I don't know why this video is so small, it makes it hard to read the text. The original is much larger and wide screen. The perimeters for the embed are 450 x 370 but this doesn't look like it is that big... if anyone knows how to fix this, let me know...

I don't think he wanted to turn his attention to the other skateboarders. The possibility of a complaint meant the cop had to follow out his duties more strictly is what I'm gathering from what he said. I don't think he did it as a sort of getting back at everyone for the complaint.

And yeah, the cop didn't seem like much of a dick. Just doesn't take any shit, which I can respect really.

Is skateboarding seriously illegal anywhere in San Francisco ? If so, that's ridiculous.

California's legal system allows the public to pass laws into the system. We end up with laws for pretty much everything.

That's the best cop I've ever seen! Authoritative and polite... I wish we had more cops like that.

If the "I'll break your arm like a twig" comment makes this police brutality... Shit we better just lay off all the cops and replace them with kindergarten teachers.

Yea, the video we don't see is the alleged kicking of the handcuffed kid. Everything he does on camera is pretty legit, other than the 'break your arm' comment. Random people confronted the cop b/c he allegedly kicks the kid he handcuffed.

"When that citizen pipes up though, he should have turned more of his attention toward that person instead of the other skateboarders. - just my ¢2"

-- Actually I think the cop handled it beautifully when it comes to that as well... Basically, the citizen was trying to "stand up" for the skateboarders... so the cop decided well... if you want to stand up for them you are actually making it harder on them... the citizen ignores this fact and instead raises a stink basically forcing the cop to the letter of the law in case of complaint... therefore making it 10 times worse for the people he (the citizen) is supposedly trying to help. It just proves to me that the citizen didn't actually want to help anyone and just wanted to complain. In the video we see the cop was letting them off... no one was cited he was just telling them the law and then moving on... instead one of them mouths off to the cop who is cutting them a break... then some citizen tries to "help" effectively making it so the cop can't even do that...

go go California public... (I live here and I hate most of the people)

of course it's not illegal to skateboard in san francisco. some public schools even have after-school skateboarding clubs. there are skate parks and public skating events in the park.

he's just another typical fascist cop who likes showing off how powerful he is. the real insight into his personality is that he got all riled up and threatened to break someone's arm because they said he's acting like a dick. if he really wasn't acting like a dick it wouldn't have gotten him so angry. he was feeling guilty because he knew what he was doing was wrong and that's why he reacted that way. like i said, typical cop.

>> ^asynchronice:
Is skateboarding seriously illegal anywhere in San Francisco ? If so, that's ridiculous.


From the City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors' web site [emphasis mine]:

a) Prohibits skateboarding on any city street at any time, on any sidewalk in any business district at any time, and on any non-business district sidewalk commencing 30 minutes after sunset and ending 30 minutes before sunrise (Traffic Code, Section 100)

b) Prohibits skateboarding "in or about any public transit station (including an outdoor high-level boarding platform), streetcar, cable car, motor coach, trolley coach or other public transit vehicle, including, but not limited to, those stations or vehicles operated by the Bay Area Rapid Transit District" (Traffic Code, Section 128)

c) Prohibits skateboarding in Yerba Buena Gardens, the Japanese Tea Garden, the Arboretum, Conservatory Valley, where it is posted as prohibited, and in South Beach Park or Rincon Park unless otherwise permitted (Park Code Sections 3.05 and 11.02 and Port Code Sections 2.4 and 7.2).

d) Requires skateboarders at skating facilities owned or operated by the City and County to wear helmets, kneepads, and elbow pads (Park Code Section 4.17).

>> ^CptMonkeyPants:
"When that citizen pipes up though, he should have turned more of his attention toward that person instead of the other skateboarders. - just my ¢2"
-- Actually I think the cop handled it beautifully when it comes to that as well... Basically, the citizen was trying to "stand up" for the skateboarders... so the cop decided well... if you want to stand up for them you are actually making it harder on them... the citizen ignores this fact and instead raises a stink basically forcing the cop to the letter of the law in case of complaint... therefore making it 10 times worse for the people he (the citizen) is supposedly trying to help. It just proves to me that the citizen didn't actually want to help anyone and just wanted to complain. In the video we see the cop was letting them off... no one was cited he was just telling them the law and then moving on... instead one of them mouths off to the cop who is cutting them a break... then some citizen tries to "help" effectively making it so the cop can't even do that...
go go California public... (I live here and I hate most of the people)



Good Point!

It's refreshing to see a video where the cop is clearly in the right and the citizens are clearly antagonizing the situation, rather than the reverse.

This cop obviously doesn't want to go around enforcing skateboarding laws. But when somebody complains, he has to go check it out. And instead of going "oh shit, let's stop breaking the law since there's a cop around," they bitch and moan and call the cop a dick. Rule 1 of dealing with a cop, DON'T PISS THEM OFF! THEY CAN PUT YOU IN JAIL ON A WHIM! They have that authority so that people will listen to them when they talk, so that situations can get resolved. That kid is fucking idiot and deserves a night in jail, at the very least.

