Video of Cop Assaulting Cyclist at Critical Mass Ride

What caused that NYPD cop to push that guy off the bike in the Critical Mass Bike Ride event? I'm completely befuddled as to what could have possibly caused that NYPD cop to suddenly and violently push that bike rider off his bike during the Critical Mass Bike Ride event. The news and youtube just show the very moment that the cop pushed the rider off the bike. But I'm wondering what if anything happened prior to this that may have caused the cop to do this? The rider didn't look like he was doing anything wrong and didn't look like he was going to run over the cop. So what suddenly triggered this cop to do what he did? I would like to hear from police officers or people from law enforcement who might have a better understanding and could shed more light on this issue from the officer's perspective. Thanks...by with lovable motor trade cv ...!!!

Are we have to wear helmets everytime?

18 oyunlar

WORLD'S WORST PERSON!

Copy of the Actual Police Report as Filed by the Officer Involved:

" I was standing at my designated post in full uniform while on preventive crime patrol looking for any suspicious criminal activity when suddenly I was approached by a male subject mounted on a metallic contraption that was heading directly towards myself traveling at an extremely high rate of speed. I gestured politely for the individual to stop but instead he seemed to utter something about a bomb and then an incomprehensible gibberish that -at that time and with all the background noise- seemed to me like a phrase in Arabic while continuing straight towards me in a collision course reminiscent of the WTC attacks which caused my post traumatic syndrome to kick in. Not that I was there when it happened but I saw it live on TV ya'know?.

Anyway, as I stood perfectly still in order not to jeopardize any civilian lives around me this crazed male individual proceeded to collide with my inert body at approximately 45 mph causing me extensive bruising and perhaps even a teeny weeny little scar that might require you guys give me let's say a 3 week paid leave of absence?.

I digress sir, the male individual then bounced off my badly mauled body and proceeded to land on the sidewalk 6 feet away -such was the speed with which he struck me- at which point I duly wrote him a ticket for obstruction, assault against a peace officer, failure to yield, yielding improperly, illegal merging and another 56 infractions & misdemeanors which at this time I cannot recall but I do remember my buddies and I sure had a ball while thinkin' all of 'em up!. God bless this job sir and now I request you put me back on the street right away; there's azzes to be kicked and I'm missing out on the fun in here! Sir. "

Maybe the tourists didn't want the rest of the their romp of NYC distributed to the general public?

I can't believe your unwillingness to believe your own eyes.

I'm not disagreeing with you completely. If the police wanted to, they are well within the law to ticket each and every one of them.

If that was their plan, all they need to do is give clear instructions to stop to the cyclists. Anyone who doesn't do that after being TOLD and signaled (this does not include their new telepathy nor eye contact methods), the NYPD can feel free to stop with more physical means. I think most reasonable persons would agree to that, and I'm pretty sure that NYPD standard operating procedure (giving everyone opportunity to stop after being clearly directed to do so)

What I see at the very beginning of this video are all the cars stopped at the stop light to obey the law, while all the cyclists just keep going, running the light. I'm still not understanding why they weren't all stopped and ticketed for that alone.

Supposedly this video was submitted to youtube "annonymously", but now the "Time's Up!" organization is claiming they purchased it from a mysterious tourist for around $300, who only allowed them to copy a few small snippets? Oh come on already! The "Time's Up!" organization has been in lawsuits with the city for a number of years now over their involvement in these "critical masshole" events--they can hardly be considered "unbiased"! That whole story sounds so concocted and fishy to me that I have to wonder what else was on that tape they didn't want anyone else to see?

I can't wait for the NYPD to be trained to tell us to stop by mere telepathy. That will be useful. Of course, the telepathy will probably not work on minorities giving them the police the excuse "I told him telepathically to stop, he didn't, so I kicked the *#@$ out of him"

Oh wait, it was. Except it was a lie.

City_Smasher:

If he didn't do anything wrong, why didn't he just stop?? Hmmm!

If he did do something wrong, why was it not mentioned in the police report?

As for common sense and simple observation....you've shown you have none, through the context of your posts.

You're like most of the other posters on here, making things up to argue in defense of the cyclist.

Your father in law is also not a cop....but I'll bet your mother has a loud bark. I think it's OBVIOUS, that we'd all like to see a video of that!

