Those fine folks at Reason made a nice little documentary on FFFF and our role in exposing corruption and brutality within the Fullerton Police Department while the conventional media went along with the cover-up. Here it is:
One of our Friends, “StormHarbor” wrote a comment yesterday that was so appropriate and well-written that I just had to give it a special post. Here it is:
Many of us find no gratification that police officers have been indicted and face serious consequences for heinous actions. Those emotions are most suitable for family members and loved ones of the victims. Perhaps what has fueled public outrage over this past summer’s revelations involving police misconduct is an inner patriotic desire to preserve our republic and a way of life that has been the envy of the world for so many decades. Unquestionably, we are becoming increasingly appalled by the utter contempt of those who govern towards those who are governed.
The Kelly Thomas killing was incredibly brazen. An American citizen was brutally tortured and beaten to death publicly in front of scores of witnesses. His unconscious, hogtied body was dragged out to the middle of the street for public viewing. Witnesses were understandably terrified and confused as to their personal responsibility to intervene. Afterwards, these six men calmly climbed back into their cruisers and sped away. They slept peacefully that night confident in a political machine and local press that would cover their misdeeds and perhaps even reward them with praise.
We understand that those who have created such a climate must see and acknowledge the error of their ways. Instead, these guys just deflect responsibility. Oh. Kelly was homeless. Is that why you’re upset? Yes, that must be the problem here. Well, we’ll just set up a commission to study the homeless problem. Problem solved.
They continue to flaunt an air of infallibility. No one has stepped up and accepted any responsibility for the climate that exists except for some of us citizens who realize we were asleep in our berths while the ship was being steered towards the rocks. Well, we’re not asleep anymore. We are calling out our city leaders, the district attorney and a compliant OC Register for propping up such a self-serving political machine in OC. Hopefully, a new attitude will start in Fullerton and spread across our land.
Watch this video clip of Fullerton City Councilman Bruce Whitaker explaining to David Nazar the lies, half-truths and distortions he’s been getting from his own employees about the Kelly Thomas murder.
Whitaker understands what we have understood all along: the Fullerton Police Department and its spokesman, union boss Andrew Goodrich, had no interest in telling anybody what really happened to the homeless victim Thomas on that hot July night in the Fullerton Transportation Center. The falsified reports, the return of the murderers to the street, and the lies peddled by Goodrich all point to one inescapable conclusion: the police department, stalled, lied, and temporized waiting for the scandal to go away.
Yes, Bruce, it must be really exasperating for an elected official to be stonewalled and sandbagged by a bunch of goons and thugs dressed up like policemen, and also by your City Manager and City Attorney who have handed over legal and managerial oversight of the police department to the cops themselves; and even more exasperating to know that the Three Dessicated Dinosaurs are committed to participate in protecting the crooked Culture of Corruption status quo.
If you haven’t driven past it, or gone in, you may remember The Naughty Teddy due to the legal action the prudes in City Hall took against it.
According to the OC Register local coverage, the downtown Fullerton business establishment is holding a fundraising screening of the Rocky Picture Horror Show, 11:30 pm on Friday, with proceeds going in Kelly Thomas’ name to Mary’s Kitchen, a non-profit in Orange that serves food to homeless folks.
Well, good for Dawn Aquino, the owner.
Here are some wonderful thoughts by frequent commenter “Jt” who reacts to a typical threatening comment made by a self-professed law enforcement employee. This employee seems to think he is entitled to unconditional love and respect from his employer (us) and that lack of said respect may very well result in what can only be construed as the same sort of physical rebuke visited upon Kelly Thomas by the FPD.
Understanding this attitude is important to understanding the mentality of the bad cop, a world-view enabled by pliant politicians controlled by aggressive police unions.
Jt responds:
You’ve said a lot of stuff on this board, a lot of it true, some false, some thought-provoking, some reasonable, some not. I thank you because you have helped me understand the mindset of contemporary police officers in this region, and that has been truly valuable.
There is one thing in your post though I really want to address. This is for me the essential issue here. it is the issue of whether the police deserve or should feel as if they require citizens to be “respectful”, and what the consequences should be if they are not.
For me, this is what this case, and the Mam, Quinonez and other soon-to-be known cases of FPD abuse are all about.
Let me just put this out there. Disrespect of a LEO is not itself a crime. It is NEVER a valid excuse for any of the following: assault, false arrest, perjury, murder.
