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A case of Police Brutality?

Started by Alaric I, February 18, 2013, 03:23:45 PM

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Alaric I

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


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.

Nonsensei

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.
And on the wings of a dream so far beyond reality
All alone in desperation now the time has come
Lost inside you\'ll never find, lost within my own mind
Day after day this misery must go on

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.

Nonsensei

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.
And on the wings of a dream so far beyond reality
All alone in desperation now the time has come
Lost inside you\'ll never find, lost within my own mind
Day after day this misery must go on

stromboli

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.

stromboli

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.

Thumpalumpacus

I don't think police officers should be allowed to work side jobs as security officers.
<insert witty aphorism here>

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.

Thumpalumpacus

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.
<insert witty aphorism here>

Jason78

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.
Winner of WitchSabrinas Best Advice Award 2012


We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real
tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. -Plato

WitchSabrina

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.
I am currently experiencing life at several WTFs per hour.

Shiranu

5 bucks says they will get a 1 month suspension with pay and then be right back on the force.
"A little science distances you from God, but a lot of science brings you nearer to Him." - Louis Pasteur

SvZurich

Horrible!  They should lose both of their damn jobs and do hard time!
Kimberly (HSBUH) aka Baroness Sylvia endorses the Meadow Party's Bill N' Opus for the 2024 Presidential election! Or a Sanders/Warren ticket.

BlackL1ght

The kid had downs syndrome! Leave him the fuck alone!
Vi veri Veniversum Vivus Vici

The Skeletal Atheist

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)
Some people need to be beaten with a smart stick.

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