A year ago on May 31, a video went viral after an Ocean City police officer slugged a young man in the head and put him in a chokehold for, ostensibly, resisting arrest.
The youth was seated on a Boardwalk bench at the time and his crime leading to that confrontation was that he cursed and insulted the officer as the latter arrested his friend for a minor infraction.
The officer who threw the haymaker was cleared roughly three weeks later, after a review of his actions found that he acted within the department’s use-of-force policy. The youth, against whom charges were also dropped, was White.
The police overreaction shown on that video — it can be found in this paper’s online archives at oceancitytoday.com — would seem to answer the question being asked all over the country this week regarding two Boardwalk incidents involving police use of force against two young Black men: would the police have treated these men as harshly if they were White?
It’s a sorry defense, but the actions some officers have exhibited over the years strongly suggests that the answer would be “yes,” and that last weekend’s Tasering of one man and the repeated knee-to-the ribs of another were not the racist incidents they have been made out to be in national news coverage. It could have happened to anyone.
In the meantime, the local debate over the propriety of the kneeing/Tasering takedowns over vaping infractions is pointless in one respect: what we think doesn’t really matter.
OC has had problems with officers for years. Most are young and have a chip on the shoulder. They use to put you in the police transport vehicle and work you over. If I was an OC cop I would not care if someone was vaping they have a lot more issues they could be dealing with.
Here is my commentary, I am not a lawman in any capacity. I say let the paid employee that you hire to do a job, do that job. Your reputation and citizens watching you is through your own making for restrictions you instill in the employees. Let the employee (cop) do the job you want done. Take out the trash and bring back a family resort that you still claim to be. You don’t catch shit from a cop unless you axe for it. I have been stopped my share of times during my years and always gave the officer respect. Guess what, I got the same respect each time. Doesn’t matter what color the skin is. Just my humble opinion.
Thumbing noses at other criticism (which is the City Fail mindset) will not be wise under todays social atmosphere. Acting accordingly is now a must….not turning a cheek and say it will be over by 4th of July.
Vaping is one thing. Telling the officer to go and #&%k himself after being ordered to take the vaping off the Boards is another. Yet another is getting physical after refusing the lawful order, then resisting arrest.
Adam Henrys come in all sizes and colors, and OC gets more than its share.
Small city ordinances is what caused these police brutality assaults in the first place. In Ocean City the motto is “Walk cockey and beat you with a big stick!”
Huh? You really think that? Wow.
LEOs are doing their best – walk in their shoes!
Time for some sensitivity training for the Ocean City Police Dept!
How about some common sense, courtesy AND respect from citizens?
LEOs are to protect citizens and when necessary provide enforcement.
REMOVE OC Mayor Rick Meehan and OC Police Chief Ross Buzzuro immediately for the police brutality against people of color recently!
Recently? Where have you been? What about in 2020? 2019? 2018? etc?
Don’t fit today’s society narrative with what you see as today’s needed action – this sh*tshow has been going no for years – INSTIGATED about citizens, not LEOs.
Move along 722pm, keep following your flock.
Armchair quarterbacks… they know very little about what happened…I challenge all of them to go to the academy, train, and do police work…if not, at least the citizens police academy, to get a better idea of what these officers do every day to protect your sorry butts… you will definitely have your eyes opened. God bless our men and women in blue ?
Lawsuits are a comin!!!
The officer did right. Next they’ll be pissin’ in the street if you don’t control the small stuff. Make it hard for them to be disorderly and they won’t come. OC needs a few Wyatt Earps to clean that town up.
Psst – they have been pissin’ in the streets for years!
Interesting part, the fiscal year ends 30 Jun downtown is counting the days to close the books and start fresh 1 Jul. Thats when the narrative begins with a whirlwind Jul 4th week, family traditional weeks vacations to get through July, then White Marlin, the last couple weeks in August, possible labor day weekend packed house with an offseason of bikes, cars, sunfest with everyone holding their breaths for the “pop up event”. All the while the nation will have something to refocus on (prob a teacher, pumpkin, turkey or xmas tree potential shortage) – which City Hall breathes a sigh of relief until Springtime.
Lather Rinse Repeat.
give it a rest. just mosey on down to rehoboth where you can blow your boyfriend on the beach all day long. OC is a shithole and as such thats what it attracts! the riff raff and the city deserve each other!
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Everyone seems to miss this very simple point: if they would have complied, there would be nothing to see here.
absolutely correct 8:37 – What amazes me is that so many immediately jumped to conclusions without any facts or evidence. If you look at twitter, there is definitely a mob mentality but I would invite all to take a look at a viewpoint provided by a Florida Training officer regarding the “vape” incident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us6hVTNnaXk&t=783s