Philadelphia police beating video draws ire
I don't usually post on police beating videos -- they seem to crop up with disturbing frequency -- but this latest seems particularly egregious:
POLICE COMMISSIONER Charles H. Ramsey yesterday asked Philadelphians not "to rush to judgment" when watching a video showing baton-wielding cops repeatedly striking, kicking and stomping three young men whom they had stopped after a triple shooting in Hunting Park.
The officers stopped the men after witnessing them fleeing the scene of a shooting. Philadephia cops are reportedly on edge after a fellow officer, Stephen Liczbinksi, was gunned down last weekend. The video of the beating is below:
Other beatings that've made YouTube-y headlines in the last few years: The beating of William Cardena in LA, which developed into an FBI investigation; This New Orleans beating of a drunk man, in which the officers were later prosecuted; and the recent Victoria Lindsay beating, which led to the arrest and prosecution of several teenagers.
I'm glad we have police, but I'll be baffled if this doesn't create a Rodney-King like reaction. The kicking of this person seems like venting as opposed to containment.
Posted by: nalts | May 07, 2008 at 02:30 PM
I think these beatings are justified . . . I have had enough of these hoodlums and drug dealers running the streets and firing shots at people. Two officers have been killed and it is obvious the community of Philly is rotted with thugs, beat em, get rid of them, whatever it takes, get them off the street. People don't deserve to die and if a good beating is what it takes to get their momma's attention then great! You notice how momma was ready to comment on the officers beating but didn't say too much about the crappy job she did raising her kid who tries to shoot and kill people. Enough-administer some more beat downs OR just bring in the military and treat them like Al Qaida-Guantanamo!
Posted by: Peramynehu | May 07, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Good! Beat the hell out of these no conscience anti social "I never had a chance to learn" morons that society will spend millions on trying them, keeping them and appealing their cases for them until hell freezes over. Just like Abu Jamal!! No wonder the cops freak. We are all tired of this crap!
Posted by: G Augula | May 08, 2008 at 04:40 AM
It's interesting that the media has shaped those of us who would naturaly be opposed to an armed force(police) senslessly beating three unarmed men. The arguement has been made that beating the members of society who do not conform to the order of society would somehow place a sense of conformity into the psyche of those individuals in question. what I would dare to remind those who have made this arguement that these three boys had not committed any crime whatsoever. If you read the story and followed its progression you will find that these boys were not seen escaping from a crime scene at all. they were leaving from an memorial. How is it possible that one could possibly make an moral, ethical, social assesment of individuals based on a snap shot story granted by an agency whose members are currently being investigated for brutality, ineffectiveness, and suffering from myriads of mental disorders. Fear is a strong motivator of racism, classism, and is the crowning element in the destruction of any nation, neighborhood, culture, or social system. When looking at our training( and that is exactly what it is) and what is the ultimate result of it we can clearly see that fear embraces all parts of our psyche which causes us to react swiftly, but without thought or wisdom. Hence, we are pushing for a militarizing of the nation which historically is one of the preminant acts in the eventual destruction of a nation
Posted by: rellid1 | May 08, 2008 at 06:41 AM
This was completely JUSTIFIED. These Knuckle heads who tear our streets, kids, hope and lives apart, it was well deserved.
Posted by: B. Odell | May 08, 2008 at 07:36 AM
Here is longer story about it:
http://readbreakingnews.blogspot.com/2008/05/philadelphia-police-beating-video.html
Posted by: Police beating | May 08, 2008 at 07:41 AM
I was beaten by the philadelphia police because I looked like their suspect. The only difference between myself and those in the tape is that I went into the cuffs without a problem, because I knew I was innocent and could prove I had just left work. Once in the cuffs they beat me till I bled and on top of that they spit on my after. When the call came that the suspect was apprehended, they uncuffed me and said if I tell they will finish the job.
Posted by: J W | May 08, 2008 at 08:14 AM
I say publish the names and addresses of every single police officer shown in the beating! As their criminal lawyer said on CNN, they should be fired from the police force and charged as criminals. In an ideal situation, they would wind up doing some time themselves and hopefully raped in prison. To any of the officers in the video or any other dirty cops out there, when something bad happens to you or your family, remember these words, YOU BROUGHT THIS ON YOURSELVES! If it were me, I'd track you down and make you watch your family die before I slowly torture and kill you. Everyone of those officers DESERVES TO DIE!!! When people see videos like this, it makes them want to run from the police. I applaud the media for showing this video and bringing these THUGS hiding behind a badge to the national spotlight. They are public figures, not private citizens, so feel free to publish their names.
