Feds investigating drug raid on small-town mayor's home (and I just wrote the governor).

[Faygo Kid]

Glad to hear the Feds are investigating, but where's Gov. O'Malley on this outrageous abuse of state police power? I'm a Maryland resident, and people here are pissed. Big time. It could have happened to any of us. I agree with other posters here, but I just had to post my own thoughts, as well as the governor's contact info, which is: http://www.governor.maryland.gov/mail/

Look at the picture, and tell me you aren't angry, too.

(CNN) -- Federal officials have opened a civil rights investigation into a police narcotics raid on the home of a Maryland mayor in which police burst in without knocking and shot the mayor's two dogs to death.

Mayor Cheye Calvo of Berwyn Heights, Maryland, and his mother-in-law were handcuffed and forced to kneel on the floor during the July 29 raid, which police said was part of an investigation into a scheme in which drugs apparently were sent to unsuspecting people.

Prince George's County police, who were in charge of the raid, issued a statement Friday clearing the couple of involvement and expressing "regret."

The FBI and the U.S. attorney's office in Maryland are investigating the incident, FBI spokesman Richard Wolf said Friday.

Calvo had asked for the federal investigation.

"We lost our family dogs," he said Thursday. "We did it at the hands of sheriff's deputies who burst through our front door, rifles blazing." . . .

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/08/08/maryland.mayor/?iref=mpstoryview

[MasonJar]

1. That is so hideous! My dogs are an integral part of my family. I would

be so angry. An apology is not enough. These police need jail time.

[tblue37]

27. Currently I have three cats, no dogs, but I have often had dogs,

too, and ferrets and budgies. I love my pets. I mean I really, really love my pets. I go into deep mourning whenever one dies, even though my pets tend to live very long, happy lives and die of old age, with my having plenty of time to recognize that the near and actually a blessinggn because of their age and infirmity.

If someone were to kill my pets suddenly, in their prime yet, I would be furious, of course, but I would also be so grief-stricken that I might never really recover from it. It would be almost like having a child murdered.

The killing of the dogs was a major blunder, because Americans are more likely to be outraged by the killing of pets than by the violation of an individal's rights or the sanctity of his home. They could have Tased the mayor, and even his wife and MIL, and many people would try to justify that--but the cops won't live this blunder down. People will care that beloved dogs were mercilessly killed.

[liberalmuse]

2. Time to hit the streets.

This is no less than fascism. Poor family. If the dogs were doing their job, they were probably barking and taking a protective stance, which got them shot. Bastards! People need to take to the streets over this shit. If they can do this to a Mayor, they'll do it to any of us.

[gratuitous]

4. Actually, one of the dogs was running away

When one of the brave, he-men thugs shot it in the back.

[Truth4Justice]

42. I am just glad the SS squad didnt miss and kill a subject..err...I mean a "citizen".

[Truth4Justice]

38. This is nothing new, its just getting worse, and this time it was a mayor. Ho-hum.

[sharesunited]

3. Here's what I advocate: Once you have seized the contraband, let it end there.

[Truth4Justice]

43. So its OK when the SS troopers knock down your door with thier guns ready to kill you for "drugs"?

[sharesunited]

58. In this case, the fuzz intercepted the package and then chose to deliver it!

So they could make an arrest. Which they eventually realized they could not make.

But oops, your dogs are dead.

For what???????????????

[MadMaddie]

69. It's worse than that the drug smugglers have the packages

delivered to unknowing victems homes and the smugglers try to intercept it before the homeowner gets it. The police fucked up on this badly and criminal charges have to be filed. The police could have stopped this before it got out of hand.

[Danger Mouse]

5. 'Regret' isn't enough.

These bastards better PAY.

[Faygo Kid]

6. That's why I wrote Gov. O'Malley. What, he thinks he can remain silent here??

He is the GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND. He is in charge here. I'm glad the Feds have initiated a civil rights investigation, but that's not nearly enough: Heads must roll. Examples must be made. The governor needs to make a clear and unequivocal statement that such fascist police power will not be tolerated in Maryland.

He needs to tell me, as a taxpaying citizen, that this will never happen to me.

And he MUST issue an abject apology to this couple, and those who care personally about them.

What the HELL is taking so long??

[Danger Mouse]

24. He better not remain silent.

[Truth4Justice]

39. They dont regret it. They will probably award medals to the stormtroopers, in fact.

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. This story was hard for me to read.

[Faygo Kid]

8. It's tough for everyone here. People are outraged.

Had lunch at a very historic inn up near Hagerstown today, and the other tables were all talking about it. We're in shock here.

