Detroit Cop Suspended After Wearing Murder Victim’s Watch
If you’re a homicide sergeant, it’s probably best not to wear the jewelry of the victim of a homicide. Alex Vinson got himself in trouble.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig [pictured] confirmed that several months ago, Vinson was the officer in charge of a case involving an unknown murder victim who was found wearing an expensive, German-made watch.
The watch was photographed and put into storage in the Homicide Section’s property room. The victim was not identified, and the homicide case had gone cold.
This week, however, while Vinson was in Idaho for advanced police training, fellow homicide detectives decided to reopen the case.
When the detectives removed the victim’s belongings from the property room, they found that the watch wasn’t the same one that had been photographed at the start of the case. Instead, as confirmed by Craig, it had been replaced with a cheaper model.
Craig said that the detectives quickly informed police officials about the discrepancy.
“We were made aware of this a few nights ago and immediately initiated an internal investigation,” Craig said. “We directed (Vinson) to return home.”[su_csky_ad]
tiredoftea October 10th, 2014 at 10:37 pm
Just plain dumb!
whatthe46 October 10th, 2014 at 10:56 pm
amazing how quickly they can hold a press conference and conduct an investigation over a stolen watch, but not when they murder or beat someone down. how much you wanna bet he was suspended w/o pay for this outrageous act. and yes you’re right, that’s just plain dumb.
StoneyCurtisll October 10th, 2014 at 10:37 pm
Damn cop stole his watch and switched it for a fake…
I wonder if he went trough the victims wallet and took his money too..
While thinking to himself, he isn’t gonna need this watch and cash anymore, and that’s a nice ring on his finger…
Despicable behavior to say the least.
http://www.steroidtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/police11.jpeg
paul123454321 October 12th, 2014 at 9:32 am
The cop in the picture is the one holding the press conference not the one that stole the watch.
StoneyCurtisll October 12th, 2014 at 3:52 pm
I know that, the article clearly says so..
Maybe you just misunderstood me…:)
JMax October 10th, 2014 at 11:33 pm
“Well, there’s always the unexpected.” – Major Warden
Guy Lauten October 10th, 2014 at 11:40 pm
Out of effing control. The above-the-law attitude in our law enforcement these days is just astounding.
rg9rts October 11th, 2014 at 4:10 am
I wonder what happens to the drugs they confiscate???
William October 11th, 2014 at 9:02 am
Good question. The drugs are held into evidence until the case is adjudicated, then destroyed. What should set off alarm bells is when something is confiscated but no arrest or summons results. Back in the day you would catch a minor with a six pack, and make him/her dump it out on the ground….OR, you would confiscate it, issue a summons, receipt and tag the brew into evidence….OR just confiscate the beer and issue a “verbal warning”.
I recall a cop who seized booze from a 20 year old pre law student without any documentation, and ultimately the officer paid a fine for theft.
Consuming anything seized on the street is just plain stupid. You never know what’s in it.
Taking property from a dead man is grounds for dismissal, and prosecution for larceny. Sadly, a lot of good cops are going to be punished for the actions of a few…..again.
rg9rts October 11th, 2014 at 9:09 am
How much of the drugs are switched out??
William October 11th, 2014 at 9:13 am
Switched out?
rg9rts October 11th, 2014 at 9:25 am
Sure they put in a pound of pot and get a pound of oregano , cocaine traded for sweet and low
William October 11th, 2014 at 10:06 am
Interesting point. Let me ask you. Would you put anything in your body that you retrieved from the pocket, backpack or glove compartment of a stranger? I wouldn’t. This conversation does bring up an interesting point. I have had three vocations. U S Navy aircrewman, police officer, and commercial driver.
