15 Philadelphia Police Suspended After Suspects Beaten

[Lil Pun]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/videotaped_police_beating

PHILADELPHIA - More than a dozen police officers will be taken off the street as authorities investigate a video showing three suspects being kicked, punched and beaten after they were pulled out of a car during a traffic stop, the mayor's office said.

"At a glance it does appear to be a bit beyond the pale," said Doug Oliver, a spokesman for Mayor Michael Nutter. "Officers are not allowed to operate outside of the law."

The police department believes about 15 officers were involved in Monday night's arrests in the city's Hunting Park section, where police had been investigating a triple shooting, Oliver said. Some have already been taken off the street, while others still need to be identified, he said.

The three suspects were charged with criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment, according to court officials.

The video, shot by a WTXF-TV helicopter, shows three police cars stopping a car on the side of a road. About a dozen officers gather around the vehicle and pull three men out. About a half-dozen officers hold two of the men on the ground on the driver's side. Both are kicked repeatedly, while one is seen being punched; one also appears to be struck with a baton.

On the other side of the car, another group of officers can be seen kicking a third man who ends up on the ground.

Oliver said that, while the use of force appeared excessive, the public should withhold judgment until all the facts are known.

"We are not going to prejudge the situation based on the video," he said. "We all saw the video, but none of us was there."

Oliver initially said 15 officers had been taken off the street Wednesday. He later said about 15 officers were at the scene, but that the exact number identified and already off the street was unclear.

"One way or the other, everyone associated with this will be taken off the street," Oliver said. "The officers involved in this incident will be reassigned."

A message left with Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman, was not immediately returned Wednesday morning.

The beating happened two days after the fatal shooting of a Philadelphia policeman, the third city officer slain on duty in two years.

Officer Stephen Liczbinski was shot with an assault rifle after a robbery in the city's Port Richmond section on Saturday. One man was fatally shot by police after the shooting, another was arrested Sunday and a third remains on the lam.

(This version CORRECTS Corrects that some of the officers are still being identified and have not been taken off the street, per new information from mayor's spokesman that contradicts his previous information. AP Video.)

[Rocket River]

"I grit my teeth why can't I be like Rodney with a camcorder?
Seems we need one every time you get a court order
Or pull me over in order to check identification
I'm in the back of your car with a bruise or laceration" - The Coup

[edwardc]

They will get off just like the Sean Bell killers did. There just doesn't seem to be any justice left.

[rocket3forlife2]

They will get off just like the Sean Bell killers did. There just doesn't seem to be any justice left.


Judges, lawyers (from both sides), cops all go to lunch together after court is out.


They are all a big family.

[Apollo Creed]

Judges, lawyers (from both sides), cops all go to lunch together after court is out.


They are all a big family.

True.

Or at least 7 versions of Law & Order tell me so.

[Trader_Jorge]

Why isn't Obama standing up for these people? Or Sean Bell? Why does he just toss away the issues that are most important to his core base -- the African American voter? Why do AA's keep voting for him almost unanimously when he just tosses aside their key issues? Who is getting played here?

[rhadamanthus]

Don't feed trolls.

[pgabriel]

Why isn't Obama standing up for these people? Or Sean Bell? Why does he just toss away the issues that are most important to his core base -- the African American voter? Why do AA's keep voting for him almost unanimously when he just tosses aside their key issues? Who is getting played here?


yes because all aa's who voted for obama are in the streets marching on these events. you're making alot of assumptions, and you know what that does

[Trader_Jorge]

Has Obama even made any public comments on the Sean Bell case?

[pgabriel]

Don't feed trolls.



sorry

[Apollo Creed]

Has Obama even made any public comments on the Sean Bell case?

Seriously!

Also, why hasn't Obama made any public comments about my latest speeding ticket? Does he not care about the plights of your average American?!?!

[rhadamanthus]

sorry

It's ok. What I find more irritating than his continued posting-asshattery is that even after Jeff called him out as a troll - he's still trolling along as usual.

[pgabriel]

It's ok. What I find more irritating than his continued posting-asshattery is that even after Jeff called him out as a troll - he's still trolling along as usual.


he's freaking out, he's turning every issue to an obmam issue, its scary.

[Rockets2K]

It's ok. What I find more irritating than his continued posting-asshattery is that even after Jeff called him out as a troll - he's still trolling along as usual.


no

what is even funnier is the way he and texxie try to use it to quiet people who call out their trolling.

everytime

as predictable as the seasons

[rhadamanthus]

no

what is even funnier is the way he and texxie try to use it to quiet people who call out their trolling.

everytime

as predictable as the seasons

I just about lol'd when I saw TJ chastise andy using Jeff's post as rationale. Hilarity fo' sho'!

