The Philadelphia police officer who was captured on video punching a woman in the face will be fired.

Police Commmissioner Charles H. Ramsey said today that he had issued a direct-action dismissal, an immediate step that commissioners can take if they have evidence that an officer has violated departmental policies or the law.

Lt. Jonathan Josey, 39, is a decorated 19-year veteran of the department who has been praised by some colleagues even after the video emerged. He declined to comment. As of Thursday, he is suspended for a month with the intent to dismiss.

Ramsey had previously said he was "deeply troubled" by the now-notorious video.

"From what I saw, it's difficult to justify the actions that took place," Ramsey said Tuesday.

Josey's punch to the woman's head, which knocked her to the ground and bloodied her face, appeared to be a case of excessive force being used to make an arrest, Ramsey said.

The woman, Aida Guzman of Chester, was arrested Sunday for disorderly conduct at a celebration in North Philadelphia following the city's Puerto Rican Day parade. Police said they thought she was throwing liquid at a group of officers, which led Josey to target her.

District Attorney Seth Williams said today that charges against Guzman have been dropped.

Ramsey said police still have not been able to interview Guzman, despite several attempts. He made a public request that she speak to police in order to help move the investigation forward.



Philly officer who sucker-punched woman will be fired

>> ^VoodooV:

>> ^lantern53:
>> ^VoodooV:
Tasers: Please stop confusing them with phasers We don't live in Star Trek times yet.
less lethal does not equate to non lethal.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not exactly sympathetic for the cop killer, nor would I shed a tear if they executed him. But still, 5-6 on 1 and still needing a taser is fucked up. And yeah, you know damned well they're going to get some free hits on him while no non-cops are looking.
Why don't you take your own bet Lantern? You're so...liberal with betting other people...bet yourself. If you've got such a hard-on for "justice," why arent you signing up? or are you just too special?

Sign up? I've been a police officer since 1983 and while I have never tased, shot, or hit anyone, I know a bit more about this type of situation than you do.

Oh no! @lantern53 threw down the Internet Pissing Match Gauntlet, whatever shall I do? Oh wait, it's another logical fallacy...I call them out for the bs that they are.
For all we know, you're a fat desk clerk at the station with delusions of grandeur. And even if you did get put in a situation where you did see action, there is no indication that you wouldn't be another cop that uses excessive force where it's not needed.
Like I said, I've got absolutely zero problem with taking the suspect down hard and fast but a taser is not a "do what I say" or a "you looked at me funny" button. You've got close to a half dozen people covering a restrained guy in a split second. Taser was unjustified. period. It's a joke that these guys can't subdue him. What the fuck did the police do before tasers? somehow they were able to subdue people without using a device that can kill.

Go read through his comment history. You'll see why I've had him on ignore for months. If he is a cop, he is exactly the kind of douchebag that represents all that is wrong with the police nowadays. This tired "you-don't-understand-how-hard-our-job-is" defense of any bullshit cop behavior only plays well with those who are unquestioning/fearful of authority, extremely gullible, or can't be bothered with critical thinking. As far as knowing "a bit more about this type of situation", it's the kind of dismissive condescension that has so infected police forces everywhere that it has become common caricature. It ignores the fact that the general public, the people police are supposed to serve, have eyes and ears of their own.

>> ^lantern53:

>> ^VoodooV:
Tasers: Please stop confusing them with phasers We don't live in Star Trek times yet.
less lethal does not equate to non lethal.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not exactly sympathetic for the cop killer, nor would I shed a tear if they executed him. But still, 5-6 on 1 and still needing a taser is fucked up. And yeah, you know damned well they're going to get some free hits on him while no non-cops are looking.
Why don't you take your own bet Lantern? You're so...liberal with betting other people...bet yourself. If you've got such a hard-on for "justice," why arent you signing up? or are you just too special?

Sign up? I've been a police officer since 1983 and while I have never tased, shot, or hit anyone, I know a bit more about this type of situation than you do.


Oh no! @lantern53 threw down the Internet Pissing Match Gauntlet, whatever shall I do? Oh wait, it's another logical fallacy...I call them out for the bs that they are.

For all we know, you're a fat desk clerk at the station with delusions of grandeur. And even if you did get put in a situation where you did see action, there is no indication that you wouldn't be another cop that uses excessive force where it's not needed.

