The Only Time Cops Are Punished is When They're Caught on Video

• I realize that motorcycle pigs wear those boots, but why? I seemed to be able to ride my motorcycle without knee- high shiny boots. In fact, the only motorcyclists I've ever seen wearing those are pigs. Are they supposed to be protective gear? If so, why do they wear them with short-sleeved polyester shirts which will melt into their skin if they crash and slide? Their upper bodies and unprotected faces will be mangled and burned, but they'll be in good shape from the knees down...Or maybe they wear those boots to intimidate and stomp people. Either they're stupid or they're violent and sadistic--Take your pick. And how could one watch this video and still assert that cops aren't pigs? As long as the "thin blue line" exists, cops will be pigs. What are the chances that the one in jackboots in the video hasn't acted like this before? Have any of his fellow officers reported his behavior? When you hear about criminal cops getting caught, have they EVER been reported by their fellow officers? www.injusticeeverywhere.com

• I already made my comments on the other thread. But i will say that most of the cops i know and are friends with, are getting tired of the 'blue line of brotherhood' I spoke to one last night. And as we were sitting on her deck i brought this story up. she hadn't seen it. So i brought out the computer. She was so upset. she said that cops like this give all cops bad names and reps. she told me that to be a good cop, their name/rep is all they really have to count on. She also told me that most don't trust any partners if they have them. here in our town, ours are solo cops and have no partners in the car with them. But she also told me that most of the 'old time' cops here, are being 'pushed' into retirement at a fast pace. She said that the union is the worst place and that she only goes to meetings if she HAS to be there. She has been on the force here for 16 yrs now. She was the 1st female and started on dispatch. We don't have meter maids or anything like that. She also told me that when she first went out in a car on her own, she tried making nice to citizens. And couldn't understand the anger that was directed at her. Said she figured it out after a while. It wasn't her personally. It was the uniform. I wasn't aware that there has been quite a few cops here that were fired quietly because of using police power as their God given rights. She said that now with the new rookies coming in, she is hopeful this new crop will turn out to be honest good cops. She is planning on retiring in 5 years. Said she doesn't want to go any further. She is a Captain now, but still works the streets. She refuses to take the tests they want her to to get her further promoted. She said sometimes her heart is not in her job anymore. Now this is from a cop. A good cop. And one of 5 in our force. and the 1st and only female captain in our area. So this is a sadder issue. She says there is ALWAYS a investigation going on within the force. And half expects to see her name someday on a list for IA. Been so many bad cops, that the good cops are being investigated just in case.

• i agree. it is impossible to find quality citizens to be cops now. it appears to have been impossible for decades.

• i wouldn't say the only time a cop faces disciplinary action is when he or she is caught on camera is true. i am sure when a cop sleeps with a superiors significant other, drummed up disciplinary action might appear. or if a cop is caught discussing illegal activities on a tapped phone, disciplinary action may be pursued. or if a cop has too high ethical standards, for example he or she won't go along with all the graft and corruption, all the other cops might get together and plant evidence, etc. in order to start trouble.

• Boy, if you think it's hard to find quality citizens to be cops now, just start suing them individually. Uh, I will be voting no on that proposition. *swig* =)

• Dashboard Cams and the predominance of cameras in our culture has made Police become a lot more accountable than they once were. However, without a lawyer to subpoena the incriminating Dashboard Cam videos, no Police Department is going to incriminate itself by admitting legal culpability and bringing punitive measures against the officers otherwise. Why? Because in the United States you cannot sue an individual officer of the law. You can only sue their precinct. So, if the precinct does an internal investigation and finds "no wrong doing" then that gives them legal indemnity in a Civil Court. If they terminate the officer or admit that he acted outside of the Law, then they are legally culpable for Tort damages (generally in the millions of dollar range). So, it is in their financial interests to do a sham investigation and never, ever find an officer guilty of breaking protocol...unless the whole precinct is caught with it's pants down trying to sweep it under the rug...then they'll allow the offier(s) to be scapegoats. The only solution to prevent this from continuing is to allow the individual officers to be legally accountable in Civil Suits. Then, you'll find precincts rolling over on their own right from the beginning to legally separate the actions of one of their own from the precinct lest the victim's lawyers come after them next.

• agreed on the above posts-as they all ring through with the same basic message

• Actually, the only time a lot of crimes are punished is if they are caught on camera. Lots of crimes go unpunished simply because it gets boiled down to he-said she-said and the prosecutor doesn't want to take the time to figure out who is lying. As I opined over at the original post about this incident, the man's attorney of course describes his client and pure of heart and soul to the tv news reporter, that's his job. The traffic cam video which starts immediately after the end of the news telecast video (all on the same clip posted) shows a quite different story than suggested. Cheryl, I remember that case as well and I totally agree. Just like video cams can indict the guilty, it can exhonerate the innocent, who often turn out to be the police. BTW, LEOs are not "pigs." The boots in question are worn by motorcycle cops. (Perhaps you were being funny or sarcastic. Tragic that such attempts at humor get lost in the pixel.)

• IF you don't have proof like a video or a witness, it's a cops word against yours. Since cops are already suppose to be held at a higher standard, chances are the cops word is going to win. I recently saw a segment on tv about people accusing cops of misdeeds during traffic stops. One woman (who was driving on a suspended license) accussed the cop of making her get out of her car, frisking her, fondling her breasts & putting his hands between her legs. Never happened. He never even made her step out of the car. All of this was captured on his car-cam. Had he not had that, no telling what would have happened.

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