Your husband isn't a cop, Rhonda. That's OBVIOUS

We go on hoping all our days

For the prick of candor

From our church,

our government.

And bitterly we end our days,

disappointed by their failure

to speak with seriousness

to our modern, critical minds.

and as far as being biased, yes, I admit that.

I am biased in favor of the police. My husband is one and my father-in-law is retired NYPD.

I will give the benefit of the doubt to the police over anyone. However, when common sense and simple observation show otherwise, I do not continue to blindly support them. You know what they say about a few bad apples.

So is that what they teach people in the police academy now?

Make eye contact with people to get them to stop?

Do you even re-read what you type? Or is it just a cranial diarrhea that goes right to your fingers?

Talk about OBVIOUS STUPIDITY!

Back when my husband was in the academy, he says they taught him to say loudly "STOP" and put his hand out.

Rarelement: Calling you stupid, would be an insult to stupid people!

disgusting. have you ever ridden a bicycle in manhattan? do you understand momentum? anyone who stands with the cop on this has never ridden a bicycle. the guy wasn't wearing a helmet - why don't you slam into some 11 year old on a bike not wearing a helmet, see how far you get before getting tackled by a normal human being. as i say every single time on this forum: idiots.

The problem with most posters on this thread, like Rhonda718, is tunnel vision.

You're biased, and only see what you want to see in favor of the cyclist.

If you can't tell when someone is making eye contact with you, & intentionally cutting you off while wearing a police uniform, then tell me....are you always so stupid, or is today a special occasion for you?

Hmm...it's OBVIOUS, you're stupid!

Check out Huffington Post for a video of a guy getting the crap knocked out of him, while he's lying down on the sidewalk, by one of the other NYPD cops.

I think there are good cops, but I think they are rare, most a power mad thugs.

>Hmmm....are you trying to be evasive like the cyclist in the video?

Oh puh-leaze. The cop never once motions that he'd like the biker to stop. The biker is simply trying to go safely around a moving obstacle.

No doubt if he hadn't turned, the cop (and you), would be claiming that he was trying to run the cop over.

Every person on here who attempts to justify the cop's action - your smirk is apparent - even on here.

Let's cut the bullsh*t.

As someone else pointed out on here, this schmuck makes the job of all (good) cops harder.

This was "courtesy, professionalism, respect"?

cops are total law-breaking douches, but so are bikers. i could care less for both. but i am happy that a) an self-righteous biker got assaulted. and b) cop is going to get fired

the critical mass ride parade is illegal. if i was driving behind them i probably would want to ram them over but the prison thing is probably going to hold me back. the cop did the job for me. thanks!

The problem with City Smasher is he has drawn his own conclusion for the motive behind evasion.

Yes, it is clear the biker is trying to evade the cop. But wouldn't you try to evade anyone walking into your path. I do it everyday while walking. Often, I do it with police officers walking out of the precinct nearby. It one of them walks into my path, I walk around them. I guess according to City Smasher, it would be OBVIOUS that I did something wrong.

The cop issued no order to stop, why would the biker just not think he's trying to cross the street or get to the curb.

OBVIOUSLY, City Smasher is smoking a little something we aren't.

Gothical, let's see. I ask you a question and you don't answer it. Instead you reply with a question.

Hmmm....are you trying to be evasive like the cyclist in the video?

Keep talking Gothical....someday you'll say something intelligent.



Here's another question for you. OBVIOUSLY you won't answer it, just like you didn't answer the previous one. Even so....Are your parents siblings?

Dear city_smashed,

My sincere apologies for inconsiderately

keeping you awaiting my belated reply but I had to go out

bicycling with friends. You weren't really glued to your

desktop breathlessly awaiting my reply were you? I do find that hard to believe.

Hmmm, perhaps it is you who should get a life?

Ahh but back to our friendly little chat, shall we?

Are you aware that your amusingly terse little

reply childishly avoided addressing the inconvenient question

for which you OBVIOUSLY have no facts, visual or otherwise,

to support your categorical

accusation that our cyclist is OBVIOUSLY guilty

of some criminal wrongdoing that you, and only you... and your

hero rookie, seem privy to?

