Punisher Decal gets me PUNISHED!!!

[TonyStarks]

quote:
Steelhead
6. What do you want? The officer fired or humilated? A guest spot on Oprah or Dr. Phil?

____________________________________________________________

Are you serious? If you're ok with being treated that way thats your problem. I have a bit more self respect than to allow someone to curse at me, shove me around and call me names.
I dont want a guest spot, i wanted an acknowledment of misconduct, an apology and for them to hear what i had say. Not letting them get away with it meant that i dont want them to apologize and then go and do the same to a friend or a family member. I understand they are doing their job but why the need for profanity or aggression. Being assertive does not = being aggressive or vulgar.
Dr. Phil.....hahahaha...classic!

 

[TonyStarks]

yeah John, it does look like the Phantom! Wierd! Maybe i have a Phantom decal and never knew it.....hmmm

 

[buzz_knox]

I would probably file a complaint against the initial officer, might even be inclined to sue for rights violation.

The problem has been resolved. Even if it hadn't, taking it to the level of a lawsuit would be counterproductive as 1) absent other evidence of discriminatory intent or abuse, it didn't rise to the level of a rights violation which would sustain a claim in court and 2) he'd instantly go from an aggrieved citizen to "one of them."

 

[buzz_knox]

I had to look up the Punisher skull. Looks like The Phantom to me. Guess the cop was a young guy.

While both icons have skulls (the Phantom had a skull belt buckle and skull rings), the Punisher's icon is just the skull itself.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Ok, so it's another cop bashing thread. I say, call the sergeant and have a sit down with the officer. Usually on these threads, I notice two common factors:

1) There always seems to be some detail of the story left out.
2) The offender is a wise-ass to the cop.

Well, the tylenol crack seems like you've got #2 covered. I'm guessing that somehow, you either look, looked like, or were emulating something that the officer deemed to be gang-like behavior. He wouldn't have followed you if he didn't see something suspicious. Yes, he did treat you rather unkindly. I still say, give him the benefit of the doubt and have a sit down before you go out and ruin his career. Maybe he was chasing gang members all day. Maybe some gang members were driving a stolen car and yours fit that description. Maybe the officer has Crohn's disease and was on the verge of diarrhea and your comment was delaying him getting to facilities in time. Who the heck knows? The point is, before you go ruining someone's career and possibly life, why don't you have a talk with him. If he's still a jerk, write a letter.

Cuz in AmeriKa, we are a free people... Free to dress and act the way Law enforcement and society as a whole deems it acceptable.

Yes, but with actions come responsibilty. If you dress like a gang-banger, people will think you are a gang-banger. There is also something called societal standards.

 

[Daniel T]

Ok, so it's another cop bashing thread.

It's a two-fer! Not reading the thread, AND making unfounded assumptions! Hooray!

 

[TonyStarks]

Prince
The officer apologized. Read previous post.

 

[torpid]

Prince Yamato, you might want to read the thread before posting.

 

[Crunker1337]

1. Do nothing

Why should this be tolerated in modern society? No one has any right to treat you like they REGARDLESS of whether or not they're wearing a blue uniform.

2. Yes they were justified in treating you like that.

No one denied that the cop had the right to pull him over, even with his gun in his hand. But what the cop shouldn't have done is: put him in the cruiser without telling him why, or haul him over to the police station with no reason besides him being who he wants to be.

Your car/image met a certain profile.

No one's denying that, either. However, even if you fit the profile 100% you should not be treated like a criminal. The cop had a reason to believe Tony COULD be a gangster, but it wasn't proof or conclusive evidence that he was a gangster.

The handcuffs? It is called protective custody (for both you and the officer).

If Tony showed any sign that he was going to strike the officer, then I would agree cuffing would be totally reasonable. But, there was no reason for the cop to believe that Tony needed to be cuffed AFTER patting him down.

3. Manners? You probably misunderstood being assertive for abusive.

Profanity and name-calling is generally considered the latter, as was said above.

