Source: Law Enforcement Today, by Anthony Sabio , January 4, 2020
IRAN TENSIONS COME TO A BOILING POINT: IS MAIN STREET READY?
In the wake of growing tensions in the Middle East, the United States has made a deliberate strike against the most prolific state sponsor of terrorism.
The killing of Iran’s Quds Force General, Qassem Soleimani, has sparked much debate across the aisle of whether or not this action is an act of war by President Trump.
Regardless of where you stand, the act of terrorism has increased for months before the US response. The question is, is America ready for attacks in the homeland?
As a country, we have been blinded by the possibility of a concentrated attack on US soil and many Americans, including our politicians, have forgotten the grim reality of 9/11 and not given our adversaries the respect they deserve.
We have allowed our guard to be lowered with debates of human rights for open borders, disregarding threats on social media and handcuffing the hands of our law enforcement officers to protect and serve.
Art Del Cueto, the Vice President of the National Border Patrol Union and President of the Arizona Border Patrol Union, touched on it this week:
“We need to take securing our nation’s borders very serious. With the huge rise in individuals claiming asylum, we truthfully don’t know enough about those individuals past, much less their true intentions. Drug cartels are the ones that control our southern borders and they do not care about human lives, it’s all about the money,” he said.
“They would have no problem making deals with terrorist organizations to ensure safe passage into our country,” he pointed out.
Furthermore, intelligence has shown that Iran has embedded terrorist sleeper cells within the US and was proven correct with the prosecution and conviction of Hezbollah operative Ali Kourani and Samer el-Debek in New York City.
The new debate is not a matter of if an attack will happen, it’s a matter of when and where.
The act of terrorism is instilling fear within your enemy with the goal of creating mass chaos amongst the people in order to gain leverage and weaken the will to fight back. As the administration ramps up our overseas presence to stand against this terrorist state, we need to do the same here at home.
Targets are chosen through a calculated criteria with the ultimate goal of creating as much physical and emotional destruction as possible to gain the biggest headline.
Conventional target cities like NYC, LA and DC are always on the radar, but with constant threats to those locations, have become harder to execute a successful campaign. Softer targets in the country seem more ideal for a successful operation.
First responders in smaller cities need to be prepared with the reality that they are on the radar with locations such as malls, educational institutions, and event centers being prime targets with the substantial amount of people congregating.
Due diligence of preparation needs to extend from Wall Street to Main Street; for the Iranian terrorist regime, nothing is off the table.
We must take it upon ourselves as Americans to become harder targets. We must throw out the conventional fear of being socially and politically correct with identifying unusual activities and reporting it to the local authorities.
We need to secure our border to reduce the amount of possible terrorists from entering. We need to understand that our government has failed us in protecting our homeland and force our politicians to secure our borders.
We need to stand together to fight this enemy and understand that this war is not about political motives or social-economical righteousness.
This war is deep rooted in cultural religious views between radical Islam and the western world, with the United States being the largest adversary against their movement. Peace is always the goal in every society, but peace cannot be accomplished by turning a blind eye to the threat and hoping it will go away.
Peace comes from facing our adversaries and standing strong together, undivided.
Editor note: Anthony Sabio is a 25 year veteran of public service in the U.S. Marine Corp Special Operations, US Secret Service and the Central Intelligence Agency, is a highly recognized consultant in intelligence and security policy.
After spending a decade as a CIA officer with multiple tours in conflict zones directing and performing counterterrorism, counterinsurgency and counterintelligence operations, he left government service to share his expertise and technical advice to security organizations and media.
Mr. Sabio is an acclaimed guest speaker at multiple security events and performs as a content adviser on world-wide security issues.
You would think that states like New York, which saw the 9/11 terror attacks, would be doing everything in their power to keep people safe. But it seems as if every day, the opposite is being done.
We’re now learning that the city’s criminal justice reform plan that took effect on January 1 will release people accused of making threats of terrorism, in addition to second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and child sex crimes – without having to post bail.
