Welcome to Texas justice: You might beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
A 'split-second decision' to be a sadistic jerk
Reports the Houston Chronicle, Houston police officer "Angela Horton, 36, wants the public to remember that police officers have to make split-second decisions in ever-changing and dangerous situations," according to a statement from her attorney. Fair enough. So what was the "split-second decision" made during an ever-changing, dangerous situation that she fears might be misinterpreted? Punching a handcuffed suspect who had already been subdued by other officers. Here's the video captured by a TV news crew:
This wasn't a split second decision and Officer Horton was in no danger whatsoever. There are absolutely instances where officers must make judgment calls regarding use of force in the spur of the moment that deserve the benefit of the doubt. There are also situations where officers behave like sadistic assholes, and Officer Horton has sullied the reputation of her colleagues by pretending that her penchant for the latter deserves the deference merited by the former.
The only possible explanation (that would not get her fired) would be him spitting on her. If she just did that because he said something she needs some anger management and a new job.
She won't lose her commission from the State of Texas and she will be paid in full while sitting at home. Until these officers actually LOSE something for criminal behavior, we won't get less of it.
For more than 30 years now, virtually every signal our right-wing dominated decision makers and courts have sent to cops/agents has amounted to a wink and nod to arrogantly menace the citizens they encounter, kick in doors at will and, as in this case, to gratuitously punch handcuffed detainees.
Imagine how often this sort of thing happens when the cameras aren't rolling.
It is my understanding that the Chief has already made the decision to fire her. He is just having to wait 15 days for some reason or another. Now if we can keep the review board in Dallas from reversing his decision, (as is ofter the case), we will be in good shape.
What we need to do to prevent these cases in the future is get the D.A. to prosecute them. If convicted they will lose their their peace officer commission.
Sadly, you have criminals acting like criminals, and peace officers acting like criminals. It makes you want to go back to the old days of looking out for ones self. However, it's not the cops you need to go after. It's the dimwits in positions of power that keep protecting them. The taxpayer can clean house if they want to. It's been done before.
Thank you, God, for stabilized long range camera systems on ENG (electronic news gathering) aircraft. It was a gratuitous cheap shot by someone who shouldn't bear a badge or gun. She should be fired and pay for the defense for her civil and criminal defense herself.
Some officers perceive themselves as having authority over others and some officers perceive themselves as having a responsibility to others. This one appears to be more of the authoritarian type.
My anger towards the police was starting to lessen. I guess I was starting to get mellow. Thanks for causing that pot to boil again. That pot should always be on full boil.
It's bad, of course. I wish less cops were sociopaths or worse, and that more were trained to handle stress. It's a stressful job, folks, they need training to deal with We The Peasants. But it also bothers me because we've achieved so much feminine mystique equality of the sexes for women to be callous, shallow and violent. Back in the '90's when the overpaid post office jackasses went so nuts,they increased their already-massive benefits to include a lot more mental health stuff (and George C. Scott did commercials assuring us it was safe and sound). Slippery slope, anyone? AC/DC: "We're on the highway to Hell..."
She probably knew the camera was on her. That's why she only punched him instead of shooting him "while trying to escape."
I always tell folks who inquire about Houston: If you're stopped by the HPD, you never know if you're going to get a ticket or a bullet. I recommend they avoid Houston and stick to the suburbs outside the city limits.
"Cops! F***ing cops!" - Keyser Söze
"Human life is basically a comedy. Even its tragedies often seem comic to the spectator, and not infrequently they actually have comic touches to the victim. Happiness probably consists largely in the capacity to detect and relish them. A man who can laugh, if only at himself, is never really miserable." - H. L. Mencken
The guy who ran was arrested, of course. If the TV news crew hadn't caught this on tape, there's no way her colleagues would have reported her because of precisely the attitude displayed at 8:52/54.
It's ironic that somebody complains about the "pussification of America" to defend hitting someone in handcuffs. What's so tough and brave about hitting someone who can't defend themselves?
Oh my gosh. Hyperventilation central. My 10 year old sister hit me harder than that. Doesn't make it right, but let's not be absurd in our descriptions of this event.
7:32, it's not so much the punch itself as invoking the "split second decision" nonsense to justify it. Police officers sometimes face real dangers, but using that to justify their own misconduct in non-threatening situations is self-serving and hypocritical.
Also notable is the reaction of the officers holding the suspect. They didn't try to stop her or even step in prevent her from doing it again. As Scott Greefield at Simple Justice put it, it's just another day at the office for them.
I'd have to snail mail him, 9:53, since I've long ago been banned from Simple Justice's comment section for pointing out that the writer doesn't know diddly squat about the public use exception in copyright law. He's got good stuff to say on criminal law, though. :)
The only possible explanation (that would not get her fired) would be him spitting on her. If she just did that because he said something she needs some anger management and a new job.
ReplyDeleteShe won't lose her commission from the State of Texas and she will be paid in full while sitting at home. Until these officers actually LOSE something for criminal behavior, we won't get less of it.
