I couldn't watch this video all the way through, but I'll post it anyway, because some will be interested. It apparently dates to about 2009, and is reportedly part of a "Dateline" television investigation, with former police officers hired to go into police stations to request complaint forms. I can't vouch for any of that, and don't have time to research it today; I'll pull the video/erase the post if there's any evidence that it is doctored or faked. Some of the behavior or policies may have changed since this was filmed, and filing complaints online may be more available.
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IT"S "THEM"
ReplyDeleteSome advice. If a officer asks for you identification, give it to them. Don't say, "I didn't do anything." Just give them your ID.
ReplyDeleteI understand the idea that you might want to file a complaint privately, but then why are you asking for a form? Who do you think is going to read the form? Most cops are smarter than we give them credit for. If someone came into a station and tried to file a bogus complaint they'd probably be able to tell. They're acting evasive, and refusing to talk to the officer. Not one of them said why they didn't want to talk to the officer. They might have said, "I have some concerns about the confidentiality of my statement."
Bottom line, the police do some crazy and backhanded stuff, but we shouldn't be going into their stations mumbling like an idiot about filing a complaint with the intent of making them look bad.
I believe many of these clips also appear in the film "The Largest Street Gang In America", which has an obvious agenda questioning the morality of police protecting police.
DeleteI have to disagree with the "He should have asked using more precise vocabulary" sentiment. That's an easy position for a well-educated person to take. Imagine you're a poor, uneducated person who is wronged by an officer. You're afraid. Do you have the right to file a form privately without explaining your complaint verbally to the first officer available? Is it a valid 'crime' to ask for information or a form, worthy of intimidation, handcuffs, and incarceration?
It's a tricky balance. Undoubtedly, false accusations cost resources and can harm careers. The people charged with upholding our law should be held to a higher standard. They should trust in their own internal investigative force to sort out valid from frivolous complaints. If they don't, should we?
Seems like a pretty straightforward question, I don't understand why the cops are so hostile about it - don't they have a process in place for this kind of thing?
ReplyDeleteI take complaints from citizens as part of my job regarding non-criminal violations of the law. People need to be interviewed for relevant information. People think they know the law, but don't know what is a violation and what isn't often. They don't fill out the form themselves. Police don't have time for this nonsense. Then the producers of this video threw into the scenario that it was about police abuse by their fellow officers. That was trying to stir something up.
ReplyDeleteThat said, those cops were a-holes, some of them should be reprimanded or fired.
Maybe I'm crazy, but it sounds like a bunch of power tripped dicks covering their own. Granted the actor in it could have easily said "I have some concerns about the confidentiality of my statement"
ReplyDeleteMy college roommate went down to the New Britain, Connecticut police department (circa 1975) to file a complaint against a police officer (my roommate was blond blue-eyed and a life-long resident of New Britain). While he was filling out the form, a number of cops came up, beat the crap out of him and arrested him for disturbing the peace.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson here is that if you have a problem with cops, bring a lawyer with you.
Correct me if I am wrong, but the Constitution is still in effect. Requesting an ID for no reason is certainly a violation fo the 4th amendment. and possibly the 5th. The officer who arrested the actor also spit on the 6, 7 and 8th amendment to boot.
ReplyDeleteyes, the actors could have said "i'm worried about confidentiality", but they shouldn't have to.
ReplyDeleteIf I wanted to file a complaint about a police officer the last place I would go is the police department itself. I'd see either a lawyer &/or go to the district attorney office in the city or county where it happened. A legal aid office or civil rights group would be at the top of my list also. Sit down with some folks that really would help you and then file a complaint, but do it with the internal affairs department if there is one.
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