeded racial bias in the law enforcement community, although that is what the haters want Americans to believe.
The problem has nothing to do with race and everything to do with accountability. There is a segment of our population which refuses to accept responsibility for their actions, or inactions, and wants to place blame elsewhere. So they shift the focus away from reality and create a political hot button topic like racism to get what they want.
I've had personal experiences as a cop with such situations. You can do everything by the book but still get lambasted by the haters. And usually it's because they want something for free. It could be a get-out-of -jail-free card, a big pay day at the hand of a lawsuit, more government handouts or an atmosphere which discourages lawful scrutiny of their unlawful conduct.
So why are these haters being listened to and given the time of day? Even Barrack Obama has found time in his busy schedule to address their "concerns". It's all a bunch of garbage but alot of these haters are also voters so they get greased when they squeak. Politics as usual.
I pray that in future elections we vote in people who have the guts to keep it real and talk straight. People who will discard the squeaky wheel instead of greasing it and replace it with one that is sound in it's performance without all the noise. Because that's what all this rhetoric about racism is, just regressive noise.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Hypocrisy NFL Style
The National Football League claims to be all about anti-violent platforms. Just take a look at the way they have admirably come out against crimes like domestic violence and child abuse. Indeed, there is no room in our society for perpetrators of such heinous acts. It is good that the NFL uses their stage to promote what is right and just. Their influence and message can reach millions.
There is just one problem. In the wake of a grand jury decision which exonerated a Ferguson police officer from alleged brutality there has been a wave of violence sweeping certain communities, including St. Louis. One would think that the NFL would be consistent with their anti violent campaign and come out against the violent protesters and try to bring calm to their communities. That didn't happen. In fact, in St. Louis on Sunday, certain Rams players did just the opposite by their inflammatory gestures which certainly added fuel to the flames. And the NFL is standing behind their prima donna athletes' "right to free speech".
Well, NFL, I got news for you. Ya can't have it both ways. Either you promote peace or you don't. Their is a fine line between exercising a constitutional right and inciting violence. When the former causes the latter then it's gone too far. And I really don't need to tell you something you already know. But the question remains as to why you won't condemn such conduct when it obviously will stir further upheaval.
Oh, I think I know why, is it because of the almighty dollar? Bingo. We certainly don't want to alienate the fan base of thugs and looters out there because, of course, they are big supporters of the NFL. I mean, look at their gear. From their hats to their shoes. So let's not promote the right message, lets promote the most lucrative message.
I get it NFL. I'm not blind to what all this is about. If you really mean what you say then you would respect the system and stand behind an exonerated officer who was forced by a thug to use deadly force to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself. But you're thumbing your nose at the outcome because a multitude of your fan base is, and you're going right along with it.
Money, the root of all evil. Now I clearly understand the motivation behind all of your messages. It's not what you may really believe is right, it's about what will have the biggest impact to your wallet. It is disgraceful if I should say so myself.
For the record I want to say that my support is firmly with the men and women who risk their lives everyday and night to protect all of our rights and freedoms. They are who I applaud and cheer for. And I thank God for them. Without them there would be no NFL to entertain us.
There is just one problem. In the wake of a grand jury decision which exonerated a Ferguson police officer from alleged brutality there has been a wave of violence sweeping certain communities, including St. Louis. One would think that the NFL would be consistent with their anti violent campaign and come out against the violent protesters and try to bring calm to their communities. That didn't happen. In fact, in St. Louis on Sunday, certain Rams players did just the opposite by their inflammatory gestures which certainly added fuel to the flames. And the NFL is standing behind their prima donna athletes' "right to free speech".
Well, NFL, I got news for you. Ya can't have it both ways. Either you promote peace or you don't. Their is a fine line between exercising a constitutional right and inciting violence. When the former causes the latter then it's gone too far. And I really don't need to tell you something you already know. But the question remains as to why you won't condemn such conduct when it obviously will stir further upheaval.
Oh, I think I know why, is it because of the almighty dollar? Bingo. We certainly don't want to alienate the fan base of thugs and looters out there because, of course, they are big supporters of the NFL. I mean, look at their gear. From their hats to their shoes. So let's not promote the right message, lets promote the most lucrative message.
I get it NFL. I'm not blind to what all this is about. If you really mean what you say then you would respect the system and stand behind an exonerated officer who was forced by a thug to use deadly force to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself. But you're thumbing your nose at the outcome because a multitude of your fan base is, and you're going right along with it.
Money, the root of all evil. Now I clearly understand the motivation behind all of your messages. It's not what you may really believe is right, it's about what will have the biggest impact to your wallet. It is disgraceful if I should say so myself.
For the record I want to say that my support is firmly with the men and women who risk their lives everyday and night to protect all of our rights and freedoms. They are who I applaud and cheer for. And I thank God for them. Without them there would be no NFL to entertain us.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
It's O.K. to Parley
The military does it. World leaders do it. So why can't law enforcement do it? The fact is that a parley can and often does result in conflict resolution. In some cases it may be the only means by which to foil a deadly plot or bring an end to a cycle of violence.
A parley is not a substitute for bringing justice to those responsible for crimes. But it can be an acute solution to an urgent situation. To give an example I'll address a case that I was involved with in Danville, Il while I was still serving as a police sergeant there. From 2006 through 2008 Danville had experienced a rash of violent crimes, from murder to planned attacks on officers. Most of the crimes were gang related and one gang in particular was responsible for most of the activity. They were known as the Motown Stones, a set of the Black P Stones that is based in the Motown neighborhood of Chicago. They had deployed members to Danville to establish a branch there. They set up a flourishing criminal enterprise which included drug trafficking and all sorts of violent crimes. They flew under the radar for years because of the lack of law enforcement officers who were educated on the organization.
When I began training with Denny Davis I asked to be taught about the Stones first because they were the biggest threat to public safety at that time. Denny brought out a 4 inch binder that was full of Stone literature. I began combing through the material page by page and realized for the first time just how sophisticated the organization was. I explained to Denny my concerns about the violence they were inflicting within our community and the need for an immediate solution to stop it. Area law enforcement personnel were not able to get to the inner circle of the organization and, unless the leadership was disrupted, the gang would continue their wave of violence.
In the early stages of my training I did not yet have a rapport with the Stones. Denny, on the other hand, did and volunteered to participate with me in a parley with some gang chiefs in Chicago. Denny suggested that a parley could result in a halt to the violence and terminate plans the gang had to murder police officers.
Before I go further I want to be very clear about something. In no way, shape or form were we going to cut deals with the devil. We would continue to seek justice for those responsible for crimes already committed. We had gathered intelligence about plans for future crimes and knew that law enforcement could not keep pace. The threats were imminent and something needed to be done immediately to stop it.
