[lpkmckenna]

Welcome to the "official" thread where we discuss the abuse of authority by police. First story: Nurse: Cop cuffed her during dispute over drawing blood :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State

Lisa Hofstra said she was the “charge nurse” in the emergency room on Aug. 1 when the officer approached her at about 4 a.m. The officer requested she perform a blood work-up on a DUI suspect, the lawsuit said.

Hofstra told the officer the suspect needed to be admitted to the hospital before she could draw the person’s blood. Hofstra said she told a police lieutenant that it was the hospital’s protocol to wait until a suspect was admitted, and the lieutenant agreed, she said.

The lieutenant left the emergency room.

Then Hofstra called her supervisors, but before they could respond, the officer put her in handcuffs in front of her co-workers and escorted her to a squad car, according to the lawsuit.

“I in no way intended to block this police officer’s ability to do his job,” she said in a news conference today. “He went about it in the wrong way. ... I would like him to be reprimanded.”

Of course, there were no charges, no police report, and there won't likely be any repercussions for the officer in question. Just like always.

[SpaceMonkey]

Police-on-police brutality: DC Police Department in labor dispute with Fraternal Order of Police.

[ebuddy]

Police hero saves woman in golden moment | Top Stories | Nashville 24/7 Local News

I know this is a badge-kicking thread, but I thought I'd contribute some perspective. They do good stuff too those pigs.

[ghporter]

As I've said many times before, this sort of poor/abusive/stupid behavior is newsworthy because it's fairly rare. I will bet that Officer Cuffer is NOT promoted, and maybe not even put on the same shift he was on when he acted so rashly.

This particular incident highlights, very strongly, the need for ALL police agencies to train their people in their jobs (this guy obviously didn't know his properly) AND to provide STRONG consequences for people who act in violation of their duties and orders. If the police lieutenant said "wait till the guy is admitted," then the officer should have followed those instructions, even if the LT didn't tell him directly, and he definitely should not have acted on his own. How much of a difference could calling HIS superiors have made? From a chain of command point of view, this guy screwed up several ways, and apparently so did the lieutenant for leaving without making sure the officer knew what was going on.

Oh, and the nurse has a nice standing for a "false imprisonment" complaint, civil and criminal...

[Chuckit]

If I did that to somebody, whether I got a promotion next time they came around would be the least of my worries. He should be fired and arrested, as should all officers who abuse their status. Then these incidents getting coverage in the press would actually be good for the police because it would show what a just and even-handed bunch they are.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

If I did that to somebody, whether I got a promotion next time they came around would be the least of my worries. He should be fired and arrested, as should all officers who abuse their status. Then these incidents getting coverage in the press would actually be good for the police because it would show what a just and even-handed bunch they are.

Like I said, "false imprisonment" complaints, both civil AND criminal. It's obvious the PD he works for doesn't pay enough attention for them to do something serious themselves.

[lpkmckenna]

Wonderful police in the wild west: Suit says cops force motorists, largely black, to forfeit cash and cars—or be charged with trumped-up crimes

David Guillory, an attorney in Nacogdoches who filed the federal lawsuit, said he combed through Shelby County court records from 2006 to 2008 and discovered nearly 200 cases in which Tenaha police seized cash and property from motorists. In about 50 of the cases, suspects were charged with drug possession.

But in 147 others, Guillory said the court records showed, police seized cash, jewelry, cell phones and sometimes even automobiles from motorists but never found any contraband or charged them with any crime. Of those, Guillory said he managed to contact 40 of the motorists directly—and discovered all but one of them were black.

"The whole thing is disproportionately targeted toward minorities, particularly African-Americans," Guillory said. "None of these people have been charged with a crime, none were engaged in anything that looked criminal. The sole factor is that they had something that looked valuable."

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by ebuddy 

Police hero saves woman in golden moment | Top Stories | Nashville 24/7 Local News

I know this is a badge-kicking thread, but I thought I'd contribute some perspective. They do good stuff too those pigs.

That's nice, some cops doing their jobs. I think it would be swell if some prosectutors also did their jobs and charged cops when they broke the law.

