NYPD cop loses badge and gun after cyclist assault.

[tdr1nka]

As an observer on the Brixton 'Reclaim The Steets' demo I asked an officer why seven policemen had heavy handedly singled out a particular protester(four to hold the man face down on the ground, three to sort out the handcuffs)

The attending officer replied by polietly asking if I wanted to be arrested as well?

Jolly decent to be given the choice I thought!

IMO the NY Cop was waiting for one of the last bikes to have a go at, he had plenty of time to judge his attack as plenty of other cyclists pass to the left which he chose to ignore.

The Cops should have been stood on the left marshaling bikes to the right if that was their real concern.

 

[dodgy]

There's some speculation that the cyclist had assaulted another policeman earlier in the ride.

Dave.

 

[spindrift]

There's some speculation that the cyclist had assaulted another policeman earlier in the ride.

Dave.

No, some idiot has made the claim on Live Leak, there's no evidence for that at all.

 

[Keith Oates]

That is certainly bad for the image of the NYPD but I doubt there will be any charges that stick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dodgy]

No, some idiot has made the claim on Live Leak, there's no evidence for that at all.

You don't need evidence for speculation.

Dave.

 

[stephenb]

what the cop did to the cyclist is appalling

what the journo does to the English language isn't a lot better. "bike ridership" FFS?

 

[Nigeyy]

On one hand its true we only see part of the full story with the video. But after viewing it a couple of times, I'm convinced that there wasn't any prior verbal exchange (perhaps the cyclist made obscene gestures at the cop, we don't know, but it still doesn't justify what happened).

Alas, this will be covered up -I'm convinced of it. Cops over here (particularly city or town cops) aren't particularly well known for their "professionalism". The officer will be confined for desk duty a bit longer, perhaps a note may be made in his record, that sort of thing, and within a month or two he'll be out behind his Crown Victoria again.

I'm also not a fan of critical mass -they seem to be obstinate for obstinate's sake and I don't think they are productive, though I admit to feeling similar sentiments of wanting to "take back the road" at times. What's particularly sad about this incident as well as the officer's appalling action is the feedback. Clearly there are many people out there who are quite happy to see someone assaulted, regardless of right or wrong, simply because they might annoy them or because they've classified them into a group. Sad world, and sad individuals.

 

[Riding in Circles]

There's some speculation that the cyclist had assaulted another policeman earlier in the ride.

Dave.

Judging by the lies told by this officer, I expect that is a fairy story to.

 

[dodgy]

Doesn't really matter if there was some previous history to this, there's no way the policeman needed to act like he did. I'm surprised he didn't fill him full of lead once he was on the ground!

Anyone been to NYC? Are you as surprised as I was with the general malevolence of the City's finest? They're certainly not approachable, definitely not when compared with a typical British copper anyway (yes they have their own special type of problems but I maintain the standard of British police is way ahead when it comes to relations with the public).

Dave.

 

[Graham O]

Having just read some of the background to this on the New York Times site and others, there is no clear and definitive story. Although Pogan claims that Long was riding inconsiderately, this would appear to relate to his behaviour earlier in the ride. Something which the video does not show.

According to New York Post "The cop accused Long of purposely swerving his bicycle to block traffic and then using it as a weapon to run down the officer, knocking him off his feet and causing a "laceration" on his forearm."

There is no suggestion that Pogan is the officer who was knocked over etc. So the charge could relate to another officer, not to Pogan.

Some people on here have claimed that Pogan has lied, yet, unless we know the full facts, it is impossible to make that claim. If we assume that the video is the whole story, then Pogan's claims are blatantly wrong. However, if there was an earlier incident, then Pogan may not be lying.

I'm not condoning his method of stopping Long, but I doubt it is as simple as the video shows.

 

[Nigeyy]

Oh boy, I just can't agree with you more!!!!! I'm not saying the UK police are all angels or always really good, but honestly, generally they are heads and shoulders above many of the town and city cops over here.

In my opinion, it's best not to get tangled up with any local or city cops -though the State Troopers tend to have better standards. And of course, that's not to say there aren't really good cops -it's usually the bad apples that spoil the bunch (the problem I have with that is unfortunately there usually isn't much of a real genuine effort to discard the bad apples -then it can be easy to see the whole barrel as a bit rotten).

Doesn't really matter if there was some previous history to this, there's no way the policeman needed to act like he did. I'm surprised he didn't fill him full of lead once he was on the ground!

Anyone been to NYC? Are you as surprised as I was with the general malevolence of the City's finest? They're certainly not approachable, definitely not when compared with a typical British copper anyway (yes they have their own special type of problems but I maintain the standard of British police is way ahead when it comes to relations with the public).

Dave.

 

[davidtq]

Having just read some of the background to this on the New York Times site and others, there is no clear and definitive story. Although Pogan claims that Long was riding inconsiderately, this would appear to relate to his behaviour earlier in the ride. Something which the video does not show.

According to New York Post "The cop accused Long of purposely swerving his bicycle to block traffic and then using it as a weapon to run down the officer, knocking him off his feet and causing a "laceration" on his forearm."

There is no suggestion that Pogan is the officer who was knocked over etc. So the charge could relate to another officer, not to Pogan.

Some people on here have claimed that Pogan has lied, yet, unless we know the full facts, it is impossible to make that claim. If we assume that the video is the whole story, then Pogan's claims are blatantly wrong. However, if there was an earlier incident, then Pogan may not be lying.

I'm not condoning his method of stopping Long, but I doubt it is as simple as the video shows.

If the officer who was knocked over WASNT Pogan why did Pogan first attempt to stop the cyclist for failing to keep right instead of for assault?

In court papers, Pogan claimed that he wanted to issue Long a summons for failing to keep right, and then ordered Long to stop
The cop accused Long of purposely swerving his bicycle to block traffic and then using it as a weapon to run down the officer, knocking him off his feet and causing a "laceration" on his forearm.

So Pogan wanted to stop the cyclist for a traffic violation then arrests him for running over another cop in another incident? that doesnt make sense. It would have had to be a VERY good description to decide from a radio message exactly which rider in a critical mass had assaulted another police officer earlier..

To me it seems clear "the cop" accusing long of using the bike as a weapon was pogan, and that the officer "ran down" was pogan. It makes no sense other wise for pogan to be trying to pull the cyclist over for a traffic offence and then to take him down so spectauclarly and then arrest him for assaut???

 

[PBancroft]

Not a nice video. Have never been to a Critical Mass, not really my thing. There's a story there, no matter who was in the right or wrong. Fingers crossed that we will one day hear the outcome.

Am half tempted to contact a few more journos and see if they would be interested in running the story over here.