Like I said, I've got absolutely zero problem with taking the suspect down hard and fast but a taser is not a "do what I say" or a "you looked at me funny" button. You've got close to a half dozen people covering a restrained guy in a split second. Taser was unjustified. period. It's a joke that these guys can't subdue him. What the fuck did the police do before tasers? somehow they were able to subdue people without using a device that can kill.

>> ^GenjiKilpatrick:

Amazing, cause I was just thinking that I'd pay good money to watch a gang of police officers use excessive force on you.
Just remember, any officer is well within his or her right to kick, punch, taze, pile-drive, or shoot you in the back in order to ensure your compliance.
No matter how trivia the violation. (tag light out, no rollback after stopping, etc.)..
p.s.- i hear breathing and blinking and begging for mercy are very threatening and can be considered "resisting arrest".
You might wanna avoid doing those things if at all possible.
>> ^lantern53:
I would pay real money to watch some of you people do the work of police or jail officers.



Wrong, wrong, and wrong. But I see where you're coming from.

Amazing, cause I was just thinking that I'd pay good money to watch a gang of police officers use excessive force on you.

Just remember, any officer is well within his or her right to kick, punch, taze, pile-drive, or shoot you in the back in order to ensure your compliance.

No matter how trivia the violation. (tag light out, no rollback after stopping, etc.)..

p.s.- i hear breathing and blinking and begging for mercy are very threatening and can be considered "resisting arrest".

You might wanna avoid doing those things if at all possible.

>> ^lantern53:

I would pay real money to watch some of you people do the work of police or jail officers.

I would've called the cops and charged him with assault, he hit the guy in the throat with NO real provocation and used excessive force with the skater kids.

@GeeSussFreeK

I guess what I am arguing with you about is.... most of the time, police are in a situation where they are "provoked." That happens every single day.

The issue is -- what do they do when they are provoked?

To point out that the kick was "provoked" misses the point, to say it again. The point is -- was his response to the situation excessive? That is why he is on trial. That is why I posted this vid.

I have nothing but admiration and respect for law officers who go out every day, putting their lives on the line for the public safety, while essentially wearing a target on their back. I can't imagine what it must be like to know that if you pull someone over for speeding, you might be dead in the next five minutes. I can't imagine what it is like to be a family member of a police officer, never knowing if this might be the day your loved one is killed or maimed in the line of duty.

A handcuffed, drunk, barefoot, seated woman kicked out at a police officer and he kicked her in the head. He did not take steps to protect himself from her "attacking" him again, if he truly was in fear for his safety.

Every police officer is provoked every single day. How you handle that provocation determines whether or not you end up in court being prosecuted for excessive force.

>> ^Yogi:

What in the living fuck are you babbling about tough guy? I'm sick of this "Salt of the earth hard working" Bullshit to describe Assholes who don't now how else to deal with their problems other than HIT THEM. I come from a family of Hicks with simple minds and hard working backgrounds...they don't go around beating the shit outa people they don't like just cause "That'll learn them."
Honest, good people...they're all a bunch of cunts.


I think you had a reasonable point in there somewhere - people who resort to violence aren't necessarily good, salt of the earth people. However, the "big man" doesn't hit this entitled little shit. He is physical, but he's not violent.

The little shit was holding everyone up and knew exactly what he was doing. The big man hauls him off the train and keeps him off and that's not really cool, however, there's a hundred people who probably just wanted to go home. He didn't use excessive force in throwing the little shit off the train or hurt the little shit. The big man shouldn't have been throwing the little shit off the train at all but under the circumstances, I don't have any sympathy for said little shit and if the cops are called and the little shit does suffer consequences, that won't give a hundred people back their wasted time.

I am assuming the kid knew what he was doing. I am assuming no excessive force was used - at one point they fall over but that's inevitable in a struggle.

Excessive force opportunity squandered.

The one I know for sure was the anti-globalisation rally, where both sides were pretty unreasonable.

Now that you mention it, as for the other time, I remember seeing police holding protesters by the throat on TV another time or two apart from that, but I don't actually recall what it was about.

Now I'm not saying the protesters are the same each time, but the police certainly are.
In reply to this comment by Kofi:
What "last few episodes"?