The mission is to make sure suspects accused of “non-violent” crimes are not jailed before their trial dates and do not have to post bail.
The list of crimes where suspects will be freed from prison before trial includes:
-Making terroristic threats
-Second-degree manslaughter
-Aggravated vehicular assault
-Third-degree assault
-Promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child
-Possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child
-Promoting a sexual performance by a child
-Failure to register as a sex offender
-Criminally negligent homicide
-Aggravated vehicular homicide
Yet it didn’t take long for some Democrats in New York to rethink the “bail reform” after only a few days.
Two days after it took effect, New York mayor Bill de Blasio put on his hindsight glasses and said:
“Where I think there is real agreement is that the bail reform law needs to be amended.”
No kidding Captain Obvious.
On Thursday, the failed presidential candidate, who was actually back in the city met with Jewish leaders in Brooklyn. While some in the community, especially in Jewish neighborhoods have asked de Blasio to declare an emergency, he did agree that bail reform may have taken place a bit too hastily and without enough community input.
Or apparently, input from anyone who works in law enforcement.
Back in November, New York Republicans warned that Democrats had:
“…failed to consider the very real danger that these sweeping changes will have on communities,” according to State Sen Sue Serino.
Both Serino State Sen. Patrick Gallivan introduced two bills on how the state would handle bail.
One bill would have allowed judges to consider an arrestee’s dangerousness when deciding bail. The second one would expand the crimes that would be considered domestic violence offenses for the purposes of setting bail. As of this writing, the bills are still pending.
“There is a chance now for the legislature to get it right,” said de Blasio. “They did some very good reforms, but there are also things that need to be done, particularly empowering judges to determine if someone poses a threat to the surrounding community.”
In Brooklyn, emotions were high after a woman who had been accused of assaulting three Hasidic women in Brooklyn was released, then committed a similar crime, was released, and then committed a third crime, all in a matter of days.
“When we release people that we have arrested for hate crimes, for assaulting Jewish people, it makes absolutely no sense why we would let those people out on the street without at least considering their future for potential harm to the public,” said City Councilman Joe Borelli of Staten Island.
This past weekend in Monsey, NY, a suburb of New York City, a man attacked five people with a machete. Both State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Deputy Leader Mike Gianaris were in Monsey on Thursday, but dismissed any connection between the hate crimes and the end of cash bail. Of course not.
“Well, the hate attacks have unfortunately been going up over the last couple of years, particularly in the Jewish community. Ant this obviously is a law that has been in effect for all of one day at this point. So there is obviously no linkage to that,” Gianaris said.
You sir, are tone deaf.
The spate of anti-Semitic crimes increased exponentially over the past 10 days on the run up to the implementation of the new bail law. In fact, several judges and prosecutors cited the law in the days leading up to Jan. 1 as justification for releasing criminals without bond since the new law would render the bond moot anyway. Gianaris is clueless.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office blew off criticism of the law in a release earlier this week, accusing opponents of “fear mongering” and compared the law to a similar measure in New Jersey.
While New Jersey eliminated cash bail by and large, the laws there empower judges to have discretion over whether or not someone posed a threat prior to their being released. New York’s law does not have that caveat. Also, the law in New York was snuck into a state budget bill and was negotiated in secret and out of public view.
So basically, when New York Democrats say that they received input from law enforcement and other stakeholders, they’re full of bird seed. Most law enforcement and judicial personnel, except for those who were cherry-picked to back the legislation, were kept out of the loop until the law was passed in the legislature and signed by Cuomo.
After the machete incident in Monsey, New York City Councilman Chaim Deutsch was not impressed with Cuomo’s selective outrage over the incident. Cuomo had called the incident “domestic terrorism”, but Deutsch was not impressed.
In a tweet, Deutsch said:
“With all due respect @NYGovCuomo- I don’t care what you call it. If 95% of the perpetrators are released hours after they commit attacks, it’ll keep happening.
Touché Mr. Deutsch. Touché.
