Thank you again anodyne for keeping everyone updated. I just wanted to make sure you know that we appreciate it. I hope everything stays calm for you all in STL.
Post by feistypants on Nov 19, 2014 16:03:36 GMT -5
From STL Anonymous' Twitter: Signs are there they are blocking off streets in front of the Ferguson PD, schools early dismissal for "Teacher Training", National Guard
Post by sparrowsong on Nov 19, 2014 16:51:38 GMT -5
CNN has a headline about it being Friday right now. I've seen so many predictions the last couple weeks though, Im not automatically believing anything.
Ferguson police email deletion and search questionedRuss Ptacek, Special for KSDK25 minutes agoFacebookTwitterGoogle Plusmore
KSDK
File photo.
ST. LOUIS - For the past weeks, 5 On Your Side Investigates has been pouring through more than 2,000 pages of Sunshine Law requests concerning Ferguson, looking for information you haven't heard before.
Missouri has a public records law – the "Sunshine Law" -- so you can find out what public officials are doing – and how your tax dollars are being spent.
5 On Your Side is trying to examine what local officials were saying to each other in emails after the shooting in Ferguson.
The documents we've uncovered raise new questions about what has – and has not been released.
It's something concerned citizens have wondered about since the day Michael Brown died.
Would emails between Ferguson police and other officials shed any light on the shooting, the protests, law enforcement and National Guard reaction?
We reviewed copies of open records requests from reporters and private citizens across the country, and around the world, that flooded Ferguson in the days and weeks after the shooting.
Many of them asking for those emails.
But one request stands out, from a reporter whose name may forever be associated with Ferguson's open records searches, Jason Leopold.
"I wanted every officer's inbox to be searched," Leopold said in an interview with 5 On Your Side. "I had assumed all the email boxes were searched."
Leopold, with the international online news channel Vice News filed, an open records request asking for "any and all emails" police sent about Brown and the protests in the five weeks that followed.
He made national headlines when he had to pay $1200 for the search which produced seven email exchanges he published.
That's right, just seven emails, in more than a month.
When we asked about the city's search procedures, Ferguson's city manager issued a statement.
"The City has instructed the contractor to search all emails on the system," said Ferguson City Manager John Shaw. "Including deleted emails for the keywords provided by the requester."
But we started asking more questions when we discovered a report on the email search.
It's from Acumen Consulting, the St. Louis-based company the city hired to do the email search.
One line describes the search process.
"Per City of Ferguson policy, it is assumed at this time that no one has violated the 'no email deletions' policy," the document sent by Acumen to Ferguson says.
What's that mean? Two computer experts we consulted called it unusual.
"This does not appear to be a thorough search," said Minneapolis based cyber-security expert Mark Lanterman.
Lanterman says although the consultant may have searched for some deleted emails, the only comprehensive way to do a search is to look for deleted – and purged deleted - emails, too.
That's because even after you hit delete – and clean out your trash box – they sometimes survive deep in a computer's memory.
But if you check the email search contract, there is a section called "Assumptions and Conditions."
The "Assumptions and Conditions" clause from Acumen states: "It is our understanding that no one has intentionally deleted or purged email."
St. Louis computer expert Vinnie Troia says making an assumption like that is like putting blinders on the search, and in his professional opinion, the Ferguson email search was not complete.
"It isn't," Troia said. "As you're looking at a forensic process, the first thing you're looking at is deleted items."
No one knows for sure whether there were any deleted emails, but it raises the possibility that a hidden pool of them went undetected, a possibility Vice News' Leopold said Ferguson officials didn't explain, and that he didn't know until 5 On Your Side contacted him.
"No, no idea at all," Leopold said. "I'm absolutely suspicious about what was deleted in the aftermath of Michael Brown's death."
And when you read the consultant's report carefully, you discover even he thought additional searches could have been done.
"It is possible to perform a 'per computer deleted item search,'" the consultant told Ferguson officials it would "require 30 minutes per computer request."
The report goes on…
"Per our discussion regarding budget control, I have stopped the search at five hours and am presenting the results," Acumen said in its final report to Ferguson officials on the search.
That has the reporter who paid big bucks for what he thought was a complete search – wondering:
"I do believe there is a smoking gun out there someplace and it's likely in someone's trashbin," Leopold said. "I'm outraged, and I think the public should be as well."
We contacted the consultant, Acumen, multiple times trying to get clarification about all of this. No one responded, but no one has suggested the consultant is a fault.
Without a complete search, experts say there is no way to know whether there are any deleted emails.
To find out, 5 On Your Side Investigates filed an open records request for every deleted Ferguson email since August.
The city wants a down payment of $500 before they start. We'll let you know what we discover.
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CNN has a headline about it being Friday right now. I've seen so many predictions the last couple weeks though, Im not automatically believing anything.
I think channel 5 said the GJ will meet Friday and possibly begin deliberating. If they come to a decision it would be released 48 hours later, so Sunday. Channel 5 said they tried to confirm CNNs timeline and they could not verify it. But I have heard that political pressure could make them release as early as Friday.
From STL Anonymous' Twitter: Signs are there they are blocking off streets in front of the Ferguson PD, schools early dismissal for "Teacher Training", National Guard
They have made arrests tonight. Anyone know what the difference is between an arrest on any normal Wednesday and one under a State of Emergency?
I think Friday-Sunday makes the most sense. That way, if schools need to be cancelled, they only have to take off Monday and Tuesday b/c they're already closed W-F of next week.
