Cops get awarded for raiding wrong house

[Dudeskey]

City apologizes, then awards incompetence...

http://wcco.com/local/swat.team.honored.2.783216.html

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ― On Monday, Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan handed out honors to a team of officers involved in a botched raid at an innocent family's home more than seven months ago. The family is upset and their attorney criticizes the awards and questions the timing.

Just days before Christmas, the sound of intruders breaking into their home in North Minneapolis prompted Vang Khang to grab his shotgun to protect his six children. His terrified wife called 911.

Khang fired several shots at the "intruders" who turned out to be members of the Minneapolis Police Department's SWAT team. The officers returned fire. Their protective gear prevented them from being harmed by the bullets.

No one was hurt in the shootout last Dec. 16 and the Minneapolis Police Chief ordered an internal investigation. The house was left riddled with bullet holes and broken glass. Two days later, Dolan apologized to the family and launched an internal investigation to find out how the SWAT team wound up in an innocent family's house in the middle of the night.

The investigation determined that the team had gone there looking for a gang member's guns after an informant gave investigators in the department's Violent Offenders Task Force bad information. The investigation is ongoing.

On Monday, Dolan recognized members of the SWAT team for their bravery and how they handled the raid. With Mayor R.T. Rybak and other city officials looking on, the chief handed out medals and commendations.

"The easy decision would have been to retreat under covering fire. The team did not take the easy way out," Dolan told the crowd. "This is a perfect example of a situation that could have gone horribly wrong, but did not because of the professionalism with which it was handled."

The Khang family was upset when they learned of the awards given to the SWAT team.

"They were outraged and they were hurt. They were hurt. To this day this family continues to suffer," said their attorney, former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger.

Heffelfinger said the family has notified the city that they plan to file a lawsuit over the botched raid. He questions the timing and motives for the award.

"Why now are we seeing the police department honoring these men? In this context, I'm convinced this is an effort on the part of the police leadership to sanitize the conduct of their officers on December 16," he said.

"The officers put themselves in harm's way. They were shot at and shot and deserved to be recognized," said Dolan in a statement defending the awards to the SWAT team.

Dolan said an internal investigation conducted by his staff cleared the conduct of the SWAT officers who raided the Khang home.

More than seven months later, the internal review has not finished looking into how the officers and supervisors in the Violent Offenders' Task Force handled the investigative piece of the case which preceded the raid at the Khang home. So far, no one has been disciplined in connection with the mistaken raid.

[Rohirrim]

This is why the theater of the absurd failed. It couldn't keep up with reality.

[Rigs11]

Another one, they actually shot a dog that was running away from them. they felt threatened.



SWAT team raids Md. mayor's home, kills 2 dogs


BERWYN HEIGHTS, Md. (AP) — A SWAT team raided the home of a Washington, D.C.-area mayor, killing his two black Labrador retrievers and seizing an unopened package of marijuana delivered there.
Prince George's County Police said Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo brought a 32-pound package of marijuana into his home that had been delivered by officers posing as delivery men. The Tuesday evening raid was conducted by county police narcotics officers and a sheriff's office SWAT Team.

The package was addressed to Calvo's wife, Trinity Tomsic. His mother-in-law had asked the supposed delivery men to leave the package outside. Calvo has not been charged, though police said he, his wife and his mother-in-law are "persons of interest" in an ongoing investigation.

"We never opened the box. We have nothing to do with this box," Calvo said.

Sheriff's office spokesman Sgt. Mario Ellis says deputies "apparently felt threatened" when they shot the dogs.

Calvo said officers entered about 7:30 p.m., first shooting 7-year-old Payton. They then pursued 4-year-old Chase, who ran away and was shot by police from behind, he said.

Calvo said he doesn't have any idea how the package ended up at his house. He called the raid "the most traumatic experience" of his life.

Calvo, who called his town "Mayberry inside the Capital Beltway," gets a small stipend as mayor and works at the SEED Foundation, a nonprofit that runs public boarding schools for at-risk students. His wife works as a state finance officer.

"These were two beautiful black Labradors who were well-known in the community. We walked them twice a day; little kids knew their names and would come up to them and pet them," he said.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-07-31-mayor-raid_N.htm?csp=34

[Rohirrim]

Why a SWAT team on this kind of bust? For a bag of pot? I'm guessing one sheriff with a warrant could have handled it. I've never heard, in my entire life, of a labrador retriever threatening anybody.

There are just too many of these stories of totally out of control cops popping up. It's becoming a national trend.

