Police Brutality Tells Us More About Society Than Those Who Police It

Police misconduct is not unique to the LAPD, currently the Justice Department is investigating the Police Departments of 15 major American cities because of excessive reports of police misconduct. This problem is also not unique to American cities, there is evidence of police brutality and misconduct in every rural and urban corner of this nation.

From January 2010 through December 2010 the National Police Misconduct Statistics and Reporting Project recorded 4,861 unique reports of police misconduct that involved 6,613 sworn law enforcement officers and 6,826 alleged victims.

4,861 – Unique reports of police misconduct tracked
6,613 - Number of sworn law enforcement officers involved (354 were agency leaders such as chiefs or sheriffs)
6,826 - Number of alleged victims involved
247 – Number of fatalities associated with tracked reports
$346,512,800 – Estimated amount spent on misconduct-related civil judgments and settlements excluding sealed settlements, court costs, and attorney fees.

There are at least two groups on Newsvine focused on bringing these stories to light, Police Brutality & Impropriety and Official Abuse & Misconduct.

However American civilians are not the only ones that suffer as a result of the "war in the streets". As reported by the official Officer Down Memorial Page, during last year, 167 U.S. police officers died in the line of duty, of which 65 were killed by gunfire and 12 killed by vehichle assault. Many of their stories can be seen at Newsvines Officer Down Memorial Group

See also; "Rampart" trailer

2 votes

#1 - Fri Feb 3, 2012 10:30 AM EST

Well Jer', you know how I see it.

But I think you hit the nail right on the head here.

Todays Police are nothing more than a general reflection of our entire society. Yes, the Piggies are in theory supposed to be above the rest. They are supposed to be the "honest" ones in society.

But what or who is considered honest by American standards anymore? As a society we are spoiled and self centered.

As a society.

So of course the corruption and bull@!$%# will spill into the very people who are supposed to be abvove it.....

2 votes

#1.1 - Sun Feb 5, 2012 7:24 AM EST

Yes, the Piggies are in theory supposed to be above the rest.

In theory I'm supposed to be surrounded by naked women.

1 vote

#1.2 - Mon Feb 6, 2012 12:02 PM EST

js-445607

I would think since the police work for us we need to become better employers. I've run across quite a bit of unwarranted police brutality and abuse from living in a big city. Most officers are honorable and dedicated but those that are on a control freak authoritarian mindset are festering boils on any department. The police force is a haven for the abusive, the cowards and the bullies that need authorization to attack those they do not like or approve of. I think the public needs to be exposed to these offenses yet most are kept "private" and are swept under the rug.

Great article Jerry, thanks.

3 votes

#2 - Sun Feb 5, 2012 5:07 PM EST

Most officers are honorable and dedicated but those that are on a control freak authoritarian mindset are festering boils on any department.

This is very true, the problem is the police departments are letting those boils fester.

2 votes

#2.1 - Mon Feb 6, 2012 12:08 PM EST

js-445607

The police departments are letting those boils fester indeed, Jerry. In the experiences I've observed when the truth comes out the offenders have been practicing far too long to be reasonable. In some cases of abuse there were incidents of drugs stolen, possessions taken, sexual abuse plus brutality. It blew my mind that these offenses had gone on for more than a year or two before the offender was taken off active duty. So, the police officers that turn a blind eye on their coworkers are as guilty as those that are committing these crimes.

2 votes

#2.2 - Mon Feb 6, 2012 12:45 PM EST

keith in DSM

With all the retired people out there, I bet we would have no problem sitting up a voluntary police revue board in every city, if they were allowed. The question is, why don't we have these voluntary revue boards in place?

1 vote

#2.3 - Mon Feb 6, 2012 3:04 PM EST

The question is, why don't we have these voluntary revue boards in place?

