Police doing stupid things is becoming the "new normal." This incident is being reported out of Wales:
Cop ‘Accidentally’ Pepper Sprays 4-Year-Olds During Kindergarten Visit
_http://countercurrentnews.com/2014/11/cop-accidentally-pepper-sprays-4-year-olds-during-kindergarten-visit/
Sat. Nov. 8, 2014 - More police in the schools will make kids safer, right? That’s what a lot of people have been saying for years, but the evidence seems to tell a very different story.
Recently, several children as young as 4-years-old found themselves “accidentally” pepper sprayed by police officers from the Gwent Police Department during a visit to Gilfach Fargoed Elementary School, in Bargoed, Caerphilly county in Wales.
Well, it wasn’t exactly “pepper” spray, the new and improved “riot” spray is technically called “PAVA” (pelargonic acid vanillylamide) and has replaced CS spray in many places because it is deemed to be significantly more effective than regular pepper spray.
The less for the day was on the riot equipment used by the police force… Because that’s important for elementary school students to learn about, right?
Instead of demonstrating with a “fake” pepper spray canister, the officers discharged a real canister, just like they use on non-violent protesters and the like on the streets.
Eight students, four and five years old, were hit with the spray. The chief of the force said that he apologizes for the “error.”
While there is little question that this was an accident, it is hard to regard it as a simple error, when it is such a bizarre idea to spray a “fake” canister of pepper spray in the faces of children.
A spokesperson for the department said that “parents were contacted by a senior officer to explain what happened, discuss any concerns and offer our sincere apologies. Medical treatment wasn’t required on the day, however, parents were advised to seek medical attention if they had any concerns.
“Further enquiries into the error are now being undertaken and, as a result of yesterday’s incident, school liaison officers will no longer be taking any demonstration (mock) PAVA spray into schools.”
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Consider this recent incident involving newly graduated Cadets from the New York - New Jersey Port Authority Police Department.
Drunken party costs 9 rookie cops their jobs
_http://news.yahoo.com/drunken-party-costs-9-rookie-cops-jobs-163557424.html
Sat. Nov. 8, 2014 -NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Nine rookie police officers have been fired for their behavior at a drunken graduation party in northern New Jersey.
In announcing the dismissals the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Friday the incident has prompted a review of the process for selecting and training candidates. The officers were part of the agency’s largest-ever graduating class.
Several other officers and supervisors face disciplinary proceedings or suspensions stemming from the party at a Hoboken bar on Aug. 23, the agency said.
“This is a sad day for the Port Authority Police Department,” Executive Director Patrick Foye said in a statement. “We are extremely disappointed by the conduct of the probationary officers involved and appalled by the poor judgment of the Academy staff members in attendance. The Port Authority is justly proud of the history and dedication of its police department and views the conduct in question as deeply troubling.”
The agency investigated after news reports emerged of an out-of-control party at the Texas Arizona Bar and Grill. The officers were terminated for their conduct and for not being truthful during the investigative process, according to a Port Authority spokesman, who would not elaborate on the nature of the conduct.
In addition to the officers who were fired, three other new officers were suspended without pay for 30 days and will have their probationary status extended for a year. Three supervisors and two other officers will face disciplinary proceedings.
The cost of training a Port Authority police officer is about $36,000, an agency spokesman said. The Port Authority operates bridges, tunnels, airports and ports in the New York metropolitan area as well as the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan.
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On another note, it's not the Police fault they use brutality, it's their traning?
Burlington, VT Police Say Brutality is “Consistent with Officer’s Training” (Video)
_http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2014/11/03/burlington-police-investigate-arrest-video/18415087/
Friday Nov. 7, 2014 -Burlington police say conduct of officers caught on video during a weekend arrest is consistent with the officers’ training.
Chief Michael Schirling said punching motions shown on the video are part of what officers are trained to do when a person is resisting arrest.
The video, posted Sunday on YouTube by a person with the username Cody Weinberger, shows 38 seconds of two officers arresting a man. In the video and online, people accuse the officers of brutality in making the arrest.
Officers were responding to reports that a man was climbing a telephone pole. Burlington police said they do not know what caused the initial altercation between Langevin and the second man, Deputy Chief Bruce Bovat said.
“Langevin immediately refused to place his hands behind his back and tensed his arms several times,” Czyzewski wrote in the affidavit. “Both Officer Rabideau and I ordered Langevin to stop resisting and to place his hands behind his back which he did not. At this time I delivered a knee strike to Langevin’s left thigh causing him to fall to the ground.”
Officers attempted to place Langevin’s hands behind his back, but Langevin got his footing and stood up. Czyzewski said Langevin elbowed Rabideau in the right eye and hit Czyzewski in the jaw, according to the affidavit.
“Langevin was able to escape my grasp and began to run away,” Czyzewski wrote in the affidavit. “Officer Rabideau deployed his Taser, striking Langevin in the lower back and upper buttocks; this caused Langevin to fall to the ground.”
[/b]The amateur video begins when Langevin is on the ground once again.
About halfway into the video, one police officer appears to begin punching the man on the ground, while the other officer appears to use some kind of disabling spray on a bystander who approached the arrest. The bystander then falls to the ground, clutching his face.
Czyzewski wrote in the affidavit that Langevin was continuing to resist arrest by forcing his hands underneath his body. Czyzewski said he delivered “approximately seven downward fist strikes into Langevin’s back.”
Chief Schirling said the officers followed protocol.
“These strikes are consistent with officer training and are referred to as ‘distractionary strikes’ done in hopes of distracting or stunning someone to assist in gaining control,” Schirling wrote. “Throughout the encounter Langevin was asked and ordered to comply and stop resisting.”[/b]
