Police change account of 3 arrests, beatings

AS THREE young men beaten and kicked by police in a car-stop arrest captured on videotape face a court hearing today, police officials have changed their account of the shooting they say led to the trio's arrest.

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news..._beatings.html


And if you think cops don't collude to paint a perfect picture, which supports lying and "shaping" evidence...
Cop admits to cover-up


Associated Press
ATLANTA - A former Atlanta police officer on trial for a botched drug raid that led to the death of a 92-year-old woman said yesterday he went along with a cover-up because he felt threatened by his fellow officers.

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/national/18964794.html

Police in Gun Searches Face Disbelief in Court

After listening carefully to the two policemen, the judge had a problem: He did not believe them.


The officers, who had stopped a man in the Bronx and found a .22-caliber pistol in his fanny pack, testified that they had several reasons to search him: He was loitering, sweating nervously and had a bulge under his jacket.

But the judge, John E. Sprizzo of United States District Court in Manhattan, concluded that the police had simply reached into the pack without cause, found the gun, then “tailored” testimony to justify the illegal search. “You can’t have open season on searches,” said Judge Sprizzo, who refused to allow the gun as evidence, prompting prosecutors to drop the case last May.

Yet for all his disapproval of what the police had done, the judge said he hated to make negative rulings about officers’ credibility. “I don’t like to jeopardize their career and all the rest of it,” he said.

He need not have worried. The Police Department never learned of his criticism, and the officers — like many others whose word has been called into question — faced no disciplinary action or inquiry.

Over the last six years, the police and prosecutors have cooperated in a broad effort that allows convicted felons found with a firearm to be tried in federal court, where sentences are much harsher than in state court. Officials say the initiative has taken hundreds of armed criminals off the street, mostly in the Bronx and Brooklyn, and turned some into informers who have helped solve more serious crimes.

But a closer look at those prosecutions reveals something that has not been trumpeted: more than 20 cases in which judges found police officers’ testimony to be unreliable, inconsistent, twisting the truth, or just plain false. The judges’ language was often withering: “patently incredible,” “riddled with exaggerations,” “unworthy of belief.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/12/ny...562&ei=5087%0A


I don't know what to believe, yet, as it relate to the Philly case. However, let's all suspend our own biases in favor of or against cops, until an investigation takes place.

By the way, I posted the preceding for folks who foolishly say--

1. "This can't happen."
2. "The thugs are makin' it up."
3. " Cops don't lie, only criminals do."
3. "This is only about the black community whining."

Also, on a side note, should we just give cops absolute judegment to do what they feel is necessary to reduce crime?

__________________
Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.
Sigmund Freud

I'll dare you bring something like this up!

__________________
I am very disappointed in you.
-Mayor Michael "Nut" Nutter.

wow.. you two anti cops?

No!

I'm shocked!

__________________
"

I'm not anti-cop. Just anti corrupt cop. If you can't see that there are alot of things wrong with this story(on both sides) than just how biased are you?

__________________
I am very disappointed in you.
-Mayor Michael "Nut" Nutter.

Are the federal Judges "anti cops," too?

Let's see...

Co-chairman of Philadelphia Against Drugs and Violence
Spokesperson for Operation Ceasfire
Member of anti-crime task force, which included DA, US Atty, Penna AG, PPD,
Co-led Philadelphia's largest effort, to date, against gun violence
Personal mentor-- former Deputy Police Commissioner
On my webpage http://www.drchuckspeaks.com/ you will see me in several photos with former Commish Timoney and DA Lynne Abraham

You're right, I am "anti cop".

__________________
Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.
Sigmund Freud

and if I based things on 1% of the things i read..

I could label Philadelphia HS grads on the stories I read about them and what would I take away from it.


Do you guys actually think...like walk through a day of being a cop.

Think about what they deal with...who they deal with...and then what they get paid.


then multiply that by years an the fact that your the person people call when **** gets bad.

and that the same people who ridicule you and judge are the first begging for help when they are victims.

__________________
"

whatever. i'm distancing myself from this. should have just ignred this entire post.

__________________
"

Zur,

It's because you don't want to learn and you don't want to grow. Despite the thinkers that you quote in your signature, you have decided that you've gotten in it all figured out.

You're also avoiding this, given that the majority of the federal judges are not black, they're white. You're upset that in your perfect world cops do no wrong. You have the idealism of a new born infant.

You can't handle the truth

__________________
Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.
Sigmund Freud

Zur wrote:Well, Zur, I don't base my perception of a handful of cops on what I read in the paper, but with what I have seen with my eyes. I respect the fact that you and other posters have had pleasant experiences with the cops, but everyone can not say so.

Zur wrote:I'm quite sure that cops have one of the hardest jobs to do and it doesn't help that they get paid crap for it. They chose the job so they know what their getting into. But for me, anytime someone has the authority to shoot and kill you(with seemingly very little review) then their actions MUST be scrutinized when something seems odd, like the case in question.

I have much respect for the men and woman who do their job with integrity. But let's not give these same people a pass because their job is stressful and they deservce to give an extra lick or to. It might be funny on tv but it's different when you see it enough in person. My job is stressful too and if I messed up someone's investment because I was stressed, I'm sure my manager would not try to hear that.

__________________
I am very disappointed in you.
-Mayor Michael "Nut" Nutter.

Ok. Let me use your argument.

Do you actually know what it's like to be a black male, in urban America?

-Poor public education
-Substandard health care
-Driving while black or walking while black in the wrong department store
-Not offered the same opportunities, given their skin color
-Greeted with low expectations
-Expected to fail
-Type cast as athlete and/or entertainer
-Told that he's an elitist because he attended Harvard Law?

So, should I excuse the black men who sell drugs and use guns illegally?

You mention nothing about the consequences, Mr. Consequences, for doing wrong or breaking the law? Or, are cops above the law?

You act as though becaus their cops it does not matter. Guess what? In America, it matters!

__________________
Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.
Sigmund Freud