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Welcome to Prohibition Times Prohibition Times

The Police-Approved Copkillers

by John Lee
© your income tax dollars at the White House

What happens when a person is stopped and arrested for DUI after killing a cop? Does the police-industrial complex crush cop killers like it crushes ordinary citizens who violate the 0.00% blood-alcohol legal limit?

Oftentimes police and media discrimine against all things motorcycle, such as Tennessee naming a highway after a senator convicted in a fatal hit-and-run of a tourist, it is doubtful that such police agencies could ever possibly conduct a fair and impartial crash investigation involving any motorcycle owner. In fact, the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) and the Knox County, Tennessee, District Attorney's office dropped first-degree murder charges against two arrested alleged killers of an off-duty Knoxville police officer who was riding his motorcycle. The shooter had a prior conviction for murder in Florida, making him a serial killer with his second killing.

Tony Williams
KPD

A confidential police source alleged the shooting was a random act of drugged-drunk-insane violence ("road rage"). Yet the local newspaper alleged that Tony Williams was killed in a "drug deal gone bad," despite being unarmed and shot in the back three times as he rode his motorcycle (dead men can't sue for libel). No drugs were found on Williams' body, nor did he have a large amount of cash. His bank loans were maxed out, as are many young professionals in Knoxville and around the country, and bank loans for a car and motorcycle are not "proof" of drug dealing or drug buying.

According to a law-enforcement source, the alleged shooter shot himself in the leg as he finished shooting the Harley-Davidson rider in the back, and was dropped off at the same hospital as his alleged murder victim. The driver was then arrested for drunk-driving by Lake City police. Police allegedly had the murder weapon in their possession after an inventory of the impounded vehicle. A confession by the passenger (tape recorded by police) allegedly quoted the shooter: "Watch this Outlaw piece-of-shit squirm" as he pulled out his gun and shot the biker cop in the back. ("Outlaw" is the name of a national gangster-biker organization.)

A former Knox County sheriff who was an associate of the suspected cop-killers showed up at the hospital to offer his support. Ex-sheriff Joe Jenkins was recently arrested and convicted for car theft to pay for his reported cocaine and gambling addictions, and faced a drunk-driving prosecution. Jenkins is now a bail bondsman. The cop informant alleged that since one of the alleged killers had a relative in government position (the Knoxville fire department), the charges may have been dropped as a "favor."

Otherwise, it was just gross incompetence on behalf of KPD homicide detectives and the district attorney. For example, when Williams' police revolver was not found on his body (KPD cops are required to carry their guns off duty), detectives alleged paramedics or firemen stole the gun, which was not found with the killers. The "detectives" presumed the bullet in the killer's leg came from Williams' gun, or claimed it did, and they "needed" Williams' gun to make their story stick.

Knoxville News Sentinel
Obituaries
Friday, July 7, 2000
Tony Williams
In Loving Memory of
Tony Williams

When we close
our eyes and
open our hearts,
we still see
you and we still
feel your prescence.
We see your smile
as clearly as we
did eleven years
ago. We still love
you and we miss your
gift of our hearts.


Ralph and Judy Tucker
George and Emily Ellison
Shane Houck
Stephen and Terri Tucker

One year later, while cutting a padlock off an unused locker in the basement of KPD headquarters, Williams' gun was found along with his personal items in a second locker he used besides his assigned locker. Foster Arnette and the Knoxville News Sentinel "forgot" to mention this to Sentinel reporters and readers.

Foster Arnett, the ex-cop, attorney and public relations contractor for KPD alleged in the Knoxville News Sentinel the dead cop was a criminal (a "one-percenter" biker) killed in "a drug deal gone bad", implying that such murderers ought never be prosecuted. The news media played along with its typical hatred of all things motorcycle and its routine glorification of death via motorcycle, with the thrill-kill bonus of gunplay. At a later date, the two released men were reportedly arrested, prosecuted and convicted on federal drug-dealing charges. The KPD source alleged his buddy was not "dirty" and that he was too broke to be profiting from drug sales, though another source who also knew the dead cop said he was "mean". (The victim-cop, Tony Williams, formerly played football for the University of Tennessee, which is certainly a violent sport where "meanness" is rewarded, and very few cops are known for being "nice.")

