Anybody seen the lovely new LA police video?

[scspook]

Originally posted by Cobra
Let's not forget that videos have also saved some Officers' careers.



Cobra

There are many Police Forces in the world who struggle to seek those video camera in the cars some of those in the US carry for that exact reason Cobra.  In Australia we are still fighting for video mounts in the Patrol Cars.  I believe one state is still conducting a trial. They have had both positive and negative results from them.

My Police Force now carrys video cameras as part of Domestic Violence kits in the boot (trunk for you Yanks) of our cars. Unfortunately they are only good if you have time to get them out and use them. Rarely the case when things go to hell in a hand basket but good for collecting evidence after an incident.

My video story

A Couple of years ago, my partner and I attended a house for a routine Noise Complaint.  A loud stereo keeping the neighbours awake.  A simple job that normally takes about 2 minutes with a Police request to turn it down more often than not complied with the first time around.

It was about 2am in the morning. The street was dark and the porch unlit.  When we arrived in the street, there were drunken youths everywhere and they littered not only the party house but the front lawns of everyone else nearby.

The usual pigsnorts and rhetorical comments followed us getting out of the car walking up to the front door. You ignore it until you get a decent excuse to arrest, depending on your mood at the time.  All we wanted to do at the time was get the job done, clean out the drunks and get back in the car.

Knocking at the door, we were met by a 16 year old female who promptly slammed the door back in our face. Knock knock knock again (a little louder this time)  Door opens, 3 large males fill the empty doorspace.  I look behind us and the steps leading up the porch we were on, had now been filled by a number of drunken teens with more coming across the yard.  

We're standing on a cement porch with an iron railing to the front door. Only one way on or off without stepping into the house or jumping the rail.  My partner also recognises the danger and asks for the light porch to be turned on.  He is informed to "F" off.

Now our simple little job no longer looks like its going to be a quick one. My partner reaches for the lightswitch located just inside the door.  His reasoning? We were now in a bad position, outnumbered by a hostile crowd and the mood was decidedly unhealthy.  As he does so, he's greeted with a punch to the arm he has extended.

All hell breaks loose.  The 3 inside the door charge us. The Crowd on the steps come up and grab at us.  Remember now, that we carry firearms along with many other nasties.  We have a responsibility to ensure those firearms remain under OUR control at all times. Whenever a Cop is involved in any struggle, his No.1 concern is his firearm. We are now getting blows to the back, back of our heads, legs face etc.  My partner and I are moving back to back giving as good as we get.  Surrounded and badly outnumbered, we both try to get to our radios to call for backup. No good.  1 hands on our firearms, the other hands assisting our feet in meeting the threat.  We are up close and personal with no room to move. You cant swing a cat let alone use a baton, torch or if we had it back then which we didnt, OC Spray.

I see my partner get thrown down the cement steps onto the grass below. The drunken youths are on top of him immediately raining blows down upon him. Im still getting my fair share up above. I jump from the railing and land on the heap below grabbing the first thing in my hand. My Maglite 6 cell torch.  No longer is it Mummy and Daddys little boy and girl on the ground who never broke the law before and wouldnt hurt a fly.  Now its almost facing a Gun day and someones going to get a hole in them.  Swinging this Maglite, I hear thuds and cracks as it meets n greets those on top of my partner.  Those who were above on the steps are now down and on me. Those who can get through the maglite  One minute im on my back covered in scumbags, the next its my partner as we watch each other and attack from side to side dependant on who's getting it worse.

We fought on Adrenalin for somewhere in the vicinity of 5 minutes.
In this time we managed 1 urgent short call to Communications who had no idea what was going on but knew enough to determine it was ugly.  We had wooden planks smashed against us, fists and feet smacking us in the head, legs, back etc and the only reason noone got shot that night was because it was safer in our predicament to have the firearm in the holster.

When the Cavalry arrived, lights and sirens blazing, 2 battered and beaten Coppers lay on the deck sucking in air amidst a pile of drunken casualties and a horde of screaming teenagers and adults running in all directions to get away.

It was estimated that there were 100 people at the party. My partner and I were fighting back to back anywhere between 20-30 of them. The others watched and urged their mates on. Noone called Police except the neighbours who didnt want to be involved.

When it all had ended, before the Cavalry even returned back to the Station some 15 minutes away, a bunch of these party dwellers where at the front desk with horrified parents making Police Complaints of Brutality.  The nasty 2 that took on 30.