Posted by: Brian Medcalf | May 08, 2008 at 08:37 AM
Great Job to the Philadelphia Police Department! I cant even walk out my door unarmed or walk around my neighborhood at night for the fear of the little boys running around with guns. Im tired of burying police officers. There is no fear instilled in these people, and im glad the police arent taking it anymore. There should be respect just not for the law, but for everyone. Philly isn't the best city, but its my city, and we need to take it back from these "gangsters". Philadelphia police have to deal and fear alot. So good job guys, and i just think the city needs to back them up 100%!
Posted by: Ashley | May 08, 2008 at 08:47 AM
White people love seeing Negroes in pain. The choice is simple either get a beating by 51 white police officers or get shot 51 times.
Posted by: Master Race | May 08, 2008 at 08:53 AM
funny how because of your personal problems you think it was justified.. These police dont care abut you or me , just wait for your turn, tell me how it feels then. you might have the nerve to think it cant happened to you. how the hell the police claim to see these men shoot someone , and by the time you stop them there is no weapons. where did they go, answer that. we live in a city where the DA and the police protect each other, they use tactics that if used by anyone outside their circle would be called criminal. do you know in this city i could say you pulled a gun on me and you would go to jail with a bail you wish you could cash. these people are sworn to protect and serve not act like judge dread, it pathetic that someone would choose to look past facts and blurt your ass of an opinion and infect the rest of us with it. you stupid and i cant wait till some does it to you, then you'll have your real tragedy you can belly ache about. m.a. jamal lol. stop being bitches and do something " oh i cant come out door" all you fake ass da's and police are nothing more then bullied punk children who want some childhood revange... grow up yall still losers .. you'll never mean nothing to anyone.. you enron, child porn, heroin using, pedophile, school mass murder plotting, junkie, fake ass do gooders, mad cause people didnt let you hang with the in crowd. hahaha you losers
Posted by: you try it | May 08, 2008 at 12:46 PM
It's sad and mind boggling to read this comments. The same people who say "people don't deserve to die" are justifying beating the living shit out a human being based on **speculation**.
No one deserves pain or harm people, no matter what your beliefs or opinions are, you can't decide a person's destiny. WAKE UP!!
Posted by: Christen | May 08, 2008 at 04:28 PM
When are Police officers gonna be held accountable? No one trusts them for a reason, and its because most of them abuse their power and are as crooked as some people put behind bars, there needs to be some accountability for their actions and there never is. Thanks Judicial system.
Posted by: john | May 08, 2008 at 04:32 PM
They should have just shot the SOB's. Good riddance.
Posted by: John Wayne | May 08, 2008 at 08:57 PM
When you lower yourself to the standards of criminals, thugs whatever, then you are no better than them. Yes police should be held to a higher standard. If police officers cannot do their jobs within the parameters we set as society, then they should not be police officers. Surrounding the car, aiming weapons and ordering the suspects to the ground, would have taken less time than beating them and dragging them all over the ground. Moreover, these were not the suspects they were seeking, so it turns out they were wrong. What a stain on all the good police officers that are out there that can conduct themselves as public servants of the law should.
Posted by: Malcom | May 08, 2008 at 10:08 PM
I find it hard to believe that there are people out here who believe this is justified. Right after Officer Cassidy was killed the police were terrorizing people in my neighborhood. I happened to be one of those people. An undercover police came up to me snatched me off the street and proceeded to beat and choke me half to death. I had nothing to do with this officers death, I was just walking into my house. I look nothing like the suspect. The only reason they decided to torture me was because I was a young black male. I am 22 years old and at the time I was 21. After about an hour of beating and being strangled and having guns pointed into my face. The cops decided they were finished having there fun and dropped me off a few blocks away from my house. So I decided to call internal affairs to report the actions of ths officers and they hung up the phone on me.I called back and they hung up again, and again, and again. This happened to an innocent person. I will repeat. I did nothing wrong. The police picked me up in front of my house and drove me around taking turns torturing me. Every other young black male I know has had similar experiences. We just happen to be born black in a poor neigborhood. The police regularly abuse their power. And somehow people think this is justified. Just so that you can feel the illusion of safety. The end of crime will happen when poverty is erdaicated. Not by more police. And they wonder why we don't cooperate as witnesses when a crime is commited. And they wonder why we don't trust or respect them. They wonder why we are defiant. This is no more justified than the torture enacted on me. We are human too. I just hope you remember that. Also for all those who think that this was justified just try to put yourself in the shoes of a young black male. Imagine how it feels to know almost everyone hates and is afraid of you. Fear and hate makes people act like animals as these police did. Stop fearing and hating us. Treat us as humans with respect and consideration of our circumstances and backgrounds. Try to understand us. Don't just condemn us at first glance. If anything we should be afraid of white people given the history of injustice and abuses we and the rest of the world have been sujected to. Don't fear us. Were human too.
