NYPD Arrests A New Yorker For Being A New Yorker
The Constitution is flopping around like a dying goldfish. Yet another incident in the disturbing trend to ignore our rights. Ed Morrissey at Hot Air blogs an incredible incident about a guy being arrested for being a smartass. Video below. Ed writes:
Moral of the story: The NYPD has no sense of humor. After stopping a bicyclist for riding on the sidewalk, a particular sore spot in New York, a passerby starts teasing the cyclist, saying, "You know that's against the law!" The police then come out of their van and demand the identification of the smart-alec, turning a routine stop into a major confrontation that eventually required at least a half-dozen officers to handle. While six of New York City's finest arrest a man for having a big mouth, another man who is obviously either drunk or stoned stumbles out into traffic -- and none of the police officers bother to notice:
Doesn't it seem as though cops have been getting very heavy handed over the past several years?
marta at April 18, 2011 6:47 AM
Option 2: "Mind your own business, ya wiseass!"
Sue at April 18, 2011 7:32 AM
This is one of the reasons why, when I go to New York, I avoid the police like the plague. I know where I'm going, I know how to get there, so I'll just be on my way, thanks!
Flynne at April 18, 2011 8:48 AM
Marta, clearly you don't understand that the Thin Blue Line is under fire constantly. They live on the razor's edge of death daily, and put it all on the line for you. They serve and protect, in the manner of Arthurian Knights. Selfless. Godlike.
They do all that for a mere six figures in salary and benefits each year. Hardly enough to compensate them. Hardly enough.
Any attempt to deny the above characterization of police will be met with personal insults about how you civilians have no clue how tough it is out there. No clue. Hence you cannot give voice to misgivings, because the Thin Blue Line's moral authority trumps any attempt by you to question how they police us using the power we gave to them.
Moreseriously, yes, police have become more aggressive in recent decades. Twaddle like the above rant is usually what you get in reply when you question police behavior in a public forum. It is a rather disturbing juxtaposition to see society becoming safer, yet the police seem to get more hostile and commanding toward ordinary people every year.
Spartee at April 18, 2011 9:03 AM
Hey Spartee, does this "They live on the razor's edge of death daily, and put it all on the line for you. They serve and protect, in the manner of Arthurian Knights. Selfless. Godlike." include all the ones on the take? Or just them specifically?
Just askin'.
o.O
Flynne at April 18, 2011 9:34 AM
How many of them are among the 400 helping friends and family with traffic tickets?
MarkD at April 18, 2011 10:04 AM
Flynne, go back and read my post with a high-pitched British accent, like a Monty Python delivery. That should help.
No matter how over the top I get with my sarcasm ("Godlike."), there is always someone who thinks I am serious.
Spartee at April 18, 2011 11:31 AM
Spartee, I totally got ya; I was being sarcastic too!
But you might be surprised at how many actually think this way about themselves. Especially the "Godlike" part. And most especially the corrupt ones.
Flynne at April 18, 2011 11:54 AM
Doesn't it seem as though cops have been getting very heavy handed over the past several years?
Posted by: marta
A few yaers ago the cops here in Phx,AZ(the MCSO specifically) burnt down a house while serving a civil traffic bench warrent, they also used tear gas to drive a dog bck into the flames. The moblie armored command center tank didnt have the parking break set and cruched a couple of cars as it rolled down the street.
Also go read the Fathers&Familles blog. Seems CPS had the SWAT team, complete with tank, take a womans child away at gun point as she was refusing to give her daughter psychotropic drugs. Cut to three weeks later the om is in jail, the girl is in a state mental facility, and the doctors of that state mental facility have never once given that girl those drugs.
lujlp at April 18, 2011 12:42 PM
"Doesn't it seem as though cops have been getting very heavy handed over the past several years?"
They're reflecting the attitude of our political leadership.
Cousin Dave at April 18, 2011 4:50 PM
This video may not tell the whole story.
About 20 years ago, when going thru a divorce in a Midwestern city, sometimes I had a bad time with cops (my ex would call them and allege threats on my part.) Twice I had encounters with cops who were real jerks. The 2nd time I left the scene shaking, thinking I'd barely escaped being put in the pokey. So, this sort of thing isn't new. A lot of cops go join a force because they are inclined to bullying and the work gives them a chance to be a petty dictator. But in defense of police, I think we have to realize they are human, too, and even cops who want to be even-handed will often appear strident just so they can take control of a situation, lest a genuine bad apple get out of hand.
Iconoclast at April 18, 2011 6:44 PM
I wonder why the cyclist didn't just ride away while they were occupied :)
Ltw at April 18, 2011 11:06 PM
Because you can't bike faster than a 9mm.
I'm rapidly turning over to the view that cops are just criminals with badges. Any "good" ones that remain are silent, and therefore actively defending the bad actors.
brian at April 19, 2011 7:09 AM
The police exist to enforce the power of the state, they are not there to "protect and serve" unless it serves the interests of the state.
After that, be polite to the man with the gun, since he can arrest you for any or no reason, and there is little you can do about it.
In all honesty, I have more to fear from the police then I do from criminals these days.
Matt at April 19, 2011 8:22 AM
Because you can't bike faster than a 9mm.
My comment was tongue in cheek brian, they probably already had his identity so why run? They'll just find you later. But you probably can outrun a 9mm. Most people, cops included, are hopeless with a handgun at anything over 5-10 feet. Hitting a moving target on a bike? Very unlikely. They all turned their back on him a few times, he could have got 50 yards headstart on them easily.
Not to mention that bullying behaviour aside, they're pretty unlikely to shoot a fleeing cyclist in the back.
Ltw at April 19, 2011 8:50 AM
Not to mention that bullying behaviour aside, they're pretty unlikely to shoot a fleeing cyclist in the back.
Posted by: Ltw
I Dont know, I-10 was shut down for 10 hours yesterday becuase the cops were investigating a shooting. A guy was threatening to jump of an overpass onto the freeway.
So in order to prevent the guy from killimg himself they shot him, and then he fell onto the freeway
lujlp at April 19, 2011 10:16 AM
Not to mention that bullying behaviour aside, they're pretty unlikely to shoot a fleeing cyclist in the back.
Posted by: Ltw
I Dont know, I-10 was shut down for 10 hours yesterday becuase the cops were investigating a shooting. A guy was threatening to jump of an overpass onto the freeway.
So in order to prevent the guy from killimg himself they shot him, and then he fell onto the freeway
lujlp at April 19, 2011 10:16 AM
There's a lot of "You must take control of the situation" indoctrination/training cops go through; problem is when some of them take it as "You can be a heavy-handed asshole if you decide it's a good idea and we'll defend you no matter what."
When you sit in a car with four or five long-service LE officers and listen to THEM bitch about the attitude problems of newer officers, it tells you something.
Firehand at April 19, 2011 3:16 PM
Re: "I'm rapidly turning over to the view that cops are just criminals with badges. Any "good" ones that remain are silent, and therefore actively defending the bad actors."
My kids' stepfather is a cop who's a very genial fellow and a few years back he was doing assigned duty at a store in a poor area of town, and to sum up, he was injured rather badly when he had to subdue a drug addict who tried to steal something. He was a long time getting to the stage to where he could work again.
I'm not defending truly arrogant cops, but I think if you put yourself in the position of a cop, you can understand them better. If they get too far out of line it can affect their job status and lead to lawsuits against the police dept. Also, because money is so tight, they have to be more judicious about who they haul to jail than in times past.
Iconoclast at April 19, 2011 5:43 PM
So in order to prevent the guy from killimg himself they shot him, and then he fell onto the freeway
Words fail me luj.
Ltw at April 19, 2011 9:17 PM
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