Do you imagine this is the behaviour of a regular person?
Besides which, police are supposed to be able to control themselves. Their job is to be in control when others are unable to do so.
Go out and conduct an experiment. Walk up to ten random strangers and yell at them “Hey you short-dicked moron, does your mom still talk about the time I fucked her?” and then spit on him.
Let us know how many of those ten people punch you.
I completely agree. Remaining in control of yourself in situations like this is part of the job of being a cop. Unfortunately sometimes cops lose their control. But that doesn’t mean cops are thugs looking for a reason to beat somebody up. I think cops are less likely to lose control and get violent than the average person would in the same type of situation. It’s just that cops encounter these type of situations a lot more often than the average person does.
Whatever happened between the guard and the victim, I think it’s fair to assume that it didn’t start with such a belligerent insult and spitting.
Even if it did, there’s the fact that he’s in a wheelchair, which I suspect would cause a normal person to reconsider if violence is really the way to go.
On top of that, there’s the fighting over the chair issue. A person with any sense would know that you don’t push wheelchair users around when they don’t want you to. Even if you don’t think a regular person would consider this, a regular person with the guard’s (presumed, I’ll admit) prior experience of wheelchair users would.
Finally, a punch is one thing, but the first strike was a kick to the head while the victim was on the floor. Iamnotapsychologist, but that sounds like someone with anger issues. The punches (plural) came some time after that; I would expect even a regular person who has been so insulted that they would tip a wheelchair user out of a chair and kick them in the head to realize after a minute or two that it was probably not, in fact, a great idea, and retain that lesson for at least another ten minutes.
It doesn’t mean all cops are thugs, no. In fact, I’m sure most of them aren’t, and genuinely want to help people. But too many (i.e. some) are. One problem is that power does tend to attract, and make, arseholes.
This is the problem. Law enforcement too often will not police their own. I understand loyalty and fraternity must be part of the culture and I also know that no one wants to be a rat. However, unless they weed out their bad peers, the citizenry will continue to approve civilian oversight committees and body worn cameras.
Just an asshat on a power trip. IF, getting over on the wheel chair guy is really going to be something he brags about, then whoever he is bragging to is prolly an asshat too.
Since he got videoed, I don’t think he will get away with it. Plus witnesses.
YMMV