Most, municipalities have what are know as "Civilian Review Boards"

Here is a viewpoint from the a police organization perspective;

OFFICER.com

Elected officials, community leaders, activists, and others have come to the conclusion that we, the police, must have oversight from outside our departments. They are asking or demanding an external process be put into action. This process is known as a civilian review board. Some have little power to do anything. Others are given subpoena power, access to active crime scenes, and conduct public hearings. Are these the wave of the future or a thing of the past? Whatever we think or believe, they are here and we have to accept them. So, the question begs to be asked, "How should we react?" Read more;

2 votes

#2.4 - Mon Feb 6, 2012 3:19 PM EST

JERRY

well this writer made up his mind to use a reasonable approach to his objective in this story and it comes out providing a fair view from both sides of the struggle that occurs in the criminal, law enforcement game.

2 votes

#3 - Mon Feb 6, 2012 6:08 AM EST

The bad guys think it's a game, but the cops are supposed to be the referees of the game not participants.

1 vote

#3.1 - Mon Feb 6, 2012 12:15 PM EST

jerry

not sure how serious you are about this last statement because if you are, then in being completely honest-- no different then a real referee ===sometimes they make the right call but get all sorts of slack for it

thus its not always fun to be the referee especially when people hate to acknowledge the fact that the CALL WAS RIGHT!!!

#3.2 - Tue Feb 7, 2012 12:14 AM EST

Just as you Piggies hate to acknowledge the fact when the CALL WAS WRONG!!!

#3.3 - Tue Feb 7, 2012 1:35 AM EST

SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE

This was based his comment using that sports analogy,but yes you are correct, minus the sports analogy we do hate to accept when we make mistakes in handling some situations.

#3.4 - Tue Feb 7, 2012 5:44 AM EST

I wouldn't know, as I've never made a mistake.

Rotflmao!

Jk. Nope, it's a hard thing to do. Thats for sure! Especially if your a hard headed @!$%#er like us!

#3.5 - Tue Feb 7, 2012 6:56 AM EST

they make the right call but get all sorts of slack for it

thus its not always fun to be the referee especially when people hate to acknowledge the fact that the CALL WAS RIGHT!!!

It's never a "right call" when a cop beats up a suspect or prisoner.

1 vote

#3.6 - Tue Feb 7, 2012 11:12 AM EST

jerry

SEE how you are, you just cant SEE what your words implied, even SFV got the point of how your words made in a sports analogy can be seen.

It was just a observation, it wasn't about WHAT OFFICERS do right or wrong it was about HOW officers are forced to do there job and even if they do it right if can be twisted to appear wrong.

SFV and myself get it, he knows certain cops do bad things because they can(and shouldn't) -- but he also knows that cops can do all the right things and still end up in a meeting or review board or in a hearing(because the person is petty or cant admit there wrong)

thus giving your example of being a referee. A cop is a dammed if he does and dammed if he doesnt .

SO we weren't talking about right or wrong == ugh jerry come on man!

#3.7 - Tue Feb 7, 2012 7:46 PM EST

"....but he also knows that cops can do all the right things and still end up in a meeting or review board or in a hearing..."

The problem is "the right thing" is usually established by the police departments, and the degree of force the departments allow an officer to use is often much more severe than the general public is comfortable with.

Of course there are cases where an officer is accused of excessive force or other misconduct that results in a hearing, ending with the officer being cleared. However, most of the cases we discuss on this forum have clear evidence of brutality on video tapes and/or the obvious physical condition of the suspect.

No matter what a suspect said or did to enrage the cops, police officers are supposed to be more professional than to become enraged. Stomping and beating abusive or unruly detainees senseless, sometimes requiring hospitalization, is simply not going to be tolerated by the public.

There are rogue cops and bullies on every police force, it is up to the administrators of police departments to identify and quickly remove those cops from their ranks.

1 vote

#3.8 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 11:23 PM EST

jerry

1st off be clear, about something, your scope is not relative to that of calls for service. for one use of force (proper or not) there are 10 calls where nothing happens.

the fact that a HUMAN ELEMENT cant be removed is just that. There are cops who as you explain should be courteous and respectful and kinda and gentle, and for 95 or more percent those men and women are.

But there are times moments and actions where WHAT IT TAKES to regain control of a situation can on video and in real time, make the general public wonder WHY so much force.

And you are correct when actions appear on its face to be out of control the process should be followed to verify was that action nessecary. And when it is not then that officer policy wise or criminal should be held to that standard.

