[VIDEO] ~ Was this cop justified in punching this girl in the face?

[Krugerrand]

I'm first going to defend the jaywalking laws. They are important from a liability standpoint when a driver hits a stupid pedestrian that is not crossing properly. That said, the attempted enforcement shows the police officer has an attitude issue.

Second, the questions that comes to my mind even before considering if the punch was justified have to do with the ineptitude of this cop. He seriously lacks situational awareness. He should have been able to identify a situation that was escalating beyond of his control and taken a step back and called for support. If that meant 'jaywalkers' got away, so be it. Additionally, he punched the woman and the medical exam showed she was not injured: he needs to spend less time at Dunkin' Donuts and more time in physical conditioning.

He had one lady crawling on his back while he wrestled the other. He could have easily has he gun pulled and used against him had these been real criminals.

I'm not so concerned with the punch as with him having an attitude issue that led to trying to cite people for jaywalking. He lacked situational awareness to step back and call for backup. And, his use of force was weak.

 

[stone]

Natural result from this equation

Dangerous job + mediocre pay + little education/training needed to enter = the lower rung of humanity being cops

This isnt rocket science people. Who do you think will be cops when the above equation exists? The smart people? The thinkers and freedom lovers?? uh NOT!!!

NOW! think about "post 9-11", when the US glorified cops for some strange reason. They know they have power and they're gonna use it to extract money from the citizenry because their "jurisdictions" demand it.

"Protect and Serve" is not even in 70% of cops vocabulary.

Not all cops are idiots. Most are. We can find video after video after video depicting uncessary cop on citizen violence. Old people, women, kids, etc. NOT THUGS mind you.
Seattle is where the cop shot the kis in the subway right?? Remember that video?

Shot the kid while he was ON THE GROUND!!!

Do yourself a favor and watch this video - http://vodpod.com/watch/2093527-the...n-america-video-by-boilingfrogs-myspace-video

 

[Krugerrand]

Dangerous job + mediocre pay + little education/training needed to enter = the lower rung of humanity being cops

This isnt rocket science people. Who do you think will be cops when the above equation exists? The smart people? The thinkers and freedom lovers?? uh NOT!!!

NOW! think about "post 9-11", when the US glorified cops for some strange reason. They know they have power and they're gonna use it to extract money from the citizenry because their "jurisdictions" demand it.

"Protect and Serve" is not even in 70% of cops vocabulary.

Not all cops are idiots. Most are. We can find video after video after video depicting uncessary cop on citizen violence. Old people, women, kids, etc. NOT THUGS mind you.
Seattle is where the cop shot the kis in the subway right?? Remember that video?

Shot the kid while he was ON THE GROUND!!!

Do yourself a favor and watch this video - http://vodpod.com/watch/2093527-the...n-america-video-by-boilingfrogs-myspace-video

Welcome to the forums! Cops around my parts are very well paid.

 

[tjeffersonsghost]

Fuck no.

Also I'll be honest giving someone a ticket for jaywalking is just the cop trying to be a dick. And it wouldn't shock me if it was racially motivated. I know too many black kids who get a ticket for what is not a real crime.

I just got a $135 ticket for not wearing my seatbelt... and Im white... race has nothing to do with it, its all about money. This situation turned bad because of it. I think the cop was indeed justified because her and her friend were getting physical. When I got my seatbelt ticket I was polite and was off in 10 minutes with no problem.

I dont agree with the seatbelt laws but I dont blame the officers either I blame the morons who make the laws. If she had a problem with the jaywalking laws then she needs to join this forum and our crew and find out ways to end the nanny state and laws like Jaywalking and seatbelt laws.

 

[Icymudpuppy]

I used to think Seattle would be a cool place to live. oh well...

There are places in Washington State that are cool places to live. Seattle is not one of them unless you are a full blown socialist.

 

[roho76]

Hard to answer. The policeman acted like policemen should when his government´s authority is threatened. The individuals acted like individuals should when government fails at producing enough repression in its citizenry. Gov´t ought to be producing war propaganda to inspire nationalism, IMO.

Why am I hearing Lee Greenwood in my head after seeing your gif? My parents belong to the VFW and he is their hero. I can't even tell you how many times I have had to hear his patriotism songs. Like listening to his songs and drinking Bud Light in a smokey club room makes you a patriot.

