Our favorite reader submissions. Fri Aug 21, 2009 more galleries 59

Featuring Arj Barker aka Dave from "Flight Of The Concords". Check for cameos by High Times' Sr. …

Wed Nov 04, 2009 more videos 0

Review Finds No Wrongdoing in SWAT Raid That Killed Dogs

Mon, Jun 22, 2009 5:41 pm

The Prince George's County sheriff's office has concluded that deputies did nothing wrong when they charged into the home of the mayor of Berwyn Heights during a drug investigation last summer and fatally shot his family's two dogs.

The findings of the internal review "are consistent with what I've felt all along: My deputies did their job to the fullest extent of their abilities," Sheriff Michael Jackson said at a news conference.

The announcement drew immediate condemnation from Mayor Cheye Calvo.

"It's outrageous," he said. "Not only is he not admitting any wrongdoing, but he's saying this went down the way it was supposed to and he's actually commending his police officers for what they did."

Members of the SWAT team killed Calvo's black Labrador retrievers after deputies broke down his door and raided his home in search of a drug-filled package that had been addressed to Calvo's wife.

Law enforcement officials have since acknowledged that Calvo and his wife, Trinity Tomsic, were victims of a smuggling scheme that used a FedEx driver to ship drugs. They said the couple knew nothing about the box. County police, who were leading the drug investigation, have said they were unaware it was the mayor's house.

In an interview, Jackson reiterated his explanation that a scream by Calvo's mother-in-law, Georgia Porter, who saw officers in SWAT gear running toward the house, justified the shooting.

Porter "corroborated that she did scream out 'SWAT.' She admitted to that, and [Calvo] admitted to hearing that upstairs in the house," Jackson said. "That threw out the procedure of knocking and announcing, because now [officers were] compromised."

One dog was shot four times by the front door. Calvo has said his younger dog was running away from officers when it was shot twice, including once in a hind leg. Jackson said deputies thought the dog was running toward another deputy in the home.

The botched raid led to a new state law that subjects SWAT teams in Maryland to increased scrutiny. Calvo has scheduled a news conference for Monday to announce "further actions."

"I'm sorry for the loss of their family pets," Jackson said. "But this is the unfortunate result of the scourge of drugs in our community. Lost in this whole incident was the criminal element. . . . In the sense that we kept these drugs from reaching our streets, this operation was a success."

» add a comment

treehunger

Jul 11 2009, 1:51 am

neveragain, 210 - when the oppressed, are pushed to the point of hunger, malnutrition, neglected infrastructure, corrupt politician with 0 fiduciary responsibility,

when pushed to the point of having no alternative

WE MUST CHOOSE THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS, ATTACK YOUR OPPRESSOR, OR WATCH YOU KIDS DIE

I don't advocate violence, never hit anyone who didn't hit me first. And I would never shoot a cop, they're just drones, complete idiots who have no opinion because they won't speak out against their employer, the Gov't.

But we're the one's fillin the tiller. And our voice must be heard. I have no house, cuz I saw this coming. So I cannot say what I wouln't do to protect it.

But, nothing is more important than your kids. Snatch 'em up, and walk on that mortgage. But you can't protect your family from inside prison. SO...RUN!!!

treehugger

Jul 8 2009, 11:43 pm

210 - not back then, they fed on violence worse than we do now.

They wiped up the blood off of the streets with their hanky, just to keep a souvenir, and probably checked his pockets too! Scumbags.

Mexico? Don't get me goin. Any Senator with a brain, woulda built my canal 100 years ago, and we'd a saved trillions of dollars, and hundreds of sailors lives. And that big gold shipment is still out there!

treehugger

Jul 5 2009, 6:06 pm

Necrosis - it'd still be out there, but we'd never notice. It'd be, "cops get 5 years for shooting dogs up the ass".

necrotic

Jul 5 2009, 11:57 am

I see a different issue with this article. If this was Joe Schmo's house we would have never heard about it. But because the guy happens to be a mayor he's suddenly newsworthy?

treehugger

Jul 1 2009, 7:03 pm

And the Mexican border?