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

As I've said many times before, this sort of poor/abusive/stupid behavior is newsworthy because it's fairly rare.

Yes, just as charges for law-breaking cops is also rare.

[Snow-i]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna 

Yes, just as charges for law-breaking cops is also rare.

And just as rare are those law-breaking cops, for whom the charges would be applied.

I wonder why we don't see so many cases of those types of charges?

Vast conspiracy?
Massive corruption?
or, behind door 3...
Virtually nonexistent?

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by Snow-i 

Virtually nonexistent?

Yes, abuse of authority by police is virtually non-existent. Sheep.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Snow-i 

And just as rare are those law-breaking cops, for whom the charges would be applied.

I wonder why we don't see so many cases of those types of charges?

Vast conspiracy?
Massive corruption?
or, behind door 3...
Virtually nonexistent?

Lots of cases have been shown here where cops abused their authority and were not properly locked up with Bubba. So no, they are not charged as often as they misbehave.

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

What about politicians that abuse their authority on an almost HOURLY basis?

How many of those have been locked up lately? Why so much focus on those that enforce the laws, but never on those that make them?

Oh wait, let's hand them even MORE power...

Talk about sheep.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE 

What about politicians that abuse their authority on an almost HOURLY basis?

In general, I care less about some politician who plays the system to get a contract for his company than I do about a dangerous man running around threatening people with a gun.

This isn't to say I don't care about the former, just that I care less.

Also, judging from the number of threads these respective topics get on this forum, I would say the thing you brought up gets a lot more attention.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna 

Yes, just as charges for law-breaking cops is also rare.

Not as rare as you might think, but too rare compared to the frequency of events that should result in charges. Some police organizations are top-notch, very well run, and exhibit little if any poor behavior of any kind. Bigger ones however tend to provide some individuals with both the opportunity and the camouflage needed to take advantage of a position of power and generally get away with it. A large organization offers shelter in terms of numbers-it's harder to pay enough attention to individuals when you're supervising too many of them-and large police departments mean larger municipalities, implying urban settings and the various problems that go with them, including opportunities for corruption.

I'll point out that here in San Antonio we see a fairly open view of our PD-and the press is quite good at informing anyone who wants to know about it all the failings (suggested or proven) of various officers. This sort of openness means that cops can't get by with much, and it helps improve the public's trust in the institution as a whole. It also informs the rank and file officers that someone IS watching, and that more than likely they'll get caught if they try something shady.

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

In general, I care less about some politician who plays the system to get a contract for his company than I do about a dangerous man running around threatening people with a gun.

If there's a dangerous man running around threatening people with a gun, who are you going to call to deal with it? Some cigar chomping bureaucrat, or a police officer?

Also, it would be one thing if most politicians only abused the system to get contracts for their companies- heck, that would even be a welcome relief if most of them had any experience running a company in the real world.

These are people that more often abuse their power to take money and liberty away from the citizens, far more than any cop ever could. They have the power to sentence you to possible death without any trial or recourse on your part. (The draft). They have the power to do what the average purse/wallet snatcher only dreams of- reach into your wallet and steal money on a whim. Don't pay? Go to jail. (Or get an Obama admin cabinet position.)

Now people want to give them the power over everyone's health, medical records and so long as they think it's only to be used against some faceless 'rich', power over their income as well.

So you'll pardon me if I don't find all the whining about police abuse of authority to be very genuine, when it comes from the crowd that DEMANDS the ultimate abusers of authority be given even more control over people's lives. At least I can point to the police having done something positive in just about any community- being those that get called in whenever there's trouble.

Politicians just sit back and abuse power on a much bigger scale, and have almost nothing to show for it other than putting their constituents in massive debt, yet they get a free pass from too many because they don't mete out their abuse of the citizenry directly at the street-level.

[ebuddy]

Is this the "why socialism will never work" thread? I mean I'm just putting this thread into the context of the numerous times I've heard that the police and military are also socialist. This often comes up when one is trying to illustrate some conflict with conservative ideology because conservatives are often "badge-lickers" or "pro-military industrial complex", etc...

