NY Times article about the NYPD and Critical Mass
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The problem with these guys is that they provoke you, the officer from the 13th Precinct said. Theyre no angels.
Translation: "If that bitch didn't want to get raped, she shouldn't have worn that skirt."
Translation: "If that bitch didn't want to get raped, she shouldn't have worn that skirt."
Maybe.
There's antagonism from both sides. I've seen some critical mass behavior from participants that makes me want to club some bike riders.
Sure. Hell, I've seen that same behavior from regular road group rides that have nothing to do with Critical Mass.
However, one side is getting paid to not let antagonism lead them to overreaction. And they have guns, clubs, and tasers. It's not exactly a fair fight.
I don't disagree. What I find interesting is the difference in reaction from the SFPD and the NYPD.
SFPD rides along, stops cars that are getting too aggressive, and makes few arrests that I see.
NYPD, who are much tougher cops in a much tougher city, are dealing with CM with the response I expected.
Now if we can just adopt that attitude with israel and all their friendly neighbors........
That's a bit of a stretch... Akin to saying that the DC Metro Police protect the President...
True. But as police officers, they're supposed to hold themselves to a higher standard. Protect and serve the citizens of the City of New York and all that...
New York is dangerous place to work, but the officers doing crowd control in Times Square are not the same guys raiding crack houses in Queens.
I disagree.
While there might not be NYPD right next to the Pope ready to take a bullet for him, there were thousands who attended his Mass at Yankee Stadium. Crowd control, searches, the inevitable scuffle, were not handled by the Swiss Guard.
Mother****ing police better learn to watch their behavior when there's ****ing video cameras around.
Apparently it's common for officers to lie in court when they don't know that their arrests have been videotaped.
Apparently it's common for officers to lie in court when they don't know that their arrests have been videotaped.
update: Cop who shoved Critical Mass biker ready to face assault charge
awesome!
shoot, my 8 year old against CM fruitcakes isn't a fair fight...especially if he's armed with a stick to throw into spokes.
CM does go a little overboard on the provocation side of things; and it works because they've obviously gotten the air time they were after.
personally, i think a plain clothes officer spraying pepper spray in their unattended helmets during the pre-ride meeting would go over much better than the "tackling moving cyclist" tactic.
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Damn. If it hadn't been for the video, it might have been a different headline: Cyclist who assaulted hero cop due in for sentencing today
shoot, my 8 year old against CM fruitcakes isn't a fair fight...especially if he's armed with a stick to throw into spokes.
CM does go a little overboard on the provocation side of things; and it works because they've obviously gotten the air time they were after.
personally, i think a plain clothes officer spraying pepper spray in their unattended helmets during the pre-ride meeting would go over much better than the "tackling moving cyclist" tactic.
Almost as fun as filling the vents of a DUIs car with pepper spray before impound. It sits awhile, pepper spray evaporates...he makes bail, picks up car, fires up AC or heat, moisture is re-introduced to pepper spray...viola, instant shenanigans...
We all know of an incident where the cop and the perp had differing accounts, which usually means jailtime for the perp.shoot, my 8 year old against CM fruitcakes isn't a fair fight...especially if he's armed with a stick to throw into spokes.
CM does go a little overboard on the provocation side of things; and it works because they've obviously gotten the air time they were after.
personally, i think a plain clothes officer spraying pepper spray in their unattended helmets during the pre-ride meeting would go over much better than the "tackling moving cyclist" tactic.
I don't know if this cyclist should have been arrested, but the cop lied about the circumstances, so thanks to video, the cop will get what he deserves.
yup..that's the problem with huge agencies like that. recruiters for NYPD officers probably can't be that picky because of the high amount of slots to fill which, in turn, leads to hiring less than desirable candidates for the job which then leads to crap like this.
I'm sure the NYPD has about the same ratio to good guys to incompetents as most places.
It just that when a cop abuses his power, people usually get hurt.
All that happens when I screw up is a computer burp.
not exactly. there is a direct correlation to recruiting efforts, primarily in the form of starting salary, and the quality of applicants you get. for instance, i work for the 3rd highest paid agency in the state. we train about 10x's more than the state mandated requirement (firearms, defensive tactics, legal updates, minority sensitivity, etc..) and are VERY selective of our new hires, because we can be.
we get a lot of very qualified, professional, applicants because of our reputation and pay scale. those that wash out of our program here, or that we just don't hire, usually end up at neighboring agencies that aren't as picky and/or well trained. with massive agencies like NYPD, the training and supervision for the average beat cop is drastically lower than that of a mid sized agency where more resources and time can be directed at individual officers. the bad apples blend in much better in big agencies; where i'm at, it doesn't take long to single them out and toss 'em.