ReplyDeleteFor more than 30 years now, virtually every signal our right-wing dominated decision makers and courts have sent to cops/agents has amounted to a wink and nod to arrogantly menace the citizens they encounter, kick in doors at will and, as in this case, to gratuitously punch handcuffed detainees.
ReplyDeleteImagine how often this sort of thing happens when the cameras aren't rolling.
It is my understanding that the Chief has already made the decision to fire her. He is just having to wait 15 days for some reason or another. Now if we can keep the review board in Dallas from reversing his decision, (as is ofter the case), we will be in good shape.
ReplyDeleteWhat we need to do to prevent these cases in the future is get the D.A. to prosecute them. If convicted they will lose their their peace officer commission.
Sadly, you have criminals acting like criminals, and peace officers acting like criminals. It makes you want to go back to the old days of looking out for ones self. However, it's not the cops you need to go after. It's the dimwits in positions of power that keep protecting them. The taxpayer can clean house if they want to. It's been done before.
ReplyDeleteAdministrative leave with pay? Sounds like a paid vacation to me. But what do I know?
ReplyDeleteThe D.A. will NEVER prosecute these types of cases but they should.
ReplyDeleteThank you, God, for stabilized long range camera systems on ENG (electronic news gathering) aircraft. It was a gratuitous cheap shot by someone who shouldn't bear a badge or gun. She should be fired and pay for the defense for her civil and criminal defense herself.
ReplyDeleteSome officers perceive themselves as having authority over others and some officers perceive themselves as having a responsibility to others. This one appears to be more of the authoritarian type.
ReplyDeleteMy anger towards the police was starting to lessen. I guess I was starting to get mellow. Thanks for causing that pot to boil again. That pot should always be on full boil.
ReplyDeleteIt's bad, of course. I wish less cops were sociopaths or worse, and that more were trained to handle stress. It's a stressful job, folks, they need training to deal with We The Peasants.
ReplyDeleteBut it also bothers me because we've achieved so much feminine mystique equality of the sexes for women to be callous, shallow and violent.
Back in the '90's when the overpaid post office jackasses went so nuts,they increased their already-massive benefits to include a lot more mental health stuff (and George C. Scott did commercials assuring us it was safe and sound).
Slippery slope, anyone? AC/DC: "We're on the highway to Hell..."
Lets pretend were in Vegas, I'm a high roller and I know I won't loose this bet!
ReplyDeleteShe will resign, she will not loose her "peace officers license" and she will working as a cop in another city in Texas within a year.
She probably knew the camera was on her. That's why she only punched him instead of shooting him "while trying to escape."
ReplyDeleteI always tell folks who inquire about Houston: If you're stopped by the HPD, you never know if you're going to get a ticket or a bullet. I recommend they avoid Houston and stick to the suburbs outside the city limits.
"Cops! F***ing cops!" - Keyser Söze
"Human life is basically a comedy. Even its tragedies often seem comic to the spectator, and not infrequently they actually have comic touches to the victim. Happiness probably consists largely in the capacity to detect and relish them. A man who can laugh, if only at himself, is never really miserable." - H. L. Mencken
Oh God.... She slapped a guy upside the head that endangered hundreds of lives by running in a car.
ReplyDeleteHe wasn't even hurt.
Police brutality, please... Let's keep things in perspective. It's not like she slapped a bus full of nuns.
Was the guy hurt? No. She should receive a reprimand for losing her temper. Cops are human too.
Not one person in this idiotic thread is a bit upset at the guy that tried to evade the police.
I am. Screw that jerk. I hope he hits his head on the car door on the way into the squad car.
The pussification of America....
ReplyDeleteA "love tap" after a car chase. I'm guessing none of you served in the military.
He should have got the shit knocked out of him. Cuffs off of course.
The guy who ran was arrested, of course. If the TV news crew hadn't caught this on tape, there's no way her colleagues would have reported her because of precisely the attitude displayed at 8:52/54.
ReplyDeleteIt's ironic that somebody complains about the "pussification of America" to defend hitting someone in handcuffs. What's so tough and brave about hitting someone who can't defend themselves?
Oh my gosh. Hyperventilation central. My 10 year old sister hit me harder than that. Doesn't make it right, but let's not be absurd in our descriptions of this event.
ReplyDelete7:32, it's not so much the punch itself as invoking the "split second decision" nonsense to justify it. Police officers sometimes face real dangers, but using that to justify their own misconduct in non-threatening situations is self-serving and hypocritical.
ReplyDeleteAlso notable is the reaction of the officers holding the suspect. They didn't try to stop her or even step in prevent her from doing it again. As Scott Greefield at Simple Justice put it, it's just another day at the office for them.
Contact Simple Justice at:
ReplyDelete1040 Ave. of the Americas, Suite 1101
New York, New York 10018
212-227-8585
I'd have to snail mail him, 9:53, since I've long ago been banned from Simple Justice's comment section for pointing out that the writer doesn't know diddly squat about the public use exception in copyright law. He's got good stuff to say on criminal law, though. :)
ReplyDeletedon't feel lonely grits he doesn't post my comments there either!
ReplyDeletebut like you said there is some very good stuff there.