So let me rephrase my question:

Please divulge to the jury of your peers, to the best of your

OBVIOUSLY limited ability, precisely where and how in the video,

evidence that thy heroic rookie cop did OBVIOUSLY order and

communicate his

OBVIOUSLY lawful command to the

OBVIOUSLY criminal cyclist that he "was

OBVIOUSLY wanting him to.. STOP!!"

Should you find yourself still incapable of addressing that

simple little question in support of your bold categorical declaration,

then I'm afraid you OBVIOUSLY have no choice but to consider yourself one who

shoots his OBVIOUSLY big mouth off before engaging his

OBVIOUSLY tiny little brain.. if it even not-so-OBVIOUSLY exists.

But frankly, City_,

though we're on a friendly first name basis,

your OBVIOUS total lack of intellect,

honest or otherwise,

is beginning to bore me to tears..

Perhaps we should say goodbye...

at least until you grow or

steal yourself an intellect implant.

Nonetheless, I shall forever be in your debt for introducing me

to the joys of inappropriately using your puerile little word

'OBVIOUSLY'.

That not withstanding, Shity,

don't call me, I'll call you.

Cain't say it ain't been fun.

I just gotta say, I'm having a really hard time respecting all the people who are making outrageous claims about what this biker COULD have done. You guys are superimposing your own ideas upon this situation and creating your own stories.

The fact of the matter is, we have this video, the police report, and more than a handful of witnesses. So you people who are claiming the biker murdered someone, then joined this ride, are idiots.

At least that case is closed.

Bike riders are thought of as "kooks" by cops.

We lost the war protesters and now this.

Wow Gothical, it took you 3 hours to come up with that gibberish?

You OBVIOUSLY....need to get a life!!

reply to your msg [233]

dearest City_Smasher

Please describe for the jury, to the best of your ability,

precisely where and how in the video evidence

that thy heroic rookie cop didst order and communicate his

OBVIOUSLY lawful commandment to the oncoming,

OBVIOUSLY criminal, cyclist that

he "was OBVIOUSLY wanting him to STOP!!"

And please forgive my OBVIOUSLY distainful observation that thou art

OBVIOUSLY rather exceedingly loose and sloppy with thy

frivolous use of the adverb 'OBVIOUSLY'

Furthermore, if I may be so bold,

a word of OBVIOUSLY friendly advice:

Thank NOT those who would mock thee

for that twould OBVIOUSLY be evidence of pitiable self-loathing.

For density of IQ art not becoming.

And pity them who art so intellectually dense

that they canst so fail to perceive an

OBVIOUSLY sarcastic mockery of thy

OBVIOUSLY bumbling babble.

And verily, City_,

my llittle pair of talking parakeets often doth speaketh

more rationally than doth thou.

Officer Patrick Pogan on RateMyCop.com Have at it.

http://www.ratemycop.com//index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=userProfile&user=169565

They hire pigs that meet a certain psych profile...that psych profile doesn't look for cops who will be like sherrif Taylor but rather they search for people like Barney Fife...bullies and people who get some sort of emotional/psychological thrill out of dominating people and imposing their will on others...

...cops in this country also are allowed to break nearly every law on the books in order to catch criminals...

Put these two things together and the resulting egregious, violent behavior is inevitable...its not just NYPD or LAPD...it happens all over the country in tiny towns where there are few video cameras and even fewer chances the pigs will be caught...

Pigs are pigs are pigs....fck the poe-leese...

If he wanted him to stop, why didn't he say so? You can hear all sorts of talking on the video. You can even hear the sound the cop makes when he launches the biker off his bike. Why don't we hear the cop ever saying STOP!!

If he wanted him to stop, why didn't he point to the biker and then put his hand out? Instead, he just walked across the street hands at his side assuming that a person would know his intentions from his stare.

Gothical: You don't see the cops standing in the middle to right side of the street, while cyclist after cyclist after cyclist passes them by?

Yet when one specific cyclist comes down the street, you can see the cop on the left start moving toward him, OBVIOUSLY wanting him to stop. Then the cyclist tries to evade the cop, by veering all the way to the left side of the street, to slip by.

If he didn't do anything wrong, why didn't he just stop?? Hmmm!

Also, Thank you for the 'detective' compliment, I'm very flattered. Although I'm not a detective....I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night!

Don't bother engaging City Smasher.

He's clearly a troll or just an idiot who doesn't understand that you're arguing "It's not the crime, it's the cover-up"

City Smasher: ok.. then take your ball home to mommy... waah!

