Gothamist: NYPD Investigates Cop Videotaped Throwing Cyclist Off Bike

Skillzy

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:43:46 -0500

This is the kind of unwarranted, unnecessay, police brutality that has led people to label police officers as PIGS. This uniformed individual is not fit to be in the public service. With his lack of self discipline and evident contempt for the rules, he would not even be fit for a role in the armed forces. We can see there was no attempt made to stop the cyclist prior to the tackle. This was purely a surprise attack, presumably for the love of violence. Why is it that the New York Police Department is so often the receptacle for the dregs of society? These violent thugs are a menace, not a help to the people they supposedly serve. I am strongly in favor of the concept of a police force, but it must be staffed by mature-minded, rational individuals. Not Bezerkers like this. Such abuses of the necessary powers granted to a police officer as we see in this dismal display only serve to undermine the authority of a police department. This criminal in the uniform must go.

Potosi

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:44:53 -0500

There have been plenty of CM rides when the ride HAS followed all traffic regulations, and stopped at the red lights. At all of these rides that I have participated in the police have violently arrested and beating bikers. People who dislike CM should WANT us to go through red lights. It decreases the amount of time we back up traffic on the street we are on. Most people in the ride would have no problem stopping at lights. It's been done, it makes it much better for motorists trying to get somewhere for us to move through as quickly as possible.

sarabeth1111

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:32:52 -0500

What I see on that video tape is a long line of cars all stopped for the stop light, while the bikes continue weaving past them, to ride right on through! Since when is running a stop light on a bicycle NOT illegal? If nothing else, that's the law the cyclist broke. Oh, I think he was probably completely out of line regardless, but as far as lying goes? That entire contention is apparently based on a supposed deposition that appeared in another website, which I did view and the one thing I noted that appears to distinguish it from any other police deposition I've ever seen is the lack of the officer's signature. So I think I'll reserve judgement until the investigation is finished.

galvo

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:48:52 -0500

i wonder if the soon to be ex officer Patrick Pogan father and grandfather all used steroids and abused their law enforcement position. It definitely looks like soon to be ex officer Pogan grew up around the kitchen table hearing stories of how to lie on arrest reports and to always add a line of duty injury into the report in order to set up the officer for a disability pension. Seems the soon to be ex officer was already fabricating his injuries two weeks out of the academy. Good job teaching your child, dad and grandpa!

jrn100

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:16:26 -0500

Critical mass is stupid. Put on your damn helmets and ride SAFE. I am an avid bicyclist and trauma surgeon. Please don't end up in my operating room with a head injury that will have you spend the rest of your life in a nursing home. No matter what your cause or reason, in car vs. bicycle car ALWAYS wins. Cars very rarely stop, most of these end up as hit & runs. You will be left with no bike, nobody to blame but yourself, and a $10,000 doctor/hospital bill.

Rfive

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:28:06 -0500

Sorry Billy, but we citizens will pay for this prick's idiocy. I hope the rider launches a suit for $200 M and settles for about $20M. This is similar to Abner Louima, without the sexual/racial overtones. Police officers should have to sign an agreement that if they do something stupid, the city is not responsible for their actions and they may face criminal charges. That might keep the riffraff out.

NannyState

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:13:16 -0500

Too many cops with too little else to do. One of the benefits of falling crime rates is that you don't need as many cops. The NYPD could trim at least one or two thousand and make it clear that anyone who aids and abets this kind of sociopathic behavior will get bounced. The Rockefeller Laws need to be abolished and the drug crimes that need the most attention should be their top priority, not some hippie lighting a dube in a park.

ribaldry

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:40:01 -0500

This story resonates with everybody because there has been a huge shift toward a police state in New York City and the country. We all sense that these are different times than even a decade ago. Most arrests in the USA are drug related. The cops have to arrest at ten people to get one drug arrest. They arrest anybody they can to make the quota. Watch this video so you will know how to protect your rights. BUSTED: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA Rock and don't take any shit from the Man.

chuzzlewit

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:39:00 -0500

i know. this place is like Shawshank. oh well, off to zihuatanejo!

virgil

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:10:52 -0500

chuzzlewit; I'm afraid it has nothing to do with what you did. You're in a heap of trouble anyway. Unless someone has videotape proving otherwise, it's our word against yours, and nobody will believe you. Welcome to the criminal. justice. system. (ominous music. commercial break.)

Billy Walker

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:37:13 -0500

By the way, I'm sick and tired of NYC always getting sued for these types of incidents. Why do I have to pay for it in my taxes? What did I do to deserve being taxed for something like this? This officer presumably was NOT doing his job. If that assumption turns out to be correct I say sue the officer personally. Let the officer pay for the privledge of what he did... why do we as taxpayers have to pay for it?