But there is also a large segment of the public that is tired of seeing and hearing half the story, they are tired of getting the EDITED versions on youtube or hearing the one side of story and they are really tired of seeing how suspects MADE A CHOICE THAT had the police officer react the way he or she did.

This comes down to perception JERRY and in ANY BUSINESS there are rogue EMPLOYEES and being in a public job such as the police allows the actions to be open to criticism and police administrators should be the ones to stand fast and make sure they have a line that officers respect and it does not cris cross, so the right action can be taken at times when clearly the use of force was wrong.

But there also has been a push by some in the public that want to get both sides and is tolerant or patent enough to wait and find out. And when there is more to the story and the facts support a non finding of guilt or policy violations or no need for criminal action, most agree after they get that information that the administrator made the right call.

so again its a matter of perception and the public is being coming wise based on the crap cops deal with that make the news that not everything is produced to show the cops in a bad light is the real deal.

#3.9 - Thu Feb 9, 2012 12:28 AM EST

"But there is also a large segment of the public that is tired of seeing and hearing half the story."

That would be society dealing w/ the Police also. The Internet and Cell Phones are the worst thing to happen to you people. In a large portion of the time, your bull@!$%# is now caught on video.

So your 1/2 truth stories on how they were "resisting" all the damned time doesn't hold water anymore. Would that be the 1/2 truths you are talking about?

And sorry, but when you put the Piggie Hide on, "Human Element" doesn't mean squat. Violate the rules or law and you should be done. Period.

Just as we are when you cuff and stuff us for doing the same type of @!$%#. Being a Piggie doesn't give you a new set of rules to go by.

Plus theres the fact that the 'Human Element" has alot to do with 85% of the calls you respond to. Wheres your compassion and understanding for the Human Element when it comes to all of the people you arrest for doing the same @!$%# you do?

What, civilians need to be arrested for it, but Piggies need to be given a pass on it? Because they have to deal with bull@!$%#?

Ummm, heres a little piece of information for you.

You volunteer for it. You ask for it. So if you can't handle the heat, you really shouldn't...well, jump in the pot. So it's simple.

1/2 truths most definately go both ways. And it's obvious that you can't just take a cops word anymore. A cops word isn't worth any more than the average subjects. So save that nonsense.

so again its a matter of perception and the public is being coming wise based on the crap cops deal with that make the news that not everything is produced to show the cops in a bad light is the real deal.

That would be correct. Thus all the uprising against you. The bull@!$%# you people do is the real deal. Maybe not all of it, but it's just as real as the good you people do.

Perception tends to be reality. Not always, but most of the time.....well, video/audio just doesn't lie. Lips do.....

#3.10 - Thu Feb 9, 2012 4:36 AM EST

SFV

well your calmer then normal reply makes some good points and i am glad you were able to find some points that allow for the go around, such as the human element.

We can go around but we wont because the human element comes into play in your world too,referencing the criminal minded, but to your absolutely correct about the CANT TAKE THE HEAT type comments then you shouldn't be police, and there is alot of truth to that.

so in keeping it light, and so we don't go around and around, your last sentence sums it up very well.

#3.11 - Thu Feb 9, 2012 5:52 AM EST

cj,

We need to get something straight here, your comments to me always imply that I am trying to make all cops look bad, that the articles I seed, and negative comments I make are somehow anti-police.

There is in fact, way too much police abuse and brutality going on in this country. The purpose of these seeds is to expose that abuse and misconduct. The United States Department of Justice is currently investigating the police departments of 15 major U.S. cities because of excessive reports of abuse and misconduct.

The truth of the matter is, there are rouge cops and bullies on every police force in this country, and we need to ~~encourage~~ demand that the police administrators remove those cops from their ranks. Permanently.

I have a feed from the The National Police Misconduct Statistics and Reporting Project fed by Injustice Everywhere that reports 15 or 20 incidents of police misconduct ..... every day!

However, I also have a feed from the Officer Down memorial Page that informs me of any LEO that dies in the line of duty. I seed those articles as well whenever the cause of death is by gunfire or some other violent attack on a police officer.

