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111-576: The Atlanta Eagle police raid was a police raid targeting the Atlanta Eagle, a gay bar in Atlanta , Georgia , United States . The raid occurred on September 10, 2009, due to anonymous tips alleging that illegal drug use and sex was occurring at the bar. Several dozen officers were involved in the raid, including members of the Atlanta Police Department 's vice squad and the "Red Dog Unit",

222-585: A SWAT -like unit typically used in high drug use areas. None of the 62 bar patrons that night were arrested, although eight employees were. Seven of these employees were either found not guilty or had charges dropped against them, while one was not present at the trials and had a bench warrant issued against him. During the raid, bar patrons and employees were subject to anti-gay slurs, derogatory language, and both threats of and actual physical violence. Several lawsuits were later filed on behalf of patrons, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by

333-485: A gag order and ordered mediation with magistrate judge Alan Baverman for November 22. Mediation talks between the two sides lasted from December 1 to 3, with a settlement reached that day. On December 6, the Atlanta City Council voted 14–0 to approve the settlement, which included a $ 1.025 million payout to the plaintiffs. This money would be paid into an escrow account held by Lambda Legal. Additionally,

444-567: A hearing between representatives of the Eagle and the city. However, during the hearing at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building , the city's attorney changed course and admitted that the APD had not fully complied with the court order. Following this, Batten ordered that the APD had 90 days to fully retrain the 2,000 officers in the department. Speaking of the hearing, Batten stated, "I want both sides to work out

555-468: A press conference addressing the raid where they emphasized that the officers involved did nothing wrong. By September 15, numerous local politicians had commented on the raid, with Georgia State Senator Kasim Reed (who at the time was campaigning for the Atlanta mayoralty) and Atlanta City Council President Lisa Borders calling for an investigation into the incident. Speaking to a reporter shortly after

666-570: A tablet or a dashboard-mounted laptop installed in the car. Suspect transport enclosures are typically located at the rear of the vehicle, taking up the rear seats or rear compartment. The seats are sometimes modified to be a hard metal or plastic bench. Separating the transport enclosure is often a partition, a barrier between the front and rear compartments typically made of metal with a window made of reinforced glass , clear plastic, or metal mesh or bars. Some police cars do not have partitions; in these instances, another officer may have to sit in

777-466: A $ 330,000 settlement with the ten plaintiffs. On January 12, 2014, during his mayoral inauguration speech, Kasim Reed stated that the city's "LGBT community was hurt and scarred by the city’s handling of the Eagle raid", but emphasized that progress was being made to rectify this by highlighting that the city had scored a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign 's Municipal Equality Index. Atlanta

888-683: A SWAT vehicle, tactical vehicle, or rescue vehicle, is an armored vehicle used in a police capacity. They are typically four-wheeled armored vehicles with similar configurations to military light utility vehicles , infantry mobility vehicles , internal security vehicles , MRAPs , or similar armored personnel carriers , that lack mounted and installed weaponry. As their name suggests, they are typically used to transport police tactical units such as SWAT teams, though they may also be used in riot control or to establish police presence at events. A mobile command center, also known as an emergency operations center, mobile command post, or mobile police station,

999-417: A clear road, "wail" (a long up-and-down unbroken tone) is often used, whereas in heavy slow traffic or at intersections, "yelp" (essentially a sped-up wail) may be preferred. Other noises are used in certain countries and jurisdictions, such as "phaser" (a series of brief sped-up beeps) and "hi-lo" (a two-tone up-down sound). Some vehicles may also be fitted with electronic airhorns . A wide range of equipment

1110-705: A criminologist at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond . In 2010, Kraska estimated 60,000–70,000 no-knock or quick-knock raids were conducted by local police annually, the majority of which were looking for marijuana. In Utah, no-knock warrants made up about 40% of warrants served by SWAT teams in 2014 and 2015, usually for drugs and usually done at night. In Maryland, 90% of SWAT deployments were to serve search warrants, with two-thirds through forced entry. From 2010 through 2016, at least 81 civilians and 13 officers died during SWAT raids, including 31 civilians and eight officers during execution of no-knock warrants. Half of

1221-403: A dawn raid on his home which saw his wife and two children (11 and 2) detained , by jumping out of a first floor window as he feared he would be killed if he was returned to Algeria . After public outcry, his wife and children, both of whom require ongoing medical treatment, were released. On 2 October 2006, Caritas Sony and her two children Heaven (2) and Glad (4 months) were dawn raided with

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1332-562: A higher temperature. This is usually accomplished through installing heavy duty suspension , brakes , calibrated speedometer , tires , alternator , transmission , and cooling systems . The car's stock engine may be modified or replaced by a more powerful engine from another vehicle from the manufacturer. The car's electrical system may also be upgraded to accommodate for the additional electronic police equipment. Police vehicles are often fitted with audible and visual warning systems to alert other motorists of their approach or position on

1443-513: A highway patrol car, traffic enforcement unit, speed enforcement unit, or road policing unit , is a police car tasked with enforcing traffic laws and conducting traffic stops , typically on major roadways such as highways . They are often relatively high-performance vehicles compared to patrol cars, as they must be capable of catching up to fast-moving vehicles. They may have specific markings or special emergency lights to either improve or hinder visibility. Alternatively, some traffic cars may use

