nice cops all around
In case you didn’t know, there was a national skateboarding event in Tampa today. Of course, that means the cops were out looking for those skateboarding scofflaws. According to one sk8tr:
50 cops were waiting at the Bro Bowl this morning for us at 9am…
And they caught some-a those no-goodniks, too.
Approximately 300 people attended Go Skateboarding Day at Perry Harvey Park. After walking to Chillura park for photos, police arrested two 16-year-olds. And what did these no-good punk sk8rs do? They were arrested for SKATEBOARDING. Officially they violated a city ordinance that bans skateboarding on city streets and for opposed police officers without violence.
C’mon… are skateboarders really causing problems on the ONE day a year they gather into a group of !!gasp!! Three Hundred?? There was 1 cop for every 6 skaters? It sounds like these cops were looking for trouble, and where not much existed, they made stuff up.
Then again, those punk kids are lucky they weren’t across the bay. Turns out that the St. Pete Police sometimes react violently when arresting people - even with no resistance:
A St. Petersburg police officer was suspended for five days today after he threw a man to the ground who was already handcuffed and offering no resistance.
Seems a little extreme, no? Until you consider that in Hillsborough you can get busted for trumped up DUI.
With these guidelines, you can be arrested for basically nothing, then roughed up when you ask “what’s all the fuss?”
So - are these just rogue cops? Or is this the norm in Tampa Bay?
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June 21st, 2007 at 10:38 pm
So they were skating IN the street? Isn’t that kind of like jaywalking?
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:02 am
[…] You know, because cops are very effective at harassing folks for other similar, horrible misdeeds. […]
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:54 am
They scaters had wrote on a my space that they where all going to skate downtown, so the cops went in force. One skater I saw an interview of asked why the cops weren’t out looking for real criminals…50 cops at a skater meet and we have to cut budgets…maybe we do have too many cops already.
I agree one day should of been fine to skate. Skate park leaders where on hand to monitor the skaters as well.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:13 am
http://forums.leoaffairs.com/viewtopic.php?t=24473&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:43 am
I’ve never really understood why skateboarders are viewed as such a menace. They seem pretty harmless to me. Except for private property owners worried about being sued by someone who gets hurt on their property, to whom do they pose a threat?
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:24 am
because the drugs never work
they gonna give you a smirk
’cause they got methods
in keeping you clean
they gonna rip up your heads
your aspirations to shreds
another cog in the murder machine
they said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me
My Chemical Romance.
Wow, first post I read today. This is too awesome. I mean as in coverage. NOT that we have fifty nose-pickers down on teenagers.
Good question, clark.
It makes me look with eagerness upon coming budget-cuts.
Make those scary policemen the first priority.
I just want everyone to remember that the top law enforcement official in Tampa IS Pam Iorio.
Just wanted to be sure the connection was clear.
Gotta clean up this city. It’s not clean enough. (quote)
June 29th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Cops become too aggresive when they strap on the gun and and badge. The power that was given to them has swelled their egos. Being 22 and male I know how cops can be. I have had many run-ins with the cops (never arrested) and every time they take it way too far and even some times make you feel violated.
I believe that the cop in this video should be fired and sent to prison. He has no right to touch or speak to anyone who is doing no violence or creating any disturbance. Granted the kids were breaking the law but when was the last time you saw someone get arrested for jaywalking? Jaywalking is the same thing. It’s usually an ordinance. These kids were 13 and up and doing nothing but things 13 yr old kids do.
What should have happened here was a calm, orderly form of instruction. The kids didnt run, they didnt fight back, they didnt argue. It may have looked like they argued but it is only instinct to protect your friend when a ruthless idiot it attacking them.
I have a 12 yr old brother. If a cop ever put his hands on my brother for such a sensless reason then I would not be a happy person. unless my brother murdered or raped someone then a cop would have no right to choke, tackle or manhandle him.
Although this cop was allegedly suspended he still did not get the the punishment he deserved. for the rest of my life i will never trust a cop. None of us should.
February 9th, 2008 at 7:08 am
[…] we’ll rid the world of these terrible terrible menaces to society. But in the meantime, can’t we just help them find places where they can go? Instead of […]
February 12th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
[…] we’ll rid the world of these terrible terrible menaces to society. But in the meantime, can’t we just help them find places where they can go? Instead of […]