While it's entirely possible - even likely- that the office had a reason to stop these kids, it's obvious that he lost control of himself and the situation. I grew up around cops, and with cops. I usually side with them; they have a tough job, and sometimes the laws they must enforce - and they way they must be enforced - chafe. But choke holds are not legal in any police department in the US, and beating up children is unacceptable.
An argument might be made about the kid who ran; but remember, he had a picture of the cop breaking the law, the cop was beating up his friend, and then started screaming at him. He had every reason to believe that the cop was simply going to beat him up, too.
Finally, and the thing that turns me against this cop, he apprehends the witness taking the video. He accuses this witness of "getting in the middle of it," but the fact is all the camera man did was try to tell the cop to calm down. Something that is obviously warranted in this case.
These weren't armed thugs, they weren't criminals on a spree, these were 13 and 14 year old kids skateboarding as part of a pro-skateboard movement. Whatever crime they committed (and I will guess it was skateboarding on the sidewalks), it didn't warrant a beating from a 240 pound gorilla.
The video gives an email link to the Chief of Police; the mailbox has been shut down. Which means that he's a coward. I suspect that he's been flooded with well-deserved criticisms. And I suspect that he decided to shut down the mailbox rather than deal with thousands of people excercising their first amendment rights.
So you'll have to complain to the city commission:
Peggy Brunner- Maruthur | Elaine Jones | Steve Smith (term expires 12/31/2008) Bus:624-4699 Cell:627-8127 E-mail: srsmith12003@yahoo.com |
Carroll Weatherford (term expires 12/31/2010) Home:276-7945 Cell:545-3153 E-mail: sable@hsnp.com | Bill Edwards (term expires 12/31/2010) Home:321-2291 E-mail: N/A |
Interestingly, the mayor doesn't have an email address. Says a lot about the city. In this day and age, a city official without an email address is proclaiming "YES, I AM A HICK!!" Even the AMISH have a website, with email, fer goshsake.
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