1554-476: A marked patrol car, featuring markings that are either similar colors to the vehicle's body paint, or are reflective graphics that are difficult to see unless illuminated by lights or viewed at certain angles. Ghost cars are often used for traffic enforcement, though they may also be used in lieu of unmarked cars in jurisdictions where they are prohibited or have their enforcement capabilities limited, such as being unable to conduct traffic stops. In these instances,

1665-746: A metal battering ram. They were taken to Dungavel prior to intended deportation to the Democratic Republic of Congo , where Caritas had been raped and tortured before fleeing to the UK. After a strong campaign, Caritas and her family were eventually released. On 3 October 2006, the Uzun family managed to avoid being detained during a dawn raid, as they were absent at the time. They had gone to demonstrate solidarity with Caritas Sony. On 4 October 2006, Cem and Betsy Coban together with their two children, aged 14 and 3, were dawn raided. Cem Cobain threatened to jump from

1776-422: A police dog on board, typically just the agency's standard markings with the added notice. A decoy car is a police car used to establish a police presence, typically to deter traffic violations or speeding, without a police officer actually being present. They may be older models retired from use, civilian cars modified to resemble police cars, or demonstration vehicles. In some instances, a "decoy car" may not be

1887-681: A police raid as "a sudden appearance by officers for the purpose of arresting suspected law violators and seizing contraband and the means and instruments used in the commission of a crime." Dawn raids were a common event in Auckland , New Zealand, during a crackdown on illegal overstayers from the Pacific Islands from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s. The raids were first introduced in 1973 by Norman Kirk 's Labour government and were continued by Robert Muldoon 's National government . These operations involved special police squads conducting raids on

1998-456: A range of different noises. Different models and manufacturers have distinct siren noises; one siren model, the Rumbler , emits a low frequency sound that can be felt through vibrations, allowing those who would not otherwise hear the siren or see the emergency vehicle to still know it is approaching. Different siren noises may be used depending on traffic conditions and the context. For example, on

2109-406: A result, the board arranged for an investigation into the raid, including whether or not standard APD procedures were followed and which supervisors had approved of the raid. The report was expected to be completed by that November, but the full report was not made public until 2011. Additionally, the review board noted that the officers' rationale for searching the bar patrons on the night of the raid

2220-440: A riot suppression vehicle or simply a riot vehicle, is an armored or reinforced police vehicle used for riot control . A wide array of vehicles, from armored SUVs and vans to dedicated trucks and armored personnel carriers, are used by law enforcement to suppress or intimidate riots , protests , and public order crimes ; hold and reinforce a police barricade to keep the scene contained; or simply transport officers and equipment at

2331-454: A secluded location and instead can wait until they reach somewhere safer. In the UK, officers must be wearing uniforms in order to make traffic stops. Motorists can also ask for the officer's badge and identification or call an emergency number or a police non-emergency number to confirm if the police unit is genuine. A ghost car, also known as a stealth car or semi-marked car, is a police car that combines elements of both an unmarked car and

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2442-495: A valuable tool in catching criminals in the commission of a crime or by surprise. The resemblance an unmarked police car has to a civilian vehicle varies based on their application: they may use the same models as marked patrol cars, and may be virtually identical to them aside from the lack of roof-mounted emergency lights, with pushbars and spotlights clearly visible; alternatively, they may use common civilian vehicle models that blend in with traffic, with emergency lights embedded in

2553-569: A variety of equipment for dealing with emergency situations. The first police car was an electric wagon used by the Akron Police Department in Akron, Ohio , in 1899. The first operator of the police patrol wagon was Officer Louis Mueller, Sr. It could reach 16 mph (26 km/h) and travel 30 mi (48 km) before its battery needed to be recharged. The car was built by city mechanical engineer Frank Loomis. The US$ 2,400 vehicle

2664-547: A vehicle at all, but rather a life-sized cutout or sign depicting a police car. Use of decoy cars is intended to ensure crime deterrence without having to commit manpower, allowing the officer that would otherwise be there to be freed up for other assignments. In the United Kingdom, decoy liveried police cars and vans may be parked on filling station forecourts to deter motorists dispensing fuel then making off without payment , also known as "bilking". The use of decoy cars

2775-541: A weekend in jail. A lawyer who was retained to defend the bar stated the following: The situation is such that they [police] were coming in for the least serious ordinance violation of all time – dancing around in their underwear. Usually such violations will lead to simple citations to employees of an establishment. But the fact police searched all the customers is a direct violation of constitutional rights. They had no right to search them, look in their pockets for drugs or detain them. At this stage it seems to me what occurred

2886-661: Is a gay bar that was established in Atlanta in the mid-1980s. According to a 2020 report by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation , the bar had become "a place of prominence in the LGBTQ community , significant as a site for public social interaction". The building housing the bar (located adjacent to the Kodak Building on Ponce de Leon Avenue ) is a contributing property to the Midtown Historic District . The bar

2997-569: Is a police car used for surveillance purposes. Usually SUVs, vans, or trucks, surveillance cars can be marked, unmarked, undercover, or disguised, and may be crewed or remotely monitored. They are used to gather evidence of criminal offenses or provide better vantage points at events or high-traffic areas. The surveillance method used varies, and may include CCTV , hidden cameras , wiretapping devices, or even aerial platforms . Some surveillance cars may also be used as bait cars , deployed to catch car thieves. A police armored vehicle, also known as

