Law Enforcements Training Document To STOP The Sovereign Citizen Movement Sweeping America

by Josey Wales

This is Josey Wales, I am publishing this response from the comment section of my recent article SHTF In March: Veteran Law Enforcement Officer Comes Forward To Warn America (Video).

Thuthseeker has Done his home work and presented this to the public for all to see. I would like to say Thank you to Truthseeker.

For those of you who still have doubts as to whether or not this government is tyrannical, or question whether or not this government would go against the constitution. This doc should help answer all your questions.

Do you feel the people described in this document present a threat to this nation?

Truthseeker

First, I would like to point out that maintaining and Fighting for you’re Constitutional Rights to “”Them”” is criminal! I looked up the word Sovereign, and then looked up what the opposite of that word was. The reason I did this is from this Document I want to share with everyone,,,and to make positively sure all my ducks where in a row! HOLD ON TO YOUR SEATS, Because if you’re not their Subject Slave,,, YOUR A BAD MAN! or WOMAN! This is for Police Training! DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING,,,,,,
UNIT TITLE: Sovereign Citizens
UNIT NUMBER: 1.12.0
Maine Criminal Justice Academy
15 Oak Grove Road
Vassalboro, ME 04989
Prepared by: Jim Birt – MCJA Staff Date: 4-5-2012
Some original material provided by Ryan Dearborn – Mountain View Youth Development Center
Some original material provided by Robert Byrnes – Kittery Police Department
Reviewed by Azure Turcotte, Intelligence Analyst – Maine Information & Analysis Center
Reviewed by Stephanie Walker, Intelligence Analyst – FBI Counterterrorism Division
Reviewed by Police Chief Robert Paudert (Ret) – West Memphis Arkansas Police Department
RESTRICTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT
Goal
Performance Objectives
Remind the group that Sovereign Citizens is one of the MCJA mandatory
training topics for calendar year 2012. The material covered will be
addressed towards the patrol officer who will probably be the first individual
of authority to make contact with a member of the Sovereign Citizen
movement. The basic belief of the Sovereign Citizen is that our government
is ‘illegal’ and they will not respect or adhere to any laws or authority
figures, specifically law enforcement officers, judges, taxing agencies, and
politically elected officials. The Sovereign Citizens see these individuals as
mere agents of a fraudulent and oppressive government.
After this unit of instruction the student will be able to accomplish the following
objectives as outlined in this lesson:
1.12.1 Define a Sovereign Citizen
1.12.2 List 3 of the 5 other names that refer to Sovereigns
1.12.3 State the 2 reasons why there was a resurgence of the group in 2008
1.12.4 Identify what Sovereigns believe is the highest form of government
1.12.5 Describe the organizational structure of the Sovereign Citizens
1.12.6 List 6 basic illegal activities Sovereigns are involved with
1.12.7 List 2 of the 3 vehicle marking a Sovereign may display
1.12.8 What term would a Sovereign use instead of road or street?
1.12.9 What type of firearms do Sovereigns prefer?
1.12.10 What do you do prior to stopping a suspected Sovereign vehicle?
1.12.11 What might a Sovereign claim if you request a Social Security number?
1.12.12 At a traffic stop its not uncommon for a Sovereign to claim what?
1.12.13 List the 3 items most officers request at a traffic stop
1.12.14 What should be obtained when stopping a Sovereign vehicle?
1.12.15 What is the significance of information not shared?
1.12.16 List 3 of the 4 popular forms used by Sovereigns
1.12.17 How many groups of Sovereigns have formed fictitious police agencies
1.12.18 If you had a bad encounter with a Sovereign, where might you check?
1.12.19 List 2 of the 3 offices you contact after a Sovereign encounter.
Administrative Information
Estimated Time Range:
Presentation Methods / Media
Methods Media
Material & Equipment
Student outside assignments:
Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department
Lesson Plan Outline
2 Hours
Interactive discussion
Maine Criminal Justice Academy
Lesson Plan Outline
Outline of instructional Unit Objectives & Notes
Look for show of hands.
