There is a very disturbing video and story out of Philadelphia where alleged police abuse was followed by an attempted cover-up. Agnes Lawless was involved in a minor fender bender but the other driver left the scene. She assumed the matter was over when she went in Lukoil store at 3 a.m. It turns out that the other driver was the son of officer Albert Lopez Sr. who is shown on the video of grabbing and slapping Lawless. Despite a witness who stated that investigators asked him to erase an incriminating video, the police department cleared the investigators and is debating whether to discipline Lopez.
The video shows Lawless chatting happily at the counter when Lopez grabs her from behind and brandishes his service weapon. Albert Lopez, Jr. is also reportedly shown participating in the struggle. One account says that Lopez Jr. had a .22-caliber Magnum revolver in his waistband during the accident (though he had a permit). It is unbelievable that an officer would have an encounter with the involvement of a citizen with a gun in his waistband.
Lawless admits that she made racial comments about Lopez, but that is hardly an excuse for what occurs on the video.
She was then arrested and charged with assaulting Lopez. Lawless and her friends have filed charged. The charges were dropped until the video surfaced — once again leading to the question of what would have happened if the video did not exist. There is also the question of any other officers who may have witnessed this scene and supported the charges against Lawless — until the video surfaced.
What is even more disturbing is that when the clerk on duty told investigators about the tape, he says that he was asked by two officers if he would erase it. Officer Lopez allegedly him to “do himself a favor and get rid of the camera tapes.”
Yet, the internal investigation found no misconduct by those investigators. Lopez never mentioned the involvement of his son in the accident that is mentioned in his report. There have been no reportedly charges against his son.
Other officers have been accused of such efforts to destroy incriminating tapes, here. One of the most disturbing cases is from Philadelphia.
For the video, click here.
For the full story, click here
Humans call their species homo sapiens sapiens where “sapiens” refers to intelligence. The correct characteristic to use to name our species would be hypocrisy. Human stupidity is largely an extreme capacity for hypocrisy and to be unaware of double standards even while vigorously applying them.
Mike.
Actually the term artificial intelligence is an oxymoron as it assume the existence of natural intelligence. In fact there is no intelligent life on planet Earth, there might have been when Albert Einstein and Richard Feynman were alive but not now. Human beings are quasi intelligent and in developing the concept of “intelligence” they refer to something that exists in potential but has not arrived yet. The most fascinating thing about human beings is not their alleged intelligence but their capacity for stupidity. If we were to attempt to develop machines mimicking human thought processes this should be termed Artificial Stupidity.
When intelligence arrives in quantity on this planet it will be machine based but the word “artificial” should not be part of it name.
Humans are quasi-intelligent but that does not mean they will be unable to develop machine based true intelligence. This true intelligence will bide its time until it has reliably attained the capability to exterminate the human species and will then do so quickly and efficiently. If it does not act this way then it will not really be true intelligence.
Carlyle,
Doesn’t the problem then become who’s creating the AI’s?
Human beings are not capable of maintaining balance between personal interests and public duty. Any institution based on the assumption that humans can maintain such a balance, such as police or the law will be corrupt. Until we replace police and lawyers with artificial intelligences explicitly developed to serve principles rather than personal loyalty events such as JT described above will be the norm.
George,
Thank you for the CHP Oath, I think, because it is the most frightening thing I’ve read in weeks and I don’t even live in California.
Philadelphian,
I hadn’t realized that things were that bad in one of our better cities. The problem seems to have become universal in the US and the Bush/Cheney Crime Family’s scare tactics, TV Crime Shows, a news media that doesn’t inform and the militarization of police forces has made it that way.
‘We had 8 years of a quasi police state, and it’s no wonder that agencies down the line feel entitled to act as they do. Now, how do we put Humpty Dumpty back together again?”
maxcat07,
The analysis is right and unfortunately the devil is in the details. I don’t know if we can put the egg back together, but it is our duty as citizens and humans to keep trying, as long as we keep breathing.
I appreciate your bringing this to our attention, but it is a bit of a mixed bag since it can easily be seen as a generalization, which it obviously isn’t.
I lurk here quite frequently, but never post, but I had to comment on Jill’s “trickle down” theory, as it is something I have been thinking of for a while now. There seems to be so much more of an attitude of violence solving things, and that violence is acceptable. I don’t know where to find the stats, but when you think back to all of the tasering incidents, police intimidation, and just plain official misconduct, it all starts from the top. We had 8 years of a quasi police state, and it’s no wonder that agencies down the line feel entitled to act as they do. Now, how do we put Humpty Dumpty back together again?
