Judge: NYPD Officers Commit "Widespread Falsification"

My comment was in response to Chuck's " [29] | Chuck Curry

As far as guilt by association goes - suggesting cops are generally bad because of the bad actions of a few - isn't it the same logical fallacy to suggest cops are generally decent based on the good actions of a few?

" I don't know why it didn't reply to.

When you are a public servant (think long about what that means, and how the founders of our nation saw the government) guilty by association works because you did nothing to change the circumstances, and failing to correct a wrong is a wrong. Decent by association doesn't work because once again you did nothing to change the situation and if our standard for good conduct is not hindering people who are trying to make a positive change we have a problem.

As far as guilt by association goes - suggesting cops are generally bad because of the bad actions of a few - isn't it the same logical fallacy to suggest cops are generally decent based on the good actions of a few?

More proof the War On Drugs is going to destroy the country. If the Colon brothers had been accused of a crime where there's victim, this sort of scam wouldn't take place.

What next, unicorns aren't real? You don't say...

Yes the obviousness of his statement is mind numbing, but for a Federal Judge to openly say this is interesting. It could open the door to a federal probe into the NYPD as a whole.

Let's hope! I say it's about damn time.

Judge Weinstein is one of the best judges to ever grace the judiciary. In an alternate universe, he'd be on the Supreme Court. He's about 85, and still always the sharpest in the room.

He has no other agenda than faithful adherence to the rule of law and Constitution. So, when he makes a statement like this, people should take it very seriously.

I've received various traffic violations over the years. During two of the hearings regarding those charges, the officers in question lied to the court. It saddening and blood-boiling to this day when I think about it.

bothers me too...

the FIRST week of my criminal law class and the law professor states:

RULE NUMBER 1: all cops lie. why? to keep their jobs

Another example: Remember the 2004 RNC arrests, when police officers made false arrests and committed perjury by the dozen, giving sworn statements about events they never saw or knew did not occur. This broad attack on the rule of law was sanctioned by the NYPD brass, including police commisioner Kelly, and Mayor Bloomberg (who had the audacity to suggest that the falsely arrested should just plead guilty). The DA's office did nothing about it even though many prosecuting assistant district attorneys and their supervisors had actual knowledge of numerous instances of cops committing perjury. It's a systemic problem, and judge Weinstein is to be commended for shining some light on what appears to be a disconcertingly widespread and dangerous relationship to the truth within the NYPD.

Exactly, the 2004 RNC is a prime example. The blame can be attributed from top down, starting with Bloomberg who bent over for his GOP masters all the way to the beat cops that decided that it was okay to treat citizens like animals.

+1, Judge Weinstein, I commend thee and admire your honesty and bravery. We need more of you.

And, in the middle realist ground there lies an element of reality. Never to in any way denigrate the memory of the officers killed by that psycho. No way. different story.

But the history of NYC clearly illustrates a collusional circus of politics, union BS, selective enforcement, quotas, CompStat fudging, DAs, PDs, "Activists", pandering, nepotism, plea deals for numbers, trash for cash, Dirtbags tossed back out on the street to keep numbers down, Jailhose Rebbes, voting blocks, surrender to political pressure, throwing the law out the window to get votes, favoritism, the Taxpayer Lottery, terrorism fear-mongering, media manipulation and exploitation, and trash like Sharpton, Kerik and Barron.

Read the history, it's nothing new. Been going on since Henry sailed up the river.

Just that now it's a multi-billion dollar game, everybody thinks they're gonna get their cut, but in the end everybody loses.

OK, so lets see what we have learned thus far:

ALL police are dishonest.

All of the police treat the public like criminals.

So I guess anyone who truly believes this is sh!t out of luck if they ever become the victim of a crime. What are you going to do? Fight back when a bad guy with a weapon threatens your life? Maybe just go home and say nothing (don't report it). Naw, you'll call the police and work with them to catch the people who wronged you or help you get your property back. Just make sure that when the police are there assisting you during a very difficult time that you tell them:

ALL police are dishonest.

All of the police treat the public like criminals.

But just one question, a handful of the police are and have been proven to be less then honorable, so you label all police as such (criminals). So if we say this is fact then would it not be reasonable to say ALL private citizens are also criminals since there are large numbers of citizens in jail and they represent every private citizen? Isn't that a ridiculous statement? But it's your logic, not mine. Hey, I just realized something, that makes me a criminal.

One last thing, four (4) Police Officers were assassinated in cold blood just a few days ago. Their crime was being a member of law enforcement. Their uniforms signaled them out. They weren't killed for profit or for personal gain. They left a total of 9 children behind. They died because they took entered a profession that not many can do. So Mr. Ribalry and anyone else who subscribes to his whole sale perception of adjudication by association, next time you see a police officer in the street do everyone a favor and just keep walking. Don't worry, they'll come when you really need them.

Also, as far as what to do when a bad guy with a weapon attacks me...don't be silly! Weapons are illegal in NYC, how could a bad guy possible have a weapon?

