The murder of a 23-year-old Florida woman in a botched drug buy-bust operation this May could lead to changes in how confidential informants are recruited and used by the state's law enforcement.
23-year old Rachel Hoffman, a recent graduate of Florida State University, was murdered during a botched sting operation earlier this year.
(Courtesy Leon County Sheriff's Offic)
An official investigation found the Tallahassee Police Department had violated its own rules by recruiting Rachel Hoffman, a Florida State University graduate who was facing a drug charge and likely jail time after arrests for marijuana possession, and sending her alone into a dangerous undercover sting without training.
Florida state legislators are putting the finishing touches on a bill they are calling "Rachel's Law," which would tighten up rules on how the state's police recruit and use confidential informants. The law, which was first proposed by Rachel's father, Irv Hoffman, would require police in Florida to be more judicious in their selection of confidential informants and ensure the potential recruit has access to a lawyer.
Its likely sponsors, State Sen. Mike Fasano and State Rep. Peter Nehr, expect the bill to be considered when the legislature begins its regular session next spring. Both are Republican.
Tallahassee Police Chief Dennis Jones has signed on as a supporter of the effort. "We need to do a better job with this," Jones said in September.
Jones' support was perhaps surprising. In the days after Hoffman's murder, Jones made public statements that Hoffman was a criminal who bore a large part of the blame for the botched sting and, by extension, her own death.
"I'm calling her a criminal," Jones told ABC News' Brian Ross in July. Jones said then that he did not accept that his department was in any way responsible for Hoffman's death. "Do we feel responsible? We're responsible for the safety of this community," he said.
Click here to watch the 20/20 investigation of the botched sting. http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=5454035
Jones, who was reprimanded as a result of the investigation into Hoffman's murder, later apologized for those comments. "We were placing most of the blame on Rachel Hoffman. I regret that now," Jones said. "It made us look like we weren't taking responsibility for what happened."
Hoffman Parents Poised to Sue Tallahasssee
The two men Hoffman met as part of the May sting are in jail awaiting trial for her murder. One defendant, Andrea Green, has pled not guilty. The other, Deneilo Bradshaw, has not yet entered a plea, according to the court cleark's office.
WAR ON YOU
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Police Informant's Death Brings New Law, Lawsuit
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Libertarian Party Condemns Domestic Deployment of Military
The following resolution was passed by the Libertarian National Committee on Dec. 7, 2008 at its quarterly board meeting:RESOLUTION CONDEMNING DOMESTIC DEPLOYMENT OF THE U.S. MILITARYWHEREAS, the domestic deployment of 20,000 uniformed military personnel planned by the United States government undermines the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which forbids the use of the military for [...]
Read More...
Three more years- Remember this Date
In his weekly radio address, George W. Bush said, "End in Sight for War in Iraq; All U.S. forces returning home from Iraq by the end of 2011."A lot can happen in three years. Strange he doesn't mention the redeployment of these troops in Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan or other areas of...
Read More...
50 year old Baltimore Opera company goes bankrupt, big time!
This Baltimore opera company has assets of $50k and liabilities of $10 million.
The point of this thread is: When culture goes out the window (and I love Mozart), the jungle is not far away.
Read More...
Thursday, December 4, 2008
What's Been Your Soundtrack to Revolution?
Just for a little light distraction I would like to hear what's everyone been listening to we've begun our struggle to retake the republic we once loved, and for many of us have just discovered. For me I've been listening to some old bob dylan album as background music and some bob marley to get into the feel of the moment before I start the day.
Read More...
Monsanto: Number One Enemy of Humanity
Read More...
