Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Follow Up: Utah nurse arrested by rogue cop.

Salt Lake City police apologized Friday for arresting a nurse who, citing hospital policy, refused to let officers draw blood from an unconscious crash victim. 
The arrest of Alex Wubbels, who was later released without charge, was captured on body camera video that the police chief said was alarming.
The incident happened July 26, when a crash victim was admitted to the University of Utah Hospital burn unit in a coma. Though the man was not a suspect in the wreck, which killed the other driver, police asked for his blood to be drawn.
For my friends of a lighter hue, file this under:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— 
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— 
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
As a person of color, a minority often targeted by rogue authorities, this case of police overreach by the Salt Lake City police force, was not a bit surprising to me. 
No sir.
After decades of being judge, jury and executioner in black and brown communities (operating with impunity) -- and in the era of backlash against a black man residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. and now with the consent of #45 -- rogue cops feel emboldened and above-the-law.
As we suffered. 
In fact, many in mainstream America, label BLM, an organization created to combat police brutality, a terrorist organization. BLM is defined by the most extreme outliers and not the thousands upon thousands of peaceful followers.
Dangerous thugs and criminals...
This is the common justification uttered to explain away the actions of abusive cops. This is code for: They got what they deserved. Travon Martin, slayed down on the sidewalk by a stalking neighborhood watchman, got his just desserts. Eric Garner, on the wrong side of the law for selling cigarette loosies, was choked out for failing to properly comply. Philando Castile scared a cop -- he smelled weed in his car -- so bang, bang, bang.

What does it mean?

With little or no accountability, no mainstream America outcry or condemnation, and no judicial punishment, many police began to further abuse the use of authority -- and not just in brown and black communities. 

Militarization of police.

The Trump administration on Monday revived a federal program curtailed by former President Barack Obama that allows local police departments to receive surplus military equipment. source

In our modern police state status -- where the DOJ and president encourage the militarization of John Law -- far too many cops look and act like the thugs they were hired to serve and protect us from.

My fear.

This case of police abuse has enraged many in the heartland of America. People are demanding the officer be fired or criminally punished. Apologies have been offered. As reported, terms of engagement between nurses and cops have been further defined. But alas, is it too much, too little, too late to put the Genie back in the bottle.




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