1.12.1
Definition:
Domestic Terrorism –
groups or individuals
operating entirely inside the
US, attempting to influence
the government or
population to effect political
or social change by
engaging in criminal
activity.
I. Introduction
A. Introduction
B. Credentials
C. Goals and Objectives
D. Attention Grabber
Ask class/audience:
How many of you really feel that the government is
working in your best interest?
Do you really feel that your elected officials do what
is best for you and the country?
When you vote, do you really think you made a
difference?
When asked the above questions, many state ‘no’. Many of us
will not act out against the government because we feel this way
however the Sovereign Citizens are inclined to act out, some
violently, because they feel this way. They reject the notion of US
Citizenship and the responsibilities associated with being a US
citizen.
II. Sovereign Citizen Defined
A person whose belief and actions are anti-government and
rejects the notion of U.S. citizenship. They claim to follow
only God’s laws and the amendments found in the original
Bill of Rights. Members have said that by force or by peace, a
government overhaul will happen. The FBI considers the
sovereign movement one the nation’s top domestic terrorist
threats.
Bill of Rights
The collective name for the first ten amendments to the
United States Constitution.
Maine Criminal Justice Academy
Lesson Plan Outline
These limit the power of the U.S. Federal government in the
areas of:
Freedom of religion
Freedom of speech, or of the press
Right of people to assemble peaceably
The right to keep and bare arms
The right of the people against unreasonable searches, seizures
The right against self-incrimination.
Also Known As
Sovereign Citizens are also known as:
1. “Common Law Citizens”
2. “Freemen” – representing freedom of government control.
3. “Constitutionalists”
4. “Posse Comitatus”
5. “Preamble Citizens”
III. History of the Sovereign Citizen Movement
1970s and-1980’s Posse Comitatus – an anti-government,
extremist group blended with KKK and other radical, antigovernment
groups.
.
This group existed for well over a decade
1983 – After a Posse adherent killed two US Marshals, the
movement largely faded. The groundwork however for
following anti-government groups was laid.
1990s – (early/mid) Membership in anti-government militias,
white supremacist and other radical groups grew.
1990s – (late) Groups developed “Redemption Theory”
A claim that federal government used citizens as collateral
against foreign debt. .
2008- A resurgence of the movement.
Fueled by poor economy
Outline of instructional Unit Objectives & Notes
1.12.2
1.12.3
Maine Criminal Justice Academy
Lesson Plan Outline
Outline of instructional Unit Objectives & Notes
Efficiency of Internet to spread radical ideas
Cyclical
Anytime the economy is down, you see a resurgence of
people blaming the government for what goes wrong.
IV. Sovereign Citizen Beliefs
1. An individual is a government unto himself
2. No government can control an individual without that
person’s direct permission.
3. A person has a right to reside in country, yet not be under
control of the government.
4. Income tax is illegal
5. The county is the highest form of government
6. The Sheriff is the only law enforcement recognized since
he is elected by the people.
When a belief system motivates its members to commit
violent acts, it becomes a law enforcement problem. The
majority of Sovereign Citizens (estimated at 97%) are not
dangerous however the other 3 % can be VERY violent. They
see violence as the only way to bring about the change they
believe in. They disconnect from government, they are
frustrated with the government not looking out for their best
interest and are frustrated with figures of authority. They live
and believe this day after day and begin to think – if a law
enforcement officer stops me today- today may be the day I’ll
kill him.
Do NOT underestimate these individuals. They will kill or
be killed for what they believe!
V. Threats to Law Enforcement
Physical threats
Since 1990, 51 law enforcement officers have been
killed in 38 incidents in which at least one of the suspects was a
right-wing criminal extremist. 95% of 38 officer incidents since 1990
involved local or state law enforcement
1.12.4
Maine Criminal Justice Academy
Lesson Plan Outline
Outline of instructional Unit Objectives & Notes
Contact may be associated with normal law enforcement operations:
1. Traffic stops
2. Protection orders
3. Warrant service
4. Domestic disturbances
VI. Organizational Structure of the Sovereign Citizen Movement
Sovereign Citizens are diffused throughout the country.