Officer Darren Wilson is in talks to resign from Ferguson Police Department, but his decision depends on whether or not a grand jury will indict him in the shooting of Michael Brown.
Wilson informed colleagues that he is willing to resign if it will contribute to the safety of other officers, and mitigate some of the pressure they are facing. But he is adamant about his innocence, and will act according to the grand jury’s decision. He expressed concern that stepping down before the grand jury’s decision is announced would implicate him, and if the jury charges him and sends him to trial, he is less likely to step down.
For now, he is still on paid leave.
The police chief in Ferguson, Thomas Jackson, also faced pressure to step down in October, to alleviate tension in the city and allow the St. Louis County police to supervise the Ferguson department.
But even if Wilson and Jackson were to resign, the militarization of police in the area would still fuel the fire between demonstrators and law enforcement. Activists and civil rights groups blasted Governor Jay Nixon’s declaration of a state of emergency and activation of the Missouri National Guard, despite the absence of a verdict. Peaceful protesters have already been arrested in the last two days. And, in what many from the Ferguson community perceive as a sign of war, police departments around St. Louis have been equipped with new riot gear and participated in 5,000 hours of specialized training.
Jennings has already cancelled all classes next week.
Moms coworker DH is admin at STLPS, on lockdown and prepared to be out for two weeks? I am aware this is third hand info, but if true the announcement should come around 5:00 CST
Jennings has already cancelled all classes next week.
Moms coworker DH is admin at STLPS, on lockdown and prepared to be out for two weeks? I am aware this is third hand info, but if true the announcement should come around 5:00 CST
My brother is a STL officer and he's not on lock down. He IS going to be working 12 hour shifts, but that hasn't started yet.
Moms coworker DH is admin at STLPS, on lockdown and prepared to be out for two weeks? I am aware this is third hand info, but if true the announcement should come around 5:00 CST
My brother is a STL officer and he's not on lock down. He IS going to be working 12 hour shifts, but that hasn't started yet.
Last night Chris King,editor of STL American, tweeted that his source with Gj knowledge said the GJ did not come to a decision when they met yesterday.
My brother is a STL officer and he's not on lock down. He IS going to be working 12 hour shifts, but that hasn't started yet.
Last night Chris King,editor of STL American, tweeted that his source with Gj knowledge said the GJ did not come to a decision when they met yesterday.
Last night Chris King,editor of STL American, tweeted that his source with Gj knowledge said the GJ did not come to a decision when they met yesterday.
What does it mean?
More waiting. They began deliberating, but have not reached a decision on the possible charges. I think there are multiple different charges they have to look at from murder to misconduct. I have not heard when the next GJ meeting is scheduled
Post by sparrowsong on Nov 22, 2014 13:06:26 GMT -5
What majority is needed for indictment? 8 of 12 jurors? Anyone know?
I'm so frustrated with the media's handling of the story. Shaun King tweeted that a reporter expressed interest in the lie from police that Michael was 35 ft away. But said cnn turned it down as they wanted to focus more on the... Conflict between protestors and police? Or something. Their whole amped up we all going to die in massive rioting angle. Who cares about uncovering and reporting the truth, right? Let's feed the fear and paranoia and hope it pays off with a catastrophe instead! Ugh.
What majority is needed for indictment? 8 of 12 jurors? Anyone know?
I'm so frustrated with the media's handling of the story. Shaun King tweeted that a reporter expressed interest in the lie from police that Michael was 35 ft away. But said cnn turned it down as they wanted to focus more on the... Conflict between protestors and police? Or something. Their whole amped up we all going to die in massive rioting angle. Who cares about uncovering and reporting the truth, right? Let's feed the fear and paranoia and hope it pays off with a catastrophe instead! Ugh.
I'm pretty sure it's 9.
I honestly have no idea what the truth is with the case. I hear so many different things from so many different people/sources, that I just don't know who to believe. Thankfully (hopefully?!) the GJ has the whole story, so I hope they make the right decision.
The city and county leaders met with some protest group leaders yesterday to try to come up with "plans" to keep everything nonviolent. It won't work because the people that are wanting/planning on making it violent aren't the ones that "belong" to a protest group.
The local news just reported that you cannot have a hung GJ. They vote, if they don't get 9 to indicte, no indictment.
There is also some fuckery being uncovered. In multiple interviews McCulloh said he had pre approved with the judge that all evidence would be released if no indictment. Now the judge rep is saying there is no agreement. So did he ever have this approval or did the judge go back on it, and if so why?
I just saw this on Boston.com and wasn't sure how true it is. So he got married on 10/24. I saw a judge performed the ceremony, but didn't notice if it said where (courthouse, etc). I thought he was hidden and secluded. (Aside from speaking with various journalists I mean). He got divorced in 2013.
This is all over and I don't get why. Who the fuck cares?
Is there any chance it's a spouse doesn't have to testify against him type thing? Like if they've talked about the incident and she may have incriminating things if asked, so get married and now doesn't have to testify? Or is this my law and order degree talking?
This is all over and I don't get why. Who the fuck cares?
Is there any chance it's a spouse doesn't have to testify against him type thing? Like if they've talked about the incident and she may have incriminating things if asked, so get married and now doesn't have to testify? Or is this my law and order degree talking?
You may be right. I did see that she was a police officer as well. What's kind of weird is they got married in Overland, which is closer to Ferguson that where they live.
It may also be b/c if he gets let off he'll probably be going into the witness protection program and this way she can come with him.