Man Gets $100K After Arrest for Flipping Off Cop

[@loose-arrow-garage]

Let us not forget that a judgement against a government agency is a monetary loss for the taxpayers of that state or town. I think cops would be much more careful if that money came out of their pensions!

[@fs127]

It's supposed to so the victim actually receives compensation and the community, rightly upset, makes sure the cop that caused the damage stops being a cop. Unfortunately we don't have communities anymore and the damage gets hidden by the insurance policy.

[@grc5618]

Was thinking the same thing. Everyone involved with charging people with fake/false charges should be the ones paying...NOT the taxpayers.

[@vincei4252]

I remember when those cops were prosecuted for violating Abdul Louima's civil rights in NY. The news of the ruling was announced and I could see one of the ladies outside my office celebrating. She comes in and tells me about the ruling and the first thing I said to her was "you know the tax payers are paying for that, right?" Her: Oh.

[@JosephEllis-ep7sg]

In the majority of cases they pay a flat rate of insurance and it's the insurance company who pays for litigation loses

[@timothyjohnson6258]

As long as the cops have 30 days to come up with the money. Their pension withdrawal would take longer than that.

[@tarrantwolf]

The payment should come from the oath breakers pension.

[@skutchBlobaum]

Then you have to keep them employed. Make them carry insurance and start an international data base for offenders. Change hiring practices and training practices.

[@roy19491]

no.....paychecks

[@tarrantwolf]

@@roy19491 no, pension. Paychecks stop when they're fired. Pension is the money they've saved up from their paychecks.

[@tarrantwolf]

@@roy19491 no, pension. Paychecks stop when the jobs gone, pension is your retirement savings.

[@MrTrailerman2]

If the middle finger offends you as a cop, you need a different job.

[@EndPoliceBrutailty]

Exactly!! 💯%

[@RabbiJesus]

I’m not saying it’s right. But you have no idea what kind of day the officer had prior to this. He could have just saved a family from a psycho killer and his thanks was the bird.

[@bikeman1x11]

@@RabbiJesus not likely 99.9% of their job is as road pirates

[@MrTheHillfolk]

​@@RabbiJesus Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away

[@KGRICK1]

@@RabbiJesus cops don't save anyone from "psycho killers".

[@Recovering_Californian]

Until law enforcement is personally held accountable these type of cases will continue.

[@phookadude]

If an arrest is completely without probable cause then it should be considered a kidnapping.

[@TheReedsofEnki]

Seems like the officer should be accountable for the restitution, not the citizens of Vermont.

[@technodrone313]

@@phookadude then they claim qualified immunity

[@thehimself4056]

Be careful when talking about police reform. The two party system doesn’t like that.

[@EnthalpyAndEntropy]

@@technodrone313they can claim anything they want. They also bleed like everyone else and a dead cop can’t claim anything.

[@avgrim7729]

This is getting ridiculous!! The money needs to start coming out the cops pocket!!!

[@shannonp1656]

Wage garnishment

[@debanda4504]

Yep , taxpayers keep paying

[@stevetheborg]

it seems like the trooper should pay the state back.

[@tvc1848]

Why did the same government agency waste money fighting this as legal all the way to the Supreme Court? While the trooper made an unlawful arrest due to the First Amendment, his employer/the state backed him up on it. Pay the state back? They were the ones to push the issue. Flipping the bird or other gestures are not always free speech but they are when targeted against the government.

[@shenmisheshou7002]

@@tvc1848 Because the taxpayers pay for the lawyers too, and they don't care about the money, and I guess they believe that the victim will run out of time or money before the state does.

[@DaveBigDawg]

6 years to get justice ⚖️ is ridiculous

[@ygrittesnow1701]

The victim got compensated. Justice would be holding the offending party accountable. That didn't happen.

[@timothyjohnson6258]

That in itself is a crime. Justice delayed is justice denied.

[@ronnieitaquab1008]

It took so long because they don't want to let go of arresting the public for 1st amendment practice

[@EndPoliceBrutailty]

I agree. I have my own horror stories involving cops needlessly injuring and traumatizing me when I was NOT under arrest and I had just called them for moral support. I was also charged once with my aggressor's crime because the cops couldn't be bothered to check the CCTV cameras to see if she was lying which she was. I got my charges dropped because there wasn't enough evidence. The trauma this caused me will take longer than 6 years to heal from. I'll probably never get justice and I was way more beat up by cops than most people. Especially an innocent person. No warrant.

[@willlawson6126]

They realized this wasn't going to go away so they finally put it through the courts and paid the man is my take away as to why it took so long

[@RabbiJesus]

Officers, don’t let our tax dollars get in the way of your ego.

[@jimmy-ke2gb]

A officer is someone that respect your and his constitution rights.this trooper a cop.not a officer

[@christopherkidwell9817]

Many officers do set their ego aside. My cousin was a Maryland State Police for 20 years and he had numerous slurs thrown at him by various people and he never lashed out at them because of it.

[@TeeDee-j9u]

Take it out their benefits

[@AndyJayroe]

They don’t care, they will never care as long as they never pay for their crimes.

[@frosty3693]

Cops know that anything is legal, or illegal, that they can get you to believe. This culture of lying to people all the time, and having people lie to you all the time may be a major reason we get some of the law enforcment people we do, up to an including DAs and the Attorney General of the United States.

