A man with Down's was asphyxiated for refusing to leave after a viewing of "Zero Dark Thirty" and the theater operator instead of allowing the caregiver called in three off duty police officers who work security at the theater. When he refused the request of the officers, they kneeled on him for "resisting arrest".
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/aut ... story.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/autopsy-finds-that-md-man-with-down-syndrome-died-of-asphyxia-while-in-police-custody/2013/02/15/4d752304-77ab-11e2-b102-948929030e64_story.html)
I don't know about you, but I think that an officers authority as pertains to the law should cease when they clock out. This is one fucked up situation.
My view on whether or not it is Police brutality is pretty simple.
Do the actions of the police match the actions of their victim?
This man refused to leave, so they tackled him to the ground and kneeled on him. They made the situation physical, not him.
In another situation I heard about a student got tazed for throwing snowballs at a cop.
Proportional response: when the police overreact with physical force I am left with no choice but to think they enjoy it. At the very least I am forced to conclude that they don't give two shits about our right to not be assaulted and are more than willing to use their badge as an excuse to use physical violence to expedite a situation to its conclusion as fast as possible. If that means becoming violent with a mentally handicapped citizen or shooting 50,000 volts of electricity into someone for being mischievous, or walking around in a crowd beating and macing peaceful protesters then so be it.
The police need to be snapped back hard. There needs to be a trend change in this country where police find themselves in prison whenever they use excessive force. It needs to happen a lot. Police should be afraid of using force against citizens, not comfortable with it. They should feel forced to consider whether or not force is necessary and whether or not the situation can be resoled any other way. No police officer should treat verbal resolution of a situation as a formality before cracking heads.
I hate these police officers. They don't deserve their badge.
I think they should stop allowing internal affairs to handle things. They should have an entity whose seperate from the police to curb this shit IMO.
Quote from: "Alaric I"I think they should stop allowing internal affairs to handle things. They should have an entity whose seperate from the police to curb this shit IMO.
I think thats what IA was supposed to be.
Quote from: "Alaric I"I think they should stop allowing internal affairs to handle things. They should have an entity whose seperate from the police to curb this shit IMO.
I agree.
In the case of a Down's Syndrome, there may have been a reason, such as waiting for someone, that caused him to stay in one place. In any case, there was no legitimate reason that I can see for using that kind of force to remove him. I see it as highly inappropriate.
I don't think police officers should be allowed to work side jobs as security officers.
Quote from: "Thumpalumpacus"I don't think police officers should be allowed to work side jobs as security officers.
Hmmm, I do why you'd think this but with the money they make they do need second jobs. Security is well suited for their skills, it's the fact that they feel they can use their authority at all times that gets me.
Quote from: "Alaric I"Quote from: "Thumpalumpacus"I don't think police officers should be allowed to work side jobs as security officers.
Hmmm, I do why you'd think this but with the money they make they do need second jobs. Security is well suited for their skills, it's the fact that they feel they can use their authority at all times that gets me.
I have no problem with them having a second-job outside of the security field. The invitation for an abuse of power is obvious. The fact that if an off-duty officer working security does overstep bounds, not only does his victim not have recourse to a civil rights suit (because private entities aren't bound by the Bill of Rights), the out-of-line cop is going to be investigated by his cohorts on the force.
That's a conflict of interest that I think makes the entire thing stink to high heaven. It lessens accountability. Whenever one's job might involve the application of force, the policies should be aimed at increasing, not reducing, both accountability and transparency.
If they want a second job, let them work the popcorn stand, I don't care.
I've never met a person with Down's that would ever need to be forcefully restrained.
I believe that those three men killed that poor man.
Oh that's horrible. Law suit coming for wrongful death For Sure. Like any city in America has money to throw around on lawsuits. UGH.That is just Terrible. Good Grief.
5 bucks says they will get a 1 month suspension with pay and then be right back on the force.
Horrible! They should lose both of their damn jobs and do hard time!
The kid had downs syndrome! Leave him the fuck alone!
Quote from: "BlackL1ght"The kid had downs syndrome! Leave him the fuck alone!
Well it seems like he'll be left alone forever now; he's dead.
Police brutality cases make me angry enough, but when it's when they involve mentally disabled people that I get really really fucking mad. If God were real, then everyone within a 5 mile radius would've closed in and brained these bastards with metal pipes the moment that man died. They would take turns beating them, taking care not to kill them too soon. Then, after they died, the cops would resurrect so they can be beaten all over again.
Quote from: "Nonsensei"The police need to be snapped back hard. There needs to be a trend change in this country where police find themselves in prison whenever they use excessive force. It needs to happen a lot. Police should be afraid of using force against citizens, not comfortable with it. They should feel forced to consider whether or not force is necessary and whether or not the situation can be resoled any other way. No police officer should treat verbal resolution of a situation as a formality before cracking heads.
