To serve, protect and cover up?

"Former New Orleans Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Cover Up the Danziger Bridge Shootings"
http://neworleans.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/no022410a.htm

You really need to read this one for yourself.

Contrary to popular belief, some cops are dishonest. That isn't to say all cops are dirty. But please don't fall into believing that cops don't lie.

Case in point:

In 1994 I was charged with illegally carrying a concealed firearm and disorderly conduct.

These are the facts of the case:

I had just returned from the indoor shooting range and had backed into my driveway at home. I opened the door to my pickup truck, reached over on the seat to get my Firestar .45 compact semi-auto pistol. I placed it in an inside-the-pants holster located behind my back and under my shirt. It should be noted that it was already legal to carry concealed in your home, your place of business or property leased or owned by you.

In short, no law was broken.

As I backed out of my truck I heard someone shout, "Please step away from the truck, sir!" As I turned to see where the voice came from I saw 5 police officers pointing their weapons at me. I was trying to figure out what this was all about.

Officer Plumb asked me to walk toward him as the other officers continued to point their firearms at me. He asked if I had a firearm. I replied in the affirmative. He asked where it was. I told him. He asked if it was loaded. I told him there was a magazine in the firearm, the receiver was empty and the safety was on.

He stood in front of me and reached behind me, where I told him the firearm was. Not a very bright idea, given I have been a martial arts instructor for many years and it would have been easy for me to subdue him and use him as a shield, if that was my intent.

He asked if I had a permit to carry concealed. I told him there were no permits in Arizona at that time. He said, "Yes, there is." I said, "No, there isn't. Governor Fife Symington has signed the bill but the packets aren't even available. I can sight ARS 13-3102 and it's subsections for you." He said, "I didn't know that." I said, "So you don't know the law but you're going to site me?"

He said, "I'm also going to charge you with disorderly conduct." I said, "Oh, really; for what?"
He informed me that he was going to cite me for disorderly conduct for (wait for it), "recklessly displaying a concealed firearm." Huh?? How do you recklessly display a concealed firearm?

It seems the nexus for all of this was two young kids told their parents that they saw a man with a long black shotgun. I had a very compact stainless .45. That may have been a hint that you may have the wrong guy.

Fast forward to 2 days later when I received a copy of the official police report. According to the police report, when officer Plumb arrived, I was in the street talking to my wife and a neighbor.

Fact: I was 36 feet inside my own property and my wife and neighbor were 50 feet away on my neighbor's property.

He said I began walking toward my property to get away from him, he stopped me and I told him that he was on private property. His report claims he told me that I was just in the street and I said, "Oh". He went on to say that I began reaching behind my back, he stopped me and found a concealed firearm.

Enough of this bravo sierra. Fast forward one year in Tucson City Court. Plumb brings another officer with him to substantiate his lie.

Happily, I had a judge who was sharp enough to take notes. He asked Officer Plumb's fellow officer, "Officer Gin, you must have made hundreds of stops since then. How are you remembering all the details of the case? Are you reviewing the other officer's notes?"

Gin replied, "No, your honor." "Well, you did file a report didn't you, Officer Gin?", the judge asked. "Ah, I suppose so, your honor.", Gin replied. "Well, where do you suppose your report is?" "Ah, I don't know, your honor."

The judge said, "Ya know, I take pretty good notes and I know when I'm intentionally being misled. Not guilty. Have the defendant's firearm back in the property room for him to pick it up this afternoon."

Hate to burst your bubble, folks, but this is the real world.

Are all cops bad? No, but all cops aren't good, either.