Strong armed tactics used are way over the top for this kind of situation..
Its all about the training and leadership....
I imagine many of the officers on this Department do the very same crap over and over again..
This one was caught on camera...

Looks like the police were more concerned with what the guy with the phone was doing; the guy who was evidently saying something to the cop who wrestled the 73 YO down, looks like the cop threatened him too.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Also noted that the radio volume in the patrol car was turned up, effectively drowning out what was said between the cop and his victim.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Once upon a time, when I was a young, poor, single mom, I actually forged a sticker for my license plate. I needed to get the car from one back yard to another until I could afford to re-register. Meanwhile, I wasn't driving it except for this one transfer, about 2 miles.

As luck would have it, I got pulled over by a patrol car stopped right behind me at a red light. Instead of the ticket I fully expected (and couldn't afford), the officer kindly told me what was wrong with my forgery that caught his attention. Otherwise, he said, it was "not a bad job."

Had that happened today and I had a different skin color, I know that story would have a very different, probably violent ending.

Remember during W's reign, when our military was desperate for bodies and needed volunteers? They lowered the acceptance standards to include ex gang members, violent jailbirds, white supremacists, etc.

Our military taught them to fight and kill more efficiently, and eliminated what little conscience and human compassion these warped recruits might have had. Now, released from military service, a certain percentage of them have become police officers and brought that background with them.

I've been lucky enough to encounter the police only rarely and only in a helping way for the past 25 years. Then again, I'm white.

The Bush/Cheney legacy lives on today in the abuse and suffering of our citizens of color. Utterly shameful and disgusting!

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]The department will wait until public attention quiets down and people start to forget, feeling somewhat mollified. Then the cop will be returned from his paid vacation without penalty. BFD.

"Hey, look Dad! I guess it's cool to bully and beat-up old people, just like that policeman did"

You clearly saw something that wasn't happening!
That nasty old man clearly threatened that cop with logic and truth - what could be worse!

with a punk ass haircut. He needs a good kick in the jimmies (if he even has any).

when he tried to rip the paperwork out of the old guy's hands. He could have asked for it. Instead he got aggressive and escalated the situation.

aka paid vacation.

please defend this. thanks in advance for the pretzel logic you will display by claiming this is in any way defensible.

Talk about turning a routine stop up to an 11.

That cop should be fired and charged with assault.

He is not from my America.

My 18 year old son wants to be a cop. How do I explain my present outrage with cops. My boy loved and idolized his grandfather. So that slime cop tases a 76 year old man over an INSPECTION sticker. Who the hell does he think he is and how did he get that way.

My boy is presently at a military college majoring in law enforcement. Thankfully he is very liberal.

WE must make this stop!

It seems to make far too many absolutely paranoid and dangerous menaces to society.

I'm specifically talking about how Blackwater aka XE aka ... has trained quite a number of police departments around the country. They have been militarized to a large extent, and it certainly seems like many cops have very little desire to "serve and protect" average citizens. They seem to see average citizens as threats first and foremost now.

bad attitude.

is so very wrong in so many ways.........righteous outrage is all that is possible here. No excuses that the old gentleman was a threat, didn't respond properly to the 'authority of this thug and on and on. WORDS would have deescalated this situation. Man!!!!

Keep up with their bills and responsibilities. I see many who have a time keeping up not necessarily due to financial but just dates and things. We all can keep these situations to a minimum just by keeping an eye on our elderly neighbors and family members.