Not just the dogs, but the whole possibility of this happening here. In Maryland. A very blue state, and one where we think we're safe from such outrages.

Guess we were wrong.

[Liberal_in_LA]

30. Seems like they just shoot the dogs to kill something, not cuz the dogs are dangerous

[SOS]

72. They gunned down another dog in November 2007 (wrong house)

"Deputies Raid Wrong Address, Kill Couple's Dog"

An Accokeek couple is demanding an apology after Prince George's County Sheriff's Deputies burst into their home and killed their dog - all because deputies went to the wrong address
Pam and Frank Myers were tucked away in their home Friday night watching a movie when the warrant squad pounced.
For 45 minutes the Myers were kept prisoner in their own home.
"it was terrifying. I can't sit on my couch at night any more. I'm looking over my shoulder the whole time," said Pam Myers.
The Myers say the deputies knew immediately they had raided the wrong home. They say it could have ended with an apology, until the couple heard two shots from the yard.
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1107/474003.html

[Truth4Justice]

40. This is Police State USA. Whats all the fuss about? This happens to poor black folks all the time.

[MadMaddie]

70. Yea I mentioned that the other day it's not just poor blacks but

poor in general. The mayor and his mother in law are lucky they didn't get killed, the mayor could have defended his home if he had a gun and he would be dead right now.

[Truth4Justice]

76. Thats true. The poor in general have much to fear, including the police. This drug war is crazy.

[Fumesucker]

9. What I haven't yet heard about this case..

That the mayor opposed or now opposes the drug war.

If the mayor has been a drug war supporter then he deserves that which he thinks is appropriate treatment for others.

It's perfectly obvious that the only reason this case is making the news is because it just happened to be someone who is white and powerful, otherwise it would be just another day in the big city.

If the mayor remains a drug war supporter then he deserves to lose any lawsuit.

[Faygo Kid]

12. He is a liberal, part time mayor of a small town who works at a nonprofit foundation.

He and his wife are good people. He is no "drug war supporter."

And in all my years at DU, since 2002, this is singularly the nastiest, most mean spirited post I have ever seen.

Bar none.

"Fumesucker" indeed. Why don't you go act out that name, fwad?

[High Plains]

15. Fumesucker had a point, though not about the mayor.

Shit like this happens every day of the year, and it's been happening in Maryland for years. But most of the time, it's poor black or brown people, and they might even have had drugs. That's still no excuse for this sort of paramilitarized police behavior, though.

I'll be happy to let the mayor and his nice wife be the poster-children for drug war police abuses.

[Faygo Kid]

16. I don't disagree with you on that point. But his post was over the top, anyway.

People were deeply hurt, here.

I don't like cavalierly dismissing the human toll, white or black, rich or poor (they aren't "rich.")

Your post is fine. His was bullshit. He could have Googled and found out the truth first, instead of being so dismissive and, frankly, heartless.

It's not that tough to do.

[Fumesucker]

31. Why should I have to Google?

If the mayor is or was an opponent of the drug war, it should be news, I shouldn't have to Google to find out.

I stand by what I said, anyone who supports the drug war deserves whatever happens to them in the name of that war.

[merh]

61. You are being silly - no one in their right mind believes the

"war on drug" works any more than the "war on terror"; HOWEVER, terrorists are bad and drug trafficking is against the law. As long as we have laws that make the use and distribution of drugs illegal, the cops will be expected to investigate the crimes and pursue the criminals.

Heroine and meth addictions are horrific, I think the drugs are bad.

My being supportive of the police that have to enforce the laws and stop bad guys does not mean I should accept illegal search, seizure and destruction at the hands of the cops.

Your position is as childish and thuggish as the cops you condemn.

[Fumesucker]

63. So you don't care either, depending on who this happens to?

That seems to be your point, some people (drug dealers) deserve being treated like this?

On edit, changed title for clarity.

[merh]

65. Not at all.

Being supportive of law enforcement does not mean I don't care when law enforcement breaks the law. The opposite is true.

Your position is the mayor asked for it since he didn't or hasn't opposed the war on drugs. That is a ridiculous.

Go read my other post in this thread, the cops who were a part of this should be fired (who the fuck doesn't know where the mayor lives) and the chief should be fired and/or suspended too. The training for this agency is pathetic.

What have you done in your lifetime to try to correct such wrongs and make a difference?

[Fumesucker]

67. Did the police break the law?

I haven't seen any evidence that the police broke the law, but then I only know what I read on DU.

This sort of thing happens every day in America and very few people care.

As long as it happens to the "other" and not to good, law abiding powerful white folks.

Then you care.

[merh]

68. Yes, they broke the law

they entered the home of another without probable cause, knowing that the drug folks were sending packages to unsuspecting recipients.