 

[Fredom101]

Of course not. She was defending her friend, this is just yet another example of police abuse. I'm glad no one was hurt.

 

[Fredom101]

Dangerous job + mediocre pay + little education/training needed to enter = the lower rung of humanity being cops

This isnt rocket science people. Who do you think will be cops when the above equation exists? The smart people? The thinkers and freedom lovers?? uh NOT!!!

NOW! think about "post 9-11", when the US glorified cops for some strange reason. They know they have power and they're gonna use it to extract money from the citizenry because their "jurisdictions" demand it.

"Protect and Serve" is not even in 70% of cops vocabulary.

Not all cops are idiots. Most are. We can find video after video after video depicting uncessary cop on citizen violence. Old people, women, kids, etc. NOT THUGS mind you.
Seattle is where the cop shot the kis in the subway right?? Remember that video?

Shot the kid while he was ON THE GROUND!!!

Do yourself a favor and watch this video - http://vodpod.com/watch/2093527-the...n-america-video-by-boilingfrogs-myspace-video

Most/many cops are former military who were in Iraq and now have mental disorders and are taking their aggressions out on the American public. I wish this weren't true but it is. This is why we have the highest prison population per capita in the WORLD.

BTW, that cop that shot the kid on the ground was in Oakland. I think he got "suspended with pay". Great system, eh?

 

[roho76]

I just got a $135 ticket for not wearing my seatbelt... and Im white... race has nothing to do with it, its all about money. This situation turned bad because of it. I think the cop was indeed justified because her and her friend were getting physical. When I got my seatbelt ticket I was polite and was off in 10 minutes with no problem.

I dont agree with the seatbelt laws but I dont blame the officers either I blame the morons who make the laws. If she had a problem with the jaywalking laws then she needs to join this forum and our crew and find out ways to end the nanny state and laws like Jaywalking and seatbelt laws.

Go pay your state sponsored tyranny bullshit seatbelt ticket and behave little cattle. If you like being a ATM for the state that is your right. Be good and maybe they won't break into your house at 3 in the morning and shoot your entire family and then try to cover it up. Shit maybe they'll just shoot you through the door from outside like they do in Detroit then send you a bill.

Jaywalking? Really? I have never in my life heard of somebody getting a ticket for this bullshit. Is this what the state has reduced themselves too for raising revenue. It stands to reason given the incentive for cops to pay their own salaries. When faced with job cuts on the force what do you do? Start handing out more tickets.

The only problem I see is that everyone was just standing there. They should have put those cops in their place. I guarantee you if they were surrounded by a mob of angry bystanders they would think twice about handing out jaywalking tickets in the future.

 

[John E]

Regarding the law:

1. If people don't like jaywalking laws, then go and change them but as it stands they are valid laws.

2. Like a previous poster mentioned, idiots walk out in the middle of the street and get hit by a car. Its bad enough as it is for the driver but worse if the jaywalking laws are not around.


Regarding the girls:

They could've accepted the fine and fought it in court -- chances are, the fine would have been dismissed. Instead they decided to act out violently which is not the answer.


Regarding the cop:

He could have handled the situation a little better but I can't fault him for the punch when the other girl swung first.


General opinion:

Don't let judgmental attitudes blind you to the facts of the situation.

 

[Roxi]

I just got a $135 ticket for not wearing my seatbelt... and Im white... race has nothing to do with it, its all about money. This situation turned bad because of it. I think the cop was indeed justified because her and her friend were getting physical. When I got my seatbelt ticket I was polite and was off in 10 minutes with no problem.

I dont agree with the seatbelt laws but I dont blame the officers either I blame the morons who make the laws. If she had a problem with the jaywalking laws then she needs to join this forum and our crew and find out ways to end the nanny state and laws like Jaywalking and seatbelt laws.

thats CRAZY!!! a seatbelt ticket here is $10 !! where are you NY?

 

[catdd]

My guess is someone called in a complaint and the cops were trying to break up the party.
Jaywalking is one of those nit picky tickets they can write when they want to be dicks.
She messed up when she pushed the guy - people are getting tazed and shot for less than that these days.

 

[fisharmor]

2. Like a previous poster mentioned, idiots walk out in the middle of the street and get hit by a car. Its bad enough as it is for the driver but worse if the jaywalking laws are not around.