Guess which one did not require routine drug testing, or even pre employment drug screening? (Even Wal-Mart makes you pee in a cup). If you guessed cop you would be right. Guess which one did not require periodic physicals or mandatory rest periods? Again cop. Truck drivers are required to comply with federal regulations of mandatory, strictly regulated on duty times. Cops have no such requirement. That guy hurtling down the highway responding to a standoff may have been awake for 18, 20 hours or longer. Rural cops who spend are often on standby are routinely jarred from a sound sleep, slip into a uniform strap on a weapon and respond to a domestic while still very groggy. I’ve certainly been there.
Some departments have started drug testing…but for guess what? http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/nypd-suspends-officer-caught-random-steroid-test-article-1.351812
Now I realize it’s fashionable at this time to hate cops, and that’s ok. Every profession needs a wake up call now and again.
Just remember that for every scumbag stealing watches and being an overbearing A-hole, there are thousands of decent hardworking cops, looking for missing kids, getting drunks off the road, and running towards the type of mayhem that your instincts tell you to run from.
Also.. cops are hired and fired as the result of polygraph tests, something pretty much dismissed as evidence in the real world.
rg9rts October 11th, 2014 at 10:46 am
Don’t you realize they SELL IT
William October 11th, 2014 at 11:00 am
“Don’t you realize they SELL IT”
Somehow I’ve missed the ongoing epidemic of stories concerning police drug rings. I should go do a google search.
rg9rts October 11th, 2014 at 11:17 am
brain dead go to HP with your insights
climbhigh October 11th, 2014 at 7:33 pm
We would be better off with more officers who had the insight of William. You, rg9rts, are most likely fabricating your vocation. If you’re not, God help those with mental illness and you are an in network provider.
rg9rts October 12th, 2014 at 3:12 am
Ignorance is bliss in your case…remember to take your meds.. adds to clarity of thought…in your case something sorely lacking…Like I said and it applies to you too, go to HP or better yet RS another waste of energy
paul123454321 October 12th, 2014 at 9:31 am
“some departments have started drug testing” Your article says NYC has just started testing for steroids, but has been randomly testing for illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin and marijuana since 1989
William October 11th, 2014 at 10:12 am
“Sure they put in a pound of pot and get a pound of oregano , cocaine traded for sweet and low”
Understand that the substance is called into court and viewed by the prosecution, defense attorney, judge and jury. ALSO, the substance may be available for testing by a laboratory hired by the defense.
rg9rts October 11th, 2014 at 10:49 am
The deed is done….who are you going to blame….remember there isn’t much difference between cops and crooks
William October 11th, 2014 at 10:59 am
….remember there isn’t much difference between cops and crooks
As long as you believe that, then I suppose any further conversation concerning this matter between you and I would be pointless.
rg9rts October 11th, 2014 at 11:20 am
As a mental health professional I have a LITTLE bit better insight into the subject…and there isn’t much difference between them It would be a waste of time to try to educate the ignorant such as yourself…get a Masters and we’ll talk….adios
William October 11th, 2014 at 11:34 am
Having sat on the executive board of directors for a mental health non profit, I have a little insight. More important, I’ve never considered my degree as license or privlidge to label an entire vocation based upon the actions of the few.
rg9rts October 11th, 2014 at 2:02 pm
Then you should know that sitting on a board is a far cry from doing the grunt work ….isn’t it. I have lost a few and it hurts but I don’t waste my time with the if only…. Wake up and die right
Mainah October 11th, 2014 at 10:26 am
Wow. Technically, that’s a felony. He tampered with police evidence on top of grand larceny (I’m sure the watch was very expensive to make a cop steal it in his own precinct.). What is the screening process to be a cop these day? And for people who bitch about paying taxes … your tax dollars pay for your police. I wonder if Detroit is one of the city’s where they appointed a republican “emergency” manager? I’ll have to check that out.
Denise October 12th, 2014 at 5:16 pm
in my world, that’s called stealing, and most employees are fired for stealing, but not pig cops, evidently. better check the narc department, if he can steal a dead man’s watch, he may want to take it higher, as sly sung