Police

L.A. Police Shift Discipline Away From Automatic Punishments

I had no idea that any department could be so stupid to have a system of “automatic punishment.” “In a series of changes this year, direct supervisors are being encouraged to forgo suspensions of officers who they believe will change their behavior – or just made a one-time mistake – and instead opt for written warnings.” “Police officials believe the…

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Police

Officer assaults bicyclist (3): stupidy breaks out in groups

Leave it to Bike Snob NYC to give a beyond-the-obvious take on the take-down. Here is an edited version: By this point most people have seen the footage of critical mass cyclist Christopher Long getting tackled by NYPD officer Patrick Pogan. This is a classic example of the eternal conflict between the younger, more progressive generation and the older, more…

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Police

So wrong?

There’s another video of excessive NYPD use of force. This has nothing to do about bicyclists. But it is the NYPD. And brutality. And it probably won’t turn out well for the officer. At least neither of the cases directly involve race. The bike case was white on white. This is black on black (and yes, there would be a…

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Police

Officer assaults bicyclist (2): Let Them Ride

Ray Kelley, the commissioner, just came on the radio and said he “couldn’t fathom” why the officer, Pogan, did that. That means the officer is officially being fed to the dogs… hung out to dry… you might even say thrown under a bus. And since the officer is still on probation… well, it’s time to dust off the resume. You…

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Police

Officer assaults bicyclist

Luckily somebody was filming. Uh, officers, you should always police like people are filming. Especially when you know they are. As a former cop and current bicyclist, I don’t get is why the NYPD is so hellbent against Critical Mass. Other cities manage just fine. Police escort. A little traffic disruption. A lot of bicyclists have a good time. Nobody…

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Police

Liberty City Police Face Allegations Of Incompetence, Brutality

I’ve visited Liberty City. And the problems are even worse than you think. Since the surge in crime, which began on April 28 at midnight, more than 830,000 civilians have been murdered—nearly one-tenth of Liberty City’s total population. In addition, 35,000 vehicles have been reported stolen, many of which were then driven illegally over sidewalks and pedestrian walkways before plunging…

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Police

4 Philadelphia Cops Fired for Beating

The ax has started to fall in response to the Philly police beatings. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that four officers have been fired, others have been demoted and/or disciplined. Maybe this beating was an aberration, but given the mass involvement, it’s hard to imagine that this wasn’t part of the informal Philly police culture. Two of the officers were just…

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Police

Philadelphia PD shame

Philadelphia cops pulled three men out of a car and beat the crap out of them. For about 30 seconds. I find it inexcusable. I’m sure these guys who were beat are not good people. And no, I don’t know the whole story. But I can’t imagine anyscenario where it’s these beatings are justified. What were they thinking? They were…

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