[SDCBC] Critical Mass Cyclist Assaulted by NYPD

[Frank Paiano]

My apologies if I made it seem as if I were arguing that law enforcement was against cycling.  There are many officers who are very pro-cycling and others who are anti-cycling and probably the majority who couldn't care one way or the other.  My point was that this officer and many, many other officers believe that they can simply get away with pretty much anything and the system will back them up.  If I had complained to the San Diego Police Department about the officer who assaulted a Critical Mass'er, would anything have happened? Not at all and the officer knew it.  If I had had a video of him charging the group of cyclists with his patrol car and then choosing an individual at random and slamming him to the pavement, then maybe I could have gone to the media and maybe it would have caused a ruckus.  But the fact remains, in every case, the police department and the city and county attorney's office closes ranks around the officer and the victim is turned into the perpetrator.

-- JonIsaacs at aol.com wrote:
Frank:  I am not apologizing for the actions of the police.  You probably remember the case a few years ago when Tom McHale was beaten by a SDPD officer and ended winning a law suit against the city for $410,000.  I know these things happen and it ain't good. 
But to say that "law enforcement" is against cyclists because of the behavior of some officers is just as illogical as saying that "cyclists" are irresponsible delinquents because of the behavior of some cyclists.    Jon Isaacs 


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