Redwood Curtain CopWatch, based in the north coast of California, is part of a larger movement of self organized CopWatch groups throughout the US. Our local efforts seek to intervene in the drastic rise of the presence, militarization, and violence of the police, and build support networks based on self-determination, caring, and concrete needs.
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militarized police
OCCUPY EUREKA exposed Militant Behavior of County, City and Police authorities, by Kathy Anderson Oct 2012
Submitted by copwatch on Fri, 09/21/2012 - 10:56pmTraditionally American society has identified anti-social behavior by way of violent behavior. Sociable people will be willing to talk and mediate through problems with each other rather than come to blows in private meetings or on the streets.
The Killing of Cheri Lyn Moore
The killing of Cheri Lyn Moore on April 14, 2006 tragically illustrates the failures of a misguided and bureaucratized “public safety” system. In this writing we deliberately refer to Cheri Lyn Moore by her first name, as her friends and family do, and we acknowledge her as a real, feeling, dynamic human being; we want to counter the objectifying and criminalizing references made by media and police, calling her "Moore", and devaluing her life by repeatedly describing her through only the claims made by the police who murdered her. Cheri was reaching out for help in a time of physical, psychological, and emotional crisis; however, rather than receiving the assistance and comfort that she needed, she ultimately met her death at the hands of an overzealous and militarized police force.
This is not an isolated incident: Eureka Police Department [EPD], much like many police outfits throughout the country, regularly criminalize people in mental and emotional crises (especially if those people are poor) and then often exaggerate or flat out lie about danger they were "threatened with" in order to justify killing or severely harming those civilians. One remarkable distinction, however, between EPD and many other police departments who's officers are suspected or known to have used excessive violence or lethal violence, is the patent and utter refusal of EPD or the City of Eureka to fire, reprimand, or demote such officers- even if only for the purpose of instilling confidence in the communities which they 'police'. Because EPD routinely ignores, downplays and covers up instances of wrongful and unjustified use of force, there is a climate of indulgence in the department, whereby officers – and particularly those with predilections for over-aggressiveness, violence and abuse of authority, feel free to violate peoples' rights while on duty, because they are confident no disciplinary consequences will arise.
What Happend to Peter Stewart
WHAT HAPPENED TO PETER STEWART
IN HOOPA, June 4, 2007
A mentally ill man WHO COMMITTED NO CRIME, Peter Stewart, was murdered on June 4, 2007 by out of control police who shot 50 rounds of tear gas into his house and then when one of the rounds caught on fire, watched the house burn down with Peter in it. Fire trucks were sitting in the driveway and Peter’s friends from school who are firemen begged the SWAT team to allow them to put out the fire. Peter was found dead in the bathtub naked and wrapped in sheets where he had apparently tried to ease the pain of the burns from the teargas. His family was never allowed to talk to him. Keep in mind that Peter Stewart had not committed nor was he accused of any crime.
September 7, 2007 Rally at the Capitol, Sacramento
Remarks made by Jacqueline Marshall-Alford
Grieving Mother of Peter Stewart
How to Fund an American Police State: Real Money for an Imaginary War
Submitted by copwatch on Mon, 03/19/2012 - 1:44amAt the height of the Occupy Wall Street evictions, it seemed as though some diminutive version of “shock and awe” had stumbled from Baghdad, Iraq, to Oakland, California. American police forces had been “militarized,” many commentators worried, as though the firepower and callous tactics on display were anomalies, surprises bursting upon us from nowhere.
There should have been no surprise. Those flash grenades exploding in Oakland and the sound cannons on New York’s streets simply opened small windows onto a national policing landscape long in the process of militarization -- a bleak domestic no man’s land marked by tanks and drones, robot bomb detectors, grenade launchers, tasers, and most of all, interlinked video surveillance cameras and information databases growing quietly on unobtrusive server farms everywhere.
Response to Outrageous Gov't Premise for Police Action Against Occupy Eureka
Submitted by copwatch on Sat, 01/07/2012 - 3:24pmJan 7, 2011
Open Letter to Humboldt County District Attorney, Paul Gallegos:
We have reviewed your November 2, 2011 email to the Humboldt County Sheriff, County Counsel, and the County Administrative Officer in which you direct that the tents of Occupy Eureka be removed from the front of the Humboldt County Courthouse. The “go get 'em” email, obtained through a California Public Records Request, instigated, with no legal basis, the November 7 militarized raid, arrests, and civil rights violations by the Eureka Police Department [EPD] and the Humboldt County Sheriff's Department (and presumably the subsequent raids, arrests, and civil rights violations) and creates a conflict as you attempt to prosecute people arrested in those raids and related police actions. Most egregious, however, is that your email to the County is a malicious work of “shock and awe” deceit that should be retracted immediately. You wrote of Occupy Eureka protesters as if they might be terrorists with “explosives” in their tents. Redwood Curtain CopWatch is outraged and disgusted at your dangerous, wholly unfounded, and secret implications regarding non-violent Occupy Eureka protesters. Undoubtedly, thousands of people who will learn of your disingenuous and inflammatory Nov 2 email and the subsequent similar emails will also be appalled and offended by your actions.
KMUD Show Discusses Richardson Grove Action Now, Martin Cotton Trial, and Redwood Curtain CopWatch
Submitted by copwatch on Fri, 04/29/2011 - 10:46amRetired Cop asks: At what point do we say enough military equipment and military uniforms and military mindset?
