After a two-week examination of the video which showed Philadelphia police officers beating three suspects, the city’s police commissioner announced that four officers were fired and four others demoted or suspended.
The eight officers were among 18 who surrounded a car earlier this month, dragged the suspects out of the car and began kicking and punching them while they lay on the ground.
“We do have a group of officers whose actions were outside department policy and procedure,” Commissioner Charles Ramsey told a news conference on Monday.
The officers may face criminal charges by Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham, whose office is now examining the video. The FBI is also reviewing the video, Ramsey said.
BLACK TELEVISION NEWS CHANNEL
When it launches in 2009, the Black Television News Channel (BTNC) will be a 24/7 cable news network that provides original news programming with a distinctly African-American perspective, filling a major gap in coverage of African-Americans by today’s mainstream media.
Created by J.C. Watts, a former Republican congressman from Oklahoma, the network is part of a multi-year carriage agreement with Comcast Cable. Initial distribution will be limited to Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Washington, Atlanta and Baltimore.
As BTNC brings blacks news from their own points of view, it hopes to stem growth and maturation of black people who will not only be on-air talent but the ones making editorial decisions on what stories actually get covered. Watts said, “Our unique and vast content partnerships with African American newsmakers will provide our viewers live access to the stories and people in whom our viewers have a special interest.”
For more info, visit BTNC.TV.
NEW NAACP PRESIDENT
The NAACP has chosen its next leader.
On Sunday, after meeting for eight hours, the board chose 35-year-old activist and former news executive Benjamin Todd Jealous. He is the youngest leader in the 99-year old organization’s history, but he says he’s excited.
Jealous told The Associated Press, “I think that it’s a real affirmation that this organization is willing to invest in the future, to invest in the ideas and the leadership of the generation that is currently raising black children in this country.”
He will take office as president in September. His bio is now available on the NAACP website.
To all those who are saying, “why did they run.” The police was after them! That is all a black man in America needs. Innocent or not, you always get a beat down or harassed. I don’t agree with any of you who say a black man should stand there and get his ass kicked! Regardless of the situation. Besides, when the police caught them, why not just cuff and carry. Anger has no place in professional law enforcement. Learn to leave your emotions (ignorance) at home or suffer the consequences.
I’m glad the officers are being fired and demoted. No matter the crime you are entitled to a fair trial, found guilty or not guilty, in which you are then sentenced. That is the justice system this country was built upon and part of the oath officers take. They beat those guys for personal means and I’m glad the news caught every bit of it. As they were caught those guys were on the ground with handcuffs on so why were officers kicking them and beating them. The sad part is none of those guys shot the officer or the people. As people we are not allowed to take matters into our own hands. Police brutality just shows that if you have some people you don’t like then just go to the academy get a badge and then you can get revenge on anyone and be justified for it. I’m sorry for the officer that lost his life in the line of duty, but that gives officers no right to do what they did. If they are so keen and quick to solve cases, then why is Philly’s crime rate still so high. They should care about all crimes the same length as they care about crimes that happen within their department.
Let me ask the coon committee a hypothetical question. Have any of you ever seen a society that was crime free? The point of the law is to establish laws, statutes, and penalties for infringing on those laws. If people did not commit crimes, there would not only be no need for a judicial, penal, or law enforcement system, there would be no need for laws. Thusly this nonsense that if black men “didn’t commit crimes”, these beatdowns and shootings wouldn’t occur is just more house ni**er philosophizing. There are thousands of innocent black men in prison that were beaten down and damn near killed in their holding cells by pigs, or had charges added onto the crimes that they were alleged to have done just so they can have some racist bastard judge throw the book at them. I know that for a fact because I know many brothers that have gone through that. Whatever happened to: if the person of people committed a crime, they should be detained by the police until their day in court where they can receive a fair trial?
It amazes me to what end black people will go in their attempts to remove all culpability for a skewed system in their attempts to force this vain unity that they alone want. The issue in the case of the Philadelphia cops is not the crime that was committed, it was the pigs infringing upon the laws that they are supposed to uphold. They as officers are supposed to be held to a higher standard than the average citizen. America is a land that glorifies it’s laws, so if that’s the case, uphold the laws and show that the people that are paid to uphold them have the integrity to uphold them. If they don’t, they should be penalized even harsher than the average citizen so that the citizens can trust the system that is purported to protect their “freedoms”. If America cannot do that, then this is a hypocritical land. This is why the Lord allows black people to constantly be victimized and unfortunately some of the people that make excuses for this system will see their future sons be made victims of this system.
@judah you right, there are alot of innocent black men and women in jail that are beaten and killed by the CO’s, but there’s more guilty than are the innocent. It’s a shame that the innocent is in their in the first place but that’s the world we live in. SMH.