Billy Walker

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:28:04 -0500

Well, it's always a bit of the unknown when you comment on something like this. The video does not show what the bicyclist was doing for any length of time prior to approaching the officer. However, even if he was doing what the officer claimed, is it really necessary to throw a body block? One of the witnesses, a Mr. Radhuber, states the exact opposite of what the officer claims. The father of the officer is defending his son when he (the father) has no clue as to what went on. That goes to show the validity of the father's defense of the son, or should I say stupidity. Oh, you gotta' love it! This is the type of stuff that makes us civilians question the police. Don't they ever stop to think they hurt themselves? The Blue Wall of Silence hurts the images of the good cops more than anything out there. I wouldn't expect a civilian to pull such a stupid move and I certainly wouldn't expect a cop to do it. Incidents like this are exactly why you never know if you can trust the police. The boys/girls in blue just don't seem to get it. If found guilty give the officer a few years in a cell; do the same to the father for making such a stupid comment. Don't you have to be present to know if your comment makes any sense? Apparently not, but we know why the son is the way he is.

chuzzlewit

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:04:47 -0500

"Actually, where is babyhitler, chuzzlewit, or any other member of that crew?" good heavens - what did i do???

TKaisen

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:03:57 -0500

I'm glad these threads get so many comments. I hope that blogs continue to follow this after everyone else moves on to Britney's latest wardrobe choices.

edEx

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:52:24 -0500

Patrick Pogan will most likely have to testify in front of a grand jury and will most likely lie under oath.

Spiritof76

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:29:15 -0500

[104] Exactly. I have no idea why GlennQNYC keeps grasping at straws other that either he's in a major state of denial or has some vested interest in Pogan's defense. We know exactly what Pogan claimed in his report, that Long was weaving in and out of traffic and headed straight for Pogan. The former is very much in doubt and everybody who watches the video knows the latter is a complete fabrication. Nowhere does the report say they were told to watch out for Long. Pogan even claims he himself was knocked down and suffered cuts to his arms. He's lying scum. Just how maneuverable do you think bicycles are? Two cops wouldn't be able to block the path of one "wanted" rider? Only if they're the usual 40+ year old veterans with 30 extra pounds of spare tire squeezing out over the belt.

WestVillageVintage

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:26:48 -0500

Just saw the Commissioner on TV. He says he has no idea how it happened. I'm afraid that the vendetta against CM in particular and bicyclists in general came from Kelly & Bloomberg as pay back for the RNC protest. BTW, what ever happened with all those RNC arrests? How much did the city have to pay out for law suits stemming from that? I hope this is just the beginning of a much broader investigation into post 9/11 policing policies of our city. That would include the financial and human costs. Frightening how many are ready to accept the curtailing of our liberties and police brutality. I can remember a time, not so long ago, that I respected the NYPD. I am disappointed in our finest.

ThisCharmingMan

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:20:53 -0500

Dude, they hate this guy because he dares to break their narrow code. He is fraternizing with known hippies and Starbucks drinkers. He could be fricken Captain America, and if he mounts a bike and rides with CM, then in their eyes he's a commie and should be handled. duh.

JacqueMehoff

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:16:43 -0500

if they are ultra conservative, why are they against this United States of America Veteran? this is a U.S. Veteran who served his Nation, that is the highest honor one can do for their Country. Why does the NYPD hate America and hates Veterans who served their Country. The Country being the United States of America AKA U.S.A.

Partywatcher

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:13:50 -0500

If you havent already read the forum Jibbly (#85) posted. Read outside the thread and you will find our posts celebrating violence, open racism, and a general hatred of anyone they deem unacceptable (basicly anyone who is not a pig, including the few decent cops).

ThisCharmingMan

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:08:39 -0500

Wake up. The NYPD has a disease. It has been passed down from many generations of cops. These hicks from 1.5 hours away have zero interest in protecting anyone but themselves and their sweet pensions. They are angry, ultra conservative, and dangerous. They act like rabid animals. Chances are the cops at the top will shuffle Pogan into some dark corner until this thing blows over. Then he will be back on the street with a gun and a shitty attitude towards everyone but other cops and Ted Nugent. Until they clean house, and stop acting like Storm Troopers, fuck em.

JacqueMehoff

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:54:30 -0500

wow, some blog posted the Pogan's address, phone number, tax lien, google maps, facebook and his high school football photo.

virgil

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:52:50 -0500

I can't believe you guys are still saying the biker must have done something to deserve it. If there were the tiniest bit of a crime they could charge him for, they would use it, because this video by itself makes them look very, very bad. Police tend to protect their own (like most of us). They wouldn't give up this 3rd generation officer if he had any chance to beat it; if that biker had done anything--anything--- at all, they'd have that chance. The fact that they yanked the rookie instead and took his gun speaks volumes. Conclusion: the video, in this case, actually does tell the whole story. This particular biker didn't do anything out of the ordinary. This particular cop snapped and shoved this particular random guy. There are good cops. This isn't one of them. Accept it, and move on. Denial is an incredible thing.

rhonda718

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:50:34 -0500

Yes, certainly that is possible, glennQ. And if that was true, I think the cop would be justified in doing what he did. But that is not what is reported to have been in the police report. I, too, give the benefit of the doubt to the cops until common sense and observation kills their credibility.

glennQNYC

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:37:32 -0500

The cop should have put out his hand and said "Stop". If the biker didn't listen, then the cop could easily radio to any of the hundreds of cops along the route to make him stop. It is entirely possible the officers were in the street because they did receive a call on the radio to stop the offender. I'm not saying I know what went down... I'm saying we all don't know, and I'll give the benefit of the doubt to the cops over members of groups promoting civil disobedience every time.

