I saw that a while ago and I'm not sure what I think.
On one hand, the police are sort of brothers in a way and I can understand the anger and feel like the guy "got what he deserved".
On the other hand they are getting paid to do a job, and trained to do it. I think that was excessive force for the situation and there needs to be some consequences.
I dont know if I would fire all of them, but the one delivering hooks to the left and right of the guys head over and over probably should not be a policeman.
I have been the victim of police brutality. I was a big activist in my Berkeley days during the divestment movement. There was one protest down at UCLA for what was supposed to be an open forum. Cops got scared, closed it to the public, but only after every one had gathered in the atrium of the building it was in. I suddenly had a line of cops pushing us with their nightsticks at our throats, even though there was no place for us to go. I was pleading with this one cop, and he just lost it and started wailing on me.
I had a job interview that day so I was in a suit. The media all thought it was an interesting picture, so I was splashed all across the news that night. Guess cop beating up on someone in a suit makes good copy.
I KNOW there are bad cops out there. But I know that there are so many more good ones, despite what I have gone through and seen. I generally trust that police departments, at least today, do a decent job weeding out the bad apples. But a few will always be there, kind of the nature of the beast i guess.
From what I heard on CNN today, I do believe that they are being brought up on charges. I have several friends and have worked in the law enforcement industry myself. I know first hand that this is a stressfull job. BUT your job is to serve and protect in a professional manner. From what I can see I don't believe the man was conscious much less resisting! Yes indeed I do believe this goes way beyond excessive force!
:? What's even more disgusting is what we had to listen to while watching the story on tv. (Docs waiting room). Some stupid "red neck" (no offense to anyone) talkin about "hell they should saved their knuckles and just shot the guy"! WTH dude? He barely clips the officer, and not to defend the guy, but I really don't think that was his intention. It looks like he was trying to avoid traffic and or some spikes. Running is BAD but when an unconcious guy gets beaten like that....come on. I personally don't want cops of that "caliber" "protecting" me and my family. My verdict : Over reaction on the cops fault.
My take is that they were victims of tunnel vision and blue light euphoria and adrenaline. Seeing your buddy get hit by a car is rough, even if he was "just barely clipped". In the video, it loked bad. Clipped at that speed can remove your leg. The way the officer sees it, at least how I see it, is "This shitbag is going to kill someone", then see him hurt an officer, a brother, and think "when I get my hands on you, it's on!" I see how that thinking takes over. I have thought that. It's just how it is.
Im not necessarily divided, but I understand both sides. Part of you says "Good, I hope he dies, he's trash".... But thats not the proper way to look at the situation. I'm just saying I understand it. When he gets ejected from the car, and is just laying there, you start patient assessment, and get medical en route. All of these siuations change at the drop of a hat. But the beating then starts... Maybe they thought he had his hands under his body and was reaching for a weapon. That's ridiculous, but that would be their justification. So then we must look at the force continuum. Is he being physically combative? No. De-escalate force. Is he even being verbally aggressive? Probably not if he's unconscious. Is it department policy to beat unconscious subjects? No. so....
That being said, they were wrong. My assessment is- If you are unable to control yourself and your emotions, you don't need to be a police officer. Get rid of them. Does that mean that the suspect is a victim? Well, yes and no. He needs to be held accountable for his crimes as well. It will be interesting to see the resolution.
Does that mean that the suspect is a victim? Well, yes and no. He needs to be held accountable for his crimes as well. It will be interesting to see the resolution.
Now he is both. The tax payers are also now victims because they will be paying the fat settlement that the criminal will be getting. And like one article said, "50 years of police experience gone in 10 seconds."
Does that mean that the suspect is a victim? Well, yes and no. He needs to be held accountable for his crimes as well. It will be interesting to see the resolution.
Now he is both. The tax payers are also now victims because they will be paying the fat settlement that the criminal will be getting. And like one article said, "50 years of police experience gone in 10 seconds."
As my lovely husband so kindly brought to my attention, I may have failed to express myself correctly. Rereading my post I see a flaw...
I never meant to diminish the officers injuries! I've run into stuff just walking along and suffered tremendous amounts of pain. I can only imagine getting hit by a moving vehicle would hurt at any speed. My only "argument", and it's not even really an argument, is that it's not like he killed the officer, and that he very possibly didn't even see the cop at the speed and "panic" he was in.
I agree with Condor in part. The cops probably most likely did NOT think "when he stops I'm gonna beat him to a pulp no matter what happens or if he's injured". Adrenaline does amazing tricks to the brain and your cognitive abilities. As a member (of sorts) of "law enforcement" I can attest that even in a "drill" or "role playing" situation you do things before you have had time to really assess the WHOLE picture. You do what comes naturally or what you feel the situation warrants.
I do not appreciate that the crook will benefit from this. He will. Possibly may even make a profit. I just can't excuse the cops either.
FYI, all 5 officers have been fired. What pisses me off is over a year, many police supervisors and other officers saw the tape and did nothing. The guy involved didn't even know he was beaten, This only came out when the prosecutor in his case requested the tape, saw what was on it, and told the defense about it. At least one person did the right thing.
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