A Couple of months later, im standing in the box at Court whilst the defence mouthpiece for one of the 3 in the doorway is describing the horrible injuries his client had sustained and the awful Police Brutality that took place on that night.  The scumbag was standing beside him still sporting a bandage around his head from where I put a tennis ball size hole in the side of his head with my Maglite.

Even I after still being in the box giving evidence some 4 hours after I first stepped into it, thought it sounded bad.  Then the Prosecutor steps up to the plate with a video !

"Oh Happy days" im thinking. Who's side are you on!

Turns out that one of the less than helpful neighbours that night video'ed the entire event from start to finish, including Police actions involved in the arrests of some of those responsible.

It was a beautiful thing and clear as day.  The peanut (defendant) was found guilty. The rest changed their plea's and the good guys won the day.

The best part of the day, was that the peanut had called one of his mates as a witness. He had sat outside the court all day, giving us smug looks with a face that had just "F"ed the cat and all about how he was going to screw us over and have our jobs.
I Kept silent and waited until after the Court proceedings were over where I approached him and placed him under arrest.  His mate had unwittingly presented me a gift.  This dweed had been swinging a wooden plank at my face on the night of the party and had clocked my partner over the head with it at one stage. Id been looking for him (no priors or record) ever since

For my injuries, I got nothing from Criminal Compensation. I was battered but nothing broken.  My partner suffered a broken leg amongst his bruises and recieved a pittance.  One of the defence counsels following these matters even sent a letter to the Commish praising our actions on the night in showing restraint where firearms were clearly appropriate.

(Little did he know, that had I been able to get at it safely, there'd be a few less teenagers in the world today )

Just 1 instance where Video worked for the Good Guys.

As I stated before, I dont want an Angel at my side working the job. Angels have to die to earn their wings.  None of the people at the party had Criminal records. All were Angels in mummy and daddys eyes.  And no doubt, had that neighour not had the presence of mind to video the whole thing, then they'ed have all still been angels in the eyes of the Courts and You.

[-Concho-]

My hats off to you spook, it would have been very tuff not to kill a few of them except for the fact you stated about the safety of ubholstering in that situation.

again bro,  

[midnight Target]

wow, spook

[Cabby44]

From the Spartanburg(South Carolina)Herald-Journal:


 
The Associated Press

"CHARLESTON — In a scene becoming all too familiar for law officers in South Carolina, flags have been lowered to half-staff and officers put black bands across their badges after a state trooper was gunned down at a traffic checkpoint.

Since January, four law officers have been shot and killed in South Carolina — the most killed in the line of duty in a year since four officers were killed in 1993. Two more officers were killed this year in traffic accidents on the job.

In comparison, only one law officer was killed in South Carolina last year.

‘‘In my 23 years in law enforcement, I don’t recall this many slayings of law enforcement officers in such a short period,’’ said Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner, who lost two deputies in January.

On Sunday, Highway Patrol Cpl. Kenneth Johnson, 38, was gunned down at a traffic checkpoint near Goose Creek. Funeral services are set for today.

The shootings in recent months have taken a toll on the law enforcement community.

‘‘It has certainly devastated them,’’ said the Rev. Rob Dewey of the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy, which provides counseling to crime victims and police.

‘‘They continue to do their job, but it certainly casts a pall,’’ agreed Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon. ‘‘In a sense, when a police officer is murdered, it is an attack on the institution as well as the individual involved. And that institution serves as a buffer between the good people in our society and those who would prey upon them with violent acts.’’

Berkeley County Chief Deputy Butch Henerey said there seems to be a growing lack of respect for police nationwide, and guns, drugs and alcohol make the problem worse.

‘‘You never know who’s in that vehicle, who’s at that house or what they may have been involved in,’’ he said. ‘‘Most of our calls, most of the time, we don’t know much until we get there and sometimes until it’s too late.’’

That was the case when two Beaufort County deputies were shot and killed when responding to a domestic call Jan. 8. Later that month, a Charleston police officer working off-duty as a private security guard was shot and killed in an incident in which a part-time flight nurse was also killed.

There have been other instances of violence as well.

In February, a North Charleston police officer was attacked and disarmed by an angry crowd during a disturbance at an apartment complex. In May, a gunman fired while a North Charleston officer and a Charleston County deputy fought off an unruly crowd outside a large party.

