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CHP Officers Steal, Forward Nude Pictures From Arrestee Smartphones 275

sabri writes: Following the initial suspension of a California Highway Patrol officer earlier this week, news has come out that the CHP has an entire ring of officers who steal and subsequently share nude pictures. The nudes are stolen from women who are arrested or stopped. Officer Sean Harrington of Martinez reportedly confessed to stealing explicit photos from the suspect's phone, and said he forwarded those images to at least two other CHP officers. Where is the ACLU when you need them the most?
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CHP Officers Steal, Forward Nude Pictures From Arrestee Smartphones

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  • Prison time (Score:5, Insightful)

    by weilawei ( 897823 ) on Saturday October 25, 2014 @08:34AM (#48228663)

    Now. No other options. This shit has gotta stop.

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward

      Copyright infrigment, they know how to deal with that.

    • Re:Prison time (Score:4, Insightful)

      by flyneye ( 84093 ) on Saturday October 25, 2014 @09:00AM (#48228793) Homepage

      LOL, here in this small industrial city, our "incarceration officers" have, over the last 2 years been cited three times for male rape and yesterday they caught one stealing $200 from another officers purse. I have personally caught patrolmen smoking pot, getting fellatio while driving and stealing personal items from car wrecks.
      A friend was raped one night, returning from the lake by an officer who pulled her over and similar stories I have heard for the last 20 years.
      My best advise for dealing with cops is; buy a throwaway gun and hope you never have to use it on a more and more typical, rogue cop. If you do; empty the chamber into their head and run like hell.

    • Re:Prison time (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Applehu Akbar ( 2968043 ) on Saturday October 25, 2014 @09:26AM (#48228913)

      The problem is precedent. It has now been established in law that a cop can mow down a pedestrian while texting and not be charged for it (CA), and toss a hand grenade into a baby's crib during a wrong-address raid and not be charged for it (GA) . Small wonder that the right now hates cops just as much as the left ever did.

      • Re: Prison time (Score:2, Interesting)

        by Anonymous Coward

        It's a problem in the US because you use a common law system. Frankly I'm surprised it hasn't switched to a civil law system.

      • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

        by CODiNE ( 27417 )

        I read the article on the hand grenade situation linked to by another replier to your post.

        1. The cops were raiding a meth house, they had the right address according to the report.
        2. They attempted entry via the front door with a battering ram and it was blocked. They thought it was a person pressing against the door so they tossed the flash grenade through the opening.
        3. On discovering the infant they immediately go it medical care. Wished they knew it was there, would have used the side doors and no

        • Re:Prison time (Score:4, Insightful)

          by Charliemopps ( 1157495 ) on Saturday October 25, 2014 @12:30PM (#48229859)

          All of that is irrelevant.
          The police should not be allowed to use any weapons the general public doesn't have. Period.
          Grenades, flash or otherwise, are complete overkill.

          What would have happened had they not been able to enter that building?

          There seems to be this idea that the police, in search of a conviction, can put everyone withing a quarter mile radius into mortal danger. That's flat out stupid. Surround the house, get on the bullhorn "Come out with your hands up!" and wait. Worst case, they flush the drugs. But that was the goal right? Get rid of the drugs? Fact of the matter is, pull the toilet and there's plenty stuck in the trap for the conviction anyway.

          There is absolutely no excuse for the police to act as violently as they do.

        • Re:Prison time (Score:5, Interesting)

          by Firethorn ( 177587 ) on Saturday October 25, 2014 @12:47PM (#48229981) Homepage Journal

          Now unless that article is a total white-wash, it sounds like a tragic mistake. Like insurgents who hide their weapons behind children hoping to vilify their attackers, it seems quite strange someone would place a baby's crib blocking their own front door.

          Now ask why they're breaching in the midnight to 4 am time period, why they're breaching at all when there's no evidence that somebody's life is in immediate danger, etc... Heck, I was just reading about where they decided to raid both sides of a duplex and did the full 'bang&bash' before shooting a seven year old in the head. [huffingtonpost.com] Disregarding signs of a child being in the house like toys scattered around the lawn... The seven year old didn't even live in the side where the suspect lived, there were no interior connections, etc... I don't even blame the officer who shot her all that much - his actions were the tip of an iceberg that involved the whole department. The chief's decision to have a SWAT team. The leader who decided to use them in such raids. The site lead/investigator who called them in for this case, and to have them raid BOTH sides at the same time, when reports are that he didn't have a warrant for her side at the time(got it retroactively, which is bullshit if true). The training he received, etc... Negligent? Sure. Manslaughter? I'd actually save that for the guy that ordered both apartments raided and higher.

          These raids take place presumably when the drug dealers inside are at their lowest. Well, everybody is typically at their lowest during this period, so it takes them longer to identify police, and reflex actions are reflex actions.

