Policing in America
Is it any wonder that the US is increasingly being perceived as a rogue and terrorist nation when its domestic policing leaves so much to be desired.
By chance I came across this video clip of a police officer in Hot Springs, Arkansas, arresting youngsters for, of all things, skateboarding! What completely amazed me wasn’t just the fact of their arrest, but the manner in which that was carried out. Watch for yourself…
embedded by Embedded Video
YouTube Direct Skateboarding in Hot Springs, AK
So completely bizarre did this seem to me that I was prompted to email the Chief of Police there. Here’s my message…
For the attn. of Chief of Police, Bobby Southard
641 Malvern Avenue Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901Sir,
I’ve recently had the privilege of watching a video clip of a police officer arresting some skateboarding kids. As if that weren’t sufficiently ridiculous, I watched in complete amazement bordering on disbelief as this particular officer (probably twice the weight of each of the kids he attempted to arrest) forced them face-down on the ground, threatened to spray them, and handcuffed them.
I’m intrigued to know whether this is standard operating procedure for American police officers, or is it unique to your particular jurisdicton?
“Disproportionate response” is a phrase that springs to my mind; “over-reaction” is another; “abuse of office” yet a third.
If this is indeed standard operating procedure at grassroots level in your domestic law enforcement agencies it helps to explain so much about the exreme human rights abuses and blatant disregard for the Rule of Law demonstrated by your federal government.
Just thought you’d be interested to know that this officer’s despicable behaviour has attracted the avid attention of people as far away as here in the UK.
If anyone else fancies sending a message of greeting to the Chief of Police there, contact details are as follows:
Phone: (501) 321-6789
Fax: (501) 321-6708
Chief of Police, Bobby Southard
email: bsouthard@cityhs.net
641 Malvern Avenue Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901
Related posts:
- “Policing by Consent” As hinted at in my last post, I managed to get down to London yesterday (Monday) for the "Sack Parliament" protest in Parliament Square....
- This was a guilty verdict on America as well Independent Online Edition: Robert Fisk So America’s one-time ally has been sentenced to death for war crimes he committed when he was Washington’s best friend in the Arab world. America knew all about his atrocities and even supplied the gas – along with the British, of course – yet there we were yesterday declaring it [...]...
- Arrested for radical politics… in America Update on the Ed & Elaine Brown situation… Radical politics tied to charges Crimes and Corruption of the New World Order News Officials say Cohoes man arrested this week is among supporters of couple who are defying U.S. government First published: Friday, September 14, 2007 COHOES — A local man, arrested by federal authorities in [...]...
- So this is “policing by consent”… or “facilitating legal protest”? Peace and Justice for Palestine – March against the Gaza massacre London 3 January 2009. A personal account of riot police charges in Hyde Park underpass After a week of brutal and disproportionate violence by the Israeli government against the Palestinians, we joined thousands of others gathered at Londons Embankment to march for peace and [...]...
