Tag Archive for Mike McCabe

Four Months of Paid Vacation

Yeah, it’s a Thin Blue Line, alright.

An investigation of an Oakland County police chief for suspected political sign theft last July has been completed and turned over to the Michigan attorney general’s office to review for possible charges.

shiny-badgesThe Michigan State Police took over the investigation of Waterford Township Police Chief Daniel McCaw in September after the Oakland County Sheriff‘s Office recused itself from looking into allegations because of law enforcement associations with McCaw. McCaw has been on paid administrative leave since September.
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McCaw was stopped and questioned in July when an officer spotted him late at night removing signs from a vacant gas station lot. McCaw, who was in civilian clothes at the time and in an unmarked vehicle, told the officer he had permission to remove the signs asking township voters to vote “no” on new millages. The officer never wrote up the incident and allowed McCaw to drive away.

McCaw has told others he was removing signs that had been placed too close to the roadway. The owner of some of the removed signs, Kyle McGrath, complained to township officials other non-millage signs in the same location were left undisturbed.

A public safety millage renewal on the ballot which would have affected McCaw’s force was subsequently passed by voters.

MORE with Dash-cam Video

Should be a slam-dunk conviction for our AG with aspirations, yes? Don’t bank on it. For the majority Party holding the lever of power in every branch of Lansing, well, they let the cat out of the bag on their beloved public sector union friends. Yes, their friends – not ours.

Fact.

You Betcha! (23)Nuh Uh.(1)

Loses 2 Statewide Campaigns Settles Into ‘So Be It’ Mode

Funny how I seemed to have overlooked the only Sheriff in the state to shat upon our RTKABA, however, I now feel compelled to give him some exposure love he craves.

So, what are some of Bouchard’s “realities” other than Hailstorm?

You Betcha! (14)Nuh Uh.(0)

Oh Bouchard, you haz Some ‘Splaining to do

Interesting series on local government invasion of privacy events in the Detnews.com

Now, though, some privacy advocates question why one of the safest counties in Michigan needs the super-secretive Hailstorm device that is believed to be able to collect large amounts of cellphone data, including the locations of users, by masquerading as a cell tower.

“I don’t like not knowing what it’s capable of,” said county Commissioner Jim Runestad, R-White Lake Township, who has met in recent weeks with sheriff’s officials about his concerns.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office is one of about two dozen forces nationwide — and the only one in Michigan — with the $170,000 machine. So little is known about Hailstorm that even national experts will only speculate about its capabilities. The technology from Florida-based defense contractor Harris Corp. is believed to be an upgrade of Stingray, a suitcase-sized contraption that is installed in cars and used to trick nearby phones into connecting with it and providing data to police.
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Undersheriff Michael McCabe said, “Hailstorm helps us capture fugitives from the law, people wanted for murder and rape” and can be used only with a search warrant. He said the federal Homeland Security Act bars him from discussing Hailstorm, but he elaborated at length about what it doesn’t do.

“It’s not a tool to spy on people, unequivocally,” McCabe said. “It does not record cellphone conversations … Hailstorm does not capture personal information on anyone or store unintended target data. It does not take photos of anyone. It doesn’t take videos or fly in the sky. It’s a tool used for criminal investigations and it’s legal and lawful.”

McCabe recently gave similar assurances to county commissioners. He was prompted in part by persistent, anonymous emails that have been sent to county officials and others about the system, but also questions from Runestad.

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Sure… like why would anyone question the on record judgement calls from the Oakland County Sheriff?

You Betcha! (13)Nuh Uh.(1)