Submitted by copwatch on Sat, 02/11/2012 - 6:29pmSpeak your mind: Are today’s cops too militarized?
Jan 05, 2012 from PoliceOne.com
A reader emailed me the other day, concerned about some of the changes he’s seen in law enforcement since he retired four years ago as a county constable in Mississippi. His letter appears below.
How would you respond to the observations and questions he poses?
Dear Chuck,
Recently I have read several articles talking about all the military-type equipment and high-powered weapons that local law enforcement is getting as a result of federal grants.
Many local police forces are starting to look very intimidating and militaristic in their everyday appearance, wearing BDUs with Kevlar helmets and soldier-looking ballistic vests on the outside of their uniform shirt. I even saw video of officers wearing ski masks at a driver’s license/DUI checkpoint while having thigh-holstered handguns and an M4 slung over their shoulders. Basically, the SWAT look has gone to everyday officers on patrol.
Some departments, including small rural departments where the threat of terrorism is very slim indeed, are getting Army tanks, armored personnel carriers, and Humvees with .50-cal. automatic weapons inside rotating turrets.
Maricopa Arizona Sheriff's Bomb House: Mistaken Identity, Two Victims Severely Injured and One In Jail
Submitted by copwatch on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 8:42pmI want to report an incident on January 13th 2011 of excessive force and false arrest of Brian Schelske by Maricopa County Sheriffs Office in Arizona.
Warrant # 8W 2011-000327.
The house was bombed with concussion bombs in military fashion at 3:30 am as if bombing the enemy. A tank rolled over the cyclone fence.
The two victims of police harassment were marched out with hands over their heads half naked. The 59 yo woman was made to stand naked with just panties breasts exposed, hands tied behind her back in the cold for 30 minutes. There had to be 15-20 cars lined up along the road for the display of public humiliation.
The woman was not arrested but has a perforated eardrum and is suffering from depression and PSTD after this horrific incident.
The man, a former mental health patient, does not even remotely fit the description on the original police report. The woman was off work on disability after a fall but worked as a Renal Dietitian and faculty at the local community college. She was also a Nutritionist on the Navajo Indian Reservation for the WIC Program.
RIP Rogelio Serrato__Young Father, Murdered in Police Raid Jan. 5, 2011
Submitted by copwatch on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 3:17amFamily & Friends Of Rogelio Serrato Fill Greenfield City Council
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-57TrkjtmE
“Non-Lethal Force” by Rad Geek
Posted on 08 February 2011 by Dr. Q (3)
Liles Gets Burgess Family Evicted From Home; He Targets His Victim's Families
Submitted by copwatchadmin on Sun, 04/05/2009 - 4:21pmREDWOOD CURTAIN COPWATCH December 9, 2007
To Chief Garr Nielson and all to whom it may concern:
It has come to our attention that Officer Terry Liles recently has been at the residence of Margorie Burgess and her children on at least two occasions. This letter is to firmly request that Officer Liles no longer be sent to her residence, that he be stopped in the future of going to any residence of Ms. Burgess, and that Officer Liles be reprimanded for threatening and harassing Ms. Burgess’ current roommates, who are her extended family.
Apparently, on Sunday, December 2, 2007, Officer Terry Liles spoke with someone at the residence of Ms. Burgess. He then returned on Monday, December 3, 2007 with a woman EPD officer. Terry Liles made it clear that he knew that he was at Margorie Burgess' residence. The following is an account of his December 3, 2007 visit’:
He came to the door, and when it was answered by the primary renting adult of the residence, Ms. Ruth, he forced entry into the house by pushing his chest against Ms. Ruth's body, until he was inside the house. Officer Liles was wearing a metal helmet and bullet proof vest, and made intimidating gestures to display his highly militaristic gear to Ms. Ruth.
While he was pushing his way in, Officer Liles was making insulting remarks, “Idiots! Retards. Ignoramousus...”...etc.
The next words out of his mouth after forcing entry, "I'm here to make sure you get evicted."
Liles Gets Burgess Family Evicted From Home; He Targets His Victim's Families
REDWOOD CURTAIN COPWATCH December 9, 2007
To Chief Garr Nielson and all to whom it may concern:
It has come to our attention that Officer Terry Liles recently has been at the residence of Margorie Burgess and her children on at least two occasions. This letter is to firmly request that Officer Liles no longer be sent to her residence, that he be stopped in the future of going to any residence of Ms. Burgess, and that Officer Liles be reprimanded for threatening and harassing Ms. Burgess’ current roommates, who are her extended family.
Apparently, on Sunday, December 2, 2007, Officer Terry Liles spoke with someone at the residence of Ms. Burgess. He then returned on Monday, December 3, 2007 with a woman EPD officer. Terry Liles made it clear that he knew that he was at Margorie Burgess' residence. The following is an account of his December 3, 2007 visit’:
He came to the door, and when it was answered by the primary renting adult of the residence, Ms. Ruth, he forced entry into the house by pushing his chest against Ms. Ruth's body, until he was inside the house. Officer Liles was wearing a metal helmet and bullet proof vest, and made intimidating gestures to display his highly militaristic gear to Ms. Ruth.
While he was pushing his way in, Officer Liles was making insulting remarks, “Idiots! Retards. Ignoramousus...”...etc.
