Comments on: NYPD probes cop in YouTube body-check video

Officer is stripped of his gun and badge after a video posted on YouTube shows him body-checking a bicyclist during Critical Mass bicycle ride.

[gdjordan]

Watching an amateur video is like looking at a story through a drinking straw. You can't see the full picture. The act this rider did to garner the attention and subsequent action from the police officers happens off camera. Alternatively, he could have also been pointed out by another police officer and the officer on the video was told to stop him. I noticed that most of the riders are leisurely pedaling past, but once this guy comes into view he starts cranking up speed and trying to avoid the officer that is obviously trying to stop him. In my opinion, he's resisting arrest. I'm sure it will all surface during the investigation. Most people commenting on here are jumping to the wrong conclusion and just wanting to bash the police. These events are "leaderless" and thus likely have no permits for this activity. Spontaneous events such as these tax the police departments in cities where the police already have enough work to do. The officer in this video is just doing his job.

[ericbaccounts]

I think it's possible -- doesn't seem likely, but possible -- that the officer is just doing his job.

Do you not think it's POSSIBLE that he's just a dick? It doesn't seem like a really safe assumption that he is doing the right thing just because he's a police officer, given that there are plenty of clear examples of police in this country just taking advantage of their power to get away with being jerks.

[bpappin]

Well said.

The rider is clearing not following direction to stop and trying "get away". At the very least the cop is justified for that one fact alone (you can see the cops mouth moving, to bad we can't hear what he';s saying before the block).

I'm still waiting for someone to mention how you stop a bicycle going at least 15km/h other than shooting him.

[Dr_Zinj]

There is no other story about this incident. There is no other relevant information about this incident.

The facts remain, the officer falsified his report of this incident; which means that it is irrelevant what the cyclist may or may not have done off camera before hand.

This case also illustrates an incident that would have fully justified the use of force by civilians against an on-duty, uniformed police officer. NYC cops have a very bad rep. This just proves the bad rep is justified. I'm sure there are a few good cops in NY. It's just too bad that criminals in uniform like this one make things worse for everyone.

[inachu]

If you are less than 12 inches from my car and the light is green and you are beside me on a bike then you are asking for problems

[Rants&Raves]

Would you feel the same if you were just standing next to the person, or is it that when you are in a car you suddenly feel important, alienated and violent ? Perhaps you need to get your head checked.

[grauhund]

If I am waiting at the light near your car inachu, I'm going to be in front of you, taking the center of the lane like I am legally entitled to do. And you know what you're going to do? You're going to wait your turn, BEHIND ME, like you're required to do. And if you don't, you're the one who's going to have the problem.

[bpappin]

grauhund:

You're exactly right... a bicycle is bound by the laws of the road and entitled to the road.

But, before you get all high and mighty; How many times a day do you run though a stop sign or a crosswalk with people on it? do you even notice they are there?

[Constance Reader]

inachu, if a bicycle or pedestrian is less than 12 inches away from your car when the light turns green and you hit them, that's vehicular assault and you are the one asking for problems. At least Robert Novak had a valid explanation -- brain tumor.

[usarioclave]

Don't worry, the cop will pick one of the three "get out of grand jury indictment" cards:

"I thought he had a gun"
"He was coming right at me, and I had to act to protect myself"
"He was biking in such a way that he was a menace to himself and to the public"

[derek_vt]

Buddy of mine got pulled over yesterday by the NYPD, blew a .12. But he passed the field sobriety test and did some smooshing, got off completely.

NYPD keep up the good work...

[Tsee-1968031069905097881578618]

we can see a snippet of morality by the comments on here. Apparently we should applaud cops for violent assaults in broad daylight because of, well, stuff someone may or may not have done. And you wonder why our country's leaders can tap any phone they want or torture anyone as they please.

[bpappin]

How do *you* stop a bike going at least 15km/h?
particularly when the bike in question is trying to doge you and picks up speed to do so?

I *expect* the cops to upload the law. If stopping that guy was deemed justified (and it was by two cops at exactly the same moment) then I say the cop should take exactly the force require (though not more) in stopping the guy.

In this case what choice did the cop have?
Shoot him?
Tazer him?
Insult him until he stops?

You tell me... how do you stop a bike going that fast (and picking up speed) and not cause the rider to take a tumble?

[Arbalest05]

We are not jumping to conclusions. The officer also filed a false report. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/nyregion/29critical.html?ref=nyregion

He obviously didn't know that the incident had been video taped. There were many witnesses, but the most convincing one was the video camera.

