Sergeant Guilty
Is anyone not getting the message here?
A Chicago Police officer was found guilty of aggravated battery and official misconduct Thursday after he was caught on surveillance tape repeatedly striking a 19-year-old man whose hands were cuffed behind his back.
Before making his ruling in the two-day trial, Circuit Judge Clayton Crane said the case was an especially difficult one to rule on, given the poor quality of the surveillance tape and having to rule on the limits of police force.
But as a reader pointed out, the judge had no problem dismissing numerous witnesses and evidence of a bunch of drunk sheriffs firing their weapons on the highway, terrorizing a minority couple.
We know we aren't going to persuade anyone to abandon their opinions, just like they aren't going to sway ours. Therefore, we'll keep our own counsel and draw our own conclusions. This one was hard to explain either way.
Labels: scandals
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
85 Comments:
The Sgt was wrong.The defense was that the shithead was about to spit at the Sgt. What really happened was the jagoff was mouthing off and as usual emotions got involved and the asshole caught a slap. This is why CPD has the rep it has. Other Police Depts act professionally, and while they do not take shit from people on the street, they also dont crack handcuffed offenders to "teach them a lesson". Come up with whatever excuse ya want but in my 17 years on the job I have seen alot of coward Officers tune up prisoners with the cuffs on and think they are tough as a result. Do your job with dignity and do it right. We dont have to be thugs to take down thugs. All im saying is pick a side. Now you may start commenting on what a asshat,jagoff,house mouse (not true) POS, coward, pussy I am haha. GFY I could care less.
To the real Police be safe
I read the article which stated he didn't document the use of force. Making shit up after the video shows up on the news is too late. Anytime force is used, you better cover it with good paper.
What's hard to explain.
You beat up a perp on camera and get caught and you're a mook.
Try not beating the perp, or beating him where this not a camera.
*Waits for the chorus of hair gels and wanna be's to call me names*
Imagine if it was a white copper with a Irish name???
i feel sorry for the two coppers in 007 that were recently stripped for the same type of incident!
Per the ILCS, a simple battery committed on the public way is actually an aggravated battery. for every arrest for battery on the public way, we should be calling felony review for an upgrade.
if they can do it to a guy who has had a steady job for over 20 years and no prior arrest history, maybe they will approve charges on an unemployed scumbag with a rap sheet.
It’s a sad day when a damn good Police Officer, one who is responsible for hundreds of great arrests, and cases as a Det. gets found guilty.
And some shithead punk with a rap sheet (agg batt – school employee) gets a check from the City.
Anonymous said...
Imagine if it was a white copper with a Irish name???
7/21/2012 01:49:00 AM
Ok, I'm imagining. I can see the name M C C A R T H Y and bad facial hair.
I'm also picturing some streetlights being shot out.
Judge Crane has presided over some high profile cases.
He found the Sheriff's cops not guilty in a bench trial for terrorizing and shooting at that young black couple.
I can't explain that verdict. The audio was enough to convict those upstanding clouted Sheriff's employees. Perhaps the power of the clout saved them. The clout is powerful, it is.
He found the guy who attacked the family with a table leg and killed grandpa near Comiskey on a game day guilty but mentally ill.
Seemed to be a fair judgement.
He sentenced Howard Morgan, the railroad cop who shot CPD officers, to forty years. Good sentence handed out just a few months back. That was a jury trial and a fair sentence.
Given the video in this case I'm unsure of how any Judge could have found Sergeant Howard not guilty. Although I suspect Judge Gainer would have found a way and written a 10 page justification for his decision. I kid Judge Gainer, but my offer to buy him dinner at the Jefferson Tap still stands.
Remind me if I ever screw up this badly and get arrested to make sure I "randomly" get assigned the correct Judge.
Sergeant Howard was wrong. All I will say that if you have the inclination to hit someone in that situation DON'T. Even if there is no video you still lose because you let the idiot get the better of your emotions.
Just pretend that everything you're doing on duty, or off if you're drunk and acting like an idiot, is being taped. It may save your job, your ass, and the department some unneeded embarrassment.
I believe the Statue reads Agg Batt is serious injury, and simple battery is an act of a provoking nature, the charges should never have been filed as an Agg battery, and better yet no charges should have been placed against the Sgt. The ASA will not file charges against Daley's nephew but throw this poor Sgt under the bus. He made a poor judegement call but has been a member of the CPD for many years and I'm sure has put himself in harms way many times to protect the good citizen. At the most a thirty day suspension but criminals time is just wrong. The job is just not worth it anymore who cares ,just get the pay check and in my case the pension. Retired Detective
Nice guy it's too bad he got caught up in this B.S. Agg Batt Cmon that is complete nonsense
Speaking up fucked up Sgts, has anybody heard what's going on with Sgt Ronny "Woo woo" Watts? I can't wait to see his ass go to the joint! I love it how he dumped me off his tact team once upon a time. Who got the last laugh now Ronny and Kalat! Enjoy working for the Federal Government!