[@mars6433]

The police will never ever ever never "Admit wrong doing".

[@peterhineinlegen4672]

I would insist on it in any settlement.

[@brianbagnall3029]

$100,000 of OUR money so THEY don't have to admit wrongdoing. Makes sense to me. 😵‍💫

[@timdowney6721]

@@peterhineinlegen4672 Unfortunately, admission of wrongdoing is usually something cops, along with businesses and other government agencies are adamantly opposed to.

[@jimmy-ke2gb]

Smell like Tryanny

[@ygrittesnow1701]

@@brianbagnall3029 $175,000 but your point holds. And don't forget whatever settlement the person in Michigan got paid. And the thousands of others in similar rights violation cases. The protests of 2020 have reached in excess of a billion dollars for rights violations. My question is why isn't the DOJ charging these cops under 18US241 and 18US242. Makes no sense to burden the tax payers with footing these bills just to let the cops off to go do it again.

[@ColtonRMagby]

A cop gets flipped the bird, and they arrest the person. That's a First Amendment violation, AND evidence of an ego that does NOT belong in a police department.

[@mattbibeault843]

It is also a fourth amendment violation. Any officer doing this sort of thing should never be allowed to work in a governmental position again.

[@tvc1848]

I teach this in the police academy. It is very clear, freedom of speech against the government is allowed…. within limits. Making threats, disrupting a courtroom, etc., are not free speech but certainly flipping off a cop is. Disorderly Conduct charges are valid but not against the police.

[@EndPoliceBrutailty]

Exactly!

[@ColtonRMagby]

@@tvc1848 Weird technicalities.

[@tvc1848]

@@ColtonRMagby What is weird about it? Disorderly Conduct laws don’t stop people from criticizing the government but those same laws can be filed if directed at a private citizen. To yell profanity at the police is protected. Go into a shopping mall and start causing a disturbance in public by yelling profanity (what the US Supreme Court calls “fighting words”) and those same comments can be a crime.

[@clbcl5]

The biggest problem is the 6 year timeline to justice.

[@skillethead15]

Right. But if you break the law your court case with be a few months later. There is absolutely no reason it should take 6 years just for the tax payers to get punished for this idiotic cops actions.

[@captainjimolchs]

@@skillethead15 Yes! Punish the taxpayers who hired him immediately!

[@Gratefuldeadgriffin]

And lawyer got 75 percent

[@captainjimolchs]

@@Gratefuldeadgriffin --In a 1983 case, as this was, legal fees are awarded by the Court. --He was represented by ACLU. --Attorney fees were 75000. I have no doubt they earned it.

[@daleallen7634]

​@@Gratefuldeadgriffin: The way that Steve told it, yes, the lawyers got 75%, but it was paid separately from the $100,000 received by the plaintiff. 🙂 In other words, the plaintiff got $100,000, AND the lawyers got $75,000 for a total judgement amount of $175,000! I really like it when the lawyers get paid separately, and the plaintiff gets to walk away with 100% of their part of the judgement.

[@99bx99]

You know what? A person could make a good living just flipping off cops.

[@sprky777]

Tax free!

[@timdowney6721]

Yeah, I could get a killer kitchen and bath remodel. 😒😄😄

[@clbcl5]

If you can live 6 years before being paid.

[@dangerously72]

I think i'll start that job today. lol

[@jonesjones7057]

​@clbcl5 that's true but if you keep doing it weekly, you won't have to wait for 6 years between each win. Start now, do it every week, and in 6 years, the wins will consistently stream in without the long wait between. All of them will roll in weekly in theory after the initial 6 years, so long as you work hard to be arrested each week. Still have to have a good work ethic to maximize your income potential, as in most career choices.

[@DanTheCox]

now the taxpayers should sue the trooper to get their money back as it was a misconduct during the course of his job.

[@Metqa]

SUBROGATION!

[@buckeyenative1365]

Until QI is revoked, that lawsuit will never happen.

[@RPSchonherr]

The cop will either get fired or suspended without pay.

[@tvc1848]

@@buckeyenative1365 In this case the officer was denied qualified immunity. He broke a clearly established case law and was therefore not protected.

[@captainjimolchs]

Being a "taxpayer" gives no standing in such a matter.

[@natedonley3977]

VSP is the worst. As a Vermonter I remember a time when our troopers weren't so offended. Now as a paramedic we can't even get them to help. They are utterly useless to law-abiding citizens.

[@ZekeRivers]

As a fellow Vermonter, you're completely correct. I listen to local VSP dispatch (they aren't bright enough to have encrypted comms) and all they do is run plates all night.

[@hifiandrew]

Guess making the Super Troopers movie modeled after them wasn't an accident

[@WlmaAlexender-zl6nx]

That 100 thousand should have come from the cop. The rest of the millions the man was owed should have come from the department.

[@truthhurtsdontit]

My question is. Why did this settlement take 6 years!

[@donaldj001]

Because the peasants aren't allowed to have justice until the justice system is completely forced into it.

[@morganhill7711]

They had trumps lawyers.

[@arcrides6841]

Because delaying justice = withholding justice And that's the plan, to try to let their goons get away with crimes. If they delay it enough it might go away. In this case they paid up but justice was never served to the goon in question.