Officer Pogan was a rookie and very young one at that (22 years old). He just showed very poor judgment. He will likely lose his job or certainly not be a street cop again, which is good because no one expects this type of conduct from a NYC patrol officer.

[bpappin]

Too bad the cop fubbed his story, because the video clearly shows he is justified in the amount of force used (how else was he supposed to stop him?), even if the cyclist was *only* ignoring the request to stop.

[markusv3000]

That sucks the cops just do this crap. Imagine how many of them are doing this messed up crap and not getting caught. And then they charge the guy on the bike for fighting being arrested. Its bull. I would fight too.

[RomeoZulu]

You are overlooking the obvious in the video. There were 2 officers standing in the street, that may or may not have gotten a report on the specific cyclist. All they had to do was box him in by getting on either side as he approached them, bringing him to a safe albeit sudden stop grabbing the handlebars. The forearm smash was indeed excessive force.

Why did only one officer participate in the stop? What about the pedestrians that were endangered by this action?

We all have our opinions about the video, but don't get all of your exercise by jumping to conclusions.

[bpappin]

The rider is trying to dodge him... and picks up speed as he does... in fact the cop has to run to catch him right at the end.

So although I agree that that might have worked out better for the cyclist, the timing made it impossible for both cops to be at the right place at the right moment for that to work.

[Trinity7770]

That cop should have got a beat down by the people on that street, that natzi peice of human waste deserves to sit in jail and have himself raped by criminals, trashy waste of human life that he is... down with cops.. revolution is coming and there the first ta go.... natzi trash SS

[renGek]

I'm sorry but I have no love for a lot of these critical mass protesters clogging the streets when its convenient for them to do so. I've seen many riders who are decent people but I've also seen many critical mass guys who are there to have a good time and cause trouble (throwing bottles, breaking windows etc.) Some of these guys are there to party. And I'm glad to have seen police officers pull some of them away. And these guys have no problem with asking for a car ride when they need to go to the airport or a ride to burning man.

And i wonder how everyone is going to love youtube videos if they themselves are on it being filmed in an embarassing situation in public. Think about how often you did something silly or just didn't think and then wonder how nice it would be to be captured on video forever.

I'm not defending this particular cop in this particular situation. But people are quick to judge by a 2 minute video. Statistics can be made to say what you want. So can a video clip.

[JimmyCrackhead]

LOL he said "Probe". LMAO how appropriate.

JT
www.Ultimate-Anonymity.com

[hagosrush]

It is quite obvious that you are not from New York. If the cop wanted to safely pull the biker over (considering the biker tried to avoid him) he could have easily grabbed the handelbars or at least gesture with his hands that he wanted him to stop. He obviously did neither. As per tppcnet's comments, nyc cops are notorious for racial profiling. I am black (i understand that there are the morons who wear pants 20 times their size and they look plain bad...i understand that) but at the same time you have individuals who are constantly being pulled over because of DWB! Driving While Black! Example: We were in a Mitsubishi Eclipse and pulled over because as the officer says...there was a robbery in the area and the suspects were driving the same kind of car. What kind of thief would use a car with no tints as a getaway vehicle?? Welcome to NY, it is unfortunate but it is how the city works.

[hippietroll]

That was great! If he gets fired, I hope the Pats scout him for the defensive line.

BTW, I doubt he'd be spending any time in jail for simple assault... More like a slap on the wrist IF (a big IF) it wasn't justified.

[yeowch]

The cop falsified his report, unless the cyclist was seen blatantly committing a crime by witnesses willing to come forward, that cop was wrong and exercising his right to be a jerk. The video contradicts that cop's version and when cops lie, the bad guys get away when the truth comes out. Only, jerks shouldn't be cops and this dude has dishonored the NYPD with his misapplication of authority. His "hunch" to pick out that cyclist was wrong and it will probably cost him his job, look for him in some small town somewhere working as a cop a few months from now. Hassling teenagers skating in the mall.

[HighFive1]

I say give that cop a raise. I've wanted to do that to all the Lance Armstrong wannabes who ride in the middle of every 2-lane road where I live.

I am a real (almost) law abiding mostly-Republican.

This kind of police brutality makes me furious. The ENTIRE POINT of the libertarian/Repbulican idea is that the the government is not allowed to pummel the populace.

Fire this guy, pronto.

[ffhyatt]

I wonder what the cyclist did to draw that kind of response? Or did the cop just decide to hit a random cyclist in front of a crowd of witnesses?

[sleekdark]

I hope this cop gets serious jail time. These @ssholes serve and protect no one. I would love to see all the taser-happy crew get put away as well.