A video showing police officers beating an unconscious suspect, Anthony Warren, had led to the firing of five Birmingham officers. The beating occurred after a high-speed chase. An officer turned off the video camera but it still was able to capture the critical footage.
What is most disturbing is that the video only recently was shown to top police officials despite the fact that any as six supervisors saw the video and apparently did nothing. To the credit of the department, there will be discipline for those supervisors who failed to report the incident to higher-ups. Hopefully, they will at a minimum be stripped of rank and returned to patrol duty as non-supervisors.
There is also the possibility of criminal charges against the officers.
From our past stories, it seems often the case that such brutality occurs after high-speed chases where officers are understandable “pumped up” and often angry. In this case, Warren almost ran over an officer and endangered numerous citizens before his van turned over and he was ejected on the side of the road.
It seems likely that there will be a civil lawsuit. While the actions this week are commendable, the failure of supervisors to act will likely support a tort action against the city and the police.
For the video and full story, click here
The supervisors must be fired for the cover-up. They must not be put back out on the streets with firearms. The citizen taxpayers should not have to pay for the officers’ violations. If more LEOs that are corrupt went to prison, then other officers would think before acting illegally.
What kind of people beat an unconscious person instead of assisting him with first aid, or at least first assessing his health status?
QUESTION: “What kind of people beat an unconscious person instead of assisting him with first aid, or at least first assessing his health status?”
ANSWER: A sociopath or psychopathic criminal.
It is heartening that Alabaman’s may have come around from the time of Selma. LEO’s do not have the right to enforce justice by their own methods. The perp was undoubtedly reckless, but that doesn’t give the Officers the right to take out their anger on them. We are presumed to be a society with a Constitution and Laws. The police, as guardians of the law, have the absolute duty to model what “law abiding” stands for and if they don’t not only do they fail in their duty, but they make their own jobs less safe. It was disturbing to read though that about 50% of the comments on this story by the Alabama citizenry were on the side of the officers. All of those people assume it will never happen to them, or someone close to them. How ignorant of them to think that way.
After reading through some of the comments in the linked article, it’s truly scary how the South views policework. I don’t know when it became part of the police officer’s duty to beat people up….I thought they were in business to help prevent crime. Or did I miss something in civics class?
Yep, if you ever want to get really down on life, read the comments about an article like this on a popular local news site. If you go to my town’s local newspaper’s website, you’ll find the most hate-filled and ignorant comments imaginable. Local news sites: the Internet’s Mos Eisley.
That ahole deserved every lick he got, and some. He made the decision to break the law which led to him fleeing police and during that chase attempted to run down an officer. How would you feel if your father/brother/son was the officer that he killed? I don’t think you would be so sympathetic for this guy.
“QUESTION: “What kind of people beat an unconscious person instead of assisting him with first aid, or at least first assessing his health status?”
ANSWER: A sociopath or psychopathic criminal.”
Buddha,I have one addition to your answer. I would suggest this amended version: A sociopath or psychopathic criminal or a Birmingham police officer and his/her supervisor.
Yeah, the cops should have just taken out a serrated knife and cut the guys head off right there. Oh, wait, the other guy who flipped out the back was the actual bad guy. He forced a victim to change places with him in the van just before they crashed. Oh, wait. The cops cut the victims head off already. Oh well, we’re Christians, and so we’re forgiven. Thinking. Thinking. Try it.
Now who are or was the criminal?
The thug animal almost ran over an officer of the peace and put countless innocent civilians in danger. Should have kicked him harder and saved the tax payers from covering his rent for the next 40 years. I’ll be sure to next time.
Your a Muther,
Have you maybe thought they should have shot him to, made it look like self-defense, put a gun in his hand before the rig sets in and fire a few rounds just for the hell of it? I think maybe you have something there.
Not in the least, that has happened before and I am sure it will happen again. I know a of cop that got his jollys beating minorities near death and left em. You tell me thats not sick sh**, or do you get your life jollys the same way?