          They're not even really safer for the officers than walking up to the door and publicly presenting the warrant because death tolls DURING SWAT raids from people who manage to get a lucky shot off and worse, friendly fire from other SWAT agents is similar to officers lost handing them out the old fashioned way. If necessary, SHOW THE BLOODY SWAT VAN. At that point they know they can go quietly and painlessly or SWAT can put them down the hard & painful way. Yes, I've seen a couple incidents where they raid a house, find nothing, but in the progress of the raid one SWAT officer shoots another SWAT officer and they try to charge the occupants with assault/murder. Hell, I don't think it's justified to push an officer's death at the hands of another officer during a raid deliberately conducted when you're at your lowest ability level even if drugs are found.

          Save lives - both officer and not. End the war on drugs.

        • by s.petry ( 762400 ) on Saturday October 25, 2014 @02:45PM (#48230659)

          The question in the case of the baby + crib incident, numerous police officers shooting unarmed suspects, police shooting pet dogs, etc.. is whether or not the force used was required. This question used to be asked all the time, but today gets completely ignored..

          Not that long ago if a house seemed risky for officers or the public they did not dress up like Navy Seals and Rambo up the house. They waited outside, used surveillance, and caught criminals when it was the most opportunistic and safest for EVERYONE! Today, the only people who has their safety discussed is that of the Law enforcement agents. Which is completely contrary to what a Law enforcement officer's job is supposed to be, which is "Protect and Server the Public".

          Yeah, the cop _probably_ didn't intend to harm an infant but you don't know that for sure. At the same time, the officers had no requirement to bust into the house in the first place. Nobody was in eminent danger if the police department did not bust down the door.

        • Re:Prison time (Score:5, Informative)

          by sjames ( 1099 ) on Sunday October 26, 2014 @02:39AM (#48232949) Homepage Journal

          I live near where the incident happened and that article is a total white wash.

          1) the cops were raiding a regular old residential home where no drugs had ever been made or sold. The child belonged to another couple staying there after their house burned down. The person they were supposedly after was the son of the owners. He did not live there.

          2) The door wasn't barricaded at all. If they had trouble entering it's because they need more time in the gym.

          3) They moved a variety of toys that were in the yard aside before the entry was attempted. They KNEW (or at least any adult of normal intelligence would know) there were probably young children in the house.

          As for the character of the department, they haven't made a public apology and claim it is illegal for them to pay any of the child's million dollar medical bill.

          TL;DR version, the department is packed full of exactly the sort of human refuse they claim to be fighting against.

      • It has now been established in law...

        No it hasn't.

        (this comment for readers who can't identify hyperbole)

    • Pics or it didn't happen.
    • Is true then that Thieves go to Jail, Murders go to Prison; unless they're in Law Enforcement?
  • Misbehaving (Score:3, Insightful)

    by amightywind ( 691887 ) on Saturday October 25, 2014 @08:36AM (#48228673) Journal
    Ill tell you, the Pigs have been misbehaving in this country for some time. After 9/11 they all decided to be Navy Seals. Armed with high power weapons, body armor, assault vehicles, all without the stringent selection process. I imagine the pervert in Cali was suspended with pay.
  • Really? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by amiga3D ( 567632 ) on Saturday October 25, 2014 @08:38AM (#48228685)

    This is so twisted. It bothers me greatly that they could be so despicable and twisted. What the hell is wrong with these cops? Pervs in uniform and I wonder if they'll still be out there on duty next year? I hate the thought these sickos will still be pulling women over after they get a slap on the wrist for this. Fire them.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward

      Pervs in uniform and I wonder if they'll still be out there on duty next year?

      I don't think they can be blamed for liking nude women. Alternative would be gay or female cops (which would steal photos of nude men). Totally asexual cops will be hard to find, unless they are hiring children as cops.

      However, they can be blamed for lacking proper self-control to resist the urge when not appropriate.

      • Re:Really? (Score:5, Funny)

        by Bob_Who ( 926234 ) on Saturday October 25, 2014 @09:10AM (#48228827) Journal

        Alternative would be gay or female cops (which would steal photos of nude men). Totally asexual cops will be hard to find, unless they are hiring children as cops.

        ...Or how about ROBOCOPS ?

        Then we could bust them for ogling pictures of electric can openers and for "vibrating while on duty."

    • This is so twisted. It bothers me greatly that they could be so despicable and twisted. What the hell is wrong with these cops? Pervs in uniform and I wonder if they'll still be out there on duty next year? I hate the thought these sickos will still be pulling women over after they get a slap on the wrist for this. Fire them.

      Unbelievable, And to think those 4chan nude celebrity posts did the same thing. Let's violate everyone's rights because it's okay to spy now in any form (although doing it anonymously seems much more rewarding and easier to escape punishment from).

