13 December 2011

Occupy Baltimore has been evicted. See www.InvestigativeVoice.com for full report.
Occupy Baltimore has been evicted. See www.InvestigativeVoice.com for full report.

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09 December 2011

COP OUT - Is The Baltimore Police Department Actively Hiding Officer Misconduct?

Well Rehearsed Routine Allows Misinformation To Flourish

By A.F. James MacArthur
MacArthurMedia@gmail.com


There's an ongoing, elaborate, active effort of evasiveness, by the Baltimore Police Department to keep bad information about its officers from ever seeing the late of day.  Sure, every so often a sacrificial lamb is offered up to satisfy those who only observe the surface, but deep below lurks a murky pit of deception and deceit.

On the record, the department will say they're committed to transparency and accountability, but for anyone attempting in-depth coverage of the agency, reality rings different.  In many cases, when a situation occurs, depending on upon who the officer is and his or her internal alliances and affiliations, a whole system of  misdirection and suppression, in attempts to cover the indiscretion is activated.  By the time information is released to the media, the red herring has already been smeared across the trail, and the foul scent leads the hounds astray and away from the truth.

In up coming reports, we'll attempt to dismantle and untangle the sticky web, where what should be public information, goes to die.  There's at least a half dozen cases you've probably never heard of, we will do our best to expose.

From questionable shootings of civilians, to dangerous high speed chases, faked injuries and fraudulent workmens compensation claims, and even domestic abuse perpetrated by officers, there's a lot more going on with an agency charged to protect and serve us, than you would ever know from following Baltmore's mainstream media.

Under the guise of "personnel matters," shields are raised, while misdeeds manage to burrow further down the rabbit hole.  Anyone doubting this should look up the published record of what we now know of former Baltimore Police Officer Gahiji Tshamba.  Before killing an unarmed Marine in a drunken off-duty night club incident, he was involved in numerous alcohol fueled altercations, including crashing his car, destroying a gas station, and shooting other unarmed civilians who happened to survive, all the while being allowed to remain on the job.

His case, while startling, is only the tip of the iceberg, but should serve as an illustration of how misconduct, even rising to the level of criminal acts, have not been a disqualifier for continued employment with the Baltimore Police Department.

With a newly sworn in Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake making overtures to maintaining open government in the city, the roadblocks continually thrown in front independent investigative journalists tell a different story.  As the Baltimore Spectator continues the quest of bringing you accurate and timely news and views not commonly heard, we'll see how Baltimore city and its agencies cooperate.

Baltimore Spectator On Twitter

TIP LINE: 410-205-NEWS (6397) Voice/Text capable
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Committed to holding those in authority accountable, A.F. James MacArthur has personally investigated or initiated internal affairs inquiries on numerous public servants, resulting in a variety of punishments and sanctions of those who violate the public trust.

08 December 2011

MOUNTED UNIT -- Alleged Public Sex Act Lays Suspension On Two Female Police Officers

Possible Cover Up Kept Incident Under Wraps Nearly Two Months

By A.F. James MacArthur
MacArthurMedia@gmail.com
Baltimore Police Officer Kelly Steinhorn
In a story that seems straight out a low budget porn film, two Baltimore Police Department, Mounted Unit officers, are alleged to have engaged in a public sex act with a third individual, said to be a man.  Specific details remain unclear, but known facts appear to be adding up to yet another embarrassing, notorious scandal, for the beleaguered police department.

Baltimore Police chief spokesman, Anthony Guglielmi, confirmed to the Baltimore Spectator, two officers were suspended and placed on administrative duty while the incident is investigated.  Although he would not release the names of the officers involved, sources reveal them as Kelly Steinhorn and Jill Murphy, both assigned to the Mounted Unit, which patrols the streets on horseback.


SWEPT UNDER THE RUG?

Guglielmi also stated, that while the incident occurred in October, it is still currently under active investigation, with the administrative suspensions being handed down only within the past week.  He could not explain why a two month old incident, was still under investigation.

Sources tell the Baltimore Spectator, a third female officer caught the others in the act and may have been threatened about going forward with reporting it.  Word is, the unidentified officer's complaint may have been initially ignored by Mounted Unit supervisor Sgt. John Ambrose.


MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN

Officer Jill Murphy, photo by J.M. Giordano
The incident is reported to have happened at a bar in Baltimore.  While Guglielmi claims the accused officers were both off duty, it is not clear whether the third officer reporting the incident, was also off duty.  The circumstances involving how or why she came into contact with the initial two officers, and the third, as of yet to be identified, individual involved in the alleged sex act remain murky, but sources say she may have been on duty.

Although the supposedly took place while the officers were "off duty," the spokesman referred to it as an "integrity issue," and said possible violations of officers code of conduct would not be tolerated. With the entire incident under investigation by the Internal Affairs Division, the officers face further potential punishment, including possible termination.


HEARD HERE FIRST

Initially broken the Baltimore Spectator twitter feed, early Wednesday morning, the story has generated a ton of buzz, with several mainstream media outlets picking it up, prompting a press conference at Baltimore Police headquarters by Wednesday afternoon.

For a department that's no stranger to constant scandal and controversy, this latest episode is serving as the number one scuttlebutt with officers on the force.  Another distraction from their core purpose.  According to one officer, speaking anonymously, "we can't get out of our own way sometimes."

TIP LINE: 410-205-NEWS (6397)
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A.F. James MacArthur attended and trained at several police academies.  Although once caught with a female fellow cadet sitting on his lap, he was never part of a mounted unit.




Other Sources

Fox 45's Keith Daniels, broke the story on TV

Adam May, from WJZ added additional details

ABC 2