ProSouth
10-07-2004, 07:25 AM
I was having a discussion with someone last night about the Newark Police Department's use of so-called anonymous tips to solve crimes. His business just recently was targeted by dirty cops because he had words in his bar with a drunk off-duty Newark detective. All of a sudden someone makes an "anonymous" complaint, all lies, to A.B.C. that put his business in jeopardy.
The Newark PD is strange when it comes to "anonymous" complaints and this system has been used to harass innocent people. Newark does not track anonymous complaints but they act upon them using police resources and manpower. Let me give you 2 example:
Example #1
Two grocery stores on the same block. Store #1 wants to eliminate the competition on the block. So store #1 makes up a lie about store #2 selling drugs out of their store. Store #1 makes an anonymous complaint to the police with the false information regardinging store #2. Newak PD begin an investigation regarding the false allegations. The investigation proves false. Store # 1 makes another anonymous complaint with the same allegations a month later. And again an investigation is ensued. This time they decide to get a search warrant and "raid" store #2. They find nothing, but store #2 business is disrupted, why, because of a lie from store #1. Police man-hours are lost, people could have been hurt and a business has been disputed.
Now at that point some "Einstein" at NPD figures out that they have been duped and someone is making false complaints against the store #2. But so what. If store #1 never makes the complaint again he's off scott free. Why, because we don't track anonymous complaints and information.
Example #2
A police officer who is a member of the NPD's Vice Squad tries to shake down the owner of a bar. The owner refuses to pay. The police officer then writes an anonymous letter to the Newark Police or his own unit (Vice) and says in the letter that this bar is selling drugs and has illegal gambling. The Vice Squad initiates an authentic investigation based upon it's own officer's false "anonymous" complaint. That officer who made the complaint along with his fellow officers (who are also on the take) lie and say that they witnessed enough probable cause for a search warrant. A raid conducted and during the raid evidence is planted by the police and the honest owner is falsely arrested. All over an anonymous complaint.
Solution:
Do like many other large cities do. Track anonymous complaints by giving the giving the complaintants a number. The number is tied to this anonymous individual just in case the allegation is false. Also if complaint is made via telephone keep track of the phone number they are calling from. Keep the person's identity anaonymous but have a way to put your hands on them if need be and not for prosecutorial purposes. There should be a strict law against revealing the identity of individuals who give anonymous tips and information for the exception of those who make false "anonymous" complaints. They should go to jail. Keeping track of these anonymous complaints will save police man-hours and keep the information more reliable. Newark PD will lock up your mother on anonymous, unsubstanciated info which in turn breeds a lack of confidence in the police.
What do you guys think???
The Newark PD is strange when it comes to "anonymous" complaints and this system has been used to harass innocent people. Newark does not track anonymous complaints but they act upon them using police resources and manpower. Let me give you 2 example:
Example #1
Two grocery stores on the same block. Store #1 wants to eliminate the competition on the block. So store #1 makes up a lie about store #2 selling drugs out of their store. Store #1 makes an anonymous complaint to the police with the false information regardinging store #2. Newak PD begin an investigation regarding the false allegations. The investigation proves false. Store # 1 makes another anonymous complaint with the same allegations a month later. And again an investigation is ensued. This time they decide to get a search warrant and "raid" store #2. They find nothing, but store #2 business is disrupted, why, because of a lie from store #1. Police man-hours are lost, people could have been hurt and a business has been disputed.
Now at that point some "Einstein" at NPD figures out that they have been duped and someone is making false complaints against the store #2. But so what. If store #1 never makes the complaint again he's off scott free. Why, because we don't track anonymous complaints and information.
Example #2
A police officer who is a member of the NPD's Vice Squad tries to shake down the owner of a bar. The owner refuses to pay. The police officer then writes an anonymous letter to the Newark Police or his own unit (Vice) and says in the letter that this bar is selling drugs and has illegal gambling. The Vice Squad initiates an authentic investigation based upon it's own officer's false "anonymous" complaint. That officer who made the complaint along with his fellow officers (who are also on the take) lie and say that they witnessed enough probable cause for a search warrant. A raid conducted and during the raid evidence is planted by the police and the honest owner is falsely arrested. All over an anonymous complaint.
Solution:
Do like many other large cities do. Track anonymous complaints by giving the giving the complaintants a number. The number is tied to this anonymous individual just in case the allegation is false. Also if complaint is made via telephone keep track of the phone number they are calling from. Keep the person's identity anaonymous but have a way to put your hands on them if need be and not for prosecutorial purposes. There should be a strict law against revealing the identity of individuals who give anonymous tips and information for the exception of those who make false "anonymous" complaints. They should go to jail. Keeping track of these anonymous complaints will save police man-hours and keep the information more reliable. Newark PD will lock up your mother on anonymous, unsubstanciated info which in turn breeds a lack of confidence in the police.
What do you guys think???