US police seen in kicking video

Welcome to the police state, USA.

Why does what preceded the confrontation even matter? The fact is that these police officers are clearly brutalizing these men. When 3 officers are kicking a man who is already on the ground, what could possibly justify that?

With great power comes the need for checks and balances. Right now the only people paying for their bad behavior are civilians. It is time for the blame to fall on those who deserve it not the innocent bystanders.

Interesting. This is coming to light in the midst of NY police getting off on killing an unarmed man on his wedding day and a few departments having their K-9 units disbanded for cruelty to animal investigations.

A few years ago the local police department was sued for millions for excessive force and cruelty to animals when they raided a San Jose home. They broke the wife's nose with a gun butt, and shot both their dogs (which were locked up in their outdoor kennels) and confiscated things like a drawer in the kitchen. In the end the judge awarded millions to the family, and condemned the department for using excessive force with children, unarmed cooperating people, and overall lack of judgment and common sense.

Since then there has been a change in some of the laws that allow for individual police officers to be named in civil suits for these types of activities. Maybe this will finally have them think twice about acting in a way unbecoming of the position.

Sad to see police, once again, going too far and using brutal, unwarranted force.

If the people fight back, they're guilty, if they don't they're guilty. The Sean Bell verdict has the law enforcement officers feeling untouchable. What a shame!

Yeah, this is terrible and all-too-typical. But we do NOT live in a police state, Midnight_Devil, not even close. I think it's sometimes useful to remember, even when wrong shit like this happens, how good we have it.

Had there not been accidental video footage the police commissioner would most probably not have cared about this 'incident'.

There are some serious problems with the US police, it's time they realize it.

Watch this pod by dre on the protests following the 'not guilty' verdict following the Sean Bell murder: http://current.com/items/88925086_we_are_all_sean_bell

Blazesboy, according to the Military Commisions Act the W passed in dec 07 We due actually live in a police state that has the right to do whatever it may like on behalf of the government. Read the fine print your in George's world now!!!!!!!!!

Kill the Pig, for once! I am tired of this f-ing Police state we liive in. Sad thing is, is to many dummies don't believe that we live in one. Animal Farm!!!!!!

This is a top down matter. It's what happens when your leadership believes in water-boarding and the suspension of habeas corpus.

Guess the idiots should have STOPPED when they were originally told to by the officers. Why is it that retarded f'ing criminals (guilty or not) think that when police ask them to STOP that they don't have to do so peacefully. How many of these incidents could be avoided if people would stop, remain calm & answer the officers questions without incident or throwing a hissy fit. Sorry, I don't feel much remorse for a guy getting shot after he tried to run over a couple of officers in NY or these clowns for getting a well needed ass whippin' because it appears they tried to run from the police. It's pretty obvious from the hoarde of cops that this wasn't some simple speeding ticket gone bad. Cops don't work in those large numbers unless someone is exhibiting felony type behavior (I.E. evading arrest, firearms known to be present, grand theft auto, etc.).

I'm not implying that each and every officer of the law is blame free but our media looks to convict the cops way too quickly when criminals act like criminals.

Sure would be nice if the WHOLE video of what happened was available.

Liberal_Extinction, police kicking a man who's down on the ground with four of em at once just isn't justifiable, no matter what these guys have done.

The whole idea is that the police isn't acting as bad as the criminals do themselves. What else would separate police from criminals?

I beg to differ yonie, if they felt their lives were in danger and kicking the shit out of some thug is the fastest way to subdue them, kick their ass. I'm sick of watching our cops, our military, etc that put themselves in harms way be made out to be the criminal. You go subdue an armed perp that at any time may pull out a gun and blow your brains out and see if you aren't ready to beat the shit of him if he doesn't cooperate. I and many of my friends (black ones too, so keep your race card statshed for now, save it for the election) have been pulled over by the cops before and never had them get out of hand b/c we were respectful and compliant with the officers requests that keep them safer.

I submit that there will always be a small minority of police officers and their defenders that will rationalize brutality regardless of the compendium of circumstances that indicate behavior to the contrary would have been much more useful and civilized. It's virtually impossible to mandate civilized behavior across all of law enforcement when in fact the people that comprise their ranks are no different than any other citizens regardless of the oaths they purportedly swear. The few rotten apples cliche inevitably applies to any organization where constant vigilance is not possible. I believe that just as long as we're able to catch a few of these incidents on camera and subsequently prosecute the perpetrators then the rest of the 'gang' will, at least for a time, behave lawfully. By way of a caveat - even if the officers are found 'not guilty' in a court of law, it matters little because, as in New York, the likelihood of there reinstatement on the force (or any force) is virtually non-existent.

Police brutality in the US? Really? Could it be possible? Noooo Way!

if you look farther into this story you will see that that there was reasonable cause for all actions taken by the police. the suspects her believed to be dangerous and carrying weapons. there have been many cases in which the suspects were shot without question. but in this case there there were more police and the actions in which they took were a choice to avoid injuring any of those bystanders. flying led is more threatening then a flying food. the actions taken were there best choice for the situation.

NOT IN THE United States lol...... its sad b/c all the cops involved here will only get a simple slap on the wrist.

Let's keep in mind that the entire Philly police force is currently looking for a specific cop killer. One way police typically respond is to make life hell for all suspects until someone coughs up the killer.

Does that justify this? No. Does it explain it? A little.

Liberal_Extinction,

I don't care if they just knocked over Ft Knox with an Nun held at gun point. The police do not have the right to mead out street justice. That's NOT how our system is supposed to work at all. All they do is apprehend and bring the alleged criminal to justice. Innocent UNTIL proven guilty - sound familiar? Welcome to the United States of America.

this is due process under the eye of Busheney.
beat 'em down, and then beat 'em down more.

bet these cops are AF vets.

where do we draw the line between keeping police safe, and brutalizing citizens? I understand the police perspective, they are putting their life on the line and all. But you can't say it took that much force to take these kids down. We hear all the time about police brutality, it's not a new thing, but you can't keep race out of the equation. It's a reality, that person that was killed the night before his wedding, was shot 50 times, ither the several cops shooting were horrible at aiming or incredibly stupid. And what justice did his fiance and family see? they saw your not protected, you don't matter. These kids have parents and friends like the rest of us, pretent that was your brother there, or someone you care about, and after coming to terms with that pretend one of those cops was also someone you really care about. Although i hate the idea of tasers, or anything else, there had to be a better alternative to kicking and stomping a citizen, suspect or not. We have to be shown instead of violence what is being done to make police safe and citizens safe. Rather than saying the police are wrong or the suspects were wrong when are we going to see the line between attainment and brutality?

wesleybra,

There is no action, crime, cause, fabrication or flat out BS that justifies beating a subdued suspect. If fifteen cops can't handle 3 suspects they need to go be crossing guards somewhere. It is utterly ridiculous to try and justify the cops actions in any way shape or form.

Just another example of the corruption of our police force-- or any police force for that matter. Whether the criminal was guilty or not, 5 police officers have NO right to habitually kick people while they are on the ground.
This shit is real whether or not folks want to believe it, and the corruption is even greater in big cities where drugs and other illegal activities flourish.

i understand these guys have hard jobs, but this kind of crap needs to end, i have no respect for these people, real police officers dont need to do these kinds of things

Indefensible police brutality, yes. Police state, no.

That's right, keeesha, I'm one of those "dummies" who doesn't think we live in a police state.

I think the Chinese, North Koreans, Saudis and Burmese live in police states, to name a few. It's really a pretty fucking serious thing.

I have pondered the situation and attempted repeatedly to give a shit about 3 troublemakers getting their ass kicked for not cooperating with the police. I've failed, I think it's safe to say it's impossible for me to give a shit about them get beat on for acting like dumbass hoodlums instead of law abiding citizens.

It's not about "them". That's where you are failing. It's about us, you me and society as a whole. WE don't treat our people like this. What does this show the world. We already have image issues thanks to W. You need to give a shit about basic civil rights. If you have trouble doing that look at it pragmatically. If you're a criminal and you're in a situation like that are you going to surrender and take a beating or go out in a blaze of glory and take as many of them with you as you can?

Eldamon, I have yet to have a problem with the police, my friends have yet to have a problem with the police when being stopped for something. It's NOT difficult, if an officer says STOP b/c they want to check you out for something, guess what, DO IT. Be civil about it, don't try to run, don't act like an asshat, and the cops will reciprocate. People who act like law abiding citizens are treated like law abiding citizens.

You must be kidding. So because you and your friends are all good the cops can stomp the hell out of three kids, spit on them and call it a day. Is that really the position you are trying to defend. You really can't look passed your little part of the world? Why is that, do the kids that were assaulted not look enough like you or your buddies to matter? What if one of your friends has a bad day or one too many at the "club" and is a bit belligerent then what? OR what if you and you and your friends run into fifteen cops that look a lot like those kids and have a little attitude about it all? Bet you're going to be looking for some serious civil rights right about then. But it's all good with you as long as it's not you or your friends right?

What could they have possibly done to deserve to get held down kicked and spat on??? More importantly why WHY is that ok with you and your buddies or anyone for that matter?

and the police are there to protect the people. F that crap. i would rather hear some gun shots that have to see the happen. thats 12 cops on three men? what the hell is wrong with this? and if these cops arent charged, then the courts can go F themselves too before someone else gets to them.

LE you are an idiot. This isn't all about doing what your told. It about being treated like a human being until you are convicted. And unfortunately even after that you are supposed to be treated humanely. What separates them from the thugs? Funding by our gov.? Legal ownership of guns, fast cars with light ons top hundreds of homies at your push of the button..? Give me a break man.. there is no excuse.. Although if they were holding a severed penis or something they might get a good smack with the steal toe... Come on wake the hell up.. What sort of fucking name is Liberal Extinction.. DO you think you possess some knowledge the rest of us don't? Hmm.. Like if we all were righties we might be better at life???

what else is new?

STOP! Write to your local newspaper, put out fliers, write to your local congress person and DEMAND that police wear cams on themselves instead of on the dashboards of cars. That way we can monitor any wrong doings (This could be mutually beneficial because it could help out the ones that ARE doing right) by our friendly justice keepers. Maybe this could have helped turn the tide on the Sean Bell (Rest in Peace) verdict.

Any suggestions on this idea?

Unfortunately the job attracts a certain personality... watch the German film "The Experiment".

caveat: Not all cops are bad or corrupt. But the corrupt ones do spoil it for the rest.