Beating up some random citizen is something the cops can get away with, often with few consequences. But they have to work with the fire department and EMTs and ER doctors every day, and mutual hostility in that relationship will have real consequences for how hard their jobs are. Pretty much every traffic accident with an injury involves the need for all those guys to work together, as does anytime someone’s injured when he’s arrested.

Even when your side holds all the power (not true here), you can’t get away with crapping all over people you have to deal with every day to get your job done–you’ll find that interactions that used to take five minutes now take an hour, that forms you need to cover your ass or fill out your reports never materialize, that your calls get answered far more slowly than other peoples’ calls.

Given the culture of impunity in (apparently) a lot of police departments, the other cops may back him. But if they’re smart, they’ll also quietly encourage him to move on to another town or job.

Ironic that the animals being referred to in that novel were pigs…

Except that the cops are just as likely to steal/seize a large sum of money from you if you can’t justify possessing it to their satisfaction.

I’m sure everyone is aware of the latest from Texas, but just in case you missed it: http://www.examiner.com/x-536-Civil-Liberties-Examiner~y2009m6d2-Texas-cop-Tasers-greatgrandmother

My question: How much longer is this shit going to continue?

I’d feel safer walking through Detroit at night with a large sum of cash than taking my chances with a cop – ANY cop.

#18 Cynical in CA

More significant and surprising is that the EMT will not face charges.

That probably would not be in their best interest. They would have to hand over any dash cam video if they took that route.

If a LEO acting in the course of official duty and not for personal gain commits violence against a citizen, especially but not necessarily if fear for safety is asserted, then the State will defend said LEO as a lawful State agent in every case.

There are few constants in this world: gravity, change, and State self-preservation are paramount.

Seems like we worry more about baseball players enhancing their performance than people with badges, guns and tasers ‘roid raging.

Apparently Officer ‘Friendly’ is a very insecure and immature person otherwise he would have shrugged it off like an ADULT to say nothing of his position of supposedly being a ‘professional’.

Cops, fire and EMS personnel get flipped off and cursed out almost on a daily basis…so this officer should recognize it is part of the job.

The paramedic was accused of ‘flipping’ him off…anyway. And so what if he did? Big damned deal!

The patient’s LIFE is placed over all other issues including ‘flipping’ someone off.

Knowing me though…if this had happened to me…we would have had to dispatch SECOND ambulance for the OFFICER and possibly some bloodhounds to help him locate his NUTZ!