I’m very happy that the police officers were fired. To all those people who do not think they should have been fired, we live in America that has judicial system to deal with criminals. A police officer’s job is to protect and serve, which includes arresting potential criminals and suspects. That does not include administering punishment because they feel personally wronged. Vigilante “justice” should never be tolerated, no matter how much anyone disagrees with the judicial system. There is a reason there is a judicial system, and although it is not perfect, we cannot allow police officers or anyone to get away with taking justice into their own hands.
This is the same line of thinking that allows innocent black people to be shot and killed by the police, with no repercussions for the police. Some people think it is wrong simply because the men they beat up are allegedly criminals. However, that is not the issue, the issue is that they did not follow proper procedure and took the law into their own hands. It doesn’t matter how angry they were about another officer being killed that is not the way you arrest anyone. It’s because of police officers like those involved here that Sean Bell is dead today. Although the situations are different, the mindset that led to the incidents is the same, the police feel they can do anything when dealing with a potential suspect, whether the person is legitimately suspected of a crime (the current situation) or not( Sean Bell).
Mannn…my brother lives in Hunting Park and said there never was a drive-by that night, they just used that as an excuse to beat them dudes up becuz the mistook one for the dude that killed the cop a couple of days before, don’t be fooled by the media, if u ask me, them cops need to go to jail, it aint no reason why you should just stomp someone even if they KILLED someone, YOUR job as a POLICE OFFICER is to PROTECT
@ ‘awp3309′ and ‘Who I am’
You could raise your children to do right and they could still be illegally searched, frisked, beat down or shot by the police. You have this premise where you think police brutality victims were all criminal scum and the police are angels. That is the problem with our people today…The UNCLE TOM mentality. I guess you would’ve been one of the house slaves telling the field workers that “if you act good, massa wouldn’t beat you.” LOL shame on you.
Just because you are “doing the right thing” doesn’t mean that you are above or absolved of police harrassment. I’m college educated and make a 6 figure salary but have been pulled over/harassed by the police. The police are the enemy, they’re not here to protect and serve our community! They are here to protect and serve the government’s property! I guess Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell, and Abner Louima DESERVED to be gunned down and sodomized with broom sticks because they weren’t “beat at home”?
I am a Radio/Television Broadcast major ( I graduate in the fall) so I am excited about the Black News Channel (I need a job when I graduate) lol.
I’ve been a bodybuilder for 35 years and have been around gyms long enough to know, that there are alot of cops using steroids. Random testing amongst cops for steroids should be mandatory. Steroids does serious damage to the mind, emotios and body.
oatsuzn @66
I do not have the Uncle Tom mentality. For you to use a slave reference in reference to my opinion is just what alot of our people does–if you are against the majority, then you are an Uncle Tom. Talk about the crab in a barrel mentality. It is a shame that we as blacks can not have an intelligent conversation without bringing the slave mentality argument in. Please think about people who have paved the way for us as blacks to be successful. They endured police brutality because they wanted the civil rights so that we could live the way we want. These guys were beat down because they were involved in illegal activity.
I never ever said that what the police did was right, they should be severely disciplined. What I stated was that if you put yourself in a situation and it goes badly do not be surprised with the end result. For every action there is a reaction. First the guys were doing illegal activity – First action. Cops were chasing them and beat them down – reaction. Parents of these guys are on TV screaming how it is unfair for their child to have been beat. When you decide to conduct yourself in a certain manner, you should take into consideration all repercussions. These three men were conducting illegal activity by way of being involved in a shooting and then were involved in a police chase. The situation handled by the cops were wrong–bottom line, but everyone is taking the side of the ‘victims’. How about the fact that people like them are responsible for causing trouble for people who are just trying to live in their neighborhoods. Because of people like them my children can not play outside without the threat of being near or hearing shots. I for one am tired of hearing shots and hearing about people getting hurt–that is why my family and I are leaving this city. I need a safe place where I can raise my children. BTW, if my children were involved in something like this with the police, I would be upset, but the first question that I would ask, what happened that the police chased and beat you down in the first place. Perhaps everyone needs to ask themselves that question. That is not to say that they can not be illegally searched or harrassed by the police. But people like these guys make life very difficult to live in peace. If anyone in the neighborhood attempts to tell the police anything they are labeled a snitch. People wake up, telling the police will make like better for everyone. Of course no one will snitch on the guys who are ‘victims’ because the cops are involved and they were hurt. , Bottom line – the cops are wrong but so were the guys who were beat down–please remember that. I will tell you something that I tell my clients–how you are perceived is how you are going to be treated.