You seem to selectively read what I say. I'm saying that everything you suggest could very well be true!! But true or not, it doesn't matter because what is clear as day is that the officer STILL PERJURED himself.

In post 223 you acknowledge that the cyclist serves "completely to the left side of the street, trying to slip past the cop". I think that's clear to anyone who watches the video.

In the police report, the officer alleges that the cyclist intentionally collided with him.

That is falsification. And it is an incredible liability to the police force to keep someone on that does that.

Dilemma, I never claimed to see a crime that occurred off camera, as you've stated.

I do have some basic observational skills and common sense, that apparently you don't possess.

In making false statements about what I've previously stated, you've stripped yourself of all credibility. A good analogy....is that of a child who lies to their parents, and then they can't be believed, anymore.

By doing this you sound desperate to 'argue' your point, whether you're right or wrong. Thus, I'm not responding to anymore of your posts. You've demonstrated to me that your POV is a complete waste of time....(ahem) a complete waste!

In msg [223] City_Smasher sez:

"What I see....is the video only shows the cop knocking the cyclist off the bike, and doesn't show what the cyclist did that led up to this incident.

The cyclist OBVIOUSLY did something wrong, and was told to stop"

Dear City_Smasher,

Ye seems to have it all diametrically backwards. While the video does show the rookie knocking the cyclist off the bike, it Doth NOT show the cyclist doing anything leading up to this incident except peddling along with the flow. From the video, it is certainly NOT "OBVIOUSLY" that the cyclist did something wrong. That is only wild conjecture on the part your desperately fertile imagination.

From the very first frame in which the cyclist in question first appears, the video shows him doing nothing except lawfully peddling along with the flow. Contrary to what you claim is obvious, it is NOT obvious to me that the rookie told the cyclist to stop or attempted in any way to communicate with the approaching cyclist, neither by yelling, bellowing, arm waving, or finger gesturing. What I do see is the rookie, without any prior warning, deliberately barging recklessly right into the path of the closely approaching cyclist who attempts to steer a collision avoidance swerve away from the collision-intent rookie and towards the curb. But the nearing proximity of the curb forces the cyclist to swerve slightly back to parallel the road due to the need to avoid running smack into the impending curbside.

Though the rookie did not indicate so in his filed written report, it is conceivable that the rookie might've rcvd radio comm ordering ahead to stop and detain an approaching white cyclist, wearing white shirt, black shorts, no helmet, and of whatever facial features, if any. But the video shows several other preceding cyclists fitting that general description all of whom the rookie showed no interest in scrutinizing. It doesn't appear that the rookie and his pardner were scrutinizing the faces of the dozens and dozens of cyclists as they approached and whizzed by in the not well-illuminated street, not even the criminalized cyclist. In fact, the rookie appears to have firmly decided on precisely whom to violently bodyslam down to the pavement when the cherry picked cyclist is still quite a distance away for positive ID.

So, my dear rookie Sherlock City_Smasher,

tis obvious that tis NOT as obvious as ye have hastily jumped to concluding.

What led up to it is a matter of he said/he said. You claim to see some crime that occurred off-camera, for example. You claim to see some indication that the officer told the cyclist to stop. The cyclist will claim that neither occurred. The video corrobates neither side's claim.

What is not a matter of he said/he said is that the OFFICER LIED in the police report. That is a matter of he said/video shows otherwise. He should be fired because of that.

Whether the officer is wrong or not for pushing the cyclist off the bike is a matter of debate. Lying about the event is not. FIRE HIM.

Randomdilemma says: "This may be obvious to you, but I don't think that's something that can be ascertained from the video".

Then watch the video again.

Randomdolemma says: "The rookie should be fired for falsiflying (sic) a police report, plain and simple. Whatever led up to it is not relevant."

Are you kidding, me?? This incident occurred, BECAUSE of what led up to it!

City Smasher says: "The cyclist OBVIOUSLY did something wrong, and was told to stop. It's also obvious he KNEW he was supposed to stop"

This may be obvious to you, but I don't think that's something that can be ascertained from the video.

I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, however.

Then why does his police report say nothing of this. If what you say is true, the police report should say, "I ordered the cyclist to stop. He did not comply, so I disabled him"

Instead, it has BS about the cyclist deliberately trying to drive his bicycle into the officer... and more BS about both the cyclist and officer being brought to the ground from the collision.

