Seattle Police Defend Own

[DrPhil]

Since when are police allowed to punch people regardless of what was happening? This isn't about self-defense or officers hitting people back.

I agree with the guy who said "why'd you have to hit her with closed fists?" He couldn't taken her to the ground or anything to handcuff her.

That idiot spokesperson said "officers are trained in boxing with closed fists....."

I agree that being a solo officer surrounded by people can be terrifying but the people surrounding this officer weren't being aggressive or turning on him. Police departments need to be honest and acknowledge that much of this is just an adrenaline rush and officers playing "quines mas macho" rather than proper protocol for officers to protect themselves and public safety.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Since when are police allowed to punch people regardless of what was happening? This isn't about self-defense or officers hitting people back.

I agree with the guy who said "why'd you have to hit her with closed fists?" He couldn't taken her to the ground or anything to handcuff her.

That idiot spokesperson said "officers are trained in boxing with closed fists....."

I agree that being a solo officer surrounded by people can be terrifying but the people surrounding this officer weren't being aggressive or turning on him. Police departments need to be honest and acknowledge that much of this is just an adrenaline rush and officers playing "quines mas macho" rather than proper protocol for officers to protect themselves and public safety.

Proper protocol is to control the situation, which this officer did. I think he should of taken her to the ground and placed her in handcuffs instead of punching her though, that's what I would have done at least. And yes, he was right in using a closed fist because that's how he was trained. Law enforcement agencys don't train officers to "bitch slap". I also don't think this guy is a Barney Fife, a Barney Fife would have let this girl beat the shit out of him. He stepped up and let this girl know who was in charge. I've seen countless videos of police officers getting the shit kicked out of them, maimed, and killed by subjects they encountered on "routine" stops. 9 times out 10 these people attack because of the perception that the cop was weak, inexperienced, or the fact that they thought they could get away with it.

[DrPhil]

Everyone agrees that he should've done something. It's the punch option that people don't agree with.

I've seen grown men who are drunk and aggressive with officers being tackled and handcuffed rather than officers engaging in a street fight with them and punching them. Even giving her dumb friend a final warning that she will be tasered (and then tasering her if she doesn't stop being dumb) is more appropriate.

The girl was really dumb for interfering with her friend's interaction with the officer. If she didn't like how her friend was being treated, she should've taken the officer's name and badge #. They already had everything else caught on tape.

However, people in positions of authority are supposed to be ABOVE all the rest. They go based on protocols and policies rather than pure emotion.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

I also don't think this guy is a Barney Fife, a Barney Fife would have let this girl beat the shit out of him.

LOL. Oh, I agree. It's just that PiKA2001's comment about jaywalking immediately brought Barney to mind.

From the first episode of The Andy Griffith Show: "Now she's going to go out and tell her friends how she got away with it, next thing you know people will be jaywalking all over the place and disregarding 'keep-off-the-grass' signs and everything! Why Mayberry is gonna turn into a regular sin town!!"

(Watch it here. I laugh every time.)