WestVillageVintage

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:29:04 -0500

This is one sample of the cops' comments on their message board: Kudos to Pat, for opening his mouth, on this one. Others must have seen a different video from me. The cop should have been LOD, and unavailable for comment. Did he get a breathalyser test? Better yet did the perpcyclist get one? The resisting wasn't captured on the video, nor was the officer losing his footing, balance after, captured. Also that bicyclist was going faster than one can gauge, second hand quarterbacking, from an armchair, or computer monitor. Back in the day, the chop block would have been followed by a cocobola tranquilizer dart to the skull, to help restrain the wild animal, gain compliance. The video and the video owner would have been nowhere to be found. For every homeless dirtbag Santa Claus that still films 20 years later, after Tompkins Square Park, there are others with permanent brain damage and scars that learned you fvck with the police at your own peril. Posted by actiontrooper

Gert

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:20:23 -0500

Wow. I just checked out http://theerant.yuku.com/topic/7789/t/Video-shows-NYPD-cop-assaulting-cyclist.html as provided by jibbly, above. I will probably need a drink tonight just to chill out after reading some of the scary shit that was written over there. Not only do they congratulate officer Pogan for his actions in this particular incident, but they cheer and celebrate violence in general -against the very citizens they are paid to protect (like it or not)-for perceived contrarian purposes, such as being a "liberal" cyclist. No joke. Is it me, or do such cops make this city even more dangerous?

Sommelier

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:02:48 -0500

"Does anyone really think if the officer politely asked Mr. Long to pull over he would have?" So... this is your logical reason for a police officer to assault a citizen? George W. has a spot for you in his "justice" department. Eyewitness accounts, a video tape, an obvious fraudulent report... if any of us civilians had done this to a cop, or to another civilian, there would be no quiet investigation: we'd be in jail, where this dirtbag with a badge belongs. I have cops in my family and among my friends, and this kind of behavior gives all of them a bad name.

rhonda718

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:00:31 -0500

That's not up to you or the cop to determine. The cop should have put out his hand and said "Stop". If the biker didn't listen, then the cop could easily radio to any of the hundreds of cops along the route to make him stop. The next time you're speeding, would you prefer the cops flash their lights and sirens first asking you to stop, or would you prefer they immediately proceed to broadsiding your car?

glennQNYC

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:52:00 -0500

Does anyone really think if the officer politely asked Mr. Long to pull over he would have?

glennQNYC

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:49:07 -0500

The officer was committing an act of civil disobedience... CM should understand that!

killerasp

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:39:11 -0500

jibbly - you didnt expect cops to also gloat and rant on this topic? this is what the internet was made for: anonymous ranting. on the flip side, we dont know what happened behind the cameras, it was out of view.

WestVillageVintage

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:35:56 -0500

Just g got back from bicycling along the Hudson River bicycle path. In addition to the pedestrians, joggers, baby strollers and the like ignoring the prominent "Bike Lane No Pedestrians" signs I had to ditch the bike in the bushes due to a squadron of unmarked NYPD police vehicles moving at top speed down the bike lane. I guess they couldn't get the cars on the West Side Highway to move out of their way fast enough.

jaycjay

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:32:53 -0500

"Based on the bogus report compared to the video: I'm guessing he's done for." Certainly so especially given that his time on the job means he's probational. The firing will be almost automatic, so the real test will be whether NYPD or the Manhattan DA take any further action.

petercow99

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:28:45 -0500

While we'll all be happy when Pogan is employed elsewhere, I hope the other cop in the video has a really good explanation for his actions as well. If -he- were to be disciplined, then you might see some real change. I'm not holding my breath, though.

Amanda Harlech

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:24:28 -0500

I bet this pig cop is a republican

randomdilemma

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:24:23 -0500

As he ought to be.. done for.. The falsified report makes him a liability in the courtroom for the rest of his career. As a defense attorney, I would love to see him turn up at one of my trials as a witness or reporting officer.

S.D.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:45:38 -0500

Based on the bogus report compared to the video: I'm guessing he's done for.

jack9

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:31:47 -0500

About the cnn clip- the title of the story on the main cnn.com page is "Cop pushes bicyclist into gutter".

jack9

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:30:45 -0500

A CNN video segment about the incident is one of the top stories on cnn.com at the moment: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/07/29/dcl.cop.decks.cyclist.cnn

markedman

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:30:05 -0500

hey the edge - did i ever say there were no irrational liberals? nope. i was responding to a specific comment, which was quoted, and your response is totally unrelated and irrelevant. keep trying.

NannyState

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:30:02 -0500

So here's the return on the NYPD's investment in rookie officer Pogan: an injured and wrongfully arrested man that will sue the city, a community that is outraged by that cop's assault and will be less cooperative and supportive of the police, a widely scrutinized internal investigation that will likely expose a serious climate of cultural dysfunction among the ranks, emboldened politicos that will expand facilities and pathways for cyclists against the entrenched interests of car affectionados, and another generation of New Yorkers cynical about the positive roles that the police play everyday. Thank you officer Pogan.

jibbly

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:26:07 -0500

Most citizens, in light of the video and the facts (falsified arrest report), find this incident atrocious. Now compare it to the reaction of the anonymous police officers "ranting" on their message forum: http://theerant.yuku.com/topic/7789/t/Video-shows-NYPD-cop-assaulting-cyclist.html THESE PEOPLE ARE PAID WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS TO SERVE AND PROTECT YOU. They are virtually giggling and high fiving each other over the brutality. DISGUSTING.

iracecars

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:24:43 -0500

Demand the immediate dismissal of Officer Pogan, or continue to allow the expansion of the Police State. The choice is yours, New York.

