WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors are targeting a rising number of law enforcement officers for alleged brutality, Justice Department statistics show. The heightened prosecutions come as the nation's largest police union fears that agencies are dropping standards to fill thousands of vacancies and "scrimping" on training.Cases in which police, prison guards and other law enforcement authorities have used excessive force or other tactics to violate victims' civil rights have increased 25% (281 vs. 224) from fiscal years 2001 to 2007 over the previous seven years, the department says.

On Saturday, August 9, 1997, after a long day at work, Louima decided to go out with his friends at a Brooklyn night club called "Club Rendex Vous". After leaving the club, Louima was arrested for fitting the description of a suspect. During his ride to the precint, he was beaten in the patrol car. When Louima arrived at the precint, he was taken into the bathroom and was sodimized with the handle of a tilet plunger. The plunger was then shoved into his mouth and several of his teeth were broken.Louima suffered severe damage to his rectum and his bladder. Louima was left over night in the cell. The officers on day shift requested that he recieve medical treatment immediately.

A GROWING NATIONAL CONCERN:The issue is national in scope and reaches people all across this country. For too many people, especially in minority communities, the trust that is so essential to effective policing does not exist because residents believe that police have used excessive force, that law enforcement is too aggressive, that law enforcement is biased, disrespectful, and unfair."
Janet Reno, Attorney General of the United States, speaking on police brutality at a National Press Club luncheon, Washington, DC, 15 April 1999.

Dear Senator/Representative,The letter makes two requests. The letter firstly requests that legislation be written to bring justice to the police and government officials that commit wrongdoing. The second, and perhaps most important request, is to for the government to actively interview ALL potential victims of police brutality. Government should not wait until another person dies to take action...

"Cops don't tell on cops," explained Officer Bernard Cawley in his testimony before the 1993 Mollen Commission, which investigated various cases involving police corruption:And if they did tell on them, just say if a cop decided to tell on me, his career's ruined. He's going to be labeled as a rat. So if he's got 15 more years to go on the job, he's going to be miserable because it follows you wherever you go. And he could be in a precinct--he's going to have nobody to work with. And chances are if it comes down to it, they're going to let him get hurt.

Originally posted by MegaCurious
reply to post by alyosha1981

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Keep in mind that it's not just cops, it is security guards, too.

I had already known that, but one night at the Cleveland Greyhound station, I was reminded of it. Cleveland's ruthless Cleveland Metro Security company grabbed me after I showed them my ticket that I had just bought, forcefully dragged me into a back office, dumped the contents of all my pockets on a table, then proceeded to sexually humiliate and assault me. Afterwards they said that they did it "because I fit a description."

When I went to the cops they said "they can do anything they want, because they said you fit a description." No attorney would take the case.

Don't ask me how much I hate America. Thanks.

When I went to the cops they said "they can do anything they want, because they said you fit a description."