Posted on 03/14/2005 8:48:17 AM PST by YoungBlackRepublican
A video camera, which is supposed to be monitored by two guards in a command post, shows the two arriving in the holding area between two courtrooms, according to a law enforcement official who viewed the tape.
The video shows Hall guiding Nichols, whose hands are still handcuffed behind his back, face-first into one of two open cells.
Hall releases one cuff and turns Nichols around to unhook the remaining cuff, which is dangling from his wrist. She uncuffs him so he can change from a jail jumpsuit into street clothes.
The muscular, 33-year-old Nichols then lunges at Hall, knocking the petite, 51-year-old woman backward into another cell. Both disappear from camera view because having a camera inside the actual holding cells is prohibited for privacy reasons. Two to three minutes later, Nichols emerges from the cell, holding Hall's gun belt and police radio. He picks up her keys from the floor and locks her inside the cell. Nichols then enters the empty cell.
A couple of minutes later, he emerges dressed in civilian clothes. He locks the door behind him and saunters calmly out of the holding area, carrying the gun belt, according to the law enforcement official who viewed the tape. Nichols appears to know which key to use to unlock the holding area door and enters a vacant courtroom on the eighth floor.
Holy cow. I wonder how that happened.
Wow - that's like bringing in the Daleys to reform the office of elections.
Don't all criminals start off as "accused"? Truly, offending someone who has been "accused" of a violent crime really wouldn't be my first concern. Forget privacy! The Nichols case is a perfect example of the "accused" being treated in a way so not to "offend".
Hardly. He did great things for the NYC police department. He has other issues that didn't make him fit for a federal appointment, but no one can deny he was a wonderful leader in NYC.
I agree with you.
You don't know that. Male officers are attacked and overpowered too, you know. I've seen it myself. One suspect can cause a huge struggle and injure even groups of officers all trying to restrain a suspect. I've seen that too.
I'm not being PC at all when I say the focus on the fact that the officer in this incident is female is pretty lame and ignores the glaring fact that this same thing happens to male officers.
My ex-boyfriend was a police officer, 6'3" and well over 200 pounds, and he got his head bashed into the pavement and knocked unconscious by a suspect. I also used to be a police officer, so I have certainly seen my fair share of fights involving officers of all sizes and shapes.
Arriving in shackles to be charged. Not presented to a jury in shackles.
Exactly.
But you're supposed to say "alleged" or "accused".....in my book, if the police have enough reason to arrest you and throw you in jail, you don't get any privacy.
That's obviously a problem.
However, Bratton is now in LA.....
Without a strong Mayor nothing will be accomplished.
It was Rudy who gave Bratton his power.
You mean his extra-marital affairs didn't leave him open to blackmail? Wow, that used to be the kiss of death.
See my #51 for Kerik.
"Arriving in shackles to be charged. Not presented to a jury in shackles."
I believe you are correct. They file in and sit before the judge. No jury is present.
Extra marital affairs between consenting heterosexual adults seems to tame these days, doesn't it? And what's to blackmail since everyone knows?
I worked in a courthouse in North Georgia for 20 years.... video cameras everywhere....it appeared to be soooo secure. There were supposed to be two people watching the screens at all times, but a good deal of the time no one was assigned this duty. When we questioned this we were told that there wasn't always enough manpower to cover all jobs and that if anything happened it would be on tape and could be reviewed later. (I swear I'm not making this up!)
I don't know what the situation was in Atlanta as to why no one was watching, but I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that the officers were on a donut run.
So the problem is with the jury? The jury is treated like they are going to be impartial, and in turn are put at risk? If ALL accused criminals-those on trial for a violent crime (black, white, or whatever race) were presented to a jury in handcuffs-there would be no profiling. The jury would understand that this is a normal safety measure and all "accused" criminals are treated the same.
Why do you think race would make a difference? They simply don't want to prejudice a jury by having the defendant in handcuffs and/or shackled. That's standard procedure in most courtrooms. Again, if a defendant was able to post bond, he or she would not be cuffed.
A video camera, which is supposed to be monitored by two guards in a command post
I inferred there was only one ("A") camera from the first line of the story (should have known better not to take anything literally I read in the AJC...)
I didn't know that.
I've read Kerik's book and he has a background in organization, leadership positions and some intelligence background that would be ideal training a demoralized and poorly trained PD like Atlanta.
But hey, I'm not married to the idea:-) I just know they need serious reform there. What happened is a travesty.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.