During the video, the man pleaded for mercy and indicated that he couldn't breathe quite a few times. He kept trying to adjust his head to find relief, but the number of cops on him wouldn't allow him comfort. Not to mention the one cop who applied pressure from a knee to the back of the man's neck. He was clearly increasing the pressure the more the man appeared to be adjusting to get some air.
Despite the man being in custody and no longer a threat, this cop still felt the need to "punish" him by keeping the knee in the back of the man's neck which ultimately may have led to the trauma that killed the man. The onlookers pleaded with the cop to ease up. They begged the police to just put the guy in the squad car. They told them to check the man's pulse when he became unresponsive.
The cops did none of that. An ambulance was called, but the man appears to have died before they arrived.
Look, I understand that police are humans and get frustrated, too. They get tired of people who may run and / or resist. But some cops don't realize how what they do comes off as severe bullying to the general public. Especially minorities. Once the suspect is subdued, the fight is over. You don't have the right to continue to punish someone who is in handcuffs and not in a position to be a threat to anyone.
I have met some really good cops in my life. Cops who wouldn't dare think of intentionally harming someone. But until THEY start to speak out against this, we'll continue to see videos like these. When was the last time you saw a cop testify against another cop for police brutality? Wait. When's the first time you've ever seen that?
This "loyalty to the uniform" stuff needs to end if they ever want to truly gain a reputation for "protecting and serving" the people. Because right now, the police only "protect and serve" each other.
Good points, I am extra critical because once you're trained you no longer get a I'm human pass to an extent:teachers, low income doctors, family social workers and boots on the ground soldiers take disrespect constantly and have to reserve professionalism and protocol... so cops y'all ain't special and get no pass
ReplyDeleteI can't argue your point at all. The training is supposed to give them the same discipline the miltary has. The military will stand down even if someone is shooting at them if orders call for it.
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