# Assault with a deadly bubble **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 16, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362 "2010-10-16T17:29:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/1 "2010-10-16T17:29:54Z")
[In this now well known encounter](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGMTm3QRwEc&feature=player_embedded), Constable A. Josephs, aka “Officer Bubbles”, acts like a sociopathic prick when talking to a G20 Summit protester in Toronto in late June\*. Unlike the policewoman beside him who takes things in stride and tries to keep the situation from escalating (indeed, another video showed her, moments before, joking around with the young protesters), Officer Bubbles threatens to arrest to young woman who’s blowing bubbles. “If that bubble touches me, you’re going into custody!”, he hisses, then adds, “It’s a detergent” (and presumably, therefore, a threat to his person). Yeah, the same detergent we give to three and four year olds to keep them occupied. Gimme a break. Not surprisingly, the video went “viral” and Officer Bubbles (even the Toronto Star refers to him that way) became the subject of, how shall we say, some less than flattering depictions on YouTube. [He is now suing those who mocked him](http://www.thestar.com/news/article/876487--officer-bubbles-sues-youtube-and-users-over-cartoons?bn=1) (and YouTube itself). The guy is pathetic. Does he not realize this act will simply bring him more humiliation (as well as introduce even more people to his original bubble terror). This joker is an embarrassment to the all the good cops in Toronto (who probably cringe whenever he opens his mouth). How did he pass the psychological screening test? (\*I was going to pit him June, but got distracted.) ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/2 "2010-10-16T18:00:29Z")
I meant to have mentioned that part of my contempt for this ass stems from the fact that his Facebook page included “derogatory comments” about the Toronto public - this from a guy who supposedly is dedicated to ‘serve and protect’ that same public. Once he became (in)famous, or rather, once he _realized_ he was famous, he took down the comments and made his Facebook profile private. Fucker. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/3 "2010-10-16T18:09:51Z")
They do not serve and protect the people when in conflict with big money. If you protest , it will be made clear who they work for. This cop was looking for a reason to teach the protester a lesson. I always wonder why cops are on the side of the powerful in these cases. The cops are not rich and are not enjoying the fruits of exploiting the people. They are more like us than the big bosses. Yet they will gladly fight against the people. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/4 "2010-10-16T20:05:13Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > They do not serve and protect the people when in conflict with big money. If you protest , it will be made clear who they work for. Yeah, his _real_ name is Officer Financial Bubble. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/5 "2010-10-17T01:25:55Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > [In this now well known encounter](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGMTm3QRwEc&feature=player_embedded), Constable A. Josephs, aka “Officer Bubbles”, acts like a sociopathic prick when talking to a G20 Summit protester in Toronto in late June\*. Unlike the policewoman beside him who takes things in stride and tries to keep the situation from escalating (indeed, another video showed her, moments before, joking around with the young protesters), Officer Bubbles threatens to arrest to young woman who’s blowing bubbles. “If that bubble touches me, you’re going into custody!”, he hisses, then adds, “It’s a detergent” (and presumably, therefore, a threat to his person). Did it deter him? If not, it couldn’t have been a very good one. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/6 "2010-10-17T01:46:55Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > [@KarlGauss](#): > > > > [In this now well known encounter](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGMTm3QRwEc&feature=player_embedded), Constable A. Josephs, aka “Officer Bubbles”, acts like a sociopathic prick when talking to a G20 Summit protester in Toronto in late June\*. Unlike the policewoman beside him who takes things in stride and tries to keep the situation from escalating (indeed, another video showed her, moments before, joking around with the young protesters), Officer Bubbles threatens to arrest to young woman who’s blowing bubbles. “If that bubble touches me, you’re going into custody!”, he hisses, then adds, “It’s a detergent” (and presumably, therefore, a threat to his person). > > Did it deter him? If not, it couldn’t have been a very good one. No, it only deters gents. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/7 "2010-10-17T01:55:02Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > > Did it deter him? If not, it couldn’t have been a very good one. > > No, it only deters gents. :D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/8 "2010-10-17T02:00:30Z")
I cannot find the cartoons. Apparently the original YouTube user deleted their account. Can anyone find any copies of the cartoons anywhere? I’d love to see them. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/9 "2010-10-17T02:43:23Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > I cannot find the cartoons. Apparently the original YouTube user deleted their account. Can anyone find any copies of the cartoons anywhere? I’d love to see them. You can catch a snippet at the beginning and then again at the 2’ 02" mark of the first video link [here](http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2010/10/the-saga-of-officer-bubbles.html). ETA: [Here](http://sistersagesmusings.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/officer-bubbles-fbprofile2.jpg) is his old Facebook page (note he wrote about “human garbage” _before_ the G20 fiasco). ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/10 "2010-10-17T03:01:40Z")
I don’t see anything wrong with the Facebook comment. He’s a cop so his job is to arrest criminals. Most criminals who get arrested probably _are_ human garbage. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/11 "2010-10-17T03:06:12Z")
