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Thursday, April 23, 2015
THIS IS WRONG
I think it is pretty clear to readers that I am pro-police, but I also think I am fair and definitely not blind.
A police officer who shoots someone in the back for no justifiable reason deserves a life in prison, just like anyone else that does it.
But I also watch many of these videos and wonder what would have been different if the "victims" just obeyed the lawful order of a Police Officer. The video above is a perfect example. The officer was apparently dispatched to the Burger King at Main and Asylum. Upon arriving he apparently had someone that was pointed out to him or who he wanted to speak with.
Watch the swagger on the individual as he approaches the officer. Now be fair as you watch the video. If you were in the officer's position, how do you think this encounter is going to go? What doo you think his body language is saying. Do you think the individual is all set to initiate an encounter? The officer then pulls the individual outside and all of a sudden we are off to the races. Even once the officer is on the ground in a choke hold being choked out by the suspect, I think he shows great restraint.
If the Officer was in fear for his life, I think the use of deadly force would have been justified. We could second guess that decision later, but luckily the officer broke free and appears somewhat dazed as the sound of sirens coming to his aid are heard in the background. The troubling part is the number of bystanders that were more focused in grabbing their video than in helping the Officer being assaulted and choked.
We can not tolerate the open season on Police Officers that seems to have become fashionable this spring, no more than we can tolerate disrespect and abuse of any citizen. Respect is a two way street and this video clearly shows a total lack of respect by this group of punks.
Last year I had a run in with a Hartford Police Officer that felt I knew too much information about HPD. Much of it that was negative to his fellow Union members. He began spreading the rumor at Union meetings and at daily roll calls that I had a Department issued HPD radio and that is how I got the information. He instructed his membership that if they saw me with a radio they were to take it from me and immediately bring it to the Union Office. Any one taking anything from any individual without claiming a crime was committed or without a warrant is clearly an abuse of power and most likely a violation of a person's civil rights.
I spoke to Chief Rovella about this and he gave me wise advice that would be excellent advice for anyone confronted by a Police Officer. Don't fight back, do what the Officer instructs you and then call him to begin the investigation.
No one likes being challenged by a Police Officer, but you aren't going to win by fighting back. It may not be pleasant, but the law of averages are against you. You may not believe in the system, but when used , the system works. Don't fight the officer, take the proper channels and let the system work for you.
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23 comments:
Kevin, why would you need a radio when you have Foley!!
Tell that to all the dead young black men. We all know u r pro cop, why don't u go under as a black man, call it the Black Man with Cop Friends Project, you'll be lonely and may end up dead.
And see if your boy Rovella helps you as a black man. Like Spike Lee said 30 years ago,; "IT'S A BLACK THING, YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND"
Rovella uses you, to keep you out of his Dept. You think HFD is bad, HPD is full of DRUNKS, BATTERIES & THIEVES !
Your bias won't allow you to post this. There will be a civil war here in America and your coward cops will run for the hills, when the battle field is equal. BLACK LIFE MATTERS!!!!!
I see nothing wrong with what this officer did. This video was released to merely stir up controversy that simply does not exist. To make matters worse, Councilman Kyle Anderson goes on air to respond and tells Ch. 3 that he is “concerned for the safety of all citizens”. This “citizen” was clearly in the wrong and could have injured this officer and/or citizens with his defiant behavior. Again, a simple case of do what the officer tells you and everyone will be “safe”. I am appalled at the councilman’s comment regarding this person’s safety while not mentioning the safety of our/his police officer doing his job.
What about the safety of the Officer who was subjected to this type of behavior? The officer would have been justified using deadly force if he felt his life was in danger
If that was the old school Maldo, THEN there would have been something to complain about... That bus line is awesome, bringing New Britain finest youth to the city... Good job Malloy...
