-------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: [IP] FL Cops intimidate those who ask for complaint forms...] Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2006 23:04:30 -0500 From: Zach Sparer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: 'Brian McWilliams' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Brian, Thanks very much for the link. I'll be sure to sift through what information is available. After watching the video a few more times, I wonder why there are not federal or state standards for complaint reports. (It's possible there are state laws in some places that I am not aware of -- this is a new topic for me.) The fact that alleged victims of abuse are forced (in some cases) to speak with an agent of the alleged abuser seems straightforwardly counter-intuitive. The officer who suggested that some complaints are "worthy" and others are not particularly concerned me. "Your civil rights were not violated. Nothing to see here. Please return to your home." Not everyone runs directly to a lawyer, and it seems strange to me that police departments would create any sort of barriers between a concerned citizen and the PD. I imagine they'd be much worse off if "complainers" contacted a lawyer straight-away -- at least in the most egregious cases. Even in the "non-critical" situations (e.g., an officer is rude at a traffic stop), it seems that the information would be valuable from a PR/training standpoint. Creating walls protects neither the public nor the PD's interest. It might be a "pain" or embarrassing for officers to deal with complaints, but -- and I hate the cliché that I'm about to use -- but they need to remember who pays their heating bills. -Zach -----Original Message----- From: Brian McWilliams [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2006 10:45 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [IP] FL Cops intimidate those who ask for complaint forms...] Zach, You might want to check out this site, which apparently inspired the report you mentioned: http://www.policeabuse.org/ Brian McWilliams -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Dave Farber <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: FL Cops intimidate those who ask for complaint forms... > Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2006 19:59:16 -0500 > From: Zach Sparer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Dave, > > For IP if you wish. > > > > From boingboing.net: "A CBS undercover reporting team went into 38 police > stations in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties in Florida, asking for a set of > forms they could use to complain about inappropriate police behavior. In all > but three of the stations, the police refused to give them forms. Some of > the cops threatened them (on hidden camera, no less) -- one of them even > touched his gun." > > > > As a law student (and an American), this bothers me a great deak. Follow > the link below to watch the full video of this "undercover investigation" > carried out by a watchdog organization. > > > > http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_033170755.html > > > > Zach Sparer > > University of Pittsburgh School of Law > > > > > ------------------------------------- > You are subscribed as [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To manage your subscription, go to > http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip > > Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/ ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as [email protected] To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
