For months now I’ve been suggesting that the government has bluffed some big named defendants and their lawyers in the Pellicano wiretapping cases. As a result of the federal puffery some of Pellicano’s indicted clients have fallen on their swords accepting felony convictions and “reduced” sentences by pleading guilty to wiretapping related crimes. Guilty pleas are usually a defendant’s last resort to avoid standing trial. You’d think after such high profile cases like Martha Stewart’s that people would be smart enough not to answer questions from the FBI when our Constitution protects us from having to do that. One small lie to an FBI agent can net you a prison term. That begs the simple question, why should anyone ever say anything at all to the FBI? The natural urge to talk one’s self out of trouble rarely helps. Savvy defense lawyers can usually tell when the government can’t deliver all they’ve threatened with when the discovery material is only slowly provided and proves both red...

Okay, you’re one of my NYPD or a friend from a department forced to carry only a pissy little Glock 9MM instead of a real gun to insure your safety on the job. I’m an advocate for .12 ga or .45 ACP as being minimally adequate for the job. There’s hope for you in the way of a modification! Yes, I support this 9MM Glock!

Okay we’ve heard all of the federal law enforcement bureaucrats tell us this morning how we’ve all been saved by their great work with a tawdry group of non-Arab boys living in Liberty City, FL. Our government is in sore need of any and all justification for their wiretapping and questionable privacy invasions of Americans and this beats having nothing to show for their efforts. Admittedly there was no actual connection to any real know terrorist group. This looks like an informant created plot that snared a bunch of really dumb kids. I’m sure this terror group was led to believe they get lots of money and an exciting Walter Mitty life of adventure. Could they be dangerous? Anyone can be dangerous. I’m sorry, this has been going on at least since April and not one gun, bomb, or can of gasoline was recovered or alleged to be stored for later use. The question that screams for an answer here is, “Where’s the beef?” I suspect we’re going to learn that the “terrorists” here were hoping to ...

Wealthy Reno pawnshop owner, Darren Mack is accused of murdering his wife and presumed by authorities as being the sniper who shot Reno Judge Chuck Weller. Mack has left Reno and is presumed to be on the run. Mack’s choice is clear since Nevada has the death penalty. Today’s latest flash is that Mack is trying to negotiate his surrender in Mexico. The Mexican government frowns on the idea of returning fugitives facing the death penalty. That leaves Mack with a huge advantage since they can’t kill him. As for proving a case of murder or attempted murder against Mack the government has a long way to go without eyewitnesses or strong forensic evidence. If Mack is smart enough to stay out of the police interrogation rooms he may get his life back. This would be a great case for any criminal defense lawyers and private eyes to work on. An update! Word has it that Mack was to turn himself in to the U.S. Consulate in Mexico. Bad idea! Extradition ant-death penalty protection would be non-exi...

This is an awful tale that was caught on tape inside a Chicago supermarket. As one officer struggled for his life with an armed suspect, three others ran away to safety. The officer properly shot and killed the offender. We know we are not supermen and women. We know we should be careful and as safe as we can be but God only knows if we will somehow always overcome our natural fears to do our jobs. Not all of us are cut out to be cops. Overcautious cops are not that extraordinary but firing them is indeed very rare. Two of the disgraced cops were recruit woman officers still within their probationary periods were fired and a third, a male officer who recently completed his probation is now facing action before the Chicago Police Board. I have only one beef here and that is out of four officers sent to deal with a gunman three of them were not seasoned officers. This is like sending the blind to lead the blind. Another issue with some folks is that the two now fired probationary recruit...

Yeah, we all loved Jack Webb's deadpan delivery. If Webb was interrogaing you the jig was up! I dusted off this old piece just so I could practice that famous style.

For the record I’m not one of the fine officers that gave Dan Rather the bum’s rush at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it! Rather has been around CBS a very long time. He was paid to be what he is, a grandstander, performer who was supposed to deliver the news to TV viewers in a way that would keep them watching. He’s never failed in that task. Rather has his own political agenda and was caught with his pants down in the Bush National Guard story. Rather than admit the story was bogus or that he was snookered, Rather rode that bomb all the way down. There was no grace, no real apology and no retreat from his flawed position. Rather has painted himself into a dark corner. The other shoe fell with his awkward departure from CBS. Now Rather is looking to start again elsewhere. His departure from CBS reminds me of earlier times. Click here to comment!