They are a loosely organized collection of groups/individuals
Estimated membership is between 100,000 and 300,000.
No one person is known to be the leader of the movement
VII. Encountering Sovereigns
Law Enforcement is encountering Sovereigns in every part of
the country – squatting in abandoned houses, driving with
strangely worded driver’s licenses and fake registrations,
resisting arrest, creating their own currency, duping clients with
empty promises of discharging tax debts or fighting
foreclosures.
Other Illegal activities use by Sovereign Citizens include:
1. Hold illegal courts that issue warrants for judges and police
officers
2. Clogging up the courts with frivolous lawsuits
3. File bogus liens against public official to harass them
4. Commit murder and physical assault
5. Threaten judges, government personnel, and law
enforcement officials
6. Impersonate police officers and diplomats
7. Print, sell, and use fake currency, passports, license plates
and driver’s licenses
8. Engineer various white-collar scams, including mortgage
frauds
9. Filing bogus tax returns claiming they are owed money.
10. Conduct seminars across the country and selling DVDs to
individuals providing instruction on how to accomplish the
1.12.5
1.12.6
Maine Criminal Justice Academy
Lesson Plan Outline
Outline of instructional Unit Objectives & Notes
above activities.
Vacant/Abandoned Property
In California a group of sovereign citizens simply moved into
unoccupied properties and posted notices that declared the
seized houses to be a sovereign republic, threatening violence
against anyone who entered.
Posted signs read:
“Private Property of sovereign Woman of the republic and
California”
“Do Not Disturb Individuals who have possession of the
property”
“All federal and state employees attempting to visit will be
treated as trespassers and face the wrath of the occupants and
their right to ‘Self Preservation – Right to repel Force by Force
– Self Defense – Justifiable Homicide.”
VIII. Encountering Sovereigns Citizens at Traffic Stops
Some Sovereign Citizens ‘advertise’ the fact that they belong to
this group.
Bogus vehicle registration plates on a vehicle may have the
wording:
1. ‘Republic of Texas’
2. ‘Kingdom of Heaven’
3. ‘Alabama republic’
4. ‘Motorized Conveyance Registration
5. ‘Moorish Nation’/ ‘Washitaw’
6. Sovereign, Christian Citizen’
7. ‘Sui Juris’ (Latin for ‘of one’s own law’)
8. ‘Ambassador’ or ‘Diplomat’
9. US DOT
Think of this next time
you are checking a
building.
Maine Criminal Justice Academy
Lesson Plan Outline
Outline of instructional Unit Objectives & Notes
All of the above registration are well made and may not be
detected as bogus with a quick glance. Closer examination will
indicate to an officer that they are not legitimate. These
registration plates are sold by the Sovereigns as a way to raise
money.
Additional Vehicle Markings
Decals (or homemade signs) are sometimes found on member’s
vehicles:
1 ‘ DO NOT STOP, DO NOT DETAIN’
2. An upside-down American flag in the center of the front
windshield.
3. “168 to 1” (Oklahoma bombing victims to suspect)
IX. Sovereign Citizen Statements at Traffic Stops/other Contacts
A Sovereign citizen may make odd statements during
contact such as:
1. “I am a free man traveling upon the land”
2. May cite various UCC codes
3. May question your authority as an officer
4. Use conveyance, machinery, road machine, personal
use recreational vehicle (instead of car, vehicle,
motor vehicle)
5. Guests, friends, family (instead of passengers)
6. Traveling, journeying, moving (instead of driving,
operating, transporting)
7. Public right of way (instead of road or street)
8. Abode, living, domicile (instead of residence)
9. Inhabitant, Non-Resident, Non-Domestic (instead of
resident)
10. Non-Commercial (instead of public).
Weapons
Sovereigns are known to like guns. Especially those that can
easily be converted to full-automatic. The rule of thumb is that
there at least two in every vehicle. If a sovereign is encountered
outside of the vehicle, the rule of thumb is that each is carrying
1.12.7
1.12.8
1.12.9
Maine Criminal Justice Academy
Lesson Plan Outline
Outline of instructional Unit Objectives & Notes
at a minimum one handgun and one edge weapon.
