Don't Run From Cops in Birmingham

[Seymore]

I'm definitely not taking the side of a murderer and making emotionally charged categorizations is overly simplistic and dangerous. The only side I advocate is that the laws be followed. Using the logic that has been presented means that vigilante justice rules and because a law enforcement officer comes to the conclusion that a defendant is guilty in the field, then all bets are off and he has the "right" to beat the defendant. He is now judge jury and executioner. Surely that is not what is being suggested.

I get just as pizzed as the next guy when I see chit like that. However, making statements like, "he deserved it" and "the cops had the right to beat him" really scare me.

The only thing the officer should do is put the defendant in cuff, take him to jail, and testify in court when called on. Anything more and we have a complete break down of social order and become a police state. The KGB and Nazi SS come to mind.

[drakechaser]

Sure he deserved it but maybe at a later time. Don't see a point in beating someone who is already down for the count. However, you can "monday mornin' quarterback" the heck out of it now. Unless you've been in a stressful situation like that you don't know how you would react. Just imagin what you would do to someone who tried to runover one of your good friends. Just my thoughts.

Professional law enforcement officers are not supposed to allow emotions to get in the way of their judgment. They are supposed to approach "stressful situations" with the cool detachment that come with their training. If they can't do that then they don't need to be in law enforcement. Just my thoughts.

No you are not suppose to allow anything to affect your decisions. You must remember that we are people as well. You can train all you want to and you better hope that's what gets you home after shift. We are to paid to make decisions in split seconds that determine whether or not you're going home to the wife and kids. I consider myself to be a strict professional and I pride myself on that. My point is that in certain situations it is humanly impossible to rid yourself of emotions. Those guys knew they messed up as soon as it was over but that does not mean they are unprofessional. One must remember that these are the only "cop" stories that ever make the news!

[Seymore]

Okay, let's take it a step further. The officers knew they screwed up as soon as it was over. What now? If the state doesn't get them, they will be prosecuted in the Federal courts for violating this guy's civil rights. Do I agree with it? No, they were in a stressful situation where their life was in question. Should all be forgotten and they be allowed back on the streets? Definitely not. The next time they could beat a guy to death because they weren't able to detach themselves emotionally.

I'm not saying I have the answers because I clearly don't. I am saying that an officer doesn't have the right to become judge, jury, and executioner. The moment he does, he should be expected to be held accountable.

[ducman77]

I have been at a scene where an officer was hit by a crack dealer trying to get away.. His vehicle was full of bullets. So he is lucky that is all he got...

[CBRADGO]

He ran the effing cop over :08 into the video, all bets are off IMO, beat the brakes off him. The worst part is that he'll get rich from this and go back to being a menace to society no matter how much time he spends in jail and how many officers get fired...

[Seymore]

Who makes the decision of when it's bad enough that "all bets are off". The officer on the scene, the courts, the public? Is there going to be a manual for dispensing justice on the side of the road listing crimes and punishment. If the officer makes the decision then what punish is he allowed to impart without fear of consequences if we don't have the manual. Can he beat the guy just up to the point of killing him or can he go ahead and finish him off. After all the guy is a criminal and was doing what criminals do by God.

I say we do away with the court system entirely and have street justice prevail. Think of all the money we will save the tax payer by doing away with the criminal justice system. Police officers will decide guilt and sentence on the spot. All squad cars will be equipped with an execution kit consisting of a good piece of rope and a portable gallows. After execution the corpse will be disposed of by the highway department in the same manner as common road kill.

How many licks should the officer be allowed for catching a speeder?

[CBRADGO]

Depends on how many miles per hour over the driver is...

[SoftCall]

They took it too far and as a result of it the sorry SOB will not get what he deserves. Good luck finding a jury in Birmingham that will feel differently. I am 100% certain that these officers are outstanding people and I appreciate everything any LEO does every day. It's too bad that hell get rich off of tax dollars and it will be waiting for him when he gets out of jail (and he will go to jail).

[GILREATH]

the pussification of america. can't believe that the police officers' actions are even in question on here. seriously??