But seriously, I have been a crime victim, on more than one occasion. The first time I was 17 and was attacked with a friend while waiting for a bus by a squad of junior gangbangers, probably some initiation, whatever, I had three broken ribs after the incident...The police pulled up and the hoodrats scampered. The cops then put my friend and I face first into the hood, searched our pockets, took our bus fare, and suggested we were at fault for being in the wrong neighborhood. They drove off laughing. Not long after this was the first and LAST time I called the police for help (almost twenty years ago now). I was working as a guard in a downtown building on a freezing night. An old man in a wheelchair had rolled into the doorway to escape the weather and fell asleep. Obviously a homeless guy, but still a human being. I was worried he would be injured by the severe weather and called the police. When they arrived, they woke the man by kicking his wheelchair almost over. One cop grabbed him by the ear and literally lifted him off his seat! His earlobe tore away and blood came rushing out as the man screamed in pain. I'll be the first to say a sleeping homeless guy in the foyer is bad for business, but the cruelty with which these cops treated this defenseless old man left quite an impression on my young mind. After these two incidents, I vowed to NEVER again involve the police in anything. And I never have. Since that time, I have had a guy with a knife try to rob me, I have been burglarized, and my car has been broken into more than a few times. I take it with a grain of salt, knowing that, based on my experiences, the involvement of police will only make things worse. I am not afraid of the streets, or my countrymen, and although there are bad guys out there, I refuse to live in fear, and refuse to accede to the idea that human beings are incapable of dealing with adversity without some guy or gal in a blue suit coming to their rescue.

My sympathies with the Washington Officers' families, but to bring them up in some thinly veiled justification for public cynicism of the local PD is a but much. Innocent people are killed every day, and even sometimes BY cops. Why is a policeman's life more valuable than any of the other 55 people (statistically) that were murdered that day?

Being a police officer, contrary to your suggestion, is actually less dangerous than being a clerical office worker. Police at least can defend their own lives legally, while you can't. Especially not in NYC!

"against" public cynicism I meant...

I appreciate that the cops are there for the most part if I need them. But the fact is that lying is so ingrained in the culture that most cops don't even think of it as such.

just make sure that when the police are there assisting you during a very difficult time...

Of course, this assumes that the police actually will help you. Another complaint that accumulates anecdotally in NYC (especially in this age of the internet) is that cops often pick and choose what crimes they will take seriously, sometimes rejecting a report outright as unworthy of their attention.

exactly, too much paper work.... not worthy!

You act as if it's an urban legend that police are rude to citizens or that they look the other way when their fellow officers do something wrong. Defense by incessant whine is not a good tactic.

I wonder how bloomberg feels, this judge did allow his gun suits against gun manufacturers to go through, no?

The police are wrong if and when they falsify testimony. So where did you see me write anything about supporting police conduct? Even the people responsible for 911 deserve a fair trail free of false testimony. Your narrow mindedness missed the point. The point is that the two Colon brothers should not have been wrongly accused or false sworn statements used by the police. The point is they both have extensive criminal records and to think that they plan to use your money for anything other then furthering there lives as productive citizens is pure fantasy.

First off, I just want to say that this story irks me because the vast majority of police officers do their jobs honorably, and it is unfortunate that they should be associated with the misconduct some of their colleagues engage in. Most of the NYPD should be commended for serving and protecting, and doing so with distinction in difficult circumstances.

Having said that, it's a little difficult to understand what your original comment was about. For better and for worse, what plaintiffs use their settlement money for is out of the purview of the justice system. If those guys do indeed have extensive records, it's a pity the arresting officers couldn't get them on something legit and keep them off our streets.

But the arresting officers were proven to be dishonest, and actually guilty of committing crimes themselves. Although I don't disagree with this comment of yours, I also don't see what "fantasy" you are responding to. No one in the comments has suggested they will use their settlement money for anything productive or otherwise; the implication of your statement is that their criminal records should somehow mitigate their settlement award.

Am I reading that right?

In regard to your first statement regarding the vast majority of police officers...On what do you base this sweeping assumption that they serve honorably? The fact that they haven't been caught? It seems to me whenever a camera is rolling, the police are found serving dishonorably. Perhaps it is time to set aside the particularly prejudicial sentiment that the police culture attracts, rewards, and maintains only the best sort of people.

"First off, I just want to say that this story irks me because the vast majority of police officers do their jobs honorably"

BULLLLLLL SHITTTTTTT

You can believe what you like but if a cop knows that another cop is doing something illegal and says nothing, then he's as guilty. One of these days, the Blue Wall of Bullshit will be knocked down -- maybe then we'll have police officers and detectives who don't despise the people who pay their salaries.

Tsk you are high off your ass if you believe the majority of police are honorable. Firstly they will never go against the word of a fellow officer. Secondly, they treat the public like criminals and are uneducated robots for the most part. A few of the posts above are obviously written by the Policemen's Benevolent Association.

For what it's worth, Judge Weinstein has a reputation for taking extreme legal positions -- he must get a buck for each time he's reversed on appeal.

The good news is that these two pillars of the community will use their tax funded settlements to further their favorite charitable causes and give back to the needy. Brings tears to my eyes, what good boys.

They just might. Thanks to the War on Drugs, these guys probably were sentenced to a life on the fringes of society after some initial juvenile infraction. Felonized out of the gate, their lives probably fell apart before they had even matured enough to realize the folly of their earlier transgressions and they were unable to escape the subsequent cycle of crime that defined their lives from that point. Maybe, just maybe a nice chunk of change will allow them to build a life worth living, despite their scarlet letters. Sadly, they are probably too far gone, and will OD shortly after the first payment. Or not sadly I guess. Either way, it's an expensive lesson for the city, and the taxpayers.

because of course, if someone is anything other than what Ptl. Joe Bolton thinks of as a worthy human being, they're fair game when it comes to the police lying and making false arrests and accusations.