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An Inadequate Response to Police Brutality

Pablo Valenzuela deserves to be charged with battery for pepper spraying a West Palm Beach police officer on May 26. But the officers who punched and kicked him after his hands were cuffed behind his back are equally deserving of criminal charges. One officer has resigned and two have been placed on administrative leave, but none of them are immune from prosecution. With clear video evidence of their misconduct, why haven't they been arrested?

This comment is even more puzzling:

West Palm Beach Police Chief Delsa Bush says "there was a thin line basically between giving officers a commendation and then ending up having to discipline them."

Bush said "having the video I chose to substantiate the charge of the use of excessive force." So without the video she would have given commendations to officers who beat up a handcuffed suspect?

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  • Display: Sort:
    Valenzuela hit the officers in the knuckles (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by myiq2xu on Tue Aug 12, 2008 at 11:14:25 AM EST
    with his face.

    The thugs... (5.00 / 0) (#2)
    by kdog on Tue Aug 12, 2008 at 11:20:02 AM EST
    may have missed on an offical commendation this time due to that pesky video...but I'm sure they are being commended in the locker room, unofficially.

    It's enough to make you think (5.00 / 0) (#3)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 12, 2008 at 11:25:20 AM EST
    we all need to install video cameras on our vehicles to keep ourselves safe from the police.

    i'm not so sure that would have the (5.00 / 0) (#4)
    by cpinva on Tue Aug 12, 2008 at 12:36:21 PM EST
    desired effect tracy.

    we all need to install video cameras on our vehicles to keep ourselves safe from the police.

    at best, it would provide visual evidence for your civil suit, assuming you actually survived your encounter.

    I think Chief Bush (any relation?) should (none / 0) (#5)
    by PssttCmere08 on Tue Aug 12, 2008 at 04:10:03 PM EST
    have her hands handcuffed behind her back and let some officers punch and kick her....then decide if commendations should be handed out.

    Ugh. Finally saw the tape (none / 0) (#6)
    by nycstray on Tue Aug 12, 2008 at 07:28:18 PM EST
    nothing subtle about this one. And caught by their own cameras. {shakes head}