TPMMuckraker
Scrubbed: APF Web Page That Claimed Ownership Of Blackwater Training Center Now Reads 'ETA Spring 2010'
Justin Elliott | October 5, 2009, 12:31PM
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We knew that American Police Force, the shadowy private security company that has taken over an empty jail in a small Montana town, has a history of making outlandish and flat-out bogus claims. And it now appears that the company is taking some of the criticism to heart.
The firm, which is now calling itself American Private Police Force (feel better?), has toned down -- ever so slightly -- some of its colorful Web site's claims. (Old version here, current version here.)
APPF has deleted a reference to a training facility which it had earlier claimed to control, but which is in fact owned by Xe, aka Blackwater,
As of the middle of last week a "Special Forces Training" page on the site read:
"Our extensive tactical firearms training facility, the U.S. Training Center is capable of providing a wide range of instruction and training ..."
The U.S. Training Center is, of course, a non-phantasmagoric facility in Moyock, North Carolina, run by Xe.
That same APPF page now reads:
"Our extensive tactical firearms training facility (ETA Spring 2010) will be capable of providing a wide range of instruction and training ... "
See the before and after screen captures right here.
Also gone are a reference to "kidnappings and ransoms for ransom" services and a weapons sales page that advertised "Nuclear/Biological/Chemical WMDs" for sale (international clients only!).
Still offered by APPF: covert pregnancy testing, security for convoys in Pakistan, and access to a "vast network of senior government officials both domestic and international."
Gone is that red-and-white double-headed eagle Serbian coat of arms -- in favor of a 3D blue double-headed eagle coat of arms.
As for the "U.S. Training Center" page, Xe had denied to TPMmuckraker any affiliation with APPF when we asked them about this reference last week.
Xe spokeswoman Stacy DeLuke told us today she has fielded a steady stream of calls inquiring about APPF and complained that any negative news in the industry gets dumped in her company's lap. She said Xe employees were gathering facts about APPF.
"It's bizarre," DeLuke says. "They have nothing to do with us. We have nothing to do with them."
We've left a message asking about the changes for APPF spokeswoman Becky Shay, whose voicemail still refers to "American Police Force."
Late Update: KULR in Billings quotes Shay saying that APPF official Michael Hilton changed the company logo because it was
"the quickest thing he could to diffuse tension" with the old logo. She would not elaborate on exactly what those tensions were.
KULR previously reported that Serbian officials were looking into legal action over APPF's use of the the coat of arms.
And Shay told a Montana CBS affiliate that American Private Police Force has always been the company's official name.
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soupson52
October 5, 2009 12:35 PM
Not far reaching for me to believe they are connected to Xe. Santa Ana isn't that far from San Diego AND they are in the "same business."
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Chris Killz Blog
October 5, 2009 3:41 PM in reply to soupson52
"the quickest thing he could to diffuse tension" with the old logo. She would not elaborate on exactly what those tensions were."
I think you're a day late and a dollar short there Capt. Mike.
Hey Mike what's your family crest? Are you Serbian royalty then, or what? First you're some Serbian Army Captain with 17 felonies, and nobody in Hardin saw anything remotely wrong with that?
Then the pressure comes on and you're implying that you're Serbian royalty and looking for the quickest thing you can do with your lazy self. What, did you spend a whole fifteen minutes changing that website logo and called it good?? Wow you sure are some kind of a public relations genius.
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soupson52
October 5, 2009 12:36 PM
BTW, thanks J.E. and TPM. How would we even know about things like this without you?
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Justin Elliott
October 5, 2009 12:49 PM in reply to soupson52
Appreciate it. (btw, Xe is denying any connection, and, based on what we know now, there's really no evidence for any connection)
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soupson52
October 5, 2009 1:14 PM in reply to Justin Elliott
Sure matches their MO. Come oooonnnnn, leaker. Just takes one person of conscience. Ok, Ok. I will wait for evidence.
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bluesplashy
October 5, 2009 1:16 PM
Justin, you have done a great job keeping up with this but I interested by the "covert pregnancy testing" part. What do they mean by that? Do they kidnap women and make them pee in a cup? Or do they "accidentally" bump into the pregnant and stick an amniocentesis needle in their bellies? I know the whole business is bizarre but the "covert pregnancy testing" is rather even more bizarre.
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diachronic
October 5, 2009 2:16 PM in reply to bluesplashy
"Covert pregnancy testing" - the Taliban model of health care for women.
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The Hedonistic Pleasureseeker
October 5, 2009 3:34 PM in reply to bluesplashy
“Such a funny thing happened at work today, honey. I went to the ladies’ room and there was a strange, heavy-set man in there with a shaved head. He said all the toilets were broken and gave me a plastic potty to use. And insisted I let him empty it! How was your day?"
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Walter Mitty
October 5, 2009 1:43 PM
I think Blackwater/Xe will put an end to this business before any Government entity gets around to it.
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SkepticRising
October 5, 2009 1:47 PM
This story is fascinating. Justin, is there any definitive word from the people in Hardin as to how this deal came about? Did A(P)PF contact Hardin? Are there any details about the actual deal? Any information about who is funding APF (I know they are privately held, so that's probably hidden)? Any information about other or previous clients, if any? Are they incorporated in CA? This is such an incredible story, it's amazing.
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Chris Killz Blog
October 5, 2009 3:59 PM in reply to SkepticRising
The spokesman(as of less than a month)said APF's been in town for 10 months already.