Pile

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:11:56 -0500

Let’s face it. We live in a police state. I am terrified of the police- and not just the NYPD and I give them wide berth- and not just while on-duty. Off-duty cops are even more dangerous. They terrorize everyone around them by behaving how they please and using their badges as bad behavior passes. My children & I- all very docile law abiding types, have been harassed completely indiscriminately by various police officers over the years- particularly since 9/11. This kind of thing goes on everywhere. I monitor it with my computer. Set up a yahoo search¬ify with keywords like "bicycle" or "police + killed" and watch them roll out on your screen every day from all over Amerika.... The homeless get the shit beat out of them or are shot dead with false reports written later to make it viable. Diabetics get the shit beat out of them when they are, in fact, only suffering the effects of their illness and mistaken for drunks or dope addicts... I’ve forbidden my sons to ride in Critical Mass- and we are very avid and sympathetic riders- because I cannot afford a harassment (or worse) incident. That alone is a very sad fact and speaks volumes about the state of our community. Police are often hopped up on steroids and essentially walking around like fat human boners looking for someone to slam. In real emergencies I constantly see footage of them with dumbfounded looks on their faces, pot-bellies, struggling to move and think fast enough to deal with whatever the hell is going on... No one with eyes can avoid noticing that high nineties percentile are obese and, without the badge to protect them, would get the living shit beat out of them by nearly anyone. The monikor “pig” didn’t come from nowhere. I hate to say it but the time is here or near where the public needs to start pushing back. I hope this third generation shithead gets the book thrown at him... the real report is right there in the footage...no hyperbole necessary. Policia need to start knowing that when the public sees them doing stuff like this that they well may get ruined. I’m often reminded of the police in Pinochet’s Chile when I used to travel there back in the seventies... goons standing around all the time on every street corner with submachine guns over their shoulders.... they would walk into a bar and you could hear a pin drop while they strutted around glowering at everybody deciding which pretty girl they were going to “interrogate”.... Put there courtesy of Jesse Helms et al to protect us from communism... and all this muscle flexing you see everywhere is supposedly to protect us from terrorism.... I want to puke...

Tim N.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:55:46 -0500

I think the next time someone pisses me off in the street I'll push them really hard into a light pole and then slam him into a phone booth. But wait, I'd get arrested because I'm not on the force. Say it with me... cops...hate...cyclists...

ANGRYGOD11

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:45:20 -0500

I said it before. I'll say it again: Look at the video again. Look at the partner. The partner is just walking to the left without any sense of urgency. Draw your own conclusions.

pazzia

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:45:07 -0500

fox news ran it last night. i was like, wow, a story that was on gothamist made the 10pm news.

jaycjay

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:35:10 -0500

[em]"I'm glad that Pogan, Sr. is no longer on the force either, given this attitude of his."[/em] Of course it's possible that dad hadn't even seen the video when he was asked for comment by the reporter. Anything he said might have based on what Junior told him happened... including that there was even a reason to make an arrest. And the "do what you have to do" attitude isn't surprising coming from the prior generation of cops. He's in his early 50's and retired in 2001, likely then with 20 years or more in. He retired as a detective on the JTTF, but was on the streets in the early 80s. Not saying that attitude was correct then or now, but it certainly was what is was.

The Edge

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:26:37 -0500

#66- Because all liberals are sane and reasonable. Right. Talk about an "us vs them" mentality..

Rfive

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:12:09 -0500

Patrick Pogan cost us, NYC, about 10 million dollars. Think about where that money could go. I wouldn't settle for anything less.

Spiritof76

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:12:00 -0500

"You gotta do what you gotta do to make an arrest.” I'm glad that Pogan, Sr. is no longer on the force either, given this attitude of his. I'd be curious about the validity of the arrests he made in his career. How many were dismissed for lack of evidence? How many people were convicted on false evidence if he did whatever he had to do?

TruthBeTold

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:04:57 -0500

Cops are like anyone else, there are bad ones and good ones. The sad thing is that it takes good, decent cops a lot of work to change the public's attitudes after this sort of asinine action.

gothical

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:39:25 -0500

As a taxpaying citizen of the Big Apple, I'm infuriated 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 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 evidence right out from under the rookie's and his faithful sidekick's noses and 4 eyes.. DUH!!

mrguy

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:56:50 -0500

virgil, it's not like i have anything to lose by being honest here. it fascinates me that people use the anonymity of these boards to say incendiary things that they'd never say to a group of their friends (or to a cop- seriously, how many people here would scream "fucking pig" to an actual flesh and blood cop), but so few people use that same anonymity to admit error when it is clear, and allow themselves a break from the aggrivation trying to save face.

