Well, it was only a matter of time before one of these stories popped up.
Be sure to watch the video. Considering the man gettin the bidness is sixty-four years old, this is actually pretty comparable to Rodney King. At least there was some inkling of reason to believe that King was on dust. This is a drunk old man, and they beat him like he stole from the government. And by something, I mean like the Colonel’s secret Original Recipe. Something that crucial.
But the cops are going to get suspended? You’ve got camera, man. The word for the day is fired. Even if New Orleans city officials don’t think this was a firable offense, you gotta cut these cats loose for PR. You can’t have your cops beating up old men on camera and then beating up producers for major news outlets. What’s the excuse on that one?
Cats are stressed–and really, who wouldn’t be?–and that’s understood on a human level. But as I’ve said for years, cops aren’t allowed to be humans when on the job. Is that a lot to ask? Absolutely right. However, it’s a fair trade for the deification they receive for simply being on the force.
(EDIT–that link above has just been added. It’s a piece of mine from the early days at Africana. This piece is actually being used illegally, so I would like to remind you not to do nothin’ like this. However, it ain’t in the online archive no more, so their larceny’s the best I can do.)
But for all the racism that has been undeniable in Katrina’s aftermath, the last thing the city needed was this. Clarence Ray Nagin, you better handle this one properly. Believe dat, slick.
(ANOTHER EDIT–no way in the world that the “we lost control” excuse will work. Somebody had enough control to wait until the horse pulled up to beat the dude. That’s called premeditation.)
9 thoughts on “NOPD Roughs Up Old Man”
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I hadn’t paid attention before Katrina but it’s pretty obvious the cops in NOLA are without leadership, riven with corruption, and as a unit not worth a fig.
I truly pity any cops there who are still ethical.
This scope of bad acting (abusing those they swore to protect on what I gather is a regular basis, the Cadillac thing, the looting, the abandoning of their posts under stress, the failure to actually do anything effective) only happens in my limited experience with bad leadership over a long time and with a culture that supports such corruption. Changing the mayor and chief of police probably won’t be enough, and I worry that if the new guy is good he’ll be broken before enough change occurs.
Haven’t looked at the Africana link yet, but on the face of it I tend to agree with the idea of the responsibility involved in acting in a manner consistent with the best traditions of the force. We have a code in the different branches of the military that we discuss and think through and live about what we do in uniform. What we’re seeing from NOLA ain’t it, and expect to see worse before it gets better.
I wonder if Cobb’s asked his brother what he thinks of NOLA’s force. I know Cerebus has some thoughts about it (big city cop, blogging pseudonymously).
In fairness to the NOPD, Richard Pennington came in and did a lot to clean up the force. I don’t know what happened when he left after an ill-fated attempt to become mayor.
The only surprise is that it didn’t happen a lot sooner. In all likelihood, these guys will end up getting fired, but not until after the city has at least pretended to give them due process. With so many defections from the Dept. in the last month or so, and the atrocious morale (the city is supposedly having problems making payroll, even after layoffs), the last thing they can afford is to piss off the remaining police that they have. So, they’ll be suspended, and there will be an “investigation”. More than likely they’ll end up fired, and there may even be a trial. But really, if anyone thinks that Nagin will pass up on a chance to try and look all official-like, I wouldn’t worry.
Well, that’s assuming this hasn’t happened before. Cops ain’t never needed a flood to beat somebody’s ass before.
Isn’t it ironic but that story is similar to how bouncers at Razoo’s pummelled and choked a 21-year-old black kid to death after not letting him in the place.
But that’s a 64-year-old man, nobody’s grandfather deserves getting their ass kicked like that.
If those cops don’t get fired, please believe that it will have MAJOR implications on rebuilding the N.O. I wouldn’t be surprised if the AP guy doesn’t file criminal charges as well. But that old man will gets paid, jack.
Another thing, if this thing goes to trial, please believe this will get taken out of New Orleans and won’t get moved to Baton Rouge (both majority black cities). I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes to ol’ redneck ass Shreveport or Monroe.
BTW: Just another reason why the WMD does not like the poleece.
…comin’ straight from the underground. Name that song and the next line. I’ll come up with something cool for whoever gets it right.
With all of the bad news that’s already been coming out of New Orleans, they did not need this . Their police force was shaky to begin with, now it’s shot to hell.
man, that has gotta be one of the most popular lines… i got two:
Fuck tha police – NWA
Watch the police – C Murder and Trick Daddy
I’m also partial to Kast’s “Gasoline Dreams.”
I agree and would almost even go so far as to suggest payback at Mardi Gras except that would ruin Mardi Gras for all. Rights for one are rights for all. The Southern Democrats who opposed the civil rights movement of the 60’s are alive and strong in the violence of the NO police. I didn’t notice any Cadillacs in the background though.
http://randysworldview.blogspot.com/
I’m not assuming that this hasn’t happened before, I’m saying that I’m pretty damn sure no one’s videotaped that along with smacking around an AP reporter before in the last month or so.
And yeah, I’m pretty sure any trial they have will get sent out of NO. I don’t know what shape the court system is in down there, but at the very least, jury selection would have to be a problem.
At this point, it is difficult to figure out if any part of the New Orleans government infrastructure is working.
One thing is for sure. It is gonna be hard for Mr. Nagin to skate around on this one.
hmm… i can’t read. HA! here goes:
Fuck / (watch) the police – a young ni99a (Murder)got it bad cause I’m brown…
assuming the first reference is the one u want… what’s the prize, b?
i contend, however, that this is an oft used line. anyway, do police ever beat white people? i mean, i watch cops and all but really, what is 5-0 trying to do about its image for beating black people? i guess a better question is, why should they care about their image when they enforce the law?