[Nice Rollin]

http://l.yimg.com/img.tv.yahoo.com/tv/us/img/site/44/53/0000004453_20060919223610.jpg

"cant we all just get along?......dr. king"

[Nice Rollin]

Why isn't Obama standing up for these people? Or Sean Bell? Why does he just toss away the issues that are most important to his core base -- the African American voter? Why do AA's keep voting for him almost unanimously when he just tosses aside their key issues? Who is getting played here?
why isn't bush or mccain standing up for these people? or hillary? if it's a key issue.

[GladiatoRowdy]

I just about lol'd when I saw TJ chastise andy using Jeff's post as rationale. Hilarity fo' sho'!

I literally LOL'd at that one once the post in question was pointed out. What a maroon!

[Party Pizza]

The police risk their lives to get slime like these thugs off of the street. Then the are criticized for it just because the killers get kicked. People like the worthless slime who terrorize our society much more. It's a messed up world. Everything is just backwards. Then people wonder why their laptops get stolen from their cars...

[Trader_Jorge]

The police risk their lives to get slime like these thugs off of the street. Then the are criticized for it just because the killers get kicked. People like the worthless slime who terrorize our society much more. It's a messed up world. Everything is just backwards. Then people wonder why their laptops get stolen from their cars...
That's exactly right. I think people need to show more respect for the police and the very dangerous, difficult job they do to protect our safety.

[pgabriel]

can't help it


who's not showing respect for the police?

[FranchiseBlade]

The police risk their lives to get slime like these thugs off of the street. Then the are criticized for it just because the killers get kicked. People like the worthless slime who terrorize our society much more. It's a messed up world. Everything is just backwards. Then people wonder why their laptops get stolen from their cars...
If you don't like the rule of law, perhaps the U.S. isn't the best nation for you. There are numerous police states around the globe. Of you could work to remove the rule of law that our nation has worked under since it began. Either of those options are open to you.

[Party Pizza]

If you don't like the rule of law, perhaps the U.S. isn't the best nation for you. There are numerous police states around the globe. Of you could work to remove the rule of law that our nation has worked under since it began. Either of those options are open to you.

Murderers and thugs being kicked is nothing to be upset about. I am sorry but your priorities are all wrong. The police should be congratulated for a job well done. It is people like you the let type of slime being allowed to roam our streets, shooting at will. They should be kicked and beaten more often. You will get absolutely no sympathy from me.

[justtxyank]

Should drug dealers be beaten as well? Check
Drug users as well? Check
What about just occasional drug users, like recreational type? Check
People who drink and drive? Check
Litterers? Check

Let's just do away with criminal rights in general. Beat the crap out of everyone who violates the law in anyway.

Better check your speedometer on the way home tonight...

[pgabriel]

damn franchiseblade, where do you live that you allow all this mayhem.

[Lil Pun]

Murderers and thugs being kicked is nothing to be upset about. I am sorry but your priorities are all wrong. The police should be congratulated for a job well done. It is people like you the let type of slime being allowed to roam our streets, shooting at will. They should be kicked and beaten more often. You will get absolutely no sympathy from me.


Innocent until proven guilty.

[rocket3forlife2]

Innocent until proven guilty.

Exactly, I guess he feels if the police arrest you innocent or not they have to the right to kick your a%s.

[Party Pizza]

Innocent until proven guilty.

I assume you are talking about the thugs and not the police. It is very easy to see who who really care about and who you support. Your priorities are backwards. One day you will realize this.

[Rocket River]

Innocent until proven guilty.


. . . That goes against the Patriot Act
cause patriots would never be in a position where they would have to prove anything . ..


"true patriots simple do what the government says
every time every where and never question the government or authority"

- sincerely

George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, etc :rolleyes:

[ima_drummer2k]

Innocent until proven guilty.
Shouldn't that apply to the police officers as well?

[pgabriel]

Shouldn't that apply to the police officers as well?


because the posters on this site are responsible from moving them off the streets?

again who is disrespecting police officers in this thread

[pgabriel]

don't mean to be a jerk but no one has made an opinion on the who's right or wrong in the case. someone posted an article, are we allowed to discuss this without the value judgements

[Lil Pun]

Shouldn't that apply to the police officers as well?


Never said anything about the police officers being guilty. I was responding to the poster saying that these are worthless slim, terrorizers, car thieves, murderers, etc.

[Lil Pun]

I assume you are talking about the thugs and not the police. It is very easy to see who who really care about and who you support. Your priorities are backwards. One day you will realize this.