[cutthemdown]

This is how I see the big federal push on pot we are seeing. I think DEA is worried that Obama may win the election. He has already said he will let states decide the medical marijuana issue to the states. That he won't have the DEA raid medical farms etc. I think the DEA is like well let's bust everyone we can before this happens because they are going hog wild.

This I know was a State thing but the DEA is all over the place right now also.

[Garcia Bronco]

Another one, they actually shot a dog that was running away from them. they felt threatened.



SWAT team raids Md. mayor's home, kills 2 dogs


BERWYN HEIGHTS, Md. (AP) — A SWAT team raided the home of a Washington, D.C.-area mayor, killing his two black Labrador retrievers and seizing an unopened package of marijuana delivered there.
Prince George's County Police said Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo brought a 32-pound package of marijuana into his home that had been delivered by officers posing as delivery men. The Tuesday evening raid was conducted by county police narcotics officers and a sheriff's office SWAT Team.

The package was addressed to Calvo's wife, Trinity Tomsic. His mother-in-law had asked the supposed delivery men to leave the package outside. Calvo has not been charged, though police said he, his wife and his mother-in-law are "persons of interest" in an ongoing investigation.

"We never opened the box. We have nothing to do with this box," Calvo said.

Sheriff's office spokesman Sgt. Mario Ellis says deputies "apparently felt threatened" when they shot the dogs.

Calvo said officers entered about 7:30 p.m., first shooting 7-year-old Payton. They then pursued 4-year-old Chase, who ran away and was shot by police from behind, he said.

Calvo said he doesn't have any idea how the package ended up at his house. He called the raid "the most traumatic experience" of his life.

Calvo, who called his town "Mayberry inside the Capital Beltway," gets a small stipend as mayor and works at the SEED Foundation, a nonprofit that runs public boarding schools for at-risk students. His wife works as a state finance officer.

"These were two beautiful black Labradors who were well-known in the community. We walked them twice a day; little kids knew their names and would come up to them and pet them," he said.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-07-31-mayor-raid_N.htm?csp=34


This makes me want to cry.

[Hotrod]

The first story where the guy shot at the cops I'm actually surprised hes not in jail.

[Garcia Bronco]

The first story where the guy shot at the cops I'm actually surprised hes not in jail.

Well think about it. They invaded his house for no good reason. I don't own a gun, but if I did I would have probably shot at them also. It's the frickin Kobayashi maru

[Florida_Bronco]

City apologizes, then awards incompetence...

http://wcco.com/local/swat.team.honored.2.783216.html
You'd be surprised how often things like this happen. I can understand awarding the officers though. They were shot, and despite the circumstance in this case, being shot in the line of duty should bring some kind of recognition.

Thank God no one on either side was hurt though. The homeowner acted in the best interest of his family even though he could have easily been killed.

[TailgateNut]

You'd be surprised how often things like this happen. I can understand awarding the officers though. They were shot, and despite the circumstance in this case, being shot in the line of duty should bring some kind of recognition.

Thank God no one on either side was hurt though. The homeowner acted in the best interest of his family even though he could have easily been killed.

Awarding the officers for breaking and entering into the wrong home. They should get the "dumbass of the week award".

...and the officers could also have been killed, and rightfully so.

[BroncoBuff]

It was a mistake, sure ... but they could've kiled them and they didn't. Maybe not worthy of an award, but the mistake wasn't the officers fault, and they restrained themselves.

Not like the NYPD that poured 50 rounds into the newlyweds' limo.

[Florida_Bronco]

Awarding the officers for breaking and entering into the wrong home. They should get the "dumbass of the week award".

...and the officers could also have been killed, and rightfully so.

These are SWAT officers, they were likely just the "muscle" behind the work of some detectives. The person who botched this was probably outside waiting for them to clear the house of any danger.

[Florida_Bronco]

It was a mistake, sure ... but they could've kiled them and they didn't. Maybe not worthy of an award, but the mistake wasn't the officers fault, and they restrained themselves.

Agreed. This could have turned out very badly for either, or even both sides. It's nothing short of a miracle this didn't resolve in any deaths.

[gunns]

This is how I see the big federal push on pot we are seeing. I think DEA is worried that Obama may win the election. He has already said he will let states decide the medical marijuana issue to the states. That he won't have the DEA raid medical farms etc. I think the DEA is like well let's bust everyone we can before this happens because they are going hog wild.

This I know was a State thing but the DEA is all over the place right now also.

