Birmingham police beating video: Five officers fired

Five Birmingham police officers have been fired for a January 2008 beating of an already-unconscious suspect with fists, feet and a billy club, a battering caught on videotape until a police officer turned off the patrol car camera, city and police officials said today.

[Good Justice]

I congratulate the Mayor of Birmingham Mr. Langsford for his quick response to such police misconduct. In this Super Police State of Oklahoma this would not have been done so quickly. At best these thugs in badges would have been given 1 week paid leave. It's refreshing to see that cops who behave this way are dealt with in the way the Mayor did.

[Chad]

I am not saying what they did was right...but at the beginning do you see where the guy tries to kill the officer throwing out spike strips. What would you do if you saw someone try to kill one of your friends.

[SFC GARCIA CLOVIS NM]

I can see if a police officer is fearing for his/her life, but this is ridiculous. The young man looked to be out cold after he was ejected from the van. I grew up in a pretty huge city and i've had my run in with cops that thought were invincible because of the badge and gun they carried. This just re enforces my thought that any system can be infiltrated by scumbags. Believe me when i say that cops are usually individuals that were picked on in school or need a power trip. either way they 're all the same to me. I respect the law, but i do question the individual behind the badge...scumbags from what i see.

[now]

Chad wrote:

I am not saying what they did was right...but at the beginning do you see where the guy tries to kill the officer throwing out spike strips. What would you do if you saw someone try to kill one of your friends.

The "what would you do if [insert personal emotional attachment here]" type of argument is exactly the kind of thing that does NOT belong in an officer's mind. An officer is sworn to uphold the law, not break it. I am sure that the officer's creed does not say something to the effect that "in case your fellow officer is almost killed you have the right to go above and beyond the law, heck, you can break the law and not get punished by doing so." It is this type of mentality that corrupts people, especially those expected to exercise regulatory power.

[now]

SFC GARCIA CLOVIS NM wrote:

I can see if a police officer is fearing for his/her life, but this is ridiculous. The young man looked to be out cold after he was ejected from the van. I grew up in a pretty huge city and i've had my run in with cops that thought were invincible because of the badge and gun they carried. This just re enforces my thought that any system can be infiltrated by scumbags. Believe me when i say that cops are usually individuals that were picked on in school or need a power trip. either way they 're all the same to me. I respect the law, but i do question the individual behind the badge...scumbags from what i see.

I have an inclination to agree that the cops in this video are in the same boat with the one who fled simply because they broke the law. Police Officers are there to ENFORCE the LAW, not make new ones based on circumstances or whenever they see fit. In my opinion, officers should be held to a very tight set of standards so that this does not become commonplace.

[KyleG]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/20/alabama.p ...
Too bad for these little piggies. They got caught being even BIGGER scumbags than the criminal. Right or wrong this is what happens when your "system" overgrows it's usefulness. Take away all these cops BILLIONS of $$ funding. Cops aren't what they used to be. Now they're a lot of ignorant, jackbooted thugs who will cheat to win at all costs. Sort of makes me less alarmed when I see them getting their cars shot to shxxt anymore.
I used to care about cop's well-being but these days I laugh because they've almost all become public speculators who act like teen tough-guys when they think people aren't looking.
If these cops tried this on myself or my brother they wouldn't be worrying about McDonalds jobs now. They'd be "elsewhere" one by one.
Modern law enforcement with all their computers and touch-screen toys are part of the reason this country is broke. I can't WAIT until enough towns have to start letting all the bloated bullies go.
Too many cops these days seem like they're more fit to be high-school football coaches than anything else.

[Hydrodeath]

What are these dirtbag cop's names? Why wasn't that reported?

Additionally, what kind of police force do you people have here? Scumstock? Do these illiterate country hicks think a badge allows them to do that?

What the FK is wrong with your police department there that many officers and many supervisors saw this and didn't report this to anyone?
Wow you people need a whole new police force if your force is this corrupt. These cops would all be DEAD if this was New York!

Some 50 years worth of professionalism if this is what they are reduced to when they all think they can get away with this. Where is your Attorney General or the State BCI on this? These cops have undone YEARS worth of community service.

Advice to Birmingham:

Your police force is CLEARLY, CLEARLY in need of a heavy-duty housecleaning or you will continue to see cops that actually CULTIVATE distrust and dishonesty.

What human scum takes an oath and a paycheck for their families, does this and still calls themself a man? Wow!

[Hydrodeath]

I guess we'll have to wait for the lawsuit to be FOIA'd but we'll get these loser's names and slather them and clips of this all over the web just to be sure that they won't slither over to the next town and try to sell their ignorant brand of childish behavior off as "law work"!

BET ON IT.

[NightShade7206]

WOW! Hats of to Birmingham Police Dept. for getting these 5 criminals off the force. I expect so much more from officers who are sworn to protect and serve. The good ol'boy system is every where. This video was taken from a dash cam on another officers vehicle. It made it's way into the right hands and was handled. For that I am thankful. Personally I think criminal charges should be brought against these thugs. Otherwise, they will become the next set of rent a cops with an attitude.

[End of Days]

WHat scumbag cops these people are. I wonder how many times these cops have lied and set peoe up.

So this is how Birmingham cops roll when we can't see them huh? What lowlife hypocrites!

[Good Justice]

Now it's time to go after abusive FBI and DEA agents using illegal tactics and thinking they are above the law. A long time DEA agent in Cleveland Ohio was convicted Tuesday of using an lying informant to convict 17 innocent people who are now being released from prison.

[mike]

Chad wrote:

I am not saying what they did was right...but at the beginning do you see where the guy tries to kill the officer throwing out spike strips. What would you do if you saw someone try to kill one of your friends.

they should have fired the one that almost got run just for being a retard. i cant beleave he run out in front of all of them fast moven cars. he should get the tard of the year awared.

[JDS]

It pretty much says it all when you have hidden or your supervisors have hidden an action that you have participated in for 8 seconds, 8 days or 8 years. The action of hiding or covering up this video for a year says they passed judgement on themselves and knew what they did was wrong. That the incident would be viewed as an issue by the community they are supposed to serve and was/is potentially very volatile.
If you have to hide what you're doing; citizen, cop, or other you have already passed judgement on yourself - "if your behavior is worthy of hiding it from others - it's wrong to be doing it!"
whatever happened to common sense in America?

[Linebacker]

When you learn not to F--- with the police they will not bother you. It's real simple.

[desere]

Maybe they should not F5 with me.....