@ 70 How many times does it have to be stated they were not involved to you. Your not taking the full story in to consideration. Your basically saying that regardless of the other newer report they did what was said of them. Which is why the whole slave theory was brought up. Before you go and support an action which you are you should know every aspect which you clearly don’t. Even if they had involvement which they did not thats not how you handle it. Therefore we side with the victims had they just been arrested it would be a different story. I can’t side with the police after that display it would be very ignorant for me to do such a thing. If they were involved they were wrong but the repercussions they were served are unjustifiable. As far as the snitch concept I mean you don’t understand the consequences a snitch has to face. Would you rather be silent or die in a hail of gunfire for opening your mouth. I for one am gonna hush because I’m not willing to risk my life. Some cases are not like that and people just choose not to talk. Which again leads back to the police people in our community don’t want to talk to them because of past experiences. Police do very unjust things to innocent black people all the time in the past, present, and future as well as guilty. Don’t think those numbers are small either there not but we will never have them. Your last statement just solidified my point if you look like a hoodlum thats how you will be treated. So don’t walk around in a hoodie, baggy jeans, and boots because you are already a suspect. Which is the problem so many blacks have with the Police Departments around the US.
@71
How in the world can anyone expect anything to get better? No one wants to die. My grandmother has a saying, “Only a fool wants to die”. That is the problem, people will complain about a problem but will do nothing about it. If the people who start this trouble are so big and “gangsta” as they call it, why run? If you are that bad, then you should not be scared of anyone not even the police. If they are as bad as they say they are, they should not worry about getting into trouble because they can handle it.
I may not have the whole story, but only the people who were involved know the whole story–that would be the police involved and the ‘victims’. The family members may not have the whole story because they will only hear one side. I am sure they are telling their family that, they were not involved. I still say that how you are perceived is how you will be treated. For my job, I am supposed to help welfare to work persons seek and maintain employment. You would not believe the number of people who can not get or maintain employment due to their appearance. That is why I said how you are perceived is how you will be treated. No company wants to hire a person with 4 different colors of hair and have all of their body parts hanging out, or will baggy pants showing their draws. Instead of trying to better themselves, they would rather live on the 66 dollars they get every two weeks from welfare and get their food stamps.
As far as police mistreating black people–I know this. I live in North Philadelphia and I know all too well how the police mistreat people in this neighborhood. Although I know that you could be walking down the street and the police will harrass you, hanging out on the corner or in front of a store where the people know where there is illegal activiity only draws attention to yourself.
Again, if you don’t put yourself into certain situations then certain things will not happen to you. I am not counting the people who are unjustly picked on and harrassed by the police. I am talking about those who intentionally set out to do harm to others by way of selling drugs or shooting at someone.
@72
Your beef seems to be with a certain segment of black people, not this particular case because you’re obviously speaking from a standpoint of ignorance. It is true that black people have become complacent in this society and it has grossly affected their conduct and mental outlook for the worse, but it is biblical prophecy and beyond that, it’s a result of putting their faith in this society.
@72 I can fully understand your standpoint. At the same time it seems your kind of one-sided. From what I gathered it sounds as if everyone should live under some unwritten law/rule of not being an individual. I mean the way a person carries themselves is their decision. It’s a shame society is so judgmental that alone can label them. It all boils down to society I suppose it’s America so things aren’t going to change. Blacks will always be blacks and thats how the world turns same for any other race. Police will alwayz be police they are going to harass even without probable cause it seems as if forever. Personally I don’t think anyone should have to comply to society’s standards which is another problem in our community. I mean to be quite honest I enjoy my baggy jeans and I don’t think I should change my appearance for society. I am an individual judgment shouldn’t be passed unless someone gets to know me yet that rarely is the case. I also can see your point when it comes to the certain place scenarios. Then again that is another form of harassment and being overly judgmental. The points of view could go on and on. We as a community should stick together not degrade one another. Though I do agree some of our people do things demeaning to our communities we should not be categorized something we are all to often. The majority of serial killers are white males between the ages of 30-50 but society won’t categorize them. Yet a number of black males slang on the streets and suddenly all black males sell dope on corners. It’s the harsh reality of America the land of the free indeed.
@74
Thank you for your intelligent comment without bringing in arguments that have nothing to do with the subject matter. I also thank you for taking the time to try and understand what I was trying to say. Imagine if people actually took the time to try and understand what other people were trying to say all the time instead of jumping to conclusions when someone has a difference of opinion.
@73
I imagine that everyone who has had a comment is speaking from ignorance meaning that they really are not fully in the know as to what has happened. Honestlyl we all have had to go by what is written by the media. Even the guys’ family members are somewhat ignorant as to what fully happened before the beating. I honestly hope everything works out for them in that they not necessarily “get off” from their charges–but that they learn their lesson and do something constructive and worthwhile with their lives. I would love for them to think about this question:
WHEN YOU DIE, ON YOUR HEADSTONE YOU WILL HAVE THE DATE YOUR WERE BORN, THEN A DASH, THEN THE DATE YOU DIED. WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR DASH TO STAND FOR?
I’m glad the officers were fired, but how is it that they get this type of punishment and the officers who killed Sean Bell get nothing?