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POLICING THE POLICE!
Posted on October 7th, 2012 8 commentsHOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE!
[This is what a "real" newspaper does. Someone please tell Ernie and Marv and the entire staff of the Lancaster Newspapers! This is the complete Philadelphia Daily News editorial from October 5th (click here). Lancaster needs an independent authority and they need it now!]
CAN’T RELY ON YOUTUBE TO POLICE THE POLICE
WE HAVE argued many times for an independent authority to provide police oversight and accountability, a body to ensure that police don’t abuse their power and that when they do, they are disciplined.We now have that authority in Philadelphia.Unfortunately, it’s YouTube.The shocking sidewalk slam to Aida Guzman by Lt. Jonathan Josey at Sunday’s Puerto Rican Day parade was captured on video, posted on YouTube, and as of yesterday had gotten 1,329,847 views.That means that Josey, who was suspended with intent to fire by Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey on Wednesday, not only hit a woman, but also sucker-punched the entire city and the Police Department in front of the world.Ramsey did take prompt action in suspending Josey.Mayor Nutter made a public apology to Guzman on Thursday.Neither is enough.Not in a city with our history of police misconduct, corruption and arrests.We support the police. But the power they have to detain, arrest, use force over and even kill citizens on behalf of the state is like no other set of powers afforded any other group, including the military. In exchange for that power, police must be open to scrutiny and questions. They need to be accountable for their actions. That doesn’t happen without both internal and external checks and balances.The current Police Advisory Commission has been a well-intentioned but ultimately toothless agency that has few resources and no authority. In the past few years, they have received more than 100 complaints against police annually. The Police Department’s Internal Affairs Bureau gets 650-800 per year.But can citizens be sure that justice is being done and their complaints are heard?Many experts question any police department’s ability to police itself, citing the insularity and mistrust of outsiders that mark many police departments. We also question how any police department can be effective if citizens mistrust it.And frankly, the Fraternal Order of Police’s response to Josey’s firing doesn’t do much to raise that trust. FOP president John McNesby said of the suspension: “It sends a a bad message to cops on the street: ‘Be careful out there because the city may not have your back.’ “Note to McNesby: That’s exactly the message we want to send. The police should be careful out there, and think before they sucker-punch an innocent citizen.Here’s one change that should be considered immediately: Internal Affairs should be posting data online on all complaints received, as well as their disposition.Nutter should have apologized to Guzman not just for Josey’s actions, but also for leading a city that doesn’t seem to see the need for stronger police accountability. The message being sent to citizens is, “Make sure you carry a cellphone just in case you need to catch a police officer beating up someone. And if you want to get our attention, make sure you post it on YouTube.”8 responses to “POLICING THE POLICE!”
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I’m disowning the Eagles…… Why wouldn’t they pull Vick?!
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FWIW! Not again? Very poor performance! I’m very sad!
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Fumbled in the End Zone? That should have been their clue right there. The Steelers should not have won that game. All you Steelers fan should be ashamed, you didn’t deserve that win. The Eagles defense crushed your team. For a six time super bowl team you’d think you can do better. but I guess a win is a win. Congrats, in a F U kinda way. Our forth string is still better than your second string (preseason)…. as if that mattered… dammit. I hate you Steelers, you’re too damn good. Vick should have been benched by the second quarter, but I was pleased that Reid took some chances in this game – on 3rd downs and fourth downs. Now…. how to superglue to the ball to Vick’s hands…….
Becky, you owe me a beer for them losing.
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Why would I owe you a beer? I was rooting for the Eagles? This is a flat-out conspiracy to defraud me! Here I am all down in the dumps and in the depths of despair and you would attempt to rob me of my last beer? This is cruel and unusual punishment! Shameful behavior!
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You just owe me a beer because I said so….. Eagles fans do that. Now where’s my beer? (psst, I got round two… it’s a conspiracy to drink our Eagles woes away)….. I won’t wear pants….. oh wait, did I say that?!
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Ah, I see! If you bring a couple of beers I’ll have a pile of tacos waiting! Why wear pants – wear shorts – it’s balmy outside!
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Tacos….. yummy. Eagles….. ewwwwy….. lol
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Vicks karma still working I see.
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