Can anybody watch that video and actually think that action was warranted? That is total brown shirt **it, crazy to watch. What surprises me about the video is that the police did not have more issues with the crowd after they watched that blatant abuse of power. The cops are lucky the whole crowd did not turn on them and drown them in their own pepper spray!

Those police officers and those that commanded them should be criminally charged for assault.

Geesh. It seems like the only thing that doesn't pay off anymore is working hard and playing by the rules.

Remember those protesters that got pepper sprayed?
 

Agreed with JH... These cops had an absolute hard-on for gettin to "show who's boss" to a bunch of (I'm sure the were called this in the barracks locker room away from those not part of the brotherhood) "stupid liberal punks" or "spoiled kids" or whatever else. I didn't like the while Occupy movement (stupid and misguided IMHO) but it was absolutely Constitutionally protected and the participants had absolutely no right to be treated in the way they were by a bunch of gung-ho bullies with badges and guns - and whatever pencil-necked idiot bureaucrat they took their orders from.

I just cannot imagine how cowardly and corrupt that cop would have to be in order to pepper spray peaceful protesters sitting on the ground. There have been hundreds of similar acts of civil disobedience in the last 50 years, there are actually well thought-out police procedures for dealing with it in most places.

My mom used to do a lot of peaceful protesting that involved planned arrests. She has been arrested alongside lots of famous people and even the wife of the police chief once. The cops arrested them as though they were assisting an old lady cross the street.

As I've said many times before here, I have plenty of respect for good cops and good police procedure, including them killing people when necessary. I just could not imagine being a cop and being so stupid and cowardly that I felt threatened by a bunch of peaceful protesters and felt like some force against them was warranted.

This world is filled with closeted fascists, plus some like Sammy who are fully out of the closet.

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I can't believe that all the right-wingers who are always screaming about the constitution are not up in arms over this one. Or anyone in uniform who has sworn to uphold it.

Really shows how real some of the cork suckers around here are.

Um...maybe you should read more thoroughly. I explicitly stated I agreed with Mr. Higgins remarks (which were very apt), and I'm "someone in uniform." Several others have also stated that they disagreed with the protestors but thought the police grossly overreacted to the situation.

My apologies, Guy. I did not mean *all right-wingers* or people in uniform, just surprised that any of the people in those groups approve of this deal. :cool:

I'm wondering if his orders might have (implicitly) included that...

----------------

I agree that Jeff gave a good summary.

Why are you surprised. The cops are out of line, what do you want folks to say. Tear Gas Cop is probably a liberal!

;)

I think the cop was frustrated and his lack of experience in that type of situation resulted in his poor judgement. They were offering passive resistance and spray was not the answer, IMO. If they were breaking the law and the officer was placing them under arrest to remove them from that scene (say for trespassing) and they actively resisted then spray would be a less lethal option.

Firstly, The students had a right to protest.

The cops were being lazy. They have clear guidelines on the use of the spray.
Like everything that's open to interpretation but it should only be used to stop and subdue a violent person.

The payout of $30k is excessive IMO but once the shenanigans of court start anything is possible.

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Right or wrong, why you sit there and get sprayed.

Just go home and complain on your blog...

Why were they there that was so important, anyway?


KT

Another take on this - this cop did not feel threatened in the least. Not by the people sitting in front of him, not by any notion whatsoever of being disciplined for having done this. He is showing a swagger and cockiness that very clearly says "no one can touch me". It's when there are no consequences for one's actions that one's character really shows. I'd say there is little doubt left about this man's.

Oh, and I've put a great deal of effort into cultivating my redneck, gun totin', neocon right wing nutjob that screams about the Constitution image with you guys. I'm really hurt that you forgot about me.

Maybe the most abusive case was those young women in the Headwaters group who were pepper-sprayed. They were interfering with lawful activity (unlike the students above), but the application of pepper spray on sticks to their eyelids was purely gratuitous torture.

Pepper Spray: Proper Police Tactic or Excessive Force?
- scroll down to the single-spaced text

Guy made $120k/year before he left the force.

No wonder the communities and the state are broke.

G

Remember those protesters that got pepper sprayed?
 

"Protect and serve" right?

I agree. They knew damn well their protest will yield fruitless result (yeah, the University or state will stop fee hikes right-a-way due to a bunch of little cry babies sitting on their lawn), what were they thinking? Move away and go home. what did their protest accomplished besides their personal gain of 30k. The IRS get any of that money? I assume not?