Mani
09-24-2014, 03:22 AM
"We are just following orders....It's not our fault we bust people over marijuana, we are just doing our job. We have no choice, it's not our fault, we are doing what we are told.." Says every cop when people complain about MJ arrests.
So now when the DA says we will stop prosecuting low level MJ arrests.....The cops say...FUCK OFF...WE WILL CONTINUE TO beat down these animals because we must maintain ORDER.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/brooklyn-da-announces-new-policy-pot-prosecutions-article-1.1859324
The order came from on high.
Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson on Tuesday said he won’t prosecute people with little or no criminal record who get caught with small amounts of weed.
While the majority of such cases already are eventually dismissed, those arrested from now on — with some exceptions — will be released before seeing a judge, according to a DA memo.
The revised approach is not shared by cops (Wha!??! Shocking! ISN'T IT!?!!? :rolleyes:) and could even cause tension between the DA and the NYPD.
“This new policy is a reasonable response to the thousands of low-level marijuana arrests that weigh down the criminal justice system, require significant resources that could be redirected to more serious crimes and take an unnecessary toll on offenders,” Thompson said in a statement.
The new DA, who took office this year, had promised to change pot policies and has been negotiating the approach with police officials for months.
But Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said Tuesday the “policy change will not result in any changes in the policies and procedures of the NYPD.”
He added that police “appreciate many of (prosecutors’) concerns” and understand their prerogative to decline prosecutions.
“However,” Bratton said, “in order to be effective, our police officers must enforce the laws of the State of New York uniformly throughout all five boroughs of the city.”
Thompson noted that his office handled more than 8,500 low-level marijuana misdemeanors in 2013, which mostly affect people of color. More than two-thirds were thrown out or dismissed under the condition that the defendant stay out of trouble for a year.
(more at the link)
Woah! That's 5,600+ cases that are thrown out. What's the point!?! What would the cops do if they were told they could make 5,600 less arrests?? Why enforce something the DA says we will throw out???
http://www.hightimes.com/read/nypd-stomps-man%E2%80%99s-head-over-marijuana-possession
Despite the Brooklyn District Attorney’s recent decision to no longer prosecute cases involving low-level marijuana possession, the New York City Police Department not only seems intent on busting people for weed, but beating them in the process.
Last week, a cell phone video emerged from the trenches of the drug war that clearly shows NYPD officer Joel Edouard viciously stomping on the head of a citizen he suspected to be in possession of marijuana. Although NYPD officials confirm that officer Edouard’s public display of excessive force got him placed on modified assignment, the incident sheds some light on police brutality.
The violent incident went down last week after officers patrolling Malcolm X Boulevard spotted 31-year-old Jahmiel Cuffee twisting up a doobie in public view. This is when officer Edouard made the decision to swoop in and apprehend Cuffee.
The bust apparently did not go according to plan. In the video, which was captured by a witness from across the street, it is evident that Cuffee is not at all pleased by the idea of going to jail for a single joint. Yet, while he can be seen struggling with several officers, by the time he is wrestled to the ground, he appears to be more frightened than retaliatory, screaming, “Help me!” repeatedly.
It does not take long for a crowd of angry onlookers to gather around. One woman can be seen attempting to get Cuffee to “stop resisting.”
At one point Edouard gets up and walks away while several other officers continued to subdue Cuffee. When officer Edouard returns, the video shows the situation taking a turn for the worse, as he slams his boot down on top of Cuffee’s head while the other officers restrain him face down on the pavement.
Witnesses can be heard screaming in disbelief, while the man who appears to be filming the incident shouts, “What is wrong with this officer?” Look at your officer! You see that?”
Reports indicate that Cuffee was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for head and neck injuries, before he was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana.
Officer Edouard has since been forced to surrender his gun and badge and has been reassigned to desk duty, pending the completion of an Internal Affairs investigation.
