Birmingham police beating video: Five officers fired

The Birmingham News ^ | May 20, 2009 9:08 AM | Carol Robinson

[SonnyBubba]

Birmingham police beating video: Five officers fired Five Birmingham police officers have been fired for a January 2008 beating of an already-unconscious suspect with fists, feet and a billy club, a battering caught on videotape until a police officer turned off the patrol car camera, city and police officials said today.

[from occupied ga]

fired

One cannot help wondering why they were fired rather than fired and charged with assault.

[KarlInOhio]

Was the suspect bleeding in an agressive manner requiring the cops to continue the beating?

The fact that they turned off the video showed that they knew they shouldn't be doing what they were doing. Why aren't they in jail for a long,long prison term already?

[eclecticEel]

Obviously not the sharpest knives in the drawer. Didn't they explain in basic training that you're supposed to turn off the camera before you start beating a perp senseless?

[Lurker]

Four of them worked in the department's Vice and Narcotics Unit;

Ah yes, the Vice and Narcotics unit; by far and away the unit of choice for corrupt cops the world over.

[TChris]

One cannot help wondering why they were fired rather than fired and charged with assault.

Read the article.

They ARE likely to be charged.

[mia]

It's a shame these officers couldn't have controlled their anger. After almost getting run over by a crazy driver, I'm sure the adrenaline was running high. They face prison for retaliating and I can't blame them for their anger. What a awful shame. I'm sure the perp will be fawned over by the press.

[from occupied ga]

Rather a shame to fire these five since they would make excellent guards for the “Obama work and health camps for former gun owners” Why I bet they would be really skilled at filling an oven.

[from occupied ga]

They ARE likely to be charged.

As of yet they haven't been. I'll believe it when I see it.

[ZX12R]

Why aren't they in jail for a long,long prison term already?

Because they are not accountable like any other citizen. That is quite plain to anyone with their eyes open today.

[coloradan]

Turning off the camera under such circumstances ought to be a death penalty offense.

[Travis T. OJustice]

Was the suspect bleeding in an agressive manner requiring the cops to continue the beating?

Glad i re-read your post before completing my reply.

Bleeding in an agressive manner? LOL! Yep, while unconscious. Just typical of the scumbag cops out there. And no, not all cops are scumbags, but the 40% or so that are really make all the rest look bad.

[Eaker]

The scofflaw exited the vehicle without being asked.

What a nice guy.

I guess that is why they treated him like a king!

[Labyrinthos]

Because they are not accountable like any other citizen. That is quite plain to anyone with their eyes open today.

Cops live by a different set of rules. Every day I see a cop driving without a seatbelt, while talking on a cell phone. Often they are driving at speeds that are well above the speed limit even though they are not in pursuit or attending to an emergency. I have seen them at the pub near my house and then getting behind the wheel of a car after five or six beers or more. And then there is the special "get out of jail card" that they give to family and friends to flash in the event they are pulled over by another cop, who will then let them go without a ticket or even a warning.

[Southack]

I watched the video. The beating was trivial, performed almost exclusively by the officer that the perp ran over moments before.

The major damage to the perp was done by the wreck because he clearly wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. He was thrown out of the driver side window when the SUV rolled over.

Sorry guys, I’ve got to side with the police on this one. Some adrenaline and momentary overreaction is to be expected in such a scenario.

Watch the video instead of reading the headlines.

[Gay State Conservative]

Watched the film....all 20 minutes of it.I can't blame them *under the circumstances*.If they go on trial and I'm on the jury I'd vote “not proven”....just like Mr Sphincter of PA did.

[paul51]

Hope you are not a COP

[DCBryan1]

You just cut and paste that? ...smirk...shaking head....

[KarlInOhio]

The key to me is "turned off the camera". That is not the action of someone on an adrenaline rush or a momentary overreaction. That is a major indication of malice aforethought. They knew they were doing wrong and they wanted to prevent evidence of it. I'm surprised the tape didn't just disappear. There should never, ever be an off switch for the cops' video camera.