Officer Bob

DENVER – The First Amendment, the last amendment, whatever.  The boys in Denver know how to keep da peace, and busted 154 hippie bums to do it during the Democratic convention.

And when they’re on their off hours, those Mile High City nightstick jockeys really know how to have a good laugh.  You don’t find a hilarious t-shirt like this just anywhere, now.

Here’s some blah blah about it from some pinkos somewhere out onna internet:

Denver’s police union is facing criticism for printing a commemorative T-shirt that makes light of the use of violence by police, particularly in the wake of 154 arrests during the week of Democratic National Convention this past August.

“We get up early, to beat the crowds,” the shirt reads, followed by “2008 DNC.” The words flank a grinning police officer holding a baton and wearing a hat with a crossed-out number “68,” presumably making reference to activist organization Recreate 68, which staged several anti-war demonstrations during the convention.

“The people of Denver were assured by the city that it would respect First Amendment rights during the DNC, and that that police officers were being trained to do so. The actions of police during the DNC, which involved numerous violations of people’s right to freedom of speech and assembly, put the lie to those promises,” said Recreate 68’s Glenn Spagnuolo. “And now this appalling, tasteless t-shirt shows why. The members of Denver’s police union clearly have no respect for the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution. The Denver Police Department Operations Manual includes a Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, which begins, ‘As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind, to safeguard lives and property, to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice.’ The creation of this t-shirt makes a mockery of that statement.”

Detective Nick Rogers of the Police Protective Association said that the union predicts sales of about 2,000 shirts in addition to the ones given free to Denver police officers, and also told KMGH that he hadn’t received any complaints about the shirt.

MICHIGAN – So this guy, he’s got hyperglaucomoa or whatever, and he’s driving his car like a maniac.  When the officers finally pull him over, it looks like he’s drunk.  So obviously whatchoo gotta do in a case like that is pound the living crap outta the guy and put him in a coma. (Video after the jump)

The wife of 59-year-old Ernest Griglen, in a coma since June, has filed a federal lawsuit against two Michigan police departments, alleging that officers beat Griglen into a coma.

Pamela Griglen and attorney Arnold Reed, seeking $20 million in damages, say that officers from the Allen Park and Dearborn police departments severely beat Mr. Griglen, of Detroit, in the head and face during a June 15 traffic stop, following a chase, after mistaking a hypoglycemic episode for alcohol intoxication.

Police reports say that Griglen was being chased due to a domestic violence complaint, and described him as “combative,” saying that he had fled a traffic stop and resisted arrest. The Dearborn report indicates the use of pepper spray on Griglen and cites “a black object” on Griglen’s waistband. A breathalyzer test confirmed that Griglen was not under the influence of alcohol, and officers later found his insulin pump.

“The unnecessary and completely excessive force was something that was not needed,” said Reed. “Doctors have indicated he will probably never wake up. What his wife is left with is everyday she sees him and stands over him and talks to him and he can’t respond. No amount of money in the world can compensate her or her family for this type of injustice.”

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL, MN – In the days before the Republican National Convention, St. Paul’s police officers have laid down the law by harassing journalists, performing illegal searches, confiscating video and photographic equipment and sending a message about what won’t be tolerated on the streets during the convention.

It’s like I’ve been sayin’ the whole time: we watch you, you don’t watch us.

But the most egregious example of pre-RNC police abuses occurred Tuesday morning in Minneapolis’ Northeast neighborhood.

Three independent journalists from New York City were detained near a bus stop at 27th and Washington St. NE and their reporter’s notes, cameras and computers confiscated. The Minneapolis Police Department initially told the trio that they were stopped because police were investigating several car break-ins in the area. By the end of the detention, the police said “homeland security” concerns and trespassing in a rail yard were the reason they were stopped.

Vlad Teichberg, Olivia Katz and Anita Braithwaite are from the New York-based Glass Bead Collective. They traveled to the Twin Cities to attend the convention and document interactions between protesters and police.

…

“This is absolutely outrageous behavior by the Police Department towards individuals who are engaged in protected First Amendment activity and have a record of exposing police misconduct,” said Nestor.

The Glass Bead Collective’s video has been used in court to demonstrate police actions at protests.

Do these incidents raise the possibility that authorities are using the RNC as an excuse to overstep constitutional rights?

“Arrogance doesn’t need an excuse,” said St. Paul attorney Ted Dooley. “These types of incidents happen frequently. The difference now is that people are watching them, witnessing and giving testimony.”

Dooley also said that these actions aren’t about intimidation. “It’s a straight out challenge. It’s not really a coincidence that they went after someone who had a history of exposing just this kind of behavior by the police,” he said. “It just seemed a little bit planned.”

LOS ANGELES – Okay, if you look at the news story and the video in it, maybe it might look bad for the boys in blue. Maybe they planted drugs on the suspect’s property. Maybe they got caught on videotape doing it. Maybe the department’s Internal Affairs guys came back later and pressured the guy’s wife to claim the drugs were hers. Maybe, maybe, maybe.

But what about the rights of the cops? They never asked to be on videotape! Besides, look at the guy they framed up, – I mean, arrested. You tellin’ me he doesn’t look like a criminal? Please.

CHICAGO – I’ve been saying it for years: guys in uniform usually have what it takes to fight crime.  They got the badge, they got the gun, they’ve got the weeks of training, and they’re comfortable around crime.   But the one thing that really handcuffs cops and keeps them from doing their jobs, the source of all our problems is the media.

Dat’s right: da uppity media is to blame whenever a cop doesn’t do his job.   Especially at blame are those goddamn websites who are always showing video of drunk Chicago cop heroes beating the living crap out of 95-pound female bartenders -  like this:

Or video of another valiant boy in blue suppressing a mad dog criminal in a wheelchair:

Da Mayor agrees that the media is to blame.  The cameras, they’re the problem, not the cops caught on tape. Not the beatings, not the coverups, not the cops.  The media is to blame.  The choice is real simple here: either you let the cops do whatever they want and never point a camera at em, or it’s gonna be criminal anarchy inna streets.

You got a problem widdat?

Daley blamed a news media that couldn’t get enough of the infamous videotape of now-fired officer Anthony Abbatte pummeling a diminutive female bartender.

“Remember how long you kept beating the police? That affects them. They’re human beings. They can’t take it. I’m the mayor. You can beat me up every day. That’s your job. [But] when you start beating police officers…because none of you have been in uniform, none of you have been out at 2 a.m. to stop a car, go into a home or an apartment when you see someone pointing a gun at you,” that has an effect, Daley said.

“This is a very difficult, challenging job and they’re always afraid of beefs because, once they get a beef, you write about it. [You say], ‘He has 25 C.R. numbers [complaints registered], all unfounded.’ You say, ‘Why? This fella must be a problem’. And you find out most of them are gangbangers and dope dealers [who] filed charges. And they didn’t show up in court or adminstrative hearings. [Yet] you write about it….You beat em up pretty good. Now, you want to be their friend.”

Fraternal Order of Police President Mark Donahue agreed that the media shares responsibility for the phenomenon Police Committee Chairman Isaac Carothers (29th) has called “de-policing.” But so do the brass and the politicians.

“Officers feel that the city and the department don’t have their best interests when it comes to responding to negative public perception. They’re too quick to react to public perception — even if it’s wrong,” Donahue said.

“The City Council has an effort going on right now to release the names of 662 officers who have allegations of misconduct against them. That’s not how you convince people you have their back.”

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This site is a satire about police corruption and our willingness to put
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