This morning, we reported on how police said a man who strangled a woman with a karate belt then slit her throat was released with no bond under New York “bail reform”.
Police: Man strangled woman with karate belt, slit her throat. Released with no bond under New York “bail reform”
In July, Paul Barbaritano allegedly killed his friend, 29-year-old Nicole Jennings. And not in an “Oops, I threw a knife and it hit my friend, I’m so negligent” type of way.
Police say the 53-year-old man strangled Nicole with a karate belt and slit her throat. He’s been held in jail without bond since that day, while investigators put their case together to attempt to upgrade charges to murder.
While police didn’t say how Barbaritano and Nicole new each other, Albany Police Officer Steve Smith said this back when Barbaritano was first arrested:
“This investigation is still ongoing. It’s far from over. It’s possible there could be more charges, possible that the charges could be upgraded.”
Apparently, a friend (unknown if that was Nicole) called 911 to tell them that Barbaritano was possibly going to hurt himself inside of his apartment. Police arrived to do a welfare check and found Barbaritano with multiple self-inflicted stab wounds.
While they were there investigating, they found Nicole’s body in the bedroom of the apartment, deceased.
You know, from the karate belt around her neck, squeezing the life out of her lungs. Oh yeah, and the slashing of her throat, let’s not forget that.
Barbritano was transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital, where he was treated for reportedly “non-life-threatening injuries.” Lucky him.
If you’ll recall, New York’s bail reform legislation (sneakily inserted by Governor Andrew Cuomo into a budget bill) is allegedly intended to achieve economic equality in the justice system. To do this, there is now no bail required for persons arrested of most misdemeanor crimes, as well as “nonviolent felony crimes.”
Huh. Cuomo’s definition of “nonviolent” must be different than mine. Under the legislation, this isn’t a serious enough offense to require bail.
Albany County District Attorney David Soares is among many who are unhappy with this legislation. Soares argued in court before Barbaritano’s release that the man admitted to being the cause of Nicole’s death.
Soares said:
“We’ve been painted as fearmongers, and what you’ve observed today in court is the new reality.”
This is what the new criminal justice system in New York will be moving forward.”
I’m not sure I would still call it a criminal justice system, but I get what he’s saying.
The Albany County Public Defenders Office also released a statement, saying that this is why the legislation was passed; to “promote fair and equal justice.” They also said Barbaritano will be “connected to mental health services and treatment.”
Too bad Nicole won’t be afforded that same opportunity.
Albany Police Officers Union President Gregory McGee said in his own statement that Barbaritano’s release was causing further harm to the Albany police, and to Nicole’s family.
Well, at least someone is thinking of the victim and her family.
The Public Defenders Office also stated that the incident was a “horrific accident” and Barbaritano wasn’t trying to kill Nicole.
I’m sure that brings her family an untold amount of comfort.
Barbaritano was released without bail on Thursday on his own recognizance. This means that he signed a piece of paper promising to appear at the set court date.
I hope they made him pinky-promise too. It probably means more.
A spokesperson for the DA’s office said there are two other bail review cases coming in the next few days.
One case involves a man accused of slashing a woman’s face open. The second involves a man charged with entering a residence, raping, and strangling a woman.
Nonviolent, indeed.
On Thursday night, we reported on a New York man who shot a cop, then was busted for selling drugs and just released on no bond as well.
In 2009, Tyquan Rivera, who was 15 at the time, shot and wounded a Rochester (NY) police officer, Anthony DiPonzo. He was convicted of attempted murder and got a whopping 10 years in prison. In February of last year, Rivera was released from prison.
Since he was all rehabilitated and everything, he decided to go into business for himself.
Unfortunately for Rivera, the business he went into was selling Fentanyl. You know, the drug that is responsible for a near epidemic of dead people.
He was arrested last month and charged with selling fentanyl to two undercover officers in Rochester. He was charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.
