Mayor's Dogs Gunned Down by Cops in Improper Drug Raid

Dog lovers of the world unite. Our federal government's zero-tolerance anti-drug crusade reached a new low in Prince George's County, Maryland, when police killed two innocent pet Labrador retrievers while improperly conducting a SWAT-style drug raid on the mayor's house.

On July 29, police burst into the home of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo and immediately shot to death his two Labrador retrievers. They were there to conduct a search for drugs. The raid was conducted by county police narcotics officers and a sheriff's office SWAT Team.

The incident occurred after Calvo carried in a package that was addressed to his wife. The mayor's mother-in-law had told the deliverymen, who were actually undercover police officers, to leave the package outside of his house. When Calvo arrived home that night, he brought the package inside. That's when the police broke down the door and immediately opened fire on the mayor's two dogs as they ran away from the narco-cops.

Police began tracking the package at a Midwest post office where drug sniffing dogs had discovered that the package contained 32 pounds of marijuana. Calvo said he had no idea how the package arrived at his home and that the sheriff's deputies entered without knocking. Then they immediately executed Payton, his 7-year old dog first, followed by Chase, a 4-year-old Lab, as he ran to another room.

Upon further investigation, it was found that the police did not even bother to secure a needed no-knock search warrant. Timothy Maloney, the mayor's attorney described the incident as a lawless act by law enforcement.

Calvo has not been charged, though police said he, his wife and his mother-in-law are all "persons of interest" in an ongoing investigation. The mayor said, "These were two beautiful black Labradors who were well-known in the community. We walked them twice a day; little kids knew their names and would come up to them and pet them," he said.

What makes this case unique is that this raid happened to a well known elected official. What is not unique is that these gestapo-like tactics happen every day in communities across America.

The drug war is an endless crusade by our government to promulgate its senseless zero-tolerance drug policies by any means necessary. This war on drugs has created convenient vehicles for appearing "tough on crime" behind a shield of public safety. But that shield gets worn down when our basic rights are curtailed through its use. We need to promote policy alternatives to the drug war that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights. In doing so we can reduce the harms of both drug misuse and drug prohibition, and seek solutions that promote safety while upholding the sovereignty of individuals over their own minds and bodies.

Anthony Papa is a communications specialist for Drug Policy Alliance

Follow Anthony Papa on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Anthony Papa

Comments

[TruEngineHearing]

I can't do this anymore. have no more room to accomodate the zero-brained, disgusting people who are crowding the ranks of the police - all over the country. They must come down, go to jail, and be shunned by every decent American. No more excuses for tasing us; no more busting us down to the ground to serve a subpoena, or hiding behind idiots back at the court whose robes used to belong to people of honor. No more of it. It is over, and if I were a cop I'd think long and hard about what is coming.

It's a whirlwind.

[Michale32086]

I know logic is probably lost here, but the simple fact is, the vast majority of police officers are good decent and honest people who are cops because they want to help make a difference..

Painting all of Law Enforcement with the brush of a few bad eggs is bigotry in the extreme.

Bigotry, pure and simple...

In this particular case, I have shown the logic of what occurred insofar as the initial raid and the killing of the canines was concerned... You can't fault the officers for following SOP in the interests of their own safety..

Michale.....

[Teeman]

This sounds like the ultimate in incompetence or totally mis-placed priorities by the authorities.

The police had from the time they intercepted the package until they delivered it, plus the rest of the day while it sat on his porch, to find out who lived there, their occupation, background, records, etc.; what dogs or other innocents (children?) might be present; certainly time to go to a judge and get a no-knock - not a difficult task in today's War-Against-Drugs mega-industry.

Another article regarding this states "The mayor...said the officers didn't believe him when he told them he was the mayor." Why didn't they know more about this guy then he did by the time they burst illegally through his door and immediately assassinated his dogs? The package was identified in Arizona, then intercepted by police in Maryland. That's days!

Those in charge sent their officers into an apparently unknown situation where google would have told them about mayor Calvo honoring the local police chief for 35 years of service, on Feb, 21st of this year. Don't you think after a day or so they should have known that?

The liabilities and damage to public support for the authorities is incredible. Those who developed, managed, and executed this operation certainly have a lot to explain to their employers - the public - as well as mayor Calvo and his family.

[HeevenSteven]

1) Apparently it was all a big mistake, but some mistakes can't be undone.

2) A no knock wouldn't be necessary as you can't flush 32 pounds of weed, and apparently they didn't have one, but what the hell; bygones eh.

3) It was just freakin' weed! Most of the cops probably smoked it at least once.

4) The "war on drugs" has become "Cops Gone Wild". It's more a means confiscate and sell cars and other property than anything else. We should have learned a lesson from prohibition back in the 1920s. But politicians and law enforcers won't give up their empire until it's "pried from their cold dead hands".

