Officials Criticize Police Surveillance

Md. Gov. Promises Not To Monitor Peace, Anti-Death Penalty Groups In Wake Of Police Targeting Activists

(CBS/AP)  Gov. Martin O'Malley said Friday that state police are obligated to investigate threats to public safety, but his administration will not use public resources to monitor anti-war and anti-death penalty groups.

Sen. Ben Cardin, meanwhile, called for a "full accounting" of federal, state and local surveillance following the release of state police documents showing undercover officers infiltrated meetings of peace and anti-capital punishment groups for more than a year, spending nearly 300 hours on surveillance.

"Our nation cannot allow police activity that is intended to discourage dissent by Americans who may disagree with certain government policies," said Cardin, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The governor noted state police are obligated to investigate threats to public safety, "but where there is no evidence of a potential public threat, illegal activity or criminal wrongdoing, all investigatory or intelligence gathering activities shall cease."

O'Malley released the statement a day after the Maryland chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union released state police documents it obtained after suing the department.

The documents show undercover officers spent nearly 300 hours on surveillance. Police also included the name of at least one prominent peace activist in a federal database for tracking terrorists and drug dealers.

Cardin noted federal anti-terrorism guidelines and regulations expressly prohibit the collection or maintenance of criminal intelligence information about the political, religious or social views, associations, or activities of any individual or any group unless it directly relates to criminal activity.

One database entry in the documents describes a peace group's preparation for 2005 meetings on Iraqi war policy in Washington and Baltimore with Cardin, who was a congressman at the time, the senator noted.

Maryland state police Col. Terrence B. Sheridan said in a statement Thursday that his agency has never done anything illegal to citizens or groups that have exercised their right to free speech and assembly.

"Only when information regarding criminal activity is alleged will police continue to investigate leads to ensure the public safety," the statement said.

The Maryland ACLU sued last month, claiming the state police refused to release public documents about surveillance of peace activists. The suit claimed a state police intelligence unit monitored Baltimore peace groups that protested at the National Security Agency at Fort Meade in 2004.

The documents show that for 14 months, the state police Homeland Security and Intelligence Division used covert agents to infiltrate the Baltimore Pledge of Resistance, a peace group, the Coalition to End the Death Penalty (CEDP), and the Committee to Save Vernon Evans, a death row inmate, the ACLU said.

The head of the ACLU chapter sent a letter to O'Malley on Thursday asking for an immediate end to the surveillance.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, who chairs the Domestic Policy Subcommittee of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, announced that he will lead an investigation into the Maryland charges.

“I think that most people would be upset to know that police were spying on lawful citizens and infiltrating peaceful organizations, rather than chasing down real criminals," Kucinich said in a press statement. "At a minimum, such police spying is clearly a waste of taxpayer dollars and a diversion from the mission of protecting and serving the people. I want the subcommittee to determine how widespread these activities are and who ordered them."

[antoniof123]

The Republicans are useless they spend and say oh no it is the Democrats.

You morons wasted 300 labor hours going after peace and anti-capital punishment groups. This is waste what are we going have to do remove all Republicans from office I guess.

[vnveteran72]

This Neocon Nazi Crime Cartel detests Dissent. They view it as an Antiquated and Quaint Holdover of our once Free Nation of America, and not really helpful in their Plans to institute their Fascist Police State. Time for the Revolution people......

[rushlimpdrug]

Maryland state police Col. Terrence B. Sheridan
sounds like a terrorist.

[vnveteran72]

This also proves the Theory that Dimbulb Cops are easily led into Subverting the Constitution and Rule of Law by telling them that their Fuhrer demands and Rewards Loyalty to the Reich. Those that don''t fall into line are forced out as not being "Part of the Team" and "Unpatriotic", "Leftists", etc.,....
Just go to youtube and listen to Fascist Cops discussing how a Citizen having a copy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights is "Illegal", and that they must be "Terrorists". (I couldn''t believe it either, but it''s there).....The Nazis used the same exact tactics to Brainwash their Simpleton Brownshirt Stooges into Murdering Millions......

[andor3]

"It is about time for example that data be collected to support the judgements of police on reasonable grounds for investigations and even searches."

