In Ozark, Missouri, a family is wondering why their 16-year-old son Mace Hutchinson was hit by tasers up to 19 times after he fell (or jumped) from an overpass and broke his back.
Witnesses said that the boy did not seen out of control. Doug Messersmith said that “He looked a little agitated but, other than that, he didn’t look to be falling down drunk or anything like that.”
He was lying on the shoulder when the police arrived. There were no drugs or alcohol in his system and the family believes that he fell from the overpass.
The extensive use of the tasers forced doctors to delay the operation on the teenager for two days.
Ozark Police Capt. Thomas Rousset says that they hit him with the tasers up to 19 times “to keep him from getting hurt” by running into traffic. He added that “He refused to comply with the officers and so the officers had to deploy their Tasers in order to subdue him. He is making incoherent statements; he’s also making statements such as, ‘Shoot cops, kill cops,’ things like that. So there was cause for concern to the officers.”
We still have a boy who just fell from an overpass with a broken back and no apparent weapon.
For the full story, click here.
You’re right Legislation is the answer. Legislation for COMMUNITY oversight.
Because asking the courts to prosecute their own police officers is just not going to deliver any results anytime in the next 100 years.
The courts won’t prosecute these cases. They just won’t. 98 percent tossed in 05? 96 percent last year?
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. We can see that law enforcement cannot be trusted to police itself.
Therefore, its time for Legislation empowering communities to police themselves.
Keep on not believing it.
Keep on erring to the side of the police, and not to the side of your friends, your family, or your community.
And when it happens to you or one of yours, maybe then you’ll be able to see with your eyes, and not need statistics to convince you what you could learn by simply staring wrong at a cop the next time you see one.
Just doing what the police say anymore is not enough. Nowadays, if they even think you’re defiant in any way, you will go down.
Don’t think so? Don’t tell me.
Try it.
😐
Then tell me.
usatoday.com —
Last year, 96% of cases referred for prosecution by investigative agencies were declined. In 2005, 98% were declined, according to a TRAC report.
The high refusal rates are because Juries are conditioned to believe cops, and victims’ credibility is often challenged.
Here’s some excerpts from an article about that brutal beating last year by Milwaukie police officers, that revealed the “code of silence” I’ve been referring to all night.
Its the unspoken “ZERO TOLERANCE” against US Citizens, and it’s growing by the day.
Last year, when a Milwaukee jury did not convict three local police officers on battery charges for a beating in which Jude was kicked in the head and stabbed in both ears, the public fury intensified. A demonstration followed the verdicts, which Mayor Tom Barrett characterizes as a breakdown of the justice system.
Law enforcement and legal analysts say the cases — which federal prosecutors refiled under different charges and won earlier this year — underscore the difficulty in winning convictions against officers
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-12-17-Copside_N.htm
Don’t forget to take a look at this guys face while you’re there.
LJM
1, July 28, 2008 at 3:00 am
Bartlebee,
If you have a link providing documented evidence that the frequency and severity of police brutality has increased significantly since 9/11, I’d appreciate it. Otherwise, I’ll remain highly skeptical of the claim that brutality is significantly worse now than it was 30 – 50 years ago
And thats the difference between having been around for those 30 to 50 years LJM, and not having been. Because if you had, you wouldn’t need a link to tell you whats on your tv set every night.
But ok.
Since you won’t believe lest ye thrust your hands in, and feel the flesh, you can start with this USA today story, oddly enough, entitled, “Police brutality cases on rise since 9/11”
Here’s a few excerpts from the story to get you going. You’ll find if you don’t believe USA today, that a quick jaunt over to the Department of Justice website will confirm that since 2001, cases of police brutality are up a whopping 25 percent. And those are just the ones making it that far.
Another “fun fact” you may find illuminating, is that a whopping 96 percent of cases referred for prosecution are rejected. Which is a striking example of why letting the law enforcement agencies police themselves, is a bad idea. (like I need a statistic to figure out that Rubik’s cube)
Some excerpts from the article;
Last year, 96% of cases referred for prosecution by investigative agencies were declined.
Federal prosecutors are targeting a rising number of law enforcement officers for alleged brutality, Justice Department statistics show. The heightened prosecutions come as the nation’s largest police union fears that agencies are dropping standards to fill thousands of vacancies and “scrimping” on training.
