Whatever happened to defending the helpless?!

[olde_fashioned]

This just makes me angry:

17 Year Old Disabled Boy Brutalized By 20 Cops For "Disrespect"

Yet another feather in the cap of police brutality. Why isn't this on national news? Why isn't there public outcry? Why aren't those responsible being thrown in the slammer and suspended without pay (or better yet, FIRED??)? Oh wait--cops get to do whatever the heck they want. This is America. I forgot.

The best part? They charged the kid with assault.

What is happening to this country? Forget rolling over; our Founding Fathers would be weeping and sobbing in their graves if they knew what we'd come to.

Better watch your mouths, peeps. Apparently any misconstrued utterance coming from your mouth overheard by a "peace officer" can get the crap beat out of you.

Comments

[greeneyedmissy.livejournal.com]

That's my greatest fear with Matthew or Adam. Both of them speak relatively well and otherwise look as other typically developing kids, but things they say can be misinterpreted, especially with Matt. Plus, if he gets upset with himself, he can have a meltdown. I fear that cops would have the same, stupid reaction. The very thought of Matt being tased, beaten, hogtied and arrested, especially in front of me as this poor family experienced, I'd be frantic and hysterical...and probably so angry that I'd end up arrested myself. Even with Adam, he is so shy that if questioned by a police officer, would probably clam up, and who knows what that might make a cop do then.

These officers should not only be fired, but I hope that they get jail time and have to pay serious restitution to the family. ESPECIALLY the one who KNEW the boy was disabled and STILL incited all this madness. But like you said, Lauren, this is America and they'll only get off with a slap on the wrist....while this poor child suffers the rest of his life.

BTW, if you don't mind, I'm going to post this at Facebook. :)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Yeah I was thinking while reading that article that if I was a member of that boy's family, I would not have been able to stand by and watch that, and subsequently would most likely have gotten arrested, myself.

That's the worst bit--the man KNEW the boy, and KNEW he had a condition, and still went ahead with the beating. That, to me, indicates some form of personal dislike.

By all means, pass the word and post it!! Part of the reason i blogged it here was so that you could see it; I thought you'd want to know.

[hominygrits.livejournal.com]

That's crazy! What ever happened to common sense? Why such the strong reaction from these officers? Wow.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking he knew the boy and disliked him for some reason. Otherwise it doesn't make sense (unless the man's just an egotistical b@$t@rd who gets a kick out of beating up helpless kids).

[princessjune.livejournal.com]

Poor child! This is so sick! I seriously hope that those ba****** pay for what they did to him. Justice has become nothing more than a mockery in this country. The Law protects criminals more than it protects it's victims. Now, we have all of these worthless men and women in law enforcement who shouldn't be there! I'm completely and totally disgusted with our government and law enforcement.


Where's Barack Obama? I don't see him stepping in to stop this and save the day! This was a great injustice to a disabled child and nothing is being done to punish the officers involved.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Well said, June! I'm right there with you.

[msantimacassar.livejournal.com]

That's just disgusting! I feel sick and angry! These are the people we are trusting in to uphold the law and protect the peace? How discouraging and scary!

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, this is what things are coming to. :(

And they wonder why the general public doesn't respect cops anymore?

[winterlillies.livejournal.com]

In Albuquerque he would have been shot to death and then questions asked later (yeah every year it seems APD just shoots then asks questions later). In all honestly did they have to do all 3 to him? Couldn't they have just either tasered him or used pepper spray?

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

How about no tasering OR pepper spray?? He wasn't being physically violent!! I'm sorry but "disrespect" doesn't warrant such a harsh reaction. It was excessive and the guy was well aware of what he was doing, unless he flew off the handle in a violent rage, in which case he's not fit to wear the uniform and should be relieved.

Makes you wonder if this is the first time.

[victoria-tonks.livejournal.com]

I'm having a hard time trying to take it in. A disabled boy? And the policeman knew him and still did what he did?? It's outrageous, and dpressing too.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Yup. Pretty sad, eh?

Scary scary scary.

[angelofmusic189.livejournal.com]

That is disgusting and embarrassing, and those men should be fired. Instead of harassing and beating someone who is completely helpless, they should their ****ing job by PROTECTING us. Just because you wear a badge, doesn't give you the right to beat someone up. That's police brutality.

Ugh. It's so upsetting :(

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Yup. That's about it in a nutshell.

Thanks for the comment!