Sovereign citizens are often confused with extremists from the
militia movement. But while some sovereign citizens
sometimes use or buy weapons, guns are secondary to their
anti-government, anti-tax beliefs. On the other hand, guns and
paramilitary training are paramount to militia groups.
Backup
If you suspect that the vehicle you are about to stop may be
operated by a sovereign citizen- CALL FOR BACKUP!
Do not stop the suspect vehicle until backup is on scene. The
backup officer should be positioned at a tactically correct
position with long gun at the ready.
X. Tactics that may indicate affiliation as a Sovereign Citizen at a
Traffic Stop:
1. May roll down their window just enough to be heard
2. May refuse to cooperate and exercise right to remain silent
3. When asked for driver’s license may ask is that a request or
a demand.
4. May provide strange responses to law enforcement questions
that do not make sense. Example, when asked to present a
license, they may reply, “no, not personally.”
5. May claim not to have a driver’s license, and may present
a homemade form of ID.
6. May claim that it is unconstitutional to require individuals to
have a driver’s license and obey traffic laws.
7. If an official state driver’s license is presented, they may
claim that the person in the picture is not them. They may
further claim that the person in the picture is not human, but
a non-breathing extraterrestrial.
8. If asked to provide a Social Security number for
identification, they may claim that the request is an invasion
of their privacy and/or a violation of their rights.
9. When signing law enforcement documents, they may write
“under duress” beneath their signatures or cite various
1.12.10
Even a ‘minor’ traffic stop
challenges the ideology of
the Sovereigns and can
escalate to a violent
encounter.
1.12.11
Maine Criminal Justice Academy
Lesson Plan Outline
Outline of instructional Unit Objectives & Notes
Uniform Commercial Codes
XI. Sovereign Tactics at Traffic Stops.
1. Distract the officer with paperwork
2. Claim the officer has no authority or is out of jurisdiction
3. Will claim that the vehicle belongs to a church (RED FLAG)
4. Identify self as an official of the state
5. Being uncooperative
6. Concealing loaded weapons
7. Asserting that the law does not require them to have
necessary documentation of license, title and
registration
8. Film (video or audio record) interaction (may later be posted
to the Internet); this may be covertly or overtly done during the
stop.
9. Demand official produce an oath of office
10. Rapidly exit vehicle and approach officer in an agitated
state.
XII. Law Enforcement Request at every Traffic Stop
As a matter of practice, every law enforcement officer, at every
traffic stop, request three items of each operator:
1. Operator’s license (issued by a state governmental entity).
2. The vehicle registration (issued by a state government)
3. A current and active insurance card for that vehicle
4. You, the officer control the stop
XIII. Law Enforcement Focus
1. Officer safety. Maintain focus on situational safety
2. Maintain professional bearing
3. Apply enforcement as appropriate
4. Full name, address and dates of birth of all vehicle occupants
5. Record sovereign, national affiliation, if provided
6. Where coming from and where going
7. Any details regarding visible contents of vehicle.
8. Pay close attention to detail. Things are not always as they
1.12.12
1.12.13
1.12.14
Maine Criminal Justice Academy
Lesson Plan Outline
Outline of instructional Unit Objectives & Notes
seem.
9. Be thorough. The smallest bit of information can make a
difference.
10. Know and follow your department policies and procedures
11. Conduct searches & seizures falling within your legal
authority.
12. Advise your supervisor of the contact – request to scene if
at all possible
13. Avoid legal arguments
14. Prepare detailed notes.
15. Secure your dash-cam recordings
16. Share information. Information not shared is intelligence
diminished. (See also section XVII Reporting).