[@RationalGaze216]

Disorderly Conduct is usually the official charge for the crime of contempt-of-cop.

[@nettakay2116]

What irks me is they don't care if the charges stick. They get great pleasure out of taking you to jail and towing your vehicle all because you didn't reverence them as the kings they think they are.

[@trarock24]

That’s why getting rid of qualified immunity is so important

[@shannonkohl68]

If that $170K came out of his salary he'd change his attitude real quick.

[@thewaywardwind548]

A good friend of mine was a Harris County, Texas (Houston) deputy sheriff. He -- and other deputies -- would be working and some loudmouth drunk would be giving them grief, just mouthing off about anything to aggravate the deputies. They'd arrest the guy for something like disorderly conduct or public intoxication, take him to jail where he'd be fingerprinted and searched. He'd probably use his phone call to let his wife know he was in jail and he needed to get out. This usually happened at night so mama was mad because he'd been drinking while she was home with the kids. She tells him the kids are sleeping and she won't wake them to take them to the jail to bail out daddy. If he had their only car, it'd be towed to impound so she can't get to the jail anyway. She's really PO'd. He's gonna spend the night in the jug. He's probably gonna miss work the next day while working on making bail and that might cost him his job which won't help his marriage any. After all this, when he has to be in court on the disorderly or PI charge, the deputies will be too involved in something else to make it to court and the charges would probably be dropped. Moral of the story is DO NOT GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO MAKE THE COPS MAD. They will win and you will lose.

[@emptyfish8992]

Imagine you cost a city 100k because of your ego.

[@ki5aok]

He cost the state of Vermont $100K.

[@lowermichigan4437]

they don't care

[@timdowney6721]

You or I would find that distressing. But cops? They don’t care.

[@MtHoodMikeZ]

175k. Dude got 100k, legal group representing him got 75k. And that doesn’t account for all the time and expense the state put into it. I’m sure the total is way over 200k.

[@davidh9638]

They've taken more than that from each of us in taxes because of their egos.

[@andyvonbourske6405]

they don't care if it's legal or not . the whole arrest , jail , stress , bond , lawyers , stress , court dates , time off work to go to court and more stress is the punishment.

[@andreahighsides7756]

“The process is the punishment”

[@imbalancedstatus8824]

While he deserves every cent, how does this change the troopers behavior, if the trooper is not affected ?

[@alaric_]

Who says it isn't affected? There is absolutely a mention of this on his record and doubt any higher-up will keep him if there's another. Usually people get second chance, or at least i thought that was a thing in the US? Everybody should get a second chance? Now, immediately someone is thinking about writing something like "cops are pigs and they protect each-others because they all are corrupt a-holes" and honestly that just isn't how the world works. There are people lining to take that guys job so keeping him with all the negative press is straight-up stupid, it's just easier to kick him and hire a new one.

[@alexm8922]

Don't forget, the prosecutors doubled down and charged him for impeding traffic, which was dismissed by the judge after reviewing the troopers dashcam

[@PorscheSpeedster-kz6nc]

I saw the body camera of the officer on this a few days ago. Thank goodness for Body Cameras. They don’t lie. Clear case of civil rights violation.

[@knghtbrd]

Not that anything will happen to this despot. Still has a badge and just shrugged it off. Cost him nothing. It never does.

[@otakurocklee]

Why isn't the cop in jail?

[@johnjacobson8484]

Is it just me, or are cops getting dumber every day 🤔

[@buckeyenative1365]

Or just feeling more entitled with each passing day.

[@terryjohnson3479]

The courts removed the requirment for honor and responsibility so all the men who require that of themselves and others no longer want the job.

[@timothyjohnson6258]

It isn't only the cops, it's their supervisors and city and state management. It always starts at the top. If their supervisors weren't corrupt and/or lazy and if the city/state management wasn't corrupt or lazy, there wouldn't be a problem.

[@TheCatherineCC]

The cop got the taxpayers to pay for disability benefits and retirement. Not sure the word is "dumber"

[@ronnieitaquab1008]

Naw it's just the public getting smarter and wiser and the police are stagnant by ego and pride with glee

[@jeffna1802]

When will criminal charges be filed against the Trooper?

[@phlodel]

Never.

[@RT-qd8yl]

😂

[@kwas27]

Unfortunately probably never

[@jim.h]

The same day that politicians vote themselves into term limits.

[@On2wls]

After accidentally cutting a driver off, I heard a pastor telling the story said, "He gave me the finger of disdain".

[@freethebirds3578]

I've heard Latin: digitus impudicus I don't know Latin, so I won't vouch for accuracy. I also swear by Quando omni flunkus moritati.

[@MeRiaNevaMynd]

​@@freethebirds3578 I had to look that up, that's funny 😄

[@Artist_Kevin]

It seems the courts have found that qualified immunity is unconstitutional. With zero legal obligation to serve and protect while benefiting from qualified immunity we get an occupying Force of under educated bullies. We need reform, higher standards and better educated public servants.

[@msromike123]

Occupying force? It might be a lot of things, but not that LOL. Tyranny is probably a better term.

[@fs127]

@@msromike123 It more than qualifies as the standing army we've been warned about.