Rivera was one of five men arrested in what law enforcement officials called a “lengthy narcotics investigation” that started last August and involved officers from a number of police agencies. Rivera was the only on charged with sale; the other four were charged with criminal possession.
At the time of the arrest, prosecutor Matthew Schwartz said it was a significant arrest.
“To arrest somebody who’s alleged to be involved in narcotics trafficking is significant,” he said.
There’s obviously an opioid epidemic that this community is facing, so even if it’s one at a time that we can take somebody off the streets so to speak who’s alleged to be providing these dangerous narcotics to people, it’s a good thing.”
Wow sounds like New York is tough on people dealing in Fentanyl. Wrong.
On Thursday, Rivera was released without bail. That’s right, a convicted murderer, out on the streets less than a year, and who is caught dealing the deadly drug Fentanyl, was released.
He was originally held on $100,000 bond, but under the new state bail laws that went into effect Jan 1, the felony charges against him did not qualify for bail or bond.
“The charges that Mr. Rivera is currently facing are not qualifying offenses and as a result, the judge frankly is required to release him,” according to Schwartz.
“Our hands are certainly tied. This is somebody who has previously been convicted of shooting a police officer. He has a prior violent felony conviction on his record and was currently faced with allegations of selling fentanyl.”
However, according to terms of release set by Judge Sam Valleriani, Rivera must wear an ankle bracelet, or more precisely an “electronic monitoring device.” The poor, misunderstood convict will not be able to travel and must check in with pretrial services. What an unbelievably tough state New York is on criminals. Poor criminals.
Rivera and his ambulance chasing attorney were pleased with the decision of Valleriani.
“I thought it was a fair decision and Mr. Rivera and I are pleased with the decision,” said James Napier, who represented Rivera.
Really Mr. Napier? Rivera is “pleased?” He should be freaking ecstatic.
The law has received harsh criticism from the law enforcement community, political leaders (Republicans obviously, Democrats love criminals), and victims. Have no fear, Gov. Cuomo is going to fix this mess, right?
Not quite. In a statement from Cuomo’s office, they said the following:
“Despite the fear mongering being peddled by a vocal minority, other states such as New Jersey that recently passed bail reform laws and ended cash bail for misdemeanors and non-violent felonies have shown that overall crime has decreased with no statistically significant changes regarding re-offenses or court appearances.
We carefully considered the views of law enforcement to ensure we enacted balanced reforms that were long overdue and that will bring greater fairness to New York’s criminal justice system.
Those arrested and charged with non-violent crimes will still have their day in court to answer to the charges.”
What a long-winded pile of garbage that is.
First of all, New Jersey’s bail reform is vastly different than New York’s. In New Jersey, judges conduct individual risk assessments based on the suspects criminal history and the charges they face before deciding whether to hold them or release them with or without monitoring until trial.
That is a huge difference. New York judges have no such discretion. They can only order bail if someone is charged with a serious felony. Period.
Also, the law is subject of a lawsuit filed by the family of Christian Rodgers, a 26-year-old who was shot to death in 2017 in Vineland, NJ by someone who had been arrested just a few days earlier and was released under the new bail reform law signed into law by former Gov. Chris Christie.
Jules Black, who was accused of killing Rodgers, had been arrested 26 times going back to 2004 and was picked up by police in April 2004 during a traffic stop where he was found with a 9mm handgun in his car.
Despite a number of prior felony convictions, a judge found that Black was safe enough to be back on the streets pending his trial. He shot and killed Rodgers four days later.
Sounds like New Jersey is a real success story there Cuomo.
We’ve already reported on the vast failings of New York’s bail reform laws. Here is another one from last week.
Last Friday, Christopher M. Seamans, a three-time convicted bank robber was back to his old tricks. He decided to stick up the Pioneer Savings Bank in Colonie, NY. He was arrested on Saturday and charged with the robbery.
Thanks to Gov. Cuomo and the geniuses who populate the state house in Albany, Seamans was released without bail at his court appearance on Tuesday. Seamans has done prison time for three other bank robberies over a 14-year period.