XIV. Paper Terrorism
The following are examples of tactics used by groups to clog
the courts and harass their intended victims:
1. Liens
While filing a false document is illegal, once it’s
discovered it can’t simply be torn up and discarded. Every lien,
valid or not, becomes part of a property’s permanent record. If
the filer refuses to withdraw it voluntary, only a subsequent
legal document can validate it. This is at a great financial
expense. The filing itself usually accomplishes the schemer’s
goal of making a public official’s life miserable to setting up an
attempt to extort money in exchange for removing the lien.
Once a lien is recorded property cannot be sold even though the
lien is bogus.
2. IRS Form 8300
This form is used to report payments over $10,000.00 in
a trade or business transaction. Fraudulent submission of the
form by a sovereign citizen can result in an artificial increase in
the taxable income of the target being reported to the IRS
1.12.15
1.12.16
Forms of retaliation
directed at judges, jurors
and law enforcement
officials
Maine Criminal Justice Academy
Lesson Plan Outline
Outline of instructional Unit Objectives & Notes
3. Lawsuits
Sovereign citizens may file lawsuits against law
enforcement or members of the court in their individual
capacity seeking civil remedies for alleged violations of their
constitutional rights.
4. Currency Transaction Reports (CTR)
Used legitimately by financial institutions in an effort to
combat money laundering, sovereigns may improperly use
FinCEN form 104 to report a target to trigger an investigation.
XV. Impersonating Law Enforcement Officers
Two Sovereign Citizen groups, the Civil Rights Task
Force and the Constitution Rangers have created fictitious law
enforcement agencies complete with fake identification cards,
badges, and even raid jackets.
The ability to custom order badges and uniforms
through mail-order catalogs and on-line make this process very
easy.
Other names found on badges/fake ID cards:
1. “Investigator – Civil Rights Task Force”
2. “Agent – Civil Rights Task Police”
3. “Special United States Marshals”
4. “Sovereign Citizen World Guard”
5. “Sovereign Cop Watch.”
Both the badges and identification cards appear very
authentic looking and may intimidate someone not familiar with
these groups.
Members of the Civil Rights Task Force have advocated
what they term “reverse intimidation,” interrogating the spouses
of law enforcement officers who have had dealings with the
group’s members.
1.12.17
Maine Criminal Justice Academy
Lesson Plan Outline
Outline of instructional Unit Objectives & Notes
XVI. Protecting Yourself and Your Family
As law enforcement conducts surveillance of extremists groups,
so too do members of these anti-government groups conduct countersurveillance.
The following may minimize your exposure to this
activity:
1. If you wear a uniform to/from work, cover with a jacket/shirt
2. Be aware of your surroundings at ALL times
3. Be mindful that you may be photographed/videotaped
entering/exiting the station, entering/exiting your cruiser, and
while on duty
4. Remind family members NEVER to accept a badge as
identification of law enforcement. If something doesn’t seem
right, its probably not!
5. Check frequently with County Clerk to determine if a false
lien may have been filed against your property especially if
you have had a bad encounter with a Sovereign
6. Act professionally and ethically at all times
7 Minimize self-exposure on social media sites
8. Check your free credit reports annually for accuracy.
XVII. Reporting
Any Maine law enforcement officer having contact with a
Sovereign Citizen is requested to pass that information onto
The following:
1. FBI Regional Office (Boston) 617-742-5533
2. Maine Information and Analysis Center 207-624-7280
3. Regional Organized Crime Information Center
Nashville, TN 1-800-238-7985
1.12.18
1.12.19
Maine Criminal Justice Academy
Lesson Plan Outline
Outline of instructional Unit Time Objectives & Notes
XVIII. Conclusion
Although the Sovereign Citizen movement does not
always rise to violence, its members’ illegal activities and past
violence – including fatal incidents against law enforcement
make it a group that should be approached with knowledge and
caution. It is important that law enforcement be aware of
sovereign citizens’ tactics, scams and other illegal activity and
understand its potential severity, and be prepared for and
against violent behavior or backlash through intimidation and
harassment.