3108-415: Is a police car used for display and community policing purposes, but not for patrol duties. These are often performance cars, modified cars, classic police cars, or vehicles seized from convicted criminals and converted to police cars that are used to represent the agency in parades, promote a specific program (such as the D.A.R.E. program), or help build connections between law enforcement and those that

3219-424: Is a truck used to provide a central command center at the scene of an incident, or to establish a visible police presence or temporary police station at an event. A bomb disposal vehicle is a vehicle used by bomb disposal squads to transport equipment and bomb disposal robots , or to store bombs for later disposal. They are often vans or trucks, typically with at least one bomb containment chamber installed in

3330-437: Is a type of police raid performed under a no-knock warrant . No-knock warrants are controversial for various reasons, and have seen increased usage from the 1960s on. There have been many cases where armed homeowners, believing that they are being invaded, have shot at officers, resulting in deaths on both sides. The number of no-knock raids has increased from 3,000 in 1981 to more than 50,000 in 2005, according to Peter Kraska,

3441-472: Is because he believes this blue ribbon panel can say things he doesn’t feel like he is free to say. Because as he explains it, the things he says can be held against the city in court but he believes the blue ribbon panel can say things without them being held against the city". The committee was never used, however, as it was still in the process of being created when a settlement to the case was announced. On November 10, presiding judge Timothy Batten issued

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3552-413: Is carried in police cars, used to make police work easier or safer. The installation of this equipment in a police car partially transforms it into a desk. Police officers use their car to fill out different forms, print documents, type on a computer or a console, and examine different screens, all while driving. Ergonomics in layout and installation of these items in the police car plays an important role in

3663-802: Is common to the point that armed police vehicles are necessary; for example, the Iraqi Police received technicals during the Iraq War , and the National Police of Ukraine used armed vehicles during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine , including the STREIT Group Spartan and a modified BMW 6 Series with a mounted machine gun. These should not be confused with police vehicles that have turrets but do not have guns, which are often just police armored vehicles or, if less-lethal munitions are used, riot control vehicles. A riot control vehicle, also known as

3774-621: Is entirely up to the agency, though in 2005, the Virginia General Assembly considered a bill that would make decoy cars a legal requirement for police. The bill stated in part: "Whenever any law-enforcement vehicle is permanently taken out of service   ... such vehicle shall be placed at a conspicuous location within a highway median in order to deter violations of motor vehicle laws at that location. Such vehicles shall   ... be rotated from one location to another as needed to maintain their deterrent effect." A surveillance car

3885-521: Is often used to describe unmarked cars. However, this usage is erroneous: unmarked cars are police cars that lack markings but have police equipment, emergency lights, and sirens, while undercover cars lack these entirely and are essentially civilian vehicles used by law enforcement in undercover operations to avoid detection. The close resemblance of unmarked cars to civilian cars has created concerns of police impersonation . Some police officers advise motorists that they do not have to pull over in

3996-434: Is the responsibility of police within that jurisdiction. Some utility vehicles can be used for transporting teams of officers and occasionally have facilities to securely detain and transport a small number of suspects, provided there is enough seating space. A police dog vehicle, also known as a K-9 vehicle or a police dog unit, is a police car modified to transport police dogs . The models used for these vehicles range from

4107-851: The Netherlands during World War II , the Nazis carried out numerous raids. The largest and most infamous is the Raid of Rotterdam on 10 and 11 November 1944, in which 52,000 men between the ages of 17 and 40 (some 80% of all men) from Rotterdam and Schiedam were rounded up and put on transport to labor camps . Police cars Police vehicles, like other emergency vehicles, usually bare livery (markings) to distinguish them as such. They often use emergency lights (usually blue, red or blue and red colored) and sirens to warn other motorists of their presence, especially when responding to calls for service. Police cars usually contain communication devices, weaponry, and

4218-636: The emergency lights on the vehicle. These lights are used while responding to attract the attention of other road users and coerce them into yielding for the police car to pass. The colors used by police car lights depend on the jurisdiction, though they are commonly blue and red. Several types of flashing lights are used, such as rotating beacons , halogen lamps , or LED strobes . Some agencies use arrow sticks to direct traffic, or message display boards to provide short messages or instructions to motorists. The headlights and tail lights of some vehicles can be made to flash , or small strobe lights can be fitted in

4329-512: The livery markings on the vehicle. Police vehicle markings usually make use of bright colors or strong contrast with the base color of the vehicle. Some police cars have retroreflective markings that reflect light for better visibility at night, though others may only have painted on or non-reflective markings. Examples of markings and designs used in police liveries include black and white , Battenburg markings , Sillitoe tartan , and "jam sandwich" markings . Police vehicle markings include, at

4440-735: The 1940s, major American automakers, namely the Big Three , began to manufacture specialized police cars. Over time, these became their own dedicated police fleet offerings, such as the Ford Police Interceptor and Chevrolet 9C1 . In the United Kingdom , Captain Athelstan Popkess , Chief Constable of the Nottingham City Police from 1930 to 1959, transformed British police from their Victorian era foot patrol beat model to

