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"In 2012, almost half the Houstonians arrested during traffic stops were African-Americans, though they make up less than a quarter of the city’s population. Houston Police Department statistics show that white drivers are more likely than black drivers to be carrying contraband, but according to HPD’s annual report on racial profiling—which concludes, “The analysis provides no evidence that officers of the Houston Police Department engage in racial profiling”—officers performed “consent searches” on black drivers in 2012 more than four times as often as on white drivers. A consent search is specifically one made without probable cause."
In the same period, Houston cops reported other officers for excessive force 118 times. Internal Affairs dismissed all but 11.
In total, Internal Affairs sustained just 15—or 2 percent—of the 706 police abuse complaints the past six years, according to department records the Observer obtained through public information requests.
In at least 10 of the 15 sustained complaints, the incident was videotaped. Many say—and internal documents suggest—that videotaped beatings have prompted Houston cops to aggressively prevent citizens from recording their behavior.
"Next thing I know, two or three was stomping me and hitting me with those billy clubs upside the head," Van Alston said.
The officers also used a Taser gun multiple times on the 63-year-old man, resulting in severe injuries and his current confinement to a wheelchair.
Van Alston settled with the city for $90,000, but now he's speaking out because the same officer implicated in his beating, was also involved in the beating death of 45-year-old Darrin Hanna two years later.
Justice is hardly ever served in cases like this and this is not just a Houston thing either, it happens everywhere. I was involved in a case where the police abused my husband and we also sued and settled.
Unfortunately, many people who are beaten and harassed do not make complaints or their complaints are not taken seriously and are just shelved and too many of us Americans are willing to let the police practically terrorize people because they are afraid of certain minorities or genders. Until it happens to someone in their circle, they don't care.
Justice is hardly ever served in cases like this and this is not just a Houston thing either, it happens everywhere. I was involved in a case where the police abused my husband and we also sued and settled.
Unfortunately, many people who are beaten and harassed do not make complaints or their complaints are not taken seriously and are just shelved and too many of us Americans are willing to let the police practically terrorize people because they are afraid of certain minorities or genders. Until it happens to someone in their circle, they don't care.
I have several stories, and know of other people who have horror stories as well. A lot of bad things are happening to good people at the hands of the Police.
There's the legal issue of course, but people also don't think about the financial burden (court fees and/or lawyer fees), emotional strain (anxiety, depression, and other mental health affects), and loss of wages that many people suffer because of Police misconduct and down right malice.
I think its unacceptable for some Americans to complain about crime when they won't even ensure that their "supposed" allies are honest upstanding citizens.
The issue is one of the biggest in the country. We house more people in raw numbers than China and India despite the minuscule population in comparison. Many for minor non-violent drug offenses. Certain portions of the population are being jailed at extremely high rates while other portions of the population break the law with near impunity.
There has been no legislation proposed to combat the issue lately besides Indiana's law that I know of. I believe it should be an issue addressed nationally.
The Houston PD has long had a reputation as one of the most brutal and corrupt departments in the nation, right "down there' with the New Orleans PD...
I'd guess this is probably becoming more the rule than the exception across the country. Seattle PD has some kind of snafu seemingly once every other month or so. Beatings, questionable shootings, cops busted for DUI, sexual harassment of female cops, etc.
The cops are almost never held accountable. They're put on paid "administrative leave." When one of them gets fired, it's almost like seeing the sun rise over the Pacific. The taxpayer is held accountable sometimes, due to the inevitable lawsuits.
I'd guess this is probably becoming more the rule than the exception across the country. Seattle PD has some kind of snafu seemingly once every other month or so. Beatings, questionable shootings, cops busted for DUI, sexual harassment of female cops, etc.
The cops are almost never held accountable. They're put on paid "administrative leave." When one of them gets fired, it's almost like seeing the sun rise over the Pacific. The taxpayer is held accountable sometimes, due to the inevitable lawsuits.
That is very true.
Not only are we collectively paying for their services, we're also paying for their mistakes that harm us. All while they take paid vacations on our tax dollars.
I disagree. As long as you do the following, your encounter with a law enforcement officer will go without incident:
1. Keep you hands in plain view
2. Don't ask questions or challenge the reason you are stopped
3. Comply with all instructions of the officer
Your opportunity to question why you were stopped will occur where it belongs which is in front of a judge.
Are you an American or slave? You sound like a slave.
And by the way, that's terrible advice your giving out. Your basically telling people to bow down to the Police if they don't want to get hurt.
You must not be informed about the thousands of incidents where people do all of the above and are still taken advantage of by the Police.
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