Via Ry comes another instance of sheer stupidity that evidently is business as usual and nothing significant. But within minutes, he said, one of the two officers became enraged — and the judge became his target. The officer screamed and cursed at the onlookers, some of whom were complaining about what they said was his violent treatment of the suspect, and then he focused on Justice Raffaele, who was wearing a T-shirt and jeans. The judge said the officer rushed forward and, using the upper edge of his hand, delivered a sharp blow to the judge’s throat that was like what he learned when he was trained in hand-to-hand combat in the Army. After reading the article it makes me think that the onlookers probably had reason to be upset with the officer. The officers biggest mistake was striking anyone without cause. But see, in New York, officers can assault anyone they want for any reason they want. Don't believe me? The episode, Friday morning just after midnight — in which the judge says his initial complaint about the officer was dismissed by a sergeant, the ranking supervisor at the scene — is now the focus of investigations by the police Internal Affairs Bureau and the Civilian Complaint Review Board. The civilian review board might be able to accomplish something but I doubt it. Deputy Commissioner Paul J. Browne, the Police Department’s chief spokesman, said in an e-mail that all force complaints, whether they involve serious injuries or not, are referred to the Civilian Complaint Review Board, an independent agency that investigates allegations of police misconduct that does not rise to the level of a crime. The department’s Internal Affairs Bureau investigates complaints of excessive force that involve serious injuries. “In this instance,” he said, Internal Affairs “is reviewing the complaint because it was brought to its attention by the judge, not because of the level of injury.” So in other words, your officers can commit assault with impunity unless they severely injure their victim. It's no wonder why officers dislike people with video cameras. It helps prove assault when they don't cause permanent injury. Too bad it doesn't appear that the department would actually do anything about it. State Sponsored Criminal #344: John Doe Because being a cop means that when you're in the 'roid rage' you can beat the hell out of and threaten whoever you want. Even a sitting a judge.* *Note I don't think they should get any different treatment than the rest of the general populace. However when even the judge isn't getting traction to deal with the issue, you know there's a serious problem. Continue reading →