Comments on Police BrutalityTypePad2012-10-15T08:36:22ZDavid Bognerhttps://www.treppenwitz.com/tag:typepad.com,2003:https://www.treppenwitz.com/2012/10/police-brutality/comments/atom.xml/Karl commented on 'Police Brutality'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef017c32a5c2cd970b2012-10-19T18:18:58Z2012-10-21T14:11:43ZKarlGood points by lrg and Prophet Joe. Especially the part about not backing down. Before I condemn the two officers...<p>Good points by lrg and Prophet Joe. Especially the part about not backing down. Before I condemn the two officers for their initial reaction to Halevi's resistance to arrest, I want to know what he said to the officers. That, combined with his actions, could make this situation a lot different that it appears in a silent video. As for the subsequent beat-down, that was uncalled for. I have never seen an incident where that kind of force was necessary in a situation like that.</p>
<p>I'm surprised chemical spray was used indoors. Even a short one-second burst of OC-CS can contaminate a room and affect everyone inside, including the officers making the arrest. This is where a Taser would have been handy. NYPD could have neutralized the guy from a distance and taken him down without putting a hand on him.</p>ProphetJoe commented on 'Police Brutality'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef017c32971c6f970b2012-10-17T14:45:05Z2012-10-18T10:27:34ZProphetJoeAn unfortunate event to say the least, but I'm not sure I could convict a peace officer of any wrong-doing...<p>An unfortunate event to say the least, but I'm not sure I could convict a peace officer of any wrong-doing based on this silent video. I don't know what the young man said, or how he said it, to the officers. I agree that he was moving away, but at one point he pulled up his pants. From the rear it is obvious he's pulling up his pants, but from the front it may have appeared that he was adopting a boxing stance (i.e.- a threatening position). It was just as the police man adopted the fighting stance and began punching.</p>
<p>It's my perception that, here in the US, the police will often, maybe even routinely, handcuff those involved BEFORE they get to the bottom of the story. It's seen as a way to control the situation and to avoid injury whenever possible -- both to the officers and the "person(s) of interest". It's a result of more officer injuries and more civil litigation in the last 20-30 years.</p>
<p>The problem is that police are (realistically speaking) not allowed to back down from a personal confrontation. So if the suspect is uncooperative (in any way), the police are going to charge him/her with resisting arrest or impeding an investigation, etc. Then they have a legitimate reason to use force. Never mind that he had permission to sleep there, once he says "you're not going to handcuff me" (or something similar) they have reasonable cause to use force.</p>
<p>As a follow-up, did he have any injuries of significance? If he did, then he may have grounds for a civil suit. It's probably not going to get his criminal charges dropped, but there is *some* recourse for the police using too much force.<br />
</p>Dave commented on 'Police Brutality'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef017d3cba5795970c2012-10-15T17:02:27Z2012-10-16T11:02:18ZDaveit almost looks like the Yassam police against protesters.<p>it almost looks like the Yassam police against protesters.</p>lrg commented on 'Police Brutality'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef017c328b7ef8970b2012-10-15T16:01:33Z2012-10-16T11:02:18ZlrgWe have corresponded on this before. As I watched the video, at least in Pennsylvania, I think the officers would...<p>We have corresponded on this before. As I watched the video, at least in Pennsylvania, I think the officers would not be disciplined for the initial use of force. The lack of cooperation would be enough. The later use of force, especially the truncheon appears to cross the line of excessive force under the law as I understand it. However, this would likely not result in a charge of Official Oppression, the charge here. It would practically not by itself result in dismissal and it would be a difficult civil tort or civil rights case. </p>
<p>This is the aggressive policing that people want, at least that is what the leadership thinks. Also, we live in a security state that also promotes and tolerates excessive force. </p>Anonymous Cow commented on 'Police Brutality'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef017d3cb9e130970c2012-10-15T15:06:19Z2012-10-16T11:02:18ZAnonymous CowNo, you're not. I find it unbelievable that it ends up with 10 overweight cops to take in one scared...<p>No, you're not. I find it unbelievable that it ends up with 10 overweight cops to take in one scared teenager (they needed a minyan?)</p>
<p>Apologists for the NYPD are now saying that his 'resisting arrest' justified the beat down. The volunteer security guard in the video says that he was drunk (what, a young Jewish guy, drunk, on Simchas Torah? Who could imagine?) and 'regrets having made the call'.</p>
<p>Not a good situation</p>treppenwitz commented on 'Police Brutality'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef017d3cb9ad6c970c2012-10-15T14:15:03Z2012-10-16T11:02:18Ztreppenwitzhttp://www.treppenwitz.comhmmm, it seems I might be the only one bothered by this. [shrugs]<p>hmmm, it seems I might be the only one bothered by this. [shrugs]</p>