[@ygrittesnow1701]

@@msromike123 Law enforcement comprises a heavily armored group that has been militarized. They number upward of 900,000 nationally. I would call that an occupying force.

[@guyforlogos]

@@msromike123you do not consider police an occupying force? Call in shots fired, cop down and see how a non occupying force reacts.

[@piedpiper1172]

If you want better educated public servants, pay us to stay in our jobs. I make 40k/year in my position at a state legislature. When I give up on sticking to believing in the mission and finally take any private equivalent position, I’ll immediately make $80-120k. Got another offer for a position this week. To have highly qualified public servants, we need to pay them adequately.

[@bobbyjustbobby1]

Why is it government agencies "refuse to comment" but people "refuse to cooperate", when doing the same action?

[@solandri69]

The state settled out of court. The guy accepted the settlement, indicating he's satisfied with the outcome, even if it doesn't require the state to release a public comment. If he'd wanted them to admit fault, he could've held their feet to the fire by demanding they release a public statement to that effect as part of the settlement. IOW, their refusal to comment was a refusal to cooperate (with him), until he decided it wasn't. As much as you and I would like to know more, we don't have standing to ask. (OTOH, the people of Vermont, since they're the ones who will be paying for this, can launch an investigation and demand further consequences for the parties involved if they wish. I suspect this isn't over yet for the VSP.)

[@donnavandezande3905]

Reminds me of when my brother was in a motorcycle/SUV accident. The SUV was pulling into traffic, the passenger saw the bike and alerted the driver! The driver then stopped in the eastbound lane of traffic. My brother laid the bike down and was wearing a helmet. He had three options, in front and into possible oncoming traffic and whatif shewentforward. , Behind, and what if she reversed or lay the bike down and pray! He passed away eight days later from head injuries. The news articles about the accident said that the bike was going too fast. Officer never investigated if the female driver was under the influence of anything because "She didn't seem impaired." Nephews insisted on reopening the accident, and my brother was not at fault, but there was no correction in any news articles. 😠

[@solandri69]

@@donnavandezande3905 My condolences about your brother. A similar thing happened to my parents' friend when I was a child. She drove like a grandmother - slow and super careful - but got into an accident which put her in a coma for 2 months and crippled her for life. When she woke up, she claimed the two teens in the other car ran a red light. The teens claimed she ran the red. Police said 2 people's testimony > 1 person's testimony, and gave her a ticket for running the red light. Many drivers will lie when it's in their own self interest. Get a dashcam. When I told that story, someone else said there was a similar story where a guy went off the road, hit a tree, and was killed. Two witnesses in another car said he'd been driving erratically for a while before going off the road. When police were cleaning up the scene, they found a dismounted dashcam in the wreckage. And the footage revealed that the two "witnesses" had actually been road raging at him and ran him off the road.

[@Graybeard_]

I predict cops will be seeing a lot of citizens expressing their freedom of speech going forward.

[@solandri69]

I suspect they already do. Just that most of them understand it's every American's right to do so. And that there's no such crime as "disrespecting" a cop.

[@piedpiper1172]

@@solandri69Bold of you to assume pigs are capable of understanding such complex concepts.

[@CaptainMisery86]

​@@mustbetrue1602 I'm a civilian and you can flip me off any time whether I did anything or not

[@trarock24]

@@mustbetrue1602there’s no such thing as a “cop who has done nothing wrong”….

[@byronperry6014]

I know that I will, I have one in particular.

[@dwarfgrumpy]

Still argue that police should be required to carry malpractice insurance and be personally liable

[@johntalbert8227]

I carried it as a nurse, don't know why cops can't do the same thing.

[@timdowney6721]

@@johntalbert8227 Yep, me too. Even with good faith, errors happen. And none of the nurses I worked with ever retaliated against a patient. I’m sure it does happen, but very rarely.

[@GamesFromSpace]

That's just privatizing ethics. They should be fired or charged instead, not rely on a corporation to enforce behavior.

[@jilbertb]

EXACTLY!

[@kathrynleaser5093]

Good post😊

[@yt650]

A Pennsylvania state trooper thought it was a good idea to cite me through the mail for disorderly conduct and fighting with first responders. At the magistrates hearing that I requested, the magistrate in front of a fairly large audience Explained the first amendment to the constitution to not only one Pennsylvania state trooper, but two of them. Somehow, they managed to lose the in car camera video they said they had. Imagine how humiliating getting caught lying at a magistrates hearing where these Pennsylvania state troopers see the magistrate on a regular basis probably at least weekly. I handled it Pro se. The gift that they gave me was that recently that Pennsylvania state trooper was arrested for domestic abuse and is awaiting trial. I warned his captain at the barracks, this guy is easily triggered and he’s going to be in trouble in the future.

[@Auguur]

Once a cop, always a criminal.

[@yt650]

@@Auguur Just in the last year and a half or Pennsylvania, state troopers have been discharged for various reasons starting with child pornography, kidnapping, a former girlfriend, domestic abuse, and beating a man who required extensive reconstructive surgery and threatened the man with burning his house down if he told anyone. Two chief of police fired from their jobs, one for arranging drug transfers and the other one for trafficking humans. 18 miles apart from where I live… there’s plenty more, but I’ll stop.