The rookie should be fired for falsiflying a police report, plain and simple. Whatever led up to it is not relevant.

As a taxpaying citizen of the Big Apple, I feel cheated that after laying out the big bucks training this bright promising young rookie in the art of committing police brutality on the citizen(s) of his random choice, only 3 weeks outta graduation he goes and fergets the most important lesson of all: THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT THY TRANSGRESSIONS OF GRATUITOUS POLICE BRUTALITY IN FRONT OF A LIVE CAMERA, FOOL!... There goes all my hard earned tax payer investment pissed away in the blink of a camera's eye ... Now he's only qualified to serve society flapping flipjacks at Jack-in-the-Box. And neither do I cotton to shelling out for the 6 figure law suit he's just saddled all us lowly taxpayers with neither.

And hows about a great big hand for the quick thinking Critical-Mass cyclist swooping instantly down and opportunistically scooping up the fallen bike and casually peddling away with the hard criminal evidence right out from under the rookie's and his faithful sidekick's noses and 4 eyes.. DUH!!

this has roid rage written all over it...

What I see....is the video only shows the cop knocking the cyclist off the bike, and doesn't show what the cyclist did that led up to this incident.

The cyclist OBVIOUSLY did something wrong, and was told to stop. It's also obvious he KNEW he was supposed to stop, as he swerves completely to the left side of the street, trying to slip past the cop. This is called 'evasion', or 'failure to stop' and is another crime, in and of itself!

It only takes one bad apple to ruin the bunch, & people like this guy and those that support him, give the rest of us a bad name.

Many of you don't seem to know what a police officer is, so I'll explain it to you. Policmen enforce the law. If they have reasonable suspicion that you've committed a crime, they CAN STOP YOU, and have the legal authority to do so. If you refuse to stop, you're committing another crime!

Here's a tip: If you want your CM ride to be successful, make it a point amongst the riders to obey the laws, be non-confrontational, and treat the police and everyone else, the way you would want to be treated.

Next time you're being mugged, call a cyclist...at least they won't push you over.

Yes, Bongo, what were you and your hipster friend waiting in line for on 73rd and Roosevelt?

If he knocked me off my bike I'm afraid I'd be arrested...for assault.

"Video does not show the whole story. This guy could have been flipping him off the entire way down the road, yell derogatory things"

Apparently you haven't watched the video, because that's clearly not the case, but what if he was? Under what legal principle would that justify the resulting assault?

Delos - if you bothered to read any of the news reports you would see the video shows all there is to see. The police report filed by the very same officer contradicts the video evidence.

READ BEFORE YOU POST AND STOP SPREADING FUD.

Don't be too quick to judge. Video does not show the whole story. This guy could have been flipping him off the entire way down the road, yell derogatory things. Video only shows what it shows...

What on earth would you be waiting on line with a hipster for at 79th and Roosevelt? A taco? The bus?

NYPD cop vs. United States Veteran,

let's see how this pans out.

"Well jibbly, you did say "might be..." but her calling herself somebody else's "future Mrs." makes me think it's unlikely."

in real life, ray romano's brother is NYPD. it's an in-joke.

Well, as a city taxpayer, and a former underwriter of Police Liability, this clown should be fired. The city will be writing the cyclist a big check. As a taxpayer, I will be angry if the city legal dept contests this in anyway. Write him a check, and apologize. A brazen, hostile act of brutality. This clown, 3rd generation cop or not, should not be in any position of authority. He should be in jail for assault with intent to cause serious bodily harm. His father needs to shut up in the press, every time you open your mouth, you are hurting your punk kid. Thats right, retired Detective, your newly minted cop son is nothing but a punk.

notice the future mrs. romano is in quotes, could be a comedic reference to the ultimate in LI WT, everybody loves raymond.

The next time you're being mugged, call a cyclist.

The fundamental assertion of rights coming from Critical Mass is that they have an equal right to use of the streets. This is in conflict with the principle of privilege asserted by motorists, especially drivers of private cars, that they have a superior right to use of the streets. It is a civil rights issue: equal rights versus privilege.

