This is a hot mess. A police officer called two women over to him as he observed them jay walking in South Seattle across a four lane highway. He was going to issue them a ticket (a minor infraction) like he had earlier to a man. His plans didn't go so well.
On the video that I saw one of the women was detained; the other tried to help friend escape. She tried pulling the officer off her friend. BIG MISTAKE. A second officer intervened. She brushed away the hand of the first officer. SECOND BIG MISTAKE. The first officer was so mad her punched her in the nose. The Seattle police officer actions were reviewed and were deemed justified. I disagree with this decision. They are both at fault. They could have both handled the situation better.
Before I get started, this story has drawn various reactions on my Facebook page. Everyone agrees, she provoked it. Everyone agrees; you don't put your hands on a cop. An angry mob was gathering around him. What else could have been done is what is at issue.
I don't put blame on the parents in this case. Quite frankly, parents can teach lessons to their children whether they decide to take those lessons to heart...totally a different manner. People of color have had a horrible relationship with the police department. Can you say Rodney King? Bull Conner? Remember Kent State? I still see in my head those images of police letting their dogs have a free for all on black crowds and pregnant women being gutted in the stomach by night sticks.
I do blame the young woman for calling the cop out if his name with the f bombs. I also blame her for interrupting the officer's attempts to arrest her friend. If they had just taken the ticket, this whole situation could have been avoided. I have taught my daughters how to react and act should they ever get stopped or approached by a cop. They know how to speak, to cooperate fully, to always let them see your hands all times, and to show the utmost respect. They have guns and we don't. My sister has done the same with her sons because they look like grown men at 15 and 18. They are both over 6'2", but they are both boys. The 17-year-old -girl should have known better.
Here's my issue: a punch in the nose. For resisting arrest over a jaywalking ticket?Really? She weighs what 140; the officer is twice as strong. She didn't have a gun, a knife, a blade, and you smack her in the nose. All because she pushed his arm away. Geez. I'm sorry...am I the only one who thinks this behavior is extreme? I have had FB friends blame her parents, blame rap music, and condemn her respect for the law. The Seattle Police Department have justified the officer's actions.
They were both wrong. The officer didn't have to do that: he chose too. The Police Academy does train recruits to use physical violence as a last result. He could have tasered her, pepper sprayed her, and he could have flipped her around and secured her with handcuffs. Thank goodness, he didn't shoot her. But punching her in the nose...too extreme.
I see a bigger problem here. Not the city of Seattle has to endure another invstigation and waste taxpayer money to do a new marketing and rebranding campaign for the police department, host diversity training and anger management workshops, and pay the alleged cop his salary whie on temporary leave during the investigation. I'm sure the city and its tax payerws have better ways to spend their money.
The city has no plans to drop charges against. So she is learning her lesson the hard way. In a jail cell. A hard head makes for a soft behind. Did she break the law? YES. A simple jaywalking incident turned into one hot mess.
Posted By: Marsha Jones
Wednesday, June 16th 2010 at 9:23PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