Good point. it is not just Gitmo where rights are under attack. The biggest fight for freedom is not in Iraq, it is right here in the USA. And the enemies are often those who pretend to be protecting us...

[hotwitch]

Officer Friendly at Maryland state police says: "Trust us, we know what we''re doing when we spy on you and you can rest assure that we won''t be violating anyone''s civil rights"

[vnveteran72]

Cardin noted federal anti-terrorism guidelines and regulations expressly prohibit the collection or maintenance of criminal intelligence information about the political, religious or social views, associations, or activities of any individual or any group unless it directly relates to criminal activity.

One database entry in the documents describes a peace group''s preparation for 2005 meetings on Iraqi war policy in Washington and Baltimore with Cardin, who was a congressman at the time, the senator noted.

Maryland state police Col. Terrence B. Sheridan said in a statement Thursday that his agency has never done anything illegal to citizens or groups that have exercised their right to free speech and assembly.

"Only when information regarding criminal activity is alleged will police continue to investigate leads to ensure the public safety," the statement said.

Apparently Col. Sheridan didn''t follow his own statement in regard to not investigating non-criminal activities of citizens. I can guarantee this Neocon Nazi Storm Trooper would profess a far different opinion in private or in the company of his like-minded cohorts. I can guarantee he has a signed photo of Shrub on his wall that he wacks off to.....

[gramto7]

Just go to youtube and listen to Fascist Cops discussing how a Citizen having a copy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights is "Illegal", and that they must be "Terrorists". (I couldn''''t believe it either, but it''''s there).....The Nazis used the same exact tactics to Brainwash their Simpleton Brownshirt Stooges into Murdering Millions......

Posted by vnveteran72 at 07:27 PM : Jul 19, 2008

How dare they!?!?!? Those documents are ours by law and by birthright! I am so angry right now I am shaking!! Those a$$holes need to go back to American Civics class in junior high school, now known as middle school, and learn something about America! Our unesteemed leader and his cronies need to be their classmates.

[vnveteran72]

This is the same thing that Nixon did in violation of the Constitution and Rule of Law, and we all know how that turned out.....but this is a new day and Traitors and Criminals are now to be revered and applauded......according to the GOP.......Up is Down, Black is White, and Treason is described as "The Patriot Act"......unbelievable........

[jmurrieta1]

Nothing surprising here! This kind of activity was the hallmark of the FBI during the Vietnam years.

Plus the cops acting as agents provocateur to stir up trouble, allowing the cops, or their agents like *** Angels thugs, to assault and murder protestors.

Welcome to Amerika!

[cyberus-2009]

Not a big surprise ... torturing *terrorist suspects* is a *end justifies the means* tactic, this is just another form of that, just like shaky probable cause being allowed to slide.

[scratch0058]

"Only when information regarding criminal activity is alleged will police continue to investigate leads to ensure the public safety."

Oh, sure. We believe you.
Don''t we gang?

[sistatee-2009]

Everything is monitored, including this board.

[alphaa10-2009]

Police have an obligation to exercise due diligence in their commission to protect the public. This is not a blank check, however, as was made clear during the 1960''s and 1970''s with a firestorm of criticism over FBI Countelpro programs.

The need-to-know vs. the right to privacy is always a balancing act. Witness the creation of the FISA court to decide wiretap / surveillance issues, rather than POTUS.

Nonetheless, the reigning principle should be whether there is a reasonable cause to investigate any individual or group, based on facts about the subject(s) of the probe. "Just in case" is not a plausible grounds for investigation, but a fishing license, instead. Leaving one''s home, only to find a police car or other, unmarked car tailing is something expected in the PRC or Russia. It should not happen here.

If eternal vigiilance is the price of liberty, that axiom applies especially to citizens who must watch their police for abuses of civil rights. Power corrupts, and never so quickly as when a badge is involved.

[alphaa10-2009]

PS-- Want to know where your next generation of brownshirted fascists will come from?

Your local police and state police-- while staffed with at least as many upright, professionally responsible officers-- has a unique appeal to a fringe element which enjoys the aspect of power and violence.

As with bad apples anywhere, it takes strong internal discipline for a department to investigate, remove and stay free of them. Fired from a governmental police agency, such apples will move to other, parallel departments, or enter freelance "investigative" or corporate "security" work.