Needs to be moved slightly.

Build the canal, Brownsville to Baja, and that fight is over! No tanks, no gun-ships, no jeeps with .50's, no 1,200 mile long fence with razor wire.

And we have 30 million new tax-payer's, and the best place on the planet to grow pot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

treehugger

Jul 1 2009, 7:00 pm

210 - I'm not sayin, that after being setenced to life, and being treated like a drug-czar for simple posession has done much for the public perception of the war on pot, but the fact remains - even the one's that don't smoke are sick of seeing non-violent offenders doin life for pot. And sick of watching these rogue squads bustin licensed businesses.

So, it would seem, yet again, it has backfired on the US Gov't. After 100 years of watchin American farms tank, now travelling the entire globe to get 3rd-world countries, who can't grow enough food to eat, are now supposed to make high fructose corn syrup? Instead of feeding millions?

A country that needs approx 500 trillion in inrastructure, 175 trillion just to replace the power grid! And we're just gonna ignore the 2 largest cash crops on the planet? Typical American response. Churchill? That was fuckin 70 years ago? Yet, still applicable.

It ain't the police you need to be shooting, they just do as they're told. It's the politicians, you're congressmen, and statesmen, that write the laws, or neglect to - despite obvious overwhelming votes?

HU210

Jun 27 2009, 9:59 am

Hard call for me. I can understand Neveragin's feelings to be sure.

Self serving cops and their unions lobby hard to keep these laws. Alcohol prohibition didnt stop until alot of blood of gangsters, cops, and innocent bystanders, ran in the streets. Before the people tired of it.( One would think that a true Chicago politico might understand this history lesson-eh?)

We are seeing this begin at Mex border now. The violence will surely spread north. Before the people and politico's finally see the folly that the War on Drugs and Pot is.

Americans will always do the right thing, but only after trying everything else first-- Winston Churchill

treehugger

Jun 27 2009, 5:23 am

supremethinker - Their justification for the "no-knock", and shooting the dog in the ass as it ran away, was because the mother yelled, "SWAT" when they approached the house. That would clearly justify a concern that someone inside may be gettin ready to "get their gat on" too. Cops don't seem to like having guns pointed at them for some reason.

But that doesn't change the fact that you don't bust down the door of the Mayor FOR ANY REASON, and expect to have a job in the morning?

treehugger

Jun 27 2009, 3:14 am

kill a cop? what good is that gonna do? they'll just make more.
I have a better idea, "kiss a politician's ass"!
cuz one ass-kissing is worth 1,000 dead cops, they're the only one's that can change the laws. cops are just zombie's trying to make a paycheck. If you made breathing illegal, they'd enforce it.

kiss a politician's ass! save a cop - grow a plant!

neveragain

Jun 26 2009, 7:49 pm

if they ever come smashing my doors in again. one shot one kill. only takes getting 2 of them, before the odds change in our favor. 2 of their lives for 1 of ours. thats the solution in this war

ALEX JONES

Jun 26 2009, 5:44 pm

Anything you want, you got it
anything at all, you got it

Wake up, stand up against tyranny before it's too late

gstlab3

Jun 25 2009, 4:05 pm

DEMOLITION STYLE HELL AMERICAN FREAK!! YEAH!! THERE IS GOING TO BE REVOLUTION!! THERE IS GOING TO BE A REVOLUTION! CIVIL UNREST AND STUDENT RIOTS AND A WORKERS STRIKE! OUR NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS ARE CALLED IN! CIVIL WAR BREAKS OUT! THE FUTURE OF AMERICA..??? IF?? THE PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THEIR FREEDOMS AND PROSPERITY RESTORED SOON.,HOW MANY MORE CIVIL RIGHTS MUST BE TRAMPLED ON OR DONE AWAY WITH BEFORE WE REALIZE WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO US?!?!?!?!?!?!

