As reported by Mark Scolforo in the AP, three high-ranking employees of the Pennsylvania State Police came under investigation after it was learned that they hired prostitutes when visiting Thailand.
For now, ignoring the issue of the ages of those involved, what is the big deal?
If this was in fact a consensual interaction why does any uninvolved third party think they have the right to possibly subject one of the parties to sanctions (per the “investigation”)? Shouldn’t two (or more) people have the right to enter into whatever voluntary arrangement for goods or services that they desire?
Ideally yes, that would be the norm. But today some folks act as if they have the right to initiate force against others when they engage in certain actions, despite those actions not causing a victim or damaging property. That includes not only those who did the investigation, but the three men – John Kruse, Brad Lawver, and Douglas Martin – being investigated.
That to me is the biggest take-away from this story – the hypocrisy of Krus, Lawver and Martin. They all subsist off others in Pennsylvania. That theft alone is reason enough to view them as ill-led. And if they thought their actions in Thailand not wrong, then why not engage in them in Pennsylvania?
They obviously realized that if caught, they could be caged, perhaps by their own colleagues. If an act is wrong in one place, can it become right in another place? This in and of itself shows the arbitrariness of the “law*” Kruse, Lawver, and Martin claim to uphold.
Charles Skurkis, who headed-up the “investigation” noted in deposition that:
California dispenses marijuana for medical use, Pennsylvania does not allow that. If a trooper goes to California and a doctor prescribes marijuana and he smokes it there, is he in violation of the law? That case has to be looked at, and there’s no immediate right or wrong answer.
Again, such a statement only proves the subjectivity of the “law”. Legislation created by man is not law, as is made clear by the inability to remain consistent on its application based on arbitrary political boundaries.
Moving on to the issue of age, that’s admittedly a sticky one. If the person(s) who reached a consensual arrangement with Krus, Lawver and Martin were 21-years-old would anyone object? What if they were 18? Or 16?
What is clear though, is that the “investigation” done was just a sham, as they merely took the word of those being investigated. From Francis Hacken:
The age of the prostitutes they were with was not a concern to Lt. Martin (because according to him, they all looked old enough)
This lack of a finding is not at all a surprise, seeing that the person conducting, like those who were supposedly “investigated”, operates via stolen coin and proffers that they have a “legitimate” right to initiate force. Those perverse incentives can never bring-about accountability.
Have some thoughts of your own about how this all unfolded? Feel free to share:
Pennsylvania State Police
- http://www.psp.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/psp/4451
- (717) 783-5599
- 1800 Elmerton Ave.
Harrisburg, Pa 17110
- John Kruse – executive service section
- Brad Lawver – legislative affairs
- Douglas Martin – bureau of liquor control enforcement
*For more on this angle see:
- The Myth of the “Rule of Law” by Brainpolice
- The Myth of the Rule of Law by John Hasnas
———————————-
Details of Asian prostitution trips by 3 Pa. state police lieutenants surface in fed lawsuit
by Mark Scolforo, Associated Press, December 23rd, 2012
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania — Three state police lieutenants — including the former head of the elite detail that guards the Pennsylvania governor — were investigated by the FBI and the state police for their involvement with prostitutes during successive personal vacations to Southeast Asia.
Records in a case pending in federal court in Pennsylvania say the lieutenants all admitted hiring the prostitutes on trips between 2002 and 2008.
An Associated Press review of the internal state police records shows the supervisors evaded significant punishment, and a Right-to-Know Law request found no evidence they were discharged or demoted, the state police said Wednesday.
The investigative records were disclosed in an employment discrimination lawsuit filed by retired Cpl. Joe Farthing, a former member of the Executive Service Section, which protects the governor, lieutenant governor and their spouses.
Farthing, an African-American who lives in Lancaster, claims state police brass concocted a racially motivated claim that he had improperly milked overtime while guarding then-Gov. Ed Rendell. He was not implicated in the Asian trips.
Farthing worked closely with one of the three, Lt. John Kruse, as the two top-ranking members of the Executive Service Section.
While it’s not clear what triggered the interest, the FBI by 2007 was investigating sex tourism trips by Kruse and Lt. Brad Lawver, who worked in legislative affairs. Kruse and Lawver told investigators they had been joined by a third member of state police brass, Lt. Douglas Martin of the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, according to state police documents.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Harrisburg said a federal investigation regarding the Asian sex tourism trips was closed without charges being filed, and prosecutors declined further comment.
Rendell told the AP he had heard rumors of the prostitution trips “through the grapevine, stuff about trips to Asia and sexual hijinks, but again, I didn’t know there was anything illegal about them.”
The three men told FBI agents that they hired prostitutes in Thailand and Vietnam, according to a February 2009 general investigative report regarding Martin filed by Sgt. Farzad Sharif with the state police’s Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards. Kruse and Lawver had just retired at the time.
