Subject: Deputy Sheriff killed in no knock action Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 13:47:12 -0600 This received such a good response from many of my past clients that I thought I’d send it to you, too. It was initiated after I received a call from a former Texas client. ----------------------------- Why did such a terrible tragedy like the recent killing of Burleson County, TX Deputy Sheriff Adam Sowder, while in the line of duty, even have to happen? Early accounts are that the home owner acted in proper self-defense against yet another group of cops using the insane “No Knock” search warrant. It didn’t have to happen! But step back with me for a minute and consider the forces behind the scenes that are agitating poorly trained officers to launch such foolish efforts on such scant evidence. Burleson County’s population rose by 0.7% from 2005 (17,291) to 2012 (17,167) (see Census Bureau screenshots far below), while inflation grew by 16.3% during those same years. Meanwhile, I’m also betting serious crime rates in Burleson County were steady or down during this same time. They usually are, where I look them up. Yet during this same time their “public safety” budget grew by 43.0%. See screenshots from county audits below – FY 2005 $1,625,000 to FY2012 $2,327,000. Population change and inflation would account for only a small part of this $702,000 growth. This leaves them in FY2012 alone, with $432,000 ((43% - (16.3% + .7%)) X $1,625,000) in increased money spent on staffing, staff salary levels, increased military equipment, etc. ….all above and beyond money needed due to population and inflation growth. When it comes to salaries – most local government employees know theirs are well above average salaries in the county and so they feel like they have to prove to taxpayers they are “earning it”. Well, after a while the “boys” get bored. “Let’s go stir it up,” they think…..all too often! And now we have a dead Sheriff’s deputy. Keep in mind cops normally have an injury rate and death rate well below truckers, traveling salesmen, roofers, ranchers, fishing boat workers, garbage haulers, etc. Injuries and deaths are not near as prevalent in their field as they are for millions of other workers in America. Unless, that is, someone on the force is prone to stir up the adrenaline among them, so as to accelerate the risk. That is often the case when there is such scant evidence for a “No Knock” warrant. This is a small rural county, but it’s often much worse in the metros. So how does one defuse this ugly bomb - nationwide? Simple, fire some public safety employees! Reduce the public ‘safety’ budgets. Adam Sowder would have been much better off working in his mother’s flower shop than getting a “no knock” search warrant on such poor evidence. The judge who signed it should be placed under judicial discipline or maybe even removed from the bench. One even begins to wonder how many Judges may own interest (even through a trust) in companies like Corrections Corporation of America, one of the larger private companies providing increasing numbers of prisons and so called “correctional” facilities to county, state and federal governments. If they owned shares in CCA, et al, wouldn’t every possible warrant he/she signs possibly contribute to their increased dividend check?
Posted on: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 02:18:26 +0000
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