I know he was a brutal dictator who ran Iraq with an iron fist. Hussein’s public executions, torture and absolute power did some good for Iraq. Hussein somehow kept the various religious groups from killing each other long enough to produce oil and engage in commerce. That’s a challenge the new government never be able to meet without resorting to Hussein’s brutality and absolute control methods. I think we have to learn to accept that the people in that region of the world are just not civilized, reasonable or freedom loving. These folks just don’t think like we do and we demand that they become converts. I’m not sure why we are in Iraq this time but it’s beginning to look like a failed Crusade to me. We will never win this battle unless we resort to the same kind of relentless brutality and killing that does not respect women, children and the elderly. If we are not there to win then it’s time to get out. The first Gulf War was different, Hussein invaded Kuwait and we stepped in to h...

Connie Chung was always a respected journalist and broadcaster. I think she did fine until she teamed up with Povich for a show on MSNBC. Her husband, Maury Povich is a long time freak show host that features pathetic, dysfunctional weirdoes of society. American audiences demand a voyeuristic window into the circus tents and trailer parks of the twisted and tortured. Show hosts Jerry Springer and Povich have been filling that need. The short-lived Chung-Povich show was yanked off the air. I guess this was supposed to be funny ending but it appears to be a heart breaking swan song for Ms. Chung.

I can’t bring myself to buy into the latest media fear mongering of Ron Suskind’s new book. Going into this thing I know that fear mongering sells lots of books, newspapers and draws TV viewers. Next they are telling us that that Ayman al-Zawahri had “canceled” the plan in January 2003. Come on! If that Ayman al-Zawahri could have pulled this off it would have happened! I seriously doubt these bums were capable of manufacturing the devices. This is simply a case of an unrelable snitch. Okay, these days we Americans are frightened cowards who expect the sky to fall any second unless senators like Chuck Schumer and Diane Feinstein can save us with lots of new Liberty restricting laws and more wild, out-of-control government spending. Instead of buying Suskind’s book or getting too worked up, go out and rent the DVD of the movie, Chicken Little. That film may help you!

Please, enough jokes about Darwin. Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Rothlisberger suffered head injuries and survived. He since vowed to never ride again without a helmet. My close friend, former TV news reporter turned actor, Rich Skidmore just took an unexpected trip to Pittsburgh because his brother Gary is now in a coma after a motorcycle mishap with both a deer and an oncoming car. Gary Skidmore was not wearing a helmet. In addition Gary suffered other serious injuries. The huge and well-financed insurance lobby has demanded and gotten mandatory seat belt and helmet laws passed nearly everywhere. Laws demanded and passed to save lives, or boost insurance company profits? I think we all know what’s more important and it’s not life. I’m a huge fan of seatbelts and helmets along with other protective gear. I’m a bigger fan of Liberty and keeping government out of my life. We don’t need laws to ratify Darwin’s theory of evolution. We need everyone to respect him or herself and their loved ...

One White and two Latino officers of this department sued claiming that Black officers are not disciplined as harshly as they were. These photos were offered up as evidence. I can imagine that it’s a real challenge to stay awake on the midnight shift watching school buildings. Wait a minute one of these boys is off in Dreamland and it's daytime! These guys need blankets, pillows and Teddy Bears!

Ex-Chicago police, Area Six (now Area Three) burglary dick, Dennis Farina has left TV’s LAW & ORDER after two seasons. Farina’s long time publicist, Lori De Waal in Los Angeles, recently made the announcement. Apparently Farina who is currently involved in two feature films now in production, YOU KILL ME and PURPLE VIOLETS, wants to develop films for his own production company. For some reason Farina’s talent shines in films much better than those TV shows. The films Farina made I enjoyed most were GET SHORTY, MANHUNTER, MIDNIGHT RUN, THAT OLD FEELING and his cameo in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. I can see Farina in yet another role, that of an old Area Six homicide dick, Frank Heatley in that project I’ve been pushing for three years COME FRIDAY . Heatley was a somewhat frustrated older cop who was committed to find a way to keep serial rapist, Robert Ellis off the street. The Heatley character narrates the film and requently stumbles while hunting for Ellis. Frank Heatley was repeatedly ...