Come on, the NYPD are the best.
Put this way: how many tv shows are based around the NYPD and how many are set in North Carolina?
P.S. I believe many Long Island towns poach some of the best NYPD officers.
Police Officer Who Shoved a Bicyclist Is Off the Job
By TRYMAINE LEE
A police officer who was videotaped knocking a man off his bicycle and onto the ground during a cycling event in Manhattan last summer has been fired, the Police Department said.
Paul J. Browne, the Police Departments chief spokesman, said the officer, Patrick Pogan, 23, was fired about 10 days ago.
Stuart London, a lawyer for Mr. Pogan, disputed the Police Departments statement, saying that he had resigned.
Mr. Pogan was accused last year of assault and of filing false paperwork related to the arrest of the cyclist and was suspended from the department. The Manhattan district attorneys office dropped the charges attempted assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct against the cyclist, Christopher Long.
Mr. Browne said on Thursday that the firing stemmed directly from the events involving Mr. Long, which took place on July 25 during a monthly event known as Critical Mass, in which hundreds of cyclists ride through the city to advocate nonpolluting forms of transportation.
The termination was reported by The Associated Press on Thursday night.
They make errors all the time, Mr. London said of the Police Departments assertion that Mr. Pogan had been fired. Mr. Pogan resigned to concentrate his efforts on fighting the criminal charges that are against him, Mr. London said, so that when he is ultimately acquitted he can reapply to the Police Department. The shoving incident, which gained widespread attention after it was videotaped and posted on YouTube, embarrassed the Police Department. The video has been viewed on YouTube nearly 2 million times.
By TRYMAINE LEE
A police officer who was videotaped knocking a man off his bicycle and onto the ground during a cycling event in Manhattan last summer has been fired, the Police Department said.
Paul J. Browne, the Police Departments chief spokesman, said the officer, Patrick Pogan, 23, was fired about 10 days ago.
Stuart London, a lawyer for Mr. Pogan, disputed the Police Departments statement, saying that he had resigned.
Mr. Pogan was accused last year of assault and of filing false paperwork related to the arrest of the cyclist and was suspended from the department. The Manhattan district attorneys office dropped the charges attempted assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct against the cyclist, Christopher Long.
Mr. Browne said on Thursday that the firing stemmed directly from the events involving Mr. Long, which took place on July 25 during a monthly event known as Critical Mass, in which hundreds of cyclists ride through the city to advocate nonpolluting forms of transportation.
The termination was reported by The Associated Press on Thursday night.
They make errors all the time, Mr. London said of the Police Departments assertion that Mr. Pogan had been fired. Mr. Pogan resigned to concentrate his efforts on fighting the criminal charges that are against him, Mr. London said, so that when he is ultimately acquitted he can reapply to the Police Department. The shoving incident, which gained widespread attention after it was videotaped and posted on YouTube, embarrassed the Police Department. The video has been viewed on YouTube nearly 2 million times.
if there's one thing he's learned on his short time on the job is that when you're accused, instead of owning it, fight it?
no honor whatsoever
Two things: first, to Manimal's point about police recruiting, there is considerable talk about this in the press around NYC. The starting salary, as far as I know is around $25K, which is ABSURD given the cost of living in that area. They have trouble finding qualified people and for good reason.
Second, there are, like in any major city, parts of NYC that are a bit dangerous but it has one of the lowest crime rates of any major city in the country. Most people feel safer in most parts of NYC than they do where I live in New Haven. Numbers in every measure I've seen seem to support the idea that NYC is one of the safest cities there is given its size.
Second, there are, like in any major city, parts of NYC that are a bit dangerous but it has one of the lowest crime rates of any major city in the country. Most people feel safer in most parts of NYC than they do where I live in New Haven. Numbers in every measure I've seen seem to support the idea that NYC is one of the safest cities there is given its size.
Wikipedia is yer friend...
"...starting pay from $35,881 to $41,975, and top pay from $65,382 to approximately $76,000 annually. With longevity pay, holiday pay, night shift differential and other additions, the total annual compensation for officers receiving top pay will be approximately $91,823, not including overtime"
"...starting pay from $35,881 to $41,975, and top pay from $65,382 to approximately $76,000 annually. With longevity pay, holiday pay, night shift differential and other additions, the total annual compensation for officers receiving top pay will be approximately $91,823, not including overtime"