4551-438: The 2011 lawsuits. Grossman stated he found the discrepancy during a follow-up with the case. The police union representing officers in Atlanta sent a letter supporting Grossman's claim, further stating that "adequate training on these issues appears to have fallen short". The city of Atlanta, in response to the motion, denied the accusation and instead claimed they would fight the charges. On May 5, Judge Batten again presided over

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4662-498: The APD and the law firm Greenberg Traurig , on behalf of the city of Atlanta, published their investigations into the raid. The internal investigation sustained 42 violations of police procedures involving 26 officers during the raid and cited 10 officers, including Bridges, for lying about their involvement in the raid during the investigation. The city's report found 27 officers involved in 75 violations. Following this, six officers were fired; two who had been found to have lied during

4773-709: The APD created a one-hour training video which all officers have to watch and answer an accompanying set of questions. Police raid A police raid is an unexpected visit by police or other law enforcement officers with the aim of using the element of surprise to seize evidence or arrest suspects believed to be likely to hide evidence , resist arrest , endanger the public or officers if approached through other means, or simply be elsewhere at another time. Various tactics are used by law enforcement in raids that often vary based on available equipment, situational factors, laws, and police powers . The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) defines

4884-406: The APD in 1991 and had had a history of problems related to alcohol use, among other issues. On October 6, the Atlanta Eagle filed documents alleging that the police withheld information during discovery. Specifically, the bar alleged that photos and video captured on cell phones by police officers had been erased and that the prosecuting lawyer found several thousand pages of information relevant to

4995-463: The Constitutional rights of the patrons and that anti-gay prejudice played a role. In particular, the reports highlighted six factors that directly contributed to the botched raid, which, as reported by The Georgia Voice , were: In September 2011, The Georgia Voice reported that a second lawsuit against the city was being filed on behalf of additional patrons who had been at the Eagle the night of

5106-771: The Dawn Raids at the Auckland Town Hall on 26 June 2021. In January 2007 Ruth Turner was arrested in a dawn raid as part of the investigation into the Cash for Peerages affair. Senior Labour politicians criticised the move; but their concern about this has been contrasted by their lack of concern at other dawn raids. In September 2005, Manuelo Bravo killed himself following a dawn raid. He and his son (13) were detained in Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre where he had been threatened with deportation to Angola , where he feared his life

5217-512: The Eagle attorneys from joining the initial case. In February 2011, during a press conference , Reed announced that the Red Dog Unit would be disbanded, saying the decision was made by Turner with Reed's support. In its place, the Red Dog Unit would be replaced by the APEX Unit (an acronym for Atlanta Proactive Enforcement & Interdiction), the 32 supervisors of which would all be different from

5328-557: The Eagle were arrested for "providing adult entertainment without a city permit". According to the arresting officers, four of the employees had been dancing in underwear. Robby Kelley, a co-owner of the Eagle, was among those arrested. A day following the raid, an article in the Seattle -based alternative newspaper The Stranger reported that the raid occurred based on a tip someone had sent to Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin 's office several weeks prior that claimed that illicit drug use

5439-505: The Northern District of Georgia and requested a jury trial . The lawsuit also stated that of the 20 to 30 officers dispatched to the bar, several had been members of the Red Dog Unit. The unit members were wearing black paramilitary-like clothing and were not readily identifiable as police officers, causing some patrons to fear that they were criminals or violent gay bashers . The suit also alleged that patrons who asked questions during

5550-775: The Pacific community including the Polynesian Panthers , the Labour Party , and Pacific governments, the raids were abandoned by the National Government. In April 2021, members of the Pasifika community called for an official apology, describing the dawn raids as "government‑sanctioned racism". In mid-June 2021, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed that the New Zealand Government would formally apologise for

5661-402: The allegations were made, Reed was honored as the keynote speaker at the 16th Annual Stonewall Bar Association Awards, held on October 28. During his address, he announced the creation of a blue-ribbon committee made up of LGBT attorneys to serve as an intermediary between the city and Eagle attorneys. Speaking about the committee, one Eagle attorney stated, "Part of the reason he is doing this

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5772-605: The area. That same year, it was reported that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Eagle would close and relocate the following year. Also in 2020, however, Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms initiated the process for designating the Atlanta Eagle building a historic landmark, which would make it the first protected LGBTQ landmark in the Deep South . On Thursday September 10, 2009, at approximately 11:30 p.m., police officers , including several plain-clothes police officers, entered

5883-545: The balcony of his 20th storey flat rather than be deported to an uncertain future in Turkey , but after 3 hours of negotiations with Strathclyde Police he was eventually led away by immigration officials. Betsy was taken to hospital with complications related to a heart condition. On 19 March 2007, Max and Onoya Waku and their three children, aged 14, 11 and 4, were dawn raided by immigration officers and taken to Dungavel detention centre. They were later released. A no-knock raid

5994-418: The bar and began making arrests. At the time, there were 62 patrons at the bar. While sources initially varied with regards to how many officers were involved, a later report by a citizen review board stated that 24 officers were involved in the initial raid, composed of members of the Atlanta Police Department 's Vice Squad and the Red Dog Unit, a SWAT -like unit used in areas with high drug use. According to

