OOPS WE DID IT AGAIN

It has been 13 years since the L.A.P.D. was video taped beating Rodney King after a chase. After all the riots, trails, and suffering that took place afterwards, you would think that the police would be more careful on how they treated suspects, especially those that are African-American. But, just like Brittany Spears sang,. �Opps I did it again�, the same can be said for the LAPD.



On Wednesday, June 23, the LAPD was once again video taped beating and kicking a suspect after he appeared to have surrendered. The whole series of events started when Officer John J. Hatfield and his partner, Michael O'Connor spotted 36-year-old Stanley Miller running a stop sign. After running the license plate and finding out that the car was stolen, the pursuit began. Miller took them on a 28 minute pursuit that ended with him on foot and surrendering to Officer Phillip Watson, with his hands in the air. Officer Watson re-holstered his weapon and tackles Miller. Officer David Hale joins in and tries to handcuff Miller. Almost immediately, officer Hatfield joins the other two in trying to handcuff Miller.



During the struggle, Officer Hale claims he felt a metal object in Miller�s pocket and thinking he has a gun, gives what police call "distraction blows� (L.A. Times : June 26, 2004) These blows are supposed to prevent the suspect from pulling a weapon. At the same time, Officer Hatfield is seen striking Miller at least 11 times with a flashlight. The object turned out to be wire cutters.



The officers were put on administrative leave with pay while the investigation takes place. My question is, how can you tell metal through pant material, especially if its jean material? You would be able to tell if it was something hard, and very possibly its shape. And if he could feel it enough to know it was metal, why didn�t he notice the shape? Wire Cutters don�t have the same shape as a gun.



Benjamin Franklin once said, �Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.� Seems like the LAPD needs to take a course in their own history and learn from it.