Technicalities
- The Illinois Supreme Court says it's not necessarily a crime for a police dispatcher to warn drug dealers about law enforcement activity.
The court has overturned the conviction of Carmecita Williams, a dispatcher in the Chicago suburb of Glenwood. She had been found guilty of official misconduct for alerting someone to police activity near his location.
Williams appealed. She admits violating the police department's rules but says that's not the same thing as breaking the law.
The Supreme Court agreed Thursday.
In a unanimous opinion, the justices say there was no law requiring Williams to keep the information secret. Without a law covering her actions, they say she can't be guilty of official misconduct.
We mean, what could possibly happen when a dispatcher gives information to dope dealers? It isn't like these are armed people pushing poison in the hood.
Labels: dumb ideas
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
27 Comments:
Can you say collusion?
Can you say endangerment of law enforcement personnel?
Can you say interfering with a police investigation?
Truly, I am sickened by this so-called 'decision'.
Here's one that ended the way they're SUPPOSED to end.
Gloria Steele, a CPD sworn dispatcher who, along with her son, was convicted of distributing heroin. She lit up every attempt to make inroads into the operation until she was discovered and taken down.
From the Orlando Sentinel, 1992;
Feds Arrest Police Officer As Part Of Heroin-ring Bust
February 20, 1992
Federal officials said Wednesday they had cracked a ''Nigerian connection'' heroin ring run by a man whose mother, a 43-year-old Chicago police officer, helped keep the drug peddlers one step ahead of the law. Fred Foreman, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, announced the indictments of 27 people on drug charges involving a ring that sold heroin in Chicago from 1987 until Wednesday's arrests of most of the principals. The indictments allege that Thomas Wesson, 24, headed the ring with help from his mother, Gloria Steele, 43, a 16-year veteran of the Chicago police force
Bad call for the Supreme Court.
Having "a snitch on the inside" is like having on spy on the other side in war. You would shoot a spy, no questions asked.
AND - if one of your men were caught telling the other side your position which is what this dispatcher did, you would shoot the SOB for treason.
She could have put an officer's life in jeopardy.
If an officer died because of her actions, would it still be ok? Would she then be considered an accomplice in his murder?
Sounds like no one on the Court ever served in combat.
Illinois is the Mecca for dumb and indecisive leadership.
.......the world is going to hell in a hand basket.
Chicago is filled with em
ok, ok, ok, maybe not a punishable offense but definately an ass whoopin offense!
Dispatchers at OEMC have done the same thing, though without criminal charges.
Be careful. Be safe. Be wary of those who engage in selective prosecution.
How about charging appropriately.
Conspiracy, or obstruction.
Its just a mis- happening.
Why even have laws?
I remember the case.
old retired guy
Hopefully, the village of Glenwood was still able to fire her ass.
All I can say is you have to be kidding me, this is only a rule violation?
It isn't a crime for a police employee to warn a drug dealer with information from police sources by a police employee?
Whatthefuck is a crime then?
And people wonder why cops go ballistic at times.
Beware- the city is in the early stages of privatizing OEMC. If the deal goes through, be careful of any info passed on to them.
The appeal wasn't based on the fact that she gave the dealers information-it was that breaking department rules and regulations is not a violation of the statute of official misconduct. We should all be happy with this ruling as if it went the other way it would give the Anita's fools the green light to charge anyone that has a CR# brought up against you with a felony. They have tried it before but it didn't fly...good ruling by the supreme court.
So is it no longer illegal to flash high-beams to warn on coming cars of DUI, Seatbelt checks, and speed traps now?
If it was a "...rough-and-tumble white cop with basic education and strained interactions with minorities", they'd be cell mates with Bill Cozzi.
Fucking left wing democratic judges!
The legislature had better act fast to close that loophole or soon you'll be seeing "...a more tech-savvy, multilingual person of any race, religion or sexual orientation" with police stars, warning drug dealers about law enforcement activity. Hey, it's not like they should have to display any morals or ethics that they don't have to begin with, right?
What a fucking sewer of a comunity these ignorant liberals are creating! We, as a society, are truly fucked!
Obviously most of you do not understand the difference between a rule violation and a law violation. If it is to be against the law make it so. You can't just arrest and prosecute someone and then say, "Yeah it was against the law, we just never bothered to tell anyone." This was a good call by the Court.
Why not, we have sworn bosses who pass on information, what happens to them? They get promoted!
She will probably sue to get her job back, since it was stated she didn't break any dept rules....or at least she will collect a big sum....
Gen. GEORGE C. PATTON from the grave said...
11/20/2010 12:57:00 AM
Patton's middle intial was "S" not C.
Remember cortney H. In 009 back in the early 1990's she was juquita Forts girlfriend, gave him all kinds of info about us p.o's
Official Misconduct-a public officer or employee or special government agent commits misconduct when, in his official capacity as a special government agent, he commits any of the following acts:
c. with intent to obtain a personal advantage for himself or another, he performs an act in excess of his lawful authority.
I would imagine an advantage for another would be keeping him out of jail. But I guess she had the "authority" to warn while she was being recorded. Sort of a joke.
Anonymous said...
Why not, we have sworn bosses who pass on information, what happens to them? They get promoted!
11/20/2010 11:02:00 AM
William Hanhardt (former Chief of Detectives) sits still in Federal prison for doing that with jewel thieves.
The message from the Court is that the wrong charge was lodged...that's right.
The Beef is with the "know it all" States Attorney.
Reindict with obstruction charge and move forward.
But Im sure the courts hold po's to a different standard re. official misconduct.
she used her position and police equipment
This is real easy to solve. The first time that a dispatcher leaks sensitive info on some politician or judge a law forbidding such action will appear overnight.
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