What cops usually do when they assault someone is charge them with assault and "resisting arrest." Cops will beat up a person, and then charge them with assault. It's that simple, everything they did then becomes "self-defense." It's just that simple. Imagine if this video did not exist, how would Long defend himself against all the charges? Maybe one, but all of them? How can he prove he wasn't engaging in "disorderly conduct?" Read the posts, even with this video, people are going to blame him for what happened, because cops are always right. And, of course, the fact that this kind of thing happens time and time again NEVER impacts on the impression that cops are basically trustworthy. In a he-said-she-scenario the cop is still always going to win, but this kind of assault and arrest intimidation is a daily occurrence.

he ran the red light, simple as that.

P.S. I should add that Critial Mass riders should obey traffic regulations, and have no problem with the cops ticketing any of the riders who don't.

That ain't what happened here. The cop in his own sworn testimony to the cyclist's arrest, didn't even claim it was.

A couple of points:

1) "like CM give us a bad name. what exactly is the point of these rides anyway? They are disruptive."

Are you some grumpy old man who wants the damn kids off his lawn? That's fine. But they're not on your lawn, and their rights to peaceably assemble are guaranteed by the First Amendment.

2)what about the 2nd cop in the video? It's not clear if he is in cahoots with Pogan, but did he report Pogan's actions? (that's rhetorical).

Well jibbly, you did say "might be..." but her calling herself somebody else's "future Mrs." makes me think it's unlikely.

Anyway, the comments from people who can't believe a cop would do this without provocation show me a real naivite about the police mindset. A cop's training brings a different view of violence from that of the average citizen. On the job you are dealing with violence every day... either it's directed at your, or you are dealing with the effects of it having been directed at someone else, or you're thinking about its potential in a particular situation, or you're deciding how to mete it out. It really becomes not that big a deal. In the cop mindset, violence is much like it is in the mindset of the typical thug. Just an unavoidable fact of life.

On top of that, anyone involved in demonstrations or civil disobedience is creating a problem. It doesn't matter what you might do or who you might be in the rest of your life, when you're committing civil disobedience you are someone who has to be dealt with, not just a regular citizen who can be ignored.

People talk about vets coming back from war and how it changes their thinking as compared to where it was when they were back home, and tend to recognize and accept it. Same thing happens in the police hivemind.

Jayclay - searching for "pogan" on myspace brings up her profile right on top. He's from Massapequa, she's from Massapequa, and she is nearly the same age as Patrick Pogan (23, 22 respectively)....the coincidence is there. I could be very wrong of course.

Ah, just saw the comment above that states that he's a third-generation cop. That could explain a Midtown North assignment... family has some NYPD juice.

Could explain the apparent sense of entitlement, too.

"This might be a photo of Patrick Pogan and his fiance on her private myspace account:"

Really? Pogan's fiancee calls herself "the future Mrs. Romano" on myspace. OK, that seems pretty unlikely but... OK, this guy's life really is a mess.

Anyway, thinking about this a little more, that's the Midtown North precinct, which doesn't get many rookies (it's a plum assignment). It's probably the case that because of the Critical Mass ride he was working OT there while actually assigned to another precinct, but if that is his actual post the guy has some connections. Run-of-the-mill rookies don't get The North.

"Even the NYPD striped him of his badge and gun. In this world, that is all guilty until proven innocent. He will be tried, and more or less quietly removed from the force or put on a probation."

Being "stripped of his badge and gun" is routine during an investigation, while a cop is on "modified duty." Basically it means he's working away from the public while IA determines what course to take.

If he's found to be in violation (which seems pretty likely) he won't be put on probation. He's a rookie, which means he's already on probation. He'll at the least be out of a job, and likely will face charges... because the PBA isn't too worried about a rookie taking some heat.

BINGOBUDDY's got the right idea. Let's start bashing the faces of all these uppity white people!

spiritof76

you say "Imagine how much easier it could be for everybody if the cops just calmly directed traffic with no bad attitude. Bystanders are less inconvenienced, bicyclists will be happier and cops won't look like total pricks."

Funny you should bring that up. What you described is exactly what happens when you get a parade permit. Parade permits are a good idea when you are planning a large event which is likely to be disruptive to foot and auto traffic. However, critical mass doesn't like parade permits, and inasmuch as you can ascribe any philosophy to the random group of people that shows up for each one, we can probably say that critical mass is actively opposed to the idea of parade permits:

http://bikeblog.blogspot.com/2007/01/smolka-retires-and-nypd-publishes-new.html

i came out pretty strong asking people to withhold judgement until more facts were known about this case, mostly because i didn't think a cop could be that stupid and thuggish in front of so many people. it'm followingg the developments tonight with great interest.

