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Denver officials clash over police discipline after brutal video released
The Denver Post ^ | 08/13/2010 | Christopher N. Osher

Posted on 08/16/2010 4:07:57 PM PDT by driftdiver

Denver officials are deeply divided over the proper level of punishment for a police officer who was seen on video tackling and beating a 23-year-old man who was doing nothing but talking on a telephone outside a LoDo nightclub.

The video of Officer Devin Sparks repeatedly hitting Michael DeHerrera of Denver with a department-issued piece of metal wrapped in leather, picking him up roughly and slamming a car door on his ankle has prompted Independent Monitor Richard Rosenthal to push for the firing of Sparks and Corporal Randy Murr.

(Excerpt) Read more at denverpost.com ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: abuse; barneyfife; closethomo; donutwatch; judgejuryexecutioner; police; policebrutality; respectmyauthoritah
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Watch the video. Cop goes from trying to break one kids leg to beating on another for standing there.

ANYONE else would be charged with assault for these actions.

1 posted on 08/16/2010 4:08:00 PM PDT by driftdiver
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To: driftdiver

I think the camera operator needs to be in prison. As soon as the cops started getting rough, the camera zooms out and goes to traffic. Nothing to see here folks.


2 posted on 08/16/2010 4:10:23 PM PDT by 999replies (Thune/Rubio 2012)
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To: 999replies

Yeah I noticed that too. Gave him plenty of time to ‘take care of business’ and then zoomed back in.


3 posted on 08/16/2010 4:11:49 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: The Magical Mischief Tour

With video and no action taken


4 posted on 08/16/2010 4:17:23 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: 999replies
bingo...
5 posted on 08/16/2010 4:23:02 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: 999replies

Wasn’t the camera on a light post?


6 posted on 08/16/2010 4:25:23 PM PDT by goseminoles
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To: driftdiver

Looks pretty bad, especially on the second guy. But without sound it’s tough to have a better idea of what was really going on. I’d like to hear the cop’s explanation of why he reacted like that. Not that he’s not a brute, but I’d just like to have all the evidence I can before jumping to a conclusion.


7 posted on 08/16/2010 4:26:04 PM PDT by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
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To: Ramius

“I can before jumping to a conclusion.”

At the end of the article they give his side. He said the guy with the phone threatened one of the other cops earlier. Also that when the cop went to him he threatened him again with a closed fist.

First, the guy was using his leather covered metal bar on the first kids leg. Putting all his weight on the bar and rocking it across the kids leg. Kid is lucky his leg didn’t break.

Second, if the guy with the phone threatened a cop why were they turning his back to him up to the point they started beating on him.

Perhaps if the cop didn’t take so many steroids he’d be able to control his anger better.


8 posted on 08/16/2010 4:30:13 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver

Badge-lappers on deck in 3... 2... 1...


9 posted on 08/16/2010 4:30:16 PM PDT by B-Chan (Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)
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To: B-Chan

I just don’t see how cops like this keep their jobs. And they wonder why they continue to lose support.


10 posted on 08/16/2010 4:32:15 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver

Cops like this keep their jobs largely because America is full of closeted homosexuals who enjoy the thought of police macho-men physically dominating other males. You will meet many such closet cases right here on Free Republic.


11 posted on 08/16/2010 4:34:09 PM PDT by B-Chan (Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)
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To: driftdiver

what is this ‘leather covered metal bar’? a sap?

Thats an illegal deadly weapon in many jurisictions.


12 posted on 08/16/2010 4:35:35 PM PDT by rahbert (catfish on the table, gospel in the air.)
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To: B-Chan

ya lost me there


13 posted on 08/16/2010 4:38:44 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: rahbert

“what is this ‘leather covered metal bar’? a sap?”

That is what it was called in the article. Also, said it was dept issued. Probably for use against violent attackers, not some 22 yr old kid already cuffed and laying on the ground.


14 posted on 08/16/2010 4:39:46 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver

The cop is a punk and should lose his job but, c’mon, the kid’s a punk, too. He looked like he was going bananas on the phone. The kid was being a smartass. It certainly doesn’t make what the cop did right. The cops should not only be fired but maybe even get charged criminally. Still, it was kinda nice to see the kid stop stop being a smartass - real fast.


15 posted on 08/16/2010 4:41:00 PM PDT by Krankor (What a field day for the heat. A thousand people in the street)
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To: Krankor

“He looked like he was going bananas on the phone.”

Lets see a cop is trying to break your friends leg, that just might be cause for ‘going bananas’.

Being a smart ass isn’t illegal.


16 posted on 08/16/2010 4:43:10 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver; ansel12

Another cop lying on an official report and then being busted by the video.


17 posted on 08/16/2010 4:43:29 PM PDT by Fundamentally Fair (Bush: Mission Accomplished. Obama: Commission Accomplished.)
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To: Ramius
But without sound it’s tough to have a better idea of what was really going on.

No, it isn't at all. Don't kid yourself.

18 posted on 08/16/2010 4:45:34 PM PDT by Fundamentally Fair (Bush: Mission Accomplished. Obama: Commission Accomplished.)
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To: rahbert
what is this ‘leather covered metal bar’?

Did you see how he was working over the first guy's ankle with it? Sick bastards.

19 posted on 08/16/2010 4:47:00 PM PDT by Fundamentally Fair (Bush: Mission Accomplished. Obama: Commission Accomplished.)
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To: Fundamentally Fair

Video’s like this are why cops want it to be illegal for ‘civilians’ to video tape them.


20 posted on 08/16/2010 4:52:16 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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