Court records describe an unspecified number of private trips to Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore that combined tourist outings with hiring prostitutes, in some cases for a week at a time. An FBI agent told a state police supervisor that during one trip the men — it’s unclear which of them — were seen by the FBI drinking heavily and entering what was believed to be a house of prostitution.
Farthing’s lawsuit was filed in February 2011, but the detailed disclosures about the lieutenants’ sex tourism trips, the alleged abuse of overtime by members of the Executive Service Section and evidence the unit was poorly run emerged in court documents this year. The state attorney general’s office sought unsuccessfully to have Farthing’s case thrown out.
As state police leadership and internal affairs looked into the sex trips, questions about the ages of the prostitutes arose repeatedly. The three state policemen have repeatedly insisted that none was underage, records show.
“There was no indication, wherever they went, that there was any children involved, which is what our concern was,” retired state police Maj. Charles J. Skurkis, who headed up internal affairs at the time, said in a deposition.
Child prostitution is a particular problem in Thailand and some other Asian countries.
“The age of the prostitutes they were with was not a concern to Lt. Martin (because according to him, they all looked old enough),” state police disciplinary officer Capt. Francis Hacken wrote. Hacken recommended in January 2011 that Martin be court-martialed, but Martin avoided it by retiring two months later.
Hacken wrote that Martin “indicated that prostitution is a culture that is accepted in Thailand.”
The now-retired state police commissioner, Col. Frank E. Pawlowski, described the lieutenants’ behavior as “sexual misconduct” during a September 2011 deposition.
“People suggested that they (prostitutes) were juveniles, but I was not privy to any of the evidence in the case that I could make my own conclusion,” Pawlowski said.
Doubts about the illegality of prostitution in Thailand arose during the investigation, with Skurkis likening the men’s conduct to someone visiting an area where medical marijuana is legal.
“California dispenses marijuana for medical use,” he said in the deposition. “Pennsylvania does not allow that. If a trooper goes to California and a doctor prescribes marijuana and he smokes it there, is he in violation of the law? That case has to be looked at, and there’s no immediate right or wrong answer.”
Skurkis did not return a phone message seeking comment.
At some point, the department’s own lawyers researched the matter and concluded the men’s actions “arguably” did violate Thai law. Hacken’s court-martial report for Martin said a customer soliciting a prostitute violates Thai law if the solicitation is done openly or shamelessly and causes a public nuisance.
A 1996 Thai law on prostitution prohibits buying minors for prostitution, soliciting prostitution activities in public places, and the buying or selling of sex “where people are available for prostitution,” said Janice Raymond, a board member of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women.
Those laws in theory would apply to the customers of prostitutes, but Raymond said the reality is that the women are the ones who end up arrested and charged.
As the FBI investigation was getting under way, the state police received a complaint from another trooper on the governor’s detail alleging Kruse and Farthing assigned themselves disproportionate amounts of overtime and accrued it under circumstances where it was not needed, or when they were not performing work for the pay.
The handling of the Asian sex scandal relates to Farthing’s lawsuit because he claims the department was harder on him, a black man, than it was when disciplining white employees, including the three white lieutenants in the unrelated case.
Farthing was pulled from the governor’s detail and assigned to duty at the lieutenant’s governor’s mansion while he was investigated for overtime abuse. He retired about a year later.
Farthing disputes that he abused overtime, and claims he was forced to retire in October 2008, believing he had been singled out for punishment because of the color of his skin.
The state police have denied racial animus was behind any actions taken against Farthing, but said management of the Executive Service Section has been improved, and the overtime issue has been addressed.
Farthing subsequently filed an employment discrimination lawsuit, which is pending before Magistrate Judge Henry S. Perkin in Allentown. His case was recently scheduled to go to trial next summer, with Rendell among the possible witnesses.
Documents filed in Farthing’s lawsuit show that the agency only moved to discipline him and Kruse for overtime misuse after they had both retired, rendering it meaningless.
Reached at his home outside Lewisberry, Kruse at first denied any knowledge of the matter, then declined to comment and referred questions to his lawyer, Jerry Russo, who did not return messages. Martin, who lives in Mechanicsburg, and Lawver, a Lewisberry resident, did not respond to requests for comment.
Farthing’s attorney, Harold Goodman, declined to discuss the case on the record beyond what is in the court file. The attorney general’s office, which represents the state police in the civil case, declined to comment for this story.
The overtime allegations against Kruse and Farthing were reviewed for potential criminal violations, but the local prosecutor took a pass. Kruse and Farthing ranked No. 1 and No. 2 within the detail in total overtime from 2002 to 2007, with each collecting well over $200,000.