So don't try to paint me as someone that is always down on the police and is treating the cops unfairly when I seed these articles.

What I am down on is the escalation of violence between the police and the public they are supposed to be protecting. The exposure of that violence is the only way the problem will be solved.

1 vote

#3.12 - Thu Feb 9, 2012 3:50 PM EST

jerry

yes there are rogue cops and they DO need to be removed but then there are GREAT OFFICERS that have to make real time choices based on a sitation and react.

And when you post an article to suggest they didnt and yet the facts say they did, then i am going to stand on that side and attempt to remind some folks to make sure they seek the full picture.

But cleary as even SFV knows some people only respond to violence and when a officer has to react to offset choices by a suspect then if it is done correctly then that should be pointed out.

How people feel about that officers action is how they feel but doesnt mean they are wrong because you posted it.

in the end its A GOOD THING when you do provide those articles that expose rogue cops and there selfish actions

and its good for you to hope you get the same amount of response to the officers down page, but im here to remind some folks that how they think and how it is, doesn't make the actions of the officer wrong.

so i look forward to the next article and my ability to defend the actions of the officer but as you and sfv know those stories appear to be far less available.

#3.13 - Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:36 AM EST

Examples of the Justice System Gone Awry

"....but as you and sfv know those stories appear to be far less available."

You have got to be kidding!

All anyone needs to do is click on the Injustice Everywhere link to see how ridicules a comment that is. Here, I'll do it for you; (Complete with links to the full stories)

Here are the 15 reports of police misconduct tracked in our National Police Misconduct News Feed for this Wednesday, February 9, 2012:

Memphis TN cop gets 8 years for shooting himself in a bid to get the attention of an underage girl he liked then falsely accusing the teen's relative of shooting him, apparently after having the teen's home shot up, plotting to have her boyfriend shot, and giving her drugs as well. [0] bit.ly/z0u8nR

Palm Beach Gardens FL cop was sentenced to 1 year in jail on a sexual battery charge for groping a cuffed woman in the back of a cruiser [0] bit.ly/xHTF3y

Boone IA cop charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and dissemination of obscene material to a minor [0] bit.ly/x8hHBM

Winnemucca NV cop pleads guilty to exchanging over 2,400 explicit text messages in span of two weeks with a 15yr-old girl [0] bit.ly/vZ8blI

Honolulu HI cop failed to show up at sentencing for sexually assaulting prostitute because he allegedly fled to Morocco [0] bit.ly/A2T37X

Gary IN police officer to face misdemeanor battery charge over altercation with 71yr-old man at VFW post [0] http://bit.ly/w7fbHo

Braddock PA cop facing burglary/bribery trial now faces more charges for stealing from evidence & coercing a prostitute to take part in a fake sting op where he stole money from a deaf man he pretended to arrest. [0] bit.ly/Aucd9d

Bay City MI cop accused of finding athelete in restaurant to give him ticket over his FB post about profiling stop [4] bit.ly/wqoDmg

Lakewood WA cop charged w/embezzling $120k from fund established for cops killed on duty, used it on Vegas trips [0] bit.ly/zBjDnZ

2 Toronto ON cops under investigation into what happened to cash raised by t-shirt sales for fallen cop's kid [0] bit.ly/zSqRD2

Jefferson Parish LA deputy resigns in an insurance fraud scandal involving 2 New Orleans cops, one of which committed suicide over the allegations. [0]bit.ly/zd4cCf

Kansas City MO cop fought off 7 cops who peppersprayed her & forced her into restraint chair after DUI arrest [0] bit.ly/zeBK7b

Marion Co IN deputy arrested on public intox charges threatened troopers saying "my people will handle this" [0] bit.ly/zUAr2B

Dallas TX police officer arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, on restricted duty while investigated [0] bit.ly/xsDXKf

Prince George's Co MD cop suspended after arrested on drunk driving and other traffic offenses while off duty [0] bit.ly/wrxz5X

That's it for today, stay safe out there!

That is a typical day in America, as a matter of fact that is a relatively light day, sometimes there are over 30 reports. And they come in every single day!

