Beware of overreacting police…
Mar 30th, 2010 by Leo
One fact of the post 9-11 police state is that “normal” conduct for officers is much more aggressive than it used to be. If you were pulled over in Russia for speeding, you could get out of the car and talk to the police officers. In many places in the U.S., try that and you’ll find yourself face down on the pavement with your hands cuffed behind your back. Put on some leather and a helmet, and overreacting police officers becomes a real problem. Police often take out their guns or wave their batons and make verbal threats. Is this the way civil servants should treat people in a free democratic country? No. But that’s how it is for now… so be careful.
Most police officers are respectful and reasonable – doing a difficult job. And many police officers ride, and don’t see bikers as a threat. But there are just enough insecure and obnoxious ones to make us wary.
Related posts:
That’s ridiculous. The guy is not in uniform, in an unmarked car. He does not identify himself until AFTER pulling out his gun. And I don’t think he had probably cause to do so – the biker was merely backing away. That could have led to a chase but that is no reason to shoot someone on a traffic stop.
Agreed with Big Al… that tosser could be anyone leaping out of a car waving a gun around. It’s a disgusting way to treat people especially coming from behind the theory ‘innocent until proven guilty’. Utter wankers..
You know the more I watch that video the more it makes me sick. I’ve found myself suddenly taken by surprise or pre-occupied by something before whilst on my bike and absent mindedly let go of the clutch while it was still in gear. If this guy had done that and the bike lurched forward the chances are while that knob was waving his gun about, he’d have been shot.
Wish I’d had a helmet cam when they pulled their piece on me.
Unfortunate watching this video. Seems a bit unnecessary, but perhaps he had a good reason. Doesn’t look like it, but who knows. I’d love to see the helmet cam from the five minutes previous.
I can’t see any reason for it – but maybe you’ll spot some reason: here’s the entire ride video.
In additional news – according to TwoWheelsBlog, the Police decided to prosecute him for filming the officer without his consent (according to some local law there) – according to the blog, the police came to his house, served him with a warrant, and seized his computers.
I can’t imagine how any of this is reasonable.
Looks like a state trooper who takes his job way to seriously. Forgot he was wearing his blue-monkey suit.
Do we need to Cheko police to target us for driving down the road a little too fast? I Wonder what the guy did?
If they did prosecute him for filming that is the face of corruption.
There’s a longer vid of this incident elsewhere on youtube. The biker was popping wheelies at over 100mph on interstate 95. Doesn’t justify what the cop did, but it sure was stupid. Anyway, that cop is an absolute pig. You can tell by the angry look in his beady little eyes that he has to beat his wife just to get a decent hummer. Frigging loser.
I don’t see anything wrong with this video. He’s clearly popping wheelies on the highway, cops pull him over and he starts to back up, as if he’s going to flee. When cops pull over motorcycles, especially wheelie popping, speeding squids, a large percentage of them have no license and run. Cops as a result tend to come out much more aggressive, as you can see him running up to the bike. High speed pursuits are dangerous and many bikers do this without a second thought.
I’m not sure why he draws his gun, but it should be noted that he draws his gun but DOES NOT point it at the cyclist. Also if you watch the video, it’s clear that there’s a marked police car also involved in the stop. I know lots of cops that are riders and most want nothing but to ride safely and that others ride safely. I’m not sure what it is about tins video that evokes such anger here, but he the cops (plural) made a stop safely and no one got hurt.
Hey Hanuman,
Your opinion is absolutely valid! And you’re right, he broke traffic laws, and the police did not use physical violence against him – so what’s he complaining about?
But if you want to understand other people’s outrage – why many people are annoyed by the police man’s behavior, here’s my take:
In most countries where police are issued a badge and a gun – they are expected to show their badge first… using the authority of the office, rather than the threat of physical violence.
And although this officer may have been within his rights, his actions remind some of the way police operate in less democratic countries.
Leo,
I do agree that he should have identified himself immediately, not so much because of the authority it represents, because I believe that means squat to people these days, but more for the safety of all parties involved. Regardless, both the motorcyclist and the cop are boobs. One for putting other people in danger by riding like a jackass and the other for actually chasing him. It’s just not worth it to chase an idiot like this and put more people at risk.
If anyone’s still interested in this video: I’m a little late, but it seems to be an ongoing issue:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/15/AR2010061505556.html