# Controversial encounters between law-enforcement and civilians - the omnibus thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 10, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942 "2014-10-10T07:35:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 673
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13442 "2018-05-04T14:59:42Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Ah, once again I feel like we watched different videos. He ran in, kicked him once, and that was it. One cop was already on the ground handcuffing the guy and the others were behind him. What, exactly, do you expect them to have done to stop him? They couldn’t have prevented it…but they _should_ have arrested him immediately for assault and battery, handcuffed him and reported him. If you are a bank teller and observe your co-worker take handfuls of cash and stuff it in his pocket, what do you do? If you are a bus driver and see another driver that is drinking right before getting on his own bus, what do you do? If you are a police officer and you see another police officer violently assault a handcuffed suspect, at the very fucking _minimum_ what do you do? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13443 "2018-05-04T14:59:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Chief Jorge Colina said he’d received a video of an officer clearly violating departmental policy. Well, a good part of the problem is right there. After the video surfaces, he calls it ‘violating departmental policy’ and not ‘committing a crime’. > [@](#): > > The victim — reportedly identified as 31-year-old David V. Suazo — of the officer’s kick is clearly not resisting during the video clip. It shows cops placing handcuffs on his limp arms as he lies face-down in a field of grass. Then, out of nowhere, a Miami cop sprints and kicks the man squarely in the head. This is not police work. This is a criminal act. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13444 "2018-05-04T15:04:14Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Well, a good part of the problem is right there. After the video surfaces, he calls it ‘violating departmental policy’ and not ‘committing a crime’. So if they managed to find something in departmental policy that somehow allowed it, the judge wouldn’t have had a problem with it? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13445 "2018-05-04T15:04:38Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > If you suspened everyone who doesn’t turn in their workmates you’d have no-on left working anywhere. It’s a ridiculous expectation. I’m not sure where YOU work, but if I saw a workmate committing assault, I would damn sure turn him in. What is wrong with you? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13446 "2018-05-04T15:05:52Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > So if they managed to find something in departmental policy that somehow allowed it, the judge wouldn’t have had a problem with it? The cops should simply say “Well, the policy changed yesterday to disallow head-kicks, how were we supposed to know it wasn’t allowed?” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13447 "2018-05-04T15:07:22Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I’m not sure where YOU work, but if I saw a workmate committing assault, I would damn sure turn him in. What is wrong with you? And what kind of things do you allow to happen at your place of work that are illegal and/or against company policy just to save your coworker’s jobs? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13448 "2018-05-04T15:08:33Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If you are a police officer and you see another police officer violently assault a handcuffed suspect, at the very fucking _minimum_ what do you do? Turn a blind eye and blame the media for giving the cops a bad reputation? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13449 "2018-05-04T15:15:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If you are a bank teller and observe your co-worker take handfuls of cash and stuff it in his pocket, what do you do? > If you are a bus driver and see another driver that is drinking right before getting on his own bus, what do you do? > If you are a police officer and you see another police officer violently assault a handcuffed suspect, at the very fucking _minimum_ what do you do? Blackmail! ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13450 "2018-05-04T15:26:53Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Well, a good part of the problem is right there. After the video surfaces, he calls it ‘violating departmental policy’ and not ‘committing a crime’. The best part is that it took the video to alert the Chief that there was an issue. Not, you know, the other cops on the scene. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13451 "2018-05-04T15:39:23Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Turn a blind eye and blame the media for giving the cops a bad reputation? Sad but accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13452 "2018-05-04T15:42:47Z")
I’m still waiting for the explanation of why turning your coworkers in for assault is a ridiculous expectation. One of the dumbest things I’ve read on this board in a while. And I’m reading the flat earth thread. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13453 "2018-05-04T16:48:12Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > They couldn’t have prevented it…but they _should_ have arrested him immediately for assault and battery, handcuffed him and reported him. > If you are a bank teller and observe your co-worker take handfuls of cash and stuff it in his pocket, what do you do? In Steophan’s world, make sure that he doesn’t drop any cash on his way out. > [@](#): > > If you are a bus driver and see another driver that is drinking right before getting on his own bus, what do you do? In Steophan’s world, make sure the driver makes it safely to his seat. > [@](#): > > If you are a police officer and you see another police officer violently assault a handcuffed suspect, at the very fucking _minimum_ what do you do? In Steophan’s world, get your own licks in. