Apple Employees May Have Falsely Represented Police Officers
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 2nd Sep 2011 21:47 UTC
Apple So, I kind of mocked this story yesterday, but today an interesting twist has emerged which puts the story in an entirely different light. This week, CNet reported a story about how Apple is working with the San Francisco Police Department to retrieve a lost iPhone 5 prototype. The police and Apple apparently traced the phone to someone's house, and showed up on his doorstep, threatening him and his family. The only problem - the SFPD has no record of any house search or of the case in general - raising the question whether Apple employees falsely impersonated the SFPD, which happens to be a serious crime in California. Update: While I was busy sleeping, the story changed a little bit, but it's still far too shady. After conferring with Apple, the SFPD now states four police officers were involved, and that only the two Apple employees entered Calderon's house. However, Calderon had no idea these two were private non-police people, since he claims they did not identify themselves as Apple employees. Had he known, he would not have let them search his house. So, update or no, Apple employees still impersonated police officers, and issued threats to intimidate Calderon into letting them search his house - without a warrant. I don't understand how people can just accept this sort of behaviour. Don't you have rights in the US? Update II: Perfect summary.
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vitae
Member since:
2006-02-20



What on earth are you talking about? What planet do you live on?

Thousands of times every day in every liberal democracy (all with high standards of human rights) cops go with people who have accused someone of stealing or damaging their stuff and knock on their doors and try to get to the bottom of what has been going on.

It's one of the most basic and useful things cops do. What else do you think cops should do? They are there to make sure no arguments get out of hand, to see whether a crime has been committed or not and they try to get stuff resolved without being too formal or legalistic about it (they hate paper work like we all do).

As I said before this is just a big puff ball of excitement for those who want something to knock Apple with. It's childish and pandering to it with an article just makes OS News look bad.


While I admire your loyalty to Apple, I hope they're paying you for all this mindless PR you provide for them. I said it before and I'll say it again. If Apple wants to report a crime and let the police investigate, that's within their rights. This however was just bully tactics, and not okay, no matter what corporation or entity does it. Just because the cops often abuse their power doesn't mean people should just take it laying down. Wake the fsck up already. You can stop kissing Jobs' arse any time now. He doesn't care anyway, as long as you keep giving him your money.

Reply Parent Score: 3

Tony Swash Member since:
2009-08-22

While I admire your loyalty to Apple, I hope they're paying you for all this mindless PR you provide for them. I said it before and I'll say it again. If Apple wants to report a crime and let the police investigate, that's within their rights. This however was just bully tactics, and not okay, no matter what corporation or entity does it. Just because the cops often abuse their power doesn't mean people should just take it laying down. Wake the fsck up already. You can stop kissing Jobs' arse any time now. He doesn't care anyway, as long as you keep giving him your money.


As I said thousands of times every day people tell the cops someone has stolen, misappropriated or damaged their property and thousands of times a day the cops go with the complainant to visit the alleged perpetrator to try to resolve whether the complaint has any substance and to try to sort out what has happened. Don't you guys get out at all - or at least watch any one of the dozens of cop reality shows? In this case the missing property was a prototype that whilst having a lot of value (as a prototype) would have been quite hard for the cops to recognise so it's even more understandable that they took some technical help along. Jesus what a storm in a tea cup. What next - Apple employee double parks shock horror!

Reply Parent Score: 2

vitae Member since:
2006-02-20

In this case the missing property was a prototype that whilst having a lot of value (as a prototype) would have been quite hard for the cops to recognise so it's even more understandable that they took some technical help along. Jesus what a storm in a tea cup. What next - Apple employee double parks shock horror!


You didn't even read the article, did you? You just fail to grasp the point completely, so desperate are you to vindicate Apple. The cops stayed OUTSIDE, didn't take part in the search, and thus were unavailable while these corporate P.I.s were making racial remarks regarding immigration status to an individual simply because he's a minority.

So one last time for posterity. No official criminal investigation means the cops shouldn't have been there at all. A couple of pushy corporate gumshoes requesting their presences is not enough reason. And even thought the man unwisely allowed the search, that does not justify him becoming the victim of racial discrimination. And finally, the guy didn't even have the GODDAMN PHONE at all. So all of this was for nothing. Is this really so hard for you to understand, or are you just pretending? RTFA again:

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2011/09/iphone_5_apple_police.p...

And pay attention to the details for christsake.

Reply Parent Score: 2

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