Is there any requirement for ongoing psychological evaluation? Then too, it’s like the small University Security department I used to work for. Shortly after I left, they instituted psych testing. Absolutely SHOCKING :rolleyes: that the three people they wanted to get rid of failed it, but the psycho ‘more complaints against this guy than you would believe, but he’s the boss’s puppet’ guy somehow passed? Hell, that guy also failed the physical, so they just created a new position that for some reason didn’t require him to pass a physical in order to keep him on. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/12 "2010-10-17T03:12:30Z")
Cops look silly in shorts. Not to mention that if protests turn ugly, a cop might be hitting the pavement hard with his knees. Not the smartest gear. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/13 "2010-10-17T03:13:56Z")
> [@gladtobeblazed](#): > > I don’t see anything wrong with the Facebook comment. He’s a cop so his job is to arrest criminals. Most criminals who get arrested probably _are_ human garbage. “I collect human garbage”. So, says Officer Bubble when summarizing his job as a police officer. In fact, I’d venture to say that arresting hard core, “garbage” criminals is only a small component of a modern cop’s job description. In any case, that he chooses to emphasize that (minor) aspect of his role by using such a dehumanizing label, speaks volumes about his approach to being a cop. And, just to be clear, “most” criminals who get arrested are probably _not_ human garbage, **gladtobeblazed**. I bet including an item along those lines in a psych screening test for potential police officers would have great predictive value for downstream trouble ('On a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the least and 5 being the most, how much agreement do you have with the statement “most criminals who get arrested probably are human garbage”?) ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/14 "2010-10-17T03:22:03Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > > [@gladtobeblazed](#): > > > > I don’t see anything wrong with the Facebook comment. He’s a cop so his job is to arrest criminals. Most criminals who get arrested probably _are_ human garbage. > > “I collect human garbage”. So, says Officer Bubble when summarizing his job as a police officer. In fact, I’d venture to say that arresting hard core, “garbage” criminals is only a small component of a modern cop’s job description. In any case, that he chooses to emphasize that (minor) aspect of his role by using such a dehumanizing label, speaks volumes about his approach to being a cop. > > And, just to be clear, “most” criminals who get arrested are probably _not_ human garbage, **gladtobeblazed**. I bet including an item along those lines in a psych screening test for potential police officers would have great predictive value for downstream trouble ('On a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the least and 5 being the most, how much agreement do you have with the statement “most criminals who get arrested probably are human garbage”?) I think your reading too much into it. I see it more like calling them “scumbags” ,“dipshits” or “assholes”. Looked like a relatively light hearted, even humorous job description to me. I have no problem calling pimps, car thieves, burglars, drunk drivers and the like human garbage. You might be right that they constitute a small percentage of total arrestees however, I don’t know what the stats are. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/15 "2010-10-17T03:47:03Z")
**gladtobeblazed** , exactly how many arrests do you think a police officer makes in a day? The point being, it’s not that the number of people he arrests have a high percentage of garbage, it’s that only a very, very small amount of a police officer’s _month_ is taken up with actual arrests, on average. [Newburgh, NY police report](http://www.cityofnewburgh-ny.gov/police/docs/2010-01_PD_MonthlyReport.pdf) Newburgh, NY, for example, is a city of about 30,000. Notice that for the entire _month_ of January, there were only 267 arrests. That’s for a police force that included 82 sworn officers. [cite](http://www.cityofnewburgh-ny.gov/police/) That’s 3 arrests per day _for the entire police force_. In fact, you can see from the link above that in all of 2009, they only made 4657 arrests. That’s just under 57 arrests per officer. For the year. That’s a little more than 1 arrest per week, per officer. I got those numbers and all, just because a quick google for “average arrests per day by police” brought up the .pdf from Newburgh on the first page. I’m confident that those numbers are not egregious or out of the norm for other cities. In conclusion, to think that _any_ police officer spends even half his time, let alone the majority of it, making arrests shows a lack of understanding about what police officers actually do for a living. And for Officer Bubbles to say that his profession is “collecting human garbage” shows that he has a lack of empathy (also shown in the video clip) and a delight in oppressing others. ETA: Someone check my math, please. I’ve been awake for a long time atm. ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/16 "2010-10-17T03:59:48Z")
Then what does he mean by the phrase. What is he “collecting”? It looks like a joke to me. If I struck up a conversation with a cop and told me his job is to “collect human garbage” I’d probably chuckle. Now if he said his job was to “interact with human garbage” then I could see your point. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/17 "2010-10-17T04:32:10Z")
So what supposedly happened between the exchange of words and the arrest – when the video just flashes up “seconds later”? It appeared to be over – unpleasant, but over. ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/18 "2010-10-17T04:37:55Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > So what supposedly happened between the exchange of words and the arrest – when the video just flashes up “seconds later”? It appeared to be over – unpleasant, but over. According to [this article](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-jay/bursting-officer-bubbles_b_650095.html) the police arrested 20 people. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/19 "2010-10-17T05:26:25Z")
A man cannot wear a uniform and be taken seriously in shorts. It cannot happen. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362/20 "2010-10-17T11:27:00Z")
How would one feel about having to sit on a jury for a few weeks to hear this particular matter? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assault-with-a-deadly-bubble/557362.md?page=2)