Thursday, November 15, 2007
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8 comments:
Of course the video segment is funny as it plays to the stereotypical image of the ignorant southern redneck. The unfunny part is that the officer had no cause to use the threat and subsequent application of force to "subdue" this suspect. Hopefully this officer was subjected to sufficiently stern disciplinary proceedings so as to force him to accept his own responsibility to not use unreasonable force in dealing with citizens.
I agree. The use of pepper spray/mace was excessive force and unjustified.
The more I think of it, Earl, the more I wonder why I found this funny. This is just police bullying.
John:
I usually find myself in agreement with you more times than not; but this time, I must respectfully disagree with the claims of excessive force and police bullying.
What we have are the following:
-An inebriated "gentleman" operating a lawn mower on a county highway, with the potential of fatally harming himself and others.
-Brazenly litters in front of the officer when undergoing questioning.
-Blatant disregard of the officer when the officer asked him to step down from the lawn mower-twice-, and two more times after being warned of the consequences should he fail to comply. Moreover, the "gentleman" in question, shows further disregard for the officer as well as his own safety in his attempts to publicly urinate while standing atop the lawn mower, drunk.
Multiple requests were made with the consequences clearly stated, and this individual chose to blatantly disregard. Excessive? Unjustified? Police bullying? I think not.
Unfortunately, confrontations between police and people who are breaking the law are usually viewed in one of two ways: either the police used "excessive force" or they "let the situation get out of hand." Police respond to incentives, like everyone else.
If performing their duties in the way that gets the job done best is going to bring cries of outrage that can threaten their whole careers, many cops will tend to back off. And who pays the price of their backing off? Mainly those who are victims of the criminals in their midst.
Respectfully,
Joseph
Who initiated violence, Joseph?
The cop.
If performing their duties in the way that gets the job done best is going to bring cries of outrage that can threaten their whole careers, many cops will tend to back off. And who pays the price of their backing off? Mainly those who are victims of the criminals in their midst.
Too many 92-year old grandmothers have been gunned down by power-tripping police for me to have too much confidence in law enforcement. I want cops to be a little afraid of the consequences of their actions.
John:
Who initiated violence, Joseph??
If I am understanding you correctly, is this the barometer you use to determine unjustified and excessive force? The subject was noncompliant before and during the effect of the arrest. Does the subject bear any responsibilityfor his noncompliance? What should have the officer done, offer him a cold one down at the station?
I have been stopped by police officers in my lifetime for various traffic violations: some real, some certainly suspect. I have even been stopped simply by being a black male. Irregardless, I have always been cordial in my interactions. I have never been pepper sprayed, maced, cuffed, or beaten. In fact, I have avoided tickets even when I have deserved them.
This is not to say that there are not rogue cops; clearly there are. However the clip that you posted for "humor" does not meet that criteria in my humble opinion.
What I find more distressing is that I was completely unaware of the disproportionate violence towards elderly females at the hands of the police. If this is indeed the case, please provide the data and reference(s) regarding 92-year old grandmothers gunned down by police so that I may help in condemning this brutal practice.
Best,
Joseph
With respect, perception and reality are not always the same thing. Viewed as a posting to this web-site, the video is questionably humorous. Viewed from the perspective of a civilian review board, this video would at a minimum give cause for concern as to how this law enforcement officer handled an intoxicated suspect.
From a layman's point of view, this officers conduct was at least questionable if not completely inappropriate. There was no cause for the officer to use force which in this instance gives every impression of being excessive.
My good friend, Tim, showed me this clip at HDD last week. The behaviors of the lawnmower rider and the cop were so absurd as to have me suspecting that the whole thing was a hoax. As of seeing your postings, I believe it to be real. REAL foolish on the part of the poor redneck on the mower, and REAL foolish on the part of the officer, whose neck is several shades redder. Needless conflict seems to be in vogue these days. It is all over prime TV. I suspect the cop watches too much of same. It is my hope that a judge chewed him a new asshole and that his superiors confiscated his pepper spray and busted him down to janitor.
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