(Excerpted from Wash. Post) Video Shows Cop Punching Teenager

Washington Post ^ | July 8, 2002

[EggsAckley]

The Associated Press Monday, July 8, 2002; 10:21 AM LOS ANGELES ?? An amateur video shows Inglewood police officers punching a teenager and slamming his head against the hood of a patrol car, and the department said it will investigate.

The probe was announced Sunday after the tape, taken a day earlier from a nearby motel, was turned over to police and local media.

[Teacher317]

Unprofessional slam on the car trunk, and a rather blatant and undefendable punch in the face 5 seconds later. Of course, it's not worth the $6 mill the kid will probably get, but it should at least get a heavy fine, suspension, reassignment to desk duty... and outright firing if he has any prior or subsequent "accidents". The kid may have been struggling, fighting, or offensive, but the officer has to remain professional. IF he just has to get a few shots in, the cop needed to do that while the kid was struggling, and not while he is cuffed. The slam on the hood could have been overlooked, but the punch was over-the-top.

[fnord]

Rodney King wasn't Rodney King, if you get my drift.

Fire the cop and let the kid sue him (not the department). If the kid sues the department let the city sue the cop for the costs.

The sooner we hold this kind of misuse of authority accountable, the better we'll be.

[HairOfTheDog]

Nope - not gonna agree.

I won't support one more lawsuit... Not one. Solving every hurt feeling with money is ruining this country.

The cop lost his temper but he had a cut on his head indicating he had pretty good test of his temper. The kid assaulted a cop. Adrenaline is a real thing... Cops are fallible. The cop clocked him and he shouldn't have. He needs a talking to about keeping his temper, but this was a potshot... not forty potshots.... not a rage out of control.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

How long is this "teeneager's" rap sheet going to be?

What difference does that make?

If they are stupid enough to fight with cops and the Sheriff's department officials, your going to get your butt kicked...

How does one fight with cops and Sheriff's department officials with hands in cuffs behind one's back?

Have you seen the video?

[fnord]

Perhaps I was hasty.

Bring the cop up on assault and misuse of color of authority charges. (Yeah, like that would ever happen). Let a jury decide. No DA will go that far, so some sort of civil suit is appropriate.

I too know we have too many lawsuits, but it is the 'too many' part that I object to. Sometimes a lawsuit is the only recourse.

[sam_paine]

I'm no lib (-eral or -ertarian).

And I haven't seen the tape, and don't need to.

And I didn't see what the perp did to the officer, and don't need to.

And I didn't see what the officer did to the perp, and don't need to.

But when you have the perp in cuffs, and he's subdued, it's over.

Why do cops put their hand on the perp's head when they put them in the car?? To keep them from banging it on the roof BECAUSE they are in 'custody' and the officer is RESPONSIBLE for the perp's safety at that point.

Even if the badguy is headed for the electric chair, they put a bullet-proof vest on him during transfers to make sure that justice is carried out by the system, not some hothead.

Officer Krumpky did not 'live' in an age of Sony DV Cams. EVERYBODY needs to get used to being on tape....since of course the public already is....

[goodieD]

I have a feeling this will be a battle on here between the "law and order at any cost" conservatives and those of us who think LEOs can and do step over the line, into violation of constitutional rights. I'm tired of LEOs thinking that a traffic stop means we give up any and all rights.

[HairOfTheDog]

Sometimes a lawsuit is the only recourse.

This isn't worthy of one of those few lawsuits allowed in my world....

[MississippiMan]

Go to http://www.feedroom.com if you want to see the video.

MM

[Zon]

I saw the the video on the TV news.

[rwfromkansas]

After seeing the tape, I agree the cop went too far.

But I still don't like libertarians....lol.

[Zon]

The kid was African-American.

[Vidalia]

Yes, and I live in the real world.

I doubt very seriously they just cranked this guy over "OK, OK, Uncle" or anything along those lines.

"Emotionally WHAT"? More psycho-babble linquistic vomitus for a PUNK.

[Zon]

He needs a talking to about keeping his temper, but this was a potshot... not forty potshots.... not a rage out of control.

If it's not rage is it that the cop premeditated breaking the law. That could be even worse. For a cop to lose his temper is not good and could lead to strong language, but hitting a controlled/hand-cuffed suspect is rage.

It will be interesting to hear what the other cops at the scene have to say about the abusive cop's behavior.

[TJFLSTRAT]

It's gonna be a long hot summer.....a powder keg!

[sam_paine]

My main point was that police depts around the country OUGHT to be getting acting classes for all the vid-cams out there now.

I'm serious!!!

They need to be aware that "lil brother" is watching back at them! They can (and surely do) still ruff up for some revenge....but do it en route in the car ala Nick Nolte or something.

OTOH, like I said, I think it would do the depts good to feel how "innocent" folks feel under the ominous traffic cams, etc.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

I saw the TV clip on the news.

The kid's hands were tied behind his back; he was not resisting; he appeared almost unconscious; and the cop slammed his head onto the car hood so hard it bounced up and down like a beach ball.

I hate surveillance cameras, but this tape is pretty ugly.

[HairOfTheDog]

Sure it will be interesting to see how it plays out. My point is that he took one potshot... not forty potshots.

Forty potshots to me would mean we have a broken cop that has to go... One potshot means we have a cop who lost his temper and needs a talking to. It is all relative. That was/is my point.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

I'll be interested in your take after you see the video.

[HairOfTheDog]

...the cop slammed his head onto the car hood so hard it bounced up and down like a beach ball.

Come on... We have all seen the video now I hope... He slammed the kid onto the car with gusto, sure, but "bounced up and down like a beach ball" is a false statement, not just an exaggeration.