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ChrisHayes's Blog

by ChrisHayes from St. Louis

Last Post 22 days, 11 hours Ago


Before our first report, we're already getting a big response to our investigation about filing complaints with officers about other officers.
I'll be interested to your hear any stories you may have as well as thoughts about our three part investigation (Feb. 12, 13 & 14 on Fox 2 News at 9.0) Please refrain from using names when making accusations against other people and/or Departments.
We tested nearly 20 St. Louis area Police Departments, using a nationally recognized organization called the Police Complaint Center. For nearly 20 years, the group has tested departments for racial profiling and complaint intake.
Founder Diop Kamau, used to be a police officer himself, for the Hawthorne California Police Department near Los Angeles. He says he witnessed and experienced police abuse and racism while he was working as an officer so he started the non-profit organization to hold the police accountable.
The Police Complaint Center has tested more than 1,000 departments. But the group has never come to St. Louis. That's why we hired them to come here. You'll start seeing the results, Monday night.
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Member Comments Total Comments: 94
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LadyCardFan read my blog view my photos
Feb 12, 2007 | 8:23 PM

Chris,

I look forward to seeing the results. While I know there is abuse out there, I also know that there are a lot of absolutely wonderful officers who do their job as it is suppose to be done. I hope that during this report that this is discussed too, even as a sidebar.

Lady

jeanette read my blog view my photos
Feb 12, 2007 | 9:27 PM

I agree with you ladycard.I think their are more good them bad.Only takes 1 spoiled apple to ruin the whole department.

LadyCardFan read my blog view my photos
Feb 12, 2007 | 9:40 PM

Very true Jeanette.

Sensibly-Forward read my blog
Feb 12, 2007 | 10:51 PM

OK first of all... the *Police Complaint Center's official website is "Police Abuse.org*


They are not a *nationally recognized organization" like a non-biased source or something. They are an anti-cop organization.

That being said...

Cool video of their work...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p53ky3RIjfU

Cuteypops read my blog view my photos
Feb 12, 2007 | 11:00 PM

This is one of the most interesting segments Fox has put on in a long time. You are doing a great job of reporting. I can't wait to see more.

marley read my blog
Feb 12, 2007 | 11:03 PM

I agree cuteypops can't wait to see the rest, with the snow and sleet i just hope i don't lose power i also can't wait to see how well flor police dept fairs cuz that's where i am.

chopper1
Feb 12, 2007 | 11:07 PM

Why don't we just let the police do their job and stop criticizing every move they make? Their job is hard enough as it is; trying to keep everyone safe including the ones who would spit on them at any given chance. I would get aggravated also if someone came into my place of employment wasting my time to try and make an illegitimate complaint. Who are the first ones you call for help? Who are the first ones you criticize when you need media coverage? Although police officers are highly trained, we have to remember that they are human also and like all humans, they make mistakes. Fox 2, you should be ashamed of yourselves for trying to make our great police officers look bad!

stlcitizen
Feb 12, 2007 | 11:11 PM

i was just thinking you should go to lincoln county.. i was passing through and i was stopped by the law. i asked why i was pulled over and he told me he would tell me in a min and never did. he called the k9 officer (without a cause) and had him tear apart my car. he was very rude to us and when everything was said and done he wouldnt let me pull off he had my wife drive off. i asked why i couldnt and he said he didnt apper.my attiude when i ask why i was pulled over..those cops are very rude..thanks

davidinstl
Feb 12, 2007 | 11:14 PM

It's not about making them look bad, it was a simple segment to see if a citizen could go into a police department and get an officer complaint form. Getting a form should be a simple exchange, between the citizen and the police department. I am sure they will show the departments that provided the form and the departments that it took a little more work to get. It shouldn't be a difficult task. Many companies have complaint forms where the general public is involved.

chopper1
Feb 12, 2007 | 11:30 PM

You do have a point... I’m just against Fox 2 always depicting our police officers as bad people. They go as far out of their way to hire an out of state organization to go undercover to try and once again, put our police officers in the spotlight? I’m totally against that. Maybe Fox 2 should start covering when our police officers are handed awards when they are recognized for doing a "great job" by their department. It's sad that these incidences are only covered in my small town paper.