So on one of my days off Denny and I set out for Chicago to parley with some particular leaders of the organization. Our mission was to make it very clear to the leadership that if the violence continued in Danville we would hold them responsible. We didn't have to explain to them about the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act). They were well aware of the act and knew what they were facing if we tied them to organized criminal activity. They assured Denny and I that steps would be taken to bring members of the organization under their control within law.
The parley was quite effective. We saw an immediate change in the climate on the streets. In fact, the parley was the beginning of the end for the Danville branch of the treacherous organization. The branch's leadership was called back to Chicago. The criminal activity slowed and gave law enforcement a chance to get caught up on their investigations. The streets were safer and the violence suppressed. The parley was an obvious success.
A few months after the parley Larry Thomason, the director of public safety for Danville, caught wind of it. You see, I hadn't told him about it for several reasons. First, he wouldn't understand it, he wouldn't have approved it, he wouldn't have joined us and he didn't believe we had a gang problem anyway. So what would have been the point in telling him? Anyway, he asked me about it and I told him what we did. He never said anymore to me about it. Kind of weird I thought but par for the course. He had at one time written a memorandum to the officers stating, in part, that the officers should "take care of the small items first (ordinance violations) and hopefully they stifle the larger ones from occurring." I'm not making this up, that's what he wrote. I have the memo.
My point here is two fold. First, parleys should be utilized when necessary but not be employed as a substitute for prosecution. They are an effective tool which law enforcement should use when a particular situation calls for it. It's not a new idea, it has been around for centuries but many may misunderstand the purpose. No deals are being made with the devil, in fact, by keeping it real with your adversary you make them very aware of what is about to occur. By reading my previous posts it will all make sense. And, secondly, administrators should educate themselves about gangs and be supportive of their officers efforts in fulfilling their mission. Don't stifle progress. Be in touch and encourage sound strategies which lead to safer streets. That was a luxury I did not have in Danville. I had to deal with incompetent administrators which wasted much of the energy I could have expended on the streets.
Finally, I want to say that before you parley know your enemy. Learn everything there is to know about them. Don't walk in blind, it could result in tragedy. Be the shot caller. You dictate but do so with respect or you will get nowhere. Is there a risk? Yes there is. But the risk can be managed and reduced if you know what you're doing. I don't want to give the impression that Denny and I just one day decided to go to the south side of Chicago and meet some gang chiefs. There was much preparation involved and others were aware of what was happening. We didn't act haphazardly. Our moves, actions and words were very calculated and, of course, we were properly prepared if things went bad.
It's like I said before, law enforcement officers are expected to take calculated risks to protect the public. Police work is not for the faint hearted. Officers need to be brave, skillful, smart and dedicated. If they don't have these characteristics they should not be in that line of work.
A parley is not a substitute for bringing justice to those responsible for crimes. But it can be an acute solution to an urgent situation. To give an example I'll address a case that I was involved with in Danville, Il while I was still serving as a police sergeant there. From 2006 through 2008 Danville had experienced a rash of violent crimes, from murder to planned attacks on officers. Most of the crimes were gang related and one gang in particular was responsible for most of the activity. They were known as the Motown Stones, a set of the Black P Stones that is based in the Motown neighborhood of Chicago. They had deployed members to Danville to establish a branch there. They set up a flourishing criminal enterprise which included drug trafficking and all sorts of violent crimes. They flew under the radar for years because of the lack of law enforcement officers who were educated on the organization.
When I began training with Denny Davis I asked to be taught about the Stones first because they were the biggest threat to public safety at that time. Denny brought out a 4 inch binder that was full of Stone literature. I began combing through the material page by page and realized for the first time just how sophisticated the organization was. I explained to Denny my concerns about the violence they were inflicting within our community and the need for an immediate solution to stop it. Area law enforcement personnel were not able to get to the inner circle of the organization and, unless the leadership was disrupted, the gang would continue their wave of violence.
In the early stages of my training I did not yet have a rapport with the Stones. Denny, on the other hand, did and volunteered to participate with me in a parley with some gang chiefs in Chicago. Denny suggested that a parley could result in a halt to the violence and terminate plans the gang had to murder police officers.
Before I go further I want to be very clear about something. In no way, shape or form were we going to cut deals with the devil. We would continue to seek justice for those responsible for crimes already committed. We had gathered intelligence about plans for future crimes and knew that law enforcement could not keep pace. The threats were imminent and something needed to be done immediately to stop it.
So on one of my days off Denny and I set out for Chicago to parley with some particular leaders of the organization. Our mission was to make it very clear to the leadership that if the violence continued in Danville we would hold them responsible. We didn't have to explain to them about the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act). They were well aware of the act and knew what they were facing if we tied them to organized criminal activity. They assured Denny and I that steps would be taken to bring members of the organization under their control within law.
The parley was quite effective. We saw an immediate change in the climate on the streets. In fact, the parley was the beginning of the end for the Danville branch of the treacherous organization. The branch's leadership was called back to Chicago. The criminal activity slowed and gave law enforcement a chance to get caught up on their investigations. The streets were safer and the violence suppressed. The parley was an obvious success.
A few months after the parley Larry Thomason, the director of public safety for Danville, caught wind of it. You see, I hadn't told him about it for several reasons. First, he wouldn't understand it, he wouldn't have approved it, he wouldn't have joined us and he didn't believe we had a gang problem anyway. So what would have been the point in telling him? Anyway, he asked me about it and I told him what we did. He never said anymore to me about it. Kind of weird I thought but par for the course. He had at one time written a memorandum to the officers stating, in part, that the officers should "take care of the small items first (ordinance violations) and hopefully they stifle the larger ones from occurring." I'm not making this up, that's what he wrote. I have the memo.
My point here is two fold. First, parleys should be utilized when necessary but not be employed as a substitute for prosecution. They are an effective tool which law enforcement should use when a particular situation calls for it. It's not a new idea, it has been around for centuries but many may misunderstand the purpose. No deals are being made with the devil, in fact, by keeping it real with your adversary you make them very aware of what is about to occur. By reading my previous posts it will all make sense. And, secondly, administrators should educate themselves about gangs and be supportive of their officers efforts in fulfilling their mission. Don't stifle progress. Be in touch and encourage sound strategies which lead to safer streets. That was a luxury I did not have in Danville. I had to deal with incompetent administrators which wasted much of the energy I could have expended on the streets.