The KPD source said that drug dealers and murderers -- so-called "informants" -- are often released as favors to various other police agencies, and that this policy is merely standard police procedure. The cop explained that "informants" include career criminals who commit murders and all lower crimes. The "disgruntled" cop, however, did not want to get "officially" involved since he knew he risked his career and pension if he opposed the wishes of Knoxville's chief of police Phil Keith and his appointer, Knoxville's Republican mayor, Victor Ashe. This cop killing occurred in 1989 just after Ashe and Keith seized power. As a Knox County homicide prosecutor advised this author: "If I wanted to kill YOU, all I would have to do is not let anybody see me do it, not tell anybody I did it, and dispose of the murder weapon." These alleged cop-killers struck out on all three counts, yet still found the jailhouse doors opened wide -- allegedly with a little "help" (i.e., obstructions of justice) from their friends (and accomplices to murder) in high places. No, even active-duty cops can't get justice when they drive motorcycles. Even when allegedly murdered by a man convicted of a previous murder.

This story on Tony Williams is perhaps what precipitated the theft of my car and a $3,500 tow bill, as published in "Speak Out" section of the Knoxville Journal, January 20-26, 2000. Within six hours of the Journal phoning me to get permission to use my name on the story (January 14, 2000), KPD towed my legally parked car then 12 hours later told me they did not tow it or have it impounded.

Internet site not flattering to local officials

I know this may seem like old news, but I just put this on the Internet and now I feel I'm getting KPD harassment (a tape recorded phone call from Phil Keith last night, and a KPD patrol car parked at my back door on Gay Street). Not only do I put a transcript of Phil Keith's DUI stop by his own KPD, but I discuss previously unpublished allegations from within KPD that Keith and Mayor Ashe allowed a cop killing to go unpunished.

Keith's DUI transcript has never before been seen by the public, except for the few who saw the Sentinel's web site that made the video and audio tapes available temporarily.

I also discuss reported allegations made against Sheriff Tim Hutchinson, and discuss that his air force pilots say he can sell his 5 "free" helicopters at a profit after 5 years (at a refurbishment cost to Knox County taxpayers of $30,000 each plus costs for personnel and Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at Island Airport).

Here's Chief Keith's DUI transcripts:

http://www.oocities.org/prohibition_us/chief.html

Here's Chief Keith's illegal quota policy:

http://www.oocities.org/prohibition_us/quota1.html

John Lee
Knoxville




An employee of the Knoxville News Sentinel, responding to this author's query, defended the paper's coverage of the "unsolved" murder of Tony Williams:

"The standards of journalism employed by a newspaper run parallel to the size of its pockets. The Sentinel, which has deep pockets, has to take great pains to adhere to ethical and legal standards regarding the printing of libelous or unsubstantiated opinion. The Journal, which has very short pockets, can libel, defame and even use first-person in its "news accounts," because folks believe that they would be unable to recoup much if they sued. The Journal, knowing this, is much looser with standards. My experience has been that people who deal with the Journal and read it regularly are more concerned with axe grinding than anything else. Tony Williams was a bad cop. He got into cocaine and that's what got him killed. Phil Keith has tried to deny the drug aspect of the case and the lack of prosecution of bootnose, the guy who is on tape admitting a role in Williams' death, stems from the city's desire to cover up Williams' drug connection. Now, if I were a Journal "reporter," and I use the term very loosely, I would just go ahead and print that. But as a reporter who is daily threatened with lawsuits I would need more than the evidence on which I have drawn an opinion in his case.... I'm one of those put up or shut up types. If you have evidence backing up your claims (attention Journal: gossip doesn't count), I would be glad to explore it further. Otherwise, I'm pretty busy, what with all the requirements that we Sentinel reporters face to actually show that what we are writing is true."