THE

Jun 23 2009, 10:29 pm

FRONTLINE IS EVERYWHERE!

Doc

Jun 23 2009, 5:49 pm

Fuck america and the police state we live in, when there is a revolution look for me out front....

gstlab3

Jun 23 2009, 5:03 pm

YEAH!! UH.. lazzy danny., YOU REALLY ARE FUCKED UP. I AM ALL FOR TAKING DOWN THE POLICE STATE AND STAMPING OUT TYRANY AND DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO STIFEL POLICE AND POLITICIANS BUT I WILL NOT LET YOU GET BY WITH THREATENING CHILDREN.,THAT IS SICK MAN! IT IS FUCKED UP MAN!., GO GET HELP., OR DIE YOU ARE IN MY WAY!

MD kushman

Jun 23 2009, 4:51 pm

yesterday the mayor -Chey Calvo- had a press confrence announcing his multi-million dollar civil suit agaisnt the Sherrifs Dept. I really hope he prevails in the courts, but won't hold my breath, look for the judge to cover for the swat team, Its a good old boy network down there. Hes got a little juice being a Mayor but most likely any settlement will be cloaked in a secret agreement to protect the Staus quo. To many political hacks around here, Power to the People!

gstlab3

Jun 23 2009, 4:28 pm

TO: "lazzy danny"., YOU HAVE CROSSED THE LINE., YOU ALSO ARE PIG SCUM AND SHOULD PROBABLY DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH YOURSELF FOR SUGGESTING HARM TO THE CHILDREN., TO: "THE POWERS THAT BE"., YOU HAVE CROSSED THE LINE., again.

lazy danny

Jun 23 2009, 4:13 pm

it would be funny if those cops' dogs showd up dead, or better yet their children! i say get the narrow mindedness out of the gene pool

gstlab3

Jun 23 2009, 3:41 pm

ALL TOGETHER NOW!!!!!!! FUCK THE POLICE!!!!!! PLEASE STAND BY... FOR SOME THOUGHTS ON THE SUBJECT AT HAND.,

gstlab3

Jun 23 2009, 3:39 pm

LIES MORE LIES I SMELL LIES!!!!!! HOW CAN THEY NOT KNOW IT WAS THE FUCKING MAYORS HOUSE????!!!! THAT IS QUESTION NUMBER ONE!!! GOD DAMNIT!!!! NUMBER TWO., WHO IS ON THE CHAIN OF COMMAND IN THIS POLICE STATE RAID? NUMBER THREE., DID THE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM FIND OUT WHO AND HOW THESE DRUGS ENDED UP ON THE MAYORS DOORSTEP? PRIOR TO THE RAID TAKING PLACE? AND FINALLY., WHO SAYS/SAID THIS IS A GOOD ANSWER AND WHO APPROVED IT AND WHY? IT IS BEYOND REASON AND DOUBT THAT THIS WAS AN " ACCIDENT"/"CAUSED" BY ANYTHING LESS THAN INCOMPETANCE AND OR PURPOSEFULL VENDETA AGAINST THE MAYORS PERSON AND FAMILY AND OR HIS "POLITICAL FRIENDS" HEY I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT IT., WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK? AM I OFF THE MARK? DID I MISS SOMETHING? AS I DO NOT HAVE DETAILS., oooHHHH! the details!!!! I BET THEY ARE MORE INTEREESTING THAN THE FREEDOM LOVING AND JUSTICE SEEKING AMERICAN COULD BARE!!! TOO MUCH POWER AND CENTRALIZATION OF IT TO BE SAFELY CONTAINED IN THIS WORLD OF BANKSTERS AND BIG BROTHER!!!

