June 2, 2020

Time for a mini-thread on police unions, because it is both tricky and very high stakes.

https://twitter.com/km/status/1267178519630508032

Collective bargaining is a powerful way to prevent against profiteering and to protect workers. Its a long-standing cornerstone of progressive politics.

In '09 membership of public sector unions surpassed membership of private sector unions, as manufacturing and farming shrunk.

But police unions have some unique characteristics. I've been learning from the very good folks at Campaign Zero (https://joincampaignzero.org) and want to amplify some findings here.



Jurisdictions where there are police unions result in 40% more violent misconduct. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55ad38b1e4b0185f0285195f/t/5d92b749ad13ae3d9b293125/1569896278868/Sheriffs+Unions+Misconduct.pdf

Cities with police union contracts are 50% less likely to sustain excessive force complaints. https://bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ccpuf.pdf

This is data on cops who were *re-hired after being fired*, by region, typically after arbitration and appeal, supported by the union.


There is some cognitive dissonance for me, because I believe in collective bargaining.

But when it comes to public safety, and when the employer is *the people*, direct, transparent accountability must take precedence. And it currently isn't. By design.

Collective bargaining in police unions has become very sophisticated. And it isn't just about wages, but about insulating officers from accountability -- across the board.

These data confirm that at very granular detail. I encourage you to read all of these papers.

Finally, there is a bill on the House floor that I want to call attention to: well-intended, but will serve to strengthen the influences above, and is counterproductive to its intended end. Call your congressperson, ask them to reconsider:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1154

June 2, 2020

There are now two all white armed vigilante groups roaming Fishtown with the blessing of the Philly

https://twitter.com/jpegjoshua/status/1267599264257015816


There are now two all white armed vigilante groups roaming Fishtown with the blessing of the
@phillypolice

June 1, 2020

Barr showed up at Lafayette Park in DC, was spotted talking to police

https://twitter.com/travisakers/status/1267579561102934016


Attorney General Barr is being booed loudly by protesters after he was spotted at Lafayette Park.

Chants of "George Floyd" have broken out as Barr speaks with police.

June 1, 2020

JFC, this speech is bad . He's back to calling protestors thugs.

Tonight's gonna be a bad night.

June 1, 2020

A warrant was served on lockers of officers involved in Floyd's murder, then building burned down

https://twitter.com/webster/status/1267575768801918976



New: BCA wanted to search officers' 3rd Pct lockers & Officer Thao's work phone stored there, as is routine. Warrant was signed Thu night. Minutes later, police abandoned building and it was set ablaze. Unclear what role this played in timing; whether evidence was obtained.

When I say “unclear what role this played in timing” I mean: perhaps they were holding the crowd off long enough to allow BCA to execute the warrant to clear out the lockers; or perhaps there was no connection at all.


Here's the PDF showing the search warrant was applied for just over 72 hours after George Floyd was killed, and signed by a judge on May 28, 2020 at 9:50 p.m. (The filing date on the top right corner is just when it was docketed in the court system.)




Ok, could be a coincidence. A lot of other buildings were also set on fire but it stinks.

June 1, 2020

This David McAtee story is sad as hell. The Louisville police chief got fired.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — David McAtee, the owner of YaYa's BBQ in western Louisville, was shot and killed by law enforcement officers early Monday morning, an incident that's now under state and local police investigation.

McAtee was known as a "community pillar," said his mother, Odessa Riley. "He left a great legend behind. He was a good person. Everybody around him would say that," she said. "My son didn't hurt nobody. He didn't do nothing to nobody."

Riley was among the hundreds who had swarmed the corner of 26th and Broadway on Monday where Louisville police and National Guard personnel were breaking up a "large crowd" that had gathered in the parking lot outside a Dino's Food Mart, according to law enforcement officials. LMPD Chief Steve Conrad said in a statement on Monday that someone shot at officers and both officers and soldiers "returned fire." The identities of the suspect and the law enforcement officers who returned fire have not been released.


McAtee's mother and his nephew told The Courier Journal that he was known to feed police as well. The two said he would give law enforcement officers free meals. He fed them free," Riley said. "He fed the police and didn't charge them nothing. "My son was a good son. All he did on that barbecue corner is try to make a dollar for himself and his family," she added. "And they come along and they killed my son."

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2020/06/01/who-david-mcatee-louisville-barbecue-store-owner-killed-police/5308229002/

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Police officers involved in the early morning fatal shooting of the owner of a West End barbecue business had not activated their body cameras during the incident, Mayor Greg Fischer announced Monday afternoon.

Fischer also said that Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad, who had already announced his resignation in May, has been fired. He also extended a nightly 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. curfew to June 8.

"This type of institutional failure will not be tolerated," Fischer said.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/06/01/beshear-authorizes-investigation-into-louisville-police-national-guard-shooting/5306733002/