5 Ala. officers fired for beating caught on tape

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Missin21

If a military faction goes into a town in Iraq & rapes & murders an entire village in the name of the USA, it's a tragedy, but a cop, whose life isn't in NEARLY the danger a soldiers is, is justified for beating someone to near death because "his job is dangerous?" That's bullshit & you know it. Like I said, try having a cop abuse you a few times just because he can, like I & several of my friends, & your tune will change.

You are putting words in my mouth with the connection to the Military. If I believe that 99% are doing their jobs and we should look the other way in most cases, why would I not think that out of Military personel? However, to compare rape with someone getting "abused", don't you think that's a tad over the top? Rape should not be acceptable in ANY circumstance.

I'm sure, since you are such a supporter of the police, that nothing I've said even phases you. I'm sure you don't believe anything I've said. I don't really care to be honest. What I do really care about is this blind faith in someone simply because they have a badge. It just boggles my mind. As if the shine off the badge puts you in a trance or something & you are thereafter brainwashed-"All cops are good. Their job is dangerous. Support your local troopers."-in a typical hypnotic voice.

Funny thing is, when I read your rant, at first I thought, damn he had some awful expereinces, then the more I read and the more I saw your anger, the more I realized that you probably THINK you did NOTHING to envoke the officer, but in fact you did. Fact is, even in the cops caught on camera, the "victim" usually mouths off, or spits at them, or does some behavior that's lewd or uncivilized. I'd wager you played the same roll in your "victim" status. Guess what, I have not had the experiences you had with the police cause I actually respect them and what they do. When they come to my window, I use the word "sir" a lot. (not PIG for instance) And no, it's not a comment with a distain voice saying "what the f--- are you stopping me for sir?" When I have heard stories about "police abusing power" it's ALWAYS cause the "victim" starts shit then gets pissed when the cop ends it. Sorry, I don't believe your story that you were just minding your own business, maybe on the way to church with your suit on singing Holy, Holy, Holy, and a big bad cop showed up at your window with a gun pulled. Why not be honest with all of us and tell us EXACTLY what happened, with an emphasis on what you said and did to envoke him. A good rule of thumb when someone tells a story about someone else is that if they focus 100% on what the other party did, they likely had a lot more to do with the incident then they let on.

FYI, here is an acceptable way to speak to the police on a routine traffic stop even if you think you were not speeding:
COP- Do you know why I pulled you over today?
YOU- No sir, was I speeding?
COP- Yes, I caught you going 75 in a 65.
YOU- I'm sorry sir, I didn't realize I was travelling so fast, I was trying to keep up with traffic, but could have sworn I was travelling at the speed limit of 65.
COP- No sir, my radar had you clocked at 75...license and registration please.
YOU- Of course sir, let me get those for you. (while handing them to officer...) Sir, I am sorry my speed was over the limit, I am having financial troubles with the economy the way it is, is it possible you could let me off with a warning?
COP- Let me run your tags / license.
waiting...
COP- I decided to give you a ticket at the speed of 75 MPH, you are required to appear in court on ... day...blah, blah legal mumbo jumbo.
YOU- Thank you sir, have a nice day.

You will notice no arguing, no telling the cop he's dumb, or wrong. Always being polite even though you think you are right. Remember, you will always have your day in court if need be. Do NOTHING to try to anger him. While you might have been caught in the morning, or on a good day, he might have had a miserable day of jerks before you. These are PEOPLE! They are not machines no matter how much you wish they were. You don't want people talking to you with lack of respect, so why do it to them? I have been stopped well over 10 times in my life by the police, and I have had interaction with police (on duty) maybe 25-30 times. Not once have I had an incident because I use a good rule of thumb...treat others the way you want to be treated.

SInce I showed you a way how to handle a police officer, here is an example of a friend of mine (that thinks all cops are out to get him too) and what he did from start to finish:
COP- Do you know why I pulled you over today?
BRAD- You had nothing else better to do?
COP- You were going 45 in a 35.
BRAD- Are you upset that I was going to get to the donut shop before you?
COP- License and registration please.
BRAD- I wasn't speeding!
COP- I clocked you on my lidar at 45MPH in a 35MPH zone sir. License and registration please.
BRAD- No way, you're wrong, I wasn't speeding!
COP- Sir, I am going to ask you one last time. License and registration please.
BRAD- Here you go pig (dropped them on the ground in front of the cop)
COP- Sir, step out of the vehicle.
BRAD- What? I gave you what you wanted, what's the problem pig?
COP- Sir, step out of the vehicle now!
BRAD- This is bull-sh.. (steps out of the vehicle)
COP- Put your hands on the hood sir and spread your legs.
BRAD- (complies, but in anger and continues to cuss and make lewd remarks)
COP- (Searches vehicle...finds marijuana in the passenger seat crack.)

Brad got busted for a misdemeanor drug charge, and speeding...could have gotten worse. He had drug paraphanalia (sp?) in the trunk, and he had expired insurance (by 2 days). But the officer let him off of those. When Brad first told me this story, he left out his comments and told me how much of a jerk that officer was, and that he was profiling. (which I laughed at since Brad is white). After getting more of the info, and the officer that stopped him was Lance Ridgway (a very well respected officer that I have known for years) I knew Brad was the problem.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, respect authority and treat them like you would want to be treated, and then you won't have any problems. Be a jerk and talk back and be rude, and you are asking for problems. Simple advice.