Some details of the preceding communication were omitted to protect the writer's identitiy as well as segments that involved other investigatory responses. The Sentinel's reporter apparently never met the dead cop nor conducted any investigation in order to test the accuracy of the reporter's "opinion." Libeling a dead man will not result in a "daily threat of being sued." So why check if what the reporter writes is actually true? In fact, this reporter now works for the city government of Knoxville, since the Sentinel's multinational owner, Scripps Howard, entered a $20-million partnership with the city, thanks to a free gift from the taxpayers for a new building. Presumably the city will get its $20-million worth. Perhaps KPD and the city government won't need Foster Arnett anymore, since the Sentinel has plenty of PR staff of its own.

A couple of weeks later, an opportunity arose to resubmit the cop killing to public scrutiny.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 15, 2000

CITIZEN CITES KPD

KNOXVILLE -- John Lee, a downtown resident of Knoxville, spoiled the smooth reaccreditation of the Knoxville Police Department yesterday in a hearing at the Small Assembly Room before the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. Lee, a part-time journalist and a student at Pellissippi State Technical Community College who recently won the state web design contest, reported to the assessors allegations made to him by KPD officers and a News Sentinel journalist.

According to Lee, KPD officers fear for their careers should they pursue reopening the investigation into the 1989 murder of off-duty KPD officer Tony Williams. Two individuals were reportedly arrested the night of the shooting. According to Lee's hearsay testimony, a vehicle inventory after one suspect's DUI arrest turned up the alleged murder weapon, and one made a tape-recorded confession that the shooter allegedly said, "Watch this Outlaw piece-of-shit squirm." The confession stated the other suspect pulled out a gun and shot the off-duty cop in the back. The shooter then allegedly shot himself in the leg during his excitement of hiding his pistol under his seat. However, charges were ultimately dropped by the district attorney's office. The suspects eventually pleaded guilty to unrelated federal drug charges.

According to Lee's report to the assessors, a Sentinel reporter alleged to him, "Tony Williams was a bad cop. He got into cocaine and that's what got him killed. Phil Keith has tried to deny the drug aspect of the case and the lack of prosecution of the guy who is on tape admitting a role in Williams' death, stems from the city's desire to cover up Williams' drug connection. Now, if I were a Journal 'reporter,' and I use the term very loosely, I would just go ahead and print that. But as a reporter who is daily threatened with lawsuits I would need more than the evidence on which I have drawn an opinion in his case."

As Lee explained it to the commission, it seemed both KPD's public affairs spokesman, Foster Arnett, and the Sentinel's published articles declare "open season" on corrupt cops and that such cop killers ought never be prosecuted.

District Attorney Randy Nichols rebutted Lee's statement to the commission:

"[I would like to respond to] the comments Mr. Lee made concerning the death of Tony Williams that are incorrect, sir. Uh, I have had more than one conversation over the years with Phil Keith about this very case. As you know I am constrained in certain ways to discuss an ongoing [investigation that] has not been completed. I would, however, remind Mr. Lee that an arrest was made some shortly after the murder of the police officer, and there were certain legal rulings made that prohibited the continued prosecution of the suspects in that case. But if there's anyone who thinks that this case is over, a uniformed officer of the city of Knoxville was murdered, they're mistaken. Because we will not, we will continue to… bring to court and justice in this case. I know for a fact that that is what Phil Keith is for…. Thank you very much."

Nichols did not respond to Lee's allegations that KPD apparently operates an "extortion racket" in its employment of off-duty, uniformed, patrol-car-equipped KPD officers as private security guards for area businesses experiencing "vandalism" and "random" acts of violence. According to Lee, a member of the city council expressed this possibility to him in addition to other fears of over-taxation and under-representation, such as virtual bankruptcy for the city if the $700-million downtown prison-convention-center facelift is allowed to proceed.