Arguing with a police officer will not change the laws! If they tell you something is against the law, believe them until you can go home and prove them wrong! If they arrest you, cooperate fully, and if you later find out that you were not breaking any laws, you can file a complaint and perhaps sue the police. But you will not accomplish *anything* by arguing and resisting.

Of course this doesn't apply to situations like protest rallies, but in a normal day-to-day situation just do what the fucking cop tells you to do, get the name and badge number, and worry about everything else later.

That law is stupid. If the cop was smart enough to see that he would not have arrested him.

A good, professional cop does not let his ego affect the performance of his job. This cop arrested the kid because he called him a dick (in response to a question no less), then he threatened to break his arm, then apparently he kicked him. His professional response came later to people who were not teenagers he could boss around.

Nobody who can't keep their ego in check should ever be a police officer.

>> ^MaxWilder:
Rule 1 of dealing with a cop, DON'T PISS THEM OFF! THEY CAN PUT YOU IN JAIL ON A WHIM! They have that authority so that people will listen to them when they talk, so that situations can get resolved. That kid is fucking idiot and deserves a night in jail, at the very least.


That is FUCKED UP reasoning! It's good cautionary advice but the kid does NOT deserve to go to jail for not blowing the cop. I hope you don't have kids.

>> ^Raaagh:
That law is stupid. If the cop was smart enough to see that he would not have arrested him.


Don't be an idiot. Cops are there to enforce the law, not judge it. They have a little bit of discretion, but if somebody calls in a complaint, they have to do something.


>> ^alizarin:
A good, professional cop does not let his ego affect the performance of his job. This cop arrested the kid because he called him a dick (in response to a question no less), then he threatened to break his arm, then apparently he kicked him. His professional response came later to people who were not teenagers he could boss around.
Nobody who can't keep their ego in check should ever be a police officer.


Imagine for a second that it is your job to arrest people who break the law and put them in prison. You come across a kid who is breaking a stupid law and you decide to give him a break. Warn him what the law is, scare him a little to let him know you are serious, and let him go. Then the kid, who you are doing a favor for, calls you a dick for even calling him out about breaking the law. Imagine how much you would want to help the kid at that point.

It is clear to me that you are looking at this from an attitude of "cops are assholes - let's see how much of this shows that cops are assholes." I suggest that you look at it this way: "Cops are human beings with extremely difficult jobs. How could this situation have gone better?" The obvious answer: Don't mouth off.


>> ^alizarin:
It's good cautionary advice but the kid does NOT deserve to go to jail for not blowing the cop. I hope you don't have kids.


If you think the only two choices here were to spew insults or "blow the cop" then I hope you don't have kids.

If I heard that my kid was in jail rather than home with a citation because he couldn't control his mouth, I would be ashamed of myself for my failure to teach him self-control. I would leave him there in jail all night. There are consequences to actions, and remaining in control of yourself and what you say are vital lessons to learn.

Let's see how far your kid gets in life if you just let him shout out whatever comes to mind.

Stupid law but the cop was actually very calm and relaxed.

He comes of as a major dick because he is forced to enforce a stupid law that has nothing to do with fairness or common sense.

I have no problem with what the cop did, and I'm a skateboarder. He seemed like if he was treated reasonably, he would've everybody else reasonably. Kids who mouth off and want to bitch about the (admittedly BS) stakeboarding laws with the cops trying to enforce them are idiots and make it harder on everyone else who wants to have a good time and not get into any trouble. I'd go so far as to say that it's self-centered douchebags like the skateboarders in this video that put the city into a position where they passed those laws in the first place.

Don't argue with cops. Not because you're duty-bound to kiss their ass all the time, but because it's not going to change anything. You want change, get involved at the city and county level. You think the police want to spend their day kicking snot-nosed kids out of skate spots? If cops don't come into the situation with an attitude, mouthing off at them about being fascist for doing the shitty part of their job is going to give them one every time.

Those "citizens" were being total jackasses and the policeman did good in this instance. For once, this is a video of a policeman doing good work.

He probably should have formed the "I'll break your hand like a twig" into something like "if you resist your hand might break when I have to cuff you by force", otherwise the cop was acting perfectly fine.

>> ^MaxWilder:
>> ^Raaagh:
That law is stupid. If the cop was smart enough to see that he would not have arrested him.

Don't be an idiot. Cops are there to enforce the law, not judge it. They have a little bit of discretion, but if somebody calls in a complaint, they have to do something.


Well you are the one presenting a moronic oxymoron. Allow me to rephrase:
If the cop didnt get all emotional and vindictive, he would of talked the kid down. Like a reasonable person would. You dick.

>> ^Raaagh:
Well you are the one presenting a moronic oxymoron. Allow me to rephrase:
If the cop didnt get all emotional and vindictive, he would of talked the kid down. Like a reasonable person would. You dick.



Please point out my "moronic oxymoron", if you even know what that means.

And give me one good reason why the cop should be nice to the kid after being insulted. Cops are not saints, they are human beings trying to do a tough job without a lot of support, as evidenced by this video. And people like you who expect unreasonable things from them are idiots.