Finally, I want to say that before you parley know your enemy. Learn everything there is to know about them. Don't walk in blind, it could result in tragedy. Be the shot caller. You dictate but do so with respect or you will get nowhere. Is there a risk? Yes there is. But the risk can be managed and reduced if you know what you're doing. I don't want to give the impression that Denny and I just one day decided to go to the south side of Chicago and meet some gang chiefs. There was much preparation involved and others were aware of what was happening. We didn't act haphazardly. Our moves, actions and words were very calculated and, of course, we were properly prepared if things went bad.
It's like I said before, law enforcement officers are expected to take calculated risks to protect the public. Police work is not for the faint hearted. Officers need to be brave, skillful, smart and dedicated. If they don't have these characteristics they should not be in that line of work.
Monday, November 24, 2014
When Good Becomes Evil
We're seeing it yet again in a place called Ferguson. A man who swore to uphold the constitution and dedicated his life to the protection of the innocent is being labeled as the bad guy because he was forced to use deadly force during the commission of his duties. The deceased, meanwhile, is being labeled as an innocent "victim" of police brutality which was allegedly perpetrated because of the color of his skin.
It simply amazes me at the way these types of situations get turned upside down, seemingly overnight, before anyone, other than the two men directly involved in the encounter, know what really happened. And it happens because everyone has their own agenda. Of course the press wants to sell news so they are going to jump all over it, the pundits come out of the woodwork because they get a paycheck too, those still playing the race card see it as a way to promote their agenda and the criminal element see it as a free pass to loot and pillage.
Let's boil out all of the impurities until we are left with the facts as we know them. What we have is a white police officer enforcing the law against a black law breaker. The contact escalated into a deadly force situation which left the black man dead. That's about all we really know. But everyone wants to put their own spin on things such that it meets their own self interests.
I hear that the black man was unarmed with a gun. O.K. What's that got to do with it? Since when are police only allowed to use deadly force against armed assailants. The fact is that anyone who is living and breathing can pose a deadly threat if they so choose to, armed or not. Each situation must be judged on its own merits and not on preconceived notions or beliefs.
Both men bled red that night. The color of their skin is irrelevant. Let's let our justice system work and wait until the truth is revealed before we rush to judgement. What's troubling is that there are people on both sides of the issue that have already rendered judgement, and if the grand jury decision goes against what they believe, there will be civil unrest. It's a lose lose situation for those who try to promote justice.
It is prophetic that in the end times good will be viewed as evil and evil accepted as good. That is what is happening today. Everything from gay marriage to organized crime is deemed "good" while truth and justice is seen as "bad". Our forefathers would role over in their graves if they knew what was happening in the country they fought and died for.
So hang on Ferguson, you are about to go through another round of violent protests because irregardless of the grand jury decision it will be deemed as bad. It is shameful and disgraceful that we, the people of the United States of America, sit idly while the principles upon which our great nation was founded upon get ripped to shreds.
It simply amazes me at the way these types of situations get turned upside down, seemingly overnight, before anyone, other than the two men directly involved in the encounter, know what really happened. And it happens because everyone has their own agenda. Of course the press wants to sell news so they are going to jump all over it, the pundits come out of the woodwork because they get a paycheck too, those still playing the race card see it as a way to promote their agenda and the criminal element see it as a free pass to loot and pillage.
Let's boil out all of the impurities until we are left with the facts as we know them. What we have is a white police officer enforcing the law against a black law breaker. The contact escalated into a deadly force situation which left the black man dead. That's about all we really know. But everyone wants to put their own spin on things such that it meets their own self interests.
I hear that the black man was unarmed with a gun. O.K. What's that got to do with it? Since when are police only allowed to use deadly force against armed assailants. The fact is that anyone who is living and breathing can pose a deadly threat if they so choose to, armed or not. Each situation must be judged on its own merits and not on preconceived notions or beliefs.
Both men bled red that night. The color of their skin is irrelevant. Let's let our justice system work and wait until the truth is revealed before we rush to judgement. What's troubling is that there are people on both sides of the issue that have already rendered judgement, and if the grand jury decision goes against what they believe, there will be civil unrest. It's a lose lose situation for those who try to promote justice.
It is prophetic that in the end times good will be viewed as evil and evil accepted as good. That is what is happening today. Everything from gay marriage to organized crime is deemed "good" while truth and justice is seen as "bad". Our forefathers would role over in their graves if they knew what was happening in the country they fought and died for.
So hang on Ferguson, you are about to go through another round of violent protests because irregardless of the grand jury decision it will be deemed as bad. It is shameful and disgraceful that we, the people of the United States of America, sit idly while the principles upon which our great nation was founded upon get ripped to shreds.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Setting the Record Straight
I was recently made aware that rumors are swirling through circles, including the legal profession, in Danville, Il regarding a trip Denny Davis and I made to Chicago to save a girl from dying at the hands of a Conservative Vice Lord in Danville. The record needs to be set straight lest inaccurate and false accounts of what really happened and why be circulated.
In 2008 a juvenile reported to me that she had been raped by an adult gang member in Danville. The gang member is a documented Conservative Vice Lord and was responsible for dealing large quantities of cocaine in Danville. The suspect threatened to kill the girl if she told police what happened. Needless to say she feared for her life but put her trust in the system, expecting the rapist to be brought to justice.
The suspect was arrested, only to be let go hours later under the authority of then-State's Attorney Frank Young. The suspect quickly moved to carry out his threat to kill the juvenile.
Within days I received information from a very reliable source of information that the rape suspect was planning to have the juvenile killed, and possibly her family, by wiring some type of incendiary device to a gas line in their house. The source had surreptitiously acquired possession of the device and wanted to turn it over to me to prevent the tragedy. The source was understandably fearful that if the gang found out of his cooperation with police he, himself, would be killed. There obviously was a sense of urgency surrounding the recovery of the device and the protection of the source, the rape victim, and possibly other innocent civilians.
There was just one catch with this entire scenario. The source had recovered the device from the would-be assassin in Chicago. He needed me to come there to retrieve the device. And it needed to be retrieved that day. It just so happened that when I received the call from the source of information I was at Denny Davis' residence doing some gang training. Denny heard me speaking with the source on the telephone and offered to go with me to Chicago if that's what we needed to do. Denny has extensive training with explosives and he also has contacts with the Chicago Police Department Gang Crimes Unit.
I had a decision to make. Just weeks earlier I was issued an order exclusive to me that I could not work with an outside agency without giving the heads of my department a 48 hour advance notice. The reason for this was quite clear. At that time I was working with the FBI on an investigation targeting a prosecutor with the Vermilion County State's Attorney's office. The prosecutor was allegedly committing drug related offenses and I had much information to support the allegations. The heads of my department were cozy with this prosecutor and State's Attorney Frank Young. They were not supportive of what I was doing and tried to handcuff me by issuing me this order.
