Anti Federalist
08-29-2014, 01:19 PM
CopLand.
Too many pictures, videos and links to post it all, well worth the read.
Town 'addicted' to tickets
http://www.9news.com/story/news/investigations/2014/05/20/9wtk-tiny-metro-town-addicted-to-tickets/9312621/
MOUNTAIN VIEW - A 9Wants to Know investigation reveals a tiny town in the Denver metro area dishes out more "obstructed view" citations than Denver, Aurora and Boulder combined.
<snip>
"It's hard for me to understand what they're doing is not extortion or racketeering," William Asperi said while waiting to appear for traffic court. "What they're doing is pretty shady."
Nearly half of Mountain View's revenue comes from court fees and citations, according to its 2014 budget.
<snip>
According to the town's website, Mountain View began in 1904 with 375 inhabitants. As of the last U.S. Census, 507 people currently live within the town's borders which encompass a two-block-by-six-block area.
<snip>
Mountain View Mayor Jeff Kiddie and Chief of Police Mark Toth declined repeated requests by 9Wants To Know for an on-camera interview.
During the April town hall meeting, 9Wants to Know asked the town council during the public comment section about its ticketing practice and philosophy.
"Is this ticketing practice about public safety, or is it more about money?" 9Wants To Know asked.
Town Councilor Louis Fehlberg cited Denver's red-light camera program.
"I don't think we are out of any reason whatsoever," Fehlberg said.
"You pose a compelling question," Councilor Patricia Lilliston said. "But from my experience and the people of Mountain View, I believe they appreciate the safety."
<snip>
Chief Toth sent a statement to 9NEWS on the day of this publication. Here's his entire statement:
Thank you for providing me the opportunity to respond to your story. We have a duty to every Mountain View citizen to ensure that they feel like they live in a safe environment and that includes travelling the streets in and through our town limits. Our town includes 44th Ave and Sheridan Blvd which alone handles between 35,000 and 40,000 vehicles a day. Citizens expect that we enforce traffic laws as well as municipal ordinances and state statutes. No one likes to get a ticket but they do serve as a deterrent. It is the decision of our elected officials and citizens that we provide police services in our community 24/7. We employ the fewest officers possible to provide that coverage.
<snip>
A 9Wants to Know investigation reveals nearly half of Mountain View's police force has either been fired, faced a criminal indictment or left prior law enforcement jobs under controversy.
<snip>
Nine police officers make up the town's police force. After requesting numerous employment and payroll records from Mountain View and other law-enforcement agencies, 9Wants to Know is able to identify four police officers who had trouble with their prior agencies.
Officer Kirk Firko
Fired from CSP
Officer Kirk Firko was fired as a Colorado State Trooper for his role in the killing of a Grand Junction man in 2010. Firko kicked in the door of the man's home during a warrantless entry. His partner fatally shot Jason Kemp.
The case resulted in criminal indictments, which were eventually dismissed.
The state ended up paying out a $1-million settlement in a wrongful death suit.
Officer Leonard Portugal
Fired from Adams County Sheriff's Department
Officer Leonard Portugal was fired from the Adams County Sheriff's Department for violating the agency's rules of conduct. A department spokesperson said he was prohibited from releasing what rules Portugal allegedly violated.
Officer Brian Kautz
Controversial departure from Westminster PD
Officer Brian Kautz left his police job in Westminster under controversy. According to his last Westminster Police Department performance review obtained by 9NEWS, Kautz received "unacceptable" marks for general work and communication. About a month after the poor review, Kautz left his job.
Westminster City officials said they were prohibited by law from disclosing if Kautz was fired or if he was allowed to resign.
When 9NEWS approached Kautz for comment, he sped off in his Mountain View Police unit without comment.
Officer Mark Toth
Once indicted for beating man, lying
Chief of Police Mark Toth was once under indictment for beating up a man and lying on a police report as a Westminster sergeant.
Toth left the department soon after the incident and was eventually found not-guilty by a jury.
