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posted 06/15/10 10:42 AM | updated 06/15/10 10:42 AM
Featured Post! | Views: 0 | Comments : 9 | Crime

Twitter Counterpoint: Police Violence Justified?

By Michael van Baker
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The video of a Seattle police officer striking an uncooperative jaywalker is all over the news this morning. Punching a young woman in the face seems disproportionate to the crime of jaywalking, although you're not at liberty to tell the police to pound sand (in the parlance of earlier days) when they catch you doing it.

As it happens, my Twitter feed produced this counterpoint, for which no one has produced video: "Woman arrested for punching police officer in Bremerton." Multiple times. I don't mean to suggest that it's a question of punch-or-be-punched, but let's not pretend that police officers' jobs are any easier than they are, or that verbally abusing them and obstructing the process of their duty leaves you blameless. When people are behaving like jackasses, the rest of us can walk away shaking our heads, but police can't.

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Yeah....
You don't fight cops. You just don't. And WTF do I see two cops in a cop car driving down 12th, but only one here?!
Comment by TroyJMorris
2 days ago
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RE: Yeah....
Right, you have to think if this cop didn't feel so beleaguered being on his own, and needing to keep control of a situation that keeps escalating, that this never happens. Of course, you don't really expect a jaywalking "bust" to get out of hand. #whyimnotacop
Comment by Michael van Baker
2 days ago
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Enough
Perhaps the cops shouldn't worry about "busting" jay walkers?

Clearly we have plenty of cops on the streets if they have time to go after jay walkers. I won't be voting for any more of them.
Comment by Justin
2 days ago
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RE: Enough
I'm basically with you, Justin.

If you read this story fully, the real impetus for the cop-punch becomes clear. The cop stopped someone for jaywalking, and while that person was protesting, these young women jaywalked. That basically puts a cop's dick at risk - the worst thing you can do. No way they were getting out clean after his manhood was threatened (and by a buncha girls!). Arguing can only make it worse.
Comment by bilco
2 days ago
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Ridiculous.
The officer used the least of the non-lethal force options to stop her from attacking him (and if you see the video, that's exactly what she's doing), and he's being run up the flagpole by KOMO for doing the best he could to take control of the situation. I'm disgusted at the way KOMO is insinuating with their headline that the cop just took a swing at her for no reason.

There were three of them (plus the one behind the camera egging the situation on) and one of him, and with the two girls slapping and tugging at his arms, how did he know their next move wasn't to go for his gun belt? Sure, that's an extreme, but knowing that seven other cops in the last year were murdered while they were out on "routine" calls (or not on calls at all) might make one a little nervous. I for one applaud his restraint: we're not reading about him tasing her or shooting her or kicking her in the head, he punched her in the nose to get her attention long enough to subdue her properly. Get some perspective.
Comment by raincitysun
2 days ago
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RE: Ridiculous.
The tragedy of the cops being assassinated in the past few months is way beyond the pale. I've told friends numerous times that there would be very bad repercussions for 'normal' civilians as a result. That's basically where we are today.

That said, the cop killers were straight-out loonies. Nothing like some teenager jaywalking.

As the poster said, have some perspective.
Comment by bilco
1 day ago
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RE: Ridiculous.
"'normal' civilians"

I will note that "normal" civilians don't attack cops...
Comment by Frank
1 day ago
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Get up, get get, get down
9-11 is a joke in yo town
Comment by Steve Winwood
2 days ago
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less jaywalking fines
This situation aside, it would be nice if the Mayor or future Chief of Police would emphasize foot patrols in busy nighttime neighborhoods like Belltown, you know, when it would actually help.

I wonder where all the cops go at night? You see bike patrols all the time during daylight but its almost like the police staffing is a fraction of that after dark because the police are nowhere to be seen once the sun goes down.

I know several Belltown business owners who agree with me on this one.
Comment by john
2 days ago
( +1 votes)
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