Voting Station

Dan Mitrione

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Crime Fighter

The Resume

    (August 4, 1920-August 10, 1970)
    Born in Italy
    Police officer in Richmond, Indiana (1945-57)
    Joined the FBI (1959)
    Assigned by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to teach counter-insurgency techniques to police in Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay
    Kidnapped by the Uruguayan urban guerilla group Tupamaros (July 31, 1970)
    Killed after the Uruguayan government rejected demands for the release of 150 prisoners

Why he might be annoying:

    As police chief of Richmond, he got to know future cult leader Jim Jones, which would later inspire a crapload of conspiracy theories.
    His USAID job was a cover for CIA work.
    He taught torture techniques to Latin American security forces.
    According to a former CIA officer, he had the basement of his home in Montevideo, Uruguay, soundproofed so he could demonstrate torture methods there.
    He allegedly kidnapped homeless people to serve as subjects for his demonstrations, then had them executed after they had served their purpose.
    His motto was 'The precise pain, in the precise place, in the precise amount for the desired effect.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He told his trainees not to go overboard with the torturing, saying 'A premature death means a failure by the technician.'
    The Uruguayan government ignored demands by President Nixon that they threaten to kill left-wing prisoners to pressure the Tupamaros to release Mitrione.
    Frank Sinatra and Jerry Lewis headlined a benefit concert for his family.
    He inspired the Costa-Gavras film 'State of Siege.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 11 Votes: 27.27% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 23 Votes: 52.17% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying