Bridgeport Officer Who Reported Racist Letter Wrote It: Police

A former Bridgeport police officer who claimed someone left a racist memo on police letterhead in his mailbox at headquarters in February admitted to writing the letter himself and has been charged with filing a false report, according to police.

Former Officer Clive Higgins reported that he found a racist hate letter in his police mailbox the morning of Monday, Feb. 9 and feared for his life because of it.

The letter, printed on paper marked with the department's official letterhead, started off with "WHITE POWER" and went on to say "Officer Clive Higgins doesn't belong here in this Police Department" and "These Black Officers belong in the toilet."

A month earlier, Higgins was acquitted in connection with a 2011 police brutality case in which officers were caught on camera beating a suspect at Beardsley Park and shooting him with a stun gun. Two other officers were convicted, but a federal jury found Higgins not guilty.

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Bridgeport-Officer-Who-Reported-Racist-Letter-Wrote-It-Police-360060851.html#

Paris Attacks: Friend of 'Baby-Faced Bomber' Arrested at Airport

Source: NBC News

A friend of the "baby-faced bomber" who was behind one of the Paris terrorist attacks is among two people arrested in Belgium, officials revealed Thursday.

Samir Z., a French national who was born in 1995, was stopped at Brussels airport at 4:30 a.m. local time Sunday (10:30 p.m. ET Saturday) while trying to board a flight to Morocco, Belgian Prosecutor Eric Van der Sypt said in a statement.

"He is considered to be part of the entourage of Bilal Hadfi," according to Van der Sypt, referring to the 20-year-old so-called "baby-faced bomber" who blew himself up outside an international soccer game in the French capital after failing to gain access to the stadium on November 13.

Samir Z. was also suspected of attempting to leave for Syria twice this year, Van der Sypt's statement added

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/paris-terror-attacks/paris-attacks-friend-baby-faced-bomber-arrested-airport-n473406

Israel arrests youths over fatal West Bank arson attack

Source: BBC

Israeli authorities have arrested several youths in connection with a fatal arson attack on a Palestinian family's home in the West Bank.

The Shin Bet security agency said the youths were believed to be affiliated with a Jewish terrorist organization.

The killing of Saad and Riham Dawabsha and their 18-month-old son, Ali, in the village of Duma four months ago provoked international condemnation.

Another son, four-year-old Ahmed, is still being treated for his wounds.



Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34994812

Thanks to the DU admins.

The site seems to be running much faster even on long threads and breaking news. It appears "fixed"

Thank you

S.F. police shoot suspected stabber in Bayview District

San Francisco police shot and killed a suspected stabber in the Bayview District late Wednesday afternoon after the man approached an officer while holding a knife, police said.

The shooting, which authorities said occurred on Keith Street after officers tried and failed to subdue the man with nonlethal beanbags, was recorded by someone on a Muni bus who posted the video to Instagram.

Police Chief Greg Suhr told reporters that the video confirmed the suspect “does have the knife in his hand and he does move toward officers.”

But San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi, after watching the same video, said it appeared that “the person was not posing a direct threat and certainly did not have to be shot.”

http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Police-say-SF-officer-shoots-suspect-in-Bayview-6671485.php

Video at the link.

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Cord cutters - news junkies here is a great site.

San Francisco's 'Hot Cop of Castro' Arrested After Allegedly Driving Into Two Men, Fleeing the Scene

A San Francisco police officer known as the “Hot Cop of Castro” was arrested after he allegedly hit two pedestrians and fled the scene, according to reports.

Chris Kohrs, 38, was off-duty when he allegedly drove his Dodge Charger into two men who were walking across Broadway near Montgomery Street about 2:20 a.m. Sunday, the Los Angeles Times reported.

After striking the men, Kohrs reportedly jumped out of his car and fled the scene on foot. Investigators with the San Francisco Police Department later identified him and tracked him down, the Times wrote.

Kohrs was arrested and charged with two felony counts of hit and run, officials said.

http://news.yahoo.com/san-franciscos-hot-cop-castro-144000295.html?nf=1

White House Rejects Plan to Close Gitmo Prison as Being Too Expensive

Source: military.com

The U.S. government rejected a plan by the Department of Defense to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba for being too expensive and sent it back to the Pentagon for revision, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

According to the Journal, the plan was going to cost $600 million, which was considered excessive by the administration led by President Barack Obama.

Of the total amount, $350 million was for construction of a new prison on U.S. soil for high-risk prisoners, Defense officials told the Journal.

The rejection of the plan presents a new hurdle for Obama before the end of his term next year, as closing the Guantanamo Bay was one of his electoral promises in 2008.

Read more: http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/12/02/white-house-rejects-plan-close-gitmo-prison-too-expensive.html

U.S. to Boost Operations in Iraq, Syria to Fight ISIS

Source: Wall Street Journal

More special operations forces to be deployed

Defense Secretary Ash Carter said the U.S. is boosting its military campaigns in Iraq and Syria by deploying additional special operations forces and opening a new front against the Islamic State extremist group.

In Iraq, the U.S. is assembling a specialized “expeditionary” force to assist Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces as well as to conduct raids, gather intelligence, rescue hostages and go after Islamic State leaders, Mr. Carter told lawmakers Tuesday at a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee. A senior defense official said up to 40 special operations force members would be backed by more than 150 support personnel.

Mr. Carter also described plans to open a southern front in Syria against Islamic State extremists that Pentagon officials said would rely on local rebels who went through a U.S. “train and equip” program that is known for having provided few fighters to the current fight. The new front comes after the U.S. announced plans last month to send 50 special operations force members to Syria for various training operations.

“We are at war,” Mr. Carter said. “We are gathering momentum on the battlefield in Syria and Iraq.”



Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-boost-operations-in-iraq-syria-1449021287