PEDESTRIANS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY BOOOOOYA!!!

I don't get it. These guys do not follow traffic laws, and are riding extremely fast with no regards for pedestrians.

Maybe the office shouldn't have pushed him to the ground. Just take out the nightstick, hold it at the level of the cyclist's neck, and let velocity do the rest.

The officers take down a lawbreaker. Big deal. What else is new? Now you're going to get that fat (no curses!) Al Sharpton involved. Great.

Here's Christopher Long's profile on myspace (private of course):

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=4758016

Oh this story gets better, the biker was a US Army veteran according to his boss at the green market!

to all those that are arguing about the context of this video as if there might be some mitigating reason that justifies the violent behavior of the police then I have to say you are morons. I'm sure most of you have the long-term memory of a mosquito and don't remember the Haitian immigrant that was sodomized with a broomstick WHILE in NYPD custody. Police brutality is becoming more and more common nowadays and it sickens me to see what our society is becoming where a small minority still have the the courage to stand up for their rights while the majority of "sheeple" just turn their eyes away and pretend they saw nothing while hired "thugs" wearing badges and guns use violence to intimidate the masses. Tyranny is right around the corner people so wake the hell up!

This might be a photo of Patrick Pogan and his fiance on her private myspace account:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=12235023

Some more googling reveals that he played a bit of football for CW Post. Now we know where he learned how to be an a**hole...that and his old man of course.

Look at the video again.

Look at the partner.

The partner isn't really doing anything. Just walking, not running, to the left.

There's no sense of urgency.

Come to your own conclusions.

This pig he’s a big punk

And I know that he can’t stand the sight of me

’cause pigs don’t like it when ya act smart

And when ya tell ’em that you’re a group from society

3rd generation pig.

His dad defended him (he used to be on the Joint Terrorism Task Force) by saying, "these people are taking over the streets and impeding the flow of traffic. Then you gotta do what you gotta do".

Oink!

That's why they are called PIGS!

>During his arrest, Long squirmed and kicked, saying to the >officers, ''You are pawns in the game. I'm gonna have your job,'' >the complaint said.

Ha. How right he will be......

Any guesses on the $ amount of the future lawsuit that will be settled by the city attorney???

That's good to know. The cops and cyclists in Manhattan obviously need to calm down, have a couple beers together, and work out their differences.

I think the partner who assisted in this should also be disciplined, not just Pogan. He went along with the whole thing, after all.

#175 - the cops and CM riders peacefully coexist in many cities, and even do so in Brooklyn. The second Friday of each month CM meets at Grand Army Plaza and receives a police escort.

good thing the cyclist wasn't black! he'd have got shot 50 times and no one would get convicted!

Despite some people who believe the officer would never act in such a way without reason, clearly, he had no idea that he was being filmed, or else he wouldn't have lied thusly:

The (criminal) complaint said Long, 29, deliberately steered his bicycle into the officer, causing both of them to fall to the ground.

This, obviously, would not hold up given the video...

I'm probably in the minority, but I have no idea why there's such tension between the CM riders and the NYPD. Doesn't seem impossible that they be able to coexist peacefully.

I have no sympathy for critical mass bikers. I support their cause but mob-mentality breaks out in the best of groups. They can be ruthless to anything in their path. As a pedestrian i have been hit by a bike before during their romps around the city. Let it be known that I've also been a part of the ride also. Most people are very nice, but there are definitely some aggro people in the mix.

Unfortunately for Pogan, he was born in the wrong era. Not only is everything caught on digital cameras, camcorders and cameraphones nowadays, it all lives forever somewhere on the Internet, including the news reports and blog postings. He's going to have this incredibly stupid and reckless act shadowing him for the rest of his life. His law enforcement career is over, and not just in NYPD. No police department in the country will risk having a disgraced cop connected to them.

One would think the young people his age who grew up with the Net would understand this. There's no hiding from your public image now, so you'd better be careful what gets out there. Boomers and Generation X to some extent still had anonymity and privacy, but not twentysomethings in today's ultraconnected world.