The decision I had to make was a rather easy one. If I waited 48 hours to work with the Chicago Police Department people would likely be murdered. If I acted immediately I would most likely be able to save lives. It was a no brainer. Oh, I knew I would be in violation of the department's order but when faced with saving lives or following an order I would choose the former without a second thought.
I accepted Denny's offer to go with me. He personally knows some Chicago P.D. personnel and his training with explosives could prove beneficial. We're not talking about the average citizen when we speak of Denny Davis. He worked with the Illinois Department of Corrections for 30 years. He attained the rank of major and was their go-to gang man. He knows his business and he knows it well. His training and experience would prove to be life saving on this trip.
Denny and I drove to Chicago and, while enroute, made several attempts to get in touch with the people Denny knows. As we neared the city we had yet to make contact but I received a call from my source who was frantic. He was scared for his life and said if we could not meet him within 10 minutes he was going to get rid of the device. I dictated the meeting place which was a secure location just off of the expressway on the south side of Chicago. The source was to be alone. As we approached the location we observed the source complying with the directives given. We made contact and he displayed a device Denny immediately recognized to be a 3 inch titanium salute. The device was not dangerous as it was but could be if used improperly. We took the device from the source and departed the area.
We started back for Danville with the device while continuing our attempts to get ahold of the proper authorities. We subsequently made contact with the Chicago Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. We also contacted then-Assistant State's Attorney of Vermilion County, Randy Brinegar. Everyone we spoke with from these agencies commended our actions
We weren't done though. The person who was to use the device to murder the juvenile in Danville was still at large. We obtained information on where this hitman was hiding and informed the ATF. They, along with the Chicago Police Department, arrested him. He was immediately sent back to prison as the Illinois Department of Corrections wanted him also for parole violations.
The following day I informed my boss, a deputy director of police, of my actions and what was retrieved. He told me to call the bomb squad then he went home for the day. I called the University of Illinois Bomb Squad and informed them of what I had. They instructed me to drive it to a predetermined location to turn it over to them. The bomb squad member I met with took the device, threw it in the trunk of his car and drove off. He said that his team would destroy it.
The director of public safety for the City of Danville, Larry Thomason, took issue with what Denny and I did. He ordered me suspended without pay. Long story short, I filed a grievance in response to the punishment he handed out and I never served any suspension time.
So there you have it. These are the cold hard facts and I have documentation and physical evidence to support everything I have written. Of course the "what ifer's" came out of the woodwork after the ordeal and my only response to them is this, what if we had not acted. Lives would have been lost. Period. I upheld my oath and I am very grateful to Denny Davis for helping me. Law enforcement officers are expected to take calculated risks to protect the public. Had I not acted I would have been derelict. So for those of you who want to judge me, until you have walked a mile in my shoes, don't.
In 2008 a juvenile reported to me that she had been raped by an adult gang member in Danville. The gang member is a documented Conservative Vice Lord and was responsible for dealing large quantities of cocaine in Danville. The suspect threatened to kill the girl if she told police what happened. Needless to say she feared for her life but put her trust in the system, expecting the rapist to be brought to justice.
The suspect was arrested, only to be let go hours later under the authority of then-State's Attorney Frank Young. The suspect quickly moved to carry out his threat to kill the juvenile.
Within days I received information from a very reliable source of information that the rape suspect was planning to have the juvenile killed, and possibly her family, by wiring some type of incendiary device to a gas line in their house. The source had surreptitiously acquired possession of the device and wanted to turn it over to me to prevent the tragedy. The source was understandably fearful that if the gang found out of his cooperation with police he, himself, would be killed. There obviously was a sense of urgency surrounding the recovery of the device and the protection of the source, the rape victim, and possibly other innocent civilians.
There was just one catch with this entire scenario. The source had recovered the device from the would-be assassin in Chicago. He needed me to come there to retrieve the device. And it needed to be retrieved that day. It just so happened that when I received the call from the source of information I was at Denny Davis' residence doing some gang training. Denny heard me speaking with the source on the telephone and offered to go with me to Chicago if that's what we needed to do. Denny has extensive training with explosives and he also has contacts with the Chicago Police Department Gang Crimes Unit.
I had a decision to make. Just weeks earlier I was issued an order exclusive to me that I could not work with an outside agency without giving the heads of my department a 48 hour advance notice. The reason for this was quite clear. At that time I was working with the FBI on an investigation targeting a prosecutor with the Vermilion County State's Attorney's office. The prosecutor was allegedly committing drug related offenses and I had much information to support the allegations. The heads of my department were cozy with this prosecutor and State's Attorney Frank Young. They were not supportive of what I was doing and tried to handcuff me by issuing me this order.
The decision I had to make was a rather easy one. If I waited 48 hours to work with the Chicago Police Department people would likely be murdered. If I acted immediately I would most likely be able to save lives. It was a no brainer. Oh, I knew I would be in violation of the department's order but when faced with saving lives or following an order I would choose the former without a second thought.
I accepted Denny's offer to go with me. He personally knows some Chicago P.D. personnel and his training with explosives could prove beneficial. We're not talking about the average citizen when we speak of Denny Davis. He worked with the Illinois Department of Corrections for 30 years. He attained the rank of major and was their go-to gang man. He knows his business and he knows it well. His training and experience would prove to be life saving on this trip.
Denny and I drove to Chicago and, while enroute, made several attempts to get in touch with the people Denny knows. As we neared the city we had yet to make contact but I received a call from my source who was frantic. He was scared for his life and said if we could not meet him within 10 minutes he was going to get rid of the device. I dictated the meeting place which was a secure location just off of the expressway on the south side of Chicago. The source was to be alone. As we approached the location we observed the source complying with the directives given. We made contact and he displayed a device Denny immediately recognized to be a 3 inch titanium salute. The device was not dangerous as it was but could be if used improperly. We took the device from the source and departed the area.
We started back for Danville with the device while continuing our attempts to get ahold of the proper authorities. We subsequently made contact with the Chicago Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. We also contacted then-Assistant State's Attorney of Vermilion County, Randy Brinegar. Everyone we spoke with from these agencies commended our actions
We weren't done though. The person who was to use the device to murder the juvenile in Danville was still at large. We obtained information on where this hitman was hiding and informed the ATF. They, along with the Chicago Police Department, arrested him. He was immediately sent back to prison as the Illinois Department of Corrections wanted him also for parole violations.
The following day I informed my boss, a deputy director of police, of my actions and what was retrieved. He told me to call the bomb squad then he went home for the day. I called the University of Illinois Bomb Squad and informed them of what I had. They instructed me to drive it to a predetermined location to turn it over to them. The bomb squad member I met with took the device, threw it in the trunk of his car and drove off. He said that his team would destroy it.
