Where's The Lead-In

Some conservatives are using this video showing a male police officer punching a woman in the face as "proof" that blacks in America are completely unhinged.



My first question, as always when presented with specious video evidence such as this, is where's the lead-in to what's shown in the clip? Why were these women stopped by this officer? If this really was a jay-walking incident, then how did it escalate to such a heated and physical exchange? There's much more to this story than what we are being told.

This Is How It Starts

Yeah, conservative rhetoric and draconian immigration laws would never lead to violence against innocent people.

On April 17th, the Seattle Police Department’s gang unit responded to a 911 call made by a man who claimed that he was robbed by four Latino men with a machete. One of those officers who responded to the call detained a Latino male suspect, threatened to “beat the [expletive] Mexican piss out” of him, and kicked him in the head. The suspect was later released after police confirmed that he had nothing to do with the alleged robbery.

Think Progress has more.

And while the officer has issued an apology ( was he fired? ) and the US Department Of Justice is investigating, it's this type of scenario that is likely to occur again once the Arizona immigration law goes into full effect.

It will never cease to amaze me when I hear conservatives claim that they are a "peaceful" grouping of people and their words and deeds never lead to violence against anyone. I wonder how many of them have seen this video?

To "Protect" And "Serve"?

This video link was sent to me this afternoon. It's not like most "police-overreact" videos:



While I didn't know any of the story behind this, there were many telling images that let me know that this officer had no right to draw his firearm and discharge it into a subdued "suspect"

Then, I found LatinoDem's diary at DailyKos

The police officer, Johannes Mehserle, 27, has gotten a lawyer and submitted a letter of resignation rather than answer questions at the Internal Affairs interview.
The officer also apparently released a statement
"Mehserle is described as "devastated" over the shooting, but has yet to give a statement to investigators. Johnson said the delay was caused when Mehserle's attorney showed up at the station within two hours of the shooting and invoked the officer's right to "retain counsel and not say anything."

And so many people wonder why so many cannot trust those intended to "protect" us.

After watching this, I began to ask myself many questions. Why was Oscar Grant subdued? Why did the officers involved feel threatened to the extent that they were willing to end this man's life? What are we not seeing in this video?

There are far too many episodes of police using excessive force and then are able to justify their actions under vague generalizations that are protected simply because they are who they are.

Cops Get Away With It Too

It's not just celebrities that get "special treatment" when they find themselves in situations where "average" citiziens would have multiple sentences leveled against them.

Two NYC cops - both caught on film - have blatantly assaulted citizens.

Are we to be shocked?

Not at all.

It has become common-place. They will keep their jobs, their "pay-grade", their status in life that says "you are above the law".

Video here

The New York Police Department is embroiled in controversy after a video has surfaced showing an officer brutally beating a man with a metal baton while he lays on the ground. This is the second time this week that an NYPD officer has been caught on camera in an act of seeming police brutality.

And from The New York Times, a story of a cop that attacked a guy on a bike.

A New York City police officer was stripped of his gun and badge on Monday after an amateur video surfaced on the Internet showing him pushing a bicyclist to the ground in Times Square during a group ride on Friday evening.

The cyclist, identified in court papers as Christopher Long, 29, was taking part in a monthly ride, called Critical Mass, that often draws hundreds of riders. In a criminal complaint against Mr. Long, the officer, identified in the court documents as Patrick Pogan of the Midtown South precinct, says that the cyclist rode straight into him. But the video, posted on YouTube and on the blog Gothamist.com, shows the officer lunging toward Mr. Long.

Believe it or not, the court papers read that the man "used a weapon to run down the officer".

I know that being a police officer is a dangerous job. I even know that there are "good cops". But why is it so difficult for any cop that viloates to law to be completely removed from his job?

Are police officers are "trained" to see everyone as a "potential threat", a target? Whom are they protecting and whom are they serviing?

No, not everyone can be Serpico, but the fact that so many cops get away with beatings ( and worse ) is beyond sad.