I agree with everything in your post, but I just wanted to add that I think the punishment for officers found to use excessive force should be harsher than it would be for normal citizens engaged in the same crime. Let's take the example of an officer assaulting someone while they're in custody (handcuffed and such). For a civilian this might count as aggravated assault, and they may get 10 years. The cop, on the other hand, should get 15-20 years.
(note: I may be off in what people get sentenced for assault...I don't really know the sentencing for such acts)
Death ruled a homicide
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/1 ... ostpopular (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/18/robert-saylors-death-homicide-mentally-ill_n_2711629.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular)
QuoteDr. George Kirkham, a criminologist and former law enforcement officer, told the Frederick News Post that Saylor's death may have been caused by positional asphyxia.
From the Post:
Positional asphyxia is typically the result of an intense struggle and often involves a person who is handcuffed and lying on their stomach after the struggle. Kirkham said people often panic and can't catch their breath. People with larger stomachs are particularly vulnerable, he said, because their bellies will push into their sternums, making breathing even more difficult.
Baltimore County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Jennifer Bailey said the case is still under investigation and that the three officers involved in Saylor's death -- Lt. Scott Jewell, Sgt. Rich Rochford and Deputy First Class James Harris -- "continue to work their normal assignments," according to the Post.
Frederick County State's Attorney Charlie Smith said his office is reviewing the incident and has not decided whether to bring charges.
WJLA previously spoke with Saylor's mom after the incident.
"He just loved unconditionally everybody," Patti Saylor said. "He has never had anyone put their hands on him in his life. He would not have been doing anything threatening to anybody."
Police officers nationwide often lack appropriate training for dealing with suspects who have special needs, according to a study by Crisis Intervention Team International.
Let us hope the outrage is sufficient to not allow this to be swept under the rug.
Quote from: "Alaric I"Quote from: "Thumpalumpacus"I don't think police officers should be allowed to work side jobs as security officers.
Hmmm, I do why you'd think this but with the money they make they do need second jobs. Security is well suited for their skills, it's the fact that they feel they can use their authority at all times that gets me.
Agreed. This may already be the case (I don't know) but I think police officers who choose to work side jobs in the security field ought to be bound by the exact same laws as anyone else who works a security job.
And my understanding is that in general, building security cannot lay a finger on you legally. They can ask you to leave, they can use very strong language to do so. But if you absolutely refuse, they need to call on-duty sworn officers to handle the situation. I believe that in most locations, if a security guard touches you, its an assault charge for the guard. If sworn officers want to work security in on their day off, they should be treated exactly the same as anyone else. If they touch you, its an assault charge handled by the courts, not internal affairs. And if anything, they should be treated more harshly by judges for such an incident because they, of all people, should know better.
There is no question that what they did was far over the line. But because they were cops, on duty or not, their fellow officers and their organization will try to protect them. This is how degenerate our system has become.
Quote from: "Johan"And my understanding is that in general, building security cannot lay a finger on you legally. They can ask you to leave, they can use very strong language to do so. But if you absolutely refuse, they need to call on-duty sworn officers to handle the situation. I believe that in most locations, if a security guard touches you, its an assault charge for the guard. If sworn officers want to work security in on their day off, they should be treated exactly the same as anyone else. If they touch you, its an assault charge handled by the courts, not internal affairs. And if anything, they should be treated more harshly by judges for such an incident because they, of all people, should know better.
Depends on the state. In CA if you get certified, you can leagaly arrest someone and hold them until police arrive to take them to county jail.
Quote from: "stromboli"But because they were cops, on duty or not, their fellow officers and their organization will try to protect them.
This summarizes the reasoning behind my point very well. Thanks.
This is a guy taking up a seat in a theater. This isn't exactly posing a threat to the community. I can't in any way justify their actions in any context. If the Special Needs community doesn't go nuts on this, there is no justice.
He was handcuffed when they strangled him.
Quote from: "Bobby_Ouroborus"He was handcuffed when they strangled him.
Just three POS's that got made fun of in High School.
I blame all the 'hero worship' bullshit, shows like COPS, NCIS, etc, and police militarism. Every city police force in this nation is now armed to the teeth and a large portion of our population is now convinced that if you're in ANY sort of trouble with these cocksuckers YOU MUST deserve it no matter if you've done anything wrong or not. The same attitude persists if you.ve been tossed in the can for any reason. GUILT by mere fact of being suspected.. yeah..put another 100,000 cops on the beat and being an atheist will become a crime..a terrorist act..
(//http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_296w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2013/02/19/Local-Enterprise/Images/saylor_0011361305201.jpg)
A picture of the man they murdered.
//http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/18/robert-saylors-death-homicide-mentally-ill_n_2711629.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
apparently somebody has ruled his death a homicide. the article doesn't say who. The sheriff says the deputies are still working and the states attorney has not decided whether or not to bring charges.
figger the odds I guess
At APA: I agree most part, but I don't see the regular NCIS as cop glorification...