Posted by: Young black male | May 08, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Apparently most people posting here are not believers in God or the Bible or even common decency for I believe the Lord's Word says to Turn the other cheek Two wrongs don't make a right & Love thy Neighbor Apparently the people rooting for the pigs Live by the Sword & so shall die by it & go to hell for their wicked ways.
Posted by: Jesus | May 09, 2008 at 04:02 PM
I don't care how bad the situation is, this is just poor police work. These people are supposed to be professionals.
"Take back the streets" and "Give 'em what they deserve", thankfully, is not mindset with which top police forces are given their mandate. When you add the horror stories (some of which have been posted here) perpetrated by morons over the years, then you're just part of the problem, not the solution.
Posted by: manorrd | May 09, 2008 at 04:20 PM
I am always amazed at those who condone the violence, and brutality that is directed at the black community. The white man's fear is so enormous for the black man that he hates him. Yes you can beat us, kill us, and attempt to demoralize us, but it is you that is the true animal that hides behind guns and badges because of your insecurities. Let's see; if a group of armed black men went out and began to beat 3 unarmed white men, would those of you justifying this behavior consider this justice. You are so pathetic and savage; but there is a true judge that judges rightfully and you will someday meet him (God), and I'd love to be there to hear your explanations for your continued fear, insecurities, and I emphasize COWARDICE then. And
Posted by: Lisa Burt | May 09, 2008 at 09:59 PM
I am always amazed at those who condone the violence, and brutality that is directed at the black community. The white man's fear is so enormous for the black man that he hates him. Yes you can beat us, kill us, and attempt to demoralize us, but it is you that is the true animal that hides behind guns and badges because of your insecurities. Let's see; if a group of armed black men went out and began to beat 3 unarmed white men, would those of you justifying this behavior consider this justice. You are so pathetic and savage; but there is a true judge that judges rightfully and you will someday meet him (God), and I'd love to be there to hear your explanations for your continued fear, insecurities, and I emphasize COWARDICE then. And
Posted by: Lisa Burt | May 09, 2008 at 10:02 PM
These Cops are a disgrace to law enforcement. If there is a hint of cover-up on this incident; then the mayor the police chief, and all the officers involved should be fired.
Posted by: Black Mack | May 10, 2008 at 08:21 PM
Thank God for these police!!!! I had to move from Philly to get away from these niggers. Nothing but a waste of space. We need to take back control of our neighborhoods and streets from these thugs!! People....if you pack...they won't jack no more.....I promise you. I know...I've taken out 2 of these bastards myself.
Posted by: Jay | May 19, 2008 at 02:20 PM
I do not have a site so I posted the site that I found to download this video at. Seems the media is trying to have it taken off the net like many other videos.
I found a link from another site that even has the killing from canadian police at the airport. If you are not aware of police brutality and real killings you may want to see if the other site will let you use their cop murder videos. I found some bad ones on pages hidden at http://www.iraqvideos.net if you find their site search it will show you alot.
Posted by: brently | May 19, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Hell I live in upstate NY and the cops here are just as crooked as those in the big cities.The only difference is noone has them videotaped YET!!
