07/29/2008
Critical Assault
Have you seen the video of rookie cop Patrick Pogan assaulting cyclist Christopher Long during the Critical Mass bike ride demonstration last Friday in NYC?
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
The NY Post reports: "What the video doesn't show is Pogan arresting Long for attempted assault in the third degree, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct - charges that kept the Bloomfield, NJ, man behind bars for 26 hours before his release late Saturday. Adding insult to injury, the criminal complaint drafted by Pogan bears little resemblance to what was witnessed by onlookers and recorded on video. In court papers, Pogan claimed that he wanted to issue Long a summons for failing to keep right, and then ordered Long to stop. The cop accused Long of purposely swerving his bicycle to block traffic and then using it as a weapon to run down the officer, knocking him off his feet and causing a 'laceration' on his forearm. 'You are pawns in the game. I'm going to have your job,' Long told Pogan, as he flailed and kicked his arms and legs, according to the complaint. Pogan has been on the force for just three weeks since graduating from the Police Academy on July 2 and is assigned to Midtown South. A third-generation cop, Pogan lives at home with his father - Patrick Pogan Sr., a highly respected detective and biochemical and mass-destruction expert who is retired from the Joint Terrorism Task Force. 'He's my son. I'm proud of him. He's third-generation that's been serving the city,' said Pogan Sr., 51, who was at home in Massapequa Park, LI, yesterday and said he had not seen the video. 'These people are taking over the streets and impeding the flow of traffic. Then you gotta do what you gotta do.'"
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
Pogan has been put on desk duty and his badge and gun withheld pending an investigation. Hopefully, they'll fire him.
Posted 9:18 AM EST by Andy Towle in Law Enforcement, New York, News | Permalink
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THESE COPS FORGET ...THEY WORK FOR US, not themselves, they are out there to take care of us not to attack us. COPS and I mean all the country need a fuckign wake up call and we need to get some laws in.
Posted by: Bosie | Jul 29, 2008 1:31:51 PM
As for the cop:
He should be fired, AND arrested for mutiple crimes: assualt, filing a false police report, whatever else. Then prosecuted both criminally and civily! Man, he's an asshat!
As for Critical Mass:
Here in SF I have been caught once in a Critical Mass. They annoyed the hell out of me but this was about 3 years ago, so maybe it was before they really had the transition to/infiltration of a more "anarchy" mindset.
They poured through the intersection, stopped in packs to block traffic IN the intersection and would take shifts in replacing one another.
They should consider the chaos as only causing resentment amongst drivers, not support for more bicycle friendly designs for roads. I didn't see one sign, flyer, or banner announcing what they wanted or were demonstrating for. It was more of a party that a demonstration. Just goes to show you, full communication is important to get the message across and help change things.
As for the complaints I have and have read:
Drivers don't see bicyclists, and should be much more diligent. Turns especially are full of potential to hurt/kill a bicyclist! That includes left AND right turns.
Bicyclists need to obey the traffic laws! That includes red lights, stop signs, right of way, and allowable riding areas (the bicycle lane or the appropriate position in the car lane). Predictability allows drivers to know what to expect.
Pedestrians (myself included) are selfish assholes too! Crossing against the light, mid-block, and especially starting to cross when the walk/don't walk light is clearly already counting down! That actually means: DON'T START TO CROSS! It does NOT mean "get going...if you can finish before it's Don't Walk then cool, you made it!" The flashing/count down timer is for cars to complete a turn (left and right) before they lose the right of way or end up blocking the intersection when trapped by pedestrians!
Also, pedestrians have the right of way in the crosswalk. Read that again: IN the crosswalk. If a car starts to turn and you are not in the crosswalk, you are NOT supposed to walk in front and "claim the right of way". The law in SF is clear about the wording (I looked it up and printed it for my glove box). I cannot stand asshole pedestrians who start to cross in front a car already starting their turn, forcing them to stop in the intersection and then the pedestrian gives the car a little, "Hey dummy, I have the right of way...whatcha gonna do? Hit me? Ha! I will sue and win! Hahahaha". Jerks.
Also, pedestrians, stop STANDING in the gutter, just off the sidewalk when waiting for the light to change. It makes turning right hard and dangerous!
Just a few things... :)
Posted by: Robert in SF | Jul 29, 2008 2:42:47 PM
Well, there are members of the SF city council that want to ban cars completely, so it cuts both ways.
Posted by: ano | Jul 29, 2008 3:15:33 PM
Yes, a few in the SF CITY COUNSEL want us to go back to the horse and buggy days...makes a lot of nonsense.
Posted by: tom | Jul 29, 2008 3:28:53 PM
Two wrongs don't make a right. Critical Mass and the NYPD need to grow up. I suppose they didn't sort out their egos when they were supposed to: Kindergarten recess!
Posted by: kyle | Jul 29, 2008 6:36:06 PM
As for the SF City Council, I think that sometimes they lose the point in their "principle based" proposals.
For example, if I remember correctly, they won't let the military recruit in SF schools because of their gay discrimination. And have heard of late that it also has to do with the recruiting practices/propaganda and unethical practices that have been reported in other schools. But all we hear is how SF is anti-military. SF needs a communications expert to come in and train the people who represent SF to the world to be much more clear, complete, and concise (to help reduce harmful sound bites from being taken out of context. It won't ever stop since the right wing SF-haters don't need much to work with, but it will help).
Hmmmmmmm...just like critical mass. Letting the message get diluted or hidden by the method/medium. I sense a trend.
Posted by: Robert in SF | Jul 30, 2008 12:48:17 PM
The cop won't be fired. his union will stand behind him and blame the victim, and they'll get away with it. As usual. Cops don't feel like they have to follow the laws they are supposed to enforce. They can kill, maim, ruin lives with minimal cause and be let off with a warning after they lie under oath about what happened. And anyone who disagrees is told, "You have to understand how hard a cop's life is." Pathetic...but I'll bet you a fiver, right now, that cop's still on the job a year from now and will be even if he kills someone.
Posted by: Kyle Michel Sullivan | Dec 16, 2008 6:26:58 PM
I don't know how it works in New York, but in most states, bicycles are considered vehicles and, although you don't need a license to operate one, you must obey the traffic laws as they apply to all vehicles. A bike has every right to be in the street just as a motor car or an Amish buggy.
This cop should be summarily fired.
Unfortunately, I agree with KMS, unionization will win the day. The institution of union to protect skilled and trade workers is now just used as a safety net for incompetence and mediocrity, or worse - blatant abuse funded by the victims themselves as in this case.
Posted by: Dave | Dec 17, 2008 8:37:59 PM
If you actually looked carefully you would of seen the person knocked down leaning towards the cop walking his way to knock down the officer and the officer pushed him over in defense.
Posted by: john | Apr 6, 2009 6:43:40 PM