Orlando Vice

The Orlando Weekly investigates the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, which says it's trying to clean up central Florida but has been harboring a lot of dirt of its own.

Comments

[Anonymous]

MBI - meat ball institute

[Joe Public, Sex Lover]

Why is it that policing morality requires a very low moral agency? Its amazing that those that claim to have the highest morals in the land turn a blind eye to corruption within the morality police. To quote Ann Coulter, "this is absolutely unAmerican and treasonist to say the least!"

[Anonymous]

Aw c'mon, they're just role playing.

[Plutarck]

"The MBI has a well-earned reputation for ruthlessness when it comes to driving adult businesses out of Central Florida. Its agents and prosecutors have harassed and intimidated witnesses, lied about investigations, trumped up charges against old ladies and spent hundreds of thousands of tax dollars -- as was the case in the infamous Rachel's investigation -- to coax a handful of people into committing petty crimes. No wonder the MBI is the most reviled law-enforcement agency in Central Florida. "What a waste of fucking money," says Doug Head, chair of the Orange County Democratic Party."

The Inquisition!
What a show!
The Inquisition!
Go go go!

(History of The World, Part 1 - naturally)

[Plutarck]

And more:

"Some of the dancers in the sex shows were high on tequila shots and GHB, a liquid drug that provides a temporary euphoria similar to ecstasy. Others seemed desperate for cash. A moment after a stripper identified only as Melissa talks about her two young children's college fund and Winnie-the-Pooh collection, she tells an agent, "I'll fuck anybody, damn it. Just show me the money.""

Well, thank God we have organized crime to protect us from the likes of /her/. Real classy - glad they through the book at her. I'm sure the world is a much better place because of these fucking Nazis.

[Plutarck]

Finally:

"None of the main players on the MBI's governing board seems willing to discuss the possibility that the agency needs reform. Sheriff Kevin Beary failed to respond to interview requests. Orlando Police Chief Michael McCoy designated one of his lieutenants to answer questions. So did State Attorney Lawson Lamar. His representative, Randy Means, became incensed that the Weekly would ask such questions, which he characterized as "unprofessional," "uninformed" and based on "flawed premises."

"The Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation does not have a history of problems," Means wrote in an email to the Weekly. "Conversely, they have a long and outstanding history of law enforcement successes, to include the appropriate closing of a number of illegal houses of prostitution and successfully enforcing complex drug crimes."

MBI's critics point out the agency might be forced to change if it keeps losing cases. "They need to reassess their purpose," says attorney Steve Mason, who has battled the MBI for a decade. "They've been stuck in quicksand too often lately? They need to be more global in their thinking."

Doug Head, chair of the Orange County Democratic Party, says the MBI will not be a wedge issue during the re-election campaigns of MBI board members. "Probably because America is basically puritanical," Head says. He will work against the re-election of Sheriff Kevin Beary, a Republican. But he wants to keep Democrats Lawson Lamar and OPD chief Michael McCoy's boss, Buddy Dyer, in office as long as possible.

Changes may come as the current MBI leadership steps down. Ray Peters, the lead agent in the Rachel's case, retired in June amid speculation he was forced out in part by the botched investigation. Joe Cocchiarella and Bill Lutz, given their ages, probably aren't far behind.

Until then, don't expect an agency infused with "integrity, perseverance and investigative excellence," which taxpayers were promised 25 years ago. Instead we've got the MBI."

[pissed off tax payer]

If you don't like it don't go!!!!! What's the big deal if people like to see dancer's come on for real. People need to get there mind on real problems out there,while the mbi spends large stacks of money on bullshit cases like this your house is getting robbed. I have an idea why don't we spend that money on schools or the homeless.Orlando has alot of problems, but the mbi puts all this time and tax payer's money on the on rachels case that they fucked up by having sex with the dancers ha!!!!!! What a bunch of horseshit. sign, the pissed off tax payer

[pissed off tax payer]

If you don't like it don't go!!!!! What's the big deal if people like to see dancer's come on for real. People need to get there mind on real problems out there,while the mbi spends large stacks of money on bullshit cases like this your house is getting robbed. I have an idea why don't we spend that money on schools or the homeless.Orlando has alot of problems, but the mbi puts all this time and tax payer's money on the on rachels case that they fucked up by having sex with the dancers ha!!!!!! What a bunch of horseshit. sign, the pissed off tax payer

[pissed off tax payer]

If you don't like it don't go!!!!! What's the big deal if people like to see dancer's come on for real. People need to get there mind on real problems out there,while the mbi spends large stacks of money on bullshit cases like this your house is getting robbed. I have an idea why don't we spend that money on schools or the homeless.Orlando has alot of problems, but the mbi puts all this time and tax payer's money on the on rachels case that they fucked up by having sex with the dancers ha!!!!!! What a bunch of horseshit. sign, the pissed off tax payer