[@kathrynleaser5093]

What troop was he out of?

[@yt650]

@@kathrynleaser5093 Troop A Greensburg, Pennsylvania. “ Derry Pennsylvania state trooper arrested for domestic violence.“

[@kathrynleaser5093]

Thank you for the reply. Crazy how things go down. Take care😊​@@yt650

[@gordonshumway7239]

This “ancient gesture of insult”! Best euphemism I’ve heard this week!

[@TheRubernck21]

Repeal qualified immunity, force all leos to carry their own insurance (not the City) and require those same leos to have a degree in civil liberties.

[@KrazzyKlown]

Could the tax payers file a class action against the officer for being liable for the damages he caused?

[@admthrawnuru]

No, but they should be able to

[@PaleoCon2008]

This incident is horrifying! That it has taken four years to resolve is equally horrifying! This cop ought to be fired and prevented from ever working in law enforcement again. And he should have had any qualified immunity revoked and be held personally liable for damages. These kind of events seem to happen even more frequently in recent years. And cops continue to violate our rights even on camera!

[@jaredchace4554]

Wasn't fired. They were allowed to retire. So not only did they cost tax payers on the settlement, they are now taking a pension from tax payer dollars too.

[@debanda4504]

The government is targeting and torturing people in the privacy of their own homes and stalking in public. Why is this attorney NOT addressing these horrible crimes ?!

[@lpd1snipe]

Over fifty years ago, when I used to drive street legal hot rods on the street, the local cops would pull me over. They would go over the whole car, waste my time, make sure my state inspection sticker was up-to-date, and everything was legal. When they couldn't find anything that they could cite me for, I'd get a ticket for "following too closely." After the third time of this in two months, I went to court and fought it. I had witnesses, and the people in front of me were friends of mine.The people behind me were friends of mine. We were on the way to the drive-in. They were my witnesses. The judge threw it out. That cop ended up getting thrown off the force because he pulled over and sexually harassed someone who turned out to be that judges daughter. KARMA

[@lpd1snipe]

@mustbetrue1602 You must be a cop or an ex cop to think like this. This was in a small south florida Redneck town. The cop was a douchebag and harassed everybody. You weren't there, and you didn't live with it and have to deal with it. Not all cops are bad , but this one was. After the third ticket, the judge threw it out. Also, the douchebag cop sexually harassed the judge's daughter when he pulled her over one night. We didn't have cameras back then.But if we did, I would love to be able to show you the footage.

[@ibgreen1998]

@@mustbetrue1602Because cops or security are *never* wrong? If that cop has the narrative in his mind that any kid driving a car like that “needs to learn his place,” that’s abuse of power. In the dark ages, when I was in high school CB Radio was the craze. Our local CB community used to have “Coffee Breaks “ at a local eatery with a large parking lot. A lot of us got rides with older CBers or our parents. There was also a group of motorcyclists that came the same night of the week. We took up fewer spaces, and were inside yakking and buying food. The cyclists rarely came in, except for beer (yep, they sold that). They’d be doing burnouts in the parking lot, nearly running others over, and getting loud. Guess who “Security” was always busting on? They come up to a table of 26 years old and scream at us for not buying food (the table was filled with our food) and being too rowdy. Why didn’t they do anything about the bikers? 1) They made a lot of money on that beer 2) as one county cop once told us, they Security knew WE weren’t going to shove them, and they could push us around. After a few months of this, they lost the business of every CBer for 50 miles. The bikers were there years later, but others stopped going Friday nights since the atmosphere seemed scary. By the time I was out of college, they’d finally gotten up the nerve to trespass the bikers. Who weren’t all causing problems, but hey.

[@ibgreen1998]

Should say “16 year olds”

[@kathrynleaser5093]

Wow😮

[@byronperry6014]

​@@mustbetrue1602you said you bet, so you don't know the facts and defending someone and situation that you know nothing about.

[@richardrobinson1663]

back in 2018, lawsuit filed in 2021, settled in 2024. Justice moving at a glacial pace. Gotta love it.

[@michman2]

Once again, the cop walks away and the taxpayers clean up the mess. America, we have a police problem. If we don't take control of our servants now, they'll get worse later.

[@jeromekaton336]

Yea ,Civ.Wa.. may be closer than we think,these tyrants are out of control already!!!!!!

[@aurorajones8481]

Since when is flipping off a cop illegal? WOW.

[@johntracy72]

It can be deemed disorderly conduct.

[@hifiandrew]

the cop told the guy to stop doing that right meow

[@jbdragon3295]

The police have investigated themselves and found they did nothing wrong!😢. Same old B.S.!!!

[@ScooterFXRS]

Cops need to lose their "You will respect mah authoritah" ego driven mind set.

[@kathrynleaser5093]

Look up narcissist it will explain a lot as to why they won't. It's a dangerous personality trait coupled with a position of authority.

[@ScooterFXRS]

@@kathrynleaser5093 Your correct, which is what draws those type of people to that job.

[@kathrynleaser5093]

Yes sadly so. Once you know this its hard to not see it. Knowing what triggers them is helpful in diffusing and encounter. You have to be very careful with this type of individual. Do not fear them but know what your up agaisnt ..be smart and dont get baited by them. Thanks for the response. 😊​@ScooterFXRS

[@fredrickemp7242]

If it’s a first violation should be disqualification of qualified immunity

[@cjlaity1]

When I saw this on the news this morning, I knew Steve would have something to say.

