When A Cop Is A Criminal With A Badge
This cop, Aaron "AJ" Huntsman, a 19-year veteran of the state police, stole a dying motorist's big gold crucifix. He pleaded guilty Wednesday to two felonies --third-degree larceny and tampering with evidence. Daniel Tepfer writes at CTNews:

Scalesse [first name not given in the piece], a former executive of the JAS Masonry in Milford, was killed Sept. 22, 2012 after his motorcycle crashed into a construction company truck on the northbound section of Exit 44 on the Merritt Parkway in Fairfield.

Huntsman, who was the first trooper at the crash scene, walked over to where Scalesse lay, bent down and picked up Scalesse's gold chain from a pool of blood, according to the arrest warrant affidavit. He then took a roll of bills - $3,700 - that had been in Scalesse's pocket. Later, Huntsman told Scalesse's grieving father that he didn't see any money on the victim, the affidavit states.

The cash was later found held with a rubber band under the front seat of Huntsman's cruiser. State Police said Huntsman has maintained his innocence even after he was shown a video of him taking the money that was captured on the dash camera of his own police car.

If there's one thing I've learned in the past 15 years, it's to be disappointed by the police.

As I write in "Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck," no, they won't solve your small crime -- your car theft, your bike theft, your identity theft; and they won't figure out who broke into your house. These crime reports get taken and shoved into folders, often never to be seen again.

There are exceptions out there, but in my neighborhood, most -- including high-ranking officers -- barely understand some of the laws (beyond those dealing with major violent crimes) and certainly can't be bothered enforcing them.

If you think some cop is going to solve your crime, consider believing in the tooth fairy instead. The tooth fairy came through for me a number of times, and I've heard that from other people, too.

via @radleybalko