‘‘It’s been a very unusual year, and we have to remain vigilant to make sure we stay safe,’’ said North Charleston Police Chief Jon Zumalt. ‘‘We tell our officers ‘Just be safe, and don’t take any car stop or any incident for granted because anything can turn into a violent situation.’ ”

On Wednesday, the Charleston police horse patrol will escort Johnson’s casket at his funeral.

‘‘This is just unreal, and it makes you wonder just what is going on out there,’’ said Sgt. Barbara Majeske, horse patrol supervisor. The unit is honored to participate ‘‘but it’s also one of the saddest duties we have to do,’’ she said."

Any of you whining, hand-wringing Liberal-Leftists give a toejam???   Are you gonna "demonstrate" and find some Lefto Ambulance Chasers to make sure "Justice" is done???   Any of you Liberal pukes want to volunteer to confront some stranger on a dark highway somewhere in a country filled with psychos raised with the notion that the Law, Cops, Rules, etc. "suck", and that responsiblity and respect are for "suckers" and "rutabagas"???

The cop shouldn't have punched the kid, but he's human.  Who hasn't wanted to smack some amazinhunk upside the head???  If you drive to and from work everyday i bet you have felt like punching somebody's lights out several times a week.

The cop should be punished but this Leftist-Liberal   wacko witchhunt is enough to gag a maggot.................

Cabby

[Wingnut_0]

I've read thru some of the post here, and anyone that is commenting not to rush to judgement, needs a boot in the arse.
My comments below are based on many years as a patrolman.

There's 3 kinds of Police Officers:

A)  Those that want to change thier community for the better and do so fairly.

B)  Those that want to change thier community for the better but on their terms and are not objective.

C)  Those that thinks it's great to have a gun and tell people what to do.

Every area is a bit different across the country, but group A is the smallest group.  Officially it isn't but in reality it is.  Group A starts out with that attitude, and from their numbers they either become B or they get out of law enforcement when they see that it's overrun with B and C people.  An even smaller Group A remains but usually aren't in with the status quo.  

In my years I've seen too many, that cannot remain objective in their duties.  These people I've worked with are not interested in solving problems in thier communities, thier interested only in arrest.  Hell the department I worked for didn't care HOW you handled your cases, they only cared HOW MANY people you arrested and HOW MUCH drugs you confiscated.

If you can't remain objective I personally don't think you have much business being a police officer.  And NOTHING this kid did in CA merits slamming his head nor punching him after those cuffs were on.   Cops have a ton of tools and techniques at their disposal.  Some better than others, but there's enough tools at thier disposal to avoid ever placing thier fist on the badguy.

There's many cops that are B & C folks that would never do anything illegal, but those attitudes will spawn the type that would.

[Wingnut_0]

And cabby, your attempt to somehow justify his actions make me sick as well.  You pull some political witchhunt theory out of your bellybutton when there's no need.  He was caught fully on tape and deserves every bit he gets.

[scspook]

I'd be interested to know which catergory you would put yourself in Wingnut.. A. B or C.

I neither know you, nor the Department that you state you served with, but I think I know bitter ex-Cops and theres generally more to the story than what your told at first glance. Sorry mate, but you sound bitter.  That may or may not be the situation in your case.

Theres a few reasons for it, if it is. Heres 3 amongst many.

1. Wanted or Believed something would happen in your career that didnt.

2. Wasnt popular for any number of reasons in a job that prides itself internally on friendships and unspoken bonds.

3. Left the Police force on terms that werent your own.

I think your wrong on the numbers for those catergorys of yours.
I would put C at the very smallest number and B somewhere inbetween A and C with A having a clear majority.  There are bad eggs and the interpretation of Bad eggs, but you state more than 1, and more like an entire Police Department.

When you say something like that, its obvious theres more to the story than what your telling and therefore cannot be used in logical arguement.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by Hortlund

And exactly how f*cked up is it that a federal court finds the policemen guilty of violating his civil rights? In Sweden we dont allow people being tried twice for the same crime (albeit using a different law/rule). [/B]

Hats off to ya. I bet you guys wouldn't have let OJ go on the first pass.

BTW... anyone notice that the 16 year old that the cops beat up is "developmentally disabled." Read: RETARDED.

Hear that sucking sound? It's justa few police officer's careers goin down the toilet fast....

[Wingnut_0]

spook,

I would consider myself far from bitter.  I've seen too much of B & C's and finally had my last straw.  Nothing "more" to it.  The only thing I would remotely feel bitter about is the prevailing attitude that officers have about not weeding out these types.

