Stupid people of the week

Mexican women outraged by public sexual assault on their president

The groping of Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum by a drunken man has sparked outrage among women, many of whom saw their own fears and experiences reflected in her plight.

“If the president suffered assault with that level of protection and those guards it means that all of us women can be assaulted at any moment,” said Patricia Reyes, a 20-year-old student.

The incident took place on Tuesday while Sheinbaum was walking through a crowd in Mexico City. The man tried to kiss her on the neck and embrace her from behind before she removed his hands and an aide stepped in.

Man gropes Mexican president as she speaks to citizens on the streets
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The man was later arrested and Sheinbaum said on Wednesday that she would press for charges.

“This is something I experienced as a woman, but it is something that all women in our country experience,” she said in her daily press conference. “If I don’t file a complaint, where does that leave all Mexican women? If they do this to the president, what happens to all the other women in the country?”

For some women, watching the country’s first female president being groped in public was a personal affront.

“It was really humiliating,” said María Antonieta De la Rosa, a feminist activist and artist. “I felt angry, enraged and impotent.”

The incident touched off particular furore given the high levels of violence faced by women in Mexico, where an average of 10 are killed every day. In the first six months of this year, more than 500 women were murdered because of their gender in a crime known as femicide.

“The issue of assault is like the base level on the violence thermometer and it culminates in femicide,” said De la Rosa. “So living in a femicidal country, the issue of assault is always there.”

The high rates of violence have fuelled the feminist movement, with tens of thousands of women taking to the streets every year on International Women’s Day.

The groping incident prompted indignation across the political spectrum.

“The president lived what thousands of women experience on the street, out in public, at work,” said Patricia Mercado, a congresswoman with the opposition Citizens’ Movement party. “This assault, this touching that is so invasive of our bodies as women.”

Senators from various parties held a press conference on Wednesday condemning the assault against Sheinbaum.

“If this happens to the head of state, to our supreme commander, to our president of the republic, it also happens silently every day to thousands of women in our country,” said Alejandra Arias, a senator with Morena, Sheinbaum’s governing party.

Alicia Gutiérrez, a 40-year-old nurse, is keenly aware of the dangers facing women on public transport: often, she says, men get just a bit too close and once a man started fondling himself in front of her on a bus.

“I try not to get on public transport that’s too full, or always sit next to a woman,” she said.

When asked about what happened to Sheinbaum, Gutiérrez was indignant. “If being president she was touched in that way, what hope is there for us common folk?”

The incident sparked promises from female politicians of action to protect women from assault.

“The crime committed yesterday against the president of Mexico not only violated her safety, integrity, and dignity, it is called sexual abuse and must be considered a serious crime throughout the country,” said Laura Itzel Castillo, another Morena senator.

“In the coming days, we will meet with the equality commissions across the country to review our legislative agendas and make significant progress in the prevention, response to, and punishment of all forms of violence against women.”

Not everyone in politics showed support. Alejandro Moreno, the head of the opposition PRI party, suggested the incident may have been staged to distract the public from cartel violence.

“It’s the biggest distraction; it’s crude, vile, and hypocritical,” he said. “That’s what Morena does: try to deceive public opinion.”

De la Rosa said the accusation “revictimised” Sheinbaum “because it undermines the victim’s credibility in their own story”.

Sofia Landa, a house cleaner, said the assault must be punished. “Many women suffer this,” she said. “Sheinbaum has the power to deliver justice.”

Source; The Guardian

VIDEO: New Orleans officer caught smoking meth on patrol returned to duty after investigation

On Dec. 5, 2023, former NOPD Officer Maurice Bailey’s body-worn camera captured video as the officer drove through the NOPD’s Seventh District while smoking meth. Days later, an NOPD sergeant conducting a random review of body-worn camera footage spotted the video, which showed Bailey using a lighter to torch a white substance into a cloud inside a glass pipe.

Bailey was immediately ordered to submit to a drug screening. The results showed Bailey had methamphetamines in his system.

Skip Gallagher, a forensic scientist and NOPD watchdog, reviewed the NOPD Public Integrity Bureau’s (PIB) investigation into the incident after the video was flagged.

“The officer recorded himself on his own body camera. And that just is, I don’t know, that part’s a bit disturbing,” Gallagher said. “When you see this video, it’s pretty damning.”