[Michale32086]

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3) It was just freakin' weed! Most of the cops probably smoked it at least once.
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Now THERE is a statement that is completely and utterly BS...

For the record, I am a veteran of two branches of the US Armed Forces. USAF and US Army.. I was an MI EllTee during Desert Storm and have been an LEO and an FSO for the better part of a quarter of a century. I have been a military and intelligence liaison to a dozen countries spanning the globe.

And I can state unequivocally and for the record that I have NEVER smoked or ingested marijuana in any way, shape or form...

Amongst LEO types, I am more the rule than the exception...

Michale.....

[HeevenSteven]

For the record, I know more than you about this apparently.

[HeevenSteven]

Don't taze me bro'!

[juxtapostle]

Comrade Michale...

YOU are what is wrong with this country.

America is the most incarcerated nation. You keep up your 'good' there work, buddy.

[HeevenSteven]

The Drug-War-P­rison-Indu­strial-Com­plex needs to be reigned in. It's completely absurd.

[Sciguy]

It's too bad that the penalties for killing innocent critters aren't the same as for killing innocent people. I'm an animal lover with horses, chickens, ducks, 14 cats, and 7 dogs, and the one thing that will make me think violent thoughts is the idea that someone would kill any of my critters for no reason.

Of course, I would never kill anyone for doing such a thing! And I am absolutely NOT promoting violence as a solution to this (or any other) problem.

When I read things like this, though, or hear about guys like Michael Vick, it makes me see red. I guess I'll never understand how anyone could harm a creature that has done them no wrong. Injuring or killing a dog is, to me, like injuring or killing a small child - neither one can defend itself. To those police, and to Michael Vick and his ilk - go pick on someone your own size, and leave the innocents alone.

[Michale32086]

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It's too bad that the penalties for killing innocent critters aren't the same as for killing innocent people.
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Yer kidding, right???

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Of course, I would never kill anyone for doing such a thing! And I am absolutely NOT promoting violence as a solution to this (or any other) problem.
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Sure sounds like you were...

The simple fact is, you do not know the circumstances of the situation... It's standard LEO practice to neutralize potential threats from animals whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Yea, it sucks.. But it's the reality. Before you condemn the LEOs on scene why don't you first try and determine the facts of the issue. Better yer, try to walk in their shoes...

Michale.....

[Michale32086]

It's standard practice when entering a hot scene to eliminate the threat posed by canines, regardless of whether or not they are an IMMEDIATE threat.. A canine who is running away is not an IMMEDIATE threat, but could come back and become a threat at a time when an officer might not be equipped to handle at that given moment.

As I said.. Standard practice..

With respect to the other issues mentioned, it's apparent that there should have been more co-ordination between local and extra local agencies. There MIGHT have been fears of local LEOs involved in the crime. That would explain the lack of co-ordination.

Regardless of that, your main thrust of your commentary (the dogs being killed) is not out of the ordinary for actions such as this..

Michale.....

[bluegreen]

I read about this horrifying event in the Wash Post and kept the article, not sure why. As a dog owner and animal lover, I still feel there is something more I should do. I couldn't get the incident out of my mind.

I would like to know what is happening to the officers who hunted down these loved and cared for animals in their home.

Personally, I feel there is no way to win the "war" on drugs. I tend to side with a conservative Orange County judge who wrote an op-ed piece in the LA Times years ago, calling for monitored legalization of hard drugs and decriminalization of pot. This would end the flow of drug money to domestic and overseas gangs and get addicts into medically supervised prgrams, free up jail space, and make time for the police to go after some real criminals.

[Michale32086]

Legalization would simply create another bloated bureaucracy that would be corrupted and become useless....

Legalizing something just because it's difficult to enforce is the epitome of the surrender mentality..

Michale.....

[mmahamngttia]

"Legalization would simply create another bloated bureaucracy that would be corrupted and become useless...."

Just like the bloated, useless and corrupted "Drug-War-­Prison-Ind­ustrial-Co­mplex "?

"Legalizing something just because it's difficult to enforce is the epitome of the surrender mentality.."

Oh, that's right, never "surrender"! What would that do to our pride, boo hoo?

Can you only look at the issue in terms of win or lose?

[jhNY]

The drug war supplies clients for the prison industry, which like all industries, hopes and works to grow every year. Perhaps it would be useful to know (but who will tell us?) who among the candidates has received money and support from this industry, and vote accordingly.

[smcilree]

Hopefully this absurd bit of policing gone bad will be featured in debate on HR 5843, Rep Barney Frank's (D MA) bill which would eliminate all federal penalties for possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana and the not-for-profit transfer of one ounce or less. The "War on Drugs" has for may years distorted law enforcement's view of its reason for being. In too many instances, drug busts are providing a profit center for police agencies at all levels, with asset seizures providing a major part of their annual budgets. It's easy to see why police want the phony War to continue, but cases like this one are proof that it needs to end. I hope the Post will continue to give this the coverage it deserves.