The two officers which did the Abbate case report are going to serve 30 days each for covering up? for Abbate on the bar brawl.
I have seen alot of coward Officers tune up prisoners with the cuffs on and think they are tough as a result...
I couldn't agree with you more. I know this Sgt and think well of him. Still, throughout my 21 year career, coworkers have heard me say hitting cuffed offenders is some cowardly shit. I have absolutely zero respect for any copper who does it. Once the motherfucker's cuffed, they can talk all the shit they want. In the end, they're going to jail and I'm going home. Have I ever smacked the fuck out of a shithead? Hell yes! But NEVER while they were cuffed. NEVER!!! Hate to see an otherwise good copper lose so much over this. Dam shame.
1224.....you are so high and mighty! Easy to pass judgement, right? We you there? Did you witness this Sergeant being a thug? Probably not. That's what's wrong with this department. If you witnessed this terrible incident why did you not contact your watch commanders back on 11Oct and drop paper. If you didn't, don't use this forum to make baseless accusations based on nothing but your inability to do the police job! Oh yes, I will tell you that none of us is beyond the law, but unles you were at the trial and observed the "poor victim" purger himself, don't tell the world how someone else should have acted.
1:48....why don't you go back to watching Hill Street Blues and get off this blog. Police-want-a-be like your self should learn the language before making comments about thing you know nothing about. Alt lease then you can pretent to live your fantasy!
This kid and his mother sat and fabricated evidence, to the point that they used red food to paint his teeth and lips in order to take a picture when his IR photo shows no such injury, they lied on the stand, and the states attorney and judge just lapped it up. Be carefully out there people. Was the sergeant wrong? Possibly. Maybe even probably. But quess what? The state and judges are NOT your friends. They will hook you up. You are doing your job and the next thing you are sitting at that defense table and ..... Felony conviction time! Pray for this sergeant and his family. It will be a long road!
sad sad day for this sgt--- 2 felony convictions for a couple of slaps to the face--- bye bye pension because he is convicted of the commission of a felony while on duty--- 20 plus years of service shot right in the ass and all the honorables and commendations and great pinches mean nothing--- the "victim" and his family may have a beef but it might be for a simple battery--- the sgt takes a poke for 6-12 months suspension and comes back out on the street or retires--- this man is ruined for slapping some kid in the face a couple of times--- all you gunslingers out there take a good hard look at this situation--- never say it will never be me because it could be you...
I dont agree with the Sarg did. But remember those in the jury box have no idea what its like to be on the streets working in certian areas. Be Careful out there.
Anonymous said...
Per the ILCS, a simple battery committed on the public way is actually an aggravated battery. for every arrest for battery on the public way, we should be calling felony review for an upgrade.
if they can do it to a guy who has had a steady job for over 20 years and no prior arrest history, maybe they will approve charges on an unemployed scumbag with a rap sheet.
7/21/2012 02:48:00 AM
Keep dreaming.
The Sgt was wrong.The defense was that the shithead was about to spit at the Sgt. What really happened was the jagoff was mouthing off and as usual emotions got involved and the asshole caught a slap. This is why CPD has the rep it has. Other Police Depts act professionally, and while they do not take shit from people on the street, they also dont crack handcuffed offenders to "teach them a lesson". Come up with whatever excuse ya want but in my 17 years on the job I have seen alot of coward Officers tune up prisoners with the cuffs on and think they are tough as a result. Do your job with dignity and do it right. We dont have to be thugs to take down thugs. All im saying is pick a side. Now you may start commenting on what a asshat,jagoff,house mouse (not true) POS, coward, pussy I am haha. GFY I could care less.
To the real Police be safe
7/21/2012 12:24:00 AM
I'm not going to disagree with anything you said. My problem is that instead of taking a suspension, this guy gets his whole life destroyed over slapping some piece of shit that no doubt deserved it. There's such a thing as overkill. Police officers are human. We're not robots. We have emotions, we get angry, we make mistakes. Flushing this guy's whole career and life down the drain for slapping this asshole is really a shame. Punish him but don't destroy him and his family.
I have known Eddie for many years and have known him to do the right thing. I can only assume that those of you Monday morning quarterbacks judging him are the same sissies that keep whining about not doing police work. Unfortunately when doing real police work emotions do get cranked up and any real investigator knows that video, particularly grainy video, does not always tell the true story. Glad I am retired - I wish Eddie the best.
