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Baton Bob Receives $20,000 Settlement For Coerced Facebook Post
McGruber writes: After arresting him during a June 2013 street performance, Atlanta Police Officers forced costumed street performer "Baton Bob" to make a pro-police statement on his Facebook page before they would allow him to be released on bond. Social media coverage of the incident triggered a six-month internal police investigation into the arrest. Atlanta Police Officer H.J. Davis was given a one-day suspension, then resigned from the Atlanta Police department a few weeks later. Atlanta Police Lt. Jeffrey Cantin received a five-day suspension for "violating responsibilities of a supervisor".
Baton Bob also filed a federal lawsuit against the city, arguing that officers made a wrongful arrest that violated, well, nearly every constitutional right you can name. Those included Jamerson's "right to free speech, his right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, his right to remain silent while in custody, his right to be free from compelled speech, his right to counsel, and his right to privacy." The City of Atlanta's legal department reviewed the case and determined that a $20,000 settlement would "be in the best interest of the city" rather than fighting the claims in court.
Baton Bob also filed a federal lawsuit against the city, arguing that officers made a wrongful arrest that violated, well, nearly every constitutional right you can name. Those included Jamerson's "right to free speech, his right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, his right to remain silent while in custody, his right to be free from compelled speech, his right to counsel, and his right to privacy." The City of Atlanta's legal department reviewed the case and determined that a $20,000 settlement would "be in the best interest of the city" rather than fighting the claims in court.
The guy who shot Tamir Rice was fired from his previous (police) job because of an inability to follow basic instructions and dangerous loss of composure during weapons training. And yet he got hired, again, as a policeman. And then he killed a 12 year old. So, I would suggest maybe you're the one in need of a head exam.
Fake edit: CAPTCHA is "killed", oddly enough.
That's not as true as you might think. Here are the most dangerous jobs (# of deaths per 100,000):
More recently, policing has gotten even lessdangerous.
And yes, people do in fact "line up" to be police officers. I live a block and a half away from the police academy here in Chicago, and I've seen the lines that form when the police exam is taken. It's a lot of people. And as far as "low reward", that's debatable too. We're talking about a lifetime guaranteed pension after 20 years (not a 401k, but an actual pension. You have that at your job?
You are welcome on my lawn.
which makes the whole settlement system bullshit.
It makes the settlement system workable. No one is going to engage in good faith negotiations if any offer made can be used against them in court, or in the newspapers.
also it's common that through the settlement process the crimes committed ...
This is a civil case, not a criminal case.
the dismissal of the officers involved is an admission of guilt.
The officers were not dismissed. One of them quit. The other was suspended for 5 days.
Oh stewardess, I speak racist. He said:
Such a group of people I despise. The powers that be want the people to view any incident not in terms of the individual, but rather that person's group, as it is easier to control by group or type rather than many separate and rational individuals.
Although I guess quitting will allow him to get another job and do this all over again.
Not necessarily. Georgia is relatively good about decertifying cops who are fired or resign in lieu of being fired.