Police Accountability Report: Episode 82 – LRN.fm

This week, a couple stories that should cause anyone critically thinking to see that those wearing badges aren’t always operating with the best intentions.

Story #1
Boston University Snowbrawl 2013 Attracts 2,000+ Students & the Boston Police
http://bostinno.com/2013/02/09/boston-university-snowbrawl-photos-and-video-nemo-in-boston/#ss__295171_1_0__295171_294644_0__ss
With classes canceled due to winterstorm Nemo, Boston University students got in the wintertime spirit, hosting “Snowbrawl 2013” on the Esplanade Friday night February 8. More than 2,000 students allegedly RSVP’d to attend, students were clad in colorful snow goggles and apparently not enough layers to avoid screaming, “Ow.”
The Boston Police and Boston University Police Departments did show up to the scene. Multiple students were allegedly detained while another was arrested for allegedly throwing a snowball at a cop.
The Boston Police Department could not be immediately reached for comment.
Word of advice: Don’t show up to a snowball fight with over 2,000 participants expecting not to get hit by a snowball.

Story #2
Former police officer indicted on sex charge
http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20130207/APN/1302070686?Title=Former-police-officer-indicted-on-sex-charge&tc=ar
In Louisiana, a former Lafayette police corporal has been indicted by a Lafayette Parish grand jury on charges of sexual battery and malfeasance for allegedly sexually battering a woman while he was on duty.
The Advertiser reports 34-year-old Jackie Hagan Jr. allegedly responded to a report of a crime in downtown Lafayette in 2011. Two women witnessed the crime and reported it.
Hagan, the first officer to respond, insisted on giving one of the women a ride home. That’s according to a civil lawsuit she filed. Upon arriving at her home, the woman alleged that Hagan blocked her doorway and began fondling, groping and forcefully kissing her.
Hagan resigned from the police department in January 2012.

Story #3
Former cop gets life sentence for St. Johns child molesting
http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-02-05/story/former-cop-gets-life-sentence-st-johns-child-molesting
In Florida, A former Vero Beach police officer was sentenced to life in prison on three counts of lewd or lascivious sexual battery on February 5 by St. Johns County Circuit Court Judge Terry LaRue.
St. Augustine businessman James Scharfschwerdt, 55, was convicted Dec. 11 on the charges involving a victim who is now a senior in high school.
The victim said Scharfschwerdt won his trust as a 14-year-old and took advantage of it. Due to a recent court ruling, prosecutors were allowed to present testimony from the accuser in this case as well as three other men. Ranging in age from 18 to 37, they talked about similar sexual encounters with Scharfschwerdt when they were minors.
Scharfschwerdt was also an Indian River County sheriff’s deputy.

Story #4
2 LAPD officers allegedly forced sex acts on women
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/03/local/la-me-0104-lapd-women-20130104
Two Los Angeles Police Department officers are under investigation for allegedly preying on women over a period of five years, luring them into an unmarked car and forcing them to perform sex acts, according to court records.
According to a search warrant reviewed by The LA Times, detectives from the LAPD’s internal affairs unit suspect that Officers Luis Valenzuela and James Nichols targeted at least four women whom they had arrested previously or who worked for them as informants.
The pair repeatedly used the threat of jail to get women into their car and drove them to secluded areas where one of the officers demanded sex while the other kept watch, the warrant alleges.
Valenzuela and Nichols worked together until recently as narcotics officers in the Hollywood Division. Investigators have identified four women who encountered the pair and made similar independent accusations against them.

I hope you’ll take a moment to consider just what it is that you are paying for via taxation – and speak out against the violence. Until next week, stay safe and remember that badges don’t grant extra rights.