NYPD Sergeant Lesly Charles is the center of a controversy this morning after the release of a video showing him in a tirade where he speaks of the giant size of his penis and says that committing crimes is okay with him. He was just upset that someone double parked their car.
Charles is shown saying “You guys are hustling or whatever, I ain’t got no problem with that. Listen . . . do your thing. But when I come around and I speak, you f–king listen. Tell your boys.”
Charles proclaims “This is my street. All right? If you got to play tough, that’s your problem . . . I do whatever the f–k I want.” Notably, the film shows two undercover officers who do not object or do anything as Charles abuses the men. Notably, there is no evidence that those officers have been charged with any violation — a common complaint that officers who witness wrongdoing are rarely punished for failing to intervene or later raise the issues with superiors.
In this case, Charles himself comes across as an imminent threat to public safety. He announces “I have the long d–k. You don’t. Your pretty face — I like it very much. My d–k will go in your mouth and come out your ear. Don’t f–k with me. All right?” When one of the men insisted that he “didn’t do anything,” Charles warned, “I’ll take my gun and put it up your a– and then I’ll call your mother afterwards. You understand that? . . . And I’ll put your s–t in your own mouth . . .I’m here every f–king day. I don’t go home. I have no life. No kids. I do what I do.’’
The man was who took the video was charged with disorderly conduct for ignoring orders to leave. That’s right. It was the citizen who was disorderly. The police noted that man has a long record — as if that mitigates the conduct of Charles and the other officers.
Charles is quoted as telling the New York Post in response to any inquiry that “I’m just doing God’s work. You know I can’t comment . . . Have a blessed day.”
There is no indication that any of the officers reported the incident or that any discipline was taken against any of the officers by the department itself. Once again, it is the existence of a videotape that has forced the department to confront police abuse rather than simply have a denial of the facts by officers. Yet, prosecutors like Cook County State’s Attorney Alvarez continues to fight for the right to jail citizens who film police in public.
Charles appears not just unsuited for police work but mentally unstable. It is hard for me to believe that this is the first such incident or indication of instability by the officer.
Source: NY Post
I somewhat understand the need for police to maintain authority of a situation…but this is far too vulgar or reasonable to be acceptable.
This comes across like a mob style shakedown.
“I own this street, you do your petty sh!t and stay out of my way and you’ll be fine…if not, I’ll make you pay.”
Wonder what kind of shady dealings he and those undercovers, who stand behind him like his own personal bodyguards, are up to.
Not defending this particular cop, but cops talk shit all the time. I know that is broad but whenver I have had LEO contact (traffic stops, witness statements, etc) in a few different states its best just to shutup while they talk their smack and say yes sir no sir.
Yes its dirty and derogatory, but its ubiquitous among LEO in my opinion.
I guess its how they think they can dominate a situation without needing to physically touch someone. They can get in trouble for touching someone, they cant get in trouble for merely smack talking
Predictions:
1. Sergeant Charles remains on the force and is promoted within two years.
2. Poster of the videotape is criminally charged and convicted after a future stop & frisk / traffic stop, a summoned drug dog alerts, and drugs are found
Next time, I will outfit either myself or my young son with some sort of recording device. These kinds of police (and others in “authority”) abuses are everywhere, and I am witnessing it happening to my own young son.
Blazing Saddles – One “cop’s” version:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/21/opinion/the-right-to-record.html?_r=1&src=rechp
Editorial
The Right to Record
Published: May 20, 2012
The Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department took an important stand last week, declaring that citizens have a First Amendment right to videotape the actions of police officers in public places and that seizure or destruction of such recordings violates constitutional rights.
Related in Opinion
The Justice Department made the statement in a federal lawsuit brought against the Baltimore Police Department by Christopher Sharp, who used his cellphone to take video of the police arresting and beating a friend at Pimlico on the day of the 2010 Preakness. The officers took Mr. Sharp’s cellphone while he was recording and wiped the phone clean of all videos before returning it to him.
The Courts of Appeals for the First and Seventh Circuits have wisely found that the Constitution protects the right to videotape police officers while they perform official duties. The video taken by another witness of the beating at Pimlico shows that the right to record is crucial to holding police accountable for their actions.
Mr. Sharp sued for damages to his personal property and for injunctive relief in the form of a clear policy on videotaping consistent with the Constitution and also training for the police. The judge hearing the case arranged a settlement conference for May 30, though the case is far from being settled.
Last November, the Police Department issued an order paying lip service to the right of citizens to make “video recording of police activity.” But the day after that order became public, as The Baltimore Sun reported, police officers were caught on video threatening to arrest for loitering a man who was recording them as they surrounded and held someone on the ground.
It is essential that the Justice Department and federal courts make clear that police departments will be held liable for violating this constitutionally protected right. (end of editorial)
It was filthy but I see flexing his authority will keep some semblance of
order. I think he can refraim himself. Keep him there.
That’s why I think that everyone should wear one of these. Clip it to your lapel or collar and It will record the last hour of your life and if anything happens you can just save it. The irony is that Orwell predicted that technology will allow big brother to watch you, but what we have actually seen that the common man benefits more from technology because they can now monitor big brother.
http://www.galls.com/style-CA125-general_catalog-scorpion-micro-digital-video-camera
This leo is a threat to public safety and should be removed from his position of authority. Let’s turn the tables and see how well his self-proclaimed size helps him in jail.
“Charles is quoted as telling the New York Post in response to any inquiry that “I’m just doing God’s work. You know I can’t comment . . . Have a blessed day.””
And there you have it.
The cops make themselves look bad because they are bad.
In their delusion crime is something other people do, but they are exceptional, like Nixon” “when the _____ does it it is not illegal.”
Videos like this are the reason why there are laws in some jurisdictions against video taping and audio taping police officers. This makes the cops look bad.