mattbrogan

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:35:43 -0500

Potosi [58]: "Critical Mass is does not block traffic, Critical Mass is part of traffic." That's the kind of lie that makes CM look bad. CM does not obey traffic laws like, um, red lights! CM needs to stop talking out of both sides of the mouth. If it's about outnumbering cars once a month, then obey the law. If it's a protest, than call it one and most people would accept some civil disobedience. And I bike to work and petitioned for a number of bike rights. However, the NYPD response in either scenario has been ridiculous and this is a perfect example of why we must be constantly suspicious of police in a free society. Good thing he didn't have a taser!

jaycjay

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:28:39 -0500

"Can't blame them for generating site traffic, that's what they're here for." And can't blame them for giving their readers what they want. Judging from the "most commented" and "most recommended" boxes, that's what this is.

handsomedevil

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:27:57 -0500

"Decent cops have to be super pissed off when chumps like Pogan act idiotically like this." That's the sad thing - I really think police dept culture instills an "us vs. them" mentality in most cops. I would expect many cops to think as our new pet trolls do.

TruthBeTold

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:26:55 -0500

This is America, love it or leave it...or change it.

jaycjay

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:26:44 -0500

"This may be the cop's father (who is also a cop)." 22-year old unmarried Long Islander, in the first year of his first real job. Most likely they both live at that address.

markedman

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:23:22 -0500

anyone see the news item about the NYC cop who got arrested on some college campus on Long Island for threatening a student with his service piece while off duty. haha. "deca and bsjunk (and anyone who agrees with them), go back to the republican farmland you came from, and stay off the gothamist board. maybe people from ohio don't think it should be legal to ride a bike down the street (but legal for pigs to treat law-abiding citizens any fucking goddamn well way they please), but in new york, we don't like fucking pigs who throw people off bikes, then arrest them, then falsify a report. go fuck yourself." haha yeah, cause there are no conservative assholes who are native new yorkers! what a joke. generally folks who come here from out of state are liberals who leave their conservative hometowns to find like minded liberals in the big city. redneck conservatives generally don't flock to NYC. the most conservative twits i've met in NYC are all natives to the city or surrounding areas.

whitecastlerock

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:20:54 -0500

Please send a few more good cops to south Queens to catch the rapist that has been on the loose...

JMH

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:17:09 -0500

It's fun to see Gothamist shamelessly squeezing every last bit out of this story.Can't blame them for generating site traffic, that's what they're here for.

WestVillageVintage

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:14:24 -0500

It is a total waste of city resources to be targeting this kind of campaign against bicyclists whose sole offense seem to be running red lights. Imagine if the NYPD orchestrated a campaign to harass pedestrians who jay walked, crossed on a red light or sauntered across the street on a flashing Don't Walk sign. (Pedestrian traffic scofflaws can and do cause accidents like bicyclists and car drivers.) There was a time when the NYPD was the best. This newest crop of cops do not look like they are there for anything except racking up the 20 years to retire full pension without doing anything to better the community I live in. Meanwhile there is a significant spike in violent crime here in my neighborhood. The cops do not seem to be pursuing that with much energy. It is difficult, as a parent, to instill respect for the law in my youngster when he's trolling youtube for examples of NYC police brutality committed against citizens of NYC .

Partywatcher

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:13:29 -0500

Deca (nice reference to steriods meathead) I'd really like to hear more about how the cyclist is a dick; you came to that conclusion based on the fact he was riding a bike? in the vicinity of a police officer? Or perhaps (and more likley) you are a cop, freinds with cops or have cops in your family. While you may not be interested in regulating the behavior our of police officers, the rest of society is; so please shut the fuck up. Lets be honest- This Cop is a bully and, possibly being angry at all the bicyclists flying around him, decided he would "accidently knock one off".teach em a lesson. make an example. assert authority. Easy enough...except the bicylclist swerved. This means that Partypants Patty had to lunge forward and turn his hips into the cyclist in order to actually make contact. Oh yeah and there were cameras rolling. We dont need cops on the street who belive they can pick a citzen, any citizen, and do what they will with them. Sure, Fat Pat figures, he had to be doing something illegal. Sorry cops are allowed to arrest, detain, and ticket for illegal activities not beat, intimidate, and harass.

markedman

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:11:27 -0500

Decent cops have to be super pissed off when chumps like Pogan act idiotically like this. If I were a decent cop, which do exist, I'd feel it was in my best interest to out morons like this rather than supporting them with a code of silence. The PBA and cops need to speak out more against those that give cops a bad name rather than remaining silent or even worse, supporting them and trying to justify their actions.

robingee

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:59:47 -0500

The only reason to bodycheck someone and throw them off of their bike is if the rider had a gun trained on the crowd. This "cop" was a dick. And he did it in front of all of those witnesses! A stupid dick.

interlard

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:52:56 -0500

I could not be more disgusted with the NYPD right now. This a-hole, the corrupt detective dad who defends him and the other corrupt cop witnesses who helped to falsely imprison the victim. If you don't want this to happen to you: write to Bloomberg and the newspapers. People have to know what is happening to our city or it will not stop.

kswissreject

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:52:46 -0500

I think Deca's idiocy and rage stems from his actual use of Deca in an effort to make up for a tiny dick. Unfortunately, he's got small balls and male breasts as a side effect. Explains a lot, IMO.

