worst stories | PoliceMisconduct.net

Worst of the Month — April 2013

May 9, 2013 @ 1:20 PM by Tim Lynch

This month we have two particularly egregious cases in which police officers have been accused of crimes against victims. That is, these are instances in which people called the police for help, but the police instead victimized them all over again.

The worst case is from Bolivia, North Carolina. According to the complaint filed by a minor’s guardian ad litem, a police officer, Jaymin Lenwood Murphy, came to a home to investigate allegations that an adult had sent inappropriate photos via cell phone to a minor child. The officer said he needed to question the minor in private. Once in private, the officer had the minor remove her clothing so he could take photos for his ‘investigative file.’ It gets worse. The officer later returned on minor’s fourteenth birthday and raped her.

The runner-up story comes from Bakersfield, California. A 21-year-old woman called the police to report a burglary. Two deputies arrived and one led her into a room where she was then sexually assaulted under the pretense of a ‘pat-down’ search by the deputy. The authorities did move promptly against this deputy–so good for them.

Worst of the Month — March 2013

April 9, 2013 @ 4:26 PM by Tim Lynch

This is a bit tardy because of recent travels, but for March it is the story about former Police Chief Bruce Barlow from Mendenhall, Mississippi:

The indictment said Barlow instructed “his officers to seize cash at every arrest, including money from people arrested for misdemeanors.” When some of those people were arrested, Barlow offered to let them go or reduce charges if they forfeited their property and money, the indictment said. Sometimes he allegedly demanded more money “purporting to be contributions to the police department’s ‘drug fund.’ ” If the payment was in cash, the money rarely made it to the drug fund, the indictment said.

When then-Chief Barlow became aware that he was under investigation, he started committing more crimes:

Barlow tried to create and back-date an inventory list of the property he had taken and took money purported to be for the drug fund to Mendenhall City Hall for deposit, the indictment said. The former chief also is charged with attempting to “intimidate, threaten and corruptly persuade” a witness to lie to the grand jury.

Worst of the Month – February 2013

March 5, 2013 @ 3:02 PM by Tim Lynch

This month it is the story from California where totally innocent people were shot by police during the manhunt for Christopher Dorner. There is no greater responsibility for a police officer than his/her use of deadly force. If they get that wrong, the less important tasks hardly matter. Alas, there is a tendency for departments to back up questionable conduct–perhaps out of fear of lawsuits. But if the officer did exercise lousy judgment in the incident, and he is not relieved of duty (or charged), what do you say to the next victim?

The runner-up comes from Bozeman, Montana. At first, the complaint was about excessive force by certain officers. Then, in response to that complaint, the police went back and intentionally altered an audio tape–deleting the portions they did not want the judge and jury to hear. If civilians engaged in conduct like that, the government would call it obstruction of justice, spoliation of evidence, and possibly perjury.

Worst of the Month — January 2013

February 7, 2013 @ 2:55 PM by Tim Lynch

We are starting a new feature here on the web site. We’re basically going to highlight what we think was the worst police misconduct story each month. We invite feedback from our readers–whether by email or postings on our Facebook page–as the stories come in during the month. We’re not going to try to tally up votes or anything like that, but having constructive feedback is always helpful to us. If our choices seem arbitrary and subjective–that’s probably because they are. Maybe after several months of hearing from our readers and the reasons they offer for particular stories, we’ll find some kinda consensus criteria. Maybe not. In any event, let’s start this.

For January 2013, it’s the story from the Los Angeles Times about two cops who would use their official police powers to coerce sex from women. According to the authorities, these officers would drive women to secluded places, threaten arrest, and then offer them “a way out.” Faced with such threats under such circumstances, the women not only feared the consequences of a false arrest (and that no one would believe them), they feared for their lives. How would one know what these cops were prepared to do?

The runner-up story comes from Ohio. Sgt. Brian Dulle died in the line of duty. A fellow officer, William Hunt, started a memorial fund for Dulle’s widow. But it turns out that Hunt stole money from that fund to pay off personal loans. Sheriff Larry Sims said, “To steal from your friend who was killed and his family, it’s just unspeakable.” Yes, it is, and it makes you wonder why the prosecutors are only asking for probation in this matter.