Cases in which police, prison guards and other law enforcement authorities have used excessive force or other tactics to violate victims’ civil rights have increased 25% (281 vs. 224) from fiscal years 2001 to 2007 over the previous seven years, the department says
Federal records show the vast majority of police brutality cases referred by investigators are not prosecuted
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-12-17-copmisconduct_n.htm
Bartlebee,
Another great myth that they want you to repeat as often as possible.
If you have a link providing documented evidence that the frequency and severity of police brutality has increased significantly since 9/11, I’d appreciate it. Otherwise, I’ll remain highly skeptical of the claim that brutality is significantly worse now than it was 30 – 50 years ago.
I agree we need legislation to help solve the problem.
Bartlebee,
I am not sure that legislation is the answer. It may be part of it, but I also think you need a complete change in our thinking as a nation. We have to put aside the Bush mentality that we must be afraid and we must not allow the police or security guards to taser a person because we do not like what he/she is saying or how he/she is saying it. The First Amendment right to freedom of speech must be strengthened. The Free Speech zones must stop and we must realize that we all have the right to say something stupid. We must not allow authorities to taser an injured boy or a minister. We cannot sit back and just say, well he or she must have deserved that harsh treatment. I can’t tell you how many people told me that the young man who was tasered at the speech by John Kerry deserved it because he was a “jerk”. So the standard has shifted to the point that you deserve being tasered because you are a pain in the butt. I am glad that tasers were not available when I was a young college student or I would have a few more scars on me. I can remember the uproar at the conduct of the Chicago Police at the 1968 Democratic convention. If that happened now, people would be saying, they are jerks and they deserve anything that they got. This is not a generational issue, it is a change that was, at least, made worse by the Bush “be afraid” message of the last 7 years. However, the answer needs to start at the local level and we must not sit back and let these “official” beatings to take place. There must be an uproar from the community where these events happen and the perpetrators and enablers of these taser attacks must be dealt with quickly and publicly.
The only thing that will change it is legislation. We can talk about it, document it, etc, but until congress passes legislation to permit communities to have some level of ability to protect themselves from corrupt officers, or worse, entire police agencies where corruption trickles down from the top.
Legislation is the right way to empower the people with the ability to help curb the abuses on the citizens within their communities. Now what that legislation might look like, might not be anything like what I suggested specifically. I think my idea is a good one, but we always look at our own ideas with bias.
I’m open to suggestions. But whatever it is, it must have teeth, otherwise, we’re just throwing more money at the problem.
And while I appreciate the link, I’m familar with the site, as I am with NACOLE’s site, which is chocked full of good intel.
LJM
1, July 27, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Bartlebee,
This is not a new mentality. It’s simply a mentality that has been documented more frequently of late thanks to new technologies.
Another great myth that they want you to repeat as often as possible.
No sir. There was a national “ZERO TOLERANCE” rule put out nationwide after 911. This rule was vocalized at first, but gradually we heard nothing about it. Then as the police forces and security forces began communicating nationwide, with new technology (thats where the new technology comes in) this mentality permeated every single law enforcement agency and private security force out there. Police took on an almost militaristic look, with drastic uniform changes for so many depts. A combat look. Military police like. A look that prior to that time was reserved for SWAT.
It was this “Zero Tolerance” that we are now feeling today, as each and every day we see more and more cases of police abuse of citizens.
We’ve had this technolgy for a while. And the internets been around a while. It doesn’t account for the increase in both quantity and severity of these police attacks.
Nor does it account for the increase in multi officer attacks. Most police abuse cases except for a few notable ones like Rodney King, involved a single officer. Since 911 we see more and more cases involving multiple officers and this points to a mindset being employed throughout depts as well. Its the Zero Tolerance that was declared post 911, publiclly at first, and now, its just the norm.
sean, before you call people idiots, ask yourself why a kid with a broken back who’s lying on the ground needs to be subdued? See, if you think about things before typing in reflexive support of the government, then you’re less likely to appear to be an idiot, yourself.
Bartlebee,
The new mentality of the police is “we aren’t gonna take no sh$t from no one” and thats it.
This is not a new mentality. It’s simply a mentality that has been documented more frequently of late thanks to new technologies. It’s only in the last 30-50 years that cops have had to answer to the public for their actions.
There’s no doubt that today, that same man would have been dragged from the car, kicked, punched, tasered, and arrested for some sort of felony assault or resisting or something.
I saw that clip and I think you underestimate the officer involved. He wasn’t holding back, he was acting professionally and maturely, and there’s no reason to believe that he’d act any differently now.