Potosi

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:51:26 -0500

Critical Mass is a monthly event celebrating bike riding. Since the August 2004 Republican National Convention, the policy of the NYPD was changed by Mayor Doomberg from one of peaceful facilitation of Critical Mass rides (for over a decade) to one of violent crackdown and suppression. Where once police helped the ride procede smoothly and with order, now police regularly act as thugs and bullies, attacking bicyclists and arresting them for trumped up traffic violations that only require a ticket/ summons. I have been a participant and witness to this for the past 5 years. This is dispicable act of violence by a member of the NYPD is not an isolated incident. It is only the latest in a campaign of terror waged by the Doomberg administration against bikers who want to raise public awareness of biking and bike safety in New York. If you talk to NYPD at Critical Mass they will tell you that they don't want to be doing this, that they are just following order from Ray Kelly and Doomberg. Also, if you are over 14 you are not required to wear a helmet. Under NYS law bikes have a legal right to the road and are supposed to be treated as cars. Critical Mass is does not block traffic, Critical Mass is part of traffic.

Archie1954

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:50:15 -0500

Third generation cop! That says it all. He was raised in an atmosphere of violence his whole life. Listen to his father's justification of what he did. Sickos, both of them. The chief of police should be castigated for poor discipline in his force, for poor legal education and for poor training for his officers. Once you zero in on who's to blame for these egregious actions (the Chief) then you will see the necessary changes required. I hope the victim sues their asses off.

JacqueMehoff

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:49:27 -0500

but will they delve deeper into the CM debacle? Only CW11 questioned how much resources are used for an event where most if not all of the arrests were dismissed. there's lots of people typing up complaints and ADAs man hours presenting the cases before a judge along with the overtime of the NYPD, helicopter pilot and fuel and other stuff. And, the ADA who approved the complaint, what's going on with that? It's "the people of the state of NY vs" not the NYPD vs..

Gert

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:45:05 -0500

I am very relieved that this video made it to mainstream press. I checked NY1 and NYTimes several times yesterday, and there was nothing. This is exactly the sort of brutish behavior that gives NYPD a bad name, and the more people witness it, the better the odds that the City will take appropriate action. That cop (never mind the cyclist) is lucky that he didn't seriously hurt or kill Veteran Long. Ha! A US Army Veteran- looks like you picked the wrong victim, Officer Pogon. Even the conservatives feel bad for him!

wowthatsucks

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:40:29 -0500

JacqueMehoff, CBS Morning Show ran the video this morning ~7:20am. I'm sure other outlets have it as well.

mdowning

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:39:06 -0500

i didn't think it was possible for anyone to side with the pig on this one, but then again, i've underestimated the stupidity of people before. deca and bsjunk (and anyone who agrees with them), go back to the republican farmland you came from, and stay off the gothamist board. maybe people from ohio don't think it should be legal to ride a bike down the street (but legal for pigs to treat law-abiding citizens any fucking goddamn well way they please), but in new york, we don't like fucking pigs who throw people off bikes, then arrest them, then falsify a report. go fuck yourself.

virgil

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:38:09 -0500

mrguy: Big ups to you for being big enough to admit that. It's a rare event on the comment board.

SikBug

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:31:50 -0500

How about next month, anyone that has access to a video camera or a regular one that takes video's goes out and films as much as possible? There is a great link from lifehacker on how to mount one to your bike. http://lifehacker.com/398853/mount-a-camera-on-your-bike

JacqueMehoff

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:31:12 -0500

where's the media on this? what are they afraid of? some stations were even afraid to reveal the cop's name. instead we get the missing Rockefeller kid story as the lead.

Jerky

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:23:03 -0500

At what point does Ray Kelley come out with his reality distortion field and go on TV to tell everyone that the cop was a hero?

jrd550

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:21:05 -0500

Fucking pig, hope he gets locked up... what's happening to this country?

JacqueMehoff

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:17:14 -0500

In The United States of America serving your Country is the Highest Honor. This is America, Love it or Leave it. Veterans serve with Honor. The Highest Honor and I'll do it again.

mrguy

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:16:17 -0500

well, i came out pretty strong asking people to withhold judgement on this cop because i didn't think any uniformed officer could be stupid enough just to assault somebody in front of a crowd of a hundred or more, but i may have underestimated the stupidity of this NYPD rookie. I'm curious to hear what the result of the internal investigation will be.

gamblor

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:15:23 -0500

I wonder what was going through the cop's head when he decided to clock this cyclist. Did he think no one would notice? Idiot. 9 times out of 10 even if people do notice, what are they going to do? NYPD get away with this kind of shit all the time. This particular cop was just unlucky enough to have his actions caught on video.

kswissreject

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:12:04 -0500

bsjunk, that was a blanket statement based on first impressions, the EXACT SAME THING YOU DID TO THE CYCLIST. How do you know he's riding irresponsibly? At the same time, we don't know that he's a responsible rider. But what you said, "This cyclist looked like the type of dick that weaves through traffic and is a general pain in the ass. I have little sympathy for him." Yeah, because he looks like that, he's a dick. Forget if he actually isn't, or doesn't do any of that. Guess what? You look like a dick too!

graybanks

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:11:31 -0500

"I feel like I've been time warped to the 60's with all the use of Pig to refer to cops." Yes, I much prefer the British term "filth." Much more representative.

bsjunk

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:08:44 -0500

Despite clearly idiots - Deca and bsjunk, this guy was an army veteran as well. What have you done for someone other than yourself? Anything? Yeah, that's what I thought. Well I volunteer with homeless people and take care of stray animals, but no I didn't enlist in the military. I wasn't aware that being in the Army 1) was the only ticket to honor or 2) gave me clearance to ride irresponsibly on my bike.