6105-510: The bar patrons. Several individuals who asked questions to the officers were told to "shut the fuck up" and threatened with physical violence. Multiple sources claimed that the police used abusive language and homophobic slurs towards the patrons, including " faggots " and " queers ". Witnesses additionally heard an officer say, “Raiding a gay bar is fun, we should do it every week". Some patrons also alleged that they were kicked and shoved by police officers and suffered cuts from broken glass on

6216-500: The bar with concealed guns, leading them to believe others in the bar may also have had concealed weapons. On September 13, several hundred people gathered in the bar's parking lot to protest the raid. The following day, numerous patrons filed official complaints with the Office of Professional Standards of the Atlanta Police Department (APD). That same day, Atlanta Chief of Police Richard Pennington and several other police commanders held

6327-433: The building was searched for drugs and asked to show identification. Background checks were also performed by the police. According to a bar patron present during the raid, everyone in the building was told to get on the ground with their faces down, and everyone was searched at least once, with many people searched twice. The patron claimed that the police were acting in an "incredibly derogatory and insulting" manner towards

6438-423: The citizen review board ruled that 24 officers had falsely imprisoned people during the raid and that it was highly likely that abusive language was used, though all officers denied this charge. For the false imprisonment finding, the board could only recommend up to a three-day suspension or a written reprimand, though both the chair of the board and other members agreed that this was not a harsh enough punishment. As

6549-417: The city filed a motion claiming that no evidence had been destroyed. This was rebuffed by the plaintiffs on November 1, with the Eagle attorneys claiming that the city made "no specific or meaningful attempt to explain or rebut the most serious allegations" regarding destruction of evidence, specifically pertaining to evidence on officers' cell phones and deleted emails sent between officers. The same month

6660-453: The city. According to The Georgia Voice , the mayor and the attorney representing the Eagle had a "testy exchange" regarding the lawsuit. The following month, Reed announced that an LGBT advisory board within the APD would be formed in order to address issues between the police department and the LGBT community. This advisory board later held its first meeting on October 1, 2010. On September 9,

6771-502: The civilians killed were minorities. Of those subject to SWAT search warrants, 42% are black and 12% are Hispanic. Since 2011, at least seven federal lawsuits against officers executing no-knock warrants have been settled for over $ 1 million. Dawn raids are a tactic often used by law enforcement agencies in the United States. High-profile dawn raids include: During the Nazi occupation of

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6882-434: The comfort and safety of the police officers at work and preventing injuries such as back pain and musculoskeletal disorders. Police radio systems are generally standard equipment in police cars, used to communicate between the officers assigned to the car and the dispatcher . Mobile data terminals are also common as alternative ways to communicate with the dispatcher or receive important information, and are typically

6993-606: The committee additionally named the staff and patrons of the Eagle as co-marshals. In the following months, multiple publications covering the incident drew comparisons between it and the 1969 Stonewall riots , a pivotal moment in the LGBT community caused by a police raid on the Stonewall Inn , a gay bar in New York City . A 2017 article in The Advocate included the raid in a list of notorious police raids on gay bars, alongside

7104-435: The floor. Between 11:30 p.m. and midnight, patrons exited the building one at a time. At around 11:50 p.m., police requested all people in the parking lot to leave and unblocked the parking lot exit. According to an eyewitness, one officer stated, while leaving the parking lot, "This is gonna keep happening if we keep getting complaints from the community." No patrons were charged with any crime, but eight employees of

7215-406: The following year, the discovery period of the pre-trial began. Two days later, the lawsuit was slightly amended, with the number of officers named reduced from 48 to 35. That same month, on March 11, the eight arrested employees were tried in municipal court , with three found not guilty and four having the charges against them dropped. One employee was not present at the trial and a bench warrant

7326-542: The grille or capable of being hidden and revealed, such as Japanese unmarked cars having retractable beacons built into the car's roof. Unmarked cars typically use regular civilian license plates, occasionally even in jurisdictions where emergency vehicles and government vehicles use unique license plates, though some agencies or jurisdictions may be able to use the unique plates anyway; for example, American federal law enforcement agencies may use either government plates or regular license plates. The term "undercover car"

7437-494: The homes and workplaces of overstayers throughout New Zealand, usually at dawn. Overstayers and their families were often prosecuted and then deported back to their countries. The Dawn raids were particularly controversial, because despite the fact that Pacific Islanders only made up one-third of visa over-stayers, they accounted for 86% of those arrested and prosecuted. The majority of over-stayers were from Great Britain , Australia , and South Africa . Due to opposition from

7548-410: The investigation had already been fired for unrelated offenses. Additionally, nine other officers were disciplined with either suspensions or written reprimands. Local queer-oriented website Project Q Atlanta called the firings and discipline "the most decisive action taken since the raid that has dogged city officials for nearly two years". Both reports stated that officers involved in the raid violated

7659-851: The issue of asylum, moving away from dawn raiding asylum seekers, to detaining families at reporting centres; however, dawn raids have continued. In 2002, Yurdugal Ay and her children were suddenly removed from their home by immigration officials and taken to Dungavel detention centre in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. They were all put together in one room where they lived for a year. In September 2005, Isen and Nexhi Vucaj were dawn raided together with their three teenage children. They were taken to Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre before being deported to Albania . On 8 February 2006, Lutfu and Gultan Akyol and their two children, aged 10 and 6, were dawn raided after home office officials battered down their door. They were taken to Dungavel following