Posted by: sentinel | May 19, 2008 at 04:01 PM
Listen up people! These cops are fighting a loosing battle out there. I worked in police work for almost ten years and got out because it has become a waste of time. The neighborhoods don’t support you, all the minorities who are 100 times more racist than any whites I know call you every name in the book. All they ever say is get out of our neighborhood and then when somebody gets shot where were the police! Its such a joke now. Perhaps in some cases there is a mistaken identity but unless the police have been forced to chase you or you call them a f**king pig, cracker, spit on them or start with all that racial crap you would really have to try to get a cop to lay a hand on you in a day and age where everybody has a video phone, camera etc. The majority of the youth in inner cities in this country are lost and every good cop I know almost without has exception has quit to get a job where they dont have to deal with these animals anymore. You cant rationalize with these people and up until the last few years the majority of the police took this attitude…”let them kill each other and we will go clean up the bodies in the morning”; however, today the violence is so random, non-targeted and widespread on the innocent the cops have had it. So those of you in the inner city who blame these cops ENJOY! Your neighborhoods are what you have made them! Hey get drunk, smoke a blunt and have five more kids you have nothing to do with and then blame your problems on the police or government. How much do you think the police are going to take before they loose it???????? Maybe if the police put their lights on and you are innocent you just pull over immediately, keep your hands visible and say yes SIR like people used to do. If you act polite and respectful you are not going to get pulled out of the car and beaten. However, I would argue that a good beating is just what 90% of these punks need. Hell take every known gang member and give them one chance to clean up and get an honest job or the gas chamber! It really has come to that! The gangs are out of control and EVERYWHERE! Not my kids dirtbags! You can take your tattoos and language and go to hell. GOOD LUCK.......HONEST LAW ABIDING AND ARMED CITIZEN!
Posted by: Steve | May 19, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Not being a big fan of cops in general, I usually smirk when I see them rough up ANYONE, and not just black people. But you have to ask a question when it comes to these events ocurring in the war zones that are our inner cities. It never seems to be the straight A student coming back from a boy scout meeting that gets beat up. The guys are almost always thugs with rap sheets a mile long who were usually caught doing something wrong and the beating took place after a chase. Then everyone is indignant and comes to the defense of these poor "innocent" shrinking violets. Protests ensue and the usual race hustlers get involved. After it all blows over, the perpetrators are usually back to their thug ways and are either in jail or killed living their OG ways. So the community is outraged over alleged police brutality but when the same animals fire randomly into a crowd of people and kill some innocent kid, they then cry about how the police don't come to their neighborhood. You can't have it both ways people. You must clean up your own mess. You have relied on the same politicians and leaders for decades and still the inner cities are a disaster. You want to eradicate poverty? Go to school, have children when you are ready, and don't get "your hustle on" and chances are, you will end up OK. We've spent trillions of dollars to eradicate poverty and it's worse than ever. It's not the governments fault. It's not the white man's fault. It is the urban black community's embrace of the disfunctional hip-hop culture that encourages vice, illiteracy, illegitimacy, addiction, and promiscuity. Until these problems are addressed, nothing will change.
Posted by: Rugbyman | May 19, 2008 at 08:29 PM
I've worked in some of the roughest neighborhoods in America as a municipal paramedic. I've felt the adrenalin, and I've had bullets zipping over my head. I can tell you that there is absolutely NO justification for beating the hell out of someone on the street like this, 15 to 3. I don't give a crap what you're thinking, what you're fed up with, what you're afraid of, or what kind of a wannabe badass you think you are, there is NO JUSTIFICATION. Anyone who would suggest that this type of "street justice" is warranted is as much of a menace to society as the common thug on the street. There is a reason we have a Constitution -- a criminal justice system -- due process. Lawmen who behave in this way (and those who love them for it) are street punks at heart. Thank goodness some of the people who've been leaving pro police brutality comments here aren't cops -- at least I HOPE they're not. We have enough trouble in this world without twisted vigilante nutjobs who glorify wanton fits of rage and violence in our law enforcement community. Cops are supposed to be the good guys, and these little juvenile morons in blue give the REAL men -- the GOOD cops -- a bad name.
Posted by: Todd | May 19, 2008 at 09:03 PM
Some of your comments are so outrageous. I stand sort of in the middle. I don't like the idea of anyone getting beaten by the cops without just cause. By just cause i mean if the suspects are fighting back. To just get pulled out of your car and beaten is in-humane. There is a theme in this country called "innocent until proven guilty". Maybe those guys are guilty, maybe not. I realize that the streets aren't safe anymore but this is hardly the way to make things better. I can bet you any money that cops have just made themselves a bigger target. Voilence is not the answer by civilians nor by cops.
Posted by: slymer | May 20, 2008 at 12:16 AM