In September 2007, Dauphin County Assistant District Attorney Fran Chardo told a state police internal affairs investigator that he believed Farthing had put in for overtime when he was not working, which “would support culpability for the offense of theft by deception.” But, he said, there was a lack of oversight and Kruse allowed it.
Chardo, who recently announced his candidacy for county judge, also declined to prosecute on overtime-related allegations against Kruse in March 2009, saying it was not in the public interest, partly because Kruse had agreed to retire immediately.
Kruse was denied an honorable discharge, and an internal state police report issued a few months later said “sustained overtime misconduct” practices would have justified court-martialing him and Farthing. Troopers who do not get an honorable discharge do not get to keep their badge or service hat, matters of great symbolic importance within the agency.
Kruse had been recommended for a two-rank demotion to trooper, a 25-day suspension and an involuntary transfer; Farthing a one-rank demotion and 20-day suspension, according to a declaration by the then-deputy commissioner, John R. Brown.
The state police found that total overtime in the 20-person Executive Service Section fell from $612,000 in 2006 — a busy election year for Rendell, and the year before the overtime abuse investigation began — to $474,000 in 2007 and $346,000 in 2008, when Kruse no longer ran the detail. It skyrocketed in Rendell’s final year of 2010, however, to $739,000, and reached $533,000 in 2011.
A good overtime year can yield dividends for the rest of a trooper’s life, because pension amounts are based on peak pay years. Farthing retired in October 2008 with a $130,000 lump payment and now has a $72,000 annual pension. Kruse retired in January 2009, collected $84,000 and gets a $45,000 pension.
Lawver and Martin apparently were not investigated for overtime abuse. Lawver retired in January 2009, received a $106,000 payment and collects a $63,000 pension; Martin retired in March 2011 — weeks after Hacken informed him he faced court-martial — collected $131,000, and has a $69,000 pension.
Well, how long have I been telling people that law enforcement personnel are 236% more likely to commit sexual assault than those in the general population?
It appears that all police are little more than rapist pedophiles that feed their sick need to rape and abuse while on duty, and overseas.
When you look at a cop, you are looking at a rapist pedophile, it is as simple as that.
And anybody who says otherwise under an internet pseudonym is complicit. Probably guilty as well. Here they come now…
Glenn had taken the words out of my mouth.
This is all I paid attention too. [PA St Troopers Thailand].
You may get hookers in Vegas, why did they go to Thialand? They are fucking pedo’s. Goes to show how much more sickening these fuckers are.
Absolutely stomach sickening.
Why are you posting this again? We just went through how 3 guys out of 4200 isn’t the smoking gun you want it to be.
Did we interrupt your trawling for pedo porn, t.? Disgusting filthy pedophile cop supporter.
What are you saying, T, that as long as everyone isn’t doing it, it’s OK? Police officers who arrest people for engaging in prostitution and hire prostitutes for themselves are corrupt hypocrites. Anyone who defends those men openly insinuates that there’s nothing morally wrong with prostitution and thus it’s only illegal so that cops can exploit the practice and victimize a group that society already looks down on. THAT, more that anything, is why prostitutes (not to mention drug users) are vilified and persecuted – it’s easy to get the public to turn a blind eye.
Legalize and regulate prostitution here and Thailand, where it still exists in a quasi-legal state. There are no reported cases of HIV transmission in sex workers in legal brothels in Nevada.
Who is defending them? I just asked why this story was posted again when the same story was post either last week or the week before?
Nobody wants this type of behavior. From anyone. But this story runs contrary to what you guys always want to say….here is an example of the police policing themselves.
Poor Glenn, again with your 236% suggestion. Once again, you get an A for the day for effort. It’s catchy I will admit and incorrect, but even you knew that.
Say you are punched by an astronaut. Since there have never been more then 500 actual astronauts, ever, vs 314 million people – then yes, you would be more likely, percentage wise based on the sample, to be punched by Neal Armstrong then anyone else in the nation.
@T
The issue isn’t really 3 out of. 4200, it is the officer friends who know something and kept their mouths shut. Remember the chicago judge last week on the code of silence.
Spare us your pathetic excuses and your sanctimony, t. You have repeatedly supported convicted pedophiles in the past, provided they are members of law enforcement.
You are as bad as a child raping swine that you support.
That is the most ignorant and incorrect utilization of mathematics I have ever seen.
So your statement is that with 500 astronauts and 314 million people, you would be more likely to be hit by the astronaut? At 314 million to 500 odds?
LOL
T, you were the one who, up until a while ago, seemed to be fixated on membership in NAMBLA. Shows it was never far from your thoughts.
@certain: So by your skewed logic….where does that leave @glenn? Never mind, I care not for your answer.