Since they knew that was the pattern, they had no probable cause to break into his home and kill his dogs. They had to have more to establish probable cause - the mere fact that he picked up the package didn't prove he knew what it was and intended to be the mule. Its a violation of the mayor's 4th amendment rights - cops playing rambo is not "legal" all the time.

Bad police procedure that affords the police the "authority" to violate citizens rights is against the law.

Again, what do you do to try to make a difference - what have you done in your life time to try to bring about changed except bitch on a message board?

[SOS]

73. Mayor Calvo speaks up for other victims of the police

Berwyn Heights, Maryland Mayor Cheye Calvo on the police raid on his home:

"The reality is that this happens all the time in this country and disproportionally in Prince Georges county and most of the people to whom it happens don’t have the community support and the platform to speak out. So I appreciate you paying attention to our condition but I hope you’ll also give attention to those who may not have the same platform and voice that we have."

[Faygo Kid]

75. Thanks for noting this. This thread got off track thanks to that fume guy.

He's lost it (if he ever had it).

At any rate, Mayor Calvo sounds like a good guy. I hope he runs for higher office.

My main point with this thread was to encourage people to express outrage to Gov. O'Malley, who has been silent. As governor, he is in charge of the police power of this state. He has got to condemn this raid, and assure that justice is done.

As for Calvo, he has my backing any time.

[LanternWaste]

78. Sounds suspiciously like the...

"anyone who supports the drug war deserves whatever happens to them in the name of that war."

Sounds suspiciously like the "you're either with us or against" bullshit binary thought process which always seems to harm more than heal...

[merh]

44. But he missed a huge point.

And a glaring question - HOW THE HELL do the police in a small town NOT know where the mayor lives?

Fire the fools involved in this and do some training for pete's sake.

[Fumesucker]

32. "Good people"

Show me where the mayor has spoken against the drug war before it bit him in the ass.

[Danger Mouse]

46. Oh bulshit. NOBODY deserves to have that happen to them.

Regardless of their political views.

[Fumesucker]

48. If you wish that sort of thing upon others..

Then you deserve it when it happens to you.

And virtually every politician in the US wishes that sort of thing on Billy Bob McMethmaker in Scrotal Sack, Alabama.

[Danger Mouse]

50. No...you don't. Nobody deserves to suffer that kind of cruelty

even if they are the world's biggest hypocritical asshole.

[Fumesucker]

53. Most people who undergo that sort of cruelty..

Then go on to spend time in prison suffering at the tender hands of yet more sadists.

Why do you care so much about this particular incident?

If Billy Bob McMethmaker's wobbly box and pit bulls was shot up by the cops in Hemmroid Oklahoma, would you care so much?

[Danger Mouse]

54. Pit bulls and black labs is a pretty damn big difference.

Especially if one of the dogs was running away.
And he was also not guilty of any crime.
But I think I've had about enough of your spittle-laced hate.

[Fumesucker]

56. LOL...

You admitted you wouldn't care as much, depending on who the person is.

[Faygo Kid]

59. Give it up, Elrond. The guy is an insane hater.

I appreciate your posts, my friend. It is clear you are wasting your time. This guy gets his kicks out of this having happened to these good people. He enjoys it, as well as his fantasies that they are somehow "the enemy." He is bereft of even a shred of humanity and decency, let alone rationality. You are wasting your time, I am afraid.

Let him go back to spending his Sunday morning pulling wings off flies.

[Fumesucker]

60. One does not have to enjoy something to appreciate ironic justice.

Actually I would greatly prefer this sort of thing not happen to anyone at all.

If the mayor, even at this point, has been saying anything against the drug war itself it would have been thrown in my face by now.

[Danger Mouse]

66. Just more proof that the difference between us and the Freepers...

is basic political philosophy...but some of our own are capable of just as much hatred as any freeper.

[Fumesucker]

77. I just asked the question on DU

Is there a moral imperative to warn others when we are aware of danger to the group?

DU has so far agreed that there is indeed a moral imperative to warn others.

The mayor now has firthand experience showing him that the drug war is in fact a danger to his fellow citizens.

And yet he is not speaking out against the drug war.

One does not have to be a drug user to have one's family or one's life permanently damaged by the drug war.

When it happens to you I expect that you will understand my position better.

[Canuckistanian]

22. WTF is it with the "they deserve what they get" attitude?

The cops fucking killed the guy's dogs. And left his mother-in-law cuffed on the floor for few hours in the blood of the dog they had just killed.

This is somehow justified because of his supposed opinions??

Is this your idea of the American dream????