      Seriously, who's considering causing pain and suffering on the US Govt for spying on it's children? The entire concept of privacy is completely obliterated in this country, and we started it to protect pictures of 1970's nude children from being distributed thr

    • Re:Really? (Score:5, Insightful)

      by ATMAvatar ( 648864 ) on Saturday October 25, 2014 @09:27AM (#48228919) Journal

      What the hell is wrong with these cops?

      Some people become cops because of the power trip it gives. This is perfectly in-line with that personality type. The real tragedy is that it's likely very little (if anything) will be done to the officers perpetrating the acts, which will only feed into the power trip.

  • Child porn? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 25, 2014 @08:42AM (#48228703)

    If I understand it correctly you might get a drivers license (with limitations) as young as 15 ½, I imagine young drivers are more often stopped than others, did the stolen pictures include depictions of anyone as young?

    • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

      by Anonymous Coward

      Well, if some of those drivers with nudie pics were underage girls (below 18years of age), then they could be in as much trouble as the cops.

      • Most prosecutors have the common sense not to press chid-porn possession charges against minors who photograph themselves. They know a change in the law here is long overdue, and is difficult for legislators because no politician wants to be seen as softening punishments for child pornographers.

        We'll see if any prosecutors have the sack to go after cops who spread these photos.

  • She already has a lawyer, and I'm sure he's going to get a very substantial settlement.
    • She already has a lawyer, and I'm sure he's going to get a very substantial settlement.

      So what? That settlement will come from tax dollars. What needs to happen is that these cops need to be taken to Guantanamo and treated as the terrorists that they are. And rather than a settlement, that woman should be able to work at Guantanamo for a few weeks as the sole guard to this piece of shit.

    • by Anonymous Coward

      ...the ACLU can only represent as many people as it can afford to represent. If you want them to champion more causes, you need to donate them more money.

      I have met people that hate the ACLU for their legal battles against public schools basically requiring students to participate in religious ceremonies, and hence give them no money, and then turn around and demand that the ACLU stand up for whatever just cause they care about at the moment.

      You can't eat your cake and have it too.

  • Can the victim(s) use the various copyright laws against these pigs? And yes, I call 'em pigs - there is a big difference between an officer of the law and a pig or a cop....

    • by Tuoqui ( 1091447 )

      When you break the law, you're a punk. When you break the law with a badge, you're a punk with a badge. I don't strike officers. Punks? Different story. -Defendor

    • Pigs are intelligent, social animals that also happens to be the source bacon. I take deep offence in your comparing these fine animals with 2nd rate humans that clearly are lacking in intelligence, fail in social skills and cannot even be used as a source for bacon.
  • Well we should have someone get a warrant because they have probable cause that crimes are being committed then.

    Oh wait, who will police the police? Internal affairs, not really.

  • If there's no criminal prosecution then that's a serious miscarriage of justice. If they aren't fired after an internal affairs investigation then something is seriously wrong.

  • by walterbyrd ( 182728 ) on Saturday October 25, 2014 @12:42PM (#48229943)

    John Oliver explains in this video that hilarious and informative:

    Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Civil Forfeiture (HBO)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kEpZWGgJks

  • My sister had a drunk altercation with her GF in Missoula MT (her own mistake, which she admits to and is working through alcoholic counseling for). The problem was the legal side spiraled out of control into a soap opera tale of good-ole-boy corruption you would only expect to see in prime time. It included collusion with the Judge, the city, and a police officer who effectively was stalking and harassing her. They slapped a restraining order on her, limiting her from visiting the house she owned, becau

    • let's get this straight (heh) now, your sister gets in fight while drunk, and the city is doing legal things against her, and you expect the ACLU to do something for her because.......why?

  • Weren't some of those celebrities who had their private cloud accounts hacked with saucy photos claiming that it was a form of rape, others have been convicted and sentenced to a decade in prison for similar acts. Sounds like that, or more, is the least that should be expected for these officers. Sadly I would bet that they'll claim firing them is more than enough "punishment". Wasn't that BART police officer who shot an unarmed, handcuffed, restrained individual in the back out on the streets in less th

  • by MildlyTangy ( 3408549 ) on Saturday October 25, 2014 @01:50PM (#48230343)

    Again, we are subjected to incredible levels of laziness from a Slashdot Article Submitter.

    Too blimmin lazy to even Google search in this day and age!!

    Here, Ill do this complex and difficult task for you, since you have to ask Slashdot for help:

    Q: "Where is the ACLU when you need them the most?"
    A: ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York NY 10004

  • Could some kind folk expound a bit on the likely details of how these things transpire? I think folk are getting far too wrapped up in the sordid details here. I don't care if all that was stolen was a simple 2-byte text file. I'd like a better idea of WHEN this happens.

    Apparently, if this is/was a "game", then there must be some common reason officers have access to phones. What IS this?!? It certainly isn't your routine traffic stop. What are the likely situations which would make phones available t

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