Also cj, how many times do I have to post these statistics from that same source?

4,861 – Unique reports of police misconduct tracked
6,613 - Number of sworn law enforcement officers involved (354 were agency leaders such as chiefs or sheriffs)
6,826 - Number of alleged victims involved
247 – Number of fatalities associated with tracked reports
$346,512,800 – Estimated amount spent on misconduct-related civil judgments and settlements excluding sealed settlements, court costs, and attorney fees.

Seeing how you have nothing else to do all day cj,as you sit around babysitting Minnesotas' most wanted, I'm going to make it a point to keep you busy by posting 4 or 5 a day of the most egregious cases I have in my archives.

Anyone interested in helping expose stories of police brutality is welcome to use the Injustice Everywhere link. I have plenty of these stories backed up, because I can't keep up with them all. Just be sure to join, if you haven't done so already, the Official Abuse & Misconduct group, and seed the articles to that group.

You can also join these groups to seed these stories to;

Crime & Justice News

Law Enforcement Actions

Police Brutality & Impropriety

Question Authority

TaserWatch

#3.14 - Fri Feb 10, 2012 1:28 AM EST

Rotflmao!

Get 'em Jer'!

#3.15 - Fri Feb 10, 2012 1:51 AM EST

jerry

make up your mind, your passive aggressiveness is silly, don't assume that you know how my job goes, and you think you can keep up with my wrestling schedule cause you cant.

my point is very simple, there are 451 agencies in the state of MN and feel free to check the state police agencys of the rest of the 49 states and tell me what the total number of officer licenenses is then try to figure out what percentage of those officers in each dept have as a sustained investagation.

Your statistics are very helpful in pointing out that fact that misconduct and criminal issues do occur in this business. The reasons are not accecptable in 98 percent of them. But in the total of the statistics i produced in just MN those statistics above do not represent an large amount of misconduct compared to officers on the job.

Updated: February 6, 2012

Agency

Active
451

Types of Agency

County Sheriffs' Office
87

Municipal Police Department
342

Specialty Law Enforcement Agency
8

State Agency
6

Tribal Police Department
8

Active Peace Officers

Peace Officer

Female
1,153

Male
8,979

Part-time Peace Officer

Female
27

Male
182

Total Active Peace Officer
10,341

#3.16 - Fri Feb 10, 2012 1:53 AM EST

If you have 1 case, you have 1 to many.

CJ, you can make excuses and justifications all you want, but the fact that Piggie Misconduct is running rampant is clear to everybody who doesn't wear the piece of tin.

And heres the thing. The fact that theres so many incidents isn't really the issue. The issue with alot of us is how you people continuously get away with your bull@!$%#...the way it get's justified or swept under the rug. Like your entitled to the bull@!$%# due to the hardships of your job.

I say thats bull@!$%# and so do many others. You sign up for the bull@!$%#. You ask for it. So if you can't handle it, than you shouldn't be doing it. And it is that simple.

Yes, the Human Factor is of course always going to be there. But the Human Factor does not justify or excuse the rest of you lying and covering up for the offenders. Thats what makes ALL OF YOU look bad.

So think about that. It's not so much the dirty deeds that some of you do. It's the fact that almost ALL OF YOU lie and cover up for those deeds..........

#3.17 - Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:04 AM EST

Sfv
I have tried to be nice and calm with your replys because you have made vaild points.

its really time to grow up about what my EXCUSES ARE, your so hell bent on TRYING tell me your view of the world of pigges makes your point.

I again cant help that you keep WANTING to make a case that ONE SITUATION equals all.

stop acting that your so focused on POINTING out issues to me that doesnt RELATE to you.

for every bitch you have i can say about you and YOUR KIND, but i dont, i dont treat every inmate as if he or she is the same as the other inmate, i dont judge someones bad night in the jail as there CAPSITY in there real life.

I cant help that you have glasses on that like jerry you have chosen to believe that one equals all.

There is a lack of substance to your contuinued stance that I DO what you think makes for a great reason to whine and cry about PIGGIES.

i have provided you and jerry the factor of NUMBERS, and provided a basis where I HAVE STATED that the percentage of misconduct cases vs the officers in the field is not even close, in MN for example there are 10,000 officers of that 10,000 4-5 percent are subject to some sort of allegation or complaint.