With high unemployment, foreclosures of homes, the
high cost if fuel and the growing consensus that the government
is doing nothing to help, membership in the sovereign citizen
movement is growing. The preparedness of law enforcement
should be not IF I encounter a sovereign citizen but WHEN I
encounter a sovereign citizen will I be prepared?
Criterion Test Questions
1. Define a Sovereign Citizen
A person whose beliefs and actions are anti-government
2. List 3 of the 5 other names Sovereigns are also known as
Freeman
Common Law Citizens
Constitutionalists
Posse Comitatus
Preamble Citizens
3. List the two reasons why there was a resurgence of the anti-government movement in 2008
Rise of poor economy
The Internet
4. A Sovereign believes that the county is the highest form of government
T F
5. Describe the Organizational structure of the Sovereign Citizen Movement
They are individuals and groups diffused throughout the country.
They number between 100,000 and 300,000
There is no one leader of the movement.
6. List 6 basic illegal activities that Sovereign Citizens are involved in
1. Squatting in abandoned houses 4. Resist arrest
2. Displaying fake registrations 5. Print their own money
3. Displaying bogus licenses 6. Filing fraudulent tax returns
7. List 2 of the 3 markings which may indicate a Sovereign’s vehicle
“Do Not Stop – Do Not Detain” bumper sticker
Upside down American flag on center of windshield
“168 to 1” Reference to Oklahoma City bombing. 168 victims, 1 suspect
8. What term would a Sovereign use instead of road or street?
Public right of way
9. What type of firearms do Sovereign’s prefer?
Those that can be converted to full automatic
10. If you suspect you about to stop a Sovereign’s vehicle, what do you do?
Request a backup unit prior to initiating the stop
11. If you request a Social Security number from a Sovereign Citizen what will the likely claim be?
That is an invasion of their privacy
12. At a traffic stop it is not uncommon for a Sovereign to claim what about the vehicle?
That it belongs to a (fraudulent) church
13. What are the 3 items requested by an officer of an operator of a vehicle?
Vehicle registration
Operators license
Current/valid insurance card for the vehicle
14. If you stop a vehicle operated by a Sovereign what should you obtain from passengers?
Full names
Current addresses
Dates of birth
15. What is the significance of information not shared?
It is intelligence diminished
16. List 3 of the 4 forms of Paper Terrorism that Sovereigns use to harass their victims
Liens IRS Form 8300
Lawsuits Currency Transaction Reports
17. How many groups of Sovereigns have formed fictitious law enforcement agencies?
Two, the Civil Rights Task Force and the Constitution Rangers
18. An office you will want to check with especially if you had a bad encounter with a Sovereign
County Clerk – to determine if liens have been filed against personal property
19. List 2 of the 3 agencies you report your Sovereign Citizen contact to
Maine Information and Analysis Center
FBI Regional Office
Regional Organized Crime Information Center
Bibliography
Bureau of Justice Assistance. Warning Signs of Terrorist Events. Bureau of Justice
Assistance, 2010. Print.
Byrnes, R. Sovereign Citizens. 2011. Print.
Criminal Aspects of the Sovereign Citizen Movement in the United States. Rep. 2012.
Print.
FBI. Sovereign Citizens: An Introduction for Law Enforcement. Rep. 2010. Print.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. Fraudulent Documentation Used by Anti-Government
Extremists. Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2009. Print.
NESPIN. Sovereign Citizen Movement. Tech. NESPIN, 2011. Print.
Regional Organized Crime Information Center. Moorish Nation – Sovereign Citizen
Movement. Publication. ROCIC, 2009. Print.
Southern Poverty Law Center. Return of the Sovereigns. Rep. No. 133. 2009, Print.
Special Research Report – Sovereign Citizen Movement. Rep. Regional Organized Crime
Information Center, 2010. Print.

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