Photo by author in Lander County, Nevada
I am working on another reported post, but was traveling and have some other things to catch up on. Below are some of what I’ve been reading and thinking about.
I’ve Got Americanitis
As always Sheriff Mark Lamb is making headlines. His new venture is the American Sheriff Network, which he says will stream Live PD-style sheriff shows for $4.99 per month. American Sheriff is also the name of Lamb’s Instagram account, his self-published book, and, until recently, a website where Lamb sold t-shirts and other tchotchkes with his name or face or silhouette on them. In fact, the trailer for the American Sheriff Network is largely Lamb's profile — up close, in the distance, at sunset, on the road, in a boat. “Help us keep the shine on the badge!” he exhorts at the end of the preview.
Lamb was a frequent commentator on Live PD.
How does he do it? That’s the question of at least one concerned citizen, who thinks Lamb spends more time on the road than he does running the business of the county. She has a right to be concerned. Lamb’s charity the American Sheriff Foundation — there it is again! — was investigated for not reporting its 2018 income. It seems that no one, not even Lamb himself, is sure where the money went or what it was for. Lamb, for his part, says that the American Sheriff Network will not be funded by any county or state money AND that he is doing it “in his spare time,” which he admits is quite limited. (And he says he’s creating his OWN streaming TV app? See my prior newsletters on how some sheriffs are leaning into the “defund media” movement.)
Lamb became somewhat famous when he refused to enforce mask mandates in Pinal County and got COVID-19 (probably at the White House). Now, it appears, he’s advocating for the vast and growing anti-vaxx movement, which has adopted the language of personal responsibility and bodily integrity — the same language used by “anti-mask” protestors. He’s told one radio station that he wouldn’t require vaccinations since there is a lack of “sufficient data.” The past year has created a lot of synergy between anti-vaxxers and general anti-government sentiment, which includes Constitutional sheriffs (of which Lamb is one).
LASD in Chaos
The Los Angeles Times does a really good job covering the constant chaos over at the LASD. They report that since 2018, Sheriff Villanueva has refused to turn over the names of deputies who shoot civilians. This is contrary to a ruling by the California Supreme Court, which held that such information — including prior disciplinary actions, etc — needed to be disclosed to the public. As David Snyder of the First Amendment Coalition puts it:
The fact that they’re withholding these names in what appears to be a blanket fashion suggests that either they don’t understand the law or they’re intentionally avoiding their obligations under the law.
That could be the tagline for Villanueva’s tenure as sheriff. It’s a good article, so read the whole thing. Plus, two deputies were charged with crimes last week.
It also looks like Villanueva already has at least one challenger, who comes from inside the office. At this point, I think almost anyone could create less chaos than the current sheriff. I appreciate that thus far, Eliezer Vera’s platform is something like, “Hey, I’m not a jerk!”
Who needs Live PD anyways? The Police
I always love a good story about the law enforcement gift industry, and this was a new one. California law now requires law enforcement to disclose information about police shootings (unless you are Alex Villanueva), so many are turning to Critical Incident Videos LLC, which basically makes nice and tidy promo/ advertorial videos law enforcement can use to re-enact the shooting. Someone has to do the dirty work of producing content, and I am always amazed by law enforcement’s ability to spend money.
Just making up science
Law enforcement and prosecutors have an amazing ability to invent new ways for people to die that do not involve any misconduct. Can you imagine? Things like “excited delirium,” a wholly invented condition. Now there’s “sickle cell” disease, which some departments use to “justify” the in-custody deaths of Black men, who can carry this genetic disposition.
I have a great deal of concern about the procedures used to classify in-custody deaths. There appears to be no one who oversees the process and no outside accountability. Sometimes, the coroner is also the sheriff. And at least one study shows that when the victim is a Black child, medical examiners and coroners are more likely to attribute their death to homicide, rather than accident, which is evidence that some cognitive bias is at work.
You should, of course, read the article, but I leave you with this description, which is gross:
K.C. Cage-Singleton, a 30-year-old landscaper and father of four, was walking in Baton Rouge, La., in October 2009 when two officers approached him because they thought his clothing resembled that of an armed robbery suspect. Records show they chased him into an apartment complex, shocked him with a stun gun and beat him with a baton. The coroner cataloged a slew of injuries, including abrasions, lacerations and broken teeth, but said the manner and cause of his death were “undetermined,” citing “probable” sickle cell trait. The officers were not charged.
I’m sad to say that this aligns with what I have seen anecdotally when looking at in-custody deaths. The worst part — aside from the skewing of data and the inability to hold people accountable — is the absolute insult this is to families and loved ones. My condolences to the loved ones of everyone in this story. Everyone deserves better in life and death.
See you next week, if not sooner.