The more professionnl agencies steer clear of them, if only from a sincere desire for self-preservation.

[magoo2u1]

So, the governor of Maryland thinks the police shouldn''t spy on you just because you disagree with the government. HE just got his name on the terror watch list!! I don''t see how we can keep all this homeland security money and hardware going if we start using that f-ing constitution again. Maybe I''ll get another tax break. NOT. The police will just ignore him.

[cyberus-2009]

----
PS-- Want to know where your next generation of brownshirted fascists will come from?

Your local police and state police-- while staffed with at least as many upright, professionally responsible officers-- has a unique appeal to a fringe element which enjoys the aspect of power and violence.

As with bad apples anywhere, it takes strong internal discipline for a department to investigate, remove and stay free of them. Fired from a governmental police agency, such apples will move to other, parallel departments, or enter freelance "investigative" or corporate "security" work.

The more professionnl agencies steer clear of them, if only from a sincere desire for self-preservation.

Posted by alphaa10
----
One Word

Blackwater

[cfin5]

Posted by harp1963 at 12:55 AM : Jul 20, 2008----- Did you know these tares or "weeds" look in appearance on the outside just like wheat, but on the inside the seed is very dark compared to wheat.....That is why the Lord of Hosts says in his book that he looks on your heart, not the color of your skin.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Everything is monitored, including this board."
Posted by SistaTee

Buck Fush. Chuck Feney, also.

Let them monitor that.

[libsluv2spit]

Everything is monitored, including this board.

Posted by SistaTee at 11:40 PM : Jul 19, 2008
+ report abuse

*********

yes you are..............................

[libsluv2spit]

Let them monitor that.

Posted by brianbwb at 05:25 AM : Jul 20, 2008
+ report abuse

************************

already did..you are non-threat loser with a big mouth and a small brain..

you should had studied harder...

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by libsluv2spit

And luck fibsluv2spit

I hope you are one of the monitors, it would be only typical, for such to condone fascism, and the further abrogation of our constitutional rights.

[gunfighter51]

Typical liberals, only thinking about spying on Bush and Cheney. You got your wish with the libs voting to continue it.
I knew all along the wimps would cave on this issue, they would never go back into office without the ability to spy on the vast right wing conspiracy.

The only cities in this country that need cameras are the ones controlled by the liberals, the crime infested slums they helped to create.

[babooph]

Thge police,like the politicos that control them do not work for the citizen voter.

[jmurrieta1]

Now maybe our courageous free press can tell us about the same activities going on in the other 49 states?

[jmurrieta1]

"Maryland state police Col. Terrence B. Sheridan said in a statement Thursday that his agency has never done anything illegal to citizens or groups that have exercised their right to free speech and assembly.
"Only when information regarding criminal activity is alleged will police continue to investigate leads to ensure the public safety," the statement said."



I allege criminal activity by Bush and Cheney! Camp David is in Maryland.

Next time Bush or Cheney is at Camp David, I demand that the Maryland pigs put them under arrest for "investigation"!

[omnibus66]

George Orwells ''1984'' is here thanks to the Bush administration. ''Big brother is watching you''.

Every law enforcement organization in the country has watched The President totally ignore our Constitutional protections and said to themselves, ''If he can do it, so can we''.

The technology is available for government to monitor everything you do, and legal or not, they are doing it, and will continue to do it, and there is virtually nothing anyone can do to stop it.

Aren''t you glad you voted for Bush, twice?

[gagirl40]

Posted by libsluv2spit at 05:28 AM : Jul 20, 2008

already did..you are non-threat loser with a big mouth and a small brain..

you should had studied harder...
_______________________________________

I always think it''s funny when someone calls someone else stupid and then proceeds to show their own ignorance. It''s, "You should HAVE studied harder." not "HAD"..so obviously You should have studied harder yourself libsluv2spit!

[mrbrill]

Our great tax dollars at work... Monitoring groups just because someone higher up does not agree with their views... and in the meantime, crime rates are going up.

[etheone]

If the investigation proves that the State was involved in such activity... someone must resign.

[nextgenman]

This whole illegal spying program was most assuredly a Republican Thing. They hate that pesky Constitution and those inconvenient Rights that our Founding Fathers fought and died to obtain.