FUCK THE POLICE

Jun 23 2009, 2:24 pm

FUCK THW POLICEEEEEE

anonymous

Jun 23 2009, 1:28 pm

I find something wrong with this. Alot of people use dogs instead of alarm systems, or with alarm systems to keep strangers out of their house, chase them out if they break in, or raise an alarm.
Every citizen of the USA should consider their barking miniature poodle, or whatever dog you have, dogs like to run up to people and bark at them. It appears the cops think it's 'just' to shoot them, when busting into somebody's house 'legally', because of a suspicion they have marijuana.
Really a bunch of hypocrites, hopefully the next false drug busts are on each member of this SWAT teams house. See how they like their dogs gurgling for blood through this legal brutality.

cop killa

Jun 23 2009, 12:42 pm

How can you see no wrong in killing innocent dogs over a harmless plant. I hope the mayor sues these pigs for all they're worth.

treehugger

Jun 23 2009, 12:41 pm

review future op's, like...why is swat even involved in what should've been a federal case?? And they didn't know the owners of the property they obtained a warrant for? What idiot judge signed that? crossing state lines, using a shipping company, albeit not the u.s. mail but....conspiracy?

cop killa

Jun 23 2009, 12:40 pm

better you than me
cop killa, fuck police brutality
cop killa, i know your familys grievin
fuck em
cop killa, but tonight we get even

michael d

Jun 23 2009, 10:51 am

dogs are the unofficial guardians of cannabis grows worldwide.cops vs. dogs, i think the answer is clear

MD Kushman

Jun 22 2009, 10:58 pm

correction- it was the sherrifs office that shot the dogs- with county supervising -they are both equally brutal, They have been sued many times for using excessive force, and the Taxpayers pick up the settlement cost. Be careful when you blaze inside the beltway.-Peace out.

MD kushman

Jun 22 2009, 10:48 pm

PG county cops are well know locally for their butality. There was absolutly no reason to kill those dogs, If they say they didn't know it was the mayors house they are full of crap, hes a mayor of a liberal enclave near Tacoma Park that probally favors Decrim. of the good herb. the tide is turning slowly- write your Sen . to support Barney Franks Bill. We are tired of this senseless govt. violence agaisnt peaceful citzens who use Cannabis responsiably.

Sanctity

Jun 22 2009, 9:22 pm

The police in this case only killed dogs , as horrible as that seems , they have killed innocent people in the past and very little is made of it in the media,I cannot remember seeing any news of this issue on television.On the other hand .. Jon and Kate are breaking up and you cannot get away from it . Think about that.

Kushman

Jun 22 2009, 8:55 pm

Welcome to the U.S.S.A.

Supreme Thought

Jun 22 2009, 8:53 pm

He blames the shooting on the scourge of drugs in last paragraph... wow...really... how about the scourge of retarded ass police, violating peoples homes and sanctity, when there is no victim. Think about that. You can't justify shooting dogs because there may have been drugs in the house. Hopefully this mayor uses all his power to fuck these cops over.

Get that money!!! Lawsuit time!!!

I encourage everyone to sue the police,whenever possible, and legally extort these fuckers. Bankrupt them.

dirty robb

Jun 22 2009, 7:56 pm

thats bullshit the fucks raid houses and kill two doggs. there was no need to shoot a dogg 4 times. fuck authority. stand up for your rights.

bongwater

Jun 22 2009, 7:34 pm

see, if law enforcements homes were violated like this by a group of armed, masked anti-prohibitionists...well it WOULD be a war then...huh?

thecat

Jun 22 2009, 7:12 pm

the SWAT killed two dogs for a little weed? I hope them assholes have nightmares for the rest of their lives!

freedom420FTG

Jun 22 2009, 6:30 pm

FTG,SWAT,WELCOME TO THE SOCIALIST COUNTRY OF OBAMA

getvicious

Jun 22 2009, 6:08 pm

yes, the operation was a success, if you ignore the fact that the police raided the guy's house on bad intel. The guy did absolutely nothing wrong and his family is now traumatized for the rest of their lives, and the police still show no remorse whatsoever for their horrendous mistakes or for the fact that they are completely incompotent. fuck the cops, fuck the government....smoke a blunt and chill the fuck out.

cops suck

Jun 22 2009, 5:50 pm

wat a bunch of bullshit, probaly sum jews.