We're No. 1! We're No. 1!
But it's not time to celebrate. The FBI's annual hate crimes report is out and, although hate crimes have dropped across the country, Tampa has earned the dubious honor of having the highest amount of cases in Florida for 2007. The second year in a row.
According the FBI, Tampa had 13 hate crimes in 2007: eight of those involved race, four involved religion and one was based on sexual orientation.
Now, 13 is just a small slice of the 166 incidents reported in Florida last year. But pinning Tampa's No. 1 status its size or population would be a mistake. I don't think it's a coincidence that the man behind Amendment 2 and the architect of the gigantic Confederate Flag at I-4 and I-75 both live in or around Tampa
And if past studies are right, we might be No. 1 next year too, based on the homophobic rhetoric coming out of the Amendment 2 debate.
Jim Burroway, a writer for the LGBT info website Box Turtle Bulletin, wrote an informative piece in 2006 analyzing the FBI's hate crime statistics with gay marriage ban referendums in various states. His conclusion? Hate crimes rose sharply in those states.
From his article:
There were 150 hate crimes incidents based on sexual orientation for these thirteen states in 2003, before ballot measures to ban same-sex marriage were on the radar. But in 2004 when voters were asked to approve these bans, this figure rose to 220 a 47% increase. This rise far outstrips the increase in the covered population for these thirteen states (38.2 million for 2003 to 43.4 million for 2004, an increase of only 14%). Even if you account for the increase in the population covered by these statistics, it still amounts to an alarming 31% increase in reported hate crimes based on sexual orientation in these states.For some of these states, this increase is especially worrisome. Ohio went from 32 hate crime incidents based on sexual orientation in 2003 to 57 incidents in 2004. Thats equivalent to a 66% increase after adjusting for differences in population coverage. Michigan went from 41 incidents in 2003 to 73 in 2004 (for an adjusted 72% increase). Missouri went from 5 to 11 (an adjusted 82% increase).
The correlation between political hot button issues, referendums and politicians' rhetoric and violence isn't limited to just gays and lesbians. The Anti-Defamation League crunched this year's FBI numbers and found another interesting statistic:
For the fourth year in a row, the number of reported crimes directed against Hispanics increased from 576 in 2006 to 595 in 2007.
Coincidence or the consequence of an increasingly tense border situation inflamed by the Minutemen, racist anti-immigrant groups and those Republican primary candidates?
Another fact to keep in mind: not all police agencies submit hate crime statistics to the FBI. In reality, the situation in Florida, and across the country, could be much worse.
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I am a gay retired federal special agent treasury department and am extremmely creditable in hate crimes area. Tampa police has committed hate crimes against me. My NAME IS DANIEL WILLIAM KRIGER US TREASURY DEPARTMENT BADGE 2874. i AM A KNOWN CREDITABLE AGENT. iF YOU DO0UBT THIS yOU ARE A INCOMPOTENT FOOL OR HAVE NO ETHICS. tALK TO YOUR SUPERVIZER PLEASE. i WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED OR SET UP. yOU HAVE HONOR OR YOU ARE WEAK COWARDS I REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE. I WILL STAND ALONE. yOU KNOW ME, I AM NO COWARD, I HOPE YOU ARE EXTRORDINARY AS YOU HAVE BEEN, OTHER WISE HELL WITH YOU I HAVE HONER. 616-212-0671, TAMPA PD IS WITHOUT ETHICS OR HONER AND I DIE FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. WHAT DO YOU DIE FOR, BELIEVE IN. YOU KNOW ME, 4 SURE. MY HONOR IS UNQUESTIONALBE HOWS YOURS. HOPE THE SAME. OUT
Daniel- What I am wondering is how a credible special agent can not even type out a paragraph that makes sense. When filing all of the paperwork your job definitely entails did you not learn how to spell correctly and use grammar appropriately?? Although I am an advocate of your cause please do not diminish it with 2nd grade spelling and grammar, or you will look like you lack the credibility that you state, over and over, you have. I hope that you find resolve with your situation with the TPD. All the best
Its good that a text message of mine was tapped by tampa's finest abiding by the law as always I see. TPD is who you are; and thanks for showing who is behind tampa's hate crimes as if I did not know. Not smart, I'm not alone. lol Daniel Kriger