Yet, wouldn't this thread (or any thread railing on the horrors of the military industrial complex) really be an illustration of the intellectual conundrum that exists for people generally friendly to unions and socialism?

This makes as much sense as putting proponents of population control in charge of your healthcare.

[subego]

Originally Posted by ebuddy 

Yet, wouldn't this thread (or any thread railing on the horrors of the military industrial complex) really be an illustration of the intellectual conundrum that exists for people generally friendly to unions and socialism?

Excellent observation.

It's so obvious I feel deficient for not noticing it myself.

[hyteckit]

Cop shot innocent homeowner 6 times and tries to cover it up.

Courthouse News Service

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE 

If there's a dangerous man running around threatening people with a gun, who are you going to call to deal with it? Some cigar chomping bureaucrat, or a police officer?

Um…I think you missed the point. The dangerous man with the gun is a police officer.

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

Um…I think you missed the point. The dangerous man with the gun is a police officer.

That's only your hypothetical.
99 times out of a 100, a "dangerous man with a gun" is not going to be a police officer.

Now, once again, who are you going to call if such a person is a threat to you or your family?

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

Originally Posted by ebuddy 

Yet, wouldn't this thread (or any thread railing on the horrors of the military industrial complex) really be an illustration of the intellectual conundrum that exists for people generally friendly to unions and socialism?

This makes as much sense as putting proponents of population control in charge of your healthcare.

Heh. You're actually expecting to find logic and consistency from people that have made burning everything at both ends into a political philosophy.

[Railroader]

Pretty typical...

Jane-Finch residents allege police abuse

"For example, there was a raid recently and a mother got punched in her face," she alleges. "There was a strip search, not too far from where we are standing, of a woman underneath a parking lot. These forms of practices are just ridiculous."

Human rights group targets Vancouver police

Cohen acknowledged that he and his colleague had not witnessed any police abuse except a "strip search" of one person done in public.

2 investigations ordered following alleged police abuse of Victoria teen

Commissioner Dirk Ryneveld said he was disturbed when he saw the videotape of police handcuffing Willow Kinloch, tying her feet with a leash and leaving her tethered to a cell door for four hours.

B.C. man alleges assault and racial abuse by 3 off-duty police officers

Khan's wife, Zabida, said her husband suffered both physical and psychological injuries and remains "on heavy medication."

"He has injuries in his stomach, back, knees [and] hands. He can't sleep," she said, adding he has had two doctor's visits since.

The couple has three young daughters, aged between four months and 4½.

"We are a very quiet family. We live in a very quiet neighbourhood," she said.

Khan said he always has great respect for police, who are protectors of the innocent, but he is utterly "very traumatized" by the ordeal.

[subego]

Originally Posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE 

Now, once again, who are you going to call if such a person is a threat to you or your family?

John Browning.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE 

That's only your hypothetical.
99 times out of a 100, a "dangerous man with a gun" is not going to be a police officer.

Yes, but this thread is not about those other times.

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE 

So you'll pardon me if I don't find all the whining about police abuse of authority to be very genuine, when it comes from the crowd that DEMANDS the ultimate abusers of authority be given even more control over people's lives. At least I can point to the police having done something positive in just about any community- being those that get called in whenever there's trouble.

I'm not a left-winger, I'm a "fiscal conservative" and civil libertarian. And I'm sympathetic to your concerns about abusive bureaucrats and politicians, but like Chuckit said, that's for another thread.

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by ebuddy 

Yet, wouldn't this thread (or any thread railing on the horrors of the military industrial complex) really be an illustration of the intellectual conundrum that exists for people generally friendly to unions and socialism?

I'm not friendly to unions or socialism, but I am very hostile to abuse of authority. Far from a conumdrum, it would be nice if the supposed advocates of limited gov't would be consistent and assist in limiting the police from willful abuses, instead of being apologist for bullies with badges.

[mattyb]

A few from the UK.

Jean Charles de Menezes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Death of Ian Tomlinson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I've got an uncle in the Met Police, and, while not justifying the actions of the police, he always tries to explain the working environment, what you come across daily as a cop etc.

