A power not exploited is a power wasted

Alvie at Cliffs of Insanity reports of an Indiana sheriff who just can't wait to use a newly sanctioned power to conduct random house searches.

For some reason the good sheriff thinks people will welcome the opportunity to be treated like shit subjects.

Seems like the FBI needs to clean house

An agent involved in two standoffs in 18 years, finally was removed from service after allegedly attempting to purchase a 50 cal rifle to murder his wife and former supervisor.

A former special agent in charge of the Dallas FBI office said he tried to fire Carlos Ortiz 18 years ago after the troubled agent was involved in a seven-hour armed standoff with SWAT team members.

But Oliver "Buck" Revell said his recommendation was rejected by his FBI superiors in Washington because Ortiz, who is currently accused of plotting to kill his wife and his former boss, was deemed fit for duty by psychiatrists.

Revell said. "My recommendation to headquarters was unequivocal that this man was not qualified to be an agent or carry a weapon and I want him out of my office. They said, 'Well that would be a discriminatory action.' "

Ex-official wanted to fire FBI agent held in murder plot after 1992 standoff

Don't we want "discriminatory action" when it comes to idiots with authoritah? I guess being a minority (psycho) has its benefits.

And the bureau has known about their lack of getting rid of bad seeds for a while.

The FBI came under fire in 2004 when Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, accused the bureau of trying to keep an internal study of agents' misdeeds from becoming public. The study was written in 2000 and chronicled misconduct and crimes dating back more than a decade. It found that 63 percent of agents that were eventually fired for egregious acts – including covering up the murder of an informant, revealing classified information and rape – exhibited a history of misconduct. Nearly half had a record of previous disciplinary action.

"These findings raise concerns about whether the FBI was dealing with problem agents soon enough and rigorously enough, possibly because of a reluctance to impose severe discipline," Grassley said at the time.

Rape and murder? Over 63% of those fired had a "history of misconduct?" Although we don't have the N number of agents fired, it may indicate that the agency keeps bad apples around for a while.

Comparing the agency with private businesses, it may be at the same percentage-wise for dismissing employees after a history of misconduct. I know its sometimes difficult to git rid of non-performers and out-right crooks from a private business. The FBI is probably no different in that respect. But I think we should hold public-sector employees to a higher standard.

Especially if they carry a badge and a gun.

California Trippin'

A detective "trips" over a curb and had a negligent discharge, and he's not at fault. Officer isn't charged in machine gun shooting

SAN MATEO, Calif. — Prosecutors won't file charges against a California police detective after determining he accidentally shot a suspected gang member with a submachine gun after tripping on a curb.

San Mateo County District Attorney James Fox says Det. Kurt Rodenspeil is not criminally liable for shooting 24-year-old Joseph Ortega in the heart in August.

A report on the investigation released Wednesday says Ortega was shot when the detective lost his balance and his gun discharged.

Police say the shooting occurred as two men tried to flee in a car, with Ortega being shot as he tried to ram a police car.

Ortega remains in custody on felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon and battery on a police officer.

If you or I tripped over a shoelace, blade of grass or our own two feet, I don't think we would be let off.

Nothing more deadly than a full-auto burst.

But I thought they got them from gun shows

Going a little out of my territory (Iowa), I found this little nugget from Tennessee: Former Nashville police officer indicted in gun smuggling case

According to an indictment made public Tuesday, the men conspired to buy semiautomatic pistols, revolvers and ammunition from Middle Tennessee gun dealers and ship them to Guatemala, where they were distributed to members of two South American drug cartels.

In all, agents said, they managed to get 18 guns into the hands of the Lorenzana and Mendoza drug cartels. Authorities confiscated five other guns that allegedly were bound for Guatemala, and five additional sales were in process when the bust occurred.

Good work getting these guys indicted. But they blew it when the attorney said this:

"It's a big find," U.S. Attorney Ed Yarbrough said.

18 guns = a big find? Actually they only caught 5 guns going out and 5 more ready to go. Sorry, I don't see the "big find". But kudos for nabbing the bad guys and stopping them