NAACP Protests More "Brutality Against Black Officers"

Sgt Kissiedu (courtesy The Journal News)

The NAACP says two white policemen in Yonkers assaulted a black NYPD officer as they tried to pin him with a purse snatching. Sgt. Kenneth Kissiedu, who lives in Yonkers, was heading to work in the Bronx when local cops got a call about a theft nearby. In a canvas of the area, they spotted Kissiedu walking to his car. "Yo, Yo," they allegedly shouted trying to get his attention. Then they saw that he had a gun.

The sergeant says he took offense at being called “Yo,” but the officers claim he aggravated the situation by not cooperating and by waiting to identify himself as a police officer until he was already in cuffs. "He, as an officer, should know better than anybody how to handle these things," Yonkers PBA president Keith Olson told WABC adding that, "He refused to cooperate. He was belligerent. He cursed at the officers." According to the Journal News, he was “wrestled to the ground.” Afterwards Kissiedu was handed a misdemeanor obstruction charge and was suspended for 30 days.

Black law enforcement organizations demand that the two white cops also be suspended while the force conducts its investigation. Together with the NAACP they are calling the incident “another case of police brutality against black officers and black men.” "It's thuggery in Yonkers, and it really needs vigilance and strong oversight," said Karen Edmundson, of the Yonkers NAACP.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Sabrina Jaszi in News on March 10, 2010 12:47 PM

Comments [rss]

Andrew_7396

Wouldn't be day that ends in Y without some anti cop rhetoric from Gothamist.

jaycjay

I wonder how many groundless stop-and-frisks Sgt. Kissiedu has conducted on the job.

Ph

I love how they suspended him for getting his ass kicked by two other cops.

I have no faith in the system..and I'm the son of law enforcement.

jaycjay

"I love how they suspended him for getting his ass kicked by two other cops."

Really, you think that's what he was suspended for -- not for his failure to follow the mandated procedures for off-duty encounters specified in the Patrol Guide?

Spook

Funny how an NYPD officer with the rank of sergeant gets suspended based on the word of two Yonker Yokies.

Mordicai

Almost like there is a factor influencing how the NYPD is responding...like...some kind of...race based prejudice...

JenChungsBaby

Consider it payback for all the hispanics Sgt. Kissiedu has curbstomped.

Spook

I hope you are speaking from experience

as I'm sure curbstomping would do wonders for ya.

silver

time for a continuing education course http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0mtxXEGE8

Gotham Extremist

You speak according to the situation/neighborhood you are in. What should the two cops be saying instead of yo?

Should it be:

"Excuse me Sir, may I trouble you for just a few minutes as we would like to inquire about a recent crime committed near by? You fit the description of the perpetrator and that's why we stopped you. Please don't be offended, and thank you for your cooperation Sir."

??? WTF

Mordicai

"Black" doesn't count as fitting a description.

potsmoker

actually "Excuse me Sir, may I trouble you for just a few minutes as we would like to inquire about a recent crime committed near by? You fit the description of the perpetrator and that's why we stopped you. Please don't be offended, and thank you for your cooperation Sir."

is the correct response, without probable cause or a description of a suspect you could conduct an inquiry and a pat down for weapons, other than that, the gyu can say am i being detained, am i free to go, i will not answer questions and the confrontation is over.

l3iodeez

Absolutely.

Courtesy.

Professionalism.

Respect.

That is what those words mean.

Spirit of 76

Sorry. That doesn't apply. The two cops were Yonkers police, not NYPD. They don't have to give you any of that.

Mordicai

OH BURN.

Bernie Madoff-Goetz

This guy got roughed up for the same reason that cop got shot last year--stupidity.

The cop-on-cop shooting wouldn't have occurred if the officer hadn't been running down the street in plain clothes with his gun drawn. This idiot would have been fine if he hadn't gotten all offended over something trivial such as "yo!" and gone all attitudinal.

F**k the NAACP. Quite replying to every incident like blacks are infallible saints. No one buys it anymore but the loons who follow Sharpton and Jesse.

l3iodeez

Im white, most of my friends are white, and if one of them were walking down the street and I wanted to get their attention, I would yell "Yo!" "Yo" is not a racial term.

However, If I were a cop I would probably say something like "Stop, Police!" instead. I wouldn not expect some stranger to respond to my Yo'ing.