[Damn_It_Boy]

Not saying your wrong by any means, but if that be the case then looks like all these officers need to hang up the badge cause for some reason they ALL mad as hell and ALL beat the crap out of him

Perhaps it says more about the police department and politics in Birmingham than the professionalism, or lack there of, of these officers. I went through Memphis a few weeks ago and saw a billboard advertising for police officers. That just struck me as odd that Memphis would need to advertise to recruit applicants to their police academy. That told me a good bit about the state of affairs there. I would imagine the same state of affairs exist in Birmingham and Jackson.

Now how one goes about fixing such a systemic problem, I have no idea.

Perhaps you are a true dumbass...........????? They should have killed the peepee........

[Seymore]

Perhaps you are a true dumbass...........????? They should have killed the peepee........

Outstanding!!!! An intelligent sharing of opinions and thoughts deteriorates into personal attacks and name calling and it took less than 30 post to get there. You have debated your point and position with great skill and intellect and are absolutely correct. Two hundred plus years of American jurisprudence should be thrown on the trash heap because a few cops in Birmingham couldn't control themselves. As a result this dirt bag will walk, get rich in the process, and these officers will more than likely go to jail. I apologize I couldn't see the brilliance in this. I am just a simpleton. I will now seek counseling for being a “true dumb ass”

No one is arguing that the "peepee" shouldn't get what's coming to him. I'm arguing that the legal system should be allowed to do what it is designed to do. You seem to advocate that vigilante justice rule the day which I would hope is not the case. When that happens anarchy rules and there is a complete break down of social order. If I'm a dumb ass for that then so be it.

[parker m]

Well i dont really know where to start but from a law enforcement perspective, for everyone on this sight, if ya'll are not a LEO or have never been one, ya'll have no clue what its like to be ina situation like that. There is no type of training that will help in a real life situation, because when the adrenalin is flowing your mind set should be to eliminate the threat. For an LEO to stay alive they must stay one step ahead of the criminals at all time. If you notice in most situations its the aggressive officers who always catch the criminals, not the lazy, laid back one who are there for the pay and benefits. I know there are a million reasons to argue about these type of situations but i hate typin and if you want to really know what its like, become even a reserve officer and go work, i promise your opions would change or you would quit.

[ducman77]

Well i dont really know where to start but from a law enforcement perspective, for everyone on this sight, if ya'll are not a LEO or have never been one, ya'll have no clue what its like to be ina situation like that. There is no type of training that will help in a real life situation, because when the adrenalin is flowing your mind set should be to eliminate the threat. For an LEO to stay alive they must stay one step ahead of the criminals at all time. If you notice in most situations its the aggressive officers who always catch the criminals, not the lazy, laid back one who are there for the pay and benefits. I know there are a million reasons to argue about these type of situations but i hate typin and if you want to really know what its like, become even a reserve officer and go work, i promise your opions would change or you would quit.

Parker i will bet you that they would quit.... A law enforcement is trained to stop the threat and most men don't have the guts to stop a threat....They are the ones that quit within the first year...

[ufgators68]

the pussification of america. can't believe that the police officers' actions are even in question on here. seriously??

I don't think anyone is saying he didn't deserve some batons upside the head BUT what sense is there in beating an unconscious man?? I have no sympathy for the criminal but come on, dude was ejected from a vehicle moving at a decent rate of speed and never even freaking flinched when he hit the ground.

Dude could have had a broken neck, back or head trauma from that. Had they further injured him, to the point of paralyzation, he would OWN the city of birmingham when his lawyers were done.

[Seymore]

Let me see if I have the points of argument correct

1) A LEO should be allowed to beat any criminal to the point of near death anytime that officer feels threatened.

2) If said criminal in unconscious and no longer a threat, the officer should still be allowed to beat him because he either tried or succeeded in killing an officer.

3) The general public has no right to ask questions of said LEO because we are not in his shoes and have to much estrogen compared to the officers level of testosterone.

4) The LEO has absolutely no responsibility to follow the LAW when dealing with these stressful situations because all bets are off.

5) Until the general public decides to join in the fun with this free pass to beat people, then they should sit quietly.

Looks as though Law should be removed from Law Enforcement Officer as it no longer applies.

Again, I am not arguing that this guy didn't "deserve it". It's the what he deserved I am arguing and what he deserved is to be prosecuted and not beat by a bunch of cops whose testosterone was is overdrive.

The criminal will go free and get rich and the cops will get prosecuted. I hope they thought ruining their lives was worth not following the law.

If following the law is "pussification" then so be it.