Howard may have been wrong but he does not deserve to be convicted of a felony. This is another example of how people feel about the police. I bet the judge has no respect for the police and in his heart believes that we are nothing better than baggers at the grocery store or janitors. I am done, let this judge and the rest of these liberal scum protect themselves from the animals because he just empowered them. I will do no extra self initiated police work again until society has my back.
You are piece of shit if you bad mouth this SGT. I dont know him and never worked for him but to rip him is just plain wrong,especially if your the Police. If you dont realize the real issue here, then you never will, and... you obviously are part of the problem. Thats why this job and city are in the shitter!! I wish the Sgt well.
Everyone,
read your ILCS and learn the laws
it's your future and your family.
I feel bad for the guy, but he screwed up big time. Sometimes there are very severe consequences for this kind of misconduct. Most times you get a pass. Getting a pass is a little less likely these days so depending on getting one is not as good of a bet as it once was.
Lying about it (or at least the perception that he lied about it) did not help his case nor did the generally poor reputation (deserved or not) of CPD.
A troubling aspect of this case (as in some other similar cases) is that there were plenty of cops around that probably could have stopped him at the time and chose not to. He may really be going to jail because none of his fellow cops on the scene protected him from his own actions.
. Now you may start commenting on what a asshat,jagoff,house mouse (not true) POS, coward, pussy I am haha. GFY I could care less.
To the real Police be safe
7/21/2012 12:24:00 AM
Since you weren't there, you don't know so you shouldn't comment in an open forum. Any 'real police' knows that. You are a troll. If you are on the job, and I doubt it, you aren't very smart.
Everyone speaking about how it was an act of coward to smack pookie, you could be right. However to charge agg battery in this case is bull shit. How people have shot people and been charged with simple battery? How many legit rape cases have been made simple battery? How about agg batt to a p.o.? I'm not a "hair gel" and have seen Crooks, Lin, and a host of other judges make chicken decisions. This makes it even easier, answer the radio & nothing else! Less that 5 years collect a pension and fuck this city, cpd, the judges, and the pussies who killed this job!
What's hard to explain.
You beat up a perp on camera and get caught and you're a mook.
Try not beating the perp, or beating him where this not a camera.
*Waits for the chorus of hair gels and wanna be's to call me names*
7/21/2012 01:48:00 AM
What's hard to explain? How about your use of the term "perp"?
GFY 7/21/2012 12:24:00 AM "What really happened...." Were you there?Even if your scenario were true,one pimp slap shouldn't ruin a mans life.I don't know what candy ass,yuppie district you've been working in,but if I ever had to work with a handjob like you,I would avoid ALL contact with the public......"All im saying is pick a side."Sounds to me like you've already sided against the police.
this should have been 10 days, not 2 felony convictions. Bottom line, stop working. Do what is required, nothing more, nothing less. The sheeple do not like us and love to catch us losing our cool. Did the good sgt. lose his cool? Yep. does he deserve this? No fucking way. I'm so done with this job.
Its a sad situation when any officer faces loss of his/her career and possible prison time because of an extreme error in judgement. The sergeant slapped a handcuffed prisoner and tried to justify his actions with a lame excuse (he tried to spit on me)ladies and gentleman understand your business is to bring the evil doer's to the attention of the courts. The sergeant should have his and his troops ass by following procedure which required him to seek medical treatment for an injured prisoner requesting an E.T. to photograph the alleged injuries. If this had of been done maybe the result could have been different. Remember CYA at all times stay safe.
Anonymous said...
The Sgt was wrong.The defense was that the shithead was about to spit at the Sgt. What really happened was the jagoff was mouthing off and as usual emotions got involved and the asshole caught a slap. This is why CPD has the rep it has. Other Police Depts act professionally, and while they do not take shit from people on the street, they also dont crack handcuffed offenders to "teach them a lesson". Come up with whatever excuse ya want but in my 17 years on the job I have seen alot of coward Officers tune up prisoners with the cuffs on and think they are tough as a result. Do your job with dignity and do it right. We dont have to be thugs to take down thugs. All im saying is pick a side. Now you may start commenting on what a asshat,jagoff,house mouse (not true) POS, coward, pussy I am haha. GFY I could care less.
To the real Police be safe
7/21/2012 12:24:00 AM
Let me understand oh hairgel, you were there? No! Ahh yes you saw the tape and believe it right kid? Happy I don't work with a moron like you, how about telling Mom we all said hi?