Seamans appeared in Albany County Court, where judge William Carter ordered Seamans released on his own recognizance—basically a 4-time loser is trusted to make his court appearance when required. Seamans had been charged with robbery and grand larceny charges.
Carter ordered the release after being informed by an assistant district attorney that Seamans qualified for release without bail due to the new bail law that takes effect on Jan 1. Isn’t that special?
As has been widely reported, the new law implemented by the virtue signaling Cuomo and Democrat state legislature prohibits defendants who are arrested for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies from being required to post cash bail. Of course, supporters of the bill said that cash bail unfairly targeted poor defendants (and apparently bank robbers) and kept them in jail for long periods of time while awaiting trial.
In this case Seamans, who has served time in federal prison in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York for bank robberies went into the bank at around 4:36 p.m. on Dec. 27, approached a teller and demanded money. No weapon was displayed but was implied since Seamans kept his hand inside his jacket.
He was given an undisclosed amount of cash and fled. He left the scene in a blue 2005 Mercedes-Benz ML350 SUV…nice wheels, but we suppose bank robbers can afford it. No other customers were in the bank during the heist and nobody was injured, police said.
Colonie police said that they received several tips about Seamans after surveillance images were posted to social media. Investigators ultimately used the image to confirm his identity.
Colonie police were assisted by DeWitt police after they began watching a residence in that town. When Seamans left with his wife and two children in the same Mercedes used in the robbery, he was stopped and taken into custody without incident. Like so many good criminals, Seamans was playing great family man on the way to a Syracuse basketball game with his family when he was arrested. Father of the year candidate right there.
Police found evidence tying Seamans to the robbery inside the vehicle, however the money robbed from the bank was not found.
Federal records indicated that Seamans was convicted in 2005 and 2010 in connection with bank robberies in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where a combined $8097 was stolen. In 2011, he was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for robbing a bank in Grand Gorge, NY where $7,727 was realized.
While so-called reformers think the new laws are the best thing since sliced bread, opposition has been coming from law enforcement authorities as well as some capital region state lawmakers, who have slammed both the new law and Seamans’ release Tuesday.
In a released statement, the Colonie Police Department showed the disgust a lot of police agencies in New York are feeling. “Happy New Year everyone,” the department said in a released statement. “Especially happy for our most recent bank robber.” Ouch.
The sheriff of Saratoga County, Michael Zurlo, also expressed his feelings. “Yet another example of the dangerous individuals being set free on our streets thanks to the ‘progressive’ agenda of our governor and legislators,” he wrote on social media.
It will be interesting to see the spin coming out of Albany when one of these miscreants is released on bond and then ends up killing someone.
Meanwhile a widening group of other officials are pushing back against the so-called reforms.
State Sen. Jim Tedisco, R-Glenville in November blasted them as a “get-out-of-jail-free card for criminals.” How prophetic.
“They came with an agenda,” he said.
Law enforcement officials, prosecutors and Republican state lawmakers insist that they’re not generally against the criminal justice reforms. They are however opposed to the law which was passed by the Democratic-controlled state legislature with little to no input from law enforcement authorities, and contend that emboldened criminals will be roaming the streets with little concern about getting caught since they will likely be released, including those charged with manslaughter, assault and sex crimes
Mary Beth Walsh (R-Ballston) said:
“We’re taking away the discretion of the judiciary and public safety is going to be compromised because of this,” she said. “Some of the worst things in Albany are the things that are rushed through like this was.”
For his part, Zurlo had warned that already stretched officers were going to be spending a great deal of their valuable patrol time looking for suspects who skipped out on court appearances. He said:
“Currently I have close to 300 warrants looking for people. I anticipate that to probably double or maybe triple. Right now, our road patrol is maxed.”
It will only be a matter of time before New York faces the same type of lawsuit that was filed in New Jersey. While politicians in New York play kissy face with criminals, it is the public at large who is suffering and who is being put at risk by this idiotic, short-sighted attempt at social justice.