[@coldlakealta4043]

I'm old enough to remember when the police could be respected. Sadly, those days are long gone.

[@christopherkidwell9817]

In general? No, they cannot. On a case-by-case basis? Yeah, they can be. I have local police who I know personally and they are good people who have never been alleged to be abusive ever... even when they could have gotten away with being abusive like the one officer who was nearly run down by a fleeing suspect.

[@george2113]

It's very likely that this police behavior has always been a problem, but video is changing the game

[@galaxywolf4895]

Their have always been good police, but with everyone having a camera, the illegal activities of many police are in full display.

[@brianbickle7395]

And when alleged adults behaved as such

[@jilbertb]

I live on a border of two "large" towns (pop. 70k-ish in both). My police department are macho, steroid using a holes, Minneapolis rejects. Even the women... The cops in the town across the street however are great guys. Caring and helpful.

[@privacyvalued4134]

Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Excellent advice. Paul, from the Bible, had similar things to say, "Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial."

[@briang7030]

"Needs to respect everyone's 1st amendments rights even when offensive or insulting" wish everyone was held to this standard.

[@keithplumley2054]

I was arrested in MS for flipping off a cop, spent the weekend in jail. Charge was public use of profanity. Judge dismissed the charges Monday morning.

[@MUCKFOOT399]

yeah, but you went to jail. so you lost

[@jim.h]

Did you sue?

[@MUCKFOOT399]

the police totally won. you did two days jail.

[@keithplumley2054]

I see that KZbin is not posting my reply. Not at all surprising.

[@keithplumley2054]

I did not sue. I was in my 20's and my attitude needed an adjustment. Consequences people, consequences.

[@Bobs-Wrigles5555]

Ben once again hiding in the dark, on top of MCL books over Steve's right shoulder

[@BenLeitch]

Good eyes. I totally missed it.

[@Bobs-Wrigles5555]

@@BenLeitch Well it's night here, and my night vision is pretty good(with my glasses on)😉

[@RvnKnight]

I saw this incident on Audit the Audit two or three days ago and was left thinking a) that cop needs his credentials revoked b) he also needed to be thrown under the jail and c) why was the court case not done yet? I'm glad it has been settled and settled in the driver's favor.

[@michaeltelson9798]

I have seen the video, it shows how self important that that state police officer thought he was. The video was from the state police dash camera. It had full audio. Lack Luster is the channel, if I remember it correctly. If the local jurisdiction still have decency laws on the books, they are actually void and unenforceable. A case in Louisiana had 2 cops trying to do that, the DA told them “No” and explained it. The cops still filed it and it was eventually thrown out by the state Supreme Court.

[@ki5aok]

Audit the Audit had this video on about three days ago, complete with the video dashcam. You know, if I could buy that cop for how important he really is and sell him for how important he THINKS he is, I wouldn't need to play the lottery, I would be set for life.

[@michaeltelson9798]

@@ki5aok I think both channels had it, but I might be wrong. It might also appeared on “Civil Rights Lawyer”, it’s making the rounds.

[@nancismith7705]

The IQ of Police Officers needs to be raised along with classes held in the Constitution of the United States for these Officers!

[@fs127]

Need to focus on the public at large, at this point it's GIGO.

[@pmsteamrailroading]

A hairdresser is required to have more training than a police officer.

[@alaric_]

That defunding isn't really helping with the demands in increase in training and screening of people... That's the one thing people don't get: you can't get good stuff with bargain price. You can get by, you even might be ok but assuming people will get premium Nordic-style service with pennies? Nope, not gonna happen. More accountability WITH more budget is the way to go. Ditch the qualified immunity and sink more money to pick better officers and train them well.

[@Br0nto5aurus]

The problem isn't that they don't know the law, it's that they don't care about the law because there's, like, a 2% chance an officer will face any kind of consequences for violating it. No amount of education will check their egos, only jail time and legal fees coming out of pensions.

[@chrisforker7487]

Steve, that’s where society has ground to a halt! Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should! So many people are right fighters and very stupid!

[@watchmanonthewall14]

Benjamin Franklin said, "Freedom isn't the right to do as you please. It's the right to do as you ought."

[@alanyoder7629]

It’s both actually.

[@atticstattic]

John Paul II, not Franklin.

[@atticstattic]

​@@alanyoder7629 Those two things conflict

[@alanyoder7629]

@@atticstattic no, they don’t.

[@atticstattic]

@@alanyoder7629 Yeah, they do - doing as one ought often means NOT doing as one pleases

[@BaronVonQuiply]

Every day I'm reminded of how I was too qualified to be a cop A few weeks ago, it was by finding the guy my hometown hired instead of me, in jail again on felony gun charges, yet again, after getting caught on his way to assault someone, again.

[@NanaWilson-px9ij]

😲

[@poofer7600]

Why do these cases keep getting settled without any admission of wrongdoing or firing the offending officers. The only ones punished are the taxpayers, the city/state just shrugs and the officer keeps on working and violating other peoples rights up to their retirement.