Toth told 9NEWS he retired from Westminster.
Too many pictures, videos and links to post it all, well worth the read.
Town 'addicted' to tickets
http://www.9news.com/story/news/investigations/2014/05/20/9wtk-tiny-metro-town-addicted-to-tickets/9312621/
MOUNTAIN VIEW - A 9Wants to Know investigation reveals a tiny town in the Denver metro area dishes out more "obstructed view" citations than Denver, Aurora and Boulder combined.
<snip>
"It's hard for me to understand what they're doing is not extortion or racketeering," William Asperi said while waiting to appear for traffic court. "What they're doing is pretty shady."
Nearly half of Mountain View's revenue comes from court fees and citations, according to its 2014 budget.
<snip>
According to the town's website, Mountain View began in 1904 with 375 inhabitants. As of the last U.S. Census, 507 people currently live within the town's borders which encompass a two-block-by-six-block area.
<snip>
Mountain View Mayor Jeff Kiddie and Chief of Police Mark Toth declined repeated requests by 9Wants To Know for an on-camera interview.
During the April town hall meeting, 9Wants to Know asked the town council during the public comment section about its ticketing practice and philosophy.
"Is this ticketing practice about public safety, or is it more about money?" 9Wants To Know asked.
Town Councilor Louis Fehlberg cited Denver's red-light camera program.
"I don't think we are out of any reason whatsoever," Fehlberg said.
"You pose a compelling question," Councilor Patricia Lilliston said. "But from my experience and the people of Mountain View, I believe they appreciate the safety."
<snip>
Chief Toth sent a statement to 9NEWS on the day of this publication. Here's his entire statement:
Thank you for providing me the opportunity to respond to your story. We have a duty to every Mountain View citizen to ensure that they feel like they live in a safe environment and that includes travelling the streets in and through our town limits. Our town includes 44th Ave and Sheridan Blvd which alone handles between 35,000 and 40,000 vehicles a day. Citizens expect that we enforce traffic laws as well as municipal ordinances and state statutes. No one likes to get a ticket but they do serve as a deterrent. It is the decision of our elected officials and citizens that we provide police services in our community 24/7. We employ the fewest officers possible to provide that coverage.
<snip>
A 9Wants to Know investigation reveals nearly half of Mountain View's police force has either been fired, faced a criminal indictment or left prior law enforcement jobs under controversy.
<snip>
Nine police officers make up the town's police force. After requesting numerous employment and payroll records from Mountain View and other law-enforcement agencies, 9Wants to Know is able to identify four police officers who had trouble with their prior agencies.
Officer Kirk Firko
Fired from CSP
Officer Kirk Firko was fired as a Colorado State Trooper for his role in the killing of a Grand Junction man in 2010. Firko kicked in the door of the man's home during a warrantless entry. His partner fatally shot Jason Kemp.
The case resulted in criminal indictments, which were eventually dismissed.
The state ended up paying out a $1-million settlement in a wrongful death suit.
Officer Leonard Portugal
Fired from Adams County Sheriff's Department
Officer Leonard Portugal was fired from the Adams County Sheriff's Department for violating the agency's rules of conduct. A department spokesperson said he was prohibited from releasing what rules Portugal allegedly violated.
Officer Brian Kautz
Controversial departure from Westminster PD
Officer Brian Kautz left his police job in Westminster under controversy. According to his last Westminster Police Department performance review obtained by 9NEWS, Kautz received "unacceptable" marks for general work and communication. About a month after the poor review, Kautz left his job.
Westminster City officials said they were prohibited by law from disclosing if Kautz was fired or if he was allowed to resign.
When 9NEWS approached Kautz for comment, he sped off in his Mountain View Police unit without comment.
Officer Mark Toth
Once indicted for beating man, lying
Chief of Police Mark Toth was once under indictment for beating up a man and lying on a police report as a Westminster sergeant.
Toth left the department soon after the incident and was eventually found not-guilty by a jury.
Toth told 9NEWS he retired from Westminster.