Police Brutality in the Cell Phone/Internet Video Age

Nat · 10-23-2011, 12:27 AM

I ran across a photo of a little girl being maced by a cop in Brazil - couldn't tell if maybe it was photoshopped because it was so weird. Started googling - found news stories from Brazil saying it did happen and naming the cops.

Went to youtube and searched - ran across videos of police being what appears to be violent and unreasonable. I think of cameras as being one of our safeguards against the police - at least in court - but I think I've read lately that cops are increasingly aggressive toward the people with the camera.

It's really crazy what you find on youtube. It's hard to know what's real and what's not. Anybody can edit a video or photo now who has access to basic software - thanks to technology. Still - I don't see how editing could explain some of the stuff out there. I don't want to live in a world where this stuff happens.

I remember how powerful and terrible the images of the Rodney King beating were when they came out. But now a simple search on youtube shows some pretty disturbing stuff and nobody bats an eye. And juries side with the cops, even with video evidence - in the case of Rodney King and more recently with the guy who was shot by BART officers. I think in the BART shooting, a cop did try to take the camera away from one of the people who filmed it, but thankfully she was on the subway and she escaped the cop with her cellphone of truth.

Nat · 10-23-2011, 12:28 AM

Nat · 10-23-2011, 12:33 AM

This one's from 96

Nat · 10-23-2011, 12:36 AM

This cop thought he got short-changed at a drive-thru

Nat · 10-23-2011, 01:13 AM

Nat · 10-23-2011, 01:15 AM

Lazy Daze · 10-23-2011, 02:19 PM

I too work in law enforcement, have for 5 years.

Let me first start by saying.....just because we put on a badge, does NOT make us perfect! Yes, we are held to a higher standard, looked upon as "perfection", but when I go home at night, take off my duty belt, and step out of my uniform, I am just like YOU! Human!

I agree, some officers cross the line. Sadly, they are the ones who get the media, the recognition, the generalization for the rest of us...bad. I am sure there are a LOT less articles, videos, etc of officers who do above and beyond our job each and every day. And what about those officers and their families who make the ultimate sacrifice and are killed while protecting and serving??

As Bard pointed out, several videos show only the footage they Want you to see. Do you know what happened Before the camera "turned on"? Do you know the stress? Do you know if that officers life was endangered??

I would welcome Anyone to attend some of our training sessions. Learn the Use of Force continum that we model after. Be put into the dangers of the job daily..and Then pass judgement. Yes we are trained, we are suppose to live to a higher standard, but no amount of training will "take over" natural instincts when your life is being threatened.

As for Taser..when it is used properly, it is, in my opinion, one of the best defenses we have on the market. In our department, we are required to be tased in order to carry. Yes, I was tased! I carry it! I use it! It has saved my ass several times! I encourage you to look at all the continuing research that Taser has posted on their site..www.taser.com.

I am sure if you asked my partner or Bard's, they would tell you what it is like each and everyday to kiss us good bye, and know that there is a chance we won't come back home.

Again, I by all means am NOT condoning the actions of theses officers, but I'm giving u the perspective of an officer.

AtLast · 10-23-2011, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazy Daze

I too work in law enforcement, have for 5 years.

Let me first start by saying.....just because we put on a badge, does NOT make us perfect! Yes, we are held to a higher standard, looked upon as "perfection", but when I go home at night, take off my duty belt, and step out of my uniform, I am just like YOU! Human!

I agree, some officers cross the line. Sadly, they are the ones who get the media, the recognition, the generalization for the rest of us...bad. I am sure there are a LOT less articles, videos, etc of officers who do above and beyond our job each and every day. And what about those officers and their families who make the ultimate sacrifice and are killed while protecting and serving??

As Bard pointed out, several videos show only the footage they Want you to see. Do you know what happened Before the camera "turned on"? Do you know the stress? Do you know if that officers life was endangered??

I would welcome Anyone to attend some of our training sessions. Learn the Use of Force continum that we model after. Be put into the dangers of the job daily..and Then pass judgement. Yes we are trained, we are suppose to live to a higher standard, but no amount of training will "take over" natural instincts when your life is being threatened.

As for Taser..when it is used properly, it is, in my opinion, one of the best defenses we have on the market. In our department, we are required to be tased in order to carry. Yes, I was tased! I carry it! I use it! It has saved my ass several times! I encourage you to look at all the continuing research that Taser has posted on their site..www.taser.com.

I am sure if you asked my partner or Bard's, they would tell you what it is like each and everyday to kiss us good bye, and know that there is a chance we won't come back home.

Again, I by all means am NOT condoning the actions of theses officers, but I'm giving u the perspective of an officer.

There have been quite a few cases here in CA that are examples of what you and bard are talking about- what was the full context of the incident? I don't think it is fair to show one portion of what was going on and to be honest, it isn't right for the media to blast these tapes until they have been checked out and without full details. Probably not much can be done about this and to me, it could be media misconduct- irresponsibility in reporting. As a citizen, I want the true facts and the whole story.

Some of these situations here have led to officer's being disciplined (or even to criminal charges and fired) because the internal investigations did see that there was misconduct.

I remember seeing s program about how some police departments have had "innocent" people get hurt while they are trying to act and those people had been hurt do to the interference of someone trying to videotape what was going on and got in the way or distracted the officers and they missed things like a weapon being drawn and shots fired that hit just someone in a neighborhood who came outside to see what was going on or hit through a window, perhaps just out taking a jog or run. Or an officer is hit. Always two sides to a story.

