Saturday, August 18, 2012

Police whistle-blower let go for reporting a "dirty DUI" arrest

The blue wall of silence is a shame on American police forces. If you can't trust the people who enforce the law, laws have no meaning

Via SFGate:
A law enforcement whistle-blower who told investigators he witnessed a Contra Costa County sheriff's deputy conduct a "dirty DUI" arrest has been relieved from duty in what he said was retaliation for breaking the police code of silence.

William Howard of Danville worked as a reserve in the Sheriff's Department for 19 years until he was dismissed Tuesday without explanation and ordered to turn in his uniform and weapon.
A department spokesman, Jimmy Lee, described Howard's release as an internal matter and declined to discuss it. Reserves are "at will" employees and are subject to dismissal without cause, according to California state law.[...]

Howard's Feb.23, 2011, statement played a critical role into the investigation of Tanabe, an associate of private investigator Christopher Butler, 50, of Antioch.

A federal grand jury later indicted Butler and Tanabe on conspiracy charges alleging they worked in cahoots to arrest three men Butler had targeted on behalf of his clients - the ex-wives of the targeted men.
.Covering up a crime or conspiring to engage in a cover-up is a felony.


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