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13454 "2018-05-04T17:06:05Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > In Steophan’s world, make sure that he doesn’t drop any cash on his way out. > > In Steophan’s world, make sure the driver makes it safely to his seat. > > In Steophan’s world, get your own licks in. In the world that I’ve observed, especially if the coworker is a friend (as is usually the case), then yes, that’s what a lot of people do. To the extent of formalising it as a union, with the specific purpose of minimising or preventing the disciplining of those that break the rules. People rationalise things. “The boss won’t miss the money”. “He’s not really drunk, and he’s a good driver”. “It was only one kick, and he deserved it anyway”. That’s what people do, and pretending that cops are somehow immune, or should be immune, to normal human feelings is absurd. Where the hell does everybody here work? I feel rather sorry for people who can’t trust their coworkers to have their backs. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13455 "2018-05-04T17:10:34Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > I feel rather sorry for people who can’t trust their coworkers to have their backs. If a coworker had to leave a few minutes early to get to his kid’s school play, Id totally cover for them. If a coworker beat/raped/killed someone? No. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13456 "2018-05-04T17:12:04Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > In the world that I’ve observed, especially if the coworker is a friend (as is usually the case), then yes, that’s what a lot of people do. To the extent of formalising it as a union, with the specific purpose of minimising or preventing the disciplining of those that break the rules. And you feel that since people do this, that makes it okay? And I still cannot believe that “Hey, he’s not that drunk and he’s a good driver” is at any way acceptable for a couple of school bus drivers. Again, what is wrong with you? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13457 "2018-05-04T17:13:36Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Where the hell does everybody here work? I feel rather sorry for people who can’t trust their coworkers to have their backs. If you let someone get away with crap like that, it usually means you yourself expect to get away with the same crap in return. _I_ work for a company that does it’s best to screen out people like you, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13458 "2018-05-04T17:17:13Z")
Yeah, I’d like to think I wouldn’t be friends with someone who drinks before driving a school bus, or steals money from my company, or kicks a handcuffed man in the head. Not sure what kind of friends \*\*Steophan \*\*has. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13459 "2018-05-04T17:23:03Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > People rationalise things. “The boss won’t miss the money”. “He’s not really drunk, and he’s a good driver”. “It was only one kick, and he deserved it anyway”. That’s what people do, and pretending that cops are somehow immune, or should be immune, to normal human feelings is absurd. Because police officers are entrusted with authority and the ability to end a life if they decide to, they should be held to a higher standard than petty cash thieves or drunk bus drivers. And petty cash thieves and drunk bus drivers should certainly be reported. What if you are seen on a security camera as being there when the cash was taken and the Boss asks you why you didn’t say anything? What if that drunk bus driver kills a bunch of kids. Seriously your judgment seems very warped on this. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13460 "2018-05-04T17:37:14Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > In the world that I’ve observed, especially if the coworker is a friend (as is usually the case), then yes, that’s what a lot of people do. To the extent of formalising it as a union, with the specific purpose of minimising or preventing the disciplining of those that break the rules. Ah, you bring up your unwavering hatred of unions. Unions prevent people from being disciplined for assault? Good luck with that. > [@](#): > > People rationalise things. “The boss won’t miss the money”. “He’s not really drunk, and he’s a good driver”. “It was only one kick, and he deserved it anyway”. That’s what people do, and pretending that cops are somehow immune, or should be immune, to normal human feelings is absurd. Yeah, people rationalize doing the wrong thing all the time. That doesn’t mean that doing the wrong thing is suddenly the right thing. And in those cases, anyone making those rationalizations is a pretty sorry excuse for a person, and an even shittier employee. If this is your world, you work with some pretty shitty people. If you are seeing this, and not turning people in, you are one of them. > [@](#): > > Where the hell does everybody here work? I feel rather sorry for people who can’t trust their coworkers to have their backs. Well, I own my own business, and I would not appreciate my employees stealing, or being drunk, or committing assault. For the first 20 years of my working life, I worked for other people, and while I would have a co-worker’s back about lending them some gas money, or getting them a ride, and maybe even covering for them being late, theft, inebriation, and assault have never been tolerated in any of my work environments. Where the hell do you work that such things are common and accepted? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13461 "2018-05-04T17:39:03Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Where the hell do you work that such things are common and accepted? Perhaps he works at a police station? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=672) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=674)