7770-489: The lead investigator present at the bar during the event, the unit had been called in as backup for safety reasons following the start of the raid. A later lawsuit claimed that, in total, 48 officers were present at the Eagle the night of the raid. At the same time, a line of police cars (including three police vans ) blocked the exit from the parking lot. According to several patrons, all staff members, dancers, and anyone wearing underwear were handcuffed, and almost everyone in

7881-672: The markings on ghost cars may be sufficient to legally count as marked police cars, despite the markings being difficult to see. A utility vehicle is a police car used for utility or support purposes as opposed to regular police duties. Utility vehicles are usually all-wheel drive vehicles with cargo space such as SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, utes, or off-road vehicles. They are often used to transport or tow assets such as trailers, equipment, or other vehicles such as police boats ; they are alternatively used for or are capable of off-roading , especially in fleets where most other vehicles cannot do so. They can also be used for animal control , if that

7992-414: The mater in such fashion to eliminate the need for plaintiffs to come back to court". Regarding the hearing, the owner of the Atlanta Eagle stated that the city's actions following the ruling have been "nothing more than a slap in the face of the gay community". On May 19, Batten found the city in contempt and allowed Grossman to oversee that the city were moving to comply with his orders. Per the court order,

8103-540: The modern car-based reactive response model, through his development of the "Mechanized Division", which used two-way radio communication between police command and police cars. Under Popkess, the Nottingham City Police began to use police cars as an asset that police tactics centered around, such as overlaying police car patrol sectors over foot patrol beats and using police cars to pick up foot patrol officers while responding to crimes. Increased car ownership in

8214-456: The organization of the law enforcement agency , the class of vehicle used as a police car, and the environmental factors of the agency's jurisdiction, many of the types below may or may not exist in certain fleets, or their capabilities may be merged to create all-rounded units with shared vehicles as opposed to specialized units with separate vehicles. A patrol car is a police car used for standard patrol. Used to replace traditional foot patrols,

8325-407: The patrol car's primary function is to provide transportation for regular police duties, such as responding to calls, enforcing laws, or simply establishing a more visible police presence while on patrol. Driving a patrol car allows officers to reach their destinations more quickly and to cover more ground compared to other methods. Patrol cars are typically designed to be identifiable as police cars to

8436-401: The police department would have 180 days to conduct an investigation into the raid and make specific changes to police procedure, primarily concerning police conduct during raids and detainment of individuals. Following the city council's vote, the settlement agreement was sent to the federal judge for final approval, with a gag order preventing discussion of the case by those involved until after

8547-479: The police. In the resulting court cases, which lasted until 2012, the city of Atlanta paid out over $ 1 million in settlements to the victims and instituted changes to police policies designed to prevent a similar situation from happening. Several involved officers were either reprimanded or fired and the Red Dog Unit was disbanded and replaced with another unit. Additionally, Atlanta chief of police Richard Pennington , already under pressure, resigned shortly after

8658-511: The post- World War II economic expansion led to police cars becoming significantly more common in most developed countries, as police jurisdictions expanded farther out into residential and suburban areas, car-oriented urban planning and highways dominated cities, vehicular crimes and police evasion in cars increased, and more equipment was issued to police officers, to the point that vehicles became practically necessary for modern law enforcement. Various types of police car exist. Depending on

8769-632: The public and thus almost always have proper markings, roof-mounted emergency lights, and sirens. A response car, also known as a pursuit car, area car, rapid response unit, or fast response car, is a police car used to ensure quick responses to emergencies compared to patrol cars. It is likely to be of a higher specification, capable of higher speeds, and often fitted with unique markings and increased-visibility emergency lights. These cars are generally only used to respond to emergency incidents and may carry specialized equipment not used in regular patrol cars, such as long arms . A traffic car, also known as

8880-663: The raid In June 2006, Sakchai Makao, a 23-year-old man from Thailand, was dawn raided in Lerwick . A third of the Shetland Island population signed a petition to have him released. He was eventually released two weeks later. The campaign to free him later won the Scottish politician of the year award. On 12 July 2006, Servat and Sakine Temel and their three children were dawn raided and taken to England awaiting deportation to Turkey . In September 2006, Azzadine Benai escaped during

8991-499: The raid as defendants. The suit, titled Calhoun v. Pennington , alleged that the constitutional rights of the patrons had been violated by the police, who had used excessive force and lacked reasonable suspicion or probable cause for the raid. Additionally, the lawsuit alleged individual officers of committing "false imprisonment, assault, battery and trespassing". The suit was filed in the United States District Court for

9102-590: The raid on the Stonewall Inn and the Black Cat Tavern raid, among others. On November 24, 2009, lead attorney Dan Grossman, along with LGBT rights group Lambda Legal and the Southern Center for Human Rights , filed a federal lawsuit against the APD on behalf of 19 patrons who were at the Eagle during the raid, naming Atlanta Chief of Police Richard Pennington and 48 other officers who were present during

9213-508: The raid that were not turned over by the police. Reed addressed the accusations for the first time on October 21, during a meeting with the Atlanta Executive Network, an LGBT business organization. Talking for more than an hour to the group, Reed stated that the accusations will be investigated, further claiming that if it is found that police destroyed evidence, the city would publicly handle the situation. The following day, however,