@glenn: Ok big guy. While I enjoy the exchange of ideas with the occasional few adults that comment here, you are more like “certain” and “centurion”. Your comments lack fact. As example your post earlier today at 10:47 am. Since you are the accuser, put up or shit up. Show me one comment where I made “pathetic excuses” and have (get this one) “repeatedly supported convicted pedophiles”. Heck, I won’t even hold you to the qualifier you added about them having to be members of law enforcement.
See the problem is that when liars such as yourself go n hallenged, the bullies win. And when those liars such as you have no facts…well, they resort to lies.
So as I have with those other two, prepare to be “outed” as they say. So come on big guy, post it up. I’m not asking for your opinion, you statement suggested you have facts, so lets see them.
Nah, it’s perfect, I copied off Glenn…
No stop t!!! Dont do it!
Their logic is inflatable, wait no, that not it, it’s infallible…yeah, that’s it…
As certain has correctly pointed out, common sense, t., underoath, and psosgt have all admitted to being staunch supporters of NAMBLA, and child rape in general.
This is perfectly indicative of law enforcement in general, and very enlightening as regards to the resident pig-lovers here in the comments section.
When asked for proof and facts, yet again, another CB’er comes up short…
The state police have denied racial animus was behind any actions taken against Farthing, but said management of the Executive Service Section has been improved, and the overtime issue has been addressed.
Hate to break it to you common sense but you cant just walk in here and wave your NAMBLA membership card around and expect us to give you any respect. Do back to your FOP lodge and share some gay kiddy porn with all your cop buddies.
Filthy rapist.
What? Thats it? No extensive spreadsheet? No list of experts? Come in Glenn, at least toss us a quote from Jefferson.
Oh, that’s right, you got nothing…
….I see you went “nuclear” and went all the way to not just kiddie porn reference, but gay kiddie porn. How pathetic.
I’ll check back in a bit to see your next latest and greatest cocksucker joke is. Unless of course the revolution starts, then I wil just watch for you on TV. Just wear a shirt that reads, “Shit for brains.”
Cya stupid….
So there you have it folks. @Glenn, one the most prominent voices around here for the “Cop Block cause of accountability….has been held accountable and shown as a fraud.
Now in most places when someone has been exposed as a fraud and a liar he would be denounced as such. Lets see how the cop block crowd who claims to want truth will react.
So now, in only the second round….after a straight right cross to the jaw, the clear winner by Knock Out, “t” wins again. He is quoted as be walks away from the ring “the truth is like a soft pillow, it helps me sleep good at night”. @Glenn was last spotted arguing with the janitor about where he missing teeth are.
Pwn’d
@t
Lol, epic…
Shhh…if we are really quiet, t. and common sense will go off to enjoy their “victory” *snicker*.
While those two are off in the corner pumping each other furiously, did you guys hear about that cop in Texas that raped an 11 year old girl for FIVE YEARS before he was caught? http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=844132#.UOu2TKxuLTq
Oh and of course there is that cop from Massachusetts that raped a family member SIX YEARS before he was caught. http://peabody.patch.com/articles/peabody-officer-indicted-by-grand-jury-in-sexual-abuse-case
Oh yeah, and also that cop in Utah that raped his own family member for EIGHT YEARS before he was caught. http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/55570375-78/turner-county-sevier-sheriff.html.csp
Uh oh, I hear the sounds of common sense coughing up semen, we better go back to pretending they “won” the argument about cops being a bunch of perverted rapist pederasts.
COPS ARE RAPIST & PEDOPHILES AND CHEAT ON THEIR SPOUSES ! Yes,….THEY ALL CHEAT ON THEIR SPOUSES.
T, I doubt you ever get a straight response from Glenn. He accused me of being a supporter of pedophiles and rapists and whenwhen i called him out the keyboard tough guy failed to produce…if you can imagine.
Failed to produce, hah, what a farce. Everyone here knows and is well aware that underoath is a card-carrying member of NAMBLA, a rampant pederast, and worst of all…a cop.
Why do you deny the facts and your own open admissions, underoath? Are you perhaps afraid of something? Stop being a pedophile supporting pig.
@t
Hey look t, he’s back, and once again, without any proof! Ha ha ha, how typical.
Oh….@Glenn takes another drunken swing, it he misses again.
@Glenn = LIAR.
Trial date set for CHP officer accused of child sex abuse
http://www.kswt.com/story/20365632/trial-date-set-for-chp-officer-accused-of-sex-abuse
Still no proof or evidence to back up your allegations?
Welcome to copblock folks.
Another swing and a miss…
Glenn=Liar
Liar=Glenn
Either way, same thing
And shockingly, no calls for accountability from his fellow cop blockers. Does that mean there is tacit approval of his lies??
Well, common sense and t. have finally admitted defeat and crawled back under their rock. The first smart thing they have done in…well…ever? Of course, what those two do under that rock is their own business. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
School Resource Officer Accused Of Raping Student http://www.live5news.com/story/20520776/resource
Holy shit, great reply….