435PM
Maybe you could find a doctor to help you out with that chip on your shoulder. it appears to be a problem for you
Kevin, I am one of the people who used to support cops blindly and over the years have taken the opposite point of view after watching video after video of cops violating people's rights. I do so even having many friends who are police officers. In this case though, I have to agree with you. This cop showed incredible restraint and probably would've been justified to use much greater force. While we are on the topic, the whole "Black Lives Matter" mantra is getting to be a little ridiculous. Police Misconduct is not a racial issue. In fact white people are twice as likely to be killed in a police encounter. That statistic is even more staggering considering people of color commit crimes at a disproportionately higher rate. There is nothing worse than race-baiters drawing attention away from a serious issue with their invented controversies. No one is above the law and the majority of police do a fine job. If only we could get that majority to erase the blue line that allows the few bad cops to continue to commit crimes I'd go back to being a supporter.
Jason,
there are bad people in every profession, doctors, lawyers, priests and yes cops also. We are lucky in Hartford that we have a majority of fine officers that do care about this community. And while we are on it, ALL LIVES MATTER. I don't count my friends by their races and I don't accept violence against any person more or less important based on their race
Sorry, officer Maldonado initiated the violent act and the kid is wrong for not respecting the officer.
How did he initiate it? by asking the kid to step outside to write him a juvenile summons. I guess maybe we should instruct our officers to avoid confrontation and not interact with anyone and if they ignore you and become aggressive just back out and walk away and pretend nothing ever happened
Someone must be hiding all the video of Black cops killing white people. Wish I could find a link.
Anonymous 8:08. If you're referring to my comment, I never said anything about black cops killing white people. However, statistically more than double the amount of white people than black people are killed by cops.
I understand that there are some officers w questionable characters. Racial matters aside, this video shows a Total lack of respect for law enforcement.
Thank you for one of the few voices of reason in Hartford's 'media' circus! Unfortunately each of us see things through a set of filters which we have accumulated over a life time. Those filters often cloud the issues, particularly when we are looking for something to reinforce our opinion of reality. I an not a police officer butI I know Officer Maldonado who happens to be a is a fine human being who is dedicated to serveing a community which all often doesn't deserve his dedication to duty. I am often appaled by the racial retoric which, has on occasion unfortunately come from individuals elected to our City Counsel. Anyone who has had a chance to watch te video of this incident who cannot see the reality of an Officer being attacked by one of Hartford's shining citizens is simply blind or so filled with prejudece that their opinion should be of no consequence to the public.
Again thank you for your support of the men and women of the Hartford Police Department. They deserve support of law the residents of Hartford, whose lives and property they put their lives on the line daily to defend!
On the topic of 'Black Lives Matter'. Sorry everytime I see this my response is that surely everyone understands that in reality ''ALL LIVES MATTER". We are all Children of God and we are all bothers and sisters and as such there is only one conclusion and so I will say it again 'ALL LIVES MATTER".
RACE, AUTOMATICALLY. SINCE WE ARE QUOTING STATISTICS HOW BOUT HOW MANY BLACK DIE AT THE HAND OF BLACKS ? DOES THAT MATTER ? OR ONLY IF ITS A COP, OH WAIT LET ME REPHRASE WHEN IT IS A NON- AFRICAN AMERICAN COP.
ITS SAD THAT ITS BECOME AN EPIDEMIC TO DEFY TEH COPS, ITS SAD THAT A COP CANT DO HIS JOB WITHOUT BEING VIDEOTAPED THEN SCRUTINIZED. THESE PEOPLE THAT COMMENT DONT WALK A DAY IN THE SHOES OF THESE OFFICERS. AND LIKE ITS BEEN SAID DO YOU THINK IF HE COMPLIED THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME, SERIOUSLY ? PEOPEL WATCHING AND EGGING ON THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR ARE WHAT IS ROTTING THIS SOCIETY. MAYBE HIS PARENTS OR COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE SHOWN HIM HOW TO RESPECT. THEY DIDNT CALL THE COPS TO THAT LOCATION BECAUSE HE WAS BEING A MODEL CUSTOMER? BLAME THE COP IS ALWAYS THE DEFENSE. PLEASE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FIRST AS INDIVIDUAL THEN AS A SOCIETY. ITS SAD.
The problem is with an Officer like Roberto Maldonado, who has been the subject of numerous "abuse" complaints and lawsuits over the years and who has a generally disrespectful and dismissive attitude, the cards are stacked against him from the start. Does this officer's history not matter Kevin. Most incidents involving this officer don't make it into the media. Publish the facts about Maldonado's complaint and lawsuit history. As a former Ct Parole Board member could tell you, Maldonado is quite disrespectful, especially if you mistakenly park in his spot in front of the police substation on Main Street downtown. We need the readers to know all the facts and history about Maldonado, before something really bad happens.