This is what you get with a merit hack. Ok, he is not a bad guy but he should have never been a sgt in the first place, especialy merit. I hope the pos who put him in for merit gets fucked to.
Pictures don't lie . The sergeant lost control.
When we react in anger our brain usage is about 20%,have you noticed when angry decisions are not made properly or logically,calm down, step back and adjust ,then proceed with a sensible reaction! Keep your family and loved one in your back yard with you at all times,you will want to make it home safely to them,what's really more important than that?
Anonymous said...
What's hard to explain.
You beat up a perp on camera and get caught and you're a mook.
Try not beating the perp, or beating him where this not a camera.
*Waits for the chorus of hair gels and wanna be's to call me names*
7/21/2012 01:48:00 AM
----------------------------------
"The perp?" If you are really CPD there is no need to insult you, you've taken care of it already by your post.
I am very sure you have already been called all the names in the book by everyone. "Douchebag" comes to mind immediately, so I'll stick to that one.
The punishment handed out to this man is so far removed from reasonable it sickens me. A slap to an arrestee spitting on him. As a consequence he is a convicted felon, loses his job, loses his pension, could go to jail and is vilified in the press. Talk about overkill. Jesus. My sympathies go out to him and his family. Patrol has become an impossible job. This failure to support police and be understanding when minor breaches occur has a chilling and devastating effect on other officers. They get no respect at all anymore - the fear of the police is gone. I do not pretend to be a psychological expert on what is the best way to deal with the public but I am old enough to remember a time when no one wanted a problem with a cop - so they behaved or at least complied. Not so today. They should list stories and videos of handcuffed offenders kicking out car windows, biting officers, head butting the officer, intentionally trying to get blood on you while laughing and telling you they have AIDS. Not to mention the other lovely things you are exposed to when handling many of thes charmers, like lice, bedbugs etc.. I had a friend who was a cop and he changed in his garage every day and installed a shower there so he would not bring anything into his house.
I am amazed they gat anyone to even apply for this job anymore. i can recall more than 25 thousand signing up for th test at one time. Now they have a hard time putting a single class together. With stuff like this going on is it any wonder why?
I support the police wholeheartedly we just need to get our head out of our behinds. People who enforce laws are to be feared not viewed as some sort of counselor. That is mamby pamby bullshit. If you are an aggressor lookout. I would subscribe to the opinion expressed in one of my favorite sci-fi pics - especially since they seem to expect you guys to never make a mistake or act human - maybe the robots are coming. As set forth below:
I am leaving soon, and you will forgive me if I speak bluntly. The universe grows smaller every day, and the threat of aggression by any group, anywhere, can no longer be tolerated. There must be security for all, or no one is secure. Now, this does not mean giving up any freedom, except the freedom to act irresponsibly. Your ancestors knew this when they made laws to govern themselves and hired policemen to enforce them. We, of the other planets, have long accepted this principle. We have an organization for the mutual protection of all planets and for the complete elimination of aggression. The test of any such higher authority is, of course, the police force that supports it. For our policemen, we created a race of robots. Their function is to patrol the planets in spaceships like this one and preserve the peace. In matters of aggression, we have given them absolute power over us. This power cannot be revoked. At the first sign of violence, they act automatically against the aggressor. The penalty for provoking their action is too terrible to risk. The result is, we live in peace, without arms or armies, secure in the knowledge that we are free from aggression and war. Free to pursue more... profitable enterprises
TO 7/21/2012 01:48:00 AM:
WE dont use the word 'perp' you goofball
again !!! they make examples of us and dont give a fuck about the real jagoffs who deserve to rot in hell. but remember, we live in crook county and everyone gets paid except us . fuck the judge and these pos bangers
Anonymous said...
The Sgt was wrong.The defense was that the shithead was about to spit at the Sgt. What really happened was the jagoff was mouthing off and as usual emotions got involved and the asshole caught a slap
-----------------------------------
He may have been wrong BUT the punishment should fit the crime. Our Mayor has stated that the arbitrator's ruling regarding the teachers contract is "not tethered to reality" well neither is the punishment meeted out to this man.
The defense attorney who handled this should be ashamed of himself and so should the States Attorney for bringing such aggregious charges. This should be appealed it s draconian punishment. This should at most be a misdemeanor which would allow the officer to keep his pension which he earned over many years.
The Sgt was wrong.The defense was that the shithead was about to spit at the Sgt. What really happened was the jagoff was mouthing off and as usual emotions got involved and the asshole caught a slap. This is why CPD has the rep it has. Other Police Depts act professionally, and while they do not take shit from people on the street, they also dont crack handcuffed offenders to "teach them a lesson.