[@ebenezerwheezer2957]

Vermont State Police stated that Trooper Riggen retired from the force on May 31. That was before the settlement was made.😮 This happened back in 2018 my thinking is. The state dragged their heels until the trooper was able to get full retirement.

[@jeromekaton336]

What shame,they really protect these damn tyrants!!!!!

[@dmarlan]

I was pulled over once. First thing out of the officers mouth was, "What's that look you gave me".

[@67amiga]

When I was a kid, a cop stopped our school bus because he said somebody flipped him off. He pulled the kid off the bus and spoke to him for several minutes. Then the kid got back on the bus and we went on our way. I have no idea what the eventual outcome for anyone involved was, but it definitely discourage all of us for expressing those kind of feelings while on our bus towards police officers in the future.

[@jeromekaton336]

Those ego driven tyrants can do just about anything,until they get challenged !!!!!!

[@zafarsyed6437]

This is why I don't send any articles or videos to Steve anymore. He gets flooded w/ the same breaking news, thereby this channel actually becomes a news source for me!

[@anonanonymous1988]

Violation of someone's rights has zero consequences for the perpetrators. Unless there's a penalty, they have no reason to change.

[@WesGarage]

About 20 years ago, I flipped off a cop in Washington, DC. And he arrested me for disorderly conduct!! And I was jailed for 4 hours. Are you telling me I could have gotten paid for that? Dammit!! Has the statute of limitations run out on that?

[@yoshibender]

I had some cop tailgate me for a mile, I gave him the bird, he pulled me over so he could show off his costume. After he finally left me alone I went and filed a report with his superior.

[@brianbickle7395]

Glad you could find someone to write it for you

[@M_Lev___]

Thank you, Steve, for covering this! I was just watching another YT video covering this too. If you search YT for 'Man arrested for flipping off state trooper awarded settlement' it will also show the actual trooper's dashboard cam video of the original arrest. The police officer (trooper) seemed tyrannically arrogant and acted on his personal feelings.

[@kellydrover1994]

Why are the offenders not charged and sued? End Qualified Immunity !

[@oriontaylor]

I’ve seen numerous filmed instances of this occurring that have appeared on YT (I think Audit the Audit covered at least one of them), to say nothing of those that were not filmed; one would think agencies would issue instructions to their officers that ‘contempt of cop’ is not a charge, but then it doesn’t come out of their budgets or pensions.

[@Americantilltexassecedes]

GET RID OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY!!!! This should have come out of this cop's own pocket.

[@cweaver4080]

... and cue the thousands of people flipping off cops looking for a quick payday.

[@wmdkitty]

Nah, most of us are doing it on principle, no payday needed.

[@kaptainwarp]

Send this video to everyone you know.

[@ianbattles7290]

It took 6 years for the local taxpayers to be punished for this cop's actions.

[@lesjean8530]

Just remember, one middle finger at a time while driving. If you give both middle fingers, that means you’re not holding the steering wheel. For that, the cop can stop you for careless driving.

[@pureoxin8135]

*Pays settlement for something clearly unconstitutional* “We admit no wrongdoing” Children are less petty than that

[@shekharmoona544]

Steve said one finger salute and it reminds me of the time we taught our Iraqi interpreter to do that to officers. This dude did it to Major General Gaskins in on Fallujah. 😂😂😂

[@SkipJack1950]

I like how delicately you describe the extension of a specific finger 😅

[@Skank_and_Gutterboy]

He gave the cop half the peace-sign, got it.

[@Ellie-rx3jt]

Half the reversed peace-sign. Here in the UK you could be just as insulting with the full peace-sign turned that way round 😁

[@ZekeRivers]

Both fingers to shoot an arrow, right?

[@rhoonah5849]

You would think that basic constitutional law would be taught to cops in the police academy.

[@ianbattles7290]

The only thing cops are taught is that if they violate someone's rights, the taxpayers will get punished.

[@matthewmarshall349]

Years ago, my mom, brother, and I were pulled over by an off duty cop in Atlanta. My mom was driving, waiting to turn right at a dangerous intersection that included a blind curve. The cop was behind us honking his horn repeatedly, which led my brother sitting in the back to flip him off. This led to the cop stopping us while he parked in the middle of the intersection to tell at us. The only resson i didnt pursue a complaint my mom was afraid of retaliation. I still regret not taking down the tag number and filing a complaint. It's fine to be angry at being flipped off. Stopping a whole intersection to yell at a family and make vaguee threats about bring armed not so much.

[@jasonwashington3443]

I just saw the related video on The Civil Rights Lawyer channel. The whole situation was nuts.

[@LouT1501]

As a retired railroad engineer, I was used to getting this 'salute, especially all the time I worked in a small railroad yard that had a major street crossing at one end, the end we had to do almost all of our work. We'd get honked at, too, which reminds me of the time we had a guy honking at us on a night we had a pair of locomotives. My conductor stopped us in the middle of the crossing, got up in the other locomotive and we both whistled back at the motorist. It was a stellar moment but the mororist turned around a left. AS far as returning the salute - I didn't as that could have repercussions from our employer so I'd blow them a kiss.

[@Emceepe]

Punitive damages aside, what’s the point if they admit no wrongdoing? The cop’s actions were criminal. He lied, he made up laws, he harassed, he retaliated, he assaulted and restrained an innocent man and then kidnapped him. Criminal charges for the actions are all that will ever equate to justice.

