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PhillyBred's Blog

by PhillyBred

Last Post 147 days, 11 hours Ago


This is my first comment to a blog and let me start by saying thank you to FOX for providing a forum to air our grievances and perhaps learn from eachothers points of view.  The recent events involving both the tragic death of one of our police officers and the video of the 3 young men being beaten by police have sparked me to place my hat into the "blog ring" ...

To those who say, "if I were a cop, I wouldn't use excessive force", "I realize what they go through, but" -- please don't try to put yourself in the shoes of a police officer out on streets.  Can you really imagine seeing the worst of the worst everyday -- really?  While trying to do your best -- being shot at, spit at, stuck with infected needles, stabbed, being told, "I'm gonna kill you too" -- can you imagine that -- really?  Yes, they sign up for this job that pays less than most, while being outgunned by thugs who have body armor and automatic weapons -- but they are human beings and can be beaten down emotionally!  Policemen and women have the highest rate of suicide, divorce and alcoholism because of what they "signed up for".  I am not a cop nor do I have any cops in my family but I will tell you this -- I have the utmost respect for the men and women that place their lives on the line for not much in return -- not much at all!  Of course there are bad cops and bad people alike.  When subjected to the levels of violence these officers are subjected to -- most of us would break down -- believe that!  So, please understand that you don't understand unless you live it.  Thugs on the street not only make more money than our cops but resort to much more brutal violence to protect their money, their reps or to demand respect on the street.  Some people completely understand that but can't understand how cops can react violently.  On the street somebody can and probably would be killed for spitting in someones face -- being "disrespected" but if a cop reacts -- it's unbelievable!  Some say, "our police are trained to deal with these situations and cops have to be above that".  REMEMBER OUR POLICE ARE HUMAN BEINGS NOT ROBOTS!     

As far as the 3 young men -- a shame they were involved in a situation that ended up in a shooting.  A beating isn't the worst that could have happened to them that night.  Family and friends of these guys should realize if they carry guns, shoot them or were hanging with people that shoot people -- they are lucky they weren't shot!  Being caught in a police chase and having the s*%t knocked out of them hopefully scared them straight!  Hopefully, they will learn from it and go in a different direction.  However, by not accepting consequence they will probably continue to live life the way they are and end up in a more violent situation the next time -- and maybe not walk away from it.  Whether they pulled the trigger or not -- I would beat my son's a*% if he was remotely connected to a shooting.  You all know that these guys weren't innocent -- they know they aren't innocent.  If you own and carry a gun ILLEGALLY -- you should have your a*% beat!  If you hang out with people that own guns ILLEGALLY -- you should have your a*% beat!  If you have police chase you through the city -- you should have your a*% beat!  If these guys wanna be gangsters and have guns, shoot them (or not) and play the game -- take the consequences like a gangster!

As for the good Reverend Al Sharpton -- he should be picketed and bounced outta Philly!  Also, for someone who makes a whole-hell-of-a-lot more money than our police officers and doesn't understand what it is like to be a police officer (not knowing them -- being one) -- to put your life on the line thanklessly -- I would like to see him get on TV and call for the arrest of a thug who has killed a hard working, blue-collared officer and now left a family father-less and has slipped through the loop holes of justice thanks to his high-drug money-paid criminal attorney.  Go after them Al with the same vengeance as you go after the police -- I'll be watching! 

My heart goes out to all our fallen officers' families.  I salute Philadelphia's finest for their sacrifice.  Keep protecting us -- there are still some of us out there that appreciate you!       

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Member Comments Total Comments: 21
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ibejim read my blog view my photos
May 12, 2008 | 7:22 PM

Well stated. I have always found it odd how people are so quick to forget that cops are human, and therefore, fallible. I don't care how well you train someone,or how lofty a standard you hold them to, you simply cannot factor the human aspect out of the equation. They are not Automatrons.

Hopefully, people won't forget who the "good guys" really are.

PhillyBlue read my blog
May 13, 2008 | 12:19 AM

You write the truth Phillybrn..the PPD is human and they are definitely asked to be robots. I dont know how anyone could be expected to do their job. How many cops lives completly change after the first year on the force. They can never relax the same again, they can never turn a blind eye to injustice or crime again. They are asked to give so much and yet get not so much in return. The least that people can do is give them respect.

statueman read my blog view my photos
May 13, 2008 | 1:08 PM

hey PhillyBred,

If this was your first blog ever I think it's a really good one. For me the color and the font were a little loud but your words kept me reading from beginning to middle where you said,

"As far as the 3 young men -- a shame they were involved in a situation that ended up in a shooting. A beating isn't the worst that could have happened to them that night."

... and then onto the end I read and totally agree with the spirit of your remarks. The only thing that bugs me is the presumption that the men who were beaten by the cops must have been guilty. I myself was jailed for 4 hours under the brunt of a cop covering for his brutality. That's why I started blogging in the firs place here at myfoxstl.

