Despite arrest, police beating shows technology shortcomings

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Jonathan Drew, Associated Press
 Updated 4:23 pm, Friday, March 9, 2018]

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A white police officer shown on video beating a black pedestrian has been charged with felony assault in a North Carolina case that sparked outrage over use of excessive force.

The case against former Asheville Police Officer Christopher Hickman stems from an August 2017 encounter but became public only last week after a leaked body camera video showed Hickman subduing and punching the pedestrian, who was accused of jaywalking.

The violent encounter happened shortly after Asheville implemented rules against excessive force, demonstrating how even a well-meaning policy can be limited by the officers carrying it out. The delay in making the footage public also shows that body camera technology being adopted across the country can't always guarantee the level of transparency many have hoped for.

"We need to be very cognizant of how difficult police supervision actually is. It's difficult enough that we can't just throw a piece of technology at it and expect to substantially change police supervision," said Seth Stoughton, who teaches law at the University of South Carolina.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Officer-charged-with-assaulting-black-jaywalking-12740733.php

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Officer Christopher Hickman

[BumRushDaShow]

1. "we can't just throw a piece of technology at it...

...and expect to substantially change police supervision".

Yeah you can because before that "piece of technology" was "thrown at it", LOE all the way up the chain of command denied that anything wrong even happened. I.e., the recipient of the violence at the hands of LOE, was branded as a liar, and those who tried to advocate for the beaten, maimed, and killed, were called "rabble rousers" or "race hustlers".

That "piece of technology" that was "thrown" has at least exposed a small part of what POC have complained about for centuries. The "hard part" is making them stop blaming the victim for "reaching into their waistband" (while handcuffed) or "resisting arrest" (while face down on the ground, handcuffed, and being tasered with a LOE's foot on the back) or "lunging towards" an officer (while running away and getting shot in the back by another LOE) and other nonsense that is often used to justify excessive force.

[Archae]

4. The body cams have also exonerated policemen.

On a few occasions, guys who got violent made accusations, that fell apart once body cams showed policemen trying to defuse violent people.

So it's a win-win for both police and the public.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Yes.

There are sadly far too many out there who are addicts and/or who are in need of some serious mental health services, and some will attack anyone with any object that they can get their hands on (and including using their fists).

[Journeyman]

2. Reasonable people can debate if the ball was caught or the runner beat the tag . . .

but flagrant fouls are easily recognized. That is, unless the evidence is kept hidden.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Kick (nt)

[yardwork]

5. The former officer is now charged with assault.

This is getting a lot of attention in NC, as it should. Asheville thinks of itself as a very progressive city, which shows how far we have to go in this nation to recognize and eradicate racism.

There is no justification whatsoever for this brutal attack on a peaceful, unarmed citizen who was walking home from work.

[appal_jack]

7. Exactly. k&r, nt