These images bother me, but I also know that they may not be the whole story. If it is shown that an officer (s) are doing wrong, then they should be prosecuted or disciplined by their superiors. And if someone gets an innocent person (or officer) hurt or killed because they are totally focused on a video tape and have no official capacity in being part of an arrest, let's say, they ought to be held accountable. No, I would not want to be partnered or married to a cop- it is a very dangerous job.

I do see the positive side to tasers, but I hope police departments are given all of the facts by manufacturers.

10-23-2011, 12:27 AM	#1
Nat Senior Member How Do You Identify?: bigender Preferred Pronoun?: whatevs Relationship Status: in a relationship Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tx Posts: 3,535 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 11,042 Thanked 13,965 Times in 2,589 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	Police Brutality in the Cell Phone/Internet Video Age I ran across a photo of a little girl being maced by a cop in Brazil - couldn't tell if maybe it was photoshopped because it was so weird. Started googling - found news stories from Brazil saying it did happen and naming the cops. Went to youtube and searched - ran across videos of police being what appears to be violent and unreasonable. I think of cameras as being one of our safeguards against the police - at least in court - but I think I've read lately that cops are increasingly aggressive toward the people with the camera. It's really crazy what you find on youtube. It's hard to know what's real and what's not. Anybody can edit a video or photo now who has access to basic software - thanks to technology. Still - I don't see how editing could explain some of the stuff out there. I don't want to live in a world where this stuff happens. I remember how powerful and terrible the images of the Rodney King beating were when they came out. But now a simple search on youtube shows some pretty disturbing stuff and nobody bats an eye. And juries side with the cops, even with video evidence - in the case of Rodney King and more recently with the guy who was shot by BART officers. I think in the BART shooting, a cop did try to take the camera away from one of the people who filmed it, but thankfully she was on the subway and she escaped the cop with her cellphone of truth. __________________ I'm a fountain of blood. In the shape of a girl. - Bjork What is to give light must endure burning. -Viktor Frankl

10-23-2011, 12:28 AM	#2
Nat Senior Member How Do You Identify?: bigender Preferred Pronoun?: whatevs Relationship Status: in a relationship Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tx Posts: 3,535 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 11,042 Thanked 13,965 Times in 2,589 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	__________________ I'm a fountain of blood. In the shape of a girl. - Bjork What is to give light must endure burning. -Viktor Frankl

10-23-2011, 12:33 AM	#3
Nat Senior Member How Do You Identify?: bigender Preferred Pronoun?: whatevs Relationship Status: in a relationship Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tx Posts: 3,535 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 11,042 Thanked 13,965 Times in 2,589 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	This one's from 96 __________________ I'm a fountain of blood. In the shape of a girl. - Bjork What is to give light must endure burning. -Viktor Frankl

10-23-2011, 12:36 AM	#4
Nat Senior Member How Do You Identify?: bigender Preferred Pronoun?: whatevs Relationship Status: in a relationship Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tx Posts: 3,535 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 11,042 Thanked 13,965 Times in 2,589 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	This cop thought he got short-changed at a drive-thru __________________ I'm a fountain of blood. In the shape of a girl. - Bjork What is to give light must endure burning. -Viktor Frankl

10-23-2011, 01:13 AM	#5
Nat Senior Member How Do You Identify?: bigender Preferred Pronoun?: whatevs Relationship Status: in a relationship Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tx Posts: 3,535 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 11,042 Thanked 13,965 Times in 2,589 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	__________________ I'm a fountain of blood. In the shape of a girl. - Bjork What is to give light must endure burning. -Viktor Frankl

10-23-2011, 01:15 AM	#6
Nat Senior Member How Do You Identify?: bigender Preferred Pronoun?: whatevs Relationship Status: in a relationship Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tx Posts: 3,535 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 11,042 Thanked 13,965 Times in 2,589 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	__________________ I'm a fountain of blood. In the shape of a girl. - Bjork What is to give light must endure burning. -Viktor Frankl

10-23-2011, 02:19 PM	#7
Lazy Daze Member How Do You Identify?: * Preferred Pronoun?: * Relationship Status: * Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: * Posts: 1,036 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,665 Thanked 2,807 Times in 745 Posts Rep Power: 21474851	I too work in law enforcement, have for 5 years. Let me first start by saying.....just because we put on a badge, does NOT make us perfect! Yes, we are held to a higher standard, looked upon as "perfection", but when I go home at night, take off my duty belt, and step out of my uniform, I am just like YOU! Human! I agree, some officers cross the line. Sadly, they are the ones who get the media, the recognition, the generalization for the rest of us...bad. I am sure there are a LOT less articles, videos, etc of officers who do above and beyond our job each and every day. And what about those officers and their families who make the ultimate sacrifice and are killed while protecting and serving?? As Bard pointed out, several videos show only the footage they Want you to see. Do you know what happened Before the camera "turned on"? Do you know the stress? Do you know if that officers life was endangered?? I would welcome Anyone to attend some of our training sessions. Learn the Use of Force continum that we model after. Be put into the dangers of the job daily..and Then pass judgement. Yes we are trained, we are suppose to live to a higher standard, but no amount of training will "take over" natural instincts when your life is being threatened. As for Taser..when it is used properly, it is, in my opinion, one of the best defenses we have on the market. In our department, we are required to be tased in order to carry. Yes, I was tased! I carry it! I use it! It has saved my ass several times! I encourage you to look at all the continuing research that Taser has posted on their site..www.taser.com. I am sure if you asked my partner or Bard's, they would tell you what it is like each and everyday to kiss us good bye, and know that there is a chance we won't come back home. Again, I by all means am NOT condoning the actions of theses officers, but I'm giving u the perspective of an officer. __________________ *In a world where you can be anything..be Yourself*