While you and I are in complete agreement that police misconduct is rampant and a serious issue which must be addressed, there’s no evidence I know of to suggest that police misconduct or brutality has increased since 9/11. I mean, just ask a black man over 60 who lives in the south if things are better or worse than they were. Again, that’s not to say it’s not a huge problem.
This is a great website that documents police abuse and praises police professionalism.
http://www.policeabuse.com/
Sean, Son of Marth H, Follower of Bush Doctrine, Salesman of Stupidity, Victim of Ignorance.
@ Martha H:
It must be nice to live in the little world you’ve created; where it rains gumdrops and preemptive wars justify every casualty.
sean
1, July 27, 2008 at 6:28 am
First off let me start by saying that I am so surprised at the the amount of uneducated IDIOTS that post here
No doubt.
😐
Don’t worry though, we’ll still make room for you.
sean
1, July 27, 2008 at 6:28 am
Grow up people. What would have happened if the cops forcibly subdued the kid with a broken back?
..uhhhh gee…Sean is it?
I think the point here mr Maturity, is that there is no need to “subdue” an accident victim lying on the ground with a broken back.
See, the key there, is that he was LYING ON THE GROUND.
😐
Go any other bright ideas?
First off let me start by saying that I am so surprised at the the amount of uneducated IDIOTS that post here. Everyone wants to armchair quarterback every situation that they don’t like. Grow up people. What would have happened if the cops forcibly subdued the kid with a broken back? I am no doctor but would paralysis occurred? Then you have the redneck father saying that his operation was delayed because the taser affected the white blood cells? again I am no doctor but white blood cells are usually affected by disease or the healing process? just my two cents but I think most of you people should walk a mile in a cops shoes before you judge them.
I’m reminded of an old scene from an early epidsode of COPS, where a very restrained State Trooper or Deputy has pulled a man who is extreeeemly irate over being stopped. The guy is not intoxicated apparently, but just really cursing, swearing at the cop, being as ignorant as he could possibly be.
Its really funny, because the cop just calmly writes out the ticket to the man, nodding uh huh once and a while, and then hands the man explaining the usual court appearance times and such, and the guy takes the ticket, crumples it up and tosses it on the ground as the cop is walking back to his car. The cop calmly walks back to the man, and informs him to either get out of the car and pick up the ticket tossed on the ground or he would recieve another ticket for littering. The guy gets out and picks up the ticket and hes cussing and swearing and threatening the to get the cops badge, etc..
The cop just laughs it off, and sends the guy on his way. Avoiding any confrontation, any difficulty. It was hilarious, and the cop in it, is what I’d consider a hero of sorts. Here’s a guy who already knows he holds the card, and doesn’t need to prove it to himself everyday by beating up the people he’s been entrusted with protecting.
There’s no doubt that today, that same man would have been dragged from the car, kicked, punched, tasered, and arrested for some sort of felony assault or resisting or something.
Thats the difference, I see in what police were pre 911, as opposed to what they are post 911.
LJM, its not so much that someones accusing them of being stupid and brutal, save the ones in these particular incidents. Its drawing attention to the prevailing mindset since 911, of placing the police in a position of omnipotent authority, and placing them so high up the hero worship pole as to turn a blind eye to such things as tasering a blind woman or kid with a broken back.
We do ourselves no service by downplaying or ignoring the obvious change in police power and behavior post 911.
The new mentality of the police is “we aren’t gonna take no sh$t from no one” and thats it.
This ain’t rocket science or some obscure thought. These are crime’s hiding in plain sight, but the public outrage is muffled because of the new mentality towards the police and by the police, and their oversight bodies.
We in fact, do ourselves a disservice to turn a blind eye to it.
Most people cannot, or will not see subtle assocations or trends, but need some key defining incident before outrage will occur.
When I was growing up, a pregnant and her baby being tasered would have been that defining incident. But today it just blends into the white noise. So people need to stop saying things like “its always going to be that way”, or “cops are always jerks”, and start looking at the obvious trends, that not only myself but many others, with bigger brains than I, who are seeing these trends towards more and more abuse of power. Its starts at the top but the spirit of power abuse, trickles right on down the line.
And it seldom improves, until the people confront it.
I’m no fan of George W., but cops have been stupid and brutal as long as there have been cops. Not all of them, of course, but lots and lots of them.