ABQ Police Officer Busted Shoplifting at Target

I report on a lot of serious problems with the police in America.  So this seems petty AF. 

This officer would allegedly go to Target and switch price tags, in one of the most-commonly busted forms of shoplifting.  It happens so often there's a name for it:  ticket switching.  And as a police officer she should know this, and how easy it is to catch.  Because I watch bodycam footage in my spare time.  And the cops apparently run a shuttle from Target to Walmart to jail with the shoplifters.

I have a lot of feelings about that.  I really hate thieves, especially this new thing where people just walk in, take whatever they want, and leave.  I very much dislike the complete breakdown of minimal mutual respect.  All hell has broken loose, and I'm not for it.  Recently a young woman at a beauty store in Boyle Heights was dragged out by multiple attackers and severely beaten in the parking lot, over some bullshit that can be found anywhere in America for peanuts.  That didn't used to happen when I was a kid.  Now that kind of thing happens all the time.

On the other hand, it's infuriating that sexual and domestic violence survivors often can't get the time of day from the police.  But Walmart and Target have them on speed dial, revolving door service on the petty theft.  Because America has always had its priorities straight.  One reason is obvious:  administratively, Target and Walmart hand them a prosecutorial package, done deal.  They know who and what they can charge, and they're handed the correct evidentiary packet, bang, boom, done.  It's the exact opposite of a DV or sexual assault call, which is like a wild card wrapped in a loose cannon at a goat rope.  100% motivation to look for a way to say, "Nothing to see here."

So it never sits right with me.  I'm not mad at retailers for protecting their interests.  It's better for everyone that they do loss prevention.  But I'd love to see law enforcement in this country protecting the sanctity of people more than the money of the rich.  And that will never happen, because the entire country was founded on the opposite premise.

Back to this particular police officer.  I report on police officers who are rapists and murderers, so again, this seems petty AF. 

But think about it.  If she's found guilty of the things in these videos -- which hey folks, Target and Walmart are on camera like the average casino in case you didn't know -- then you don't want her investigating the burglary at your house, because she's a constant, petty thief.

If she's found guilty of the offenses alleged herein, that means she routinely steals whatever she wants, even with her children in tow. 

And also?  She's dumb AF, double problem over in the Land of Entrapment.  If she's allegedly this shady and also dumb about it, that's a deal breaker for any allegedly shady coworkers she may have.  I'm reminded of the New Mexico segment of that documentary The Killing Season, where they did all of these interviews about who might be dumping dead sex workers out onto the Mesa.  One police officer's name came up over, and over, and over.  Every sex worker they talked to suspected it was that one cop.  Now, whether it had anything to do with him or not?  ABQ police has a much bigger problem than this lady potentially shoplifting at Target. 

I remember of working the cash register for my dad's friend Greg Lasser at Lasser's Beverage Company back in Chicago in the early 1980s.  Greg told me some cops would be coming by to pick up some pop for their picnic.  He motioned to a stack of about 20 cases and left me running the whole warehouse by myself as a high school student. 

When the cops showed up, I directed them to the 20 cases Greg had left for them.  They walked right past me to direct the truck driver as he backed into the warehouse.  They loaded up the entire truck, taking whatever TF they wanted.  What was I to do about it?  Who was I to call?  Why was I to think Greg left before they came, if not to turn a blind eye?