During that PIB investigation, Bailey admitted to using drugs on the clock, telling investigators, “I’ll be honest with you, I really can’t recall the date, but I’m guilty. It’s not alleged. I was an addict dealing with an addiction.”

Bailey joined the NOPD in September 2022.

His body-worn camera recorded him using drugs on the clock just over a year later. Bailey was administratively reassigned while the Public Integrity Bureau investigated the incident. With video evidence and a positive drug test following the incident, Bailey was placed on leave without pay for seven full pay periods. During that time, he still collected sick pay, holiday leave and benefits totaling $12,997.08. That included $5,000 in retention pay, which the NOPD says the city pays automatically to all employees who meet eligibility requirements.

Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche believes the NOPD should have terminated Bailey’s employment following the discovery of the incident.

“That video alone justifies termination,” Goyeneche said. “You cannot allow a police officer to do what was depicted in that video and remain on the force. It’s not in his best interests, and it’s certainly not in the best interests of the police department.”

In the Public Integrity Bureau report, NOPD Sgt. Mary Sam wrote, “P.O. Bailey admitted to using ‘meth’ while working, which is a dangerous substance. He admitted to being in possession of and using a clear glass pipe (drug paraphernalia) to smoke the ‘meth,’ which meant that P.O. Bailey was under the influence while operating a city vehicle during his tour of duty. Being under the influence of a dangerous substance could have affected P.O. Bailey’s perception, performance, judgment, reactions and/or senses while working, which could have been a public safety hazard.”

However, the investigation concluded, “No tactical, policy, or education and training recommendations were needed by the officer.”

In April 2024, NOPD leadership signed off on the findings and in May, Bailey was back on the clock.

Goyeneche believes allowing Bailey to keep his badge was a mistake.

“He’s carrying a firearm, he’s impaired, his judgment is impaired. That not only puts him and the public at risk, it puts his fellow officers at risk that may be relying upon him,” Goyeneche said.

Within weeks of returning to work, Bailey failed to show up for work. That prompted a formal disciplinary investigation, which noted Bailey’s actions were due to stress. He was given a letter of reprimand and continued to work.

In June 2024, Bailey tested positive for methamphetamines a second time. He told a sergeant, “It was a relapse/slip-up that occurred Tuesday, May 28… I was having trouble going to work because of embarrassment… If I was [sic] made to do something I didn’t feel up to doing, I would make a bad decision.”

“It would have been nice to see him removed from the force sooner. That is a pretty clear-cut case. And yet the officer resigned from the force; there wasn’t a termination in this case,” Gallagher said.

Shortly after the Public Integrity Bureau began investigating the second positive drug test, Bailey resigned from the force, writing in his resignation letter, “I will move on and find what I’m good at and also receive help.”

Goyeneche believes any cases Bailey worked on while struggling with substance abuse could be compromised.

“Any arrest that he made while he was under the influence, the district attorney’s office needs to disclose that information to the defense, which makes his credibility as an officer worthless.”

During the initial internal investigation, Bailey admitted to superiors that the time he was caught smoking meth on his body-worn camera wasn’t the only time he used drugs on duty.

He explained he started using meth after he was involved in a “Signal 108,” which is the NOPD’s call signal for “officer needs assistance, life in danger.” Investigators say Bailey told them that in September 2023, he “was falling behind and thought meth was the drug that could help him keep up.”

The New Orleans Police Department declined multiple requests for an on-camera interview but sent Fox 8 a statement that reads:

“Officer Bailey’s separation from the department occurred in June 2024 following multiple violations of policy. Once the department confirmed those violations, the accountability process was initiated immediately, consistent with Civil Service and state law. The officer is no longer employed by the NOPD.

“While this matter was addressed more than a year ago and involves a former employee, Superintendent Kirkpatrick remains focused on the present and future of this department — ensuring that today’s officers have the structure, oversight and wellness support needed to uphold the highest standards of integrity and performance.

“The superintendent will not be participating in an on-camera interview, but we appreciate the opportunity to provide this context in writing.”

The Civil Service Commission sent Fox 8 a statement Friday morning, which reads, “First, neither the Civil Service Department nor the Civil Service Commission had any involvement in this specific matter. Second, Civil Service Rules allow for emergency suspensions, and the only “Civil Service procedure” for termination of employment is written notice and a pre-termination hearing.”