Wow. It’s truly sad to see people justifying the actions of out of control cops. I don’t care what this guy did, cops are NOT judge, jury or executioner. What the heck do you people think a court system is for? Once that chase was over, they should have cuffed him, tossed his ass in the back seat and took him to jail. The end.
Since when do we hold criminals and law enforcement officers to the same moral standard?
No one has sympathy for the criminal. That’s a “straw man” presented by the dumbasses who blindly support law enforcement when they act unprofessionally.
Law enforcement officers are professionals who must abide by a code of conduct. Since when is beating an unconscious criminal part of law enforcement’s code of conduct?
The fact of the matter is that the officers acted out of character and were disciplined accordingly.
All parties involved received their proper comeuppance. The officers were fired and the criminal received 20 years.
Kudos to the Birmingham police department.
I am a special education teacher dealing with a behavioral population in a tough neighborhood. Trust me there have been plenty of times I would like to smack the crap out of my students for crossing the line or for disrespecting me. However I do understand that I am professional and if I can’t handle the position I should just resign. In other words, these police officers did not conduct themselves professionally and are rightfully terminated.
teach,
if you’ve considered smacking “the crap out of” your special needs kids “plenty of times”, i think you’re in the wrong business.
uh, oh. i’m a thought police.
Each of us herein has questioned the value of a human life – the guy’s life who was the bad actor in this chase. After the chase is over and the dust has settled and no one else is in danger, is the value of the bad actor’s life the same, less or more than it was during his bad act? The emergency is over – no one else’s life is in danger. The same analysis is applied daily to the unborn (think abortion), the severely depressed (think Oregon’s assisted suicide laws), the mentally handicapped (think Florida’s Terri Schiavo) and the convict who is set to die for a murder conviction. Should life have the same value, or should it be on a sliding scale that I – or you – get to decide? To avoid abuse, what is the safest value to place on life? I think only the smartest people – with IQ’s above 136 – should have the highest value of life. What do you say?
sarcasm,
Each of us herein has questioned the value of a human life – the guy’s . . . with IQ’s above 136 – should have the highest value of life. What do you say?
Where do we sign up? Mespo, Buddha do you know where? I guess I am not that smart, oh well.
AY
‘…Buddha do you know where? I guess I am not that smart, oh well.’
–
No guess – NOT that smart is all… ;o
In case you haven’t guessed, I don’t buy anything you say.
It has more to do with those pesky discrepancies in your initial statements than your everyday writing style – once again…
Don’t waste ‘turlee’ time. We’re not, nor ever were, a
‘private chat’ room.
On the rare occasion, mespo and I apologize for use of it as same
invoking ‘sidebar’ rules.
Annonymously Yours, I accept your contention. Patty C, sorry for trespassing on your private domain.
You completely missed what I just said.
Congratulations
- or maybe NOT…
Patty C – Not. Everyone speaks tongue in cheek, anatomically speaking. I understand your position.
What annoys me is mayor Larry Langford interjecting race into the incident. I doubt it would have been any different had the person driving the vehicle had been white. He talks about how the “incident brought back to mind days of segregation and police brutality toward blacks.” as if that is the sole reason why the suspect was beaten. And reading up on Langford I don’t think he’s someone who should be judging people given his checkered legal past.
Patty C 1, May 20, 2009 at 11:12 pm
AY
‘…Buddha do you know where? I guess I am not that smart, oh well.’
–
No guess – NOT that smart is all… ;o
In case you haven’t guessed, I don’t buy anything you say.
It has more to do with those pesky discrepancies in your initial statements than your everyday writing style – once again…
Don’t waste ‘turlee’ time. We’re not, nor ever were, a
‘private chat’ room.
On the rare occasion, mespo and I apologize for use of it as same
invoking ’sidebar’ rules.
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I was unaware you were the moderator of this site. Your family has my condolences. You must be one treat to be with and to be around. I suppose the cost of travel for you is minimal. Please pray that we not of the original turlees get redemption of our lost souls and find our way.
