Let the record show that today, May 15th 2009, I 100% agree with something that Bryan has said.
That cop was pissed because the suspect led him on a chase and took out his frustration on the suspect. I'm sorry, but if the cop feels that actually chasing after criminals is beneath him, then - news flash - maybe he should have considered another career. Chasing uncooperative suspects is part of the job. I'm just impressed to see cops chasing actual criminals instead of robbing motorists - I'm sorry, making "traffic safety" stops....
By chasing you mean 40 minute high speed pursuits of violent, drug dealing gang members that put countless innocent people throughout the community at risk of death.
Now I'll recognize that it was unnecessary for the officer to kick the scum bag once he had appeared to have given up. But it's completely reasonable to understand or identify why he might have done that.
There are people in the population who have this ridiculous, misguided, contempt for civilian law enforcement that ventures into the realm of idiotic. "Chasing suspects is part of the job." What else is part of the job? Get hit? Spit on? Having your car rammed? Getting shot at?
Had that guy not corned himself, do you really think he would have been reluctant to car jack you in your driveway to escape?
Police need to show restraint, but let's remember that they are humans as well, in life or death situations.
I'm actually not sure that a decent lawyer will be able to get that guy off, assuming he was properly Mirandized and treated with due process. However, in civil court, the right lawyer could absolutely demolish that officer's career - and rightfully so, as that is a startling lack of judgement & self control.
The guy's career shouldn't be destroyed for that.
A suspension, written up, but unless he has a pattern of bad judgment and abuse, it shouldn't cost his career... at least not based on what I saw on the video.
What if you family had been in that LS that he crashed into.
What if children were on the sidewalk where he went out of control.
Frankly, after chasing a guy like that, we should all privately be cheering for a little rough justice.