Police abuses

[Xiahou]

And this classic one of a Chicago cop beating up a small woman bartender (and initially getting a misdemeanor after investigating cops refused to look at the video). A 2020 video that includes more police abuse and an investigation into the code of silence.

CR

Holy cow, the one where the cop turns off the camera when dealing with a drunken woman in custody is astonishing- I think it's around the 7 minute mark. Clearly getting angry, he walks over to the camera and turns it off. When it's turned back on her hair and clothes are in total disarray and she's laying on the floor in a pool of blood. He explains that she slipped.

The biggest problem with an authority figure abusing his granted power is the eventual breakdown of respect for the rule of law.

Just look at the lack of respect shown law enforcement in general in this thread, comprised of posters from all over america, europe and australia.

THAT is why "assault under color of law" is assault of the worst kind, and is rightfully sanctioned severely in viable republics/democracies.

You're always going to have a few bad eggs, no matter how how hard you try to screen them out. I think everyone understands that. The problem is when the "good" cops keep their mouths shut or, even worse, try to cover up for them out of some misplaced sense of brotherhood.

It would be a lot better if the bad cops were singled out and reported by their peers. But instead, it seems like their culture makes it so that its the one who blows the whistle on their abuse of power who is ostracized and punished.

[Whacker]

You're always going to have a few bad eggs, no matter how how hard you try to screen them out. I think everyone understands that. The problem is when the "good" cops keep their mouths shut or, even worse, try to cover up for them out of some misplaced sense of brotherhood.

My personal perception is that the number of "bad eggs" is far greater than others would state it is. All my life I've hated cops, given my interactions with them, even when I wasn't a bit of a troublemaker in my teens (note that I have never been arrested or even handcuffed in my entire life). There are a few that teach at my Kung Fu school, as I've got to know them they do seem more human and one can see their side of the fence a bit better, but my general dislike remains. This thread hasn't helped of course.

It would be a lot better if the bad cops were singled out and reported by their peers. But instead, it seems like their culture makes it so that its the one who blows the whistle on their abuse of power who is ostracized and punished.

"Don't snitch." Not only that, but the upper echelons of police structures will generally do whatever it takes to back up their subordinates, even when they are clearly in the wrong and way out of bounds. Again this is what I maintain perpetuates and if anything is strengthening the "I don't like cops" attitude that in my view is becoming much more prevalant through the US.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Here's another recent one:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...,1616907.story

Watch the video.

Sunrise man cleared after elevator video shows he did not batter Fort Lauderdale officers
Sunrise man had been accused of attacking officers

By Tonya Alanez | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
March 5, 2009

After a beat down in an elevator, Joshua Daniel Ortiz ended up with his nose broken and facing a charge of battering a Fort Lauderdale Is your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? - Click Here. police officer.

The 22-year-old Sunrise man was surprised and delighted to learn Wednesday that Broward prosecutors were dropping the case against him after reviewing an elevator surveillance video showing three officers aggressively rush and beat Ortiz to the ground.

Once the Dec. 5 video surfaced, it altered the course of the case. It contradicted police reports that Ortiz provoked and attacked Officers Derek Lade, Stefan Silver and Steve Smith.

"They were just sitting there watching my life go down the drain with those charges," Ortiz said Wednesday. "I've been going crazy thinking my life is over. It's barely started and it's over."

The looming legal charges delayed Ortiz's enrollment in college classes, he said.

Police first charged Ortiz with felony battery on a law enforcement officer.

But after seeing the video obtained by Ortiz's defense attorney, Stephen Melnick, prosecutors downgraded the charge to a misdemeanor resisting charge. Upon further review, prosecutors dropped the case entirely.

Once again, we have the cops attacking an innocent man, because they are cowards and bullies.

Once again, we have them charging the assault victim with a crime and lying about what he did.

And for the latest ************* time in a row, we have the cops getting away without any punishment!

Fort Lauderdale police internal affairs investigators reviewed the incident more than a month ago and found no violations of policy or procedures, said Sgt. Frank Sousa, the department's spokesman.

"It was not a beating," Sousa said. "The video clearly shows that [Ortiz] made a movement toward the officer.

Not a beating? He got his nose broke, because he approached an officer with his hands down? What kind of planet are these guys on? What kind of country do they think they live in? The thing that gets me most is that they know exactly.

They attacked him and tried to destroy his whole life with false charges. They wanted to destroy his life to cover their bullying, arrogant actions.

And they receive no punishment!

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." -
-- Thomas Jefferson

CR

[InsaneApache]

Hands down CR? He had them in his pockets, that's even worse.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Remember how cops often shoot-on-sight any dogs they come across that do not immediately run away? If they come to your house and your dog barks or bounds out to meet them or even is chained up it's likely to get killed and the cop receive no punishment.

But should a police dog die of natural causes, they'll give it a grand funeral. The double standard is disgusting, and symbolic of what is wrong with the police.

CR

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Okay, so the general sentiment of many posters is that far too many police are abusive and/or actively counterproductive.

What is to be done?

Do we dispense with police forces and rely on local committees of vigilance?

Do we dispense with police forces and leave law enforcement up to the citizens themselves?

Do we disarm police?

In other words, please shift from "what's wrong" to "what's to be done."

[Husar]

From a conservative point of view, nothing would be done as that would be progressive and only lefties are progressive.

Well, as for my POV, I think the police force should undergo some changes, a bit less brotherhood, training with an emphasis on helping people, not shooting people. Maybe a different motto and perhaps reliable checks and balances that are not police officers themselves.

[Major Robert Dump]

Okay, so the general sentiment of many posters is that far too many police are abusive and/or actively counterproductive.

What is to be done?

Do we dispense with police forces and rely on local committees of vigilance?

Do we dispense with police forces and leave law enforcement up to the citizens themselves?

Do we disarm police?

In other words, please shift from "what's wrong" to "what's to be done."

What's wrong is more fun and interesting.

There's nothing that can be done until the Blue Code of Gay Silence is broken and shattered by some cops with both morals and testicles. A similar mentality exists in the military and it's wrong there as well, even more wrong I'd say because the military is very forgiving of genuine mistakes made under stress.

What's funny is when you hear stuff like I can't speak out "I got a family to support." Hmmmm, that's the same line a lot of drug dealers, thiefs and robbers use. Funny indeed.

[Major Robert Dump]

Hands down CR? He had them in his pockets, that's even worse.

You miss the point. In the article, the report from the officer who got assaulted said the kid "was in a fighting stance with fists raised"

So again, we have them lying. and yes, hands in pockets is bad, but its not like he had a chance to take them out. So in excusing the cops, the initial lie is overlooked completely because his hands were in his pockets perhaps. Oink

[KukriKhan]

So, it's the lie, false report/witness thingee.

I agree. Either we (the citizenry) agree with the report, or we don't. If we don't, then the law-enforcer gets sanctioned. If we do, then...

tech up.