Federal Jury Finds Former 'Dirty DUI' Officer Guilty
A Contra Costa County (Calif.) Sheriff's deputy now faces 20 year in prison, after a federal jury convicted him of taking bribes as part of a scheme to nab drunk driving suspects.
A Contra Costa County (Calif.) Sheriff's deputy now faces 20 year in prison, after a federal jury convicted him of taking bribes as part of a scheme to nab drunk driving suspects.
The jury found Stephen Tanabe, who resigned in March of 2011, guilty of two counts of extortion under color of offical right, three counts of wire fraud on a deprivation of honest services theory, and one count of comspiracy to commit honest services fraud.
Tanabe, 50, collaborated with Christopher Butler, a former Antioch Police officer turned private investigator. Butler was hired by wives and ex-wives engaged in divorce and child custody proceedings to arrange "stings" against their spouses, whom they told Butler had a propensity to drive under the influence of alcohol.
Butler used female "decoys" to entice the sting targets to bars in downtown Danville, where Tanabe was assigned to patrol, and encourage them to drink.
For one sting, Tanabe joined Butler in a bar while off-duty to watch two attractive young women working for Butler drink with a sting target. In exchange for a promise of cocaine, Tanabe notified an on-duty deputy that the sting target was about to drive away after he was lured by the prospect of a hot tub with the two women, according to evidence presented at trial.
For two other stings, the evidence showed that an on-duty Tanabe waited outside the Vine Bar in Danville and arrested the targets in exchange for a Glock handgun.
More Training

Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty
What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.
Read More →Two-Officer Tactical Doorway Entry Techniques
Entering a room during active-threat situations requires communication, coordination, and disciplined tactical movement. In this video, trainers from the United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association demonstrate critical room entry concepts, including fatal funnel awareness, team coordination, and safe tactical movement.
Read More →High Compressed Ready Explained | Muzzle Control For Room Entry
In this video, Mike Willis, law enforcement national training and program director for the United States Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, demonstrates the high compressed ready position and discusses muzzle control during room entry.
Read More →
Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture
Patrol work hasn’t changed—but the expectations on officers have. See how one police chief helped officers get the right information at the right time, improve patrol visibility, and strengthen trust without adding complexity or surveillance. This real-world story shows how patrol-driven technology can make the job safer, smarter, and more effective—starting on day one.
Read More →Why Attend the DroneSense Innovation Summit by Versaterm?
Let’s hear from Ryan Bracken, head of product, about why your agency should send someone to the first annual DroneSense Innovation Summit by Versaterm in April.
Read More →
Caswell Live Fire Spins Off from InVeris
Caswell Live Fire has spun off from parent company InVeris, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Caswell’s founding. Over the past 100 years, Caswell has developed pioneering solutions that support military, law enforcement, and commercial clients worldwide.
Read More →When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips with a yellow headline that reads When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?
Read More →How to Pick Your High-Risk Stop Location for Tactical Advantage
Hear veteran trainer Mike Willis, of the United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association, explain several considerations that can help you wisely pick your best spot to initiate high-risk or felony traffic stops.
Read More →Coffee Break with Police Experts: Using Your Patrol Vehicle for Cover
In this video, hear from Dustin Mowery, a product specialist at Team Wendy, as he discusses how to best use a patrol vehicle for cover.
Read More →
Preventing Blue-on-Blue Shootings
In this video, Mike Willis, law enforcement national training and program director, United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association, discusses how to prevent blue-on-blue shootings.
Read More →
