Following the release of video footage depicting the forceful arrest of Tyron McAlpin, a deaf Black man with cerebral palsy, the Phoenix Police Department suspended three officers involved for 24 hours without pay. McAlpin, initially arrested on charges of resisting arrest and aggravated assault based on unsubstantiated claims, had those charges dropped by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. The incident, which sparked widespread public condemnation, resulted from an initial response to false allegations against McAlpin. The officers’ suspension is a direct response to the national outrage following the broadcast of the arrest video.
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Halifax folk duo Cassie and Maggie MacDonald were pulled over in Ohio and subjected to a nearly hour-long police interaction. Officers searched their rental car for narcotics, questioned them separately, and asked each sister which country they preferred, Canada or the U.S. While police claim the stop was due to distracted driving and the questioning was innocuous, the sisters reported feeling interrogated and intimidated. The Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office disputes the MacDonalds’ account, characterizing media coverage as “false reporting and hate mongering.”
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A police officer tragically lost his life when the police car he was driving split in two after colliding with a light pole during a high-speed pursuit of a suspect. The sheer force of the impact, likely caused by excessive speed, resulted in the catastrophic damage to the vehicle, highlighting the inherent dangers of high-speed chases.
The incident underscores the reckless nature of such pursuits. The decision to engage in a high-speed chase, potentially jeopardizing the lives of both officers and innocent bystanders, should be heavily scrutinized. The prioritization of apprehending a suspect, in this case for a stolen vehicle, clearly outweighed the safety of those involved.… Continue reading
Following a jury conviction for recklessly handling a firearm resulting in the death of Timothy McCree Johnson, Officer Wesley Shifflett received a three-year prison sentence. However, Governor Glenn Youngkin granted Shifflett clemency, citing an unjust sentence and disproportionate punishment compared to sentencing guidelines. This decision sparked outrage from Johnson’s mother and the prosecuting attorney, who viewed it as a validation of Shifflett’s actions and an undue influence on the justice system. The governor’s action maintains Shifflett’s felony conviction but eliminates his prison sentence.
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Sam Nordquist, a transgender man, was found murdered in upstate New York after months of alleged abuse. His mother claims that two requested wellness checks by Canandaigua police, corroborated by call logs, were never conducted, potentially contributing to his death. Five individuals, including Nordquist’s former partner, face second-degree murder charges. Despite his mother’s pleas for help and her son’s reported attempts to escape an abusive situation, authorities’ failure to intervene is now under scrutiny.
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The US Justice Department’s decision to cut the database tracking federal police misconduct is deeply troubling. It feels like a deliberate attempt to obscure the extent of police brutality and misconduct, particularly as tensions rise and dissent grows. The timing, coinciding with increased political polarization and a seeming shift towards more authoritarian policies, raises serious concerns about accountability and transparency.
This move is not simply an oversight; it feels calculated. By eliminating the database, the government effectively lowers the visible count of cases, mimicking how the handling of COVID-19 data minimized the apparent impact of the pandemic. This deliberate obfuscation creates an environment where potential abuses of power can easily go unchecked.… Continue reading
Six correctional officers at the Marcy Correctional Facility were indicted on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter in the death of inmate Robert Brooks, who died from a beating shown in bodycam footage. Two additional officers face gang assault charges, while four others face varying charges related to the incident. Governor Hochul immediately terminated the employment of fourteen employees involved and ordered arrests following the release of the indictment. Brooks’ death was ruled a homicide resulting from neck compression and blunt force trauma.
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Following a neo-Nazi demonstration near Lockland Local Schools, Evendale police body camera footage reveals interactions between officers and the group. The footage shows the neo-Nazis’ departure in a U-Haul, leaving behind a vehicle and a service dog. Subsequent footage depicts the retrieval of one neo-Nazi and attempts to recover the abandoned Jeep, which had its tires slashed. Ultimately, the Jeep’s owner was transported to the Evendale Police Department due to safety concerns, and the Hamilton County Sheriff described the group as a small, cowardly entity. A third-party investigation into the police response is being sought by the school board.
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The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) criticized police for not filing criminal charges against an officer who admitted to assaulting his children with a belt. The IPCA determined the officer’s actions constituted three counts of child assault, despite the police concluding their investigation due to insufficient admissible evidence, stemming from the officer and his wife’s refusal to allow their children to be interviewed. Police internally censured the officer for serious misconduct, a sanction the IPCA deemed grossly inadequate. The IPCA noted that the police inexplicably cited the lack of criminal proceedings as a mitigating factor in their decision.
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The family of Sonya Massey, a Black woman killed by an Illinois police officer, will receive a $10 million settlement. This outcome, while providing some financial relief, highlights a deeply troubling pattern: taxpayers are, in effect, perpetually bailing out police departments for the wrongful actions of their officers. The sheer volume of similar cases underscores a systemic issue that demands far more comprehensive reform than simply writing checks.
It’s easy to focus on the financial aspect—$10 million is a significant sum—but for the Massey family, no amount of money can replace their loss. The settlement doesn’t erase the trauma of Sonya’s death, nor does it bring her back.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood