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Tamir Rice, age 12, died last month after Cleveland police shot him while he was waving a pellet gun. John Crawford III was shot in an Ohio Wal-Mart earlier this year while holding an air rifle. Both cases have drawn scrutiny because of the uncertain and questionable reasons behind the shootings.
The message didn't go over so well with the Cleveland police department. "It's pretty pathetic when athletes think they know the law," said Cleveland police union head Jeff Follmer, per a local Cleveland journalist. "They should stick to what they know best on the field. The Cleveland police protect and serve the Browns stadium, and the Browns organization owes us an apology."
If the Browns follow the same path as other teams whose players have taken public stands on social issues, there will be no apology.
Rrrrrrrrigghht, because opening fire and performing drive-bys on men and children with pellet guns completely follows the letter of the law . . . which, in both cases, the LEOs will get off scot-free.
Hey, as soon as you fellers admit that "Open Carry" is only for white folks, you might get a "sorry". But until then .. . .
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,308 posts)You are absolutely right.
bhikkhu
(10,708 posts)...as they do have a hard job, and don't often see the more positive sides of people. But the consistently bad responses, such as the quote above, have changed my mind; something is really wrong in the whole culture.
Nobody owes the police an apology anywhere for asking for their basic rights to be honored. The police everywhere should be ready to apologize for years of oppressive intimidation and harrassment, even if they want to say it was only the "bad apples". Things have to change, and the people asking for things to change are definitely not the problem.
Ishoutandscream2
(6,656 posts)HughBeaumont
(24,461 posts)You know what's apparently now a quote among police, and I didn't know this as of late?
"Here to Protect and Serve your Ass, Not Kiss It".
So, asking that you do your jobs according to laws and protocol = "kissing our asses"??
That's JUST Amazing.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)This post deserves a like.
cascadiance
(19,537 posts)... earlier about the pattern of heavy abuse we are seeing exposed now, and THEY would have said that those committing that abuse would have to be taken down to preserve their sense of dignity. If they feel that silencing others who have a platform to shine a light on their abuse is more justified than them policing their own actions (when they should be held to a standard above average citizens), then they deserve the criticism that is being given to them collectively.
I'm all for praising police who do their jobs well and protect us. But I think it is much if not more their battle to join us in demanding that those that are abusing this profession be made to answer for their actions now. If they all do nothing, then they have nothing to complain about when others take them to task.
mythology
(9,527 posts)what should the cops be sticking to as in the case of the Tamir Rice shooting, the cop had already been let go from one department for not being able to handle pressure? Obviously being a cop isn't what he knows best.
Even if the cops think that people aren't capable of adequately judging the circumstances, being a condescending ass and belittling the public isn't likely to get people on their side.
avebury
(10,946 posts)Adrahil
(13,340 posts)I mean, wtf? Cannot we mere citizens understand the law, or more importantly, what we want the law to be? Are we unable to insist upon respect for human rights from law enforcement officer, whom, it should be remembered, are public servants?
WillyT
(72,631 posts)dmr
(28,321 posts)"The Cleveland police protect and serve the Browns stadium, and the Browns organization owes us an apology."
What are they gonna do, let the players be mugged as they leave the stadium? Guess they forgot, they protect the stadium because they get paid to protect it. Unless of course, they want to work for compliments only.
Who knew they were so sensitive.
rustbeltvoice
(427 posts)The business manager of the St. Louis Police Union had a longer, but similar statement two weeks ago about the Rams 5.
Follmer after the Attorney General Holder came to town said, "It's disappointing when people take a look back and criticize what we did."
Two years ago, after police shot over an hundred rounds at two unarmed people in a car that back fired, Follmer had more extreme statements.
Year after year, Police Union President after Police Union President defends their men absolutely, and use every verbal defense possible, even those that they resent used by those they arrest.
I would expect there are exceptions, but Cleveland Police make it a principle to immediately intimidate civilians (of all races) effectively daring them to escalate.
They never admit wrong doing. They take no criticism.
ProfessorGAC
(64,427 posts)This was has an implied threat, but the one from StL was blatantly threatening.
Anybody in the police force willing to openly threaten the populace for having an opinion needs to be dismissed posthaste.
HughBeaumont
(24,461 posts)It's an authoritarian and bullying culture, almost as if they're in an unspoken war on Cleveland's citizens.
I've experienced many instances of verbal harassment by police, including one where, during a re-direct in traffic due to a marathon I didn't even know was happening, an LEO spent 3 minutes yelling at me like I'm a six year old for following the instructions of where his fellow officer told me to go. Oh, and he also threatened to write us all tickets for . . . yeah, I don't know what?
I've seen police angrily yell at drivers using language you'd hear at a bar fight.
I've seen CPD put a knee on the back of an addicted and mentally ill homeless woman in Tower City. This, unfortunately was before recording police actions happened . . . I mean, do I call the police ON the police?
They need to clean it up and FAST, but something tells me we're only going to see more Tamir Rice cases, and possibly even ones that are worse.
#onebadLEOisstilltoomany
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)...just sayin', since that seems to be a crime these days.
dissentient
(861 posts)The Cleveland police can go to hell.
"OMG, he wore a t-shirt that we don't like! How dare him!"
OrwellwasRight
(5,170 posts)exactly -- if the Cleveland police don't have the fortitude to take criticism, perhaps they do not have the fortitude to be police officers.
belzabubba333
(1,237 posts)remember dr laura
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)Cleveland cops can complain; they have no power over the Browns.
belzabubba333
(1,237 posts)Glassunion
(10,201 posts)If your employer stifles you speech while you are at work, there it is no 1st Amendment issue.
However, if the police try to stifle the same speech while you are at work, then it is a 1st Amendment issue.
belzabubba333
(1,237 posts)Glassunion
(10,201 posts)other teams whose players have taken public stands on recent social issues. With deafening silence.
MattSh
(3,714 posts)99Forever
(14,524 posts)... when they end their war on us and prosecute the murdering, thieving, bullying, corrupt scum among their ranks. Till then:
Fuck. The. Police.
AzDar
(14,023 posts)Odin2005
(53,521 posts)blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)tough shit, kkkoppers.
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)The Cleveland police department is horrible and the DOJ has the Cleveland police department under supervision
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-and-city-cleveland-agree-reform-division-police-after-finding-pattern-or
We look forward to working together with the city of Cleveland, members of the Cleveland community and Cleveland police officers to address the deficiencies that have led to this pattern of unnecessary and excessive force, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Gupta. Together, we can build confidence in the division that will ensure compliance with the Constitution, improve public safety and make the job of delivering police services safer and more effective.
Our independent investigation, conducted at the request of the Mayor and others, revealed troubling patterns of the use of force in the Cleveland Division of Police, said U.S. Attorney Dettelbach. We applaud the division and the city for beginning to implement necessary reforms and are pleased that the city has entered into a statement of principles agreeing to negotiate a consent decree with outside monitoring that will guide the development of a sustainable blueprint for reform. It will take a joint effort by all stakeholders to ensure that this critical initiative is a success.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Civil Rights Divisions Special Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Ohio. The investigation involved an in-depth review of thousands of pages of documents, including written policies and procedures, training materials, and internal reports, data, video footage and investigative files. Department of Justice attorneys and investigators also conducted interviews with officers, supervisors and command staff, and city officials; and spoke with hundreds of community members and local advocates. This investigation was separate from any criminal investigation of any specific incident of alleged misconduct.
lark
(23,004 posts)not for white women. Get your story straight.
nilesobek
(1,423 posts)???
Jeff Follmer needs a public relations guy right now. What a stupid thing to say, really. Who is he to judge who knows and doesn't know the laws? Being an athlete does not exclude a person from knowing the law.
Besides, this is a free speech protest, not a debate on vagaries of law. Screw you Fullmer, I got your apology right here.
olegramps
(8,200 posts)They are nothing more than Brown Shit Fascist bastards. People are so fond of saying its just a few bad apples. That is total nonsense. This is not some situation that is a recent phenomena. I am in my late 70's are I knew several Mexican-American kids that were brutalized by the police along with a few of white kids from the project whom they regarded as white trash. This wasn't NYC, but Denver. We didn't live on the right side of town and I had the privilege of going to school and growing up with minority kids. And what I am seeing today is no different than what I was confronted with when I was growing up. Their parents were afraid to complain since they knew that they would be targeted along with their kids. They all hung out at a couple of bars and I was told by one of the waitresses how they bragged about how they roughed up some kid or minority. It isn't new because they attract the same sociopaths that they have always attracted. Cheney is their God as they worship at the altar of sacred sadism.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)mass quantities of humanity efficiently by white people?
Constitutionally protected, no problems.
Black kids with toy guns? Instant death penalty carried out by the protectors of the 1%.
HughBeaumont
(24,461 posts)"My earpiece is connected to nothing, but at least I got my Rand stickie!"
*please shoot your foot, please shoot your foot, please shoot your foot . . . *
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)dicks which obviously they haven't seen in years!
blackspade
(10,056 posts)Cleveland police union head Jeff Follmer can go fuck himself.
moondust
(19,917 posts)These police unions are entrenched and probably know from experience not to admit to doing anything wrong.