And as you want to state it's obvious there's more to my story, I'd find it obvious that your B person.  And one that would clearly take no action even if you disagreed with what you see out on the street.

[scspook]

Noone wants bad cops on the street Wingnut. Least of all Good Cops. Someone on the take, Someone abusing power. Someone thinking their a Cowboy with a gun.  These people do not last long in an Operational area in the Force I serve.  They are weeded out early and those that somehow make it through their on road apprenticeship disguised as something else are always found out at some point, at which time, they are history.

One Cop crossing the line tarnishes us all.  It makes it harder for us to do our job which relies upon respect to do succesfully and safely.

There is no such thing as a Bad Cop.  You have Good Cops and you have Crims. You cross the line and theres no going back.The uniform or badge does not grant you immunity.

Ive seen a lot of Good Cops be called Bad Cops. I've seen it cost them their jobs when those people were desperately needed on the street doing that job. I do not agree with the system currently in place, at least in my country for dealing with allegations against Police.  You can put me in B class if you like. I can remember a time when I would have been considered an "A" class cop.  Im very cynical of Cops who hunt Cops.  More often, those that ive met who excel in this area are far worse than those they hunt.  I should know as ive been on the recieving end of the hunt.  Tho I neither consider myself a rogue cop or one who has ever or will ever cross the line.

I believe in things that are no longer fashionable in todays society.  Honour, Loyalty, Trust.  Words often quoted but very rarely lived by.  I can count those I trust implicitly on 2 or 3 fingers. I owe loyalty to those I work with. Those who watch my back as I watch theirs.  I owe honour to the position of trust, I volunteered for.  As much as there are times when I hate my job and hate what it does to me, my family and others I care about, there are times when I wouldnt trade it for a million dollars. (well ...maybe a million )

In my humble opinion, society everywhere regardless of country dictates the Police Force they get.  If they get a bad one, its a reflection of themselves. Police forces endeavour to give the public what they want. Public Servants and the people dictate Police Forces. Not Police. Those days are long gone.  I have never agreed with it and believe that, that is the reason, people like yourself see more bad than good.

Perhaps ive been lucky in that I can count those I would consider Bad Cops that ive come across in 12 years on one hand.  Not all from my Police force either. Perhaps im a little more forgiving or..im completely wrong.  I will however consider myself lucky, if on the day I leave the job, whatever the reason, I can leave with the fond memories one should take with them after years of Public Service and not have to look back in regret and wish i'd never joined at all.

Its a shame, your experience was not what you expected. Life rarely meets our expectations. There is good in the job and the job has Good people on the whole. I hope your experience doesnt continue to tarnish your opinion on all Police.  Your experiences sound like the exception rather than the rule.

I'd find it obvious that your B person. And one that would clearly take no action even if you disagreed with what you see out on the street.

Im a Patrol Supervisor. My people are very important to me. If one of them should screw up and cross the line however. Rest assured, both they and I know, their prettythang is grass. No ifs, buts or maybe's.

[Staga]

If cops can't obey laws they are working in wrong side of fence.

[Masherbrum]

No one should be bent out of shape.  If you would DO ANYTHING like what was shown on the video (not condoning it either).  You'd think they would have done this back at the station.  However, there is more to this than is being told.

Now, in defense of the police officers.  Take Rodney King.  EVERY American was disturbed at the video.  Yes they were.  BUT, what the media left out was that he drove for 20 miles, nearly wrecked 19 times, flipped off the 6 cruisers chasing him at the constant speed of 100mph.  Nevermind he was DRUNK and on PCP.  Americans were NEVER told that.  You only saw the tazers (umm, PCP, yeah those will work).  

God why does the media control peoples emotions?  LA residents burn their neighborhoods for a drug user.   Just another day in America I guess.

Masher

[Eagler]

aren't all of them?

now trying to stick the Pres & VIP with some sort of accounting fraud as to lump them into an Enron & Worldcom type. <-all in time for 11/2002

the left will be the downfall of this nation, the majority will be so brainwashed by then, they won't even realize it

[Masherbrum]

Preach to me brother Eagler!!!

Masher

[AKIron]

Originally posted by Wingnut_0
I've read thru some of the post here, and anyone that is commenting not to rush to judgement, needs a boot in the arse.

Rushing to judgment is almost always an emotional response and it just isn't smart. It is never unwise to get all the facts before making a judgement and I'm pretty sure that no one here, you included, have all the facts. Nor do you have the authority to judge, unless you plan to engage in rioting if his department heads and/or courts don't find the way you want.