-----------------------------------
Really, what departments are you referring to L.A. remeber Rodney King.
The Sgt was wrong.The defense was that the shithead was about to spit at the Sgt. What really happened was the jagoff was mouthing off and as usual emotions got involved and the asshole caught a slap. This is why CPD has the rep it has. Other Police Depts act professionally, and while they do not take shit from people on the street, they also dont crack handcuffed offenders to "teach them a lesson".
-----------------------------------Yeah, How about N.Y wher the guy got a nightstick up his ass for being an asshole. Chicago cops are the best. A slap does not justify to this level of punishment.
The Sgt was wrong.The defense was that the shithead was about to spit at the Sgt. What really happened was the jagoff was mouthing off and as usual emotions got involved and the asshole caught a slap. This is why CPD has the rep it has. Other Police Depts act professionally, and while they do not take shit from people on the street, they also dont crack handcuffed offenders to "teach them a lesson". Come up with whatever excuse ya want but in my 17 years on the job I have seen alot of coward Officers tune up prisoners with the cuffs on and think they are tough as a result. Do your job with dignity and do it right. We dont have to be thugs to take down thugs. All im saying is pick a side. Now you may start commenting on what a asshat,jagoff,house mouse (not true) POS, coward, pussy I am haha. GFY I could care less.
To the real Police be safe
Thank you, officer. I'm glad to see someone had the balls to call it as it was. Known Eddie Howard for years, even before he was a Sgt. Good man, good officer, decent sgt. Unfortunately, he did something that he never should have done, period. And it got captured on tape. And we all know we have no friends in the ASA's office when these things come to light. Sad to see a good man toss his career away, but that's what he did. If he doesn't serve any prison time, he should consider himself lucky, and buy Cozzi a beer, or three. Never go out on these streets as a public safety official and believe you are not under constant video and audio surveillance. Stay true to your oath.
This finding clears the way for this man to be sued a not guilty would have foreclosed that possibility. So now, not only will he lose his pension, his job, and maybe go to jail but he can be sued and possibly lose all he has left like his home and savings because of a slap. Are you friggin kidding me. Somebody get this man a decent lawyer,
Then how can someone judge on a poor quality video?
To the person who wrote the first comment. I'm sick of you officers, if you really are one , using the term real police to describe yourselves. You are a coward I don't see your name, Mr. Real Policeman.
Oh by the way everyone be safe, whether you are the Real Police like this tough guy, or just the police like myself.
I too have 17 yrs. and I know you do not and you are full of Shit!!!
Its not my neighborhood attitude, and don't even get out of the car anymore. Judge Crane and the ASA said your better off walking away. Its not my problem its the neighborhood's problem. Cops are not street corner politicians anymore it now neighborhood punks who become the street corner politicians. Really.
The Sgt was wrong.The defense was that the shithead was about to spit at the Sgt. What really happened was the jagoff was mouthing off and as usual emotions got involved and the asshole caught a slap. This is why CPD has the rep it has. Other Police Depts act professionally, and while they do not take shit from people on the street, they also dont crack handcuffed offenders to "teach them a lesson". Come up with whatever excuse ya want but in my 17 years on the job I have seen alot of coward Officers tune up prisoners with the cuffs on and think they are tough as a result. Do your job with dignity and do it right. We dont have to be thugs to take down thugs. All im saying is pick a side. Now you may start commenting on what a asshat,jagoff,house mouse (not true) POS, coward, pussy I am haha. GFY I could care less.
To the real Police be safe
7/21/2012 12:24:00 AM
And you're just as big a coward (bigger, actually) for not notifying a superior officer of any observed illegal transgressions. Being holier than thou and "doing your job with dignity" woulda meant reporting the all the "tuneups" you've seen in your whopping 17 years on the job. This is one of our rules, violation of which will get you bounced.
All this tells me is that you're NOT the "real police". The Real Police would know not to run their mouth on a public blog about witnessing anything of that nature. The Real Police don't run their mouths at all. They let their actions speak for them, and they sure as hell don't brag about things that would get someone in trouble, let alone brag about accolades and accomplishments. You're the most self-proclaimed tenured Hair Gel I've ever had the displeasure of stumbling across on SCC. 17 years under your belt (supposedly) and you still don't know anything that really fucking matters on this job. You're perfect STUPIDvisor material, chump.
And YES, you ARE a coward pussy. As a matter of fact, we all think you're an asshole, too. Go tell you Mom and Dad and anyone else who'll listen what a tough guy you are, you pathetic, motherfucking waste of oxygen.