Nichols also failed to reply regarding KPD's towing of Lee's automobile six hours after the Journal phoned to report the publication of Lee's January article about the "unsolved" Williams killing. A 911 Dispatch audio tape revealed Officer Ryan Flores initially refused to ticket or tow Lee's car and left the scene, but was ordered back by the dispatcher. A KPD Teleserve audio tape revealed police denied to Lee that they towed or impounded the car, so the car was reported stolen. Six weeks after the tow, Sutherland Avenue Wrecking mailed a tow bill for $700. For three more months, KPD listed the car as stolen until KPD Wrecker Inspections reported it as "recovered." When Lee finally inspected the car at Sutherland, it was discovered the CD player was stolen. Sutherland alleged the radio was missing when they towed it, but a KPD tow-in report contradicted that. As of August 15, the car remained impounded at "Moon" Mullins' Sutherland Avenue lot, in violation of KPD regulations requiring non-crashed vehicles to remain at a KPD lot. Insurance adjustors for Mullins have not replied to a request to file a claim, thus Lee stated his case was probably headed to litigation.

Also reported by Lee to the commission was that KPD's towing policies are unconstitutional according to the 1979 federal case, HALE v. RANDY TYREE, et al:

"The Court concludes that the [Wrecker] Ordinance is unconstitutional insofar as it does not provide for a hearing by a neutral official before payment of towing and storage fees, and insofar as it provides for summary seizure of abandoned vehicles which are not blocking traffic. It is a proper Ordinance, however, insofar as it provides for removal of vehicles which impede the flow of traffic. For the foregoing reasons, the defendants must be enjoined from further enforcement of the Ordinance."

Lee supplied the assessors with copies from his web site, Crime Busters, at www.oocities.org/towcrime, and reported other forms of alleged police harassment, such as computer alteration of his Tennessee driver's license records.

Carol Scott, executive director of the Police Advisory Review Committee (PARC), joined the ranks of public servants swearing allegiance to chief Phil Keith by giving a glowing recommendation to the commission:

"Under the leadership of Chief Phil Keith, the Knoxville Police Department and citizens are talking with each other, not at each other about their concerns and their issues.... As executive director of the PARC, I have seen first hand the Knoxville Police Department's commitment, proving the trust of the community, and that's what it's all about. This has been done by... keeping the doors open.... In a two year time span, over 376 cases [citizen complaints against police] coming in from murder to statutory rape to physical abuse, only nine have gone through Internal Affairs from our office.... There is not only an open door [policy] through the chief's office but through our office, and that is only because they have been guided by Phil Keith.... I am thrilled to work in Knoxville with this police department and I will highly recommend that the Knoxville Police Department receive their accreditation."

Scott also declined to respond regarding John Lee's PARC complaint. When asked if Lee's complaint was one of those nine or whether it was a tenth complaint, the director responded that it was the ninth.

She also failed to mention to the commission that KPD's 60 new police cruisers were devoid of video cameras. Citizens for Police Review, Inc. (CPR) previously was assured KPD cars would use video cameras to protect the public from police violence after several recent deaths. (The video tapes also proved valuable to all citizens who requested and paid $65 for one, even in routine traffic situations, since police falsification of testimony and evidence is often exposed.)

When asked if the commission takes public complaints seriously, one of the assessors claimed, "We take this very seriously."

KPD was last re-acredited in 1997 with a 100% compliance record for 439 applicable standards. KPD will have to meet these same standards to maintain its accreditation. Written comments may be submitted to the commission at 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, Va., 22030.




Note that the "reaccreditation" cost city taxpayers nearly $10,000, and is merely a PR bullshit stunt since it is not required in any way for the police department to operate. Nor is it required to get free grant money from the state or federal taxpayers. It's purpose is merely a weapon to pretend to the voters and taxpayers that KPD is legit. The commission previously dropped their standards from 1,000 to under 500, since only 3% of police departments can afford to hire them anyway. It's only a certificate on the wall and a "news" story in the infotainment media.