The last company that had the Two Rivers detention center was CEC /CiviGenics.
http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=137594.600
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SkepticRising
October 5, 2009 6:09 PM in reply to Chris Killz Blog
That's weird. I read somewhere else that Hilton had only formed the organization, APF, in March. That's less than 10 months. You don't supposed someone could be fibbing, do you? ;-)
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jurassicpork
October 5, 2009 1:56 PM
LOL. I wrote about these bozos last night but my post is already outdated because the fun just never stops with these clowns. These guys are like something out of Moe, Larry and Curly. I can perfectly see them interlocking their arms in a spastic salute while saying, "For security and hu-MAN-ity!"
Woo woo woo woo woo woo!
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acuppajo
October 5, 2009 2:11 PM
The Mercury News reported on Friday that APF attorney Maziar Mafi has quit. According to the article, Mafi had guaranteed the purchase of two of those Mercedes SUV's and the financing payment on at least one is now overdue.
They also report that Hardin met with Cal. based Allied Defense Systems. "We met with him and he asked us if we can support him. "We checked his background, we checked his company. He's not an adequate person to do business with."
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Garfield
October 5, 2009 2:20 PM
They are still using a photo of a two-color offset printing press to illustrate their page about polygraph testing. I guess they needed a picture of a big machine and thought this looked like one cool lie-detector.
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Lestatdelc
October 5, 2009 3:19 PM in reply to Garfield
But it does make incredibly high quality charts. ;-)
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bluesplashy
October 5, 2009 5:48 PM in reply to Garfield
Great catch Garfield. Is this really not a joke? How did people this incompetent get a hold of so many guns?
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SkepticRising
October 5, 2009 6:10 PM in reply to bluesplashy
Competence has never been a qualifying characteristic for getting guns.
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Nonyabiznus
October 7, 2009 12:05 AM in reply to SkepticRising
The criminal types can always get guns..... because they're criminals and they don't care about laws.
Crooks running organizations like these lie to and hire legit people who can obtain weapons for the company. They also often require hired people to supply their own weapons.
It's funny that in this day and age, where semi-auto handguns, shotguns and assault rifles are commonplace for security firms, and pics of them are plastered all over the APF webpages, the only weapon the female reporter saw in the supply room at the jail was an old, 4" barreled, nickel-plated, .38 wheelgun. That was probably some ancient 1970's ordinance left from a previous police entity......
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EastWest
October 5, 2009 2:40 PM
Ms. Shay should've kept the day job.
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HoraceTBass
October 5, 2009 2:51 PM
Hey, if a standard photocopier worked for Bunk Moreland on 'The Wire' ...
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EastWest
October 5, 2009 2:56 PM
...and oh-by-the-way, I know a little something about being a protetctive services agent. This is just too rich.
Even disregarding the grade-school affectation of grown-up sounding English, these ass-clowns wouldn't know a site advance from a sexual advance. At least the male model is wearing the surveillance kit properly.
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Lestatdelc
October 5, 2009 3:21 PM in reply to EastWest
Ahhh, your link doesn't go anywhere.
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EastWest
October 5, 2009 3:45 PM in reply to Lestatdelc
Dang. Try this: http://www.americanpolicegroup.com/vip.html.
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colbito
October 5, 2009 2:57 PM
Jeez, I'd think the last thing you want to do is piss off BlackwaterZe....even the State Dept seems scared of them!
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Lestatdelc
October 5, 2009 3:16 PM
Actually, the no removed coat of arms is closer to the Republic of Serbian Krajina coat of arms than the national Serbian one.
Just sayin'
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Chris Killz Blog
October 5, 2009 3:20 PM
If this Hilton guy who claims he's a Serbian Royal is a scammer why hasn't anything happened yet?
They're just moving ahead like everythings still all good??
Are we being invaded by Serbia right now or what? Seriously what the hell is going on?
At what point do I need to start getting worried? When Mike Hilton's rolling around town in a Hum-V with a 50 cal mounted on it with a cigar in his mouth and a purple cowboy hat?
Damn move out of the way, there's a new sheriff in town his name's Captain Mike. He's the law now. Don't mind us Mike, feel free to just takeover a few more towns while you're at it.
chriskillz503.blogspot.com
http://forum.prisonplanet .com/index.php?topic=137594.600
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Mr Barky
October 5, 2009 3:27 PM
"Within the last 5 years the United States has been far and away our #1 client".
Think about that people. We are all far and away their biggest client. You, me, and your neighbors etc. The US Govt? Who knows. It's not like they are claiming that. And of course, within the last 5 years could mean since last week.
Well played ninjas!
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San Fernando Curt
October 5, 2009 3:38 PM
In the strangely accelerated reality we've fallen into, Marx's phrase "history repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce" has been compacted into a kind of "concurrence of buffoonery" in this weird tale. At first, I was alarmed by this con man's private police force taking over a town, but now, within days fo the story's breaking, it's turned into a... boondock pie-fight? What?
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nfbloch
October 5, 2009 4:17 PM
All of the bafoonery aside, I am disturbed by the very notion of private prisons. Who cares if it's Xe or APPF? What is any town in the United States doing building private jails or hiring private mercenaries for anything? Why are private mercenary armies even legal in the United States.
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SkepticRising
October 5, 2009 6:16 PM in reply to nfbloch
Hadn't you heard? Everything is better privatized. The government can't do anything.
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