[lpkmckenna]

I vividly remember the day Menezes' killing was first reported. The reaction of the badge-kissers on the internet that day was especially revolting.

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna 

I'm not friendly to unions or socialism, but I am very hostile to abuse of authority. Far from a conumdrum, it would be nice if the supposed advocates of limited gov't would be consistent and assist in limiting the police from willful abuses, instead of being apologist for bullies with badges.

I think the focus or prioritization is just different. There is no excuse for police brutality, union "brotherhood" cover-ups, wrongful arrests, etc... but these are often little more than juicy stories that don't get to the root of the problem. We see this with reports of "rogue" teachers as well, but the problem goes well beyond one teacher, one incident. The problem is not the "rogue" officer, but a malfunction of the organizational hierarchy. Far from kissing badges, I'd like to see a little more police chief kicking, mayor kicking, governor kicking, and senator kicking. Several studies have indicated that police misconduct is the product of organizational deviancy, not individual behavior. In other words, the root of the problem lies at the culture of the organization, but I'd also argue that state laws in concert with municipal policy facilitates the poor socioeconomic condition that continues to fail our inner-cities; where these examples of brutality are most evident. They also aid and abet the criminal element among them. I submit to you perhaps the most corrupted cities in the US; Chicago and DC. It doesn't surprise me that the first two examples of this thread come from these fine examples of government run amok.

So... while y'all continue to kick badges in the interest of "limited government", I'll continue to rail on corrupted leadership, corrupted government, policy that fails our poor, and future policies that will fail us all even more.

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by ebuddy 

Several studies have indicated that police misconduct is the product of organizational deviancy, not individual behavior. In other words, the root of the problem lies at the culture of the organization

Citation?

Originally Posted by ebuddy 

but I'd also argue that state laws in concert with municipal policy facilitates the poor socioeconomic condition that continues to fail our inner-cities; where these examples of brutality are most evident.

Are you trying to suggest there is correlation/causation between socioeconomic conditions and incidents of police brutality? And if so, what do you think is the correlating/causative factor?
In other words, how is the relationship established between "poor socioeconomic conditions" and incidents of police "brutality"?
(Do you have any evidence to back up this assertion of correlation/causation between socioeconomic conditions and incidents of police brutality?)

And if people living in "poor socioeconomic conditions" does have a link to incidents of police brutality--as provided by statistical evidence--wouldn't we expect to see more incidents of police brutality in suburban and rural areas* than in urban areas? Yet you only mention inner cities? Why is that?
*In this country the majority of those individuals/families living in poverty are not in inner cities but rather in suburban, or more likely rural, areas.

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

Yes, but this thread is not about those other times.

Sure it is. Who are you going to call?

The police.

Just admit it. Everyone who whines about the police constantly also does the same when the time comes that they need them.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE 

Sure it is. Who are you going to call?

The police.

Just admit it. Everyone who whines about the police constantly also does the same when the time comes that they need them.

So what? Make it relevant to this thread or quit derailing: What does what you just said have to do with abusive police officers?

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE 

That's only your hypothetical.
99 times out of a 100, a "dangerous man with a gun" is not going to be a police officer.

Now, once again, who are you going to call if such a person is a threat to you or your family?

No doubt. Police serve a very important function in our society and most police officers are highly respectable people. But, does that excuse when a some police officers abuse their power?

[Snow-i]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

So what? Make it relevant to this thread or quit derailing: What does what you just said have to do with abusive police officers?

I think his point is that all this "police abuse" is exceedingly rare, and that all this frustration is misplaced among those who are sworn to protect us. The frustrating thing over here is that none of these people are whining about the political abuse that is blatantly unfolding right in front of us every day, and undeniably contributes to the little police abuse that exists in our society.

Or...maybe, thats not his point, and its just mine.

Either way. Start from the top if your gonna start holding people accountable for criminal action. A good place might be Rangel.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Snow-i 

I think his point is that all this "police abuse" is exceedingly rare, and that all this frustration is misplaced among those who are sworn to protect us.

So what you're saying is, because spousal abuse is relatively rare compared to the total number of relationships in the US, we should just let dudes beat up their women and not worry about it?

