Texas Police Robbing Citizens in Traffic Stops

[Admiral Piett]

In Tenaha, TX near the Louisiana border, the local police and District Attorney have suits against them for robbery and embezzlement. Nearly 150 people have claimed that police are taking people's money and possessions in routine traffic stops. In one of the worst cases, an officer lifted $8500 in cash from a guy on his way to purchase a new vehicle. In another, the officers intimidated the children of parents who didn't comply with their orders.

Interestingly enough, the local justice department has made around $3 million through these acqusitions and this money is being flaunted by the DA making extravagent purchases and even sending $10,000 checks to the very officers that are being implicated for these crimes. No coincidence at all. While it may not be this extreme, I believe similar behavior is occuring all over the state. Speed limits are being lowered superficially and speed traps set up to acquire more income for local departments. They are typically profiling young people (like me), people who drive certain vehicles, and minorities - those that are the least likely to put up a fight.

Speaking from personal experience, I've been pulled over some 5 times for minor violations, each for a different infraction - two of which were for sure just to see if was running drugs, and been ticketed 3 times despite me not giving the officers any attitude. Similar cases have been going on in Florida and many other states of officers profiling and intimidating certain races and age groups. The fact that I have bumper stickers that are anti-Republican in a very conservative country doesn't help either. I believe this is an increasingly alarming and frustrating issue with local law enforcement - especially when it comes to traffic police who seem to frequently bend or break the laws. It's high time that this state reform its justice system and make crackdowns.

[Mikelus Trento]

The fact that I have bumper stickers that are anti-Republican in a very conservative country doesn't help either.

You might want to rethink that. Although I don't agree you should HAVE to remove them, displaying provocative things on your car will draw attention to it, so that might very well be the cause versus your age.

I live in Austin btw. We just had our 3rd police shooting of a minority, with questions remaining about the circumstances, in the last 3 years. In each of the two earlier cases the families of those slain received 1-1.5 million dollars from the city.

[justicar5]

You might want to rethink that. Although I don't agree you should HAVE to remove them, displaying provocative things on your car will draw attention to it, so that might very well be the cause versus your age.

I live in Austin btw. We just had our 3rd police shooting of a minority, with questions remaining about the circumstances, in the last 3 years. In each of the two earlier cases the families of those slain received 1-1.5 million dollars from the city.

was the murderer executed tho?

[Mikelus Trento]

You mean the police? No, in both cases they lost their jobs though.

[justicar5]

You mean the police? No, in both cases they lost their jobs though.

shoot an innocent man just for the colour of his skinand only lose your job? Thats sick.

[shadyrome]

That's Texas for ya

[Mikelus Trento]

I'm starting to get very antsy for my retirement in 9 years so we can live somewhere else.

[bushbush]

at least these cops are honest and straightforward in taking bribe.

[MadBurgerMaker]

at least these cops are honest and straightforward in taking bribe.

True. These ers got straight to the point.

Speaking from personal experience, I've been pulled over some 5 times for minor violations, each for a different infraction - two of which were for sure just to see if was running drugs, and been ticketed 3 times despite me not giving the officers any attitude.

What were they saying they were pulling you over/giving you tickets for? Did they take stuff from you?

[Denny Crane!]

Wow this is shocking stuff, I can't help but think it might be exagerrated because surely this would be an explosive news story if it wasn't. There doesn't seem to be a great deal of excitement over it.

[MadBurgerMaker]

Wow this is shocking stuff, I can't help but think it might be exagerrated because surely this would be an explosive news story if it wasn't. There doesn't seem to be a great deal of excitement over it.

It's possible that there's some exaggeration going on, I suppose, but it could also be simply because it was happening in some crappy little town out in the sticks that no one really cares about.

[Denny Crane!]

It's possible that there's some exaggeration going on, I suppose, but it could also be simply because it was happening in some crappy little town out in the sticks that no one really cares about.

hmm yes I guess that could be it. But small town or not police extorting people is a pretty big deal. Who knows, when you have celebrities getting divorced how could possibly make the front page.

[MadBurgerMaker]

hmm yes I guess that could be it. But small town or not police extorting people is a pretty big deal. Who knows, when you have celebrities getting divorced how could possibly make the front page.

Yeah, it got stuffed a few pages back somewhere, between the weekly American Idol results and the status of Brad and Angelina. But hey...a couple months after the newspaper/website blurbs first came out, at least Anderson Cooper has gotten around to it. And some guy on a daytime CNN show mentions it, so there we go. Really though, at least they're not just totally ignoring it anymore.

[Mikelus Trento]

Wow this is shocking stuff, I can't help but think it might be exagerrated because surely this would be an explosive news story if it wasn't. There doesn't seem to be a great deal of excitement over it.

Rick "Mr. Twitter" Sanchez of CNN is talking lots about it on his daytime CNN show. And the story has been in the Austin newspapers (Austin is a couple hundred miles from there).

[Admiral Piett]

It's important enough for CNN to air it.

[John I Tzimisces]

I sincerely hope the DA and all officers involved in this really get the book thrown at them for this blatant corruption. There's no place for this sort of thing in this country.

[Barry Goldwater]

This is the height of madness, perhaps Texas needs a Great Purge of their police force

[Last Roman]

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Texas known for less its less than upstanding cops?

[MadBurgerMaker]

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Texas known for less its less than upstanding cops?

Certain parts are (also Highway Patrol guys seem to be pretty uptight more often than not for whatever reason). Other parts have pretty good ones in general. It even varies within cities and suburbs of cities. This is remarkably similar to every other place in the country I've lived.

Edit: Some places, like the part of SA I live in, don't seem to have any police at all unless something major is going down, or you're going 50mph over the speed limit and they somehow spot you from wherever their hiding place is, etc. If you're just minding your own business and not being too terribly reckless and stupid on the road, etc, they'll tend to leave you alone.

[Chaigidel]

execution is really the only answer to this kind of abuse--- everyone of these cops should be beheaded by industrial hammer.