bmags Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 That didn't have to do with fathers biting their child's eyes out... http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/...ana.php?ref=fpa A shadowy private security company that has no known clients but claims to have helped foreign governments combat terrorism and will protect anything from cruise ships to Pakistani convoys has taken over a jail in a small Montana town, with plans to build a law enforcement training facility on the property. The state legislature is looking into the matter and residents of Hardin, MT, were alarmed last week when executives from the firm, American Police Force, showed up in the town, which does not have its own police department, with Mercedes SUVs bearing "City Of Hardin Police Department" decals. And the town has had to tamp down reports on conspiracy Web sites that APF plans to impose experimental H1N1 vaccines on residents under threat of quarantine in the jail. Under a lease signed with Hardin, APF, based in Santa Ana, California, and incorporated just six months ago, is now in control of a 400-bed detention facility the town built a few years ago but never used, a town official confirmed to TPMmuckraker today. The town reportedly stands to make over $2 million per year. Just what American Police Force plans to do with the detention facility, which comes with 50 acres of land in the small south-central Montana town, is unclear. Also not clear is who, if anyone, APF plans to put in the jail. (Watch a video tour of the jail here.) Hardin, which is in default on the bonds it used to build the jail, recently undertook an unsuccessful campaign to make the jail a new home for Gitmo detainees. When that failed, the town turned to APF The 10-year contract that is now awaiting final approval of lawyers gives APF the option of building a training facility, said Al Peterson, spokesman for the Hardin economic development authority. APF has said it plans to invest $30 million in the site, including $17M in the training facility, where law enforcement will get sniper training and learn "DNA analysis" skills. And where is American Police Force getting the money for this venture? Company spokeswoman Becky Shay -- until about a week ago the Billings Gazette reporter covering APF -- says they are no plans to answer that question. She did not respond to a request for comment. The matter has attracted the attention of the Montana state legislature, which is seeking more information about the arrangement between Hardin and APF. The committee that deals with legal matters will send a letter to Hardin officials to get more details on the deal, Representative Bob Ebinger (D) tells TPMmuckraker. "Because of the apparent secretiveness of this, it gives the far right and far left to come up with all kinds of ideas. That's why I'd like to see some clarification," Ebinger says. Peterson, the Hardin official, says the controversy sparked last week when APF executives appeared in black SUVs marked "City Of Hardin Police Department" was a misunderstanding of an act of goodwill by the company. The decals were taken off within the day, he says. Peterson hopes lawyers will approve the contract by next week, and at that point, a press conference is planned and the contract will be made available. Asked if he knew about the background of APF and what they do, Peterson replied: "No comment." Visitors to APF's Blackwater-esque Web site listen to Ravel's Boléro and peruse a menu of services that include: harbor patrol threat interdiction, interdicting terror activity, interdicting weapons of mass destruction, international airline security, cheating spouse investigations, polygraph testing, kidnapping response, weapons sales including "Nuclear/Biological/Chemical (WMD)," and, finally, private investigative services that draw on "vast global network of highly ranked officers and government officials." APF's double-headed eagle coat of arms appears to be the same as Serbia's Prince Aleksandar Karageorgevich, Raw Story points out. And the AP reported that a lawyer for APF describes the firm as "a fledgling spin-off of a major security firm founded in 1984." Late Update: Yet another strange development: This page on APF's Web site brags about "our extensive tactical firearms training facility, the U.S. Training Center." But the U.S. Training Center is part of Xe, nee Blackwater. And Xe spokeswoman Stacy DeLuke told us there is no affiliation between Xe and APF. What the HELLL!?!?!?! A security firm no one's heard of gets MILLIONS to run an EMPTY JAIL?!?! They come into the town with police tags as a sign of good will? Is this the foot gang? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Anti-terrorism seems to be one of the few true growth industries. And a shining example of privatizing and outsourcing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoSox05 Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Mercenaries. I hate these guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 This is more than a little disturbing. Jails and law enforcement entities needs to be licensed and monitored by the state - so if the Montana legislature doesn't like what it sees, what it can and should do is give them a cease and desist order, until more is known. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted October 1, 2009 Author Share Posted October 1, 2009 What did they commit in that article? Like 30 mill? Where the hell does that money come from when no one can find a situation where these dudes have been hired before? Also...a town WANTING GITMO detainees? f***in do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 QUOTE (bmags @ Oct 1, 2009 -> 09:51 AM) Also...a town WANTING GITMO detainees? f***in do it. There are reasons we do not want them on US soil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted October 1, 2009 Author Share Posted October 1, 2009 (edited) QUOTE (Tex @ Oct 1, 2009 -> 02:58 PM) There are reasons we do not want them on US soil. all of them are misguided. edit: we already have terrorists in US prison...see original WTC bombings. Edited October 1, 2009 by bmags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 QUOTE (bmags @ Oct 1, 2009 -> 10:00 AM) all of them are misguided. edit: we already have terrorists in US prison...see original WTC bombings. And I agree. We have terrorists who committed their crimes on US soil. The sticky part comes in the definition of soldiers and what jurisdiction they fall under. There are compelling arguments for both. Defining an Army just isn't as easy as it once was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted October 1, 2009 Author Share Posted October 1, 2009 GOOD NEWS!!! the company is run by a guy with numerous alliases with an incredibly long rap sheet!!!! http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/...d.php?ref=fpblg OH, and the company promises you everything under the sun! http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/...v.php?ref=fpblg When reading TPMmuckraker's coverage of American Police Force, the shadowy private security firm that's taken over a prison in Montana, you might wonder what other services APF offers. Surely, you think, they do more than run empty jails for mysterious reasons? Indeed they do. According to its web site, the company offers a wide range of services, including "Check Your Mate" cheating spouses investigations, "fugitive recovery" for fugitives hiding in one of those pesky non-extradition countries and help if a loved one is kidnapped and held for ransom. Or is it the other way around? Our highly trained staff will discover information that fits your needs to get the answers you need. Some of our services include Kidknapping & Ransoms for ransom, INTL Air Marshalls, Security for convoys in Iraq, Pakistan + More! Although the firm provides SWAT training and convoy security in war zones and has "interdicted weapons of mass destruction," it also takes your marriage seriously. Infidelity, Adultery, Cheating, and being unfaithful might all have a different definition in your mind but at APF its a category all by its lonesome. Married husbands and wives will typically call untrustworthy loved ones adultery or infidelity. In the non-marital relationships its commonly known as cheating and we can help you figure out what's really going on. One way to help is something called "covert pregnancy testing." On a "weapons" page -- which has been pulled since yesterday -- APF listed all of the equipment it offers for sale, including machine guns, satellite phones, armored cars ... and "nuclear/biological/chemical (WMD)." If it wasn't comical bordering on ridiculous, one might be worried that the head of this company has an extensive criminal record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 QUOTE (bmags @ Oct 1, 2009 -> 11:02 AM) GOOD NEWS!!! the company is run by a guy with numerous alliases with an incredibly long rap sheet!!!! http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/...d.php?ref=fpblg OH, and the company promises you everything under the sun! http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/...v.php?ref=fpblg I still want to know how the hell this little town in Montana managed to set up a prison and do business with a private CI/LE/CT whatever agency, without having to go through the state government for licensure. That can't be legal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 1, 2009 -> 11:06 AM) I still want to know how the hell this little town in Montana managed to set up a prison and do business with a private CI/LE/CT whatever agency, without having to go through the state government for licensure. That can't be legal. The explanation I could come up with is all they did was lease them the facility. Cities lease out facilities all the time. The prison/jail was financed through bonds. I wonder if they thought they could land a State or Federal contract once they has the facility in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostfan Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 QUOTE (Tex @ Oct 1, 2009 -> 10:44 AM) Anti-terrorism seems to be one of the few true growth industries. And a shining example of privatizing and outsourcing. Hey now, I'm employed by a private firm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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