9324-426: The raid was caught " in flagrante ". A later report stated that the raid was caused by two anonymous complaints lodged to the mayor's office alleging illegal drug use and sex on the premises. In a 2010 investigation into the raid, several officers stated that the reason for the searches was due to suspicions that some patrons may have been armed. According to the officers, undercover investigators had previously entered

9435-445: The raid were threatened with physical harm and violence, and some were forced to remain inside the Eagle for some time after being searched. The same day that the lawsuit was filed, Pennington announced his resignation as chief of police. At the time of his resignation, he and the APD were also under scrutiny for the shooting of Kathryn Johnston . Following his resignation, George N. Turner was chosen as his replacement. On March 15 of

9546-409: The raid, Mayor Franklin stated, "If there are any allegations about misconduct it’s our intention to investigate them and take the appropriate action. I believe that every person who lives or visits Atlanta should be treated fairly and justly." Following their arrest, the eight employees pleaded not guilty, and two city council candidates contacted a judge who set bail for them, sparing them from spending

9657-418: The raid, with the involved officers also facing three-day suspensions. In addition, the board recommended that one sergeant be given a 30-day unpaid suspension for being "untruthful" during the board's investigation. As part of the settlement, the APD would have to conduct an internal investigation of the officers involved in the raid, though Turner did not give a timeline for the investigation. On June 28, both

9768-466: The raid. In 2015, the city was subject to further legal action after the police were found to have reverted some of the court-ordered changes they had been required to make following the trials. The raid is one of several police raids on LGBT venues and has drawn comparisons to the 1969 police raid on the Stonewall Inn which caused the Stonewall riots , a pivotal moment in LGBT history. The Atlanta Eagle

9879-412: The raid. This lawsuit, filed in the superior court of Fulton County , was captioned Burkes v. Reed and named Reed and 25 individual officers as defendants on behalf of 10 plaintiffs. In October 2011, eight individuals, all employees of the Eagle, settled with the city in a $ 120,000 payout. In March 2012, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Atlanta Eagle, the Atlanta City Council voted to approve

9990-647: The rear of the vehicle, and ramps to allow bomb disposal robots to access the vehicle. Bomb disposal vehicles are generally not explosive-resistant and are only used for transporting explosives for disposal, not actively disposing of them. An armed police vehicle is a police vehicle that has lethal weaponry installed on it . These are often technicals or light utility vehicles with machine gun turrets , and may or may not lack emergency lights and sirens. Armed police vehicles are very rare and are usually only used in wartime, in regions with very high violent crime rates, or where combat with organized crime or insurgencies

10101-530: The rear or sides, making them appear unmarked when viewed from the front. Another unofficial passive visual warning of police vehicles can simply be the vehicle's silhouette if its use as a police car is common, such as that of the Ford Crown Victoria in North America, or the presence of emergency vehicle equipment on the vehicle, such as a pushbar or a roof-mounted lightbar. Active visual warnings are

10212-448: The rear to secure the detainee, or a dedicated transport vehicle may be called. Weapons may be stored in the trunk or front compartment of the vehicle. In countries where police officers are already armed with handguns , long guns such as rifles or shotguns may be kept on a gun rack in the front or in the trunk, alongside ammunition. In countries where police are not armed or do not keep their guns on them, handguns may be kept in

10323-429: The road. In many countries, use of the audible and visual warnings affords the officer a degree of exemption from road traffic laws (such as the right to exceed speed limits, or to treat red stop lights as a yield sign) and may also suggest a duty on other motorists to yield for the police car and allow it to pass. Warning systems on a police vehicle can be of two types: passive or active . Passive visual warnings are

10434-482: The same as patrol cars to dedicated SUVs, pickup trucks, or vans. To provide sufficient space for the police dog, there is usually a cage in the trunk or rear seats with enough space for the dog, though some agencies may put the cage in the front passenger seat, or may lack a cage entirely and simply have the dog in the rear compartment. There may or may not be space to transport detainees or additional officers. Police dog vehicles almost always have markings noting they have

10545-468: The same models as patrol cars, and may barely differ from them aside from markings, radar speed guns , and traffic-oriented equipment. An unmarked car is a police car that lacks markings and easily-visible or roof-mounted emergency lights. They are generally used for varying purposes, ranging from standard patrol and traffic enforcement to sting operations and detective work. They have the advantage of not being immediately recognizable, and are considered

10656-402: The scene in a manner safer than what could be achieved with a standard police car. Common modifications include tear gas launchers, shields, and caged windows. Some riot control vehicles also include less-lethal weaponry and devices, such as water cannons and long-range acoustic devices . A community engagement vehicle, also known as a liaison vehicle, demonstration vehicle, or parade car,

10767-473: The settlement was finalized. At the time of the settlement, that Police Chief Turner had not responded to inquiries from the citizen review board despite being required to do so within 30 days. The day after the city council voted, Chris Lopez, who had been one of the arrested employees, filed a complaint with Atlanta's municipal clerk, seeking damages of $ 250,000 for "false arrest, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution". Lopez claimed he had been prevented by