But that is what we are seeing in case after case. Officers who feel “disrespected” fly off the handle, lose it, manhandle the citizenry, arrest them on bogus charges, and commit perjury about these cases.
Look at the Quinonez case. Dude’s Dad was killed by police. Clearly he has issues with them because of that. Walks by Kenton Hampton, sees him busting somebody, says something about “cops killed my dad.” Hampton sees this as “disrespect”, smacks him into a wall and arrests him for being drunk in public despite Quinonez having 0.00 blood alcohol level.
No. This will not stand. We have the right to disrespect each other without being beaten or falsely arrested for it. You can disrespect me, and I can disrespect you. Being a cop doesn’t make you special, and it doesn’t entitle you to respectful treatment from every person at all times. If I am clearly threatening bodily harm to you during an encounter, by all means use force if necessary to subdue me and take me in (though kindly stop when I am subdued rather than just beating me for the fun of it, but that’s a separate issue). If I am rather just mouthy, disrespectful, and contempuous of your authority, you know what? Too bad. That is not a crime.
It is a new era. The citizenry is increasingly well-informed, well armed with cameras and ready to use them, and ready to disseminate information about bad policing at a moment’s notice. We will exchange information, we will show up at City council, we wil publicize you, and we will call for investigations of EACH AND EVERY incident of police brutality or misconduct we witness or hear about.
Being a cop is NOT like being in a gang where you are entitled to respect. Being a cop means you work for the citizenry. They have every right in the world to disrespect you. A lot more disrespect is coming your way soon. The cop mentality of “don’t you dare disrespect me” is a relic of the past which will only lead to lawsuits and citizen revolts ala Fullerton. And we’re not even close to being done with this department yet.
Cops – do not think that the public must fear and respect you. Do your job, do it politely and professionally, and understand that RESPECT IS EARNED. If you can maintain a calm and professional aspect even as I flip you off, you may actually earn that respect.
There will come a day when I can walk right up to a cop and politely tell him to fuck off and he will know that there is absolutely nothing he can or should do about it. That I am just expressing my first amendment rights, and those rights are far more important than his fragile ego or sense of self-worth related to his position of power and authority.
Any cop who does not understand this will be forced out of public service. The citizenry will no longer tolerate public servants who think they exist on some higher strata above the citizenry. If you cannot deal with this Reality, you must find a line of work in which you do not profess to “protect and serve.” “Protecting and serving” require humility and an ability to endure the disrespect of those for whom you serve.
To Fullerton Community Members:
As a member of the Fullerton City Council, and a mother, I am deeply disturbed by this tragic event. I am so sorry that this has happened in the city of Fullerton. I have talked to Mr. Ron Thomas to express my sympathy. I have demanded that all six officers be placed on administrative leave and that we fully investigate this incident.
I have asked for detailed accounts of this event and to see the video and release the video.
As a leader in Fullerton, I know that it is our job to be transparent, accountable, and to serve and protect our citizens.
More than anything, I am committed to finding justice for Kelly Thomas.
As a mother, I can only imagine the sheer pain that the family must be enduring right now. Not only losing a son, but dealing with such a horrifying death.
My thought and prayers are with the Thomas Family and our community at this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Councilmember Sharon Quirk- Silva
Norberto Santana over at the Voice of OC(EA) has keystroked a post here, in which 4th District Supervsor Shawn Nelson of Fullerton has said he’s in the race for a newly drawn Congressional district that includes most of his supervisorial district.
A while back we did a post about the value of saying NO. Today let’s look at someone else who appreciated the importance of putting one’s foot down: the two-term President Grover Cleveland.
Back when Grover was the Governor of New York, he said “no” when Chatuatauqua County proposed to spend tax dollars for a soldiers monument. He said “no” to the Fredonia Library Association, which sought to be relieved of paying local taxes. He said “no” to the town of Elmira, which tried to avoid liability for personal injuries occurred by those traveling its unsafe streets and roads. He even said “no” to Fayetteville, his boyhood hometown, when they wanted to borrow money for the purchase of a new steam fire engine.
Cleveland kept his promise that he would be a guardian of the people’s interest, which meant guarding the keys to the people’s dinero.
Why is this relevant? Because saying “no” to police unions, fire unions, teachers, prison guards, custodians, bailout bankers, and subsidy-sucking union allies is often the right thing to do.