GOP:The Fascist Party.

[Marie Zarankevich]

DefndLiberty -- Unfortunately, DefndLiberty, our lovely free country has spent the past 50 years selling itself off to the highest bidders, and is not quite what it used to be. -- We had a war with Greed, and Greed won! -- Now we appear to be stuck with the charming consequences, like it or not, which seem to include a delightful stint as a Facist country. -- The times, they are a-changing. -- Enjoy the show, people.

[jt_lancer]

nextgenman: "This whole illegal spying program was most assuredly a Republican Thing. They hate that pesky Constitution and those inconvenient Rights that our Founding Fathers fought and died to obtain."


The Democrats'' track record on ''preserving liberty'' and ''upholding the Constitution'' is just as bad as the Repubs.

Do you really think a Dem pres like Obama (with a Dem Congress) will overturn all of the unconstitutional laws imposed by Bush and the Repubs? Get real.

There ain''t a dimes worth of difference between the two parties. Politics, corruption, and unquenchable desire for state power go hand in hand, no matter what party is in power.

[wardoglrs]

Well what did you expect when Obama and the rest voted in favor of the FISA bill.
Your 4th Amendment right''s are gone. There not coming back. This is what you get when you vote for people who have no respect for the constitution. They don''t and will not follow the law, There above it and the worst of this is that America doesn''t get it or understand it.

The truth here is you are owned by Israel and you all better wake up quick. Why don''t you educate yourselves about these things before you vote for your self destruction.

Your owned lot stock and barrel. This is why you must pay taxes cause if you don''t you will lose your property and some jail or prison.

[nojoy01]

My My. Most people here seem to be upset by the "big bad boogeymen in DC". Oops, excu-u-use me. The "big bad boogeypersons in DC". Aw fer crimineys'' sake. Get over it. Whether you''re blue or red & scream about this administration or the last administration, this country has/had/will have exactly the kind of government it deserves. If you''re old enough to vote & do vote, guess what, you''re one of the 60% eligible to vote who actually voted. An estimated 56 million people don''t even bother to register. So if 40% don''t vote & an election is decided by 51% of those that voted then only about 30% of the eligible voters in this country picked the winner. In the last several elections. So instead of whining here, go register people to vote, I do. & if you''re not old enough to vote, who cares what your opinion is? Not anybody running for office.

[six-six-seis]

pssst... we are being watched,
we are being monitored,.....
pass it on....... keep it quiet.....

[impeach__w]

None of this is legal, Let the lawsuits roll in BANKRUPT ALL OF THEM!

[impeach__w]

Cardin noted federal anti-terrorism guidelines and regulations expressly prohibit the collection or maintenance of criminal intelligence information about the political, religious or social views, associations, or activities of any individual or any group unless it directly relates to criminal activity.


Actually, this was just changed or is being changed, The FBI can start an investigation on you without and evidence or criminal activity or crime committed. It''s called profiling and you can read about it here
http://www.cbsnews.com
/stories/2008/07/03/national/main4229431.shtml

Where is the FBI you asked? They are creating a file on every person (American) and assigning a rating for their potential to cause terror.

Currently, FBI agents need specific reasons - like evidence or allegations that a law probably has been violated - to investigate U.S. citizens and legal residents. The new policy, law enforcement officials told The Associated Press, would let agents open preliminary terrorism investigations after mining public records and intelligence to build a profile of traits that, taken together, were deemed suspicious. Among the factors that could make someone subject of an investigation is travel to regions of the world known for terrorist activity, access to weapons or military training, along with the person''s race or ethnicity.

[kansas1946]

Sen. Ben Cardin, meanwhile, called for a "full accounting" of federal, state and local surveillance following the release of state police documents showing undercover officers infiltrated meetings of peace and anti-capital punishment groups for more than a year, spending nearly 300 hours on surveillance.

"Our nation cannot allow police activity that is intended to discourage dissent by Americans who may disagree with certain government policies," said Cardin, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

******************************

Oh, big surprise. The facists in this administration are living happy. They have made every attempt possible to distroy our consitution. They will fail, but it is sickening that so many people supported this regime in the Whitehouse for so long.