So we just let a guy spot on us, is that the gist? You guys were not there. Grainy video. NO AUDIO. reasonable to believe he tuned him up- but- ALSO reasonable to believe he was in apprehension of receiving a battery (spit) and reacted accordingly- open hand palm strikes. Read your ise of force and get off of your high horses fellas. REASONABLE doubt = not guilty.
Stay true to your oath.
7/21/2012 03:58:00 PM
i always do.
Chalkie
When we react in anger our brain usage is about 20%,have you noticed when angry decisions are not made properly or logically,calm down, step back and adjust ,then proceed with a sensible reaction! Keep your family and loved one in your back yard with you at all times,you will want to make it home safely to them,what's really more important than that?
7/21/2012 01:51:00 PM
just step back, let me work my magic, and, in due course of time, there will be omelettes for everyone.
of course, i will have to break more than a few eggs.....
Chalkie
Pictures don't lie . The sergeant lost control.
7/21/2012 12:24:00 PM
you want control?
i'll give you control.
Chalkie
This is what you get with a merit hack. Ok, he is not a bad guy but he should have never been a sgt in the first place, especialy merit. I hope the pos who put him in for merit gets fucked to.
7/21/2012 11:48:00 AM
still can't get that taste out of your mouth, after all these years?
I will say what a lot of people have said: you are always being recorded. ALWAYS. If not, act like you are. Make it a habit.
Anytime you hit an arestee who is handcuffed you are setting yourself up for trouble. That does not mean the prick does't deserve it or that he can't hurt you but it gives assholes who don't know better a chance to harm you. You are precluded from suing these assholes - but they can sue you. They can try to take your job, pension, home and everything you have. What has happened to this Sgt is an outrage.
Man this is bullshit. To thise of you who ar ecritical of this man - FUCK YOU. If you ever worked the street you cannot honestly state that you never had an asshole like this and did not bump their head on the squad ar anadvertantly allow them to slip from your hands as they fell down the stairs. A SLAP - that is total bullshit. I do not understand how you can be so critical of your own - unless you are some pussy boss who made rank withoyt ever really doing any street time.
This is what you get with a merit hack. Ok, he is not a bad guy but he should have never been a sgt in the first place, especialy merit. I hope the pos who put him in for merit gets fucked to.
--------------------------
First he was not a merit Det, nor Sgt. He made them both on his own. Second he taught me how to write search warrants and taught me shit that got me promoted. yes i also was promoted without merit. you probably never inventoried shit because its easy when all you do is talk instead of working as a police officer. He goes old school once with a video and you talk shit. i bet u only make bs arrest that couldnt get anyone prison time. Sgt. Howard has sent many bad guys to prison. I hope they get out and spit on you so you can run and put your tail in between your legs because u r a coward. If he only did a TRR this would not have happened. he did think it would make the news.
look at this a cop slaps a drunk and gets time in the feds everybody including myself this he was fucked and should only have been suspended. This Sgt also a person who has made thousands of arrest and hundreds of search warrants slap a kid with no bruises and we are on this blog talking shit. the only difference is the obvious. this only applies to those who have separate but unequal toughts on this subject.
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.He slapped and got slapped back. How many posts have there been about someone getting jammed on video and the warnings to act as though everything is being recorded, video taped, surveilled and watched? Yet, it never fails that an officer still goes out and does something stupid under the lens of a camera (or a wire) and ends up losing everything for his/her actions. And yes, I saw the tape. Numerous times. There was no spit, the guy was cuffed and it wasn't a pimp slap. There were three blows to the face with the last one sending his face on the hood of the car. Was the guy mouthing off? Pretty sure he was, but if words can throw you off your square like that.....Fact remains he did it, it was caught on tape, wasn't entirely truthful about events leading up to the hits, the state proceeded with prosecution, tape shown in court, two stories told, courts believed one version over the other.
Anonymous said...
The Sgt was wrong.The defense was that the shithead was about to spit at the Sgt. What really happened was the jagoff was mouthing off and as usual emotions got involved and the asshole caught a slap. This is why CPD has the rep it has. Other Police Depts act professionally, and while they do not take shit from people on the street, they also dont crack handcuffed offenders to "teach them a lesson". Come up with whatever excuse ya want but in my 17 years on the job I have seen alot of coward Officers tune up prisoners with the cuffs on and think they are tough as a result. Do your job with dignity and do it right. We dont have to be thugs to take down thugs. All im saying is pick a side. Now you may start commenting on what a asshat,jagoff,house mouse (not true) POS, coward, pussy I am haha. GFY I could care less.