4. Don't take it so personally.

Well, Tony was the victim so why should he not take it personally. It's easy to say, "Don't take it so personally" if YOU'RE not the victim, but if you were treated like this I don't know if you'd be saying the same thing.

Had they found drugs or illegal arms, you would have been just another scumbag that they usually catch on one of these "gang affiliate" stops.

Yeah, but they didn't. The cop had the right and the duty to pull him over and check him out a bit, but he crossed the line in several ways.

Instead they found an innocent person and let you go after determining such - with an apology for the inconvenience.

In America you're innocent until proven guilty.
The cop should have DETERMINED that Tony was a gangster (having a Punisher sticker doesn't determine jack) before treating him like one.

Of course, there is always the possiblity that you antagonized the officer with snotty responses but we don't know that anymore than what we know the "officer" really did either.

Your childish attempt at bringing up the fact that Tony may not be entirely truthful right now isn't helping anything. If Tony's statements were untrue in any way then everything we're saying is voided as it was made based on untrue statements.

5. What are they getting away with other than doing their jobs?

I will not allow my tax dollars to pay for an arrogant cop to think he has the right to treat anyone, even a possible gangster, like that.

6. What do you want? The officer fired or humilated? A guest spot on Oprah or Dr. Phil?

None of us can judge what Tony wants, and that's really not the issue. The point is that Tony was mistreated and he wants to take action about it. If it were me that was mistreated in this manner, I'd want to make sure that no other innocent would have to go through that.

 

[dralarms]

Glad he resolved this. And in a very good way. Came to you house to say he was sorry and everything.

That's great.

I agree, problem solved and I think he learned a lesson he will not forget anytime soon, I'll bet his boss called him on the carpet and read him the riot act.

 

[buzz_knox]

No one's denying that, either. However, even if you fit the profile 100% you should not be treated like a criminal. The cop had a reason to believe Tony COULD be a gangster, but it wasn't proof or conclusive evidence that he was a gangster.

I thought the standard was reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. That didn't exist here.

 

[SalTx]

If true, the POS of this story is the officer. And he deserves as much heat as the civilian can put on him. Complaint, news media, lawsuit, and even contact Marvel comics, try to get them to adress the pd and learn them on true meaning of the Punisher..a comic book. If cops can't tell the difference..wow.
Removing the decal?? I better remove the yellow ribbon, American flag, old border patrol/customs/u.s. army decals, Ron Paul '08 sticker off of my truck, less they instill fear and loathing to some punk officer. And they wonder??

 

[JohnBT]

Stills looks like some sort of plagarism to me.

 

[jeep-2]

I would just forget it, The govenor probably dosen't care one way or another whoes naughty or nice.
and if the cop does get his rearend in a jam, he has plenty of buddies to go after your family with CH tickets .

 

[buzz_knox]

If true, the POS of this story is the officer. And he deserves as much heat as the civilian can put on him.

Right now, the officer apparently recognizes his mistake, has taken steps to rectify the situation, and has probably learned something very valuable to both his future career and his relationship with the public. If a complaint is filed now, all that gets tossed in the crapper.

Are people not reading the whole thread and seeing where there really is a happy ending?

 

[KINGMAX]

Gangs have always have had jackets, T-shirts, handshakes, even a little .36 cal. ball w/ 2 v's in them to look like an X.

 

[Justin]

Gangs will use almost any logo that is mass produced so they can all dress the same for cheap.

To uncreative to come up with their own, and too lazy to use Café Press, eh?

 

[torpid]

Are people not reading the whole thread and seeing where there really is a happy ending?

Reading the thread before you post?!!

That's crazy talk right there.

 

[Titan6]

In regards to the letters, there's no need.
When i returned home from work, i had a police officer parked out front. I thought great, here we go again.
It was the original officer who arrived at the scene, who was being a total jerk. He walked over and introduced himself and extended his hand for a shake. I shook his hand, as he apologized to me. He said he realizes he was wrong for what he did and asked that i accept his apology. I did. He explained why he acted that way and said theres no excuse for his behavior. We talked a bit, i told him about myself and why i had the decal. He also had a BATMAN pin on his uniform which i commented on....