[@jimgans8249]

I imagine the rules would be different for flipping off a judge in court.

[@jaywest4102]

They spend a few months to become an officer. Then the rest of their career learning “work arounds” to violate our rights.

[@pianotm]

"Do you want to go through a $100,000 dollars of trouble?" Only someone that wasn't struggling living day to day...like a successful lawyer, wouldn't think a week in a jail cell was worth it. In fact, $100,000 would probably save my life.

[@Endless_Jaguar]

So, you telling me that you can make money by flipping off a cop and spending some time in jail for it? Excuse me, I need a lawyer.

[@Rael_486]

Somebody got their feelings hurt. 😕

[@skaterlover1999]

Lackluster has a vid on this as well. This is absolutely ridiculous! Thanks for covering it! Didn't know they can amend a ticket, thanks!

[@BohemothWatts-vz1lc]

Abolish Qualified Immunity immediately

[@sandrasweeney798]

It beggars belief that the police refuse to admit to wrongdoing even when the courts find against them. What is wrong with police in America?

[@dmelson7502]

Runaway power Trip due to qualified immunity, protection from repercussions for their actions due to the fact that taxpayers pay for their mistakes. Inflated egos due to badges, guns and the power of violence being given to them. I think that about covers it.

[@robertnelson4755]

My Dad was pulled over 50 years ago for flipping off a cop. He argued that he was using his hand signal indicating he was turning right. He got off.

[@frwystr]

i dont see why he wouldnt when the first amendment exists

[@KA9DSL]

It's very apparent, the cop is very immature, child like. Flipping your finger? Yes your assholiness.

[@e.t.calledme]

And that's the problem with settling out of court, the city doesn't accept culpability. It needs to go to trial, and all parties exposed....bigger payout... potentially.

[@jim.h]

And that's the problem: "potentially." If they go to trial, they take the chance that the jury will award LESS than the city offers.

[@David-q3k9e]

Yes, but then there is FINALLY a record of the city and police losing.

[@scottelder3141]

I know that in some places, if you reject a settlement and go to trial and are awarded less than the settlement amount would have been, you owe the governments legal fees for the trial.

[@foufou33g]

the dashcam video was all over youtube last year, and yes the gesture and the name calling in this situation was justified! he stopped him b/c he thought he flipped him and he (the cop) was rude and argumentative for absolutely no reason.

[@mtw1234]

You earn disrespect you get disrespect

[@Roscoepotamus-om6gf]

❤️

[@RiverratGoRVing]

This is way Qualified Immunity needs to be removed from Police. They need to be held accountable for their actions. Camera and Audio need to be on and a Law needs to be Passed and Inforced that they remain on at all times. As well as being worn by all Law Enforcement Agencies. All Settlements need to be paid from Officers Pinion Fund and not Taxpayers Money.

[@donaldmarwitz2046]

There was never a reason for it to go to an appeal court in the firstvplace. It should have been denied right off the get-go.

[@morgansummers5803]

And they are still allowed to pay without admitting liability which means they can do it again since they " never did anything wrong" the first time... smdh

[@ShuRugal]

I'm sure the comments section is going to quickly fill up about people whining about this man getting a $175k paycheck at the expense of the taxpayers. To all of those people: If you don't like it, elect a better police commissioner.

[@skutchBlobaum]

It's a much bigger problem than that. It is also hiring practices, training, and qualified immunity.

[@adam37886]

I had this old man come up to me one day in the movie theater I was doing extra duty for. He was getting kicked out for being unruly to the staff. He said,'I heard it's not illegal to flip off a cop. Is that true? " I told him it's not illegal. He said, well, flipping me off with the right hand f..k, then the left, you. I asked if that made him feel any better? Evidently, it did not, and his son, probably 50s, said I'm leaving before you get yourself arrested. I escorted him to the door, he turned around and flipped me off again, and I went back to eating popcorn. No arrest. No ticket. No running or even asking for his ID. It didn't hurt my feelings. It didn't bait me into violating his rights. It ended well enough.

[@RedMatthew]

The more this nonsense happens the more convinced i am you should need to go to law school for at least a 2 year degree before you're allowed to be a police officer

[@andyvonbourske6405]

it would be a good start but accountability is the real problem .

[@jilbertb]

That's REQUIRED in the UK. Not sure about the rest of EU....

[@DavidBenner-cy4zl]

It should have come out of the trooper's salary.

[@ChiefMac59]

That trooper needs to be in jail for life. Battery, armed robbery, kidnapping, perjury and grand theft auto. The case law goes back to before that trooper was born and that is well established. He should not be allowed out of prison in his lifetime

[@JoeGordon-u9g]

You know requiring a 4 year degree in the laws a police officer enforces ,and a minimum 85% passing grade would save taxpayers millions in law suit settlements.

[@user-no1cares]

Ben’s on the blue law book whispering into Steve’s right ear.

[@Bobs-Wrigles5555]

That right ring finger will get you every time... Mornin' Bill

[@user-no1cares]

@@Bobs-Wrigles5555 I’m on the correct comment, here goes… G’nite Bob.

[@Bobs-Wrigles5555]

@@user-no1cares Successful hit😀