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by dcmacdaddy 

Citation?

A whole page of 'em, with at least two speaking directly to the theory;
emeraldinsight

... there is difficulty in pursuing brutality offenders because there is a lack of coordination between the justice system and police organizations. The justice system wants to punish offenders, but the police structure seems to encourage excessive use of force.
drury.edu

Are you trying to suggest there is correlation/causation between socioeconomic conditions and incidents of police brutality? And if so, what do you think is the correlating/causative factor? In other words, how is the relationship established between "poor socioeconomic conditions" and incidents of police "brutality"? (Do you have any evidence to back up this assertion of correlation/causation between socioeconomic conditions and incidents of police brutality?)

Law of numbers for one. Most of the country, geographically, is rural yet their population comprises less than 21% of the US population; urban = 79%. Congested areas have a higher concentration of crime, which requires a greater police presence. There are 76 precincts in NYC alone. Urban areas are more violent in general with higher percentages of armed crime and homicide.

And if people living in "poor socioeconomic conditions" does have a link to incidents of police brutality--as provided by statistical evidence--wouldn't we expect to see more incidents of police brutality in suburban and rural areas* than in urban areas? Yet you only mention inner cities? Why is that?
*In this country the majority of those individuals/families living in poverty are not in inner cities but rather in suburban, or more likely rural, areas.

Yes. Rural areas have higher numbers of those in poverty than urban areas, but they're also much more sparsely populated. The more "run ins" you have with a police officer, the greater your odds of experiencing police brutality. See population stats above. A form of "militarism" develops among the police "brotherhood" when facing the stresses and workload of the inner city.

• 53% of people behind bars earn less than $10k per year.
• A study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office released in 2007 showed that those who are in areas where poverty is abundant had fewer options in life.
• Provisions are often attained through "organizational" crime committed by gangs or "mobs" which are much more prevalent in urban areas.
• Another similarity between the police and professional thieves is that both choose victims that will not fight back or that will result in less detection (Sutherland, 1949:236-237). In most cases police brutality has been directed toward minorities, the poor, political dissidents, and members of the counterculture (Friedrichs, 1996:141).
• Complaints against an officer are not easily filed. In most jurisdictions a victim cannot file a complaint unless a prosecutor passes the review. Also, the court will apply greater weight to an officers testimony than to that of a suspected criminal (Geller, 1996:3). In this case Rodney King was a black male who was brutalized by members of the LAPD. King later issued a statement that he knew it would be the officers’ word against his own and he wondered who would believe him (Berger, 1991:8).
  drury.edu

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

So what you're saying is, because spousal abuse is relatively rare compared to the total number of relationships in the US, we should just let dudes beat up their women and not worry about it?

I don't think anyone would suggest that, nor the analogous response to police brutality. But suggesting that police brutality is general and rampant everywhere is equivalent to suggesting that the majority of marriages involve spousal abuse; neither suggestion is anywhere near accurate.

Being upset and wanting to change things in regards to abuse of police powers is a Very Good Thing. But writing off all police officers because of the rare abuse of powers by a very few BAD officers is not smart, nor is it useful.

[Snow-i]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

So what you're saying is, because spousal abuse is relatively rare compared to the total number of relationships in the US, we should just let dudes beat up their women and not worry about it?

Thank you for bringing that issue up.


The number of spousal abuse cases that go unpunished is both vastly greater in number and in percentage of spouses who beat their partners than instances of cops criminally abusing their status as a police officer.

Where is your thread on that?

And where did I say it should go unpunished? My point was that it is exceedingly rare in today's world to encounter an abusive police officer that goes unpunished and that your collective outrage is misdirected.

[Chuckit]

On the contrary, in all the cases I've seen, it's rare to find an abusive police officer who is properly punished. (And no, one week paid vacation is not an appropriate punishment for using your power to harass an innocent person.)

And as for "Where's your thread on X?" — if you want to talk about that, you go start one. We cannot talk about everything at once and this happens to be what we are discussing in this thread and there are several of us interested in it. If the topic does not interest you, stay out and feel free to start your own thread.