I did not realize that you detest those not of the blue blooded aristocracy new England thieves. Please do remember that W is from your neck of the woods and it has to be something in the water to make them feel as though they are better than most. Or it could be SAD and it is sad either way. Excuse me for acknowledging your existence in anyway, you are indeed either psychotic, psychopathic, a liar, a substance abuser, a drunk or lack very low social esteem. But you in no event have exhibited any form of human decency. This is truly a loss as you could have something meaningful to contribute rather than social dysfunction, but you can only give back what you have learned.
You know I have never owned a dog of my own until last December and she is quite a beaut. She is an Australian Shep, I would compare her bedside manner to yours any day of the week and she does not have the alleged education you have. For this I am greatful.
Please do not acknowledge that I have contributed to this list in anyway or anyone else for that matter. Because it is all about Patty C all the time. Patty C, You might be surprised the people that you meet everyday have better connections, family and money than you do and maybe that is where the hostility comes from. I do not know. Nor do I care. You my Friend need some moral compass as your direction here is lost.
I have not see anyone attack you and your response was completely unwarranted. But we all have sick family that we never acknowledge, are you my sick sister?
sarcasm 1, May 20, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Annonymously Yours, I accept your contention. Patty C, sorry for trespassing on your private domain.
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Sir or Madam, until I get asked by the apparent owner of this site, I will contribute as you are encouraged to do as well.
It is my understanding that it is free discourse, some personal attacks are warranted under some circumstance. Trolley Troll Tramps just come on through and place garbage disagreeing with everyone and everything.
Some people are just disagreeable and for that they lose out much more. If I may add, even though this is the internet and impersonal as it is. A number of people put there hearts into what they write, not necessarily their feelings.
We have a number of well reasoned and some unschooled, do not confuse that with lack of education folks that are extremely brilliant.
My Grandfather had a 3rd grade education and when he died he left more money that I could ever reasonably spend. But was well versed in mathematics, something about cards and dominoes that interested him and then he parlayed this into the market.
How can one be annoyed by Mayor Langford recognizing the racial dynamic of this situation. Birmingham has a legacy of race-based police brutality.
Is it just a coincidence that the cops who were dismissed are white and the person who was beat while unconscious is black?
How could anyone not recognize the obvious, racially?
Patty,
Uncalled for instigation yet again.
Don’t think any counter attack about the smack down you just got from AY for it is going to garner any sympathy either. It will probably have the exact opposite effect.
The best way to avoid trouble is to not be there when it starts is an axiom of aikido. That is predicated on not to start any yourself.
Whatever is going on with you, you are only hurting yourself and your credibility by the continued provocations of people ostensibly aligned with the beliefs and stances of many of the regulars as well as our host. You aren’t happy that many of us have repeatedly asked you to quit using Jill as your personal whipping boy so you decided to spread the abuse around?
Physician, heal thyself.
AnonY wrote:
Anonymously Yours
1, May 20, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Evening Mespo72Cubed, Buddha, Mike S., Jill, *Patty,* JT, GW-Mom, Mike A, rafflaw, and all the others.
How is everyone this wonderful evening? Nice and cool in Texas tonight.
_________
Patty C, Anonymously Yours is trying to be friendly–why, he even mentioned *you* before *JT* in his greeting to you and others last evening. He has also done this before.
Rater, the only dynamic I see involved is a suspect who led police on a high speed chase over 50 miles and struck an officer with his vehicle while they were standing in the road. It seems baseless for the mayor to draw comparisons between what happened during segregation and the civil rights movement over 40 years ago. By the way, one of the officers involved in the incident and also fired was black.
I am not saying what the officers did is right but did you see how the mini van almost took out that cop. I could see why they would be so mad.
I totally agree with Teach on this one. All of us that work have to be a professional and these cops did not act like professionals. I also dont get why they would hit someone that is unconscious ???