I am asking this sincerely.

>> ^oritteropo:

Most of them actually left when told to, the 100 or so who stayed really have no-one to blame but themselves. It shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone that our police are a bit heavy handed after the last few times this has happened.
Now as to whether the by-law they were violating is just is another question, but just remember our laws are NOT the same as in the U.S.
>> ^Kofi:
There was punching and kicking and pepper spray. This is from 1st hand eye witnesses and participants. Look at my other vid to see excessive force being used. You should have sympathy for them or else your moral compass is way off.
>> ^TheSofaKing:
Nobody being punched or kicked. No batons, no pepper spray, no tasers. I didn't even see anyone being handcuffed. I have no idea what the specific issue was at this location that prompted police to break up this demonstration and I can understand people not agreeing with that decision.... but to call this "shocking" is sadly melodramatic. Police officers were obviously told to break up the people in the specific area (people watching from the outer area appeared to be left alone). They did it professionally and did not appear to hurt anyone. The protesters screaming and carrying on (specifically the douche at 0:48) look like morons to me and I have no sympathy for them.

What "last few episodes"?

I am asking this sincerely.

>> ^oritteropo:

Most of them actually left when told to, the 100 or so who stayed really have no-one to blame but themselves. It shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone that our police are a bit heavy handed after the last few times this has happened.
Now as to whether the by-law they were violating is just is another question, but just remember our laws are NOT the same as in the U.S.
>> ^Kofi:
There was punching and kicking and pepper spray. This is from 1st hand eye witnesses and participants. Look at my other vid to see excessive force being used. You should have sympathy for them or else your moral compass is way off.
>> ^TheSofaKing:
Nobody being punched or kicked. No batons, no pepper spray, no tasers. I didn't even see anyone being handcuffed. I have no idea what the specific issue was at this location that prompted police to break up this demonstration and I can understand people not agreeing with that decision.... but to call this "shocking" is sadly melodramatic. Police officers were obviously told to break up the people in the specific area (people watching from the outer area appeared to be left alone). They did it professionally and did not appear to hurt anyone. The protesters screaming and carrying on (specifically the douche at 0:48) look like morons to me and I have no sympathy for them.

Most of them actually left when told to, the 100 or so who stayed really have no-one to blame but themselves. It shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone that our police are a bit heavy handed after the last few times this has happened.

Now as to whether the by-law they were violating is just is another question, but just remember our laws are NOT the same as in the U.S.
>> ^Kofi:

There was punching and kicking and pepper spray. This is from 1st hand eye witnesses and participants. Look at my other vid to see excessive force being used. You should have sympathy for them or else your moral compass is way off.
>> ^TheSofaKing:
Nobody being punched or kicked. No batons, no pepper spray, no tasers. I didn't even see anyone being handcuffed. I have no idea what the specific issue was at this location that prompted police to break up this demonstration and I can understand people not agreeing with that decision.... but to call this "shocking" is sadly melodramatic. Police officers were obviously told to break up the people in the specific area (people watching from the outer area appeared to be left alone). They did it professionally and did not appear to hurt anyone. The protesters screaming and carrying on (specifically the douche at 0:48) look like morons to me and I have no sympathy for them.

There was punching and kicking and pepper spray. This is from 1st hand eye witnesses and participants. Look at my other vid to see excessive force being used. You should have sympathy for them or else your moral compass is way off.

>> ^TheSofaKing:

Nobody being punched or kicked. No batons, no pepper spray, no tasers. I didn't even see anyone being handcuffed. I have no idea what the specific issue was at this location that prompted police to break up this demonstration and I can understand people not agreeing with that decision.... but to call this "shocking" is sadly melodramatic. Police officers were obviously told to break up the people in the specific area (people watching from the outer area appeared to be left alone). They did it professionally and did not appear to hurt anyone. The protesters screaming and carrying on (specifically the douche at 0:48) look like morons to me and I have no sympathy for them.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'Police, Abuse, Excessive Force, Anger, Riot, Rage, Soccer' to 'private security agents, Abuse, Excessive Force, Anger, Riot, Rage, Soccer' - edited by hpqp

Does the fact that this guy is a millionaire mitigate my zeal for admonishing excessive force? Yes.

What can I tell you? Life is not fair.