So this issue has two sides and I think that many are refusing to see that corporal punishment is illegal in this country for some very good reasons. These cops may have beaten the wrong guys thereby putting the lives of all law enforcement officers at risk. I am appalled at the acceptance of this criminal behavior by police officers. It is a mistake of the heart at best and a burning of the constitution at worst.

PhillyBred read my blog
May 13, 2008 | 4:37 PM

Hey Statueman: I'm sorry you were falsely jailed. I do not condone police corruption. My frustration comes from attacking the officers by viewing a helicopter video.
We didn’t experience the situation as they did—as it began and unfolded. Try to imagine being one of those officers—having a cop-killer on the loose, having these guys flee the scene of a shooting, not knowing if they have weapons that are more powerful than your own, being led into a chase and not having them cooperate. By viewing that video, you just don’t know if someone is being verbally abusive, stiffening up and not being submissive, trying to eat something they have in possession, spitting on you, etc.
You place yourself in a position of extreme tension when—you are at the scene of a shooting, flee and draw police into a chase and not cooperate when you are “forced” to a stop—prompting police to forcefully remove you from the car. These guys weren’t pulled over for a traffic violation—they are suspects in a shooting and resisted by running.
All this amidst the cop-killing—totally unfair to expect more from the police. I don’t think there are many human beings that could live with these particular extremes and not be excessive. Force is needed in certain situations, especially when there is a cop-killer on the loose. Since we can't understand the extreme pressure of that situation we should respect what those officers felt at that exact moment in time.
I do respect your opinion and enjoyed exchanging with you.
Respectfully,
PhillyBred

statueman read my blog view my photos
May 13, 2008 | 6:29 PM

Respect to you PhillyBred,

Love the name by the way... you're not a vegetarian are you? Phillycheesesteak would have been a more recognizable name. But I guess you need PhillyBred to go with the cheesesteak so...

Anywho... I have viewed that video countless times and can find about as much to excuse that behavior as I could to excuse Rev Wright for saying GD America. Context I guess. I invite you to read my blog entitled "Somebody Stole My Piece of Chicken" I posted the video there that is merely a view from the helicoptor. On it you can clearly see police rushing the car and extracting the men directly to the ground. They weren't at all worried about those men having weapons.

But of course the eye is not always the best judgement tool you're right... we aren't omnipotent and sometime saying "I don't know" is just as merciful as saying "I love you" or "I forgive you".

PhillyBred read my blog
May 13, 2008 | 10:53 PM

Hi Statueman: No, I am not a vegetarian -- LOVE meat too much and LOVE cheesesteaks. PhillyBred is to imply that I am Philly born and bred not as in the "bread" we eat.
I have viewed the video (again) on your blog and have not changed my opinion (sorry). I see the police rushing but feel as though they should. Our police our out-manned, out-gunned, over-worked and way over-stressed. And, when all of that is put together you have a recipe for a time bomb - human spirit can only bend so far before being broken and we are breaking our police down. There is a line that can be walked between the two worlds. As we can't have rogue patrols battering innocent people we do need to enable our police to have and maintain the authority they need to properly "Protect & Serve" us, the law-abiding citizen not the lawless.
Respectfully,
PhillyBred

stylegal read my blog view my photos
May 14, 2008 | 6:03 PM

PhillyBred for a first time blogger, I feel you took the words right out of my heart.

Some keep saying go back to the video, you don't see these 3 men doing anything to deserve such a beating.
But thanks to selective reporting on the part of Fox 29, we do not see what happened that led up to this beating.

I also agree about Rev Al, and would think that he does his protesting where the pockets are the deepest.

stylegal read my blog view my photos
May 14, 2008 | 6:04 PM

Oh and by the way, love your Amy Winehouse avatar

PhillyBred read my blog
May 14, 2008 | 8:05 PM

Thanks Stylegal: I gotta ask you ... is your name Sty Legal or Style Gal?

Also, Very good picking up on my Amy Winehouse Avatar (considering it doesn't say her name).

Anyway - a shame to many people want to pounce on the cops before walking a mile in their shoes. I just couldn't imagine doing that job everyday and staying level-headed. God Bless them all and hope they know there are still some citizens who appreciate and support them.

Respectfully,
PhillyBred

statueman read my blog view my photos
May 16, 2008 | 1:22 PM

It's not about Pouncing on Cops. It's about not letting cops pounce on us.

Yeah they're human... yeah it's an adrenaline job and yeah they're underpaid but no there not allowed to break the laws and put themselve in jeapordy.

Let me tell you something. I'm a smart guy... I shouted at the walls of a jail cell and had cops line up to intimidate me into keeping my mouth shut about what they obviously thought was a justified beating.

No way... I've stopped people from beating people all my life. If you want corporal punishment in this country then vote it in. Probably would save us a bundle. But until then when I see cops beating people and folks justifying it I have to ask if you really want home grown terrorist in this country? Cause that's exactly what you're going to get.

People think all criminals are stupid... but an intelligent man can be turned under the yoke of violent oppression. Be afraid of your own violent opinions cause believing the wrong thing for the right reasons holds consequence. Just ask the good Christian Germans who supported the Nazi Party until the day it was too late to change their minds.

