
Message number 17873 in "AEN NEWS"
Date: 10-19-93  16:05
From: Mike Riddle
To:   All
Subj: Letter to Reno

Downloaded from Gun Talk, the BBS of the NRA/ILA:

                                                16 September 1993

                                                537 Cameo Terrace
                                                Chesapeake VA 23320

Ms. Janet Reno
Attorney General of the United States
Justice Department
Washington DC

Dear Ms Reno:

I have watched several of the "COPS" shows on TV.  These purport to be
real live police going about their normal business.  After considering
some of the "COPS" episodes on TV, and reviewing the provisions of the
Fourth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution, I realized that I did not
understand why the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable
search and seizure was apparently being violated by the police.

I thought that a search warrant was served by knocking on the door and
then handing the resident the paper warrant - and then waiting whilst
the warrant was read and understood, when the resident would then invite
the police to enter and search.  It would be expected that reasonable
care would be taken to avoid gratuitous damage to the premises and
contents.  When the search was completed, the resident would be given a
receipt for all items seized.

It appears that a search warrant now authorizes law enforcement agents
to kick in the door, physically and verbally abuse the residents, trash
the premises and contents as desired, and - if no violations are found -
depart the premises without an apology or a thank-you.

Criminals are now beginning to use the police tactic of kicking in the
door of their victim's dwelling while posing as police, DEA, FBI, or
some other kind of law enforcement agents.  Please see the attached
clipping from the Houston POST of 16 September 1993.

As a law-abiding citizen I need to know how to tell the difference
between real police and criminals posing as police.  I would also like
to know what will be the proper "Rules of Engagement" in the event that
I begin to defend my home and family against criminals and discover that
it is really some law enforcement agents who have accidentally gotten
the wrong address.

Also, I would like to know if the Fourth Amendment has been repealed
recently, and if not, how the Gestapo-like tactics of the modern law
enforcement agents have been justified.

                                Yours truly,



                                John Bischoff

HOUSTON POST - 16 SEP 93

ROBBERS ACT LIKE COPS IN HOME HEIST

Thugs pistol-whip dad, leave family unharmed

By Deborah Quinn Hensel - of the Houston Post Staff

Another gang of law enforcement imposters forced their way into an east
Houston home at gunpoint Wednesday morning -- the third such incident
since Monday.

Sgt. Gary Bratton of the Houston Police Department's major offenders
unit said four or five men accosted Pedro Sanchez in front of his home
in the 1000 block of Wooding, near Canal and S. Sgt. M. Garcia Drive, at
7 A.M. as he was leaving for work.

The suspects, possibly wearing FBI or Drug Enforcement Administration
windbreakers, pistol-whipped Sanchez and led him back into his house at
gunpoint.  Sanchez, his wife and three children under 12 years of age
were tied up with white plastic flex-ties while the suspects searched
for drugs and money.

Bratton said the suspects were either spooked or realized they had made
a mistake because they fled quickly after confining the Sanchez family
in the bathroom.

On Monday, Bruce Wayne Brown of the 8200 block of Bertwood was shot in
the leg when gunmen posing as police broke in and ransacked his house in
northeast Houston.

At 2 A.M. Tuesday, armed burglars claiming to be police broke into a
home in the 7600 block of Jonathan Court in southwest Houston, shooting
homeowner Charles Kelly in the leg.  Nothing was taken in that incident.

Tuesday evening, four kick-robbers entered a home in the 4500 block of
Majestic.  Police spokesman Joe Gamino said the suspects struck Terry
Johnson with a pistol and demanded to know the location of a safe.
Police later arrested two of the four suspects, but no charges had been
filed by late Wednesday.

"Maybe it's just a coincidence," Bratton said of similarities in the
four recent break-ins.  "We can't say right now that they aren't
related, but the Wooding incident doesn't appear to be connected."

Although gunmen made their way into the homes in two of the other cases
by claiming to be police, the Wooding invasion is the only one in which
the suspects reportedly wore law enforcement windbreakers, Bratton said.


SIDEBOX TO NEWS ITEM

WHAT TO DO IF HOME IS INVADED

from staff reports

If you're a homeowner awakened by a knock at the door and a gruff voice
demanding you open up for police, the Houston Police Department suggests
the following:

Ask to see ID badges and warrants.  Genuine law enforcement personnel
won't hesitate to comply with that request.  Official-looking uniforms
aren't enough to justify opening your door to what may be armed
imposters -- burglars posing as police.

If they do get in, do whatever is necessary to cooperate to protect your
safety.  Do not put yourself in any danger.

After they leave or if you have any doubts, call 911.

--- GenMsg [0003] (postmaster@inns.omahug.org)


--- Squish v1.01
 * Origin: inns.omahug.org     +1 402 593-1192  !Mike Riddle (1:285/27)
