Big applause to Police Commissioner Ramsey and Mayor Nutter for stepping up and taking this seriously.
The Philadelphia Daily News reports today: 4 cops fired for beating in. Wendy Ruderman and Dave Davies did great reporting on this story throughout. What I read from them seemed to be superior to the Inquirer’s coverage. I admit that’s just an impression from the bits that I saw.
Here is a great quote from Ramsey (from the above article by Ruderman):
- “All of us as law-enforcement professionals have to understand that, unlike criminals on the street, we have rules that we have to abide by,” Ramsey said. “We have an obligation to do things the right way. We have a legal authority to use force to take people into custody, but only that force necessary to effect the arrest. If it gets beyond that, then we’ve got an issue, we’ve got a problem and we have to take some action.”
This is what I was saying in an earlier blog that seemed to upset people. Particularly the last two sentences on the appropriate use of force.
Nutter:
- “Today’s announcement represents, I believe, what is required in this matter – swift, direct action,” Nutter said. “I think this represents a new day in the Philadelphia Police Department and how we deal with these kinds of situations.”
Reverend Al Sharpton:
- ….on a radio program with Mayor Nutter yesterday, Sharpton extolled city officials, saying the action was “unprecedented,” according to an article posted on Philly.com. “For you to take this action now shows some real muscle and seriousness about addressing police brutality,” Sharpton said.
Some would like to see the firing of all officers involved. I may lean that way myself. But the reality is these things usually are put off until the furor dies down and the criminal case concludes. Officers are very rarely convicted, and its back to business as usual. This does feel unprecedented. And it does send a message that this type of behavior is not ok.
I was disappointed at some of the initial statements that had come from Ramsey and Nutter but I was obviously getting ahead of things. I was really expecting this to be blue-washed away. The City of Philadelphia has stood up and demanded a higher standard from its paid, professional police.
I will not bother with the idiotic quote from the FOP president. You can read it by following the story link. I do not know the president and I am not calling him an idiot. But his statements are devoid of logic.
Eff it, here we go:
“Every common criminal has the right to due process under the law,” McNesby said. “Here, the officers didn’t get due process. They weren’t interviewed. It was more or less, they were guilty until proven innocent.”
What due process? This action by the police department is not a criminal or civil judgement. Comparing it to legal proceedings is disingenuous at best. The fact is, the evidence is there to show that the officers failed, in a grossly unambiguous manner, to follow appropriate procedures and standards. A resolution of a criminal or civil case is not needed to determine that these officers should not be on the street wielding the powers that we, the people, entrust to law enforcement. Not to mention the officers were effectively denying due process to the “common criminals” by dishing out punishment for their supposed crime.
“They want a war on crime, but they don’t want any casualties,” McNesby said. “These guys” – the three suspects – “just shot up a street corner for God sakes – it’s not like they were coming back from choir practice. We’ll back these officers 150 percent.”
Let’s go back to Ramsey’s quote about when and why the officers are justified to use force. It doesn’t matter that the suspects may have committed a crime. It is not the job of police to deliver punishment and beat people. That has nothing to do with a “war on crime” and is in no way a “mixed message” as the president said elsewhere. There are documented policies and procedures that have not changed due to any mandate on crime. This staggering lack of logic or comprehension of the right role of the officers is scary. Our unions are very important. Hopefully, the union will vote in someone more competent. Quotes like that give the department a bad name. The actions of the officers involved in the beatings give the department a bad name.
I tend to agree with the sentiment expressed that the majority of the police are honorable and trying to protect the community and make the city safer and a better place to live.
I do have some issues with the institution itself. These things happen too often and are too often covered up. Police are also often called upon to break up (many times throughout our nation’s history, violently) union or labor protests or other political protests. Since I also believe the social order of the country is unjust, with ill gotten, concentrated wealth and power, I also see the police as having a role in maintaining that order. Some also cite histories of how different police forces started in order to keep certain oppressed or marginalized groups in check. I do believe that they function in that capacity today, not necessarily by intention of individuals, but by default. Its part of the system.
All of that is beyond what I’d like to get into here. I do recognize the good that police do, even when criticizing abuses or questioning larger roles. Allowing officers who have abused their power and broken the public’s trust only casts a bad light on all of the good police who do, in fact, have a dangerous and difficult job. And makes their job harder. And breaks down the community’s trust. An us vs them mentality, on any side, is not a good thing. It is a good thing for the community to come together as one and state that none of us can abide by abusive policing. The way to support police is not to ignore the standards and rules but to remove those who can not be professional and to honor those who truly serve the community.
As the article goes on to say:
Ramsey said he was worried about the morale of his officers and stressed that the discipline against the eight officers was “not a reflection” on the rank and file. “We’ve got people who get out there every single day and they do an absolutely tremendous job,” Ramsey said.