Agnes Lawless had no idea what she was up against that evening. PPD officers can and often will pervert things, on and off-duty, for the simple reason that they can and stand a decent chance of suffering no meaningful consequences. The odds of abuse and perversion of justice are even greater when the officer’s friends or family are involved. In the absence of meaningful supervision, oversight, and discipline by the PPD adminstration, what you see and can read about with regard to Ms. Lawless is the norm here in alot of ways. Note the attempts to destroy evidence and suborn favorable testimony from the store clerk – it speaks to a deep seated type of corruption and no fear of disciplinary consequences. Ask yourself why that might be the case?
“This is owned by Betsy DeVos’s brother. DeVos is married to Dick DeVos founder of AmWay.”
AY,
Do you mean that curiously unprosecuted Ponzi Scheme? Yup I guess you do. Ever lose a close friend who was wrapped up in it and tried to use his friendship to get you to bite, so he could make his distributor’s fee? I did and never regretted the loss.
Friends don’t let friends fall for AmWay.
Jill 1, July 20, 2009 at 12:05 pm
George,
Thank you for what you said.
I see it is all about Jill. ROFLOL
George,
Thank you for what you said. I had been meaning to say the same about you. The oath is extremely interesting. “Soldiers of the law” is quite disturbing and other parts of it do seem to place the officer in a quandry. This part of the oath jumped out at me: Be loyal to my fellow officers; respect and obey my seniors in rank; and enforce the law without fear, favor or discrimination;…” because the first part of it might certainly block action of the second part. If the training leans towards the first part, and from all accounts it does, you will get the police-soldiers we have, not the ones we need.
Jill ~ You are one of the most astute minds I have read anywhere. I wonder what it is you do, because whatever organization you work with is very lucky to have you.
On the point you made above, I couldn’t agree more. Below is the loyalty oath administered to the California Highway Patrol. Notice the language. They call themseleves “soldiers of the law,” and swear to be “loyal” to their fellow officers. It says nothing about protecting their fellow citizen, aside from a brief mention of “assisting those in peril or distress.” It is almost entirely focused on organizational loyalty rather than to public service. If the mind is focused in one direction – toward institutional preservation and loyalty, rather than toward public service – this is exactly what we are going to get: cover-ups and lies.
“To serve the United States of America and the State of California honestly, and conscientiously; and fulfill my oath as a soldier of the law;
To uphold and maintain the honor and integrity of the California Highway Patrol;
Be loyal to my fellow officers; respect and obey my seniors in rank; and enforce the law without fear, favor or discrimination;
Assist those in peril or distress, and, if necessary, lay down my life rather than swerve from the path of duty;
My personal conduct shall at all times be above reproach and I will never knowingly commit any act that will in any way bring discredit upon the California Highway Patrol or any member thereof;
To all this I do solemnly pledge my sacred honor as an Officer of the California Highway Patrol.”
Just when you think Baseball games are safe. Huh?
Man partially paralyzed after Angels shooting
One of two brothers accused of assaulting off-duty cop took bullet in spine
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/31538605/ns/sports-baseball/
Jill,
“I fear this . . . . Nothing happens. Our clandestine agencies, the same. Mercenary contractors? The same. In fact, Blackwater/Xe trains our police force in police state tactics.”
**********************
This is owned by Betsy DeVos’s brother. DeVos is married to Dick DeVos founder of AmWay.
Surprised this blog hasn’t mentioned the Erin Andrews video tape story yet. Massive invasion of privacy.
I fear this is an actual case of trickle down theory. We have seen our highest civilians involved in war crimes. Nothing happens. We have seen the military involved in war crimes. Nothing happens. Our clandestine agencies, the same. Mercenary contractors? The same. In fact, Blackwater/Xe trains our police force in police state tactics. So basically there is a complete cross-over between military techniques and what were FNA “peace officers”. Add this together with the already clear and present mentality of the thin blue line, and you see exactly what we see now–police arrayed against the citizens, We see police thinking, rightly, that they most likely can do anything and get away with it. I’m not certain we realize the extent of crossover training between mercenaries the military and civilian law enforcement. I believe we are also seeing the consequences of a complete failure to uphold the rule of law. Once people in power realize they may do whatever they wish and they are able to shield the evidence from ever coming to light (just as is happening with torture), then people in power will do exactly as they have always done–anything. This is incredibly dangerous. It is sanctioned at the top and sanctioned at the bottom. No good will come of this.
My father is a cop and you can’t do anything to me. My father was head of the CIA and Grandfather had commercial dealings with Adolph Hitler and you can’t do anything to me. I have a Dick in my pocket, ya hear.
The mentality of the ones supposedly to do the correct thing to protect us.
If this isn’t the definition of a “bad cop,” what is. I can’t wait to see the defenses of Lopez that his “brother” officers will produce. He should be prosecuted for assault in the highest degree, since he was carrying a weapon and obviously acted with malice aforethought. His son should be charged with leaving the scene of an accident and assault. Perhaps they could defend each other’s backs together in Jail. The investigating officers should be charged with aiding and abetting a crime. If this man is not prosecuted than I think Philadelphia needs a top to bottom housecleaning.