DEA really couldn't give a **** less about marijuana. If they do it's because they are after some big fish who's doing other things and they want to use the marijuana to get to him.

[baja]

You'd be surprised how often things like this happen. I can understand awarding the officers though. They were shot, and despite the circumstance in this case, being shot in the line of duty should bring some kind of recognition.

Thank God no one on either side was hurt though. The homeowner acted in the best interest of his family even though he could have easily been killed.

Dude is your fraternity ever wrong?

[gunns]

It was a mistake, sure ... but they could've kiled them and they didn't. Maybe not worthy of an award, but the mistake wasn't the officers fault, and they restrained themselves.

Not like the NYPD that poured 50 rounds into the newlyweds' limo.


Because the officers were crappy shots we should be applauding? Please. The mistake was the officers and anytime these mistakes happen it falls on them. Whose fault is it? The informants? Whose informant was he? Observe first to make sure your "informant" isn't pulling a fast one on you. But no, it's gung ho, pull the guns and let's raid. Doesn't sound like they announced themselve either. They were lucky they weren't killed and the owner of the home would have been within his rights. Of course they would have turned it around where the family were a bunch of "cop killers".

[Beantown Bronco]

Because the officers were crappy shots we should be applauding? Please.

A lot of folks seem to have missed this point as well. Pretty pathetic if you ask me, especially if we're talking about SWAT here. I'd be embarrassed if I were them.

[BroncoBuff]

DEA really couldn't give a **** less about marijuana. If they do it's because they are after some big fish who's doing other things and they want to use the marijuana to get to him.
Well, the chief said they used "covering fire" or something, and said things could have been tragic but were not, and that the officers "averted" tragedy. The impression I got was the cops were restrained in not going after kill-shot after kill-shot like a pack of animals. Maybe I'm giving them too much credit ... but this scenario seems mildly laudable to me.

And it's important to remember ... the actual MISTAKE was just one guy's fault (probably just one). The guys with the vests and guns aren't reading the map, they just get in the truick and go where they're taken.
.

[Florida_Bronco]

Well, the chief said they used "covering fire" or something, and said things could have been tragic but were not, and that the officers "averted" tragedy. The impression I got was the cops were restrained in not going after kill-shot after kill-shot like a pack of animals. Maybe I'm giving them too much credit ... but this scenario seems mildly laudable to me.

And it's important to remember ... the actual MISTAKE was just one guy's fault (probably just one). The guys with the vests and guns aren't reading the map, they just get in the truick and go where they're taken.
.

Good post again.

[gunns]

Well, the chief said they used "covering fire" or something, and said things could have been tragic but were not, and that the officers "averted" tragedy. The impression I got was the cops were restrained in not going after kill-shot after kill-shot like a pack of animals. Maybe I'm giving them too much credit ... but this scenario seems mildly laudable to me.

And it's important to remember ... the actual MISTAKE was just one guy's fault (probably just one). The guys with the vests and guns aren't reading the map, they just get in the truick and go where they're taken.
.


Since the article didn't give all the information it's hard to form a real opinion. But the status quo with cops is when they are fired on they shoot to kill. I find it hard to believe they weren't.

[cutthemdown]

These are SWAT officers, they were likely just the "muscle" behind the work of some detectives. The person who botched this was probably outside waiting for them to clear the house of any danger.

still you don't give an award for it. That just seems silly to everyone. I'm sure these officers have done better things then this before. Police should worry more about stopping crime and less about patting each other on the back for it. There doing there job plain and simple.

This is a stupid thing to give an award for. Thank god they didn't kill the guy.

[Florida_Bronco]

But the status quo with cops is when they are fired on they shoot to kill. I find it hard to believe they weren't.

As it should be IMO. However it's possible that the officers were able to recognize that this was not the person they were looking for and fired warning shots. To be fair, it's also equally possible that they simply missed.

still you don't give an award for it. That just seems silly to everyone. I'm sure these officers have done better things then this before. Police should worry more about stopping crime and less about patting each other on the back for it. There doing there job plain and simple.

This is a stupid thing to give an award for. Thank god they didn't kill the guy.

I disagree. These officers nearly gave their lives in the line of duty, and the fact that they were told to raid the wrong house doesn't diminish that IMO. It would be different if they were the ones who picked the wrong house, but given the role of a SWAT team in a modern police department that is unlikely.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

And it's important to remember ... the actual MISTAKE was just one guy's fault (probably just one). No, there are multiple agencies and people involved in a raid like this.