Source; Fox 8 Live

ICE arrests suburban Chicago police officer accused of being in the US illegally: DHS

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested a suburban Chicago police officer who is accused of being in the country illegally, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Radule Bojovic, a native of Montenegro, was working as a sworn officer for the Hanover Park Police Department, according to DHS.

He was “encountered during a targeted enforcement action” as part of “Operation Midway Blitz,” a surge of immigration enforcement in Illinois that began last month, DHS said in a press release Thursday announcing the arrest.

Bojovic overstayed his tourist visa for 10 years and was required to leave the U.S. in March 2015, DHS said. The department also noted it is a felony for someone in the U.S. illegally to carry a firearm.

“Governor J.B. Pritzker doesn’t just allow violent illegal aliens to terrorize Illinois’s communities, he allows illegal aliens to work as sworn police officers,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “Radule Bojovic violated our nation’s laws and was living ILLEGALLY in the United States for 10 years — what kind of police department gives criminal illegal aliens badges and guns?”

The Village of Hanover Park said its police department hired Bojovic in January “in full compliance with federal and state law” and that the village “confirmed that he was legally authorized by the federal government to work in the United States.”

According to a statement from the village, Bojovic presented a valid work authorization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at the time of his hiring, a full background check was conducted, and the village confirmed that his immigration status allows him to carry a firearm while on duty.

“The bottom line is that all information we received from the federal government indicated that Officer Bojovic is legally authorized to work in the United States as a police officer. Clearly, without that authorization, the Village would not have hired him,” the statement said.

“Additionally, the Village has not received any notice from any federal or state agency that his work authorization status has ever been revoked,” the statement added.

Bojovic has been placed on administrative leave amid the immigration proceedings and will be returned to full duty status if he is allowed to remain in the U.S., the village said.

Online ICE detainee records indicate Bojovic is currently in custody, but do not state where he is being held. It is unclear when or where he was arrested.

Bojovic was accepted into the Hanover Park Police Pension Fund in January with a starting salary of nearly $79,000, according to village records.

He graduated from the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy in August, according to a social media post by the Hanover Park Police Department.

A swearing-in presentation for Bojovic was set to occur during a Village of Hanover Park board meeting on Thursday evening, according to the agenda. Village President Rodney Craig addressed the officer’s arrest at the top of the meeting, saying it is “of interest to many in our community” and comes amid ongoing immigration enforcement activity in the region.

Craig said he had the “utmost confidence” that the hiring of Bojovic was appropriate.

“First and foremost, the village and the police department conducted its own thorough due diligence as part of this hiring process, as is the case with the hiring of all police officers,” he said.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reacted to the arrest on social media, saying, “Radical sanctuary politicians have allowed criminal illegal aliens to infiltrate our school districts, communities, and even police departments. President Trump and I will continue to put the safety of Americans FIRST.”

Source; ABC News

US Postal Service mail carrier shot by driver delivering Amazon packages

A U.S. Postal Service worker was shot in the face during an altercation Friday afternoon in Everett, Washington, and a rival package delivery driver is in custody, according to local police and a postal inspector.

The incident took place at the West Mall Place Apartments. The victim was transported to Providence Hospital with a gunshot wound, the Everett Police Department said in a Facebook post. He was transferred to Harbor View Medical Center in critical condition, Seattle TV station KOMO reported.

Neighbors said the shooter was an Amazon delivery driver, according to KOMO and social media posts. TV footage showed an Amazon vehicle and USPS van behind police crime-scene tape and the Amazon van being towed away later.

“We’re aware of this incident and will cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate,” said Amazon spokesman Louie Tran.

The driver technically doesn’t work for Amazon. The retail company’s logistics arm hires third-party independent carriers to carry out last-mile delivery of its packages. The delivery service providers are responsible for hiring the drivers and must conduct background checks for them, according to Amazon’s DSP policy.

“USPS workers don’t let people in the area when they have the mailboxes open. The Amazon driver didn’t particularly like that, they got into an argument, which escalated to a shoving match, which escalated to the Amazon driver shooting the USPS guy in the freaking eye!!! Then he sat there calmly and waited for the cops to show up and claimed self defense,” a poster named Rich Ryan said on Facebook.

KOMO quoted a U.S. postal inspector as saying the mail carrier was confronted by an individual and the carrier was shot in the face.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FBI are also investigating the case. The suspect was booked into Snohomish County jail, KOMO said.

Source; Freightwaves

Category: "Teh Stoopid", Crime, Police, Stupid Criminals