Summary Of The Throwaways By Sarah Stillman
Staff writer for The New Yorker Sarah Stillman wrote an invigorating article titled The Throwaways where she argues using civilians for sting operations is hazardous for the informants. Using civilians as confidential informants is a growing practice among law enforcement since informants do not need to be trained, paid, or even protected; nevertheless, using civilians has led to numerous amounts of deaths for victim and pain for the families of the victims. Stillman’s article uncovers the truth about the dangerous stings reputable persons must perform as confidential informants for only having charges or offenses against them, and while uncovering the truth she reveals how truly hazardous these operations are for the informant. Stillman includes background information found in news reports and interviews about each
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informant that was killed to reveal how the police persuaded civilians to become informants with no legal protection. For instance, Rachel Hoffman was a twenty-three-year-old woman recently graduated from Florida State University. She was described as a very “laid-back and trusting” person. She was not the vicious criminal the police made her out to be. She was arrested for having marijuana, Ecstasy, and Valium pills in her home. She would be charged with “possession of cannabis with intent to sell” and “maintaining a drug house.” Hoffman feared going to jail since she had already spent three days for drug related charges. A police officer named Ryan Pender, informed her she could provide assistance to the narcotics team in exchange for having her charges against her dropped or reduced. Hoffman would ultimately be killed when she was killed by the drug dealer she set up when the police lost track of her vehicle. Another confidential informant named LeBron Gaither was asked by the police to become an informant after he assaulted his school’s vice principal. Gaither agreed to become a confidential informant as a way to get back at the drug dealers whom he felt were responsible for his mother’s drug addiction. Stillman not only includes information about each informant were killed, but the negligent police who failed to protect each informant from horrifying deaths because of their pitiable thinking and complete disregard informants safety. For example, Rachel Hoffman, “had never fired a gun or handled a significant stash of hard drugs,” says Stillman, so what logical sense did it make for an inexperienced woman to buy a gun and a large amount of drugs? This was the most irresponsible thinking on behalf of all the police involved in planning the sting operation. The grand jury even declared, “Letting a young, immature woman get into a car by herself with $13,000.00, to go off and meet two convicted felons that they knew were bringing at least one firearm with them, was an unconscionable decision that cost Ms. Hoffman her life.” The grand jury saw the obvious flaws in the police department that was responsible for Hoffman’s. Another example of pitiable thinking made by the police deals with young LeBron Gaither was sent out with money to buy more drugs from a local drug dealer he had previously set up the day after he was asked to testify against the same drug dealer.
The state attorney in charge of this case said this was a, “reckless, stupid, and idiotic idea” he had seen in his nineteen years of legal work.” Again the police made an idiotic decision that led to the death of confidential informant. Not only were both victims killed because of reckless decision making, both of the informants were lost by the police right in the middle of performing their separate stings. The police showed complete disregard for Jeremey McLean when he was repeatedly harassed and threatened by a drug dealer he set up. Each time Jeremy called his handler he would respond, “Don’t worry about it—the guy’s harmless’’ or “It’s just hearsay.” Not once did the police attempt to protect Jeremey showing there blatant disregard for a confidential informant. Jeremy ultimately ended being killed, but had the police adhered to his warnings or pleadings for help he would still be alive
today.
informant that was killed to reveal how the police persuaded civilians to become informants with no legal protection. For instance, Rachel Hoffman was a twenty-three-year-old woman recently graduated from Florida State University. She was described as a very “laid-back and trusting” person. She was not the vicious criminal the police made her out to be. She was arrested for having marijuana, Ecstasy, and Valium pills in her home. She would be charged with “possession of cannabis with intent to sell” and “maintaining a drug house.” Hoffman feared going to jail since she had already spent three days for drug related charges. A police officer named Ryan Pender, informed her she could provide assistance to the narcotics team in exchange for having her charges against her dropped or reduced. Hoffman would ultimately be killed when she was killed by the drug dealer she set up when the police lost track of her vehicle. Another confidential informant named LeBron Gaither was asked by the police to become an informant after he assaulted his school’s vice principal. Gaither agreed to become a confidential informant as a way to get back at the drug dealers whom he felt were responsible for his mother’s drug addiction. Stillman not only includes information about each informant were killed, but the negligent police who failed to protect each informant from horrifying deaths because of their pitiable thinking and complete disregard informants safety. For example, Rachel Hoffman, “had never fired a gun or handled a significant stash of hard drugs,” says Stillman, so what logical sense did it make for an inexperienced woman to buy a gun and a large amount of drugs? This was the most irresponsible thinking on behalf of all the police involved in planning the sting operation. The grand jury even declared, “Letting a young, immature woman get into a car by herself with $13,000.00, to go off and meet two convicted felons that they knew were bringing at least one firearm with them, was an unconscionable decision that cost Ms. Hoffman her life.” The grand jury saw the obvious flaws in the police department that was responsible for Hoffman’s. Another example of pitiable thinking made by the police deals with young LeBron Gaither was sent out with money to buy more drugs from a local drug dealer he had previously set up the day after he was asked to testify against the same drug dealer.
The state attorney in charge of this case said this was a, “reckless, stupid, and idiotic idea” he had seen in his nineteen years of legal work.” Again the police made an idiotic decision that led to the death of confidential informant. Not only were both victims killed because of reckless decision making, both of the informants were lost by the police right in the middle of performing their separate stings. The police showed complete disregard for Jeremey McLean when he was repeatedly harassed and threatened by a drug dealer he set up. Each time Jeremy called his handler he would respond, “Don’t worry about it—the guy’s harmless’’ or “It’s just hearsay.” Not once did the police attempt to protect Jeremey showing there blatant disregard for a confidential informant. Jeremy ultimately ended being killed, but had the police adhered to his warnings or pleadings for help he would still be alive
today.