Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Mercs fleece desperate Montana town

Raw Story and AP, many links.

A mysterious, reportedly unregistered and almost entirely unknown private security firm by the name "American Police Force" is causing a stir in a small Montana town for apparently impersonating local police.

According to a local media report, APF representatives were recently seen in the tiny town of Hardin, Montana, driving black SUV's with a peculiar logo and, inexplicably, "City of Hardin Police Department" stamped on the door.

However, Hardin does not have a police force.

According to the news agency, APF was never given permission to assume policing duties. Instead, the firm -- which the Associated Press reported to be unregistered in government databases -- gained its contract with the town on the promise of bringing inmates to an unpopulated prison complex.

Hardin, home to about 3,400 people, is in the state’s poorest county. Its unoccupied, 460-bed prison cost $27 million to construct. The town made national headlines earlier this year when local officials pleaded to have Guantanamo Bay inmates sent to the jail.

But questions are emerging over the legitimacy of the company, American Police Force.

On its elaborate Web site and in interviews with company representatives, American Police Force claims to sell assault rifles and other weapons in Afghanistan on behalf of the U.S. military while providing security, investigative work and other services to clients "in all 50 states and most countries."

The company also boasts to have "rapid response units awaiting our orders worldwide" and that it can field a battalion-sized team of special forces soldiers "within 72 hours."

Representatives of American Police Force said the company presently employs at least 16 and as many as 28 people in the United States and 1,600 contractors worldwide.

Mercs, and illegitimate ones at that. Illegitimate as in 'bastards'.

In Santa Ana, American Police Force occupies a single suite on the second floor of a two-story office building. During a visit to the location Thursday, a reporter for The Associated Press encountered a uniformed man behind a desk who would identify himself only as "Captain Michael."

The company claim of a headquarters address is just up the street from the White House.

The K Street (my em) building houses "virtual offices," where clients pay to use the prestigious Pennsylvania Avenue address and gain access to onsite conference rooms but have no permanent presence.

Note to the citizens of Hardin: These clowns are taking you to the cleaners. I think you should get the Gitmo detainees, but this outfit ain't gonna do it for you.

My advice is to cut your losses. Beat the crap outta these wannabes patrolling your streets, ride 'em outta town on a rail, and sell their guns and their goddam Benz to recoup some of your loss. Shove the 'contract' up their ass. Do the same to your townsperson who got you into this.

This phony 'police force' is making you look like idiots for biting on their scam.

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