The United States is turning into a police state meaning it is us “citizens” against “the man.” As a result of this getting justice is becoming a much more difficult task. The United States started becoming a police state shortly after 9/11 when George W. Bush created homeland security. Homeland security was created after 9/11 in order to prevent future terrorist attacks. However, due to its unlimited power to spy on us citizens, it ultimately violates American’s Fourth Amendment right. This breach extended to the N.S.A., F.B.I. and C.I.A. Ever since then Americans every day are being ripped of their Constitutional rights. At first, these rights were only taken from the Federal level, but it seems now it has trickled down to the local law enforcement.
Every city has a police department where local law enforcement has jurisdiction only within that town. These individuals are “law enforcement citizens” who are there to “protect & serve” the residents of that town. However, the tide is beginning to shift as “law enforcement citizens” are beginning to see everyone as a threat. What this means is the “law enforcement citizens” sworn to protect us are becoming the individuals we should fear the most.
On July 5, 2011, a schizophrenic homeless man by the name of Kelly Thomas was filmed being brutally beaten by six “law enforcement citizens” from Fullerton, California. Kelly Thomas was beaten to the point where he was knocked unconscious and died five days later from his injuries. Two years later “law enforcement citizens” Manuel Ramos and Jay Cicinelli were on trial for the death of Kelly Thomas.
The video recording of Manuel Ramos, Jay Cicinelli, and the six other “law enforcement citizens” was key evidence in the trial. However, within less than a day of deliberation, a jury on Monday, January 13, 2014, acquitted Manuel Ramos and Jay Cicinelli of all their actions. Upon reading of the verdict numerous people were upset as an innocent homeless man was beaten to death and no consequences were given.
Kelly Thomas’s father Rob, a former “law enforcement citizen” said, “the verdict [gives] police ‘carte blanche’ to brutalize people. ‘All of us need to be very afraid now,’…‘Police officers everywhere can beat us, kill us, whatever they want, but it has been proven right here today they’ll get away with it.’”
Following the verdict, Ramos’ attorney, John Barnett, told reporters: “These peace officers were doing their jobs…they did what they were trained to do.” In my opinion, this hands down is one of the scariest things I have ever read knowing “law enforcement citizens” are trained to murder the same individuals they are sworn to protect. This just goes to show “law enforcement citizens” are above the law and justice will never be served if they hurt you or me.
As justice was not served for Kelly Thomas, justice was not served for me. If you have been following me for some time or read my about page, then you know I became an innocent victim of a police pursuit. Although, the “law enforcement citizen” who initiated the police pursuit, was off duty, out of his own jurisdiction and on his way to getting his radio fixed as is was broken, a judge ruled that the police department/city of Laguna Beach were immune for my injuries under California vehicle code 17004.7 (for more information read my post 19 Years And Counting.)
So, where am I going with this? Well, on December 13, 2013, Brian Beaird lead the LAPD on a wild police chase for over an hour. The police pursuit came to a conclusion when Beaird broadsided a Nissan, where he then proceeded to run on foot. As Beaird began running, his back was turned to the police along with his arms in the air. At this point, 3 LAPD officers opened fire shooting Beaird 15 to 20 times killing him.
Following the shooting and death of Beaird, a week later his family filed a $20 million civil claim as a result of what happened. The lawyer Dale Galipo who is representing the Beaird family said, “the deadly shooting of Brian Newt Beaird, 51,…involving three LAPD officers was ‘malicious’ and ‘criminal.’…it was fortunate that the incident was caught on video, which he said showed Beaird was ‘clearly unarmed’ and ‘clearly not reaching in his waistband or pocket.’”
On Thursday before the announcement of the civil claim, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said, “After hearing the preliminary briefing, I am very concerned about the circumstances that led up to and resulted in this Officer Involved Shooting,…because of those concerns I have directed that the three involved officers be assigned home pending the final results of the investigation. Determinations regarding training or possible disciplining of the involved officers will be made at that time.”
I think this civil claim and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck’s statements are outrageous. This just goes to show that even though Brian Beaird was breaking the law by not stopping and leading the LAPD on a police pursuit, he had more rights than me and any other innocent civilians Beaird and the LAPD were endangering.
In recent studies by the California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles Police Department, “More bystanders are injured or killed during high-speed police chases than by stray bullets. In California, more than 10,000 people have been injured and over 300 people killed because of police chases in the last decade…” and ”Nearly a third of Los Angeles police pursuits end in traffic collisions, and two-thirds of those crashes result in injuries — to suspects, officers, and to innocent bystanders…” These statistics show police pursuits are beyond dangerous and because of California vehicle code, 17004.7 anyone who becomes an innocent victim has no leg to stand on if something happens to YOU!
Following police pursuits that result in the death or injury of an innocent victim no “law enforcement citizens” are disciplined. Instead, police chiefs try to justify their actions and blame the criminal is fully responsible. When are “law enforcement citizens” going to learn that they are just as responsible and reckless as the criminals running from them.
As for the civil rights claim, the Beaird family has not received any money yet, but Galipo said, “he hoped a settlement could be reached with the police department before then.” (Referring to the 45 days the city of Los Angeles has to respond to the civil case.) My question is when did cops no longer become your friends? Why do criminals have more rights than law abiding citizens? When did to “protect & serve” become shoot first ask questions later? And finally, if this is the way “law enforcement” acts today, what does the future hold?
These are legitimate questions to ask as everyone is now presumed guilty as homeland security and the N.S.A. spy program are violating everyone’s rights. Edward Snowden the former N.S.A. contractor should not be prosecuted for leaking classified documents to the media. Edward Snowden should be seen as a patriot as he let the American people know that their government is not following the U.S. Constitution.
In March of 1971, eight, anti-war protesters known as the F.B.I burglars released documents to the media outlining the extent of J. Edgar Hoover’s domestic spy program. “Ultimately, the Media burglary helped lay bare an extensive domestic spying program, known as ‘Cointelpro,’ a clandestine system of life-shattering assaults on Hoover’s enemies. The revelation prompted a major overhaul of the bureau by the U.S. Senate. Even the FBI website today acknowledges the role the Media burglary played in this ‘significant re-evaluation.’” So, if the F.B.I. burglars are seen as patriots, should not Edward Snowden be?
So, where is the United States going to be in 10, 20 or 30 years? God is the only one who knows. However, if the trend continues the way it is going, I could see the fictional government portrayed in V for Vendetta coming true. So, remember, Guy Fawkes and “Remember, Remember the 5th of November.”
Trent McGee 