[Snow-i]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

On the contrary, in all the cases I've seen, it's rare to find an abusive police officer who is properly punished. (And no, one week paid vacation is not an appropriate punishment for using your power to harass an innocent person.)

But, considering that it is rare to find an abusive police officer in the first place, I refer you to my previous post.

And as for "Where's your thread on X?" — if you want to talk about that, you go start one. We cannot talk about everything at once and this happens to be what we are discussing in this thread and there are several of us interested in it. If the topic does not interest you, stay out and feel free to start your own thread.

I don't think you quite understood me. I was addressing your analogy, its relevance to this issue, and highlighting my argument that your outrage is disproportionate to the issue. And, if you'll allow me to compliment you, I think that with your intelligence many of us here could benefit from your perspective on issues that have much bigger impacts for a far greater proportion of our society.

[Snow-i]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

I don't think anyone would suggest that, nor the analogous response to police brutality. But suggesting that police brutality is general and rampant everywhere is equivalent to suggesting that the majority of marriages involve spousal abuse; neither suggestion is anywhere near accurate.

Being upset and wanting to change things in regards to abuse of police powers is a Very Good Thing. But writing off all police officers because of the rare abuse of powers by a very few BAD officers is not smart, nor is it useful.

I couldn't agree more.

[hyteckit]

Face Down Take Down of 15 year old special ed kid for not tucking in his shirt.

Cop Caught On Camera Beating Special Education Student Marshawn Pitts (WATCH)

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by hyteckit 

Face Down Take Down of 15 year old special ed kid for not tucking in his shirt.

I was just about to post that. Bloodly disgusting.

At this rate, this thread is gonna last longer than the Hot Babes thread.

[lpkmckenna]

opps, double post.

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

Originally Posted by Snow-i 

The frustrating thing over here is that none of these people are whining about the political abuse that is blatantly unfolding right in front of us every day, and undeniably contributes to the little police abuse that exists in our society.

Or...maybe, thats not his point, and its just mine.

Either way. Start from the top if your gonna start holding people accountable for criminal action. A good place might be Rangel.

Exactly my point as well. Said perfectly.

[ghporter]

There's a front page article in today's San Antonio paper about an independent review of SAPD for both the remarkable and alarming number of officers arrested so far this year (for some BAD things, too) and for how the department somehow has lost THOUSANDS of reports on everything from single car fender benders to capital felonies. Around here police officers DO get punished. Typically not for "corruption" which seems to have been the speciality of a couple of ex-city council members (VERY low dollar corruption too-two guys went to jail for taking less than $10k TOTAL between the two of them), but for things like abusing people in custody (beatings, some sexual assaults, etc.) or for doing Bad Things while off duty (going to a bar armed when you intend to get drunk is a stupid thing in any case). Sure, we ain't Chicago or even Dallas, but we're the 8th largest city in the country...

[Rumor]

Officer resigns after alleged beating of student caught on tape - CNN.com

Sadly, things like this happen.

However, for every "bad" story you hear, there are many more "good" stories that are never heard.

On the 24th, I am going to my interview for a local police department.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Rumor 

Officer resigns after alleged beating of student caught on tape - CNN.com

Sadly, things like this happen.

However, for every "bad" story you hear, there are many more "good" stories that are never heard.

On the 24th, I am going to my interview for a local police department.

The sad part is that if I did the same things these officers do, I'd be locked up in jail for a million years, but they just have to get another job at worst. That's what really gets me. If police officers were properly punished when they do things wrong, I'd say it's a level playing field and would be less sore about it. But the fact is that the police get away with this stuff, so they're essentially advertising to the scum of the world, "Hey, come here and you can smack children around all you want and nobody can touch you." Obviously not all police officers join for that reason, but they should try to make sure none do.

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by Rumor 

Officer resigns after alleged beating of student caught on tape - CNN.com

Sadly, things like this happen.

They don't simply "happen." They happen because there are no repercussions.

I'm still waiting for this jerk to be charged and banned from policing for life. It isn't good enough if this twerp can ever carry a badge or gun. And I hope the parents take him, the board, and the police to the cleaners. That's the only way if proper policing regulations are desired.