The director of public safety for the City of Danville, Larry Thomason, took issue with what Denny and I did. He ordered me suspended without pay. Long story short, I filed a grievance in response to the punishment he handed out and I never served any suspension time.
So there you have it. These are the cold hard facts and I have documentation and physical evidence to support everything I have written. Of course the "what ifer's" came out of the woodwork after the ordeal and my only response to them is this, what if we had not acted. Lives would have been lost. Period. I upheld my oath and I am very grateful to Denny Davis for helping me. Law enforcement officers are expected to take calculated risks to protect the public. Had I not acted I would have been derelict. So for those of you who want to judge me, until you have walked a mile in my shoes, don't.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Integrity Matters
These days integrity often seems to be missing in action. We want to apply it to our leaders yet when we keep it real we must admit that many don't have it. We wish they did, we desire that they did. The truth of the matter is that this trait, which is essential to the problem solver, is often absent. Herein lies a problem.
In order to confront and degrade criminal organizations we must have men and women who are unconditionally forthright and honest, people of character who will not compromise their principles and values under any and all circumstances. We must have people whose moral fiber is woven into their hearts. Because it takes heart to confront a vicious adversary like criminal street gangs.
I discovered through my experiences at Danville P.D. that taking on gangs sometimes requires one to be able to do battle on two fronts. Very simply put I had the streets to contend with and I had the "administration" to contend with. The latter was the more challenging and tougher to deal with. Working the streets came natural to me. I felt a sense of comfort being out their because I knew my job and how to do it. Dealing with incompetent and dishonest administrators is what confounded me.
Quite frankly I was perplexed at how certain members of the police department administration obtained and retained their positions. I was, and still am, troubled by some of the elected and appointed officials in the criminal justice system who hold office. Many aren't real and many lack integrity. So how can they do the public justice? They can't.
I tried like hell to overcome these obstacles and I did the best I could. I continued the mission I set out to accomplish which was to protect and serve. I was met with much resistance on the inside but my integrity carried me through it.
My message here is that to those who are being derailed by the same types of problems don't get discouraged. Eventually the truth will surface and if you stay true to yourselves and to your principles you will be triumphant in the end. Integrity always wins the race.
I want to say that not all justice systems are as lame as that in Vermilion County Illinois. In fact, I'm confident a vast majority are not. I've worked with and for agencies who epitomize integrity. And I am extremely proud to have served with them. But there are agencies out there who don't make the grade and it's up to you, the citizens of those communities, to turn things around.
Don't shy away from getting involved. Demand answers and don't stop until you get the truth. Fire those who are not serving the interests of the public. Defeating public enemy number 1, criminal street gangs, takes the best and we need to put the best in the positions that can get the job done.
There are many fine men and women out there who have integrity. Find them and hire them. Then let them do their job. Because when it comes to serving the public, anyone who doesn't have it will serve nothing but themselves.
In order to confront and degrade criminal organizations we must have men and women who are unconditionally forthright and honest, people of character who will not compromise their principles and values under any and all circumstances. We must have people whose moral fiber is woven into their hearts. Because it takes heart to confront a vicious adversary like criminal street gangs.
I discovered through my experiences at Danville P.D. that taking on gangs sometimes requires one to be able to do battle on two fronts. Very simply put I had the streets to contend with and I had the "administration" to contend with. The latter was the more challenging and tougher to deal with. Working the streets came natural to me. I felt a sense of comfort being out their because I knew my job and how to do it. Dealing with incompetent and dishonest administrators is what confounded me.
Quite frankly I was perplexed at how certain members of the police department administration obtained and retained their positions. I was, and still am, troubled by some of the elected and appointed officials in the criminal justice system who hold office. Many aren't real and many lack integrity. So how can they do the public justice? They can't.
I tried like hell to overcome these obstacles and I did the best I could. I continued the mission I set out to accomplish which was to protect and serve. I was met with much resistance on the inside but my integrity carried me through it.
My message here is that to those who are being derailed by the same types of problems don't get discouraged. Eventually the truth will surface and if you stay true to yourselves and to your principles you will be triumphant in the end. Integrity always wins the race.
I want to say that not all justice systems are as lame as that in Vermilion County Illinois. In fact, I'm confident a vast majority are not. I've worked with and for agencies who epitomize integrity. And I am extremely proud to have served with them. But there are agencies out there who don't make the grade and it's up to you, the citizens of those communities, to turn things around.
Don't shy away from getting involved. Demand answers and don't stop until you get the truth. Fire those who are not serving the interests of the public. Defeating public enemy number 1, criminal street gangs, takes the best and we need to put the best in the positions that can get the job done.
There are many fine men and women out there who have integrity. Find them and hire them. Then let them do their job. Because when it comes to serving the public, anyone who doesn't have it will serve nothing but themselves.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Justice Gone Awry
Murder after murder after murder is going unsolved in Vermilion County Illinois and it's not because the assailants have committed the perfect crime. In fact, in most cases the police have arrested the person who they believed was responsible for taking the life of another. And the Vermilion County State's Attorney, Randy Brinegar, has charged them. But mysteriously when the case comes up for trial the state sets their suspects free and the cases hang in limbo. This is problematic for several obvious reasons and I'd like to know what the hell is going on there.
Are the authorities setting murderers free or are they locking up innocent people while the real killer is still on the streets to kill again? The citizens of the county would be outraged if they knew this was happening. And I can't imagine what the families of the victims are feeling. So where is the press? This is a big deal. Why isn't this stuff getting some media attention? The fact is that there are no media outlets in the county or the surrounding area with the guts to hold those officials responsible accountable. It's just a big network of bedfellows coddling each other while the truth remains at large.
We are left to guess at what the truth is since we are not being informed. There is absolutely no transparency with the justice system in Vermilion County, from the law enforcement end to the prosecution. Of course we read the headlines when an arrest is made but when the state fumbles the ball we hear little if anything. I said back in 2008 that I had no confidence in the Danville Police Department administration, the State's Attorney and the Danville mayor. I will echo those words today. How could any of us have confidence in the supposed leaders of justice systems that allow such injustices. And these guys are supposed to be above reproach? What a joke. They don't keep it real and they wallow in their lies. And, yes, they get away with it time and time again.
I'm sure there are other places in our nation that deal with the same thing. But I can speak on Vermilion County because I know it. I worked in that system for over 20 years and saw the dark side of the politics in that county. It's not what you know it's who you know. There is no justice. If you got money, status, know the right person or kiss the right butt you're good. If you don't you're screwed. This goes for everyone involved in the system, from the beat cop to the defendant. If you are of no value to the "elites" for one reason or another you get the shaft. To the beat cop that may mean a career buried in patrol on night shift, to the defendant a jail term not proportionate to the crime. The truth is that most of the powers that be care of nothing but themselves.