Are some valid __yes, are some criminal---yes and should those officers be removed, charged and judged in court heck yes. but that number is nothing compared to the 95 percent of us officers who do our jobs with out issues and or officers whose dragged into petty citizen complaints out of anger vs sustainable reasons.

I have no issue OR HAVE NEVER had an issue stating that when facts provide for the truth then so be it, but i also have tried to suggest that NOT Everything is as YOU hope it can be so you can stay on your all consuming piggie hunt.

misconduct is an issue that has its place and there are officers who are guilty of actions that should result in displine to firing to jail but its not reliative to the number of officers doing the job day in and day out.

Is it great that video allows for simple facts based on actions, but there has also been video that shows officers doing there job and officers have been cleared by video too.

And like jerry, please stop suggesting i have to THINK about anything, i know my self, i know those around me. And there are those who are exactly as you describe, and over my career there actions do come back to get them.

but i also have worked with men and women, like me that show up day in and day out that have other things in there life other then work and we DONT let work define us,(i.e wrestling coach) its something we enjoy doing and comes easy to do because of our personality type.

these good men and women i work with are only focused keeping our TOUR simple and maintaining our own personal integrity and keeping an inmate alive to let a victim have there day in court or letting this inmate have his day in court and thus i dont act like i am being the judge and jury while under my care.

its all relative. You can hate us piggies and you know for a fact that there are shady officers but you also know for a fact that there officers who arent and i just believe there are more of them then the other -- and as your tell by the time stamp it is breakfest time and court pull.

no time to spell check the book i just wrote -- ugh

#3.18 - Fri Feb 10, 2012 6:11 AM EST

I never said there weren't Piggies who don't try to do the right thing.

Of course there is.

However, I know this. The Piggie who will enforce the law when it comes to their own kind is almost non-existant. Maybe one out of...a million?

I couldn't help but notice that you chose not to comment on that small little fact. And thats my beef with all you Piggies. You may not commit the wrong act yourself, but you sure aren't going to do anything to stop it. And you damn sure won't rat the offender out afterwards.

Your going to lie. Your going to back your Buddy up and cover for him/her. Just as all the rest of the Piggies do under such circumstances.

Do you at least have the nuts to admit that?

And me and my kind? We could give a damn less about you and theres a multitude of reasons for that. I don't give a damn about your patience or anything else about you for that matter. I care about the local slug more than I care about you or anybody like you.

So have a nice day.....

#3.19 - Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:15 PM EST

I care about the local slug more than I care about you or anybody like you.

Please Scream, don't be putting me on the spot here. cj, may be a LEO and all that, but he's also a member of the Vine, and is entitled to the courtesies provided by the CoH

#3.20 - Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:26 PM EST

What I said is not a COH violation. Saying I dislike somebody is not a violation and saying "I care about the local Slug more than you" most certainly is not a violation. . So i'm not seeing the problem here.

#3.21 - Fri Feb 10, 2012 8:18 PM EST

"I care about the local Slug more than you" most certainly is not a violation."

I suppose it depends on your definition of "slug" I assumed you were referring to the gastropod mollusc type of slug which is not a very kind comparison.

The only other reference I know of is a slug of whiskey or a bullet.

In any definition, it is in the gray area of a CoH violation, but I know how you can get wound up, and I know how frustrating it can be dealing with cj, so I figured I should say something lest his next comment send you over the top.

#3.22 - Fri Feb 10, 2012 8:44 PM EST

JERRY

sfv wished me a good day, i mean thats progress, like i said along time ago, he is hard like jello and i am sure is just a teddy bear in real life lol lol

#3.23 - Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:21 PM EST

he is hard like jello and i am sure is just a teddy bear in real life

With his wife and kids maybe, but I've seen him really get pissed off on the Vine and I know he does get carried away sometimes. So, when his comments make me invision him with steam coming from he ears, I know it's time to send up a warning flag.

#3.24 - Mon Feb 13, 2012 5:47 PM EST