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| NEWS > 10 August 2007 |
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PC is facing jail for sex with
A long-serving policeman was today facing jail after he admitted sex offences against a child.
James Hunter, a police officer of 15 years, was due to go on trial yesterday accused of a string of offences against a 14-year-old girl from the Darlington area.
But the Stokesley-based beat bobby changed his plea ahead of the hearing and admitted one allegation of sexual activity with a child in a lane near Darlington football stadium.
He pleaded guilty to causing a child to look at a sex act and 15 charges of making indecent pictures and videos of a child between Ja... Read more
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 Article sourced from
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News 8 Austin - Austin,TX,USA
10 August 2007
This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.
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Austin Police Department, TX
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City walks political tightrope
There are a lot of questions following a grand jury's decision Thursday not to indict APD Sergeant Michael Olsen. His case is just the latest in a string of officer-involved shootings no-billed by grand juries.
"To me, they're being improperly instructed by the DA's office. As a result, they won't do convictions," Austin NAACP president Nelson Linder said.
The district attorney's office often controls testimony before a grand jury. The DA also depends on police testimony to prosecute cases. So when a police officer is in trouble with the law, some legal experts believe the DA presents grand jury testimony that favors the officer's innocence.
"The district attorney, in reality, becomes a shelter for police misconduct," Jim Harrington of the Texas Civil Rights Project said.
The DA isn't the only one walking a political tightrope. New police chief Art Acevedo has his hands full as a result of Olsen not being indicted. He now faces outrage from some citizens if he doesn't get rid of Olsen, or possible alienation from his department if he does.
"It will be my decision after I let folks weigh in, and I will assume full responsibility for that decision, whatever it may be," Acevedo said.
The police union fully backs Olsen. That makes it even harder for Acevedo to boot the sergeant without angering union representatives.
Of course, if the grand jury indicted Olsen, Acevedo's job would
be a lot easier.
"The only way for this system to work is you've got to hire an independent prosecutor when you have police cases, because the politics are just not there," Harrington said.
Legal experts say independent prosecutors can come from other
jurisdictions. That way, there is no political pressure and no worries about posturing for re-election.
News 8 contacted Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle for comment. His office declined to make a statement.
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