Never said anything about the police officers being guilty, please try again. :rolleyes:

[ima_drummer2k]

Never said anything about the police officers being guilty. I was responding to the poster saying that these are worthless slim, terrorizers, car thieves, murderers, etc.
I wasn't really responding to you, just making a general statement.

Granted, I haven't seen the video, but I guess "innocent until proven guilty" doesn't really apply here, as the officers have already been suspended. I would guess they were suspended to avoid a nasty reaction from the people who will automatically assume they are guilty.

[rhadamanthus]

I wasn't really responding to you, just making a general statement.

Granted, I haven't seen the video, but I guess "innocent until proven guilty" doesn't really apply here, as the officers have already been suspended. I would guess they were suspended to avoid a nasty reaction from the people who will automatically assume they are guilty.

A person can be suspended for many things that are not correlatable to being proven guilty in court. Suspending the officers in question is not an admittance of guilt by any means.

[bigtexxx]

The officers were probably worried about getting shot by these thugs who had just led them on a chase....hence the violence. Can't take chances with criminals if they might shoot you

I love how some of the folx in this forum rush to defend the perps....every time

[Lil Pun]

The officers were probably worried about getting shot by these thugs who had just led them on a chase....hence the violence. Can't take chances with criminals if they might shoot you

I love how some of the folx in this forum rush to defend the perps....every time


Why do I see dozens and dozens of videos of high speed chases on live newscasts and TV shows that don't end with beatings?

[Surfguy]

Funny how when you always watch "Cops"...it is always:

1.) All occupants...hands in the air! (Cops are pointing guns at them in case they make a threatening move.) Driver...exit the vehicle...keep your hands in the air...with your back toward us. Put your hands behind your head and interlock your fingers. Walk backwards to the nearest officer. Sit on the ground. They cuff him and arrest him.

Repeat for any passengers

But, when you watch this video, it is 15 police officers swarming a car, yanking the guys out of the car, and beating/kicking the crap out of them.

Hello?

There is something very wrong with these cops. They should all probably be fired IMO. I don't care what the suspects did. Not only were their actions careless, this could have gone badly and one of the cops could have gotten killed. It looked like a damn free-for-all where anything goes. Suspect could have pulled a gun out of his pants and shot a few cops. That was exactly the way "not to do this scenario" from how I've seen other cops do it.

[Invisible Fan]

^Malcolm Gladwell described this phenomenon in his book Blink.
http://www.slate.com/id/2111894/entry/0/

For instance, one of the really interesting facts about police work is that an officer behaves much better—makes better decisions, fires his gun less frequently, has fewer complaints filed against him—when he is by himself than when he is paired with a partner. Officers on their own are far more cautious. Without the emboldening presence of a companion, they take far fewer risks. They don't pick fights, or put themselves into nearly as many ambiguous or dangerous situations, because they know they have no one looking out for them. How many officers were involved in the Diallo shooting? Four. That's a crucial fact. When they spotted Diallo and Diallo turned and ran back into his house, two officers provided backup in the car, and the other two gave chase. If Diallo had been spotted by a policeman operating alone, that officer would never have given chase, and as a result, he would never have been put into the position of making that terrible snap judgment. He would have stopped the car, taken cover behind it, called for backup. And Amadou Diallo would still be alive.

Or consider the issue of high-speed chases. We tend to think that high-speed chases are a problem because of the dangers they pose during the chase. That's true enough. But the real problem is the danger they pose after the chase. I cannot tell you how many cops I talked to who spoke of how disoriented and crazed and incoherent they were after racing after someone through streets at 120 miles per hour. You finally cut off the suspect's car. You charge out of the cruiser. You yank open his door. Your pulse is 175. Your heart is in your throat. Your body is awash in adrenalin and cortisol. And everything we know about human physiology and psychology says that no one can make intelligent snap decisions under those circumstances. So what should we do? Precisely what one police department after another around the country is now doing: ban high-speed chases. It was only when I talked to cops about this that I began to understand why so many people—particularly in the LAPD—are still angry over the charge that the Rodney King beating was the result of racism. Racism? This was a group of cops encountering a suspect after a terrifying high-speed chase. In that state, they would have beaten him up if he was a WASP from Bel Air.

LAPD now has stricter guidelines on police chases because of King and other wannabes. I'd think other cities would pay attention.

[Nice Rollin]

The officers were probably worried about getting shot by these thugs who had just led them on a chase....hence the violence. Can't take chances with criminals if they might shoot you

I love how some of the folx in this forum rush to defend the perps....every time
you cant possible believe that. yes, the cops have to look out for their safety, but that doesnt give them the right to continuous hit and kick somone...especially when the criminal is surrendering.

if the police were allowed to do that everytime, think about how that power could be abused. The fact that tehy cant do that is what separates us from other third world countries.

