Recently there was an incident here in the city of brotherly love, where a bunch police officers, used excessive force on three shooting suspects, the whole incident was caught on video tape by a news helicopter. This incident occurred only a few days after a fellow police officer, Stephen Liczbinski only a few days before. Also at the time of this beating, one of the accomplices from the Liczbinski was still at large, although the shooter of the officer was shot and killed by police the day of the killing.
Granted police tensions were high, they had just lost one of their own, the second in less than a year, and the men who were beaten were fleeing police, and were certainly not outstanding, law abiding citizens, but the reaction from the local media, and populace was way overblown.
Did the police overreact, probably, but so did the police commissioner and the mayor.
Of course the race card is being played, surprise, surprise.
Bottom line Four officers were fired, and four others were suspended by Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey. The local DA is reviewing the case for possible criminal charges, and I am sure the federal government will take a look as well. Then of course there will more than likely be a civil case, where the beating victims will sue everyone and anyone remotely involved in the case.
Personally, I believe Commissioner Ramsey reacted too swiftly, since all of the officers were white, and the victims were black, I believe Ramsey's actions were done in the interest of keeping peace on the streets...not that firing/suspending officers will help keep peace on the street (the crime statistics speak for themselves), but there seems to be a lack of due process here. All of the officers should have been suspended, pending a thorough investigation, by people independent of the city, and police department.
Could you imagine if the criminal justice system worked this rapidly (actually it wouldn't be a bad thing), a lot of bad guys would be off the street and behind bars where they belong. let's see you caught doing something, and within a week you are in jail.
Those who know me, know that I am big supporter of the police, so obviously I am biased, but I believe that the police were wronged in this situation, and betrayed by a commissioner and mayor who think they are acting swiftly to handle a volatile situation, clearly reacted to fast.
Let's see how this plays out. My personal opinion is that all the officer will be reinstated, which they should, and some reforms in use of use of force will occur, and people will still be pissed off, but you can't please everyone.
--gfo
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