This cop crossed the lines as defined by the Texas penal code and was convicted of assault. That is not debateable.
See, I'm silly, I think the police above others have an obligation to set the standard. They're supposed to uphold the law, not break it.
Do we even need to get into the ins and outs of lying during an investigation? If the cop was so right in his actions, he shouldn't have attempted to cover it up with the help of two of his fellow police officers. They were fired for their complicity and obstruction.
I certainly don't want to hobble the police or impair their ability to function. I do however have a problem with the idea that police are above the very laws they're supposed to uphold. When the police start assaulting people without need, then we have a real problem. I've seen the video of this guy taken off the bike a dozen times, and it was totally uncalled for. Obviously, given the outcome, I wasn't the only one who recognized that the cop was way out of line and out of control.
I can't make you see that you're notion that, "...anyone who does the high speed runaway deserves to get body-slammed hard into the floor - and should." is putting the cart ahead of the horse and giving the police immediate, punative powers. I can't make you see that punative powers are best left to judges and juries. However, I hope you'll step back for a moment and see that I'm right.
That's not a punitive power. Police must have the ability to immediately and forcefully control a dangerous situation and often that means taking a perp down quick and hard.
This society has degenerated into a quivering, spineless position of being fearful that these genuinely bad and dangerous thugs must be treated with kid gloves lest their feelings get hurt. That has emasculated law enforcement and left it almost impotent to address crime. We've handcuffed the police and then are baffled why criminals run free.
Any law that prevents an officer from being able to completely control a dangerous situation is bad law. There are so many of these bad laws that police have to focus on walking the tight line instead of getting the job done. Result - more cops wounded or killed, less effective law enforcement, a rapid fear of Internal Affairs, and a CYA policy above all else.
Police officers trying to do a tough job are immediately portrayed as the bad guys, and the bad guys become media darlings.
A high speed chase is one of the most dangerous, unpredictable events that can occur for a police officer. When the perp is finally stopped, he often lashes out with deadly force at the nearest target - cop or bystander - so yes, if a flying tackle bodyslam, or the infamous chokehold, neutralizes him in a hurry, it is a good thing to do. It makes the situation controlled now - not after he has a chance to harm someone. You can't play nice in that situation, people get killed.
If this society wasn't so concerned with coddling criminals and prosecuting police, no lying would have taken place because no inane laws would have been broken.