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Speed traps and bad police behavior

Posted by amybyrd21 • 9/14/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: afraid to drive, cops, iron city tn, speed trap

Ok yall all know that I lice in a small town. We are having problems with this new police they have hired. There are three of them. The police cheif has been under investigation and fired from a job for underage sex, stealing and speeding in a personal vehicle over 100 mph, his brother got suspended last week for sexual comments to a women he pulled over, they are pulling over out of state tags every time they see one, they have gone in a plant full of people with guns drawn for a man with out a drivers liscenes and speeding, they have stalked a few of us women (I am one of them) and they have tried to run over a few of us (again I am one of the lucky ones) chasing speeders. They are listening in on certain peoples phone calls,in general they are causing more problems than they are fixing. I have gotten the run around from the city manager (I have been on the phone with him for two days now since my return) I got pulled over last night because I was alone and he wanted to talk to me. ( not speeding, not running a stop sign, mot talking on a cell phone, or anything like that just to talk) I am trying to think of what to do next. I can write an article for the local paper, I can go to the DA's office (most people here are afraid to do this. Do yall have any ideas of what to do. If you were in this situation what would you do about it?

User Comments

9/14/09

cookingasshole

Glad I don't live in your town!

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1. 9/14/09
  
  DailyBeerReview
  
  I was gonna say the same thing.
9/14/09

Jaybetee

Call Dateline NBC or 60 Minutes...sounds like the kind of story they'd love to help fix.

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9/14/09

NT77

I agree with cookingasshole (but I don't think I'm cute enough for the police to take a sexual interest in me).

Seriously though, who's already investigating the chief? Who suspended his brother? If it's the DA, then by all means go. You won't be starting an investigation, just adding to it.

But don't go with just hearsay. Go armed with some kind of proof if possible, like witnesses. At a mimimum, have dates and times.

And why do you think they're listening in on phone calls? I don't know the legality here, but I'd think there'd be some law against it.

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1. 9/14/09
  
  amybyrd21
  
  It is not hearsay. I have been followed and stopped and about ran over. Several other people have done the same thing. The suspended officer got suspended for two weeks. The one under investigation is under investigation thru another county. I have gotten the run around all over the place that I have turned. I am thinking about the 60 min or date line thing. I have enough people to come foward about it. They blocked the road to one of the plants so the employees couldnt get out because the owner ran them off his property for sitting there and running radar (on private property) They all just sat there for an hour until it was moved.
2. 9/14/09
  
  NT77
  
  I'm sorry. "Hearsay" wasn't a good choice of words. I meant that it would look better for your case if you have some kind of evidence. I wasn't implying that you're lying.
  
  I'm not a legal expert, but from what you said, it seems definite that laws are being broken. But I would imagine that these guys are more intelligent than something from the Dukes of Hazzard. Be prepared for them to present some sort of justification for their actions. Without proof it'll be your word against theirs, and remember, they're the police.
  
  I just want to add that I'm not trying to be discouraging. You should definitely take some action. I'm just saying that you should be prepared for an uphill battle.
3. 9/14/09
  
  Jaybetee
  
  I'm telling ya, get John Stossel or someone down there!
4. 9/14/09
  
  amybyrd21
  
  Actually Dukes of Hazzards is what they are. I watched one jump across the hood of his car to follow a speeder with out clocking him. I have caught them speeding up the road at night with no lights on racing each other. A friend has them recorded listening in on her phone calls. (You can hear them click in and out while she is talking) I am getting a video camera to take with me every where after yesterday.
5. 9/14/09
  
  amybyrd21
  
  I already emailed Dateline and asked them for help. I will do John next if it doesnt work out. I am scared to go any where at all. I put my name into the running for the police cheif with my criminal justice back ground and Emt back ground. I think I would make a better one than them.
6. 9/14/09
  
  NT77
  
  I would say that the recording of the phone call would help, as should any video evidence. Be careful not to get caught videotaping them though.
  
  Like I said earlier, I'm no legal expert, but perhaps it wouldn't hurt if you were to get some legal advice as to your options and rights in fighting them.
  
  Best of luck with Dateline or any other route that you choose. Keep us informed.
7. 9/14/09
  
  Jaybetee
  
  even if national press odes not respond, talk to a newspaper in the area and see if one of their reporters would be interested. My wife was watching a program last week about some small town scandal and it was actually the small local independent reporter who covered it and broke the story on what was happening.
9/14/09

wagerwitch

Right now - as we speak - I'm in the middle of a lawsuit against law enforcement.

I think that lately - law enforcement has returned to Mafia Mentality.

One of my key points of negotiation is that I will GO PUBLIC with the information and my situation.

Trust me - when and IF I go public - there won't be too many people with their mouths not hitting the floor.

I have proof and documentation.

*GRIN*

I will also win.

Amy - These police officers in your town need to be investigated - call in the STATE troopers (sheriff's Dept. etc.)

However, going to the DA will do nothing -as the DA will often be working closely hand in hand with them.

If you do not get the needed results via the STATE - then you need to go to your Ombudsman or to an Attorney that practices in Malpractice or Police Abuse issues.

You sound like you are being abused by your law enforcement.

And you would be surprised to find out - you are NOT alone.

Small towns seem to have a much higher incidence of this type of practice.

Also - do not forget to check with your Civil Liberties Unions.

[reply]
9/26/09

triggerpull

comment removed by the community.

[reply]
1. 9/26/09
  
  amybyrd21
  
  ok so you would like it for them to listen ito your phone calls follow women around and pull them over and verbally sexually harrasses them while they are alone. Now think of this in a few months from now when they get cocky from being let go and they search your home and take your guns. Then who will be whining. I am a citizen with out a record and havent even gotten a speeding ticket and I am being harrssed. I do not think that is whining.
2. 9/26/09
  
  Deray28
  
  Amy, I got to see this thread now thanks to the link dropper above, jajajaa. So, what happened since you posted it? Has anything changed? Did you contacted anyone about the situation?
  
  I hate harassing policemen, no one in a position of power should abuse it.
9/26/09

amybyrd21

No it is not any better we ae all being stalled and told it will take time to take care of it. I contacted a local tV anchor the family knows to day and they are looking into it for me and may be doing a story

[reply]
1. 9/26/09
  
  trailofpen
  
  Journalists, local or national, are your best friends when it comes to controversial stories. Why? Because every journalist's dream is to win a Pulitzer Prize.
9/26/09

cooper

If this is true, and I have no idea if it is true, call your state branch the civil liberties union and try to get in touch with someone. If they are really harassing to that degree make sure you are covered legally and or protected, or have some legal council before you go to the news but yea a local news station and then on up is the place to go.

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9/26/09

Agit8r

I advocate citizen policing. The city hacks are a bunch of high school jocks that never grew up and hate law and order

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9/26/09

MadameX

Contact the state police. But be careful with your language. For instance, do not say "tried to run us over" if what you really mean is that they were reckless in pursuing someone else and could have run you over...that kind of overstatement will quickly get everything else you're saying dismissed.

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9/29/09

exit2013

The public needs to know about this. They're endangering people! And seriously...what's the name of this 'town'? 8-)

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9/30/09

scf

I think they take the "Speed Zone Ahead" sign down as you approach Forest City, Illinois, from the north. One second you're surrounded buy white pines in the state forest, and when the road turns slightly to the right, suddenly you are in the middle of "downtown" Forest City, which is a 25 mph zone. It's an expensive ticket if they caught you going 60.

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