Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Making A Traffic Stop & Arrest, Philly PD Style...



A Philadelphia news camera recorded a vicious beating of 3 men by the Philadelphia Police Department. The approximately 13 minute recording (when viewed in its entirety), was taken via the vantage point of a helicopter. The video clearly shows multiple officers, beating and kicking 3 defenseless men. The PD says that the 3 men are suspects in a shooting. However, reporters are stating that the mens' involvement in a crime prior to the beating is currently unclear and unsubstantiated. Also, there is no justification for this kind of unprofessional excessive use of force.

Neighborhood residents in the area in which this incident took place, have noted that they have felt under siege since an officer was murdered in the city a couple of days ago. While the residents send their condolences to the loved ones of the slain officer, they feel that members of their community have been unjustly targeted by the police since the officer's tragic death.

[SIDEBAR: Police misconduct nationwide is out of control. With police brutalizing citizens, raping citizen, robbing banks, and vandalizing cars; the line between those who take an oath to "protect and serve" and those who are hardened criminals is more than a little blurred. That line is getting close to invisible.]

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