To the real Police be safe
7/21/2012 12:24:00 AM
I'm not going to disagree with anything you said. My problem is that instead of taking a suspension, this guy gets his whole life destroyed over slapping some piece of shit that no doubt deserved it. There's such a thing as overkill. Police officers are human. We're not robots. We have emotions, we get angry, we make mistakes. Flushing this guy's whole career and life down the drain for slapping this asshole is really a shame. Punish him but don't destroy him and his family.
7/21/2012 08:30:00 AM
----
i agree completely. WHat a shame. Stupid fucking move by the Sgt, but what a shame. If shithead slapped shithead on the street, the judge, or the ASA rather, would most probably throw the case out. We all know how it goes. but since a cop did it what happened? Well, we all know what happened, the ASA pulled ou the felony battery statute that is NEVER used, except on cops (remember Abbate? jagoff yes, but still). And the "official Misconduct" charge. Wow. What a weapon of mass destrcution that phony charge is.
(720 ILCS 5/33‑3) (from Ch. 38, par. 33‑3)
Sec. 33‑3. Official Misconduct.)
A public officer or employee or special government agent commits misconduct when, in his official capacity or capacity as a special government agent, he commits any of the following acts:
(b) Knowingly performs an act which he knows he is forbidden by law to perform;
Is that vague or what? Performs a forbidden act is a felony? It is forbidden to park your fucking car more than 12" from the fucking curb. It is forbidden to litter. What the fuck kind of statute is this?
Add to that, if they can't get you, or even if they do in state court, they can come back at you for the federal felony of Violation of Civil Rights (Cozzi anyone?).
So if your are a cop your head is in the guillatine (?) at the get-go.
Our laws don't work in Cook COunty. Look at what the savage gets away with. Wouldn't happen in Dupage Co would it? What a fucking shame. Good luck to you, Sgt. You fucked up, yes ... but you were overly punished .... in the proud tradition of the Cook County court system.
Fuck this bullshit. Felony conviction for slapping a piece of human garbage. Wow. Fucking wow. Felonies were once reserved for only the most serious of crimes. Now they have become a political "gotya" tool. What a fucking shame.
Anonymous said...
Anonymous said...
Imagine if it was a white copper with a Irish name???
7/21/2012 01:49:00 AM
Ok, I'm imagining. I can see the name M C C A R T H Y and bad facial hair.
I'm also picturing some streetlights being shot out.
7/21/2012 05:02:00 AM
---
I know Cozzi is not Irish, but he's white, and he got 6 years in federal prison.
What exactly am I imagining again?
The Sgt. should not have struck the handcuffed suspect on or off camera. The Sgt. was wrong. It's that simple.
The Sgt. should have remaind professional and stayed in control of his emotions.
Consequences... The Sgt's job is gone, his pension is gone, a felony conviction has been entered against him and the possibilty of jail time is in his future. These are the immediate results of the Sgt.'s actions. I sincerely hope the Sgt. will accept responsibility for the negative results of his actions and move on with his life. Someimes bad things happen to good people and vis versa... 25 yrs. on the job...retired p/o.
Mildly off-topic, I ask again, where the fuck was the aggravating circumstance in the Abbatte case? Read the charge many times and nothing in it fits. Like this case, do I agree with the action? No, but the punishment is WAYYYYY more severe than it should have been...
Sgt.Howard should have received @ the very most 30 days.
A Criminal conviction, are you kidding me?
This is what you get with a merit hack. Ok, he is not a bad guy but he should have never been a sgt in the first place, especialy merit. I hope the pos who put him in for merit gets fucked to.
7/21/2012 11:48:00 AM
Dickhead, SGT howard made Det by score and SGT by score. Learn some facts before you shoot off at the pie hole, you asswipe.
sarge, I would like to invite you to my house for a steak dinner--- they ask you what you want for a last meal before they execute you--- I hope that the asa who prosecuted this case is proud of himself--- the next ccsa who I catch blasted out of his/her mind will be locked up and treated like any other shitbag--- no more breaks when you fuck up....
If he only did a TRR this would not have happened. he did think it would make the news.
Exactly
If you put your hands on someone, lock them up and document it. You CAN hit a handcuffed offender under our use of force policy. You jam yourself up when you don't drop paper.
I know Cozzi is not Irish, but he's white, and he got 6 years in federal prison.
What exactly am I imagining again?
7/21/2012 08:29:00 PM
I dunno, man. What are you imagining. Don't keep us guessing what your insightful comment is.
Inquiring minds want to know.
Are you imagining the media would have played it up more if it had been a white cop? Maybe, but the tape ain't exactly as graphic as the Cozzi or Jefferson Tap tapes.
Are you imagining a clouted Irish cop might have got off? Sure, that might happen. A clouted black cop might have gotten a different verdict too.