[Danger Mouse]

25. It's the 'liberal' way!

[Fumesucker]

35. Those who support a war

Are responsible for what happens, if it the bad stuff happens to them then that is their responsibility.

Justice is when you get what's coming to you.

If you support evil against another then do not complain when that evil is focused on you.

[Danger Mouse]

45. Wishing ill on another human being is not a progressive value.

[Fumesucker]

47. I don't wish for that to happen to anyone..

Since I do not support the drug war.

On the other hand, those who do support the drug war wish that sort of thing on others.

And almost every politician of every stripe in the USA supports the drug war, it is a highly unusual thing for an American politician to speak out against the drug war.

[Fumesucker]

33. If he is a drug war supporter

And the vast majority of American politicians are..

Then it his his idea of "the American dream" not mine.

[Faygo Kid]

51. You're just weird. This guy is no "drug war supporter."

Your posts on this are bizarre. This guy and his wife are good people who got caught up in a fascist nightmare, but you are absolutely obsessed with asserting that he is "may" be involved in the "drug war," and therefore got what he deserved (WHAT!?!) rather than to comment intelligently.

One of the strangest and most offensive series of postings I have ever seen on DU.

I'm just glad you live across the country from me. I think you're unhinged.

Maybe it's the drugs. Goodbye, and good riddance.

[Danger Mouse]

52. Some people are absolutely blinded by hatred.

[Fumesucker]

55. I'm the one who has been called names here..

It isn't me that hates, it those who wish this sort of thing on others.

[Danger Mouse]

57. But you're perfectly happy to see it happen to him as long as

he was a political supporter of the drug war.
A part-time volunteer mayor, the definition of tiny small-time politician, but if he supports the drug war, then anything goes!!
You DO wish this on others because you don't mind it happening to them as long as they hold a political belief you don't like.
So if somebody supports the Iraq war, are you okay with their family being blown up by terrorists?

[Fumesucker]

62. He is the poster child for why the drug war is a bad idea

If my political beliefs were followed, then this would not have happened to this man.

So I'm not wishing it on him, he is when he wishes it on others.

[Faygo Kid]

64. "he is when he wishes it on others. . ." ? You are unhinged.

You are deranged. You have hijacked this thread, and used it for your insane, hateful rantings against this man, a small-town, part-time liberal mayor who has NOTHING TO DO with your fantasies.

I think you pose a danger to him and his family. I have never seen anything like this on DU. Please get help, and post elsewhere.

[SOS]

74. Please provide link

that Calvo "wishes it on others".

(Upthread I provided a quote from Calvo, you might be interested in his defense of all police state victims)

[Truth4Justice]

41. The American nightmare hits home. The police can and whatever the hell they want to. Police State.

[Danger Mouse]

23. I think you've been sucking on a few too many of those fumes there...

[Fumesucker]

34. Your point being?

What?

[girl gone mad]

10. Did you see the press conference last week?

It was heartbreaking. I think this woman is still suffering from ptsd.

[LisaL]

11. I don't think this couple has kids.

Mayor says these dogs were their children. They bought the house so the dogs could play in the yard. I wish that whoever shot these dogs face criminal charges for animal cruelty.

[Faygo Kid]

14. "Still" suffering? It's only been days. This will stay with them the rest of their lives.

I can't possibly imagine the trauma. She wasn't actually there, and will feel regret ("could I have done something?. . .") Her mother, God only knows - an older person on her knees, hands tied, beloved dogs dead and bleeding beside her. Son in law accused of a crime.

The mayor, at the center of it all. Really, just a guy who works at a nonprofit and served as part-time mayor to do good for his community. I just can't imagine the psychic devastation. Can't imagine.

[Hubert Flottz]

13. "expressing "regret."

That we live in the Fourth Reich...

[ellie]

17. I don't understand what happened here

Who sent the drugs? Strangers or the police? If the police sent the drugs to unsuspecting people, then isn't that entrapment? I have never refused a package at my door, especially if it was addressed to me.

[Faygo Kid]

20. Strangers. This is apparently a common way of delivery. The mayor picked up the package, unexpected

Just all screwed up. And worse.

The mayor did exactly what you would have done. Picked up the package. Apparently someone involved was supposed to grab it before he could do so.

Meanwhile, the "cops" had been following some shipments. And assumed that the mayor was the "mule," not an innocent citizen. So the brave "cops" stalked the house, and as soon as the mayor innocently picked up the package - as you or I would have done - they stormed in, and enjoyed shooting his dogs.

Totally innocent. He was picked at random, and the part-time mayor of Berwyn Heights is probably less of a celebrity than you or me.

Be afraid that this happened. Be very afraid.

