Setting aside the profoundly poor timing of penning an op-ed for Fathers day publication, which contains predictions he will soon be arresting more cops who are also likely fathers, husbands, dads and brothers, Police Chief Batts breaks the absolute cardinal rule of principle-centered leadership:

♦  When you are a leader of significant influence – never, ever, never, punch down with your admonishments.  Fight those above you, on behalf of those behind you; never vice-versa.

All failed leaders of large complex organizations generally collapse because when the pressure gets too extreme they violate basic tenets of principle-centered leadership.  Loyalty is lost, and you weaken your own ability to influence positive outcomes.  Pointing to the past, or the boss, might garner you sympathy – but it will never generate respect. 

(Baltimore Sun) More Baltimore police officers likely face arrest as the result of reforms in a scandal-ridden department that requires “wholesale change,” Commissioner Anthony W. Batts wrote in a wide-ranging opinion piece published in The Baltimore Sun..

“Our reform efforts will very likely see more police officers arrested,” Batts wrote. “We will have more officers who are forced out because their outdated, outmoded views of policing do not match the standards the community expects and demands.”

The piece was published Friday on The Sun’s website and appears in Sunday’s print editions. (more…)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

A judge had given Mosby until June 26 to respond to three defense motions. In addition to the motion to remove her and her office from the case, defense attorneys have asked that the case be moved away from Baltimore and that it be dismissed because of “prosecutorial misconduct.” (link)

Baltimore’s Special State Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby’s office has responded to defense motion that she should be removed from prosecuting the Baltimore Six. (Full pdf motion below)

An astoundingly petulant, and ideologically-worded, rebuttal motion claiming the accused police officers and their attorneys distort facts in the hope “vitriol will trump logic.”

Notably absent, actually glaringly absent, from the motion is anything relating to a “rough ride” despite numerous references to the construct of negligence in reference to the transport of Freddie Gray.

This excerpt screams petulance -directed at a media audience- and is seriously lacking in any foundation toward the substance of the actual recusal motion itself: (more…)

That’s what I’m talking about right there !!  Shout it !!

(video 02:48 bearing witness – spreading the glory)

https://youtu.be/Xhe1HhGbudk?t=2m48s

(more…)

Well, well, well – what do you know, FEMA gets it right.  The taxpayers are spared from having to bail out Baltimore’s inept leadership.   Almost immediately: “the wheels on the bus go whaa – whaa – whaa”…  Up next: “FEMA is racist”.

BALTIMORE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied a state request for disaster aid to cover the costs associated with the rioting and unrest that broke out in Baltimore after the death of Freddie Gray.

W. Craig Fugate, FEMA’s administrator, wrote in a June 12 letter to Gov. Larry Hogan that federal disaster aid was “not appropriate” for such an event.

“Therefore, I must inform you that your request for a major disaster declaration is denied,” Fugate wrote.

Spokeswoman Erin Montgomery said Friday that the Hogan administration “is reviewing FEMA’s response and will make a determination about the appropriate next steps, including a possible appeal.” (more…)

Consider this a MUST READ if you are concerned about abusive government and the absolute elimination of free speech and personal liberty.

(Reason) For the past two weeks, Reason, a magazine dedicated to “Free Minds and Free Markets,” has been barred by an order from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York from speaking publicly about a grand jury subpoena that court sent to Reason.com.

The subpoena demanded the records of six people who left hyperbolic comments at the website about the federal judge who oversaw the controversial conviction of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht. Shortly after the subpoena was issued, the government issued a gag order prohibiting Reason not only from discussing the matter but even acknowledging the existence of the subpoena or the gag order itself. As a wide variety of media outlets have noted, such actions on the part of the government are not only fundamentally misguided and misdirected, they have a tangible chilling effect on free expression by commenters and publications alike.

Yesterday, after preparing an extensive legal brief, Reason asked the US Attorney’s Office to join with it in asking that the gag order – now moot and clearly an unconstitutional prior restraint – be lifted. This morning, the US Attorney’s Office asked the Court to vacate the order, which it did. We are free to tell the story for the first time.  (read more)

Meh, I find myself uncomfortable with this. Mostly because we’re not particularly fond of the judicial system using optics and theatrics for public consumption. Such activity shows the growing influence of the Community Relations Service (CRS, Grande Lum) within the judiciary.

It was not a good thing when it was evidenced in Sanford/Orlando 2012/2013, it is not a good thing in Charleston 2015.

Unbeknownst to Thomas Roberts the organizer of the crowd he describes as “just showing up” was apparently Glenn Beck.

GAINESVILLE TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Creeks, lakes and rivers overflowing their banks isn’t just a problem in the counties in and around Dallas and Fort Worth. The Red River at the Oklahoma-Texas line has risen so high that officials may have to shut down the Interstate-35 corridor.

The river has risen even more since this image was captured.  No-one is quite sure, but it’s expected at 43.0 ft. the Red River will actually crest the I-35 road/bridge. 

Just after lunchtime Friday, the Red River, which divides Texas from Oklahoma, was observed at 42.02 feet. Twenty-five feet is flood stage.  (read more with incredible video footage)