I suppose it will take a public outcry to change things. But when the people don't know it's going on there is no need for them to cry out. It's one big vicious cycle. It takes more than a handful of voices to turn it around, it takes a chorus and, Vermilion County, it's time you joined the choir.
Are the authorities setting murderers free or are they locking up innocent people while the real killer is still on the streets to kill again? The citizens of the county would be outraged if they knew this was happening. And I can't imagine what the families of the victims are feeling. So where is the press? This is a big deal. Why isn't this stuff getting some media attention? The fact is that there are no media outlets in the county or the surrounding area with the guts to hold those officials responsible accountable. It's just a big network of bedfellows coddling each other while the truth remains at large.
We are left to guess at what the truth is since we are not being informed. There is absolutely no transparency with the justice system in Vermilion County, from the law enforcement end to the prosecution. Of course we read the headlines when an arrest is made but when the state fumbles the ball we hear little if anything. I said back in 2008 that I had no confidence in the Danville Police Department administration, the State's Attorney and the Danville mayor. I will echo those words today. How could any of us have confidence in the supposed leaders of justice systems that allow such injustices. And these guys are supposed to be above reproach? What a joke. They don't keep it real and they wallow in their lies. And, yes, they get away with it time and time again.
I'm sure there are other places in our nation that deal with the same thing. But I can speak on Vermilion County because I know it. I worked in that system for over 20 years and saw the dark side of the politics in that county. It's not what you know it's who you know. There is no justice. If you got money, status, know the right person or kiss the right butt you're good. If you don't you're screwed. This goes for everyone involved in the system, from the beat cop to the defendant. If you are of no value to the "elites" for one reason or another you get the shaft. To the beat cop that may mean a career buried in patrol on night shift, to the defendant a jail term not proportionate to the crime. The truth is that most of the powers that be care of nothing but themselves.
I suppose it will take a public outcry to change things. But when the people don't know it's going on there is no need for them to cry out. It's one big vicious cycle. It takes more than a handful of voices to turn it around, it takes a chorus and, Vermilion County, it's time you joined the choir.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Political Correctness Buries Truth
It seems as though in our "sophisticated" society everyone is so concerned about being politically correct that we lose sight of the facts. The facts which, when exposed, bare the truth of the matter. The truth often hurts and many are so consumed with going out of their way to keep from offending someone that nothing gets done. Because when we don't keep it real when we address a problem the problem will never get solved.
Let's face it, how many politicians, department administrators or others in "positions of power and authority" blow smoke by telling the general population that everything is fine and they have control of the situation. They mislead people into a false sense of security. As long as the people think their world within their little bubble is safe and prosperous nothing else really matters. And the same lying politicians and the like retain their positions while problems rage and the unwitting march blindly into the trap.
Case in point: After an arrest sweep of dozens of street level drug dealers in Danville, Il our police department held a press conference touting their success. I was a supervisor of the investigative operation which led to the arrests. I was mandated by my deputy director to attend the press conference. I was directed by the boss to give an interview to a reporter. I went on the record and said that we were cracking down on gang activity. The deputy director was watching me being interviewed and after my comment he was repulsed. He pulled me aside after the interview and admonished me for mentioning "gang activity". He said we don't want the public to think we have gangs, it would project a negative image of our fair city.
So let's hide the truth, pretend the problem is not out their, ignore it and maybe it will go away? Not. Until we openly and transparently identify the problem we will never come up with solutions to solve it. What a monumental disservice our "leaders" are doing to us and our futures by handing the problem on to our children. This is irresponsible and just plain wrong.
Once again, and after having much training and experience under my belt since that admonishment, I will go on the record and say that gangs are a problem in our community and many others like it. So now what? I said it. People will gasp in disbelief and accuse me of being crazy. Don't laugh. That's what my department did to me. When my partners and I started cracking down on the gangs after being trained by Denny Davis they accused me of "chasing ghosts" despite the mounds of cases we made and intelligence we gathered. They warned us to stop associating with Denny and advised our continuation to do so would be a "bad career decision". So my partners heeded their warning but not me. I live on truth and won't be bullied. So they tried to fire me by accusing me of being nuts. Oh, I know that's not the politically correct language but I don't give a damn about being politically correct. I care about being forthright and honest.
Across the nation we see protests and civil unrest, looting and marauding. The perpetrators, of course, blame the cops. I get it, shift the blame away from their own errant ways. So the authorities set out to create a case which will appease the masses while those who are in the right get crucified. Is this how we, the people of the greatest nation in the world, solve problems? It's a disgrace.
No mention of gang affiliation or activity, not even a breath of it. For how dare we make such a baseless accusation, right? Wrong. The truth is that much of the underlying actions by the so called victim which results in police use of force is gang related activity, committed by gang members. But we don't want to sully the phony baloney reputation of the "innocent youth" so we divert the focus away from reality.
Wake up America, if we are going to solve the gang problems infesting our nation from border to border we need to stop the nonsense and get real. If we don't the curtain may fall on what once was the greatest nation in the world.
No mention of gang affiliation or activity, not even a breath of it. For how dare we make such a baseless accusation, right? Wrong. The truth is that much of the underlying actions by the so called victim which results in police use of force is gang related activity, committed by gang members. But we don't want to sully the phony baloney reputation of the "innocent youth" so we divert the focus away from reality.
Wake up America, if we are going to solve the gang problems infesting our nation from border to border we need to stop the nonsense and get real. If we don't the curtain may fall on what once was the greatest nation in the world.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
The Importance of Intelligence
A first step to combating a gang problem is developing a solid and accurate intelligence system. In order to take down the leadership we must first know and be able to prove who the leaders are and their rank within the organization.
To gather intel you obviously have to get people to talk with you. In gang infested neighborhoods this can be a challenge but one that can be overcome. Simply put you have to have boots on the ground and have officers mingling with the residents on a daily basis. Winning over hearts and minds doesn't happen overnight. There is often a gap that needs to be bridged between the police and the community. This gap is generally created due to a distrust of the police by the community. A failure to understand each other usually leads to the distrust. We cannot build trust when we don't get out of our police cruisers.
When speaking with citizens we must always be honest and respectful. Our word has to be our bond. This is the only way to gain respect. If you're word's no good you're no good. In the culture where gangs often flourish this is the language the citizenry knows and understands. Once you have earned that respect by being a man or woman of your word you will get respect in return. Remember, it's not the uniform that the people respect, it's the person in that uniform. The "big me little you" attitude has to go. We have to be on a level plain otherwise we will get nowhere.
