Graphic Content Warning:

Old and new, big and small, good and bad – contrasts have a way of bringing clarity. And within contrasts we can still see similarities.

My policing experience was full of contrasts – and similarities. My first few years wearing a badge and toting a gun were<< MORE >>

While browsing the other day among various blogs, I came across a post at The Johnny Law Chronicles. On the sidebar, “Johnny Law” describes himself as,

“Cop and military vet. I've been doing this for awhile but I'm still loving every day of it (more or less).”

Evidently Johnny Law is a LEO somewhere and he posts about his various police experiences along with his opinions. That’s perfectly fine.

However, my writing here is not about Johnny Law. The main issue is in reference to “Nick” who<< MORE >>

All that remained was to determine whether or not police used excessive force. Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey believed that some of the force used was "indiscriminate" and "excessive."  He also said the incident gave the department a "black eye." Ramsey disciplined eight of the involved officers with various levels of suspensions and demotions including firing four of the eight officers.

The grand jury, trying to determine if criminal charges against some officers were appropriate, stated in their report, "We found that the design of the force applied by the police was helpful rather than hurtful; the kicks and blows, in other words, were aimed not to inflict injury but to facilitate quick and safe arrests.'"

Police Commissioner Ramsey's response was, ''In my opinion, all the actions were not justified.''

Mary T. Maran, an attorney representing one of the three men said, ''Violence and aggression by police has crept its way into the culture, and ordinary people have come to accept that aggression. In turning a blind eye to police brutality, we pave the way for more and more of it.''

John McNesby, president of the local Fraternal Order of Police said, ''These guys are out there doing their jobs and they have seconds to make a decision. ... They all did a good job.''

Yes, police sometimes only have seconds to make a decision and occasionaly police do need to use a reasonable amount of force. But stepping over the line in a use of force incident and approval for such by the rank-and-file and/or union representatives is not what I would call a "good job." If police had used the minimum amount of force necessary, then there would be room for accolades.

..unless someone can tell me what lawful purpose random and repetitive kicks and blows serve on a non-resistant subject.

        

Give any person significant power and authority and it is possible to abuse it. Neither status, nor gender, nor race, nor so-called sexual orientation matters. The one common factor is the human one. Yet that is still no excuse for police abusing their authority and all the more reason for constant oversight and complete transparency..

On Monday August 3, 2009, Deputy Jonathan Bleiweiss of the Broward County FL Sheriff's Office was arrested on 14 charges including<< MORE >>