Through Carol Scott and PARC's office, chief Phil Keith previously refused to meet with me regarding this towing-theft complaint. Scott is presumably "thrilled" to work from her office on the fifth floor of the palatial City County Building, with a million dollar view of the city from her taxpayer funded windows. The PARC office is not listed on any directories in the building. PARC has never actually conducted a hearing into a single complaint in it's three year existance. After tracking down the PARC office, Carol Scott refused to provide me any guidance whatsoever regarding KPD rules and regulations or any laws that KPD ought to obey. Instead, I personally tracked down and interviewed the police officer who towed my car, Ryan Flores, his commanders Lt. Bob "Killer" Woldridge and Capt. Ed Cummings, and Sgt. Tony Mullet and Sgt. Ricky "Free Meal" Ferguson in Wrecker and Beer Inspections.

At any rate, this information is now inserted into the public record via the police commission hearing in the city council meeting hall, thus protecting journalists from libel lawsuits should they choose to write about this sad story. Anything in the public record is copyright free under "fair use" doctrine and libel laws are voided since this is essential to the theoretical operation of a "democracy," according to courts and lawmakers (in order to protect the lawmakers from getting sued for speaking thier minds).

While many might say, "So what if a cop gets killed? Good riddance! I don't care if a cop killer goes free. Give him a medal as far as I'm concerned!" I can relate to that opinion, yet this particular "cop killing" appears to be a random act of road rage violence perpetrated upon a random motorcyclist. By not convicting this killer for a second murder, chances are excellent he will soon be on parole again, rady to kill anyone who crosses his path or looks at him funny. It is ironic that a cop's murder was botched and covered up like so many murders in the Knoxville area. Likewise, it is ironic the police in the Florida prison system failed to rehabilitate the serial killer, resulting in a random dead cop instead of a random dead civilian. (Of course, there may well be many more bodies out there.) However, it is probably not a good idea to let crazy people drive around shooting random motorists in the back.

As for my press release in August, 2000, it was not covered by "news" media. WATE TeeVee, which has an investigative section, chose instead to do a feature "news" story on an outraged citizen who's mail order package was on back order, right after its coverage of KPD's expected reaccreditation by the police commission when the results return in November. WATE refused my phone call for a video crew to attend the commission meeting, since the WATE person claimed only one journalist works after 5pm and that one was busy (probably tied up with the snail mail investigation). Apparently, KPD issued a press release alleging it would spend the week arresting motorists even more than usual. However, no increase in prosecution was observed in reality. In fact, a reduction in traffic stops was noted.

Meanwhile, citizens who listened to police scanners noticed KPD's protection racket continued unabated as "on duty" cops radioed to 911 Dispatch to hold all emergency calls while they worked their "off duty" private security jobs at local businesses (wearing KPD uniform and driving KPD patrol cars). After they finished their "protection" of the local establishments, the cops declared they would radio back to dispatch to finish their shifts.

Perhaps Ashe, Keith and their billion dollar friends preferred the public was frightened into submission to Knoxville's "occupying military force" rather than infuriated into action via an honest education from local news media.




DEEP THOUGHTS

There are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others; the first is the most excellent, the second is good, the third is useless. --Niccolo Machiavelli, from The Prince

JOKE OF THE DAY

Following is a paraphrase from Burington County Times, Burlington County NJ on July 5, 1989:

The columnist suggested that all flags should be manufactured out of asbestos. Therefore:
1) You can't burn it.
2) Wrapping oneself in it would be hazardous to one's health!



Disclaimers

The contents of this web site were presented by John Lee into the public record on August 14, 2000, when given to the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies. The public hearing before the commission was regarding reaccreditation of the Knoxville Police Department and was held in the Small Assembly Room of the City County Building in Knoxville, Tennessee. As one disgruntled KPD cop described CALEA, "It's a bunch of little old suck boys, ass kissers and brown nosers. It's a big damn joke." We shall see in November if CALEA considers police condoned cop killing an acceptable "standard".

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