Along with earning respect show the people you care by acts of kindness and concern. Demonstrate that you can be confided in and counted on by helping solve problems. It may not be a crime related problem, it may be a quality of life issue. Work with the residents and the agencies who deal with such issues and get these problems solved. It could be a pothole in the street, a clogged storm sewer, an unruly child. Whatever it is when you show that you will get these types of issues resolved the people will see that you genuinely care about them. Rapport will begin building and they will open up to you about more serious concerns.
People will begin spoon feeding you information about criminal activity. You will usually not get the whole enchilada in one serving. It is understandable that people fear retaliation if it becomes known that they are giving you such information. Once you demonstrate that you can be confided in and trusted with sensitive information be prepared. The flood gates will open and information will begin streaming in.
You must be willing to protect your sources at all costs. Even under threats of disciplinary action if you refuse to divulge your sources identities. For example, I received information from more than one source about a threat on the life of an officer who had a tense encounter with a gang member while off duty. I documented the information and issued an officer safety alert. I was called in to the director of public safety's office in the middle of the night to meet with him and his two deputy directors. He told me he wanted to know who my sources were. I told him I could not give up that information. I had given my sources my word that they would not be disclosed and I would not breach that. He threatened to order me to give the information and I told him I would not go back on my word therefore even if he did order me I would refuse to provide him with the sources identities. I stood my ground and the director backed down.
The neat thing about developing rapport with the community is that they will give you information freely and willingly. You don't have to buy it or threaten sanctions against them if they don't provide it. Information gained through the latter means is often inaccurate and unreliable anyway. So the former is by far the better.
The gangs become uneasy when you develop rapport with the community. But to the gang member looking for a way out of the organization you become a ray of hope. When an opportunity presents itself seize it and pick the brain of these members. This is when you really have to know you're stuff. If you have studied and memorized the gang's history and literature you and the member will be able to develop a rapport. Once that rapport has been established the member will more than likely tell you anything you want to know. They will also surrender all sorts of weapons and contraband and disclose plans for future crimes. It is simply amazing at what you can accomplish just by having a good rapport. And it won't cost you a dime.
Documenting accurate intel requires the analyst to be highly trained in the various gangs that inhabit their community. I have seen numerous cases where an officer who lacked the required gang training was given faulty intel and documented it as fact. This creates many problems for obvious reasons. Training cannot be overstated when it comes to an effective anti gang initiative. A good motto is trust but verify. Always verify the information before documenting it as fact. For example, if a guy tells you he's a Black P Stone and he's got a Mickey Cobra tattoo you know he is not being truthful. If you don't know the signs, symbols, colors, handshakes, gang laws, etc. you're in trouble. Verify what you're being told by indicators and other intelligence.
Once you have you're intelligence system up and running you can go to work on the leadership. You'll be able to connect the dots and make cases which will withstand the test in a criminal trial. Without an intel system you're spinning you're wheels.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Getting Serious
Until administrators and elected officials get serious about combating gangs and the crime associated with them little will change in the way of seeing a difference in the crime rate. Based on my experiences the biggest challenge is getting these officials to even admit that there is a problem. When the leadership denies it exists how do the troops under their command effectively engage in problem solving? They can't. I dealt with this problem at Danville P.D. The director of public safety, Larry Thomason, told me when I requested additional gang training for our department that he didn't believe our city had a gang problem. He told me that if I thought we had a problem then I needed to prove it to him. I responded by telling him that if 6 unsolved gang related homicides and an unsolved gang related solicitation of murder for hire on two police officers, all in less than a year, wasn't enough proof for him then nothing I said or did could prove it.
It is the old head-in-the-sand mentality. Pretend the problem, the threat is not out there and maybe it will go away. This obviously is not the answer and it baffles me that the leader of the Danville police department embraces this attitude. It is no wonder that Danville's crime rate soars. I was not comfortable with Thomason's take on our gang problem so I went to the mayor, Scott Eisenhauer. Denny Davis joined me. We made our case and Denny offered the mayor free gang training for the entire Danville police department. Eisenhauer did not accept Denny's offer and supported Thomason's position. So I thought I would take it a step further and wrote to each member of Danville's city council, 14 aldermen in all. I got 1 response.
The point is that the leaders of the community have to take the lead on developing effective and serious strategies at dealing with the gang problems. They need to turn to experts who have the knowledge and skills to formulate a plan then put it into play. They need to put aside their foolish pride and accept the fact that they are walking in darkness when it comes to dealing with criminal street gangs. They need to get the training and allow their officers to get the training that will enable them to degrade these gangs.
Danville's State's Attorney, while he was running for his first term, stated that he was assaulted by 3 gang members who threatened to bring harm to his family if he didn't stop all of this talk about gang crime prosecution. His response should have been a vigorous effort to combat gang crime. Instead he has done little that I'm aware of.
We, the voters, put these people in office to do a job. If they are not going to do it then we need to fire them and put someone in that will. And throwing money at the problem isn't the answer so I don't want to hear that funding is not available. In my letter to the aldermen I told them how to develop an effective strategy without spending a dime and they were not interested. So my question is, what is the real reason they refuse to confront the issue?
It is a historical fact that flourishing criminal organizations have been able to infiltrate systems and corrupt them. I happen to know some very specific information about some powerful individuals in our community who have succumbed to the pressure and influence of criminal organizations. Reasons vary from having their own personal drug addiction to soliciting prostitutes to accepting blood money. But whatever the case it is all corruption and we have to root it out.
Things get messy when you take on corruption but good people will fight the good fight. I know you're out there. Remember, all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing. Let's all get serious and do our part to make our communities safer, if not for ourselves then for our children.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Overcoming Fear
Gangs rule by fear and intimidation. The irony is that they hide under a cloak of secrecy and prey on the weak and vulnerable. If you have ever been in a place infested by cockroaches what happens when the light goes on? The roaches scatter for cover and disappear into the cracks and crevices to hide and protect themselves. This holds true with gangs, when the cloak is lifted and the truth exposed they scatter. This is why education on gangs is so important. When you learn about them and find out what makes them tick you make them uncomfortable and they simply will not operate outside of their comfort zone.
As an example of what I'm talking about I'll address a case in Danville, Il. Prior to 2007 I had just very elementary and basic knowledge about street gangs. I knew they existed and was aware of some of the ways they identified. What I didn't know is just how sophisticated they were and the strict organizational structure they followed. I adhered to the philosophy set by my department which focused on individual criminal offenders and not a broader criminal element. As such "foot soldiers" were arrested repeatedly but the leadership within the organizations went on unchecked.