No, it's not worse. You are pulling that assertion out of thin air.
This is the same mentality that is used to defend the drug war, and it's bunk.
The law can't prevent anything. All it can do is react, and it doesn't even react by compensation - it reacts with revenge.
There is no excuse for the law exacting revenge on ordinary citizens for not crossing the street properly. That is a tyrannical law. There is no defense.

They could've accepted the fine and fought it in court -- chances are, the fine would have been dismissed. Instead they decided to act out violently which is not the answer.

No, chances are not that the fine would have been dismissed.
Until you offer evidence that the court system is not in the business of enforcing law (i.e., doing the job it is explicitly charged with), we have every reason to believe that the best case scenario would be that they would have to pay fines.

Don't let judgmental attitudes blind you to the facts of the situation.

I'm not - I'm looking at facts outside of this situation, too.
General opinion: t0rnado got it right in the very first response.

 

[JK/SEA]

Well, it could be blowback. You know Seattle, and surrounding communities are aware of Police abuse. We have had too many incidents lately that could give credence for people lashing out at police. Cops seem to be their own worst enemy.

Cop in Everett Washington gets off for murder. Shot a drunk 7 times in the back while sitting in his Corvette.

Cop shoots and kills a home owner because he protested to loudly about road crews spraying herbicides along HIS property line near Granite Falls Washington.

4 cops killed in coffee house by an angry black man tired of police abuse in Tacoma Washington.

1 cop killed by different black man in a revenge incident over a cop who assaulted a 16 y/o black female in a holding cell.

A seattle cop under investigation for assaulting a young hispanic man being 'detained' face down on the sidewalk over a mugging. Later released when determined he was innocent, but the cop was caught on tape using racial language while stomping on the kids head.

and on and on...

yep...blowback is a bitch.

 

[JP2010]

I see it as justified. She assaulted a police officer who was in the middle of arresting someone.

His other option would have been to taze her. Would you prefer that?

 

[JP2010]

Arresting someone over jaywalking?! Are you fucking kidding me?

No. The person was going to get a ticket for jaywalking. The person was arrested for assault.

 

[JK/SEA]

I see it as justified. She assaulted a police officer who was in the middle of arresting someone.

His other option would have been to taze her. Would you prefer that?

In keeping with Police protocol, the girl who did NOTHING should have been shot, but it appears the cop was being nice today, and will probably get a raise and promoted for his efforts in revenue raising for the State. Good job officer...well done. A 2 for one...yes indeed.

 

[JP2010]

In keeping with Police protocol, the girl who did NOTHING should have been shot, but it appears the cop was being nice today, and will probably get a raise and promoted to SWAT.

 

[roho76]

Regarding the law:

1. If people don't like jaywalking laws, then go and change them but as it stands they are valid laws.

Let me know how this works out for you.

2. Like a previous poster mentioned, idiots walk out in the middle of the street and get hit by a car. Its bad enough as it is for the driver but worse if the jaywalking laws are not around.

So Jaywalking laws protect people from being idiots and just charging out into the street. Got it. I fail to see the invisible fence like you do but then again I'm not Wonderwoman. I'm sure you think gun control laws protect people from shooting themselves or others. Care to comment?

Regarding the girls:

They could've accepted the fine and fought it in court -- chances are, the fine would have been dismissed. Instead they decided to act out violently which is not the answer.

I can't really disagree with you here but it is highly unlikely to result in anything in favor of the girl unless she has thousands of dollars to fight the system which is unfortunate. It is my belief that this is intentional. Opinions very though.

Regarding the cop:

He could have handled the situation a little better but I can't fault him for the punch when the other girl swung first.

I don't recall her swinging and it looked as though he had other options but just wanted to show her who is boss. Again this is my Opinion.

General opinion:

Don't let judgmental attitudes blind you to the facts of the situation.

That's right just be a victim of victim-less crimes because the state needs money.

 

[Krugerrand]

So Jaywalking laws protect people from being idiots and just charging out into the street. Got it. I fail to see the invisible fence like you do but then again I'm not Wonderwoman. I'm sure you think gun control laws protect people from shooting themselves or others. Care to comment?

Most laws give pedestrians the right of way. If a car hits a pedestrian, the driver has serious liability issues. Jaywalking laws protect the driver - not from the the idiots charing out into the street - from the liability issues they could otherwise face for hitting the idiot that charges out into the street.