Gwinny

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:07:02 -0500

Hahaha... as soon as someone starts a sentence with "you libs" I know there is no point in reading the rest.

JacqueMehoff

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:03:54 -0500

Time to have the NYC Comptroller audit the costs involved with these events.

citizenerased

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:03:40 -0500

"It's fun to see Gothamist shamelessly squeezing every last bit out of this story." Better than about 20 articles on some douche with big hair falling in love with some pudgy average-looking girl on the subway.

Spear_Chucker

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:02:11 -0500

Pogan needs to be fired and charged with aggravated assault.

woodendesigner

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:57:53 -0500

HOpefully he will get a lot more than a slap on the wrist. If I were the cyclist I would be going after this guy in court. I am a firm believer that most cops do a great job but cops like this one need to be taken off the force. They do a lot more harm than good.

WestVillageVintage

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:56:52 -0500

@ al fredo The other cop was a rookie too or else he probably would have done just as you said. Hope that one gets taken out too or aiding in the false arrest.

outdoor miner

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:56:11 -0500

Yeah, they probably were M4's. And about it being an overreaction to CM, i'm not at all surprised if cops with M4's were patrolling the streets during CM, but in this case, I saw them loitering on an empty street early this morning in Union Square. I just don't understand why they were there.

Fritzdecat

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:55:32 -0500

Right on the money Zodak Thank God for the Video Cam

al_fredo

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:52:29 -0500

Ok, this cop is going to get a slap on the wrist now that we know his daddy is a cop as well. Thank god for video taping!!! Police reports could always contradict eye witnesses, but it never matter, now it does. I'm surprised that the other cop didn't beat the guy with the camera and force him to give it up...that's the usual trick.

jonmiz

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:52:03 -0500

REGARDING: ------------------------------------------------ "Long, who was not wearing a helmet" Lawbreaker. This officer did the right thing. He stopped a crime in progress. ------------------------------------------------ A "crime" is defined as: "an action or an instance of negligence that is deemed injurious to the public welfare or morals or to the interests of the state and that is legally prohibited." So as a response to a citizen ignoring a rule which is designed to protect one's head, a police officer felt the solution would be to launch the rider head first into the curb? By this line of logic, if I were not wearing my seatbelt it would be a sensible act for a police cruiser to ram into my car at full speed.

Deca

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:51:52 -0500

It doesn't matter, jibbly. You libs need to realize that police work isn't pretty, and when society handcuffs and questions our officers, it only serves to hinder law enforcement work. Pogan is a rookie, so Pat Lynch will probably keep his mouth shut, which is a shame. That was the same Pat Lynch that agreed to a minimum wage salary for rookies to prove a point. But that's another story. I fully support Officer Pogan. That cyclist is a dick and deserved worse.

kswissreject

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:50:43 -0500

Despite clearly idiots - Deca and bsjunk, this guy was an army veteran as well. What have you done for someone other than yourself? Anything? Yeah, that's what I thought.

WestVillageVintage

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:46:39 -0500

Last month when Rev Al rode with CM to draw attention to police abuses many Gothamists ignored the issues put on the table and focused on the Rev's physical fitness. Got to say he has his points. @ outdoor miner Since US is where CM stages it's rallies don't you think the AK-47s were for them? It's an example of the out of proportion reaction of the police to a bunch of annoying bicyclists.

jibbly

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:45:52 -0500

Deca - I bet you think bikes need to be on the sidewalk too. Children under 14 are required to wear helmets. Anyone older don't need to wear helmets (even if it's for their own safety...from cops who like to randomly shove people off their rides).

JacqueMehoff

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:43:42 -0500

United States of America Veteran vs. NYPD cop.

zodak

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:41:53 -0500

this story isn't about cyclists, CM or gothamist. it's about NYPD police butality caught on tape. a lying POS pig who thought he could do whatever he wanted to is going to learn that he was wrong.

captainblackout

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:41:49 -0500

"Long, who was not wearing a helmet" Lawbreaker. This officer did the right thing. He stopped a crime in progress. #16 - I do not believe there is a bike helmet law for adults. Someone correct me if I am wrong. Though by just participating in CM I'm sure he was breaking one of the laws the city put in place in response CM.