Sgt63
Feb 12, 2007 | 11:35 PM

I can't beleive Fox2 employed guerilla tactics and hired someone like Greg Slate. You can check his own site and see how he acts and see that the transcrips from his own vedios don't match. His camera also does not show the hand jesters, facial expressions and cold stare that he uses. When he is asked a simple question from a supervisor who wants to find out what kind of problem may exist, Slate turns up the heat showing any seasoned cop that there is some other reason for his visit. Wasting the time of the police when they are trying to take care of real problems is not a test it is obsruction.

davidinstl
Feb 12, 2007 | 11:37 PM

I agree with you. Some of Fox 2's antics are a little "sneaky" to say the least. But it makes for interesting news. But then again, the news now a days is mostly about negative events as opposed to positive. I do find this topic interesting still. I guess we will have to see what Part 2 brings us.

Cuteypops read my blog view my photos
Feb 13, 2007 | 12:19 AM

With all the negative that I just read. I don't care if I went to a police station and acted as if I had an attitude or looked crazy at them. There job is to give me the form I asked for not beat me down or kick me out. Right is right and wrong is wrong. For those who live in the clouds, yes we do have great policeman, but there are also alot who are corrupt in our police force. Won't name districts. I have also heard of many stories on Fox2 where police were awarded medals and certificates. So come down from the clouds.

futuremrspowell read my blog
Feb 13, 2007 | 1:04 AM

I am one of the many looking forward to seeing these results. I've heard of police protecting their own, but to be rude to someone for asking a simple question? All you guys wanted was to get a form. These officers are very obviously not serving and protecting their public. What if an officer did something that goes completely against their hipocratic oath? I can't think of an example, but you get the point. By not being able to get a form, they are keeping the public in danger by not allowing justice to take place. Just like what was said in the story Monday night, without a written record or some kind of video or audio recording, nobody can prove that anything happened and nobody is safe from it happening again.

Sgt63
Feb 13, 2007 | 1:47 AM

Hey cutepops, get your head out of your ass. Don't you think those officers had better things to do then dealing with an idiot like Slate trying to get complaint forms under false pretenses. Why don't you ask to see the WHOLE video of what is happening than what is edited for TV viewing. I'm glad I wasn't a victim of a crime that night. This stunt may have prevented an officer from responing quicker for TV ratings. After all it is sweeps week!

dj448
Feb 13, 2007 | 2:44 AM

Just for the record, on the report aired 02/12/07, the officer in Texas that "was apparently reaching for a weapon" was reaching for his handcuffs... which were located right behind his gun. He never once grasped his gun... and you can even see the handcuff case snap open.

tiredof read my blog
Feb 13, 2007 | 4:32 AM

What timing! As if Saint Louis Police Departments don't have enough problems with being rated #1 for the highest crime rate in the nation! Everyone should know by now that the media is not for the Police. If they make a mistake the media is sure there to cover the story and hang the Police out to dry. Give the Police a break and take a rest.
REMEMBER, you will need the Police before they will ever need you!!!!! Your car gets stolen, you get robbed, your house is burglarized who do you call? DUH!

mlisa2 read my blog view my photos
Feb 13, 2007 | 8:06 AM

Awesome! Can't wait to see more.........

sumnut
Feb 13, 2007 | 11:41 AM

My grandfather was a fine police officer and Police chief. He held his officers to a very high standard. I personally saw him reprimand officers for actions unbecoming of an officer and I have seen him hand awards to other officers that went beyond the call of duty. In the small community where I live we have officers that would go the distance for citizens but I believe we also have those officers that would go that same distance for their fellow officers. Some officers have even turned their backs on their own to save another. I am simply saying that there are good and there are bad. I appreciate what Fox 2 is doing with this investigation. This investigation is nothing more then informative, just information! We all want to be kept informed when there has been a horrible accident, but yet some of us do not want to be kept informed when there might be something unjust going on in our own neighborhoods. So you decide, either you want to be kept informed or you don't, either way your choice. My choice is I will tune in to watch the conclusion of this investigation.

KAM1234
Feb 13, 2007 | 1:20 PM

Sorry to interupt, But for the comment about the police have better things to do is completely wrong! ther are paid by us to protect and serve us! that is there job! they knew that when they signed up, If they cant do that i heard there are a couple of fast food restruants hiring!

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ChrisHayes

I'm an investigative reporter looking to expose crime and corruption. I'm interested in uncovering anything citizens should know about. You are my eyes and ears. Tell me what's going on.

Member Since: 9/13/2006