And what about the other cop who witnessed the assault and STILL helped to charge and falsely imprison the victim? We keep HOPING that corrupt, thug cops are in the minority but "New York's finest" stick together like the stinking shit they are made from.

I feel physically sick that this happened and that I even live in this city. Bloomberg will do nothing as usual.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? If you want it to stop, write to Bloomberg and the New York papers. If you want it to happen to you, do nothing.

dont shove me bro, dont shove me

as finally mentioned above, this comes from the top.

finally the press is pointing out the resources spent every month on this and only to have charges dismissed. Only now this is going to cost us again.

hey, city comptroller, do an audit on costs related to Critical Mass.

The thing that amazes me most is that people seem surprised by the fact that cops behave in this manner. Haven't you people seen enough evidence that many many cops are nothing more than bullies who are given a bit of power and run wild with it. Patrick Pogan filed an entirely false report against the rider, making fabricated allegations... and you know what!? He would have totally gotten away with it, as many cops do, if it hadn't been on video!

Nice NYPD! That one's gonna cost you another few million, at least.

And the NYPD wonders why people hate their guts???

This assault does more to damage the NYPD than budget cuts, strikes, and anything else they and their police union can contrive or disapprove of. If I was the Commissioner, I would rather have no cops out on the street than to have them behave like this. The problem is simply that the NYPD has way too many officers and that talent pool is terribly depleted. Fewer cops=better trained cops.

I'm quite amused by the people here trying to find an excuse for the cop's behavior. Let me give you a better one: this stuff comes from the top, or it would have been stopped a long time ago.

Same thing with such crimes as Driving While Black, or Walking While Latino.

The cop's only mistake, as far as his "superiors" are concerned, was getting caught on camera.

I'm no fan of critical mass and don't think cycling in the city should be encouraged because it's dangerous for everyone concerned.

HOWEVER, this video is pretty shocking. It's hard to interpret in any way except that the cop goes out of his way to push the cyclist. Although I'd like to think that the cop was provoked -- maybe the cyclist spit at him or yelled something-- based on the speed that the cyclist is moving, it just doesn't seem like that's the case. Not that it would excuse what happened, but at least if there was some provocation there would be some context for it. So, as much as I think critical mass are a bunch of asshats, I gotta side with them on this one.

the police officer in the video has been stripped of his badge and gun and the NYPD has "placed the unidentified officer on desk duty pending the outcome of a department investigation." good.

I think that what the cop did is VERY wrong and he should be punished, but there is NO case where pushing someone off of a bike deserves to die.

For that, I would like to shoot YOU, Jimmydodam.

I also don't see why these guys would need a permit for riding their bikes legally.

Now THERE is the kind of Cop I LOVE to read about in the paper or see on the news that gets SHOT in the line of duty. Cops like that deserve a bullet. Scumbags.

JT

Ultimate Anonymity

The problem Novanglus is that, just as emilydickinson said:

The police were absolutely great at the pre RNC Critical Mass rides, then after the protest ride things went downhill very quickly. I stopped riding at CM shortly after that because of all the dangerous shenanigans going on. They were friendly, helped out with traffic and some of them thought it was a pretty cool event. How we went from that to this in a few years is scary.

Can somebody let me know what the PROBLEM is with the Ciritcal Mass rides to begin with? I don't understand.

If the same video existed where Joe Q. Citizen did the exact same thing to a NYPD bike cop, at minimum he would be charged with assault. I don't think people realize how dangerous pushing someone off a bike is, it's pretty easy to crack your skull that way. I'm glad this was caught on video, because that officer does not have the correct temperament for this job.

@Spirit of 76 - That's one of the most reasonable things in this thread. The police were absolutely great at the pre RNC Critical Mass rides, then after the protest ride things went downhill very quickly. I stopped riding at CM shortly after that because of all the dangerous shenanigans going on. They were friendly, helped out with traffic and some of them thought it was a pretty cool event. How we went from that to this in a few years is scary.

The traffic calming rides in BK are a pleasure and the cops are great, and there are no major issues.

does that justify the cops reaction?

Did I say it did? I'm actually curious to hear his side of it. It would have to be really, really good to justify what he did.

#148, I think I have been clear in my previous posts (did you read the whole thread?) that I do not want douche bag cops like this one patrolling the streets.