Rocknrope

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:41:46 -0500

#21, I certainly hope it wasn't AK-47's, because that means it was some random militia running about Union Square. The M4 is the standard issue for US military and special operations teams like Hercules, which you probably saw.

bsjunk

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:39:17 -0500

This cyclist looked like the type of dick that weaves through traffic and is a general pain in the ass. I have little sympathy for him.

outdoor miner

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:37:16 -0500

I'm really glad that this happened to get filmed, and subsequently is now getting a lot of media attention. Hopefully something can be done about cops like this. Also, I was in Union Square early this morning and I struck upon a site that slightly disturbed me. A bunch of cops were just loitering on the street decked out in full riot gear, some carrying AK-47's. I know we've all seen this from time to time, but I couldn't figure out why they were there. Were they guarding something? It was pre-rush hour so there weren't even that many pedestrians on the street. Regardless, I think the AK-47's are overkill to say the least. Has a cop ever been in a situation where he was required to mow down several people in a short time? Its pretty savage.

malphigian

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:34:55 -0500

CM are no longer representative of the kind of cyclist I want to be (i.e. a courteous rider who doesn't endanger pedestrians or other cyclists). Yes. The cop was obviously wrong, and the CM cyclists have a point, but their methods suck. Blocking traffic ( I watched them hold up an ambulance when I lived in the EV ), blocking crosswalks, and generally being a pain in the ass. I get why they do it, but it's not convincing anyone. There are a lot of people on bikes who seem to carry this attitude everywhere. They ignore all traffic laws. I've been clipped by cyclists a couple times and multiple near misses. I've been screamed at by people on bicycles blowing through red lights in prospect park. I don't want to see cops throwing punches, but I'd love to see them writing a hell of a lot more tickets. Obviously not all cyclists do this, but screw these guys with the smug critical mass "we own the road" attitude. They're a menace to pedestrians.

Anna_Merkin

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:32:16 -0500

Also, upon further review, it looks like the guy tried to quickly make it past the police officer who was also accelerating his pace by foot. He then collided with the cyclist and did whatever he did. It's not at clean as if he'd run straight at him, but it seems like a fairly straightforward case of assault by the officer.

Politburo

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:31:37 -0500

"It's fun to see Gothamist shamelessly squeezing every last bit out of this story." It's only the 2nd day. You aint seen nothin yet.

Anna_Merkin

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:29:39 -0500

BTW, where is Al Sharpton? Actually, where is babyhitler, chuzzlewit, or any other member of that crew?

Deca

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:28:19 -0500

"Long, who was not wearing a helmet" Lawbreaker. This officer did the right thing. He stopped a crime in progress. It's fun to see Gothamist shamelessly squeezing every last bit out of this story.

Anna_Merkin

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:27:13 -0500

I'd guess that the cop was already angry at some other riders and decided that he'd had enough. He probably figured that he could slam one who would then retaliate (assuming that his thoughts went that far) and then he could legitimize the charges. Sad display of one member of the force. It would be a shame if people decided to deride all blacks - I mean, cops for the transgressions of a few...even if those transgressions seem to be repeated and reported in the news.

editedby

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:26:19 -0500

I feel like I've been time warped to the 60's with all the use of Pig to refer to cops.

kswissreject

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:26:02 -0500

I am so happy this has been broadcast all around - was worried at first that it would just go away. I thought the cyclist had *perhaps* provoked him when I first saw the video. But now everyone has picked it up, and the rationale behind the officer's actions has been explained - THERE WAS NONE - AND HE WAS LYING! Not like that's really news, but still. Someone mentioned, and it is super scary to think he may have gotten away with it if not for this video. Makes me thankful for the proliferation of digital cams / cell phones, even though their ubiquitousness can often be frustrating.

jibbly

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:25:49 -0500

How long does it take NY's finest to investigate this? Exhibit A) Police report filed by cop Exhibit B) Actual video that completely contradicts the report Ta-da! By "investigate" what they really mean is "retired detective dad of the rookie cop is trying to pull strings so the little punk isn't thrown into prison for assault and falsifying an arrest report".

indy

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:25:05 -0500

how many times do cops act this way and its not caught on tape...

Alex

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:24:01 -0500

patrick pogan: a third generation piece of shit that about sums it up

sper

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:22:56 -0500

Strip this animal of his badge and gun; make him a bouncer in a Chelsea club. The rider may have been obnoxious (and there's no indication on that on the video) but what this pig did is unacceptable.

JRod5417

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:22:04 -0500

I wonder what was going through the cop's head when he decided to clock this cyclist. Did he think no one would notice? Idiot.

pinnacle

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:21:36 -0500

pig

Snoopy

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:19:50 -0500

NYPD "New York's Finest." Yea right.

flynn110

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:18:58 -0500

day 2 comments....go!

Gwinny

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:15:29 -0500

I haven't participated in a CM ride since the 2004 RNC one (as much as I have wanted to) for two reasons: fear of police brutality, and a concern that those who participate in CM are no longer representative of the kind of cyclist I want to be (i.e. a courteous rider who doesn't endanger pedestrians or other cyclists). That being said, I hope this officer goes down in flames. If this was his first interaction with the cyclist, there is NO justification for his actions.

gtraindelay

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:11:17 -0500

power trip gone wild!

petebfd

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:11:15 -0500

patrick pogan: a third generation piece of shit

moocowtoo

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:10:48 -0500

That was a quick stint as a police officer for him! Power Trip caught on tape.