Let's keep this simple. I'm only asking a question here. Let me begin with the broad statement that I don't smoke, drink or use drugs. I hate the drug culture and the people who use drugs for recreation or addiction. I've arrested thousands of users and dealers over the course of time I was a policeman. I always felt that the Drug War was a lost cause and pondered better ways of dealing with this huge problem. If all currently illegal drugs were made legal the profits from this activity would evaporate. The drug producing countries, Drug, Lords, and Drug Czars would all be put out of business in a single day. Sure the drugs would be sold legally but the price would drop like a rock since they cost no more to produce than sugar or coffee. The seemingly endless criminal enrichment would finally end. That's the only punishment that would really work. The huge amount of cash spent on drug enforcement could go directly to help those addicted kick the habit in a voluntary...

They are a lifesaver, yet a curse. Cell phones are everywhere disrupting traffic on the roadway, going off during lectures, movies and religious services. Inconsiderate people with the phones abuse everyone as they enjoy their special ring tones and pollute the quite around us. Should cell phones be banned in your child’s school? Many teachers, school boards and local governments are demanding they be removed from schools. Of course the school officials who can’t seem to control the criminal behavior of their students are complaining the loudest. Many cell phones are equipped with cameras that can even capture and send video. Witnesses, victims and even the offenders using these cell phones have documented crimes. Privacy has been invaded as the cell phone/cameras have been pointed up skirts and brought into locker rooms. Along with the bad side of this story came a new field of cell phone forensics has solved thousands of crimes across the nation. On the other hand cell phones save li...

Be sure to click on the pictures to see them full size. This BBQ was the first of many Kristina Ripatti Fundraisers today at at the Southwest station. I had lunch with many fine officers from a multitude of agencies today. I was pleased to meet Officer Rippatti’s very proud father who promised to give a certain heroic lady a giant hug for me.

More of the story of the courageous confrontation between Between Kristina Ripatti, her partner and the now dead armed robber has emerged this morning. It’s indefensible that the career criminal, McNeal was roaming the streets to rob and shoot anyone. Any and all government officials responsible for releasing this violent savage from his cage need to be removed from the government payroll. As for the LAPD crime fighting team of Kristi Ripatti, fellow officer and husband, Tim Pearce, they are made of the right stuff. This morning’s L.A. Times covered a bedside press conference as Kristina Ripatti was transferred to a rehabilitation center for the second portion of her recovery. I know that every cop will pray for Officer Rippati’s total recovery.

A sniper reportedly shot a Reno, NV judge moments ago. SWAT teams are combing nearby buildings in a manhunt for the shooter. That brings up the concept of Court security and the loss of Fourth Amendment Constitutional protection from warrantless searches where authorities lack probable cause. Today’s Reno shooting came from outside the building, defeating all of the frisking and privacy invasion programs in place. Judges have been murdered in America. I can only remember two killed while in court in my lifetime. Fulton County, GA, Judge Rowland W. Barnes and Marin County, CA Judge Harold J. Haley. Judge Haley was kidnapped and murdered during the 1970 escape attempt involving the Soledad Brothers who were in court over an attempted prison break where a guard was murdered. Haley’s death came before the modern wholesale frisking of citizens conducting business in courthouses. Judge Barnes was killed by an escaping prisoner in an Atlanta courtroom where the frisk everyone policy was in ...

Heroic LAPD policewoman Kristina Ripatti who was shot twice by a career criminal and convicted murderer is not expected to walk again. Paralyzed from the chest down, Ripatti must now wait for some luck and advances in spinal cord injury medicine to lessen the impact of her life changing injuries. Ripatti’s life was certainly saved by fellow officers, paramedics and great hospital emergency medical personnel. No doubt Ripatti’s excellent physical conditioning played a strong part in the recovery she’s made so far. I can’t help but think of former Chicago police officer Jim Mullen who became a quadriplegic after being shot in the face in 1996. Today Mullen has moved on as a motivational speaker and his second career as a WBBM TV reporter . I hope that Mullen can help Ripatti through his own experiences. Just as Ripatti is married to a fellow officer, so is Mullen. I know that Ripatti will somehow continue as a mother, wife and role model with a productive and rewarding career. The cost a...