Maybe that former Parole Board member shouldn't be parking in spaces marked " for Police Vehicles only"
Just because an officer gives a lawful order does not clear the officer from contributing to the situation. You are correct in saying that "IF" the officer felt his life was in danger he would indeed be able to use deadly force. I AGREE. An officer on the ground being held with a front headlock can surely be a deadly force type of situation. The officer showed great restraint in not using deadly force. But lets not forget that this was an issue of the suspect refusing to leave Burger King. If the suspect refuses to leave and is not going anywhere WHATS THE RUSH? If he is refusing to leave WHY NOT CALL FOR BACKUP? This is textbook police academy stuff. The officer could have and should have waited for back up. But instead his "Presumed Compliance" mind-set got the best of him. Now more than ever we see so many people challenging the police nation wide. Perhaps its because of all the abuses seen on video that are available on the internet and on TV. FOLKS have had enough of these abuses and Racial Profiling. C'mon folks the numbers are in and it shows that Racial Profiling is ALIVE & WELL in our state. Lets not forget the East Haven PD "clowns" who are currently serving time for violating the civil rights of Latino's in their city, Officer Cossette from Meriden PD who was also incarcerated for violation of civil rights. The Civilian Police Review Board of Hartford compiles a yearly list of Hartford officers that have had more than one complaint sustained against them. In 2013 it was made up of 19 officers. The 2014 list grew to 31 officers, DO THE MATH!! GET INFORMED
Kevin, you are correct in that statement, however, the officer should write a parking ticket, not use obscene language and order him to move his car. The fact situation in this latest case is eerily similar to that case in 2012. Maldonado should have waited for back up and not put his hands on the teenager. That was wrong, period. Maldonado escalated the situation by grabbing the teen and it went from there. Though I am sure you won't publish my comment, as it seems you censor what you allow to post on your blog, Maldonado was wrong for putting hands on. Does this officer's history of complaints not matter over the years. Let's see if this comment gets posted Kevin.
Kevin, he initiated it by putting his hands on the kid without ANY provocation! Are you blind?
Hey Maldo I suggest u start working out or take some self defense classes
He initiated it without any provocation? Seriously? The BK manager calls every day regarding all the young punks and homeless in there every day. They sit inside at tables for hours, cause disturbances and do not use the tables in there for what they're meant for, which is to buy food, eat and leave. Normal people can not even peacefully sit in there and eat. This is a daily problem that if you aren't familiar with the area you have no clue. BK should probably just do what other plagued businesses do in the city, close down. Maldonado along with other attentive downtown officers attempt to address this every day, as they should. So Maldonado warned the young man and told him he was going to his car to get his summons book and when he returned, if he was still there loitering, he would be issued a summons. Do you think the young man left? Of course not. Any other law abiding citizen would have high tailed it out of there. So when Maldonado returned (summons book visible in left hand), he asked the young man to step outside. You see his arrogant stride as the young man walks to the door. Maldonado asks the young man to step outside so he can issue him his summons, at which time the young man refuses. Maldonado tells the young man if he does not step outside, he will drag his a@& outside, and rightfully so. Maldonado pulls the young man outside, and rightfully so. As the young man is pulled out the door he immediately starts swinging at Maldonado and the two are engaged in a violent struggle. Up until that point there was no need for another officer. Single unit officers take action at this BK every day. Who would have ever imagined this scenario would have gone from zero to 100 this quick? The answer is NO ONE, not you, not me and not Maldonado. This is the nature of the beast in the police field people. This can happen at any given time. The young man probably should've left when he was told. The young man should have never put a uniformed officer in a head lock in an attempt to choke him out. I can understand citizens not understanding everything here, but you fellow brother and sister officers (and I use that term lightly) should know better than to criticize Maldonado. You should really be ashamed of yourselves. At least Maldonado was doing his job, more than several of you guys do. Maldonado used great restraint, more than many would have I'm sure. Good job Bobby, keep up the good work and get better brother.
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