[Canuckistanian]

18. There must be punishment and restitution

And that should INCLUDE a study of police methods and a RECOMMENDATION of what needs to be corrected.

Of course, at first glance, it looks like a couple of cops have a God complex.

[moobu2]

19. Wonder how often this happens? The reason I’m wondering is

This same thing happened to my neighbor. These people (my neighbors)were young and had a few parties, but i never saw anything that even suggested that they were drug dealers (ie lots of people/cars coming and going etc…) but the police got reports from other neighbors telling them otherwise. Anyway, they police broke down the door one day and killed their 2 dogs (one of them had nursing puppies). The police found one prescription bottle in the medicine cabinet that belonged to the girls mother….That’s it, no drug dealing, no drugs, nothing. I was at work that day and when I got home I heard about the commotion and went down to their house to find out what happened and there was dog blood and brain matter all over the walls and a heavy blood trail through the house that led to a closet where one of the dogs tried to hide and the police went in and shot her again. There was an amazing amount of blood everywhere.

I lived in the house I lived in for 20 years and decided to move soon after that happened because I was concerned about my dog. All it took for this to happen was some nosey neighbor making a false police report.

[Faygo Kid]

21. Too often. So sorry to hear your similar story.

This guy was just barely prominent enough to make the headlines.

For that, we can all be grateful. If that's what it takes, maybe we can fight back around this incident.

So sorry to hear about your neighbors' tragedy. You did the right thing to get the hell out of there.

I hope you will consider posting your story as a separate thread.

[tuckessee]

29. It happens all the time. In fact it's meant to happen.

It's SOP to kill all dogs during dynamic entry raids regardless of what kind of warrant is being served.

The team will have specialists (sometimes with silencers) who are tasked with liquidating the "attack" and "guard" dogs.

[EFerrari]

37. Dynamic entry raids, my granny. There's no legitimate purpose

for that kind of destruction.

[Fumesucker]

49. They might have flushed the drugs down the toilet.

And when you are serving a warrant on big time dealers it pays to be careful.

At least that is what the LEO types will tell you.

[leftyladyfrommo]

80. That's sickening. We really do live in a police state - we just don't

know it.

It really worries me. I try hard to just fly under the radar all of the time. I try to stay as far away from the law and the government as I possibly can.

I'm not sure how we got to this state. Maybe because of the war on drugs? Its worse now. Who knows who is listening in on your phone calls. Who knows who is checking in on all of your financial affairs.

Its not good.

[bluesmail]

26. Provoking a couple of high profile people by shooting their dogs!

And then saying they 'regret' that it happened, what is really going on here? And who's responsible? I Know. I Know...just blowing off steam, not that I feel any better. Agents Provocateurs.

[dmr]

28. All that Homeland Security money & the cops itching to play Rambo

That's what my son told me tonight after I explain this terrible event to him. Police departments all around the country have rec'd Homeland Security money, many of which go out and buy expensive riot gear, or whatever you call it. There really is no need for most, especially small departments to make these purchases.

In this case it was the county that had the itch to play. What in the hell happened to "Protect and to Serve"? Hell, whatever happened to decent common sense?

In regards to Homeland Security money - we as citizens and tax payers have no idea and the right removed to know how and what this money is spent on. I remember reading way-back-when that a little mountain town out west, I think Colorado, used most of their money to build a recreational/exercise center for their very, very small department. The reporter was told this was needed to keep their people relaxed and fit for emergencies. The reporter then went to NYPD & FYPD and asked them what they thought. They were very angry. They scoffed at the 'relaxed' bit. NY said they just wished they had good operating radios.

Anyway, I just added this because it angers me about how our "Protect and Serve" departments are becoming militaristic, where we are the enemy first, and law abiding citizens last.

What are we allowing ourselves to become?

I want no part of it.

[EFerrari]

36. I don't know why getting the Bush Justice Department involved

is an improvement.

That poor family.

[Two Americas]

71. it could happen to "us"

As opposed to...happening to "them?" Which it does, everyday, with little or no outrage expressed by "us." Anyone pointing out this massive discrepancy in people's reactions, depending upon whom the victim of police state actions are, is attacked for being hateful, or insensitive, or is challenged - "oh yeah what are YOU doing?" - as though that somehow invalidates their viewpoint.

Tens of thousands of people of color can be abused, and that is merely a "problem" that "we are working on" and "these things take time" - ho hum. One successful suburban white person is victimized in similar fashion, and suddenly there is great outrage and calls for something to be done.

[jayfish]

79. This Is Also An Example Of The Travesty That Is...

no-knock warrant execution.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/15/supremecourt/main1715081.shtml

Jay