10878-399: The slogan of "No one is illegal". There has been speculation that the practice may be coming to an end for asylum seekers following criticisms from a wide range of people. On 1 February 2007 the deputy First Minister, Nichol Stephen condemned the practise of dawn raids describing them as "unacceptable and unnecessary." Some have speculated that this is part of a wider change in tactics on

10989-463: The specifications required by the purchasing police service. Several vehicle manufacturers provide a "police package" option, which is built to police specifications from the factory. Agencies may add to these modifications by adding their own equipment and making their own modifications after purchasing a vehicle. Modifications a police car might undergo include adjustments for higher durability, speed, high-mileage driving, and long periods of idling at

11100-491: The supervisors of the Red Dog Unit. Additionally, officers on the unit would have to pass a thorough background check and interview process. The APD was also introducing new training for its officers on LGBT issues. In early 2011, the citizen review board published their final report on the incident and recommended punishments for the involved officers. Among the recommended punishments were written reprimands and Fourth Amendment training for all involved officers and supervisors of

11211-715: The vehicle appeals to. Some cars can be visibly marked but not fitted with audio or visual warning devices. These are often used by community liaison officers, administrative staff, or high-ranking officers for transport to meetings, engagements, and community events. Some vehicles are produced by automotive manufacturers with police markings to showcase them to police departments; these are usually concepts, prototypes, or reveals of their police fleet offerings. Emergency vehicle equipment manufacturers such as Federal Signal , Whelen , and Code 3 also use unofficial police cars to demonstrate their emergency vehicle equipment. Police cars are usually passenger car models which are upgraded to

11322-452: The vehicle lights. Audible warnings are the sirens on the vehicle. These sirens alert road users to the presence of an emergency vehicle before they can be seen, to warn of their approach. The first audible warnings were mechanical bells, mounted to either the front or roof of the car. A later development was the rotating air siren , which makes noise when air moves past it. Most modern police vehicles use electronic sirens, which can produce

11433-697: The very least, the word " police " (or a similar applicable phrase if the agency does not use that term, such as " sheriff ", " gendarmerie ", " state trooper ", " public safety " etc.) and the agency's name or jurisdiction (such as " national police " or " Chicago Police "). Also common are the agency's seal, the jurisdiction's seal, and a unit number. Text is usually in the national language or local language, though other languages may be used where appropriate, such as in ethnic enclaves or areas with large numbers of tourists. Unmarked vehicles generally lack passive visual warnings, while ghost cars have markings that are visible only at certain angles, such as from

11544-590: Was a serious constitutional violation to everyone in the place. On September 19, approximately 100 people protested the raid outside the Atlanta City Hall . Several days later, on September 22, the Atlanta Pride Committee announced that APD's LGBT liaison officer Dani Lee Harris would serve as a grand marshal for that year's Atlanta Pride . The appointment spurred significant backlash from members of Atlanta's LGBT community, and in an effort to quell this,

11655-483: Was equipped with electric lights, gongs, and a stretcher. The car's first assignment was to pick up a drunken man at the junction of Main and Exchange streets. Ford introduced the flathead V8 in the 1932 Ford as the first mass-marketed V8 car; this low-priced, mass-marketed V8 car became popular with police in the United States , establishing strong brand loyalty that continued into the 21st century. Starting in

11766-427: Was happening at the Eagle. No drugs were found as part of the search, however. Several days later, the online magazine Queerty claimed that the raid was not due to drug-use allegations, but instead was due to allegations of public sex happening in the building, with the raid caused because of undercover investigators' accounts of gay sex occurring in the building. The article nonetheless stated that no-one during

11877-730: Was in danger as other family members had been killed there. Dawn raids have become a regular feature in the arrest of asylum seekers in Scotland. These have caused a great deal of controversy and pressure has been brought to bear on the Scottish Executive to end the practise. Several support groups have been set up to oppose the practice of dawn raids, including the Glasgow Girls , the UNITY centre in Ibrox and No Border Network which campaigns under

11988-453: Was issued for him. On June 10, 2010, a citizen review board voted to recommend punishments against two APD officers who had arrested David Shepherd, an assistant manager for the Eagle who, at the time of the raid, was off duty and in his upstairs apartment. On July 22, Reed (who by this time was now mayor of Atlanta) attended a town hall meeting organized by councilmember Alex Wan to talk about recent anti-gay crimes that had taken place in

12099-534: Was notable for catering to the leather subculture , and according to the website Them , it was the only leather bar for 1,200 miles (1,900 km) between Washington, D.C. and Wilton Manors, Florida . In 2020, the Georgia Trust placed the Eagle and Kodak buildings on its annual list of Places in Peril , stating that the buildings had fallen into disrepair and were at risk of demolition due to increased development in

12210-439: Was that several undercover officers had previously entered the bar with concealed weapons without being checked by any security at the bar, leading them to believe that it was possible that other people in the bar had weapons on them. The board also highlighted previous issues with the lead investigator in charge of the raid, Bennie Evett Bridges. Specifically, they noted that he had had 32 complaints filed against him since joining

12321-457: Was the only city in the Deep South to receive such a score that year. On March 17, 2015, Daniel Grossman, the attorney who had previously represented the Eagle patrons in the previous lawsuits, filed a motion for contempt of court against the APD, alleging that in 2013, the APD had changed the language to some of their procedures, essentially removing language they were ordered to instate following

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