Unfortunately, these types of despicable battles between law enforcement and marijuana users will continue to happen, not just in New York City, but all across the country until the federal government finally repeals marijuana prohibition once and for all.
(Video at the link)
So now when the DA says we will stop prosecuting low level MJ arrests.....The cops say...FUCK OFF...WE WILL CONTINUE TO beat down these animals because we must maintain ORDER.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/brooklyn-da-announces-new-policy-pot-prosecutions-article-1.1859324
The order came from on high.
Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson on Tuesday said he won’t prosecute people with little or no criminal record who get caught with small amounts of weed.
While the majority of such cases already are eventually dismissed, those arrested from now on — with some exceptions — will be released before seeing a judge, according to a DA memo.
The revised approach is not shared by cops (Wha!??! Shocking! ISN'T IT!?!!? :rolleyes:) and could even cause tension between the DA and the NYPD.
“This new policy is a reasonable response to the thousands of low-level marijuana arrests that weigh down the criminal justice system, require significant resources that could be redirected to more serious crimes and take an unnecessary toll on offenders,” Thompson said in a statement.
The new DA, who took office this year, had promised to change pot policies and has been negotiating the approach with police officials for months.
But Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said Tuesday the “policy change will not result in any changes in the policies and procedures of the NYPD.”
He added that police “appreciate many of (prosecutors’) concerns” and understand their prerogative to decline prosecutions.
“However,” Bratton said, “in order to be effective, our police officers must enforce the laws of the State of New York uniformly throughout all five boroughs of the city.”
Thompson noted that his office handled more than 8,500 low-level marijuana misdemeanors in 2013, which mostly affect people of color. More than two-thirds were thrown out or dismissed under the condition that the defendant stay out of trouble for a year.
(more at the link)
Woah! That's 5,600+ cases that are thrown out. What's the point!?! What would the cops do if they were told they could make 5,600 less arrests?? Why enforce something the DA says we will throw out???
http://www.hightimes.com/read/nypd-stomps-man%E2%80%99s-head-over-marijuana-possession
Despite the Brooklyn District Attorney’s recent decision to no longer prosecute cases involving low-level marijuana possession, the New York City Police Department not only seems intent on busting people for weed, but beating them in the process.
Last week, a cell phone video emerged from the trenches of the drug war that clearly shows NYPD officer Joel Edouard viciously stomping on the head of a citizen he suspected to be in possession of marijuana. Although NYPD officials confirm that officer Edouard’s public display of excessive force got him placed on modified assignment, the incident sheds some light on police brutality.
The violent incident went down last week after officers patrolling Malcolm X Boulevard spotted 31-year-old Jahmiel Cuffee twisting up a doobie in public view. This is when officer Edouard made the decision to swoop in and apprehend Cuffee.
The bust apparently did not go according to plan. In the video, which was captured by a witness from across the street, it is evident that Cuffee is not at all pleased by the idea of going to jail for a single joint. Yet, while he can be seen struggling with several officers, by the time he is wrestled to the ground, he appears to be more frightened than retaliatory, screaming, “Help me!” repeatedly.
It does not take long for a crowd of angry onlookers to gather around. One woman can be seen attempting to get Cuffee to “stop resisting.”
At one point Edouard gets up and walks away while several other officers continued to subdue Cuffee. When officer Edouard returns, the video shows the situation taking a turn for the worse, as he slams his boot down on top of Cuffee’s head while the other officers restrain him face down on the pavement.
Witnesses can be heard screaming in disbelief, while the man who appears to be filming the incident shouts, “What is wrong with this officer?” Look at your officer! You see that?”
Reports indicate that Cuffee was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for head and neck injuries, before he was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana.
Officer Edouard has since been forced to surrender his gun and badge and has been reassigned to desk duty, pending the completion of an Internal Affairs investigation.
Unfortunately, these types of despicable battles between law enforcement and marijuana users will continue to happen, not just in New York City, but all across the country until the federal government finally repeals marijuana prohibition once and for all.
(Video at the link)