My name is Daniel Kriger. I am a Retired Federal Law Enforcement Officer (see above). I have been a target of Hate Crimes by the Tampa Police Department. Dan Baker the former openly gay Vice Mayor of the City of Long Beach Califoria was my old Chief, Boss, Friend and Mentor. What would he do is this situation, not be in it. Be a lot smarter, charismatic and effective than I, thats for sure. And then quietly kick there asses. Hence, since he and our people out of Long Beach, California; and around the Nation are the base for which I am seeking. I am beginning this blog requesting its use from the owner(s) of it. And am reaching out to and requesting that this reach all persons who want to change the Internal Policies of Law Enforcement Agencies around the Nation as it is obvious this needs to be done. I want this done so the obvious situation here in Tampa can be stopped before it ever happens. This does not ever need to happen again. Straight persons of who hate, dislike gays and find them to be less than them should not watch over them, target them and violate there basic human rights. This is obvious, but not here in Tampa in the " Deep South" which we are to believe it is not happening. That is a joke. Their is not a single openly gay police officer in the entire TPD Police Department. Those who dislike and despise homosexuals should not be in charge of protecting them this is idiotic. When I was young, I disagreed with Dan about affirmative action. Through my life I seen its genius, and I changed and embrassed it. I am asking law enforement whether gay or straight, around the Nation as long as you are fair, to look to the City of Tampa as the Hate Crime Capital of Flordia because the Police are the ones behind it. They are the offenders who set the standard that Murdering gays is acceptable and hate crime is alright TPD does and approves of it. Those who at sworn to protect and serve are what the gay community and minority communitys here in Tampa need protecting from. This is quietly known and covered up daily by TPD. Tampa is known to be one of the corruptest Police Departments in the Nation, if not the most corrupt.If you ask how is it possible that the inheriantly stupid act of targeting a Retired Federal Officer could happen and create such a dangouras situation someone will be murdered or multiple parties who are sworn to proctect could be killed for such stupidity and criminal behavior. You'll have to ask Tampa's Finist for that answer, I think we all know. Those who use the Color of Athority to commit Hate Crimes have grown so bold with this behavior of covering it up and finding it acceptable and it has gone on so long that they feel that its not wrong or going on. They are so untouchable and obvious that I am afraid it will end violantly before this is over. How else could it end. Hence, I am making sure this obvious confrontaion is shown to the world. I wecome it, it seem that is what is needed to force change. The Police here need to be charged as the criminals they are, and held accountable for the acts they have committed. Police who commit hate crime need to be put in prison where they belong. Police are to be held to a higher standard than the average citizen for a reason. I am requesting the privalige to use this blog as I slowly start to gather the large number of Hate Crime victums information that is out there it will be a project. People to afraid and unable to stand against the Police should send me the info. That is sad. Afraid of those sworn to protect and serve. You are suppost to trust the police because of respect, not fear. I am still alive here in Tampa.I would also like this page to list the names and sheer number of hate Crime Victums, Murdered and Missing Gay men here in Tampa that have not been listed as Hate Crimes and are not listed in any area of the staticis for a reason. I am sure we will all be shocked when we begin to see the real number(s). In a City this size. I am requesting any persons reading this and/or has information reguarding Hate Crimes, Murder Victums (gay, lesbian, transgender, other known victims- also to include rape-which is being covered and Missing Persons) be sent to my Email address at phoenixgroup@mail.com or Dan Kriger 4006 N. Riverside Dr. #211 Tampa Flordia 33603. I will go to gay center and a bunch of other sources slowly and gather where all these have been scattered. Police cover up what they don't want found by a whole bunch of Methods. Throwing them in a bunch of differnt directions, districts, reversal of names, birthdates, addresses, incorrect informantion, ignoring them to outright tossing them out. Or some of their favorites threatening, intimidating, hiding, lying, falsely arresting, setting up to outright murder. Yes, thats one nobody touches, and I am Retired IAD. I could be that stupid. Hence, through them my way please. Even if you are sending in information anonomous.Thank you for your time and consideration. This is the beginning of a mining expedition all information would be very much appreciated thank you. I am putting my head on the chopping block, even more since its already there. I will begin the list in a couple weeks here or at a differnt location. When looking into Corrupt Police one must evaluate the situation. I am still standing, I must not be alone lets get some real numbers people and info thanks for your time. Incidently any information regarding misconduct criminal behavior by Officer Dusty Rhodes would be very helpful. It appears Tampa's IAD process is that it throws out all complaints. Thats the TPD IAD at work for you. Dan Kriger IAD; self appointed- I keep them all.