PhillyBred read my blog
May 16, 2008 | 3:52 PM

OK, I see we can go 'round this table forever. I'll submit yet again - "Corporal Punishment is the deliberate infliction of pain and suffering intended to punish a person or change his/her behavior", (keyword: punishment). This is not an incident of one being "punished" for a conviction. You are assuming we believe cops have the right to be judge, jury and executioner. You couldn't be more off base. Nobody is judging these guys for what their crimes -- not even the cops. We are supporting a degree of force in which cops can subdue suspects, protect citizens, themselves and their comrades. You are not talking about un-armed men standing on a street corner minding their own business and the cops pouncing on them for no apparent reason. You're talking about 3 attempted murder suspects fleeing a shooting, leading chase, carrying illegal weapons and not being submissive. These cops DO have a right to defend themselves and us BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. Once taken into custody the judicial system can decide their fate. These cops are doing their jobs! (CONTINUE BELOW):

PhillyBred read my blog
May 16, 2008 | 3:52 PM

(CONTINUED FROM ABOVE): Furthermore, as for your weak comparison to the German people and the Nazis -- you're really reaching and bordering insulting. However, history has proven that an oppressed people (like the Germans after WWI) are easily led and perfect prey for madmen like Adolf Hitler. Anyway - that's a whole other realm that of which you cannot possibly grasp (even with your broad scope of knowledge). You can always talk to a concentration camp survivor and see if this country is similar to Nazi Germany. Now, I see what you are basing you opinion on and how far off base you really are. You are just not giving the cops a right to defend themselves against the violence bestowed upon them while trying to take a suspect into custody. You think they are trying to carry out conviction by violence. You will NEVER connect or try to understand what they are feeling during those most extreme situations. The crips and bloods don't even bang every day. You have some cops that have life threatening situations EVERY-DAY! Please stop showing your vast lack of knowledge by continuing to site your self-proclaimed trials and tribulations. And, to go to the extent to make comparisons to Nazi Germany only shows the true shallowness of your depth and perception.
Always Respectful,
PhillyBred

ibejim read my blog view my photos
May 16, 2008 | 4:25 PM

.....Or his desperation???. Statueman....Preaching from your own personal pulpit doesn't fly here in Philly. this is not myfoxla...Although I respect myfoxla bloggers, there is a different mind set over here. Philly is (for the most part) a blue collar town. You can tie all the fancy adjectives around you statements that you want, but, cutting to the chase matters more over here.

I'm sorry that you may have suffered abuse at the hands of police at one time, but , people over here aren't going to follow your self rightious commentary if you keep reaching and preaching.

statueman read my blog view my photos
May 16, 2008 | 4:42 PM

"We are supporting a degree of force in which cops can subdue suspects, protect citizens, themselves and their comrades."

And this applies to the video?

"You are just not giving the cops a right to defend themselves against the violence bestowed upon them while trying to take a suspect into custody."

And this applies to the video?

Look, my point is that many or you are not only assuming the guilt of the suspects but you are justifying unprofessional and indeed criminal behavior on the one hand and condemning it on the other.

You will not even entertain the possibility that these cops were wrong. And they were wrong to beat those men... they were kicking and beating subdued "SUSPECTS" on the ground. They ran up to a car and pulled them out so obviously they were extremely afraid that they had a gun.

Isn't that what cops normally do? They run up to a car and open the door and pull the suspect out and beat them down when they are afraid they have guns? Are you people serious? Guess I have to be from Philly to understand this.

ibejim read my blog view my photos
May 16, 2008 | 4:42 PM

This...(?)...can be more effective than this (!)

If you get my drift..

statueman read my blog view my photos
May 16, 2008 | 4:49 PM

AT any rate it's just a blog... but I do feel that there is no room for doubt and I suppose I'm guilty of condemning those cops. I do have alot of respect for folks who chose the profession and worked along side everything from DEA to FBI when I was in the National Guard.

Applied for FBI but I'm afraid my personality isn't suited to any form of police work especially FBI.

With respect I am highly disappointed in those officers and hope that what ever doors close in their lives open up new and better ones for them.

But I also hope those suspects guilty or not will be able to recover from their experience. It scares me that I see no concern for that here. Innocent people beat by police can and do become... well. You know...

Also with respect and sorry if I got preachy.

peter skinner Los Angeles aka statueman

ibejim read my blog view my photos
May 16, 2008 | 5:19 PM

Statueman...I have blogged with some of your compatriots (?) on myfoxla...

Tayl...love his blogs

Mystere...Awesome sense of humor..

Even DmMickie......????

Just saying, there is a different mind set over here.

BooBooOU812 read my blog
May 16, 2008 | 5:42 PM

You wrote "Policeman" and in lower case "women" I think women should be .....................Women

BooBooOU812 read my blog
May 16, 2008 | 5:42 PM

You wrote "Policeman" and in lower case "women" I think women should be .....................Women

ibejim read my blog view my photos
May 16, 2008 | 6:05 PM

RIGHT ON......Boo!!

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PhillyBred

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