[Party Pizza]

you cant possible believe that. yes, the cops have to look out for their safety, but that doesnt give them the right to continuous hit and kick somone...especially when the criminal is surrendering.


I have a feeling if it was your family that these worthless people were shooting at you wouldn't be so supportive of them and you wouldn't mind a few kicks thrown their way. I know I would pay good money to get a piece of them. But of course nobody cares about them or the family of the police. It always about the wronged heinous criminals. :(

[Lil Pun]

I have a feeling if it was your family that these worthless people were shooting at you wouldn't be so supportive of them and you wouldn't mind a few kicks thrown their way. I know I would pay good money to get a piece of them. But of course nobody cares about them or the family of the police. It always about the wronged heinous criminals. :(


How do you know they were shooting at anybody? Does the article state this? It just says there was a shooting in the area before this incident. Innocent until proven guilty. Policemen aren't the judge and the jury. If they are SUSPECTS they aren't guilty.

[Luckyazn]

They probably deserved to get BEATIN! I'm seriously, what are they to society


wait until they rob or kill someone.


They should have shot them UP!


wasting tax $ on these useless people

[Party Pizza]

How do you know they were shooting at anybody? Does the article state this? It just says there was a shooting in the area before this incident. Innocent until proven guilty. Policemen aren't the judge and the jury. If they are SUSPECTS they aren't guilty.


From CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/05/08/police.beating/

"The officers had seen the suspects fire shots, injuring three people standing on a street corner, before fleeing in a vehicle, the commissioner said. A fourth suspect escaped on foot, he said."

I will suggest that you find some new heroes/martyrs.

[Luckyazn]

I'm starting to really hate AL Sharpton and this dumb ass X guy in our city


retards staying for criminals and piece of shiets

[Lil Pun]

From CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/05/08/police.beating/

"The officers had seen the suspects fire shots, injuring three people standing on a street corner, before fleeing in a vehicle, the commissioner said. A fourth suspect escaped on foot, he said."

I will suggest that you find some new heroes/martyrs.




:rolleyes: Why do you think I believe they are heroes are martyrs? :rolleyes:


The law, do you get that THE LAW, in this country states innocent until proven guilty! By LAW, they are innocent until proven guilty and have the right to trial. I know, sometimes it sucks but it's the law. Just because the suspects broke the law it doesn't give police the right to.

[Lil Pun]

I'm starting to really hate AL Sharpton and this dumb ass X guy in our city


retards staying for criminals and piece of shiets


What the hell does that have to do with this incident at all? :rolleyes:

[Rocket River]

:rolleyes: Why do you think I believe they are heroes are martyrs? :rolleyes:


The law, do you get that THE LAW, in this country states innocent until proven guilty! By LAW, they are innocent until proven guilty and have the right to trial. I know, sometimes it sucks but it's the law. Just because the suspects broke the law it doesn't give police the right to.


THE LAW . . need not obey THE LAW!!

Rocket River

[Lil Pun]

4 officers are getting fired over the incident:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080519/ap_on_re_us/videotaped_police_beating

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia's police commissioner said Monday that four officers will be fired and four others disciplined for their roles in the beatings of three shooting suspects, an encounter that was captured on videotape and drew widespread outrage.

Another eight officers who had physical contact with the suspects will undergo additional training on the department's policies concerning the use of force, Commissioner Charles Ramsey said. He said the police department made the disciplinary decisions after reviewing frames from enhanced tape of a video shot by a television news helicopter on May 5.

The video, shot by WTXF-TV, shows the suspects being pulled from their car on the side of the road and groups of officers kicking, punching and beating the men. A total of 19 officers — 18 city police and one transit officer — were involved.

Two of the officers being fired are relatively new to the force and can be terminated immediately, Ramsey said. Two others are being suspended without pay for 30 days with intent to dismiss.

Three other officers are being suspended and one sergeant is being demoted. A criminal investigation is continuing.

Police said they had been pursuing the car in connection with a triple shooting. The three men — Brian Hall, 23, Pete Hopkins, 19, and Dwayne Dyches, 24, all of Philadelphia — have been charged with attempted murder and related counts stemming from the shooting. Their attorneys have said they had nothing to do with it.

One of Dyches' attorneys said he suffered a welt on his head the size of a baseball and that one of his legs was seriously injured.

All three of the shooting suspects are black. Ramsey has denied allegations that the beatings were racially motivated and said at least one officer involved is black.

The beating occurred at the same time police were conducting an intense manhunt for a suspect in the slaying two days earlier of Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski, but Ramsey said Monday that there was no indication that any of the officers thought the suspect was among the three men in the car.