In 2007 when I began getting trained by Denny Davis my eyes were opened to a whole new world. He taught me about the inner workings of the gangs and how to infiltrate to get at the leadership. When I began applying this training and knowledge to the streets we started seeing a big difference. The gangs became uneasy and were no longer a beat ahead of us. We were a beat ahead of them and they knew it. They went so far as to put hits out on two of our officers. We foiled this murder-for-hire plot which reeled the leadership. The Danville branch of the Motown Stones was called back to Chicago by their boss'. They had been operating unscathed in Danville since 2000 and controlling the drug flow. With my new found knowledge we were able to rid our community of this infection.
(Before I go any further I should explain that our efforts to bring a murder for hire case against the leadership of the gang were obstructed by the hierarchy of my own department and our State's Attorney. When I sought help from outside agencies I was placed under an internal investigation. I was literally stopped in my tracks by the very department which employed me. I would soon discover that a prosecutor working for our State's Attorney was under the control and influence of the Black P Stones. This prosecutor was highly thought of by high ranking members of my department and they set out on a campaign to silence me. The State's Attorney also worked to protect his prosecutor and prevent us from furthering our investigation. More on this in a future post.)
Knowledge is power and it will allow one to overcome their fear of the unknown. When good people obtain this knowledge they can use it to identify organizations operating in their neighborhoods and inform the authorities. When the authorities gain this knowledge they can work to infiltrate the gangs and break them down from the inside out. Making this strategy work takes several ingredients. It takes a strong partnership with the police and the community, it takes people willing to get involved with taking back their neighborhoods, it takes a police force with the will to take on the gangs and it takes heart by officers who should be dedicated at doing this.
By knowing and understanding gangs it removes their mystique and exposes them for what they really are. Gangs are groups of individuals joined through a common criminal enterprise and unified under an organizational structure. Without leadership the gang will disintegrate. There need not be a paralyzing fear of them. There does need to be people who commit and dedicate themselves to dismantling the gangs through proven strategies, strategies that involve using the power of the mind through education and training. When we know them better than they know themselves it is like the light going on in a dark room full of cockroaches, they will run and scatter.
As an example of what I'm talking about I'll address a case in Danville, Il. Prior to 2007 I had just very elementary and basic knowledge about street gangs. I knew they existed and was aware of some of the ways they identified. What I didn't know is just how sophisticated they were and the strict organizational structure they followed. I adhered to the philosophy set by my department which focused on individual criminal offenders and not a broader criminal element. As such "foot soldiers" were arrested repeatedly but the leadership within the organizations went on unchecked.
In 2007 when I began getting trained by Denny Davis my eyes were opened to a whole new world. He taught me about the inner workings of the gangs and how to infiltrate to get at the leadership. When I began applying this training and knowledge to the streets we started seeing a big difference. The gangs became uneasy and were no longer a beat ahead of us. We were a beat ahead of them and they knew it. They went so far as to put hits out on two of our officers. We foiled this murder-for-hire plot which reeled the leadership. The Danville branch of the Motown Stones was called back to Chicago by their boss'. They had been operating unscathed in Danville since 2000 and controlling the drug flow. With my new found knowledge we were able to rid our community of this infection.
(Before I go any further I should explain that our efforts to bring a murder for hire case against the leadership of the gang were obstructed by the hierarchy of my own department and our State's Attorney. When I sought help from outside agencies I was placed under an internal investigation. I was literally stopped in my tracks by the very department which employed me. I would soon discover that a prosecutor working for our State's Attorney was under the control and influence of the Black P Stones. This prosecutor was highly thought of by high ranking members of my department and they set out on a campaign to silence me. The State's Attorney also worked to protect his prosecutor and prevent us from furthering our investigation. More on this in a future post.)
Knowledge is power and it will allow one to overcome their fear of the unknown. When good people obtain this knowledge they can use it to identify organizations operating in their neighborhoods and inform the authorities. When the authorities gain this knowledge they can work to infiltrate the gangs and break them down from the inside out. Making this strategy work takes several ingredients. It takes a strong partnership with the police and the community, it takes people willing to get involved with taking back their neighborhoods, it takes a police force with the will to take on the gangs and it takes heart by officers who should be dedicated at doing this.
By knowing and understanding gangs it removes their mystique and exposes them for what they really are. Gangs are groups of individuals joined through a common criminal enterprise and unified under an organizational structure. Without leadership the gang will disintegrate. There need not be a paralyzing fear of them. There does need to be people who commit and dedicate themselves to dismantling the gangs through proven strategies, strategies that involve using the power of the mind through education and training. When we know them better than they know themselves it is like the light going on in a dark room full of cockroaches, they will run and scatter.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Keeping it Real
When one mentions "organized crime" what do you think of? Often we think of the traditional "mob" and the days of yesteryear. Visions of old gangster movies may come to mind and the romantics portrayed by such.
But let's keep it real, organized crime is alive and well in America today. Some may be surprised that these organizations are the criminal street gangs and, yes, they are controlling the flow in the criminal arena. From drugs to murder, prostitution to gambling and intimidation to extortion. These gangs are far more sophisticated than they are often given credit for and they find a way to stay a beat ahead of law enforcement.
There are dozens and dozens of gangs operating across America today yet how often do we really here of the negative impact they have on our communities? We typically think of gangs as a big city problem but the reality is they have saturated our suburban and rural communities. It's time for public officials to admit this and stop putting on like each criminal incident is an "isolated incident". Until we admit we have a problem how on earth could we ever solve it?
I know this because I lived it. I worked the beat as a law enforcement officer for over 26 years. The highest rank I attained was sergeant, therefore, I was in the trenches day in and day out. I saw first hand how the higher ranking members shrugged off our requests for a step up in gang crime enforcement and even went so far as to deny we had gang problems. I saw how drug trafficking and violent crime was the handiwork of street gangs yet no one at the top would admit it. For how dare they admit to such a problem in our fair city.
Fear will cripple and paralyze like nothing else. And that is what is happening ladies and gentlemen. Fear of the unknown, fear of the wolf, fear of being exposed. Why is it that gangs, who are public enemy number 1, get little attention from administrations, the press, the public? It is because we don't know them.
I decided in 2007 to get to know them so I got trained by the best gang man I've ever met or even heard of. His name is Denny Davis and he is second to none. The knowledge I gained led to phenomenal results on the street. The veil was lifted and the dirt exposed. So were those dirty little secrets of some of the so called "elite" members of our community. Then it all started to make sense.
This is my first post but it won't be the last. If you are interested in learning about gangs and how to degrade them stay tuned in for future posts. Denny and I will each write on this blog and be it known that we won't sugar coat, we keep it real.
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