Anonymous Takes Down Albuquerque Police Website To Protest Shooting Of Homeless Man

[Purveyor]

Last week, the hacktivist group Anonymous threatened to launch a cyberattack against the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) in retaliation for the fatal police shooting of James M. Boyd.

The APD confirmed to KRQE today that “unusual activity” on its website caused the site to crash Saturday night.

The website provides the community with the ability to file police reports, report traffic accidents, track stolen property, access crime statistics, and look up local sex offenders and gang members.

“We can’t confirm the cause of the interruption,” said spokesman Peter Ambs in an emailed statement. “The city of Albuquerque information technology team has been working for several days and continues efforts to ensure there have been no disruption to critical services. We will continue to monitor the situation.”

Members of the hacktivist group found the preventative measures taken by the department to be laughable. “We aren’t sure if Albuquerque PD understands what a ddos attack is,” tweeted Anonymous Operations. “Come on let’s be serious here, they deactivated their FB and Twitter.”

more...

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/30/anonymous-takes-down-albuquerque-police-website-to-protest-shooting-of-homeless-man/

[loudsue]

1. I love anonymous. They are the reason I still have hope.

They're kind of like what I think an angel must be like: you can't see 'em, you don't know if they're really there, but you feel better when you think of 'em, and stuff turns out ok when they show up.

[Ex Lurker]

3. They go after low hanging fruit

like the Albuquerque PD. They backed down from the Mexican narcoterrorists, and haven't done much against the bankers and other thugs who took down the economy.

[WinkyDink]

7. And you are doing....?

[newfie11]

4. I love anonymous also

I'm glad their out there calling attention to things we might not know about.

[NM_Birder]

11. LOL, ... hackers with halo's ?

I can hear the A-Team theme playing in the background of your post lol!

[Warpy]

2. For the original story & video

http://www.koat.com/news/new-mexico/albuquerque/man-killed-in-foothills-shooting-identified/25092396

Boyd was not a nice guy but this level of force was not called for, especially since he'd picked up his gear and was surrendering quietly until some idiot lobbed that flash-bang grenade at him.

[Nine]

5. Not sure I see the point of this.

Are they trying to do real damage to the APD? If not, then what are they hoping to accomplish? If they are... well, communities need functioning police departments, even less-than-ideal ones. Wouldn't it make more sense to rally citizens to hold the department's feet to the fire through legal means rather than launching vigilante cyber-attacks?

[blueamy66]

6. It's not like they took down APD's 911 system...

nt

[Nine]

9. But then what's the point?

If the "damage" isn't real damage, how does it serve any purpose as a deterrent against further police abuses?

[blueamy66]

12. The point, in my opinion, is to piss them off.

It was/is a huge inconvenience.

Also, this action got press. I never knew about what happened. Now I do. It opened eyes. Maybe some other cop will think twice before he/she has a choice to abuse their power.

[NM_Birder]

10. no, they "may" have been responsible

for overload traffic on the site where citizens can report crimes, check status and view sex offender home locations. That is in the article. Way to get the public on your side, make the APD LESS efficient.

If they really want to disrupt, they should cut the little string between APD dixie cups.

[blueamy66]

13. Pick up a phone to report a crime.

Pick up a phone to check status.

Who views sex offender statuses daily?

[G_j]

8. Albuquerque police face hundreds of protesters

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/30/albuquerque-police-protests/7094819/

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (AP) — A protest over deadly police shootings turned from peaceful into "mayhem," Albuquerque's mayor said late Sunday, as officers in riot gear clashed with demonstrators.

People are angry over Albuquerque police's involvement in 37 shootings, 23 of them fatal since 2010. Critics say that's far too many for a department serving a city of about 555,000.

The U.S. Justice Department has been investigating the department for more than a year, looking into complaints of civil rights violations and allegations of excessive use of force.

Alexander Siderits, 23, said he was participating because he was "fed up" with how police treat citizens. "It has reached a boiling point, and people just can't take it anymore," he said.

An Associated Press reporter saw gas canisters being thrown and Albuquerque police and Bernalillo County sheriff's deputies charging at the crowds, which had mostly dispersed by late Sunday

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