He gave me a $50 gift card for Outback steak house which i reluctantly accepted. I told him i was PO'd by what happened and i was considering writing a letter of complaint. I told him that i would not write the letter if he remembers this incident for the next time he pulls someone over. He then said it will definitely not happen again. I invited him inside for coffee which he declined but i know i will be seeing him again.

I am glad to hear this. This is how men should be able to work out their differences instead of writing letters and suing everyone in sight. The LEOs are human and live with with a high stress job every day. I seriously doubt he will do it again. Tell me you didn't make any mistakes in Iraq with the job getting to you?

So far as the sticker I would keep it, maybe add an NRA or veteran sticker of some kind up there as well though. No reason for the gangs or police to drive you from your first ammendment rights.

 

[Autolycus]

Originally posted by JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone:
Yes, this is a free country. Drive that skateboard lookin, thumpin, ricer all you want. Just don't blast your gangsta rap in my neighborhood.

Stereotype or 'Fit the profile'? I'm no LEO, but if the cop had pulled over some granny in a Buick or Saturn that some kid had slapped a sticker on the back window, he would have been about as 'justified' as he was in this situation.

My point is, if a person fits the 'gang' profile, (even when they're really a law abiding citizen), add in the popular gang sticker, then it might be time to analyze how one presents himself in the eyes of other people.

I didn't suggest that he did, just that it would be a good idea to rule that out.

Is it right for LEO's to stereotype or profile individuals? Stereotype? No. Profile? You bet! That's part of their job.

LEO's please join in.

I tell ya what... If I see a slinky lookin kid walking toward a school or mall in the middle of summer wearing a trenchcoat, I'm keepin an eye on him. Hand at the ready. He's free to wear what he wants. But it's not a societal norm. We should keep an eye out for 'out of the ordinary'.

I don't want to hijack this thread. More responses to my reasoning will not be responded to.

-Steve

So next time I see one of those good ole boys you described in your earlier post I will alert DHS that there is a domestic terrorist group operating within our shores. They are probably a racist organization and selling meth to fund their right wing paramilitary activities. I mean after all they do fit a stereotype...

I am sorry but your completely wrong. Do you know what the definition of stereotype is? An assumption based on FALSE information. Meaning that right off the bat it is wrong.

You cannot justify profiling or stereotyping when it is based simply on experience. Remember the plural of Anecdote is not Data.

 

[thexrayboy]

You were handcuffed and placed in the back of a car, your vehicle was searched. That constitutes an arrest. You were arrested without probable cause. Just because the sarge made the trooper release does not negate the arrest. You cannot unring the bell. I would sue for false arrest etc. etc.
An Officer does not have to use the words "you are under arrest". If he takes you into physical custody and prevents you from going about your normal business it is an arrest.

This went beyond a "terry search and momentarily handcuffing you for officer safety. You were arrested, the only reason you did not end up at the station being booked is a rational supervisor. The trooper needs to be removed from
his job and the most efficient means to do that is filing complaints and filing
a suit. If it costs them money it becomes important. If not it was a non incident as far as the Highway Patrol and its officers are concerned. The only real issue here is the whos word to believe. Your word will be going up against that of two troopers. Not fair and not right but
they will lie like thieves to cover the collective ass and you may get nowhere without independent corroboration for your story.

 

[Owen]

The officer did the right thing by coming over and apologizing. He clearly realized the error of his ways. I say let it drop.

 

[JWarren]

Based on Tony's follow up, I'd say this managed to come out to a positive outcome.

Tony got what I could consider a sincere apology, and the LEO has grown from the experience.

-- John

 

[outerlimit]

Must be this new breed of college educated cops.

 

[chickenfried]

Glad you got some satisfaction. Love the story on how you got the nickname the punisher . Hopefully the officer truly regrets the way he acted.

Enjoy your rare ny steak......