Are you pulling a Fred Willard and imagining PeeWee Herman naked in a porno theater out in LA?
If so keep that to yourself.
Really either tell us what you're getting at or STFU, because I need to head over to Home Depot and pick up a new faucet because my wife is complaining. That I'm not imagining.
I don't know what some of you are even talking about. I have never seen anyone tuned up with cuffs on. I also could not believe an officer would post such a statement on a public blog such as this. That is why the first person who posted must be a complete ..... and I will start.... (citizen ???) asshat, jagoff, house mouse POS, coward, pussy he/she is. So you can GFY. Finally if you are a cop, you definitely are not the real police.
@ 12:24:
"Other Police Depts act professionally"
You are a police impersonator, that's for sure.
Complete Nonsense. This verdict comes as aldermen are now asking police to go back to aggressive style police tactics, as this new way obviously doesn't work. Congrats, this is what you liberals wanted, now it is out of control. I hope this sgt lands on his feet. Once again this blog shows the mindset of far too many on this department and how there is absolutely no more comradery left.
I hate to sound cold but as a Supervisor, he should know better. If he was keeping the guy from spitting on him, do a TRR. If we do the things that are clearly spelled out for us to do (GO's and such), I think we as PO's can avoid a lot of the BS we get ourselves into. Take the extra 10-20 mins and make sure you cover your bases. None of us want or deserve to lose our Pension and be in jail with the dirt of society that WE put there.
(720 ILCS 5/33‑3) (from Ch. 38, par. 33‑3)
Sec. 33‑3. Official Misconduct.)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
The good Sgt (and I mean good, I know him) got punished way too severely, just like Cozzi. I think they both would say that they fucked up and deserved some punishment, but a felony? no effin way. A suspension, anger management, take some lumps, go back to work, the end.
That said, I want to add this: there have been many comments in this thread and in roll call and locker rooms about "if this was shithead on shithead it would be thrown out". "He got fucked because he's a cop". "I'm done. If they can do this to him, they can do it to me".
All true. However, it was NOT shithead on shithead, he IS a cop, and yes, if you are found to have hit a handcuffed prisoner, you will have a problem. The thing to remember is that ALL OF US agreed to be held to a higher standard the day we accepted our stars. The official misconduct statute is a reflection of that agreement. We cannot get away with stuff that the average Joe can get away with. We are not average Joes. We are sworn police officers, we know (or should know) the rules better than the average Joe, and if we fuck up, we can expect a harsher punishment. If you can't live with that, you may be in the wrong line of work.
Make an honest mistake? You will take a hit and move on. But if you do something like this good officer did, you will fall hard.
My heart breaks for Sarge and his family. God bless him.
....because I need to head over to Home Depot and pick up a new faucet because my wife is complaining. That I'm not imagining.
7/22/2012 06:23:00 AM
another euphemism?
Yawn.....It always comes back to this....This argument has been and always will be ridiculous.
Anonymous said...Congrats, this is what you liberals wanted,
I also could not believe an officer would post such a statement on a public blog such as this.
____________________
Really? You are shocked? Have you read some of the fucked up comments on here and shaved over the years?? Please, this is a public forum and ANYONE can post. I'm guessing some of these "shocking" comments received exactly the kind of response the poster intended. As far as the Sgt. Don't know him,wasnt there, and if he was wrong then he's wrong. Punish him correctly! A felony conviction? A little steep.
I think the quote goes something like"Men sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf" George Orwell. He kinda saw it comin didn't he? We should be held to a higher standard but..Seriously???? A criminal charge?? A FELONY??? Pray for the SGT. and his family and sit back and watch Crook County get the lawless, hopeless, unfixable streets it has chosen.
Anonymous said...
Yawn.....It always comes back to this....This argument has been and always will be ridiculous.
Anonymous said...Congrats, this is what you liberals wanted,
7/23/2012 04:42:00 AM
not to worry, you won't be bored for much longer.
Chalkie
I guess his FTO failed because Rule#1-Once the handcuffs are on the fights over.
You really cant be serious about him being justified for slapping a kid 3 seperate times. How about putting him face down on the hood of the car or ground after the first alleged spitting incident. Turning him around or better yet how about a couple PO's grab him and throw him in their car. Stop listening to your daddy's stories from the 60's -90's.
I feel as bad as the next guy about Eddie but dont lose sight of the fact he would have just taken time and not been locked up if he just documented the actions on a TRR and in the case report. Take a